What’s Going On?
It’s the beginning of the end for seniors. The final semester at VHS has begun, and while it might not feel like it, the future is fast approaching. At this time of the year, there isn’t much happening around VHS. Most clubs are still winding back up from the lack of activity over winter break. Preparations are beginning for spring sports and productions. From Varsity Singers to the upcoming April Antics improv show, students are discovering what to do in the final days they have at VHS.
It’s always difficult to prepare oneself to get back into the routine of school after an extended break. While all of the high schoolers were getting ready for school on Monday the 8th of January, mother nature had much different plans. Classes at VHS ended up being cancelled the day students and staff were meant to return, as well as the following friday due to inclement weather. For most students, this was the best welcome back to school possible. Not to mention Monday the 15th was also a day off for students due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so the start of second semester began messy and uncertain.
The following week also started off with it’s share of weather related problems, resulting in an early dismissal one day, and a two hour delay the following day.
“Not that I’m complaining about getting out of school," Senior Soren DeKock said, "but this is a little ridiculous.”
Even though the final semester is off to a rough start, the students, and seniors, of VHS are ready for the adventures coming up during this last semester.
What’s Coming Up?
Upcoming in the next few weeks, there are a lot of continuing activities as the others just begin to get rolling. Both the girls and boys basketball teams are having great seasons, showing each school they match up against the true meaning of Viking Pride. Home games are always full of students representing Viking Nation, our student run sports fan group. The continued support and liveliness of our representing students keeps the energy incredibly high all throughout the numerous matchups our athletes face. Athletics are one of the most unifying activities at VHS, and it’s always wonderful to see the student body continually throwing full support behind one of the schools many groups.
Also coming up for the talented young people of Valpo is the Indiana State School Music Association’s yearly competition. Some of the best and brightest vocalists and musicians that the schools of Indiana have to offer will be competing in the coming weeks, and Valpo is sure to be a tough competitor there.
April Antics, VHS’ premier improv comedy show, is always a hit come spring time, and students are getting ready to put on one of the best shows yet. There is never a shortage of great things to witness at VHS, even during a slow and tumultuous time like this.
Student Spotlight
Talent comes in no shortage at Valpo High School. Students here are amongst the most promising young musicians, singers, dancers, and writers of the Region. The opportunities offered here help to solidify these passions, but it is truly the drive of our young performers that sets them above the rest. One such student is senior Zac Flasch, one of the most talented people you will ever have the pleasure to meet.
“I'm heavily involved in the Music program here at the High School and I have been since the beginning of my freshman year, particularly Choir and Varsity Singers. I credit much of my success and happy memories throughout my years at VHS to the music program,” said Flasch.
There is no denying that Flasch's presence in the music program is substantial, but his involvement at the school does not end there.
“In addition to music, I'm also involved in the German Club, Natural Helpers, and the National Honor Society,” explained Flasch.
And like many other students, Flasch has VHS to thank for pushing him out of his comfort zone and finding that passion burning inside of him.
“My years at VHS have been quite interesting. Looking back at my four years, I really discovered who I was and what I wanted to accomplish in my life as I was growing throughout high school. As a freshman, I was extremely nervous and had a lot of anxiety about school and my future," explained Flasch. "However, as the years progressed, I began to realize who I truly was and what my passions were, and that caused me to break out of my shell and worry less about school than I previously had. I have choir and my former director Linda Schonbachler to thank for that, as I really struggled to find myself and who I was until I discovered all that music had to offer me here at VHS.”
The weight of VHS’ influence is felt every single day that Flasch spends in its halls, as is the same for most of us. Looking forward, his experiences here helped him to make decisions that he once feared, but that ultimately became clear with time.
“I see myself going to University to study music, as it's clearly my passion. I plan to teach music and become a choir director, and hopefully have the same impact on students lives that my director had on my life and many other students lives that came through VHS,” said Flasch.
Teacher Spotlight
Teachers at VHS don’t typically fit any sort of mold or stereotype. Almost every teacher subverts every expectation you could possibly have, sometimes in incredibly unexpected ways. Ms. Cichocki is absolutely one of those teachers. The expectation of a theatre/speech teacher is that they’ll be dry, boring, and without personality. Not only does Ms.Cichocki have an incredible amount of energy, but her personality is off the charts, almost unclassifiable.
“I'm in my 17th year of teaching, the entirety of which I've spent at VHS. Being as my degree is in speech and theatre, I've been teaching speech pretty much since the beginning, though I used to also teach some English classes. Nowadays, it's just speech and the theatre classes, and occasionally debate,” explained Cichocki.
Lectures are incredibly varied and winding, coated with humor and personal anecdotes. The environment of the classroom is not one of judgement or fear, as you’d expect a speech class to be like. It’s open, smells of fresh brewed coffee, and is covered in Wonder Woman posters. There is an expectation of fear when you enter a speech class, and thankfully, the first day out of the gate that fear is wiped straight away.
“I love it when students try something new and realize it isn't as terrifying or awful as they had thought it would be. I had a student write me a short email over holiday break, thanking me for not letting him drop the class. He had been worried about speaking in front of an audience, and managed to confront that fear, and even succeed. That was a really good feeling,” said Cichocki.
Ms. C treats her students more like contemporaries than subordinates, opening up her resources and knowledge for each and every person who needs it. Her inspiration and unrelenting energy is what keeps the classroom light and friendly, although it’s not quite what you’d expect.
“Sheer madness. It really does take a special kind of crazy to teach the subjects I teach, and get students to get up in front of an audience,” said Cichocki.