What’s recently happened?
As the month of April went on, students at Morgan Township High School (MTHS) only seemed to get busier and busier.
Juniors and seniors at MTHS had their Prom on Saturday, April 12 at Duneland Falls, which was preceded by the Grand March at MTHS. Ireland Hanna and Bradley Farris were crowned as the respective Prom Queen and Prom King.
“It was unexpected, but I will never forget how I felt. It was as though I was representing more than myself. I felt like a representation of students who may be a little different, who move in their own frequency, as I've always felt that I was not one to fit in with the crowd,” Hanna said. “In light of that, I must say it was an awful lot of fun to wear a glittery tiara for a night and bust a move with my friends on the dance floor!”
April was also a hectic time for athletes at MTHS. Spring sports--which consist of Track and Field, Softball, Baseball, Boys Golf, and Boys Volleyball--have been in full swing all month.
The Varsity Girls and Boys Track and Field teams have been practicing and working hard. There had been several invitationals held, such as one at Wheeler High School on April 19 and one at Hebron High School on April 23.
“The throwers are reaching their goals and personal records,” said Rebecca ‘Becky’ Bruce, a thrower in the Girls Track and Field team. “I think Rebecca Byvoets is going to beat the school shot put record this year.”
The MTHS Varsity Softball and Varsity Baseball teams have also been stepping up to the plate this season. The Softball team won against Victory Christian Academy High School and North Judson-San Pierre High School earlier this April, while the Varsity Baseball team has had wins against Hammond’s Bishop Noll Institute and South Central High School.
The Boys Varsity Volleyball team and Boys Varsity Golf team both have practiced hard in April. The Boys Varsity Golf team had its first tournament on April 12. The Boys Varsity Volleyball team started its season and has also been playing strong, winning against South Bend Riley High School and Westville High School earlier in the month.
The MTHS Drama Club had also been practicing throughout the month of April, all leading up to its production of “Haphazardly Ever After,” which will be in May. During these practices, Drama Club members not only navigated a new sound system, complete with new individual mics, but also explored all the different ways a fairytale could go wrong.
What’s coming up?
For students at MTHS, the month of May is the end of the 2024-2025 school year. However, the end of the school year comes with countless important events and competitions.
For example, on May 1, the MTHS art department will be hosting its annual middle and high school art show in the MTHS cafeteria. Members of the Art Club and students in art class will all work together with Art Teacher Shelby Braun in order to quickly put up and take down the show. Twenty high school students have also had their artworks displayed in the Tri-County Art Show at South Shore Arts Center.
“I’m in awe at how just the projects from my upper-level high school art students can cover a whole cafeteria wall,” Braun said. “It truly shows how much amazing work these students can produce.”
Another big show in May will be the MTHS Drama Club production of "Haphazardly Ever After," which will also be in the cafeteria, but later in the month. There will be one production at 7 p.m. on May 9 and two productions on May 10: a matinee at 3 p.m. and an evening show at 7 p.m.
"Being in Drama Club has been one of the coolest experiences I've had at MTHS," said Jake Lange, a senior member of the MTHS Drama Club. "I recommend that more people try it out."
Spring sports also continue in May, especially in regards to the Porter County Conference (PCC). The Varsity Boys Volleyball team will have PCC tournaments on May 1 at MTHS and May 3 at Boone Grove High School. The Varsity Girls and Boys Track and Field teams will have their PCC championships on May 10 at Kouts High School.
In regards to baseball and softball, the Varsity Softball Team will have its PCC tournaments May 15-17. Finally, the Varsity Baseball team will have tournaments on May 19, May 21, and May 23.
The MTHS Academic Super Bowl teams will head to the State competition at Purdue University in West Lafayette on May 10. The Social Studies, English, and Math teams all competed well at regionals and placed high in the State competition, qualifying them for the State competition.
Staff spotlight:
Kellee Hitz is a middle and high school teacher at MTHS. She teaches physical education (PE) and health for sixth and seventh graders, freshman PE, and sophomore health class.
“I have always enjoyed working with children. My mom, several aunts, and sister were all teachers as well, and they all inspired me to be like them,” Hitz said.
Hitz has been coaching middle school cross country for five years and is also the current Varsity Girls Assistant Basketball Coach. Her favorite sports to watch are cross country and track and field.
“I really enjoy watching my students grow. I love watching them learn something new or do something that they thought was going to be too hard,” Hitz said. “I am looking forward to seeing my first middle school cross country runners graduate high school, it has been fun to watch them grow. I wish them all the best of luck in their next adventures.”
This is Hitz’s third year teaching at MTHS, but she had previously taught elementary school students for five years.
“I love our small school atmosphere. As a K-12 MTHS graduate, I loved being able to participate in several different sports and clubs at the same time. I always thought it was cool that I knew most of the students when I graduated,” Hitz said. “The MTHS community is the best. Everyone is supportive, and they really show up when a community member is in need.”
Student spotlight:
Josie Lemmons is a senior at MTHS. She is involved in Girls Basketball, Girls Softball, and Girls Volleyball, along with Student Council, Key Club, Interact Club, National Honor Society, Leadership Improvement Training, and Spanish Club.
“My favorite memory of this school year was when my dodgeball team of senior girls called the Christmas Clowns beat the other senior group of guys in the annual Christmas break dodgeball tournament,” Lemmons said. “Some of my greatest achievements in high school so far include winning Girls Basketball Sectionals my junior year, and winning Regionals for softball my junior year.”
Lemmons plans on going to Purdue University to study nursing and to continue to help those around her. She is highly involved in all the sports and extracurricular activities, and works hard in all that she does--which makes free time hard to come by.
“My favorite class is study hall because I am able to get a lot of homework done and visit with my friends,” Lemmons said.
Lemmons enjoys attending many school sports, but her favorite to watch is high school basketball. She loves the pep block’s atmosphere and being able to help cheer on and hype up the basketball players.
“My advice for underclassmen is to enjoy every moment of high school because it flies by,” Lemmons said. “My favorite thing about MTHS is the relationships I have made with many of my friends, teammates, staff, and classmates.”
