“Progress, People: HHIHS Reconstruction Requires Some Adjustments to the Parking Situations”

by KB Bolchoz

Hilton Head Island High School is currently undergoing a five-year construction process to completely renovate the school, including the surrounding parking lots. This construction means that the school’s staff and student body drivers will have to adapt to the loss of the front entrance and parking lots. 

MB Khan, the construction company hired by the district to rebuild the school, has officially fenced off the entire front parking area. This leaves the athletic entrance, closest to the gymnasiums and further back in the school building, as the official front entrance into the school. 

The surrounding parking lots are also still available, leaving staff to enter through the entrance on D-Hall next to the “Black Box,” or the Theater room. Students who park in the elementary school lots can also use this entrance for safety reasons.

Because of the change of venue, there are new procedures in place regarding student pick-up and drop-off to ensure safety. One of these procedures is the addition of a new carline in the morning drop-off, located in the elementary school lot. Parents can drop off their children near the footbridge, and administrators will be outside to assist when the students cross School Road and enter the aforementioned D-Hall entrance. This is only an option during the morning drop-off, as the elementary school has aftercare pick-ups in the afternoon. 

In the midst of this construction process, the HHIHS staff is asking for everyone’s patience while they adapt to the change in parking and car-rider lanes. Safety for both students and teachers is of the utmost importance, and it will be worth the trouble when there is a beautiful new school building standing in the old one’s place.

“First Time? Beaufort County Debate Team Arrives On the Nationals Scene”

By: KB Bolchoz

On April 5, 2024, the HHIHS Debate Team, also known as the Beaufort County branch of “Incubate Debate,” made their debut at a national competition in Jacksonville, Florida. 

This was the inaugural year in the debate league for Beaufort County, meaning it was the first time they had ever qualified and participated since Incubate Debate’s founding in 2019. The team was also the first county outside the league’s home state of Florida to participate in a competition.

This year’s HHIHS Debate Team consisted of six students that competed at three district tournaments before the nationals. There are three questions per tournament, with two common styles of debate: Town Hall and Round Table. During a Town Hall debate, a student gets up in front of a room of around ten to fifteen of their peers and gives a speech either for or against the chosen subject, followed by a minute-long round of questioning regarding the speech. On the other hand, a Round Table debate is comparable to a Socratic seminar regarding the chosen questions.

Our team of three competed against a total of 92 other students from various regions around Florida and seven students from within Beaufort County, despite being labeled as a “national competition.” This was the league’s first year branching out of Florida. Compared to the other major debate league of America, described by Ms. Spisz as “a Lincoln-Douglas style, where you’ve got one person going against another person … and you’re also assigned a side,” Incubate Debate is more focused on freedom of speech, and in all of the rounds except for one, debaters get to choose the side they defend and the research they utilize.

The national competition lasted the whole weekend. The team began debating at 4:30P.M. that Friday night and continued until dinnertime at 7:30. Then they picked the debate back up at 8:15 Saturday morning. Awards were then presented at around 3:15 that afternoon. 

While the debate was initially based on a tournament structure, Ms. Spisz, Debate Team proctor and chaperone, commented on the odd nature of the competition's format. “Usually with the district tournaments, you start off with your Town Halls … and then the high-scoring debaters from that preliminary round then go to what is called Round Table, or semi-finals … the top three students from those then go to the Town Hall final round.”

 Instead of this standard, the debate began with two separate Round Tables with different questions as the preliminary rounds; the following day continued those preliminaries as Town Halls before continuing to a third and fourth Round Table as the semifinals. The finals consisted of a Round Table-style debate with an additional Town Hall speech. The competition also brought in a new type of debate: Town Square, where one student is chosen as the moderator while the rest of the competitors debate an earlier question simultaneously in a group setting.

“Artfields Jr. Art and Photography Competition”

by KB Bolchoz

This year, five students from Hilton Head Island High School submitted their photos to the secondary school branch of the Artfields Jr. competition, for students in grades 9-12. Three of these students made it to the final round of judgment: Ashlynn Fleming, Karen McDonnell, and Hanna Walter. 

The Artfields Photography Competition is a prestigious and highly competitive artistic contest that takes place annually in Lake City, South Carolina. The competition lasts around ten days and is the root of a major festival across the entire town. The whole of Lake City decorates their buildings, including hardware stores and groceries, in anticipation for the event.

Recently, the organization founded the Artfields Jr. branch of the competition to make the world a better place starting with young artists and photographers. This event is just as competitive as the professionals. Students from all over South Carolina can participate by submitting one piece of artwork for free and delivering it themselves to the Artfields building in Lake City. 

A jury of five judges, all professional artists, comes together and goes through the art, culling several of the pieces. The remaining works are then gathered together and displayed all over the city and state in art shows, and the finalists are judged for first, second, and third places at the end of the ten-day period. Students compete for various cash prizes depending on their placing. The official awards ceremony is on May 6, 2024.

Students’ Conjoin to Raise Money for Cancer

By: Jocelyn Cerrito

Hilton Head High School’s Marketing teacher, Mrs. Michele Eastham, worked alongside the

school’s social worker, Mrs. Mary Garmon, to spread news of a fundraiser for cancer by

allowing students to have spirit days if they donated.

SNN spoke with Mrs. Eastham and questioned where the idea to start this fundraiser began from.

“Actually, Mrs. Garmon came to me and told me about the team that she is on to raise money for

LLS, which is Lymphoma and Leukemia Society.”

SNN was told that Mrs. Garmon shared with Mrs. Eastham that one of her best friends has

battled through Lymphoma and Mrs. Garmon was up for an award on who can raise the most

money for LLS.

“She was wondering if our event management class could perhaps help out putting something

together to help raise money.”

It was agreed something would be planned and once Mrs. Eastham pitched the idea of what Mrs.

Garmon was wondering her class could do, it was found out that one of her students was actually

in re admission for Leukemia and that initially sparked more encouragement to plan something

for cancer fundraising. Her class planned something simple, participate in spirit wear for a dollar,

to which there would be a theme for those days.

Mrs. Eastham’s class was able to get two spirit days, “one being ‘Bunny Monday’ for the Easter

holiday that was near and ‘Orange you glad its Tuesday’ which one would get an orange ribbon

to represent the Leukemia side of LLS instead of receiving wristbands for each dollar donation.”

Mrs. Eastham’s class had made posters all over the school prior, to inform students that they can

participate in these spirit days by helping to donate to LLS. There was a great support from

students and the whole fundraiser raised more than $400 dollars, which will go towards LLS. 

Girls Lacrosse

By: Mallory Gilmore

Girl’s Lacrosse season came to an end last Tuesday, April 16th against Phillip Simmons with a score of 7-8. The girls had a successful season, with 7 seniors on their team and some are planning on playing in the future in either college or intramural. 

Senior, Audrey Rhinehart says “It was a hard fought season, we had a lot of great competition although are season has now come to an end im thankful  for the experience.” Audrey plays attack on the lacrosse team and is happy with how their season went and how it came to an end.
Senior Rell Strocko says “I would like to thank our coaches and fellow teammates for making it a special senior season. I never thought freshmen year I would make it this far in my lacrosse career, but I did.” Rell plays goalie on the Girl's Lacrosse team. The lacrosse team finished overall with a 6-3 record, finishing 8th in the region and 21st in the state. 

Model UN at Winthrop

By: Mallory Gilmore

Model United Nations is an educational simulation in which students learn about diplomacy, international relationships, current events, and more. Members of Model UN develop resolutions to solve global conflicts and present them at the GSU competition.

The Model UN club went to Winthrop in March where several Hilton Head Island students competed to resolve international conflicts involving current events and diplomacy. HHIHS represented the countries of the United Arab Emirates and the Dominion of Canada this year.

Model United Nations is a very engaging club and is a valuable asset for students who plan on pursuing a career in international relations. Students who are interested in joining Model UN can come to Ms. Spisz’s room.

Senior Parade

By: Mallory Gillmore 

Friday April 12th, the Hilton Head Island Senior class of 2024 partook in a parade to celebrate their graduation around several schools in the area. The senior class walked through the High School as well as, Hilton Head Island School for Creative Arts, IB, and Hilton Head Island Middle School.

Senior Rell Strocko says, “It was wholesome and a full circle moment.” The parade allowed seniors to see their past teachers and schools and the teachers were able to wish them luck in their future. Senior, Isabella Terramocia says, “It was really heartwarming and it made me feel good to see the younger kids so excited for the next chapters of our lives.”

The Senior Parade was a great way to celebrate the graduating class of 2024 and wishing them luck in their futures and their careers. If you are interested in attending the graduation for the Class of 2024 it will be on June 6th at 7pm on the football field.

Student Advocacy Council 

By:Emily Hensley

At HHIHS, some students have questions about certain things that happen in the school. Delaney Arroyo noticed her fellow peers had concerns and she wanted to give them a chance to change that. When she was asked why she created the club she said, 

“Well, I noticed all the people around me complaining about the dress code (myself included) and decided to do something about it since I realized I'm just standing around waiting for a resolution that wasn't coming. So, I made my own; this club. It was created to be a supportive and inclusive environment for the people who saw the problems and made it available for them to voice their opinions but unanimously work towards the change they want.” 

There can be challenges involving creating a new club. They have to have a teacher be their sponsor and they have to get approval from the principal. One of the most important things to consider is having people join.

 “Advertisement was the only one I can think of since quite honestly, people don't listen to the news and I couldn't hang posters.” It can be hard to get the news out at HHIHS, but creating new clubs is a great way for students to connect and interact with new people.

Teacher Feature- Ms.Hudson

By:Emily Hensley

Along with all the clubs and activities at Hilton Head Island High School, they also have to have schooling. They have all the core classes including math. Math is a very important subject in school because lots of jobs outside of high school use math in their everyday life. Ms.Hudson is a 9th grade math teacher at HHIHS. When asked how long she has been teaching at HHIHS she said, “I have been teaching at Hilton Head High School for 6 years now.” At HHIHS, just like any other high school, there are certain traditions that go on at school that some teachers love and some teachers hate. Ms.Hudson is one that has some favorite traditions. “My favorite tradition at Hilton Head High would probably be either Black History month, they always do such a great job. And then homecoming is always fun with the dress up days and pep rallies and all that stuff.” Hilton Head High is such a great place to work and they are thankful that they have Ms.Hudson has a math teacher.

Health Occupation Students of America club

By:Emily Hensley

The healthcare industry is a very important field of study that many high school students want to have a career in. At HHIHS, Mallika Krishna is one of those students. She wanted to start this club because, “ I noticed that there was a lack of activities within the school a person interested in healthcare could participate in. This inspired me to create a club that informed people about the different jobs in healthcare and if they are a good fit for them.” There are many jobs in the healthcare industry like nurse, doctor, surgeon and many more. However, there can be problems with starting a new club. One of Mallika’s challenges was, “One of the main challenges that came up during the creation of the club was trying to find a teacher to be the club advisor. Several teachers I asked turned me down which made it hard to start the club up.” At HHIHS,  a club advisor is there so you can use their room and so they can give you advice. As a student wanting to create a club, they could have many doubts about the club and if it was even going to work. “There was a time when I thought nobody would join my club however, I was aware of several people wanting to go into healthcare and knew they would join if they were informed about my club.” Health Occupation Students of America is a new exciting club at HHIHS and students should very much consider joining the club if they see a future in healthcare. 

Prom

By: Emily Hensley

At Hilton Head Island High School, a widely favored tradition is prom. Many students look forward to prom as soon as they begin high school. Some students have a dream of being prom king or queen. The senior class nominated students to be on prom court and the king and queen was announced at prom. This year’s king was Justin Ruiz and this year’s queen was Lynda Young. Ms.Stroud, the prom organizer, said her favorite thing about prom is “Probably  getting to buy everything for decorations.” The planning for prom takes a lot of effort and is done months before prom. For many schools, prom can look very different. Some schools have it early in the year and some have it later in the year. One thing Ms.Stroud would change about prom is “I would love to be able to do a dinner with everyone, but I know the kids don’t love to do that and/or I would love if our kids stayed and came longer cause it’s you know a lot of work and a lot of them don’t stay that long.” Teachers and staff work very hard for prom and the students definitely appreciate it!

Mamma Mia

By: Alex Indrigo

The Seahawk Stage Company presents the musical Mamma Mia at Hilton Head Island High School. The cast and crew have been working on the show since January and iit is showing in late April and early May. The show’s dates are April 27th, 28th, and May 4th and 5th as well. If you are family or even just want to go see it, it is a great play with a lot of people from freshman to senior classes. The play contains jokes to make you laugh, and heartfelt moments like a marriage to enjoy. Tickets are $7 foe students, $15 for adults, and $10 for seniors. There are concessions to grab some snacks and also Break-A-Leg o’ grams that you can purchase for you family or friends in the play. If you enjoyed someone and don’t know their name you can write down a description of them and it will be given to them. A Break-A-Leg o’ gram contains a note and a snack or candy of your choosing. After the show, all of the cast will be in the lobby for Kiss and Cry to see family and others. 

Teacher Feature 

By: Madison Reilley 

This week's teacher feature shines the spotlight on Mr. Talarczyk, who most students call Coach T. Coach T is a dedicated educator with 19 years of teaching experience. Known for his passion for teaching and coaching volleyball, Coach T embodies the spirit of commitment and balance in his professional and personal life.

Teaching a range of courses including Personal Finance, Business Finance, and IB Business and Management, Coach T finds joy in building relationships with his students. When asked about his favorite aspect of teaching, he shared, “building the relationships with the students.”

Reflecting on his journey into teaching, Coach T revealed, “I started off substitute teaching and then realized how much I enjoyed being in the classroom.”  His dedication to education is evident in his approach to overcoming challenges, particularly in motivating students to learn.

Maintaining motivation and enthusiasm, especially during tough times, is crucial for educators. Mr. Talarczyk emphasized the importance of self-care and values, stating, "I believe in taking care of yourself and having values helps me to stay motivated and enthusiastic." His routine includes sufficient sleep, regular exercise, family time, and travel, therefore, ensuring a balanced lifestyle.

Balancing the demands of teaching IB courses with coaching volleyball requires discipline and organization. Mr. Talarczyk detailed his strategies, mentioning, "Being organized, disciplined, and working with people you can trust helps me to be balanced." He prioritizes his time efficiently, relying on detailed schedules and trusted colleagues to manage his responsibilities effectively.

Amidst the challenges, Mr. Talarczyk finds reward in the lasting impact he makes on students' lives. He shared, "Some of the best moments are seeing students who have graduated many years ago approach me, telling me how much they enjoyed having me as a teacher because of the relationship that was built."

When it comes to classroom management, Mr. Talarczyk focuses on building relationships early on, which he believes is key to effective management. He handles behavior issues with empathy, understanding that students may have external factors affecting their behavior.

Describing a typical day in his classroom, Mr. Talarczyk highlighted the importance of connection and collaboration. He engages students in conversation before delving into the day's content, encourages group work for confidence-building, and provides individualized feedback to ensure comprehension.

Mr. Talarczyk's dedication to his students and his craft as both an educator and volleyball coach exemplifies the essence of a well-rounded teacher who inspires and empowers the next generation.

Career Day

By: Madison Reilley  

Career day offers students the opportunity to see a glimpse into various professions. This helps students learn about new jobs they probably did not know about. In a recent interview with Kenzie Jacoby, we got an insight on career day through a student's eyes. 

Kenzie found the event to be interesting, well-organized, and highly informative. While she appreciated the diverse range of career presentations and workshops, she found the 911 communications workshop particularly intriguing. The opportunity to listen to real- life calls provided a unique perspective on the responsibilities and challenges of the role. 

Reflecting on the overall experience, Kenzie felt that Career Day met her expectations, but suggested adding more hands-on activities to provide students with a more immersive experience. She admitted that attending career day influenced her own career paths; she also became interested in the field of pharmacy after attending the event. However, she did express curiosity about certain careers, such as the starting rate for a 911 responder, which was addressed during the workshop.  

In Kenzie’s view, Career Day offers students a valuable opportunity to gain firsthand insights into various professions through face-to-face interactions, which cannot be replicated through online research alone. The information provided during Career Day was deemed relevant and helpful in understanding the requirements and opportunities within different career paths. 

Offering advice to future attendees, Kenzie emphasized the importance of curiosity and active engagement, regardless of the assigned career. She believed that asking questions and actively listening could lead to unexpected discoveries and potential career interests.  

Looking ahead, Kenzie suggested incorporating more hands-on activities relating to different professions to enhance the overall experience for future attendees. As Career Day continues to evolve, Kenzie’s insights serve as a valuable reminder of the event’s significance in shaping students’ career aspirations and providing them with invaluable insights into various professional fields.  

Getting Ready for the IB Testing 

By: Madison Reilley

As the IB exams approach, students like Brad Larson are gearing up for the challenge. Brad shared his strategies for balancing studies with other commitments, preparing for exams, and staying motivated.

Brad's juggling act involves focusing on English, Math, and History while making sure other stuff does not fall by the wayside. He’s all about keeping things in check.

Brad's prep strategy involves going over notes and assignments, plus using materials from his teachers. It’s all about getting ready for what's coming.

For Brad, managing time during exams is tough, but he’s tackling it by practicing with mock tests and practice examsto help better prepare for exam day.

Staying motivated? Brad's got that covered. He keeps his eyes on the prize and reminds himself why he’s doing it in the first place.

When it comes to big tasks like the extended essay, Brad's strategy is simple: get it done early, so it’s not hanging over his head when exam time rolls around.

Brad's approach to IB prep reminded us that with a bit of planning and perseverance, anyone can tackle the IB exams and come out on top.

2024 Senior Scholars

By: Audrey Reinhart 

This week on April 5th, the 2024 Senior Scholars will be recognized for their achievements and high ranking in high school. The 25 students who are being awarded with this accomplishment were surprised with the news at a meeting on Friday. Senior Scholars are students who have maintained a cumulative of a 3.5 gpa or higher, ranked within the top 10% of their class, and have earned the equivalent of an 85% or higher in all quarters of their high school career. This is a very big accomplishment and these students have worked very hard to get to the place they are at. The Senior Scholars will be formally recognized on April 24, 2024 at 6pm at Bluffton High School, where there will also be Senior Scholars from other high schools in the district.

One of the 25 Senior Scholars is very thrilled with this label, as she has worked very hard throughout high school to maintain her high ranking . Isabella Terramoccia is a student, a part of several honors societies, captain of the varsity girls volleyball team, and is planning to attend Clemson University in the fall of 2024. “I was so happy when we were told that we were the Senior Scholars of our class” Izzy said when asked how she felt about the accomplishment. Izzy is very excited about this recognition and she plans to continue on with this success into her college career.

High School Regional Art Contest

By: Audrey Reinhart 

At HHIHS, several students in the arts department had their work recognized at the annual High School Regional Art Contest. This is a contest that displays students' work from all over Beaufort County. The exhibition was held at the Coastal Discovery Museum on Wednesday, April 3rd . The exhibition had food and drinks, and there were multiple awards handed out for the artwork that was there.

Two students from HHIHS won awards for their pieces in the contest. Kaya Tolly, a junior, won an award for a cardboard piece she created in her Art Drawing 3 class. Another student from HHIHS, Rihannon Curt won an award for one of her photographs displayed at the museum. Winning these awards are a very big accomplishment for both these students and the school. Hilton Head had a large handful of students recognized at the art competition which is also a great accomplishment for the arts department at HHIHS.

Senior Walk-through

By: Audrey Reinhart

On Friday April 12, 2024 at HHIHS, the class of 2024 did the annual Seahawk senior walk through both elementary schools, the middle school, as well as the high school. The class of nearly 300 students came to school in their caps and gowns and walked the halls that some have known for 12 years. This year was the first time in a long time that the senior class walked through every school, making it very special for the Hilton Head school community.

There were a lot of emotions being felt by both the senior students as well as classmates and teachers, especially within the elementary schools. Creative Arts and IB Elementary were the schools that the majority of the class of 2024 attended, so walking through the halls was bittersweet and very nostalgic for most. D’vontre Simmons, a student who has attended Hilton Head schools for 12 years now, felt joy walking through the halls of his former elementary school, Creative Arts.

 “Walking through the halls where we began our academic journey, especially in our cap and gowns as seniors with the same friends we made along the way brought a sense of nostalgia and pride.” 

D’vontre said as he reflected on the feeling of walking through Creative Arts. “It was a great experience to reminisce one last time with the people I'm grateful for.”

Many of D’vontres classmates and friends felt the same way, as there were smiles and laughter throughout the long line of seniors. The walk through also brought tears to several individuals' eyes, especially the teachers who had taught these students over 10 years ago. The class of 2024 will forever hold the memory of the senior walkthrough in their hearts as they close the chapter on their childhood and begin the chapter of their adulthood.

Cool Majors for Seniors

By: Zahara Sellers

As juniors come up to their senior year it can be hard to start looking at majors. It's good to go into your senior year as prepared as possible. Picking your major and what you want to study is a large part in picking which college you want to attend. What you choose now doesn't have to be completely final, if a student finds there not fitting with their chosen major it can always be changed and you can always transfer but doing those things can add up and become costly so its best to do your research beforehand when deciding your major. Seniors who have decided to attend the college of charleston have offered to share their intended majors; Health Science, Communication science and disorders. USCB(Local school) and USC(State School) as well as Charleston offer Marine Biology as a major. Benedict and Morris College both offer the Forensic Science major. Our neighboring State hosts SCAD, where a handful of seniors plan to get a degree in 2D-3D Animation, as well as a degree in visual effects. Harvard offers a fantastic Mechanical Engineering program to receive a degree in.

All these great schools offer multiple amazing majors for students to choose from. Students can pursue a career in the Arts, Business, law, medical, engineering, entrepreneurship. There are so many opportunities and if any student still struggles talk to any counselor or senior and they'll be happy to give you tips. 

Hilton Head Island High School  egg hunt!

By: Zahara Sellers 

At HHIHS this year, we had our first-ever egg hunt! As part of our Easter holiday celebrations, Ms. Eastham's Event Planning and Entertainment Management class came up with the idea of organizing an egg hunt, inspired by the success of the "Kindness Rocks" activity. Ms. Lee was thrilled with the idea, especially after the loss of a few students earlier in the year. "We thought it would be a great way to boost morale and take advantage of the Easter holiday theme," she said.

To make this happen, the Event Management class first reached out to the PTS for donations. The PTS was generous enough to donate plastic eggs and candy. The class then filled about 150 eggs with candy, with each egg just large enough for a small chocolate bar or two. They also included five golden eggs, each containing a piece of candy and a note that read "Winner - return this golden egg to the EBunny in Y202 for a prize."

The night before the egg hunt, Ms. Lee and Ms. Eastham stayed after school and hid all the eggs around the school. They hid eggs in the hallways, common areas like the cafe and media center, and some in a few classrooms in each hall.

Each person who found a golden egg received a pack of colored pencils,Spring pencils, a small pack of UNO cards, a $10 gift card from the Crab Group (donated by Peyton Booth's mom who owns a few restaurants in the Crab Group), a $5 off coupon for Street Meat (donated by Piper Basciano's parents who own Street Meat), and more candy in a cute little bunny bag.

Andrea Garcia, Kelly Bolchoz, and Jermain (JJ) Owens were three of our lucky golden egg winners. It's not clear whether these  egg hunts will become an annual event at HHIHS. However, we may not do an egg hunt every year, but we will continue to organize similar events just for fun to boost morale or to tie in with a fundraiser.

Military spirit week

By:Rell Strocko

As we end the month of April, HHIHS wants to show their love and support across our school for active military service members and veterans. Starting April 22nd through the 26th there will be a new theme regarding different relations to the military.  

Monday the 22nd, HHIHS started off the week by allowing students to wear your favorite military branch shirt. On Tuesday the 23nd, students are able to wear any camo wear to show off their uniform abilities. Wednesday is purple up day to show we are united with those fighting for us.  Thursday is set to be a red, white and blue day to show off their patriotism. Friday is wear red day. RED stands for, Remember everyone deployed. 

This military spirit week is important because it leads students to engage and remember those who fought for them and their country. Students can often relate to this topic due to the fact that they have parents or family members that are currently in the military or are veterans.

Women's history month trivia

HHIHS X WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

By:Rell Strocko

HHIHS is using its platforms to share trivia about Women's HIstory month! The month of March is dedicated towards the recognition of women. Our animation class at HHIHS and Rho Kappa have worked together to make these clips through canva. 

Each day they share a new trivia fact on the school news show. The questions range from specific women to special events.

The news shown to the entirety of HHIHS, is a great way to spread knowledge about important events in society. Not only does these clubs do a great job portraying the significance of women but also facts and dates to go with it. 

INTERNATIONAL NIGHT

AT HHIHS!!

By:Rell Strocko

HHIHs language classes every year host an international night where they showcase performances, artwork, and food dedicated to their cultures. The classes that show off their cultural involvement are the Spanish classes of all levels, Chinese classes, and French classes. 

One of the Chinese class members, Jack Fielding says, “I really loved learning more about Chinese culture and learning the Tai chi dance.” Jack and many of his other classmates took part in the dance, which Jack led. 

The event took place in the cafeteria from 5-7 pm on April 11th, 2024. Many grades were involved in the making and executing the night. There were performances, karaoke, and many displayed food with information to go along with it. 

Many of the students of HHIHS had good reviews of the night saying, “It was a lot of fun!” Not only was it a success but it was also a good tool for those to be more culturally educated. Videos of the event can be found on the SNN youtube channel. 

Final exams at HHIHS

By:Rell Strocko

As the end of the school year commences, so do finals for each grade. The dates of the finals will be different for some students due to IB and AP testing. Furthermore, IB and AP exams are spread out all across the month of may. 

Seniors have the opportunity to start their final exams earlier than underclassmen. A student, Izzy Terramoccia, who is taking part in the IB English exam says, “It is going to be tough, but a majority of us have put in lots of effort and have been preparing for this for months. I am happy to see the finish line”. The IB test for English will happen Thursday the 9th. 

For senior students who aren't taking IB tests, their finals start the days of May 23-24th. They will be taking two finals each day, with the end result of four finals being completed in two days. 

On the other hand, underclassmen have to take their finals over the span of 4 school days. The dates being, Friday May 24th, No school the 27th, and then the 28th - 30th, and makeups are May 31st, June 3rd,  June 5th (half day and last for students). 

Rising 9th Grade Parent Meeting

At HHIHS!

Isabella Terramoccia

Hilton Head Island High School is hosting a meeting for the parents of rising 9th graders. This meeting will be for parents of current 8th graders who are interested in attending or will be attending Hilton Head Island High School for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 30th at 6:00 pm in the Seahawk Cultural Center (SCC). The tour will begin at 5:30 pm. 

Many parents of rising 9th graders have been inquiring about a tour of the school their child will possibly attend. HHIHS is excited to meet the parents of the class of 2028. The date of the 9th grade orientation will soon be announced; it is expected to be held in mid July. Students will receive a tour and also learn more about the school at orientation.

Mamma Mia

At HHIHS!

Isabella Terramoccia

Hilton Head Island High School’s theater department is putting on the production of the well known musical, Mamma Mia. The Seahawk Stage Company has been working hard on this musical since January, and have been diligently working after school and even on weekends to put on the best performance. The soft opening for the show was April 25th for family and friends. Performances were on April 26th and 27th at 7pm, and on April 28th at 2 pm. The same schedule was followed the next weekend, with 7 pm showings on May 3rd and 4th, and a 2 pm showing on May 5th. 

Ms. Guinn, the head of the theater department, has been working hard on Mamma Mia and has helped put on numerous amazing shows at Hilton Head Island High School. Earlier this year, they performed The Play That Goes Wrong and Clue. Alex Indrigo, junior member of the ensemble cast of Mamma Mia, says, “It’s definitely a lot of work but the product is very fun and rewarding. There are a lot of pieces that go into it and a lot of work to be put in, from building the set to long rehearsals, but it all comes together amazingly in the end and it’s worth it.” This is Indrigo’s first performance with the Seahawk Stage Company, and she hopes to participate in more next year. 

Pi Day Orienteering

At HHIHS
Isabella Terramoccia

As many may know, March 14th is commonly recognized as “Pi-Day” because of the day’s date, 3/14, and the first three numbers of the irrational number, 3.14. Many schools around the country, including Hilton Head Island High School, celebrate Pi-Day by doing various activities. Math teachers may bring in or allow students to bring pies or other themed treats to celebrate, or they may just have a celebration in the classroom that day and perform Pi-Day themed learning activities that are fun for the students.

One Pi-Day activity important to HHIHS is the annual Pi-Day orienteering. This past Thursday on March 14th, Mr. Willard, Mr. Harnishfeger, Lieutenant Commander Pheiffer, and Dr. Gray (teachers and staff), hosted the 18th annual Pi-Day Orienteering Treasure Hunt. On this day, students looked around the campus to find buried treasure by finding solutions to equations to do so. The students had a great time looking for the buried treasure on this beautiful, sunny day. This year, there were sixteen teams competing for two different buried treasures. The 1st winning team included: Hannah Dye, Gray Rezzetano, and Brad Larson, and the 2nd winning team included: Michelle Ocampo, Joey Baird, and Jack Coley. Gray Rezzetano and Joey Baird are two-time winners, as they were on the winning teams last year. These students on the winning teams completed the course and found the buried treasure first.

Themed Spirit Days

At the nest this week!

Isabella Terramoccia

During the week of March 24th, Hilton Head High School will be hosting two themed spirit days on Monday and Tuesday. Monday, March 25th, is “Bunny Monday”.  For a $1.00 donation, students and staff can wear school appropriate pajamas, bunny ears, and/or slippers. The proceeds will go to the Defying the Odds Leukemia and Lymphoma Team.  On Tuesday, March 26th, the theme will be “Orange You Glad It’s Tuesday”. For a $1.00 donation as well, students and staff can wear school appropriate orange attire. The proceeds will also go to the Defying the Odds Leukemia and Lymphoma Team. Those making donations will also receive an orange ribbon handed out by students at the front of the school.  

Hilton Head Island High School has a strong reputation for being involved in many organizations in our community to help make a difference. The school frequently hosts themed spirit days, like these, and fundraisers, to help those in need in our community. Rell Strocko, a senior at Hilton Head Island High School, talks about why she enjoys participating in organized events like these so much. 

“Things like themed spirit days planned by the school are a great way to help others. Everyone has fun doing it and they are making a difference at the same time. I really feel like I am helping something that matters by participating, and who doesn’t love a good dress down day?”

 Mr. Willard's Award

By: Connor Walker

Mr. Willard has been a teacher at Hilton Head Island High School for quite some time now and has made a positive impact on countless students throughout his career. His dedication to his students and his passion for teaching are evident in everything he does. He goes above and beyond to ensure that each student is supported and challenged to reach their full potential.

Not only is Mr. Willard an exceptional educator, but he is also a mentor and role model for his students. He fosters a positive and inclusive classroom environment where every voice is heard and valued. His enthusiasm for learning is contagious, and it motivates his students to strive for excellence in all that they do.

Receiving the FSI Teacher of the month award is a well-deserved honor for Mr. Willard. It serves as a testament to his hard work, dedication, and passion for education. He is a shining example of the outstanding educators that we are fortunate to have in our schools.

If you know of a teacher who deserves to be recognized for their commitment to education, I encourage you to visit the FSI website and nominate them for the Teacher All-Stars award. It is important to show our appreciation for the educators who work tirelessly to support and inspire the next generation. Let's celebrate and recognize the exceptional teachers in our communities who make a difference in the lives of their students every day.

Sports teams that helped during Heritage.

By: Connor Walker

This partnership between Hilton Head Island High School and the Heritage tournament has become a tradition that both sides look forward to each year. Not only does it provide the student athletes with a chance to give back to the community and gain valuable volunteer experience, but it also allows them to be part of a prestigious and well-known event in the area. 

The opportunity to help with the Heritage tournament is not only a way for the students to contribute but also to learn important life skills such as teamwork, communication, and responsibility. They have to coordinate with each other, as well as with event organizers and attendees, in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly. 

In addition to the hands-on experience they gain, the student athletes also have the opportunity to interact with professionals in the golf industry, as well as potential college scouts who may be in attendance. This provides them with valuable networking opportunities that could help them in their future endeavors, whether in sports or another career field. 

Overall, the partnership between Hilton Head Island High School and the Heritage tournament is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. The students get to give back to their community, gain important skills, and make lasting connections, while the tournament receives invaluable support from eager and enthusiastic volunteers. This is just one of the many ways that Hilton Head Island High School continues to make a positive impact on both its students and the community as a whole.