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Class of 2026 faces limited graduation ticket distribution dilemna

published on May 4, 2026
by Evelin Hernandez

As graduation approaches, a new limitation on the number of tickets per student has sparked concerns among families and students.

School officials confirmed that each senior will receive four tickets for the ceremony. According to Head Principal Dameca Harrison, the decision was based on capacity limits at the football field, with the gymnasium serving as a backup venue that also has strict occupancy limits.

Increasing the number of tickets is not currently possible. Harrison explained that the decision was made to ensure fairness.

"We divided the number of graduates by the capacity of the field, and four tickets were the fairest number we could give each student," Harrison said.

She also noted that legal restrictions prevent exceeding the maximum number of attendees allowed in either location.

Health and PE Department Chair and Graduation Coordinator Julieann Moore stated that other options were considered and the decision was difficult to make.

“We looked at different possibilities, but we can't legally increase the number of people allowed in the field or gym,” Moore said.

So far, feedback from students and parents has been limited. According to Harrison, little response has been received from the community regarding the ticket policy.

One student, Brittany Rodriguez, said the restriction does not affect her personally.

"I'm okay with it because I honestly have exactly four people to go to graduation," Rodriguez said.

However, she emphasized that having friends attend is very important. Although the decision ultimately does not affect her, she did state that she believes administration could have handled the situation differently for those who do have big families.

While the tickets may not affect every student equally, the policy highlights the challenge schools face in balancing safety, fairness, and the desire for families to celebrate important milestones together.

HC Seniors question why Grad Nite was limited to so few spots

published on May 4, 2026
by Abril Rosales

For many seniors, the excitement for their final year of high school is always involved with activities that excite them the most. However, why is there a limited number to attend? Every school has its own rules and regulations, which can limit who attends.

Senior students look forward to doing all the activities in their last year of high school. In the last year of high school, you attend senior sunrise, homecoming, prom, senior ditch day, grad night, and even attend the last games of the year. Among all these activities, Grad Night is the last field trip for seniors. This is a time seniors can attend and feel free and worry-free about assignments and plans.

This year, the school decided to send out only 50 permission slips. First-come, first-served to save your spot. The question many are asking is, why can't there be more permission slips and more spots?

Teacher and class of 2026 sponsor, Julio Vega, focused on making sure students got to experience and enjoy going on grad night after everything they have done the past years.

Vega’s viewpoint is not for the student to have a certain GPA, just to be on track.

“We want to award students who have done everything right to get to the finish line. I don't think it would be fair for students who have high truancy or disciplinary issues to be allowed to go on a trip,” Vega said.

Senior sponsor Kimberly Syler believes having a certain number of students attend the field trip can be beneficial, but this is not why there is a limited amount. Staff have to follow the School City of Hammond guidelines and regulations.

“The reason for the limitations is due to the rules that the School City of Hammond implemented. We have to have enough money in the school account to cover the cost of the tickets,” Syler said.

Despite the guidelines and rules staff have to follow due to the district, it is also important to know that the students want to participate, or even if the school is hosting fundraisers matters as well.

The history behind how Women's History Month began

published on May 4, 2026
by Meghan St. Hilaire

Every year since 1987 March is designated as Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation, the month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history.

Women’s history Month first began as a local celebration in Santa Rosa,California. The education Task Force of the Sonoma County (California) Commission on the Status of Women planned and executed a “Women’s History Week” celebration back in 1978.

The organizers selected the week of March 8th to correspond with International Women’s Day. The movement spread across the country as other communities initiated their own Women’s History Week celebrations the following year.

In 1980 a consortium of women’s groups and historians, led by the National Women’s History Project, successfully lobbied for national recognition.

In February 1980 Former President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8th 1980 as National Women’s Week.

“But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America were as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well,” Former President Jimmy Carter said.

Why do we celebrate Women’s history month?

Women’s history month is a dedicated month to reflect on the very often overlooked contributions of women to US history.

From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, the timeline of women’s history milestones stretches all the way back to the founding of the United States.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many women started to campaign for women’s rights, particularly the right to vote. This became known as the suffragist movement.

A few women's history month honors: Among the notable figures often spotlighted during Women’s History Month are Sacagawea, a Native American woman who helped make Lewis and Clark’s expedition to map parts of the West in the early 19th century a success; Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, who fought for equality for women in the mid-19th century, more than 70 years before the 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote in the United States in 1920; Harriet Tubman, a spy who led slaves to freedom during the Civil War; Amelia Earhart, one of the world’s first female pilots; Madeleine Albright, who became the first female Secretary of State in 1996.

These figures are important to women because they demonstrate women’s contributions, struggles for equality and amazing achievements which give many women valuable lessons and inspiration.

Beyond luck: The history of St. Patrick’s Day

published on May 4, 2026
by Lakeyliona Tyler

St. Patrick's Day is a day to celebrate – whether it is a simple party, a parade, festivals, and normal cultural traditions that have been followed for centuries. But have you ever wondered why it’s celebrated? Or how it even began in the first place and why?

St. Patrick's day began as a religious feast day around the 9th or 10th century in Ireland, it was originally known as "The Feast of Saint Patrick” and has always been traditionally celebrated on March 17th. But why march? Well it is believed to be the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death.

That is another topic that people have always often asked, Who was St. Patrick?

St. Patrick was a 5th century missionary in Ireland who brought christianity to Ireland. It is mainly celebrated to honor St. Patrick, Irish culture/heritage, and the patron saint of Ireland with parades, wearing green, and festive meals.

Today, wearing the color green represents the shamrock, Ireland's national flower, and serves as a symbol of Irish nationalism and pride dating back to at least the 18th century. Once it popularized in the U.S., a legend began that wearing green on the holiday would prevent a leprechaun’s pinch.

From an article written by Patrick Kilkelly, he interviewed Michelle O’Dwyer who was born in Ireland, he asked her what was the significance of St. Patrick's Day to her was.

“It was about bringing Christianity to Ireland. The shamrock was a symbol of the holy trinity,” O’Dwyer said.

St. Patrick's Day is also known to celebrate with parades, but when was the first parade?

The first parade dates back to St. Augustine, Florida in 1601 — U.S. parades started happening in the 17000’s in cities like Boston and New York.

From a Reddit discussion post there were mixed reactions about St. Patrick's Day parade, but they generally view them as a mix of a family - friendly local fun, a boost for tourism, and, increasingly, a somewhat commercialized spectacle.

St. Patrick's Day was mainly celebrated by church services, family gatherings, and wearing shamrocks to honor the patron saint. Originating in the 9th/10th century. Now St. Patrick's Day is mainly celebrated with parades, parties, and wearing green worldwide with family and friends.

Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony Information

published on March 13, 2026
by Sarahi Macedo

The graduation ceremony for the Class of 2026 will take place on Sunday May 31, 2026, at the Hammond Central football field at 2:00 p.m.

All seniors will receive four guest tickets for the graduation ceremony. If the ceremony moves inside due to the weather, the tickets will be limited to two as it will take place in the main gym.

According to Kira Floyd, a senior at Hammond Central High School, the number of tickets assigned to each student is unfair because last year's graduating class had more available space they were given more tickets

“Why was last year's class able to graduate at Wolf Lake Pavilion and had more tickets, while we have to graduate on our football field?” Floyd questioned.

To graduate, students must complete many requirements. These include completing all required credits, earning the Core 40, completing FAFSA, and filling out a form confirming community hours, employment, or an end-of-the-year project. Students must also attend graduation practice; if they do not, they will not be able to walk the stage during the ceremony.

The rehearsal for the commencement ceremony will take place during school hours on Friday, May 29. Attendance and participation is MANDATORY for any student who wishes to walk the stage. Rehearsal is where all students will receive their tickets.

Administration is also suggesting that any ladies planning to wear shoes with heels, bring them to the rehearsal to practice walking on the field and to ensure the shoes will wear well on the turf.

Graduation is an important event for seniors as their final year of high school ends, and it prepares them for their plans after graduation. According to senior Gabriela Perez, she is most excited to receive her diploma after working hard throughout the past four years.

“I’m excited to graduate and start college finally, but I'll miss high school and all the memories I made,” Perez said.

Caps can be decorated, but the design must be approved by an administrator beforehand. The decorations must be two-dimensional, lay flat, and not protrude off of the cap. Any words or phrases must be appropriate for the ceremony and must not use profanity, offensive, or insensitive language.

Students are advised to ensure that the button for the tassel is accessible, as all graduates will need to move their tassels from one side to the other.

All graduates are also advised that if any cap design does not match what was submitted, is decorated without approval, or designs protrude off the cap, administration reserves the right to confiscate any cap until the end of the ceremony. It has also been mentioned not to start the decorating process until after the administration has approved the design.

This year, graduates are allowed to wear custom, non-school-issued stoles, but they must be approved by administration prior to the ceremony. A form will be sent out at a later date.

The American Heart Association redefines heart health during American Heart Month

published on March 13, 2026
by Ceniyah Whitelow

As American Heart Month kicked off this past February, health organizations like the American Heart Association are shifting the focus from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has recently updated its core guidance, introducing "Life’s Essential 8" (eat better, move more, quit tobacco, get healthy, sleep, manage weight, control cholesterol, and manage blood sugar) as the gold standard for cardiovascular wellness. A notable addition to this list is sleep health, which now sits alongside traditional factors like diet and exercise as a critical pillar for a healthy heart.

Experts are highlighting that heart disease is not just a "man’s disease," noting that it kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. To combat this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends "small changes" as the foundation of their prevention strategy. This includes swapping sugary drinks for water and aiming for at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week to significantly lower the risk of heart-related events.

The Push for Nationwide CPR Readiness
With Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) claiming over 350,000 lives in the U.S. annually, the Red Cross used February to push for "nationwide preparedness." Most cardiac arrests happen at home, meaning the life you save is likely to be a loved one.

The statistics are stark: for every minute that passes without CPR or a pulse from a defibrillator, the chance of survival drops by seven percent to 10 percent. However, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival.

Organizations are now emphasizing "Hands-Only CPR" for the first few minutes of an adult cardiac arrest, a method that requires no mouth-to-mouth contact and can be performed by anyone. Digital certificates are also becoming the standard for training, making it easier for local employers to verify life-saving skills in the workplace.

Addressing Heart Disease in the U.S.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women across most racial and ethnic groups in the United States, with one person dying every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease. Currently, about 47 percent of all Americans have at least one of the three major "silent" risk factors: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or a history of smoking.

In response, the CDC is utilizing data to track "hot spots" of heart disease geographically to better direct public health resources. Beyond individual choices, there is a growing movement toward policy changes.

The AHA is currently advocating for stricter laws regarding smoke-free air and taxes on sugary drinks to create a healthier environment for the next generation. They are also keeping a close watch on emerging threats, specifically highlighting vaping and nicotine use as significant risks to heart health in youth.

You can read more with the original site https://www.heart.org/en/

February is National Eating Disorder Awareness Month

published on March 13, 20206
by Meghan St. Hilaire

February is National Eating Disorder Awareness Month. Eating disorders often start in the teens and early 20’s, but they can happen later. So how do you help a teen with an eating disorder?

“Teens see very thin models on TV and touched-up pictures of celebrities online. These images are everywhere, and they make many teens question the way they look” Mental Health America said.

Different types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. A person with anorexia nervosa would limit food intake, and have a very low weight. They are scared to gain any sort of weight and they do not want to be overweight.

A person with bulimia nervosa would eat large amounts of food but then immediately go purge, or throw it up. A person with binge eating disorder would eat large amounts of food with no control. They eat alone and faster than normal.

“Eating disorders are among the deadliest mental diseases because of their devastating effect on our brain;s ability to nourish our bodies.” Luce Health said.

Eating disorders mess with your brain's ability to tell you when you’re hungry or full, which can lead to serious health problems and even death. Disrupted eating behaviors negatively affect the amount of nutrient absorption, which means the brain doesn't get the nutrients it needs to function properly. Eating disorders tend to affect the mind before the body.

According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, approximately 24 million people in the United States suffer from an eating disorder. These are mental health conditions in which there is a persistent disturbance of eating behavior and impairment of physical or mental health.

Eating disorders, which include Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, Bulimia, and Avoidant Restrictive Eating Disorder, are one of the deadliest mental illnesses, second only to opioid addiction. These eating disorders are the deadliest mental illnesses because of extreme physical damage, high suicide risk and severe complications.

Women with anorexia have extremely low body weight compared to others of the same age, sex and physical health. Women who are experiencing anorexia struggle with body dysmorphia. Body dysmorphia is when a person has a mental health condition in which they cannot stop thinking about one or more perceived defects or flaws in their appearance. Women with anorexia think they are overweight even when they are very thin. There are also correlations between having low self-esteem and anxiety and may be developing anorexia.

Bulimia involves episodes of binge eating that is then followed by compensating behaviors such as forced vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics, fasting, excessive exercise, or a combination of all of these. People who are experiencing bulimia may appear to be underweight, normal weight or even overweight.

Fifteen percent of women will suffer from disordered eating by the age of 40. Most people who have an eating disorder will have their first episode by age 25.

If you are suffering from any type of eating disorder, please go to a doctor and seek treatment, go to a website if you need help. Support is what you need.

School start times should begin later in day studies prove

published on March 13, 2026
by Ariyah Smith

School at Hammond Central starts at 7:15 a.m, which many students feel is very early. When alarms go off in the morning, many teens often feel tired and wish they could get more sleep before coming to school.

Many students say waking up early makes mornings difficult. It can make students feel sleepy in class and find it harder to focus on lessons. Some claim they feel drowsy during the first few classes because they are still tired.

Sophomore Koutrney Williams agrees that waking up early is hard. She says it can be difficult to get out of bed and be ready for school so early in the morning.

Sometimes the only thing many enjoy in the morning is seeing friends before and after class. Talking with friends can make the day feel easier, even when everyone feels tired.

Many students wish school started later so they could get more sleep and feel more awake during the day. Getting more rest could help them pay attention in class and learn better.

One study found that compared with students whose schools started between 8 a.m. and 8:29 a.m., those in schools starting between 8:30 a.m. and 8:59 a.m. had longer sleep duration, less negative mood, and better developmental outcomes including socioemotional health, cognitive development, behavioral health, and physical health (Pediatrics, Vol. 149, No. 6, 2022).

Dr. Kyla Wahlstrom, an educational policy researcher at the University of Minnesota, has been studying start times since the 1990s. In an article published by the American Psychological Association, Wahlstrom stated that adolescent health is significantly improved by having later start time with reductions in substance use, suicidality, and depression.

“This isn’t a silver bullet to improve test scores. It’s a public health policy,” Wahlstrom said.

Another review found later start times were correlated with better attendance, less tardiness, less falling asleep in class, better grades, and fewer car crashes (Wheaton, A. G., et al., Journal of School Health, Vol. 86, No. 5, 2016).

ICE Presence Raises Concerns in Chicago and Indiana

photo credit: Richard Requena NWI Times

published on February 12, 2026
by Rosalinda Cisneros

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Chicago and parts of Indiana has raised concerns about fear, trust, and safety in immigrant communities. Even in cities that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement, ICE continues to operate, which has affected many families and neighborhoods.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana, police departments in Hamilton County and the cities of Hammond and Munster shared personal information, including names and jail records, with ICE. The ACLU discovered this through public records requests and stated that this type of cooperation can lead to immigrants being detained or deported, even if they were not charged with serious crimes. Advocates say this information sharing can damage trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement.

In Chicago, ICE continues to make arrests despite the city being a sanctuary city. Sanctuary policies are meant to limit cooperation between local police and ICE, but ICE still conducts its own investigations and arrests. As a result, many immigrant families feel anxious and unsafe. Some people avoid going to school, work, or public places because they fear unexpected arrests.

Katy Cortez, a local high school student at Hammond Central High School , shared her perspective on how ICE activity affects her community. She said ICE’s presence creates fear rather than safety for families.

“When ICE is around, people are always worried about what could happen next. Families feel stressed, and kids come to school scared.” Cortez said.

Cortez also explained that fear of ICE can stop people from reporting crimes or asking for help.

“People don’t want to talk to the police because they’re afraid it could lead to immigration problems. That makes the whole community less safe,” Cortez said.

Community organizations have responded by offering legal support and “know your rights” workshops to help immigrants understand their protections. Advocates argue that more transparency and less cooperation with ICE could help rebuild trust and improve public safety.

Students around the region have been utilizing their First Amendment rights in recent weeks to take a stance against the recent local ICE activity. On Feb. 6, students at East Chicago Central High School rallied outside of their school to protest against ICE.

As many students within the school community at HC are affected by the recent activity, students followed suit and arranged their own “walk out” on Mon. Feb. 9. With signs and flags in hand, the student body stood in solidarity with one another to peacefully protest against ICE.

Overall, ICE enforcement in both Chicago and Indiana has increased fear and mistrust in immigrant communities. Many residents and advocates believe changes are needed to protect families, strengthen trust, and ensure safety for everyone.

photo credit: Veronica Garcia

HC administration cracks down on second semester policies and procedures

published on February 12, 2026
by Abril Rosales

Hammond Central’s administration is aiming to improve changes and guidelines to do better for students regarding lunches and IDs for the remainder of the 2025-2026 school year.

After many students were not complying with the rules and going against them over the past years, Hammond Central has now decided to enforce stricter rules. The administration will no longer be lenient and will focus on priorities dealing with safety first.

Assistant Principal William Danko is focused on having students follow the policies and procedures regarding lunches and IDs. Danko’s main focus is for every student to know and understand the rules that are being made during school hours in order for them to be in a safe environment.

“The ID expectations were discussed for many hours about how we could make it easy for everyone to understand and follow,” Danko said.

Principal Dameca Harrison has also been very strict on these expectations.

One of the main things staff tries to avoid during school hours are accidents, threats, or people who do not belong in the building. This is why knowing who each student is by wearing an ID is important to Harrison.

“This ensures we know who is in the building at all times and helps maintain a safe environment for everyone,” Harrison said.

Even though staff are enforcing the rules about IDs, they are also focusing on students' lunches. Many students attend multiple lunches or the wrong lunch, causing chaos and not attending their class afterwards.

Student Aileen Villela from 12th grade believes that staff should be more strict with lunches. She believes there should be staff at the lunch doors checking if the students belong to that lunch by looking at their schedules, names, and IDs.

“If they want to stop people from going to multiple lunches, then yes, it’ll take up time but it’ll stop all students from attempting and stopping to attend a lunch they don't belong to,” Villela said.

Junior Kimberly Tejeda also agreed with staff standing at the front doors of lunch. She believes it would help to not have students all over the place where they don't belong.

“It would make sure students are in the correct lunch and to keep order. It could even let them get a reminder to go to their designated class time or lunch,” Tejeda said.

Over time, Hammond Central's administration has been seeing a lot of improvement. Students are now walking in the building with IDs on and attending their assigned lunches while heading to the right class afterwards.

Hammond Central staff have really high hopes for this school semester to keep improving school policies and the overall safety of the student body. Ensuring policies and procedures are followed allows a higher rate of safety and a much lower rate of any issues to arise.

Admin stress that senior class pranks pose serious consequences

published on February 12, 2026
by Meghan St. Hilare

Every year since Hammond Central has been open, the lack of senior pranks has disappointed many people. Will this year be any different?

The lack of senior pranks have disappointed the senior Wolves, and this year proved to be the same. While there are mixed feelings about students pulling a senior prank, many seniors see pranks as a traditionally fun way to mark one’s high school experience.

One hurdle that causes issues is that the administration and student council might not agree upon the same ideas for what is an appropriate prank. The biggest concerns are around safety, property damage or disruptions to learning.

Class of 2024’s senior prank involved students attaching sticky notes to different places around the building such as lockers, teacher’s classrooms, etc. Not so bad, right?

Senior Dean, Kimberly Montero, stated that one of her responsibilities is to make sure that the senior activities are school appropriate and follow Hammond Central’s rules by any means necessary.

“Students could work with the student council or administrators to propose ideas ahead of time. Planning ahead and communicating expectations could possibly allow pranks to return in a way that is approved and safe,” Montero said.

Student council member and senior Benjamin Pachowicz, had high hopes for senior pranks and other activities. Being on the student council as a senior means planning out senior events throughout the school year.

“I think it’s a shame that we lost the senior year prank. It’s basically a staple of high school like prom and the senior trip,” Pachowicz said.

Pachowicz did not share any potential ideas for this year’s possible senior prank, but has high hopes for some of the other activities that the student council is working on for seniors.

Admin and Student council both have to work together in order to have memorable senior activities such as the return of an annual senior prank. As of now, seniors are not allowed to participate in pranks.

Anyone caught having a hand in any type of prank will not be allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony.

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