2022-2023: Issue 1 

Sept. 23rd Release - New field, new opportunities for HCHS

New field, new opportunities for HCHS
by Trinity Austin & Juderson Blair 

Things are looking up for Hammond Central High School as the new school year brings the opening of the brand new, state of the art athletic field. 

The football field has brought hope to all of the athletic coaches and teachers. Adam Hudak, HC’s head football coach, stated how the convenience has improved since they have gotten a new field. Since the team does not need to wait for transportation to head over to Gavit High School/ Middle School’s field, they now have newfound time to hit the field and practice hard. 

Having to play at Morton all of last year, the football team now feels relieved to have their own field to play on.  

The senior wide receiver, Jordan Woods, was very pleased with not having to play games on other fields.  

“There is definitely a different vibe when you get to play on your own home field,” Woods said. 

According to Athletic Director, Chris Moore, the growing impatience with the arrival of the field was caused simply by common construction delays. 

“There were many delays due to supplies not being available, along with a few other events that caused the field to take longer than it should have,” Moore said.

Despite the delay athletic teachers and coaches alike see new opportunities being made with the field. Sue Mathewson, one of the gym teachers of Hammond Central, also felt very optimistic about the new field. 

“I’m very excited to go out on the football field and use the track and the football field for gym activities. The only concern I have is getting back into the building after we go outside, but it is a beautiful facility and I’m very excited about the opportunities for our students,” Mathewson said. 

During the fall, the football field/track is occupied by the football team and girls and boys soccer team, including cross country occasionally doing practices. During the spring, the track uses the field while the baseball and softball team also uses the field for practices every so often. 

With the estimated price of the standard-size football/soccer field being three to five million dollars, the Wolves finally have their own place to call home. 

Located on the North side of the building, behind the Civic Center the football field is now accessible and available for various uses including teams, clubs, and classes.

Sept. 23rd Release - The Wolves go marching in 

The Wolves go marching in 

by Maria Uvalle 

Band is a big part of the high school experience whether you are a member of the band or watching them perform. Band might not mean much to others but for some students it could be everything for them. 

Hammond Central High School has multiple bands ranging from a rock band to an orchestra band. You might ask yourself, Why does a school need so many different bands?

Students not only get to play with instruments but they are able to be a part of a group that also enjoys the music you do. But why should we have a band at all? 

“Our students express themselves through music and support various school events. It's a great experience for anyone who wants to play an instrument,” Suwardi said.

Suwardi is one of Hammond Central’s band instructors that helps the students learn and work with the instruments to become better musicians. Suwardi plays brass, percussion, strings, piano, and many other instruments herself. 

“I love band and working with others. I loved this experience and knew this was the perfect career for me,” Suwardi said. 

Another band instructor at HC is Joseph McCoy. He became a teacher at Hammond Central because he stated he always had a love for band, and then developed a love for teaching. 

“Band allows students an outlet to express their creativity and love for the art of music. ” McCoy said. 

McCoy plays the clarinet and he believes all instruments are important in a band. 

Not only do the instructors love it but so do the students. Sophomore Frank Rucinski shares the same passion as McCoy and believes it is all about feeling the rhythm of the music. 

“Band is important because it teaches students responsibility and gives us the opportunity to do something else outside of school,” Rucinski said. 

The Hammond Central marching band can be seen performing Friday nights at the football games. 

The Hammond Central marching band performing at the September 16th football game against Pioneer High School where the theme for the student section was "Christmas in July." 

Suwardi and her students hard at work learning new music during orchestra class. 

Sept. 23rd Release - New year, new expectations

New year, new expectations

by Alexi Cook & Amari Tucker

As we begin the new 22-23 school year, there are a lot more rules in place than there were last year. The staff and security guards at Hammond Central are taking it upon themselves to make sure that students know, understand, and respect the new rules and expectations. 

As last year was the first for everyone, hopes were high coming into the new school year. Head Principal David Verta believes year two will be even better. 

“Coming into last year, it was a challenging year because of the consolidation. The one thing we really tried to work on was getting everybody comfortable with the building so that we could start growing as a family and a team,” Verta said.  

He also stated that his biggest focus last year was getting the teachers and students settled in, especially with making sure that positive relationships were made.

Being less than a month into the second school year, there are still many improvements to be made. According to Verta, he still wants to focus on the culture of the building and making respectful relationships amongst the staff and students. 

The staff would like the students to know that every adult figure is here to help them, whether it be a teacher, security guard, or even lunch and custodial staff. 

As students may know, last year a few privileges were taken away such as, allowing the students to eat outside the cafeteria, allowing students to walk around and socialize during lunch periods, and vending machines were cut off during school hours. 

This year they have upgraded to outside dining for groups of students as long as you provide an I.D. They will be doing a lot more school celebrations before breaks and big events. However the three As (academics, attitude and attendance) will be taken into consideration with many of these activities.

With behavior, also comes new rules for in-school-suspension (ISS) and out-of-school-suspension (OSS). 

Suspension-Expulsion Interventionist Jermaine Boyette explains that there are new disciplinary techniques that he, Emily Kolat, and Lamika Obichere are using to help resolve issues students may have. 

“To keep them in school we’ve added social workers, psychiatrists, and more resources so that the kids can reach out to certain people. As far as putting them out of school we’ve also added alternative schools,” Boyette said.  

Administration and staff hope for a successful and smooth sailing year two. It is up to the student body to help make that possible.

Sept. 23rd Release - Student Council Blood Drive

Student Council Blood Drive

Junior Leonardo Arambula doing his part and donating blood at the first drive of the school year. 

by Asia Griffin & Julieta Villanueva

Hammond Central’s student council hosted the first blood drive of the year on September 13 in the auxiliary gym through Versiti Blood Center. 

Donating blood comes with a lot of questions and concerns. People want to make sure the decision they are  making is for a good cause. 

According to the student council sponsor, CeEtter Carpenter-Stevens, the blood being donated by students and staff members is given to patients in need who live in the region, and every pint of blood donated saves up to three lives. 

“I have family members with sickle cell anemia, so being able to save a life by hosting a blood drive and donating myself are just ways to give back,” Carpenter-Stevens said. 

The blood drive provides safety procedures such as safety checks that are placed for participants to donate. Height, weight, blood type and anemia are all safety precaution measures checked before donating. 

The risk in donating blood is getting nausea and dizziness. The benefits of donating are saving the lives of others in your community. Health problems that might prevent you from donating would be Anemia and being underweight. 

If you want to know if your blood is healthy to donate, you should check with the donation staff or check with your primary doctor. If you ever want to know how or who you helped with donating your blood you need to contact Versiti or Red Cross.

Versiti Blood Center workers do their part to help with the day's donors. 

Sept. 23rd Release - Hammond Mayor shuts down basketball courts indefinitely

Hammond mayor shuts down basketball courts indefinitely 

by Jaylen Steward

Martin Luther King Jr. Park, a very commonly used park for the citizens of Hammond has recently shut down the basketball rims after a three night span of two different shootings occurring at the park.

On Thursday August 11, 2022 the first of the two shootings at MLK park happened at approximately 8 p.m. This resulted in two teenage boys being hospitalized. Then only two days later there was another shooting which caused the death of 39 year old Julius Brooks. After this series of unfortunate events, Mayor Tom McDermott felt he had no other choice than to take down the basketball rims indefinitely.

The mayor is just as grief stricken as the rest of the city as he made a public statement following this catastrophe.

"To see the violence taking place at this park is disheartening and I think we need a time-out, so to speak, and let the situation calm down," McDermott said in a press release on social media. 

In regards to why the decision was made to take down the rims McDermott spoke on the recent negative activity that has transpired on the courts and stated that those carrying weapons to or near the basketball courts is unacceptable behavior.  

McDermott also stated that the courts will be reopened eventually but for the meantime, they would remain closed until further notice. 

"I imagine that eventually we'll have them reopen, but right now we need to let the situation cool down," McDermott said.

As for the shootings it is unknown if the two were related but to add some positive light the man responsible for the first shooting of the two teenagers has been arrested.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park entrance. 

Basketball courts at the MLK Memorial Park. 

Sept. 23rd Release - What to know about Monkey pox

What to know about monkeypox

by Mya Hurley & Aavia Taylor

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by an infection with the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox is part of the same family of viruses as the variola virus, the virus that causes smallpox. It usually affects rodents such as rats, mice, monkeys, etc., but it can appear in people also. It is characterized by a fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a widespread rash. 

When people get infected with monkeypox, they get a rash on their hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth. The rash goes through different phases, which start as flat spots, then turn into blisters, then scabs before healing. 

Other symptoms include fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, muscle aches and backache, headache, and respiratory problems. 

There are a total of 20,733 confirmed cases in the USA and 178 in Indiana. While there are no treatments specifically for monkeypox virus infections, monkeypox and smallpox  are genetically similar, the antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to fight smallpox may be used to prevent and treat monkeypox virus infections. 

Antiviral drugs and vaccines that were developed to protect against smallpox may be used to prevent and treat the monkeypox virus. You can prevent monkeypox by avoiding any objects and materials used by an infected person. You can also prevent the spread of the monkeypox virus by avoiding touching or handling clothes, sheets, blankets, or any other materials used or that have been in contact with an infected person or animal. 

If you have symptoms of monkeypox, you should talk to your healthcare provider, even if you do not think you have had contact with someone who has monkeypox.

Sept. 23rd Release - Wolves football rushing for success

Wolves football rushing for success

by Kamiyah Johnson & Miracle Williams

As the 2022-2023 football season is underway, Hammond Central Wolves finally have a field of their own to call home. 

The opening of the 2022-2023 school year has brought many new policies and procedures into play, but the completion of the sports stadium has given new hope for Hammond Central sports teams, especially football. 

Varsity Head Coach Adam Hudak, who has led the Wolves football program since the opening of the new school, expressed enthusiasm for the recently completed field. 

“The new field is amazing. I've heard nothing but positive comments from opposing players and coaches as well,” Hudak said. 

With a 4-1 winning record, the boys football team has had a fiery start to their season so far. The Wolves took their first win of the season playing South Bend Washington High School while on the road, ending in a 30-6 defeat over the Panthers. 

Giving the team their only loss on the season so far, the Valparaiso Vikings dominated the field, ending in a 52-0 upset over the Wolves. 

Week three, and home opener for the Wolves, resulted in a 48-6 win over the South Bend Clay Colonials, where senior wide receiver, Jordan Woods, had 78.3 rushing yards, and sophomore wide receiver, Dashawn Woods, with 63 rushing yards. 

Along with the Colonials, the Trojans from Highland High School also fell to the Wolves 26-0 in the Wolves second home game of the season. 

Varsity’s starting quarterback and sophomore, Brandon Burney, who has been playing football for six years now, discussed the importance of teamwork. 

“The key to winning games is ensuring everyone on the team is doing their job,” Burney said. 

The Wolves dominated the Pioneer High School Panthers this past Friday with a 46-22 win as parents, staff and students celebrated the class of 2023 Senior Night. 

The boys football team hopes to continue their winning streak against the East Chicago Central Cardinals in this upcoming weeks’ homecoming game Friday September 23rd.

Sept. 23rd Release - HC Boys Tennis

Hammond Central Boys Tennis

by Jaylon Richardson & Alejandro Velazquez 

A young Hammond Central boys tennis team continues to work hard through the end of their regular season. 

Being the only two upperclassmen on the team, juniors Miguel Quintas and Andy Ramos have had to step up and help lead the young wolf pack throughout the season. 

Head Coach and Hammond Central Project Based Learning Coach, Nathan Foor, has helped guide his young pack of seven in his 21st season of coaching tennis. 

"We are an 'up and coming' team, but we are always looking for and accepting new players," Foor said. 

According to Foor, baseball was his favorite sport to play as a kid, along with basketball. However, he loved to play tennis with his dad for fun and developed a love for it that ran just as deep. 

Many of Foor's players have never played tennis before, so practice, drills, and getting the players to pick up a racket all year round is one of the coach's main goals when conditioning his players. He stated that each season the players are always committed and continuously working on improving their skills. 

“Being a coach is never easy. You have athletes at a variety of skill sets. There are different personalities, lots of demands, and personal and family sacrifice. Coaching is a labor of love,“ Foor said. 

The Wolves play their last match of the regular season Thursday September 22 at Harrison Park. The team will be having a cook out during the match to celebrate the season, which all are welcome to join. 

Sept. 23rd Release - Girls Golf swings into competition

Girls' Golf swings into competition

by Adalynn Garza 

Hammond Central girls golf is underway this year as the lady wolves golf team is led by Head Coach Randy Chavez.

Chavez previously coached at former George Rogers Clark High school for six years and truly enjoyed teaching students the ins and outs of the game. As soon as the coaching position opened up at Hammond Central, it was an opportunity that he could not pass up. 

“My goal this year is for my returning varsity players to not have any circles on their score cards,” Chavez said. 

According to Chavez, he has a solid team this year and they are doing much better than last season.

“We didn't have any wins last year but this year we beat Calumet High School and lost to BNI by 15 strokes,” Chavez said. 

Returning player and team captain, AnaCeclia Cornejo, stated that playing for the girls’ golf team has been a fun and amazing experience. 

“Being captain and being able to be a positive role model for my teammates is a big accomplishment, but what I really want to focus on is surpassing my score from last year’s sections,” Cornejo said. 

Senior America Guerrero also agreed with teammate Cornejo about the experience this season being fun and exciting. According to Guerrero, every practice and game is an opportunity to learn something new and become better at the game. 

“We play in a very healthy and comfortable environment. There’s no anxiety or too much going on around you. It’s just you, the ball, the clubs, and your team of course,” Guerrero said. 

The team stands at an overall 4-1 and recently competed in sectionals on September 16th against Valparaiso. 

Sept. 23rd Release - Hammond Central Gamer's Club

by Azaleah Frechette & Julie Ortiz

Hammond Central’s Gaming Club is preparing for their first call-out meeting and plans to hold a first ever Dungeons and Dragons campaign.

Joining clubs is a great way to meet new people with similar interests. High School students tend to have a lot of hobbies, gaming typically included. Students can enjoy playing video games and meeting new people at the same time in the Hammond Central Gaming Club. 

The gaming club originally started at Hammond High and transitioned over to Hammond Central with the consolidation. It is inclusive and open to anyone who would like to join. Freshmen Social Studies teacher, Anthony Amador, and Freshmen English teacher, Julio Vega, are both co-sponsors of the gaming club.

“When we came into the new building, the previous main co-sponsor wanted to do more in another club and I became the main pusher for gaming in Hammond Central. It sort of just happened. I've been involved for the full four years I have been employed by SCH,” Amador said.

The gaming club has a variety of gaming consoles to play on and an even wider variety of games to play. From Xbox to Playstation, even Nintendo Wii, there is a console for most members' accommodations. The club is planing on purchasing more TV’s for their Playstation players and is planning on having their call-out sometime during mid September. 

For students interested who do not want to play competitively, the club is making a distinction between competitive and casual players. If you are interested in playing competitively, you would have that option in the future. 

“Right now we can’t move forward in making teams but that hopefully will be soon. If the kids really wanted a smash tournament, we would help those who are  interested in getting that going,” Amador said. 

New this year is the sparked interest that many students as of late have showed for the Dungeon and Dragons campaign being held. Dungeons and Dragon is a fantasy, tabletop role-playing game that is usually played indoors. Typically, one of the players will be the Dungeon Master, while the other participants create and play as fictional characters in a fictional setting. 

August 30th, Amador held a character creation day, allowing students to create their characters for the up coming campaign. Though how long the campaign lasts will vary, as Amador stated that students will be spending most of the year building their character with their friends. 

“It’s nice to have a space where underclassmen and upperclassmen with different interests can hang. Everyone gets along and we just have fun. We try new things and hope to make friends. So long as there are some kids in our school who would like to play, we’ll try to give them a space,” Amador said.

Sept. 23rd Release - Strategies and Checkmates 

by Samme Jones & Jon'Trece Thorpe

As year two of Hammond Central commences, the Chess Club, led by a second-year teacher, Aaron McWaters, looks to start competing not just amongst themselves, but against other schools in the area. 

McWaters took an interest in chess over the pandemic, leading him to begin coaching younger players. He believes that his team is competitive enough to have a successful team. Although they have not competed in any official matches as of yet, they have been practicing new moves and strategies. 

One of the star players on the team is Omar Padilla-Moreno. Omar is a 14-year-old freshman who took an interest in chess in 3rd grade. He started playing chess for fun with his dad when he was younger. He joined Hammond Central’s Chess club to get better. 

The chess club is always welcoming any new students with a competitive spirit and the curiosity to learn new strategies to become a member.

Sept. 23rd Release - Parking lot traffic jam

Editorial by Lisette Ariza 

A car ride can either be very calm or very frustrating, and during this school year, the car rides have been more frustrating than anything. Having a car ride go from a five minute drive into a 15 minute drive is one of the most frustrating parts about driving to and from school. Not to mention, after a long day of school, you do not want to deal with bumper to bumper traffic. 

When leaving the school, you can always find Principal Verta standing outside, monitoring the congregation of students making their way home. He did acknowledge how traffic is an issue, especially being surrounded by residential and business areas.  He described the traffic as unfortunate but definitely something that could be remedied sooner or later. 

Verta stated that he has requested to have police officers help with traffic, such as having officers with their cruiser lights on, directing traffic. Hopefully the Hammond Police Department will consider the extra hands for this particular issue. 

One major issue with the commute comes from the stop lights. It takes forever to turn into and turn out of the parking lot in the morning and in the afternoon, as the Highland St. entrance is the only light that has a left turn only light. The Eaton St. light does not have a left turn arrow, which can cause some back up when trying to make a left turn from and onto Calumet Ave.

On top of the stop light issues, another factor that has been causing delays is due to the amount of people who decide to stand idle in their cars, even if they are blocking the exits. 

Students, teachers and parents are all frustrated with the flow of traffic to and from school. According to Senior Vanessa Ramirez, traffic in the morning and afternoon have been a terrible experience. 

“ I feel like the school needs to do something about how traffic is directed. The flow of traffic should be directed in a safe manner,” Ramirez said. 

According to School City of Hammond Security, Safety, and Energy Coordinator John Suarez, there have been many adjustments made to help the flow of traffic for this new school year. Some of those improvements include changing bus drop-offs and pick-ups to door D, identifying entry and exit routes in the parking lot, and identifying turning lanes in the parking lot,  which should be making the flow of traffic much smoother. 

However, it can be argued that those adjustments have not really made a difference as cars still ignore those identifiers and park wherever when waiting to pick someone up. 

Suarez stated that although the parking lot is not the largest, drivers must work together to make it safe for all. He stated that having Hammond PD to help direct traffic could be a plan that the school board could revisit to ensure everyone’s safety. 

Traffic is inevitable, whether it is caused by school pick up and drop off or the highway.  Although the issues caused by the flow of traffic in the parking lot cannot be resolved overnight, all stakeholders should make a safe and conscious effort to help reduce it. 

Sept. 23rd Release - Lights, Camera, Action! HAPA prepares for Clue performance

by Jalisa Lee & Alyssa Robinson

Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard,  Mrs, White, Reverend Green, Mrs. Peacock, and Professor Plum are back at it again with the Hammond Arts and Performance Academy’s upcoming performance of Clue the play. 

Hammond Central’s very own HAPA instructor, Rocco Ayala will be directing the 21 person cast murder-mystery themed play. The play selection was inspired not only by the family favorite board game, but the 1985 big screen adaptation as well. 

“The game was always so much fun to play and the movie is so funny,” Ayala said. 

Head Principal Dave Verta expressed his appreciation for the HAPA program director, Dr. Scott Sowinski for giving HC students an outlet and opportunity to express themselves artistically. 

“I always loved playing Clue with my kids. I appreciate our director of the HAPA program because he’s helped grow and expand our horizons with the many  different plays and productions they put on,” Verta said. 

Sophomore Victor Marquez landed the role of Professor Plum. 

“I originally auditioned for the role of Wadsworth, but I landed Professor Plum instead. Either way I love being able to be a part of the production,” Marquez said. 

Alexander Ready, another HAPA student, ended up landing the role of Wadsworth the butler; the role that Marquez was most interested in playing. 

“This is the first big role that I have ever landed, and it’s kind of weird, but I’m so up for the challenge,” Ready said. 

Cast and crew members have been hard at work rehearsing and building the set for the play. The HAPA performance will take place in October in the Hammond Central Black Box Theater.

Sept. 23rd Release - Parking lot traffic jam

Editorial by Lisette Ariza 

A car ride can either be very calm or very frustrating, and during this school year, the car rides have been more frustrating than anything. Having a car ride go from a five minute drive into a 15 minute drive is one of the most frustrating parts about driving to and from school. Not to mention, after a long day of school, you do not want to deal with bumper to bumper traffic. 

When leaving the school, you can always find Principal Verta standing outside, monitoring the congregation of students making their way home. He did acknowledge how traffic is an issue, especially being surrounded by residential and business areas.  He described the traffic as unfortunate but definitely something that could be remedied sooner or later. 

Verta stated that he has requested to have police officers help with traffic, such as having officers with their cruiser lights on, directing traffic. Hopefully the Hammond Police Department will consider the extra hands for this particular issue. 

One major issue with the commute comes from the stop lights. It takes forever to turn into and turn out of the parking lot in the morning and in the afternoon, as the Highland St. entrance is the only light that has a left turn only light. The Eaton St. light does not have a left turn arrow, which can cause some back up when trying to make a left turn from and onto Calumet Ave.

On top of the stop light issues, another factor that has been causing delays is due to the amount of people who decide to stand idle in their cars, even if they are blocking the exits. 

Students, teachers and parents are all frustrated with the flow of traffic to and from school. According to Senior Vanessa Ramirez, traffic in the morning and afternoon have been a terrible experience. 

“ I feel like the school needs to do something about how traffic is directed. The flow of traffic should be directed in a safe manner,” Ramirez said. 

According to School City of Hammond Security, Safety, and Energy Coordinator John Suarez, there have been many adjustments made to help the flow of traffic for this new school year. Some of those improvements include changing bus drop-offs and pick-ups to door D, identifying entry and exit routes in the parking lot, and identifying turning lanes in the parking lot,  which should be making the flow of traffic much smoother. 

However, it can be argued that those adjustments have not really made a difference as cars still ignore those identifiers and park wherever when waiting to pick someone up. 

Suarez stated that although the parking lot is not the largest, drivers must work together to make it safe for all. He stated that having Hammond PD to help direct traffic could be a plan that the school board could revisit to ensure everyone’s safety. 

Traffic is inevitable, whether it is caused by school pick up and drop off or the highway.  Although the issues caused by the flow of traffic in the parking lot cannot be resolved overnight, all stakeholders should make a safe and conscious effort to help reduce it. 

2022-2023: Issue 2

Oct. 10th Release - Boys Cross Country running for Regionals

by Jaylon Richardson

The Hammond Central boys cross country team competed in a sectional race this past weekend. 

Seniors Matthew Hutcherson , Vynce Overshown, and Jordan Cunningham, along with sophomore Marcus Browder all advanced to the Regional race.  

Head Varsity Coach Larry Moore Jr. stated that he was extremely proud of the team for being able to push each other throughout another winning season this year.

“We have shown a lot of growth guys are working really hard. They have great respect for each other and always support one another," Moore Jr. said.

The wolves won the conference the weekend prior to this past as an overall team, brining a second conference win two years in a row back to HC.

Regionals will be held Saturday the morning of October 15 at Crown Point.  

Oct. 10th Release - Pramuk helps mold students' thinking in PLTW

by Azaleah Frechette

Jessica Pramuk, a 10-12th PLTW teacher for the Biomedical pathway, is having her students build an amazing year long project. Her students are learning the Human Body Systems and are constructing a human body themselves with clay. Throughout the year, her students will construct a human body as a product of all the things they have learned this year. As the year continues students will continue to build on their mannequin to near completion.  

With the learning of the human body systems, Pramuk hoped the project based learning approach would be enjoyable for her students.

“Learning the human body systems, in detail, is sometimes quite overwhelming!  I am hoping that this new project-based learning method will make the learning more enriching and fun,” Pramuk said. 

With all the different projects in the Project Lead The Way pathway, this fun mannequin building project is just one of many to come.

After their Human Body System project, the next project her classes will be conducting involves forensic anthropology to teach students how to measure different parts of the body. 

“This week and next we will be looking at forensic anthropology in which they will need to use various measurements from the skull, pelvis, humerus, femur and tibia to determine the age, sex, ancestry. They had to learn how to use different types of calipers, rulers, and protractors and not to mention a ton of calculations,” Pramuk said. 

Pramuk has also created labs for her students to learn about what it takes to look at evidence in a potential crime scene, specifically analyzing hair samples from potential suspects. In this course, students will learn about biology, crime scene investigation, DNA analysis, dissection and more.

Oct. 10th Release - Rock band rocks out at homecoming game

by Julie Ortiz 

The Hammond Central rock band brought the energy to the homecoming football game.

The Hammond Central rock band worked extremely hard these past three weeks in preparation for their homecoming game performance on Friday, September 23rd. This was only one of the many events that they will play in the coming months. 

Playing at the homecoming football game was a big deal for the rock band members and Director of Rock and Contemporary Music, Alexander Akers. Akers was extremely excited for the rock band to play at the homecoming game. 

“This will be a great source of exposure for the community and school members to see what a wonderful program we have,” Akers said. 

He is impressed with the students considering nearly all of the students are beginners or were beginners just last year. 

For junior bass guitarist Mila Vargas this is not only an opportunity for her to play, but also to support the athletes here at Hammond Central. Vargas has been playing for four years and has been in the rock band program since it started here in 2021. Being able to play music that she liked was one of the reasons she got involved in rock band. According to Vargas, she has no plans to stop pursuing music after high school. 

“Rock band has allowed me to expand my musical knowledge and experience. It has helped me grow so much within the past year. It’s been an amazing experience and I've made some of my favorite memories in it with my closest friends,” Vargas said.

The rock band program made junior lead electric guitarist, Josue Esparza realize how big his passion really was for music. Esparza has always loved rock music, so when he heard about the rock band program, he could not say no. His hopes are for the homecoming show to open up more opportunities for the rock band to play at other school events. 

HCRockBandHoco

“Everyone in rock band works super hard and I’d love for everyone to get a chance to see us at least once. I promise we won’t disappoint,” Esparza said.   

Anyone who did not get the chance to watch them perform at the homecoming football game will have many other chances to go see them perform in the coming months. They will be performing at several parades, the fall HAPA Harvest event, Music in the Parks at Six Flags Great America, Spring Concert, HAPAPALOOZA, and several other events throughout the year. 

Oct. 10th Release - Your Royal Highness: 2022 Homecoming Court

by Amari Tucker, Alexi Cook & Lebron Hill 

Many students, especially the homecoming court nominees, prepared for the highly anticipated homecoming dance and were ready to hit the dance floor in their best attire this past weekend, September 24. 

The homecoming court promoted themselves by posting flyers around school and on social media, handing out candy and snacks, and dressing to impress.

The homecoming court consisted of freshman princess candidates: Erikah Harding and Morgan O’Conner and freshman prince candidate Cameron Mondane. Sophomore princess candidates: Yasmine Cole, Odelia Gascon, and Kimoria Williams and sophomore prince candidates Dylan Alvarado and Anthony Hinton. Junior princess candidates Lilliana Garcia, Aniyah Henry, Sierra Peterson, Aaliyah Rosa, and Mila Vargas and junior prince candidate Miguel Bernardo. And last but not least senior queen candidates: Ar’Mariay Anderson, Nevaeh Clements, Janeea Cole, Ameria Farmer, and Alma Rodriguez with senior king candidates Diamonte Pickett and Kenneth Grant. 

“I've always been excited about homecoming! Running for queen allows me to connect with more people and serves as a great high school experience,” Senior nominee Ar’Mariay Anderson said. 

Anderson's favorite part about campaigning was making posters, passing out candy, and getting into the school spirit. 

“A homecoming queen demonstrates leadership and role model skills. I would like to relate to young ladies around the school. An abundance of people needs someone to look up to. I will give them that by running for and winning homecoming queen,” Anderson said. 

Running for homecoming queen was not enough for Anderson as she is also running for Student Body President. If Anderson wins president she will be an advocate for school spirit. She also believes that if the school has better activities such as pep rallies, trips, and spirit weeks students will love coming to school more. 

Junior princess candidate Aniyah Henry may have come into the game a little late, but was still able to fully promote herself just like everyone else. 

“I prepared for homecoming by first figuring out how to actually run and once I got approved I then started to do what everyone else was doing. I got a campaign manager to help me put up flyers and hand out candy to the students. It was a very stressful process because I have never done this before,” Henry said. 

When the time comes again next year, Henry may run again depending on how she is feeling at the time. 

Competition is something sophomore prince candidate Anthony Hinton had nothing to worry about. 

“I am confident that I am going to win. It would feel really good to win because I have the whole football team and all my friends cheering me on so losing would be very disappointing for me and them” Hinton said.

The homecoming dance was held on September 24 in the Hammond Central south gym. The results of voting concluded with the winners as follows: freshman princess Morgan O’Conner and prince Cameron Mondane. Sophomore princess Odelia Gascon and prince Anthony Hinton. Junior Princess Sierra Peterson and Prince Miguel Bernardo. Senior queen Ar’Mariay Anderson and king Diamonte Pickett.

Oct. 10th Release - Wolves celebrate victory at homecoming dance

by Hanna Castillo & Julieta Villanueva

The Hammond Central Homecoming dance that was held Saturday September 24 and organized by CeEtter Carpenter-Stevens and the student council. They had an exceptionally greater outcome than last year, with more than 300 students in attendance.  

According to Carpenter-Stevens, the purpose of the Homecoming dance was for students to have an opportunity to come together, enjoy social activities, and have a fun dance experience other than the senior prom. But what others do not know is that the school sponsors go out of their way to plan together the decorations that they have to go buy and pay out of their own pocket. 

“As class sponsors and teachers, it is financially a very hard thing for them to do, spending a lot of money for such a big event, but we do it because we love our kids,” Carpenter-Stevens said.

As for the theme for the dance, it was supposed to be black and white, but the students chose to go their own way and wear what they felt most confident in.

Many people were involved in the organization of the Homecoming dance. The school sponsors were responsible for planning events leading up to the homecoming dance. 

Students also helped sell the tickets to the dance as well as the JROTC crew helped to manage traffic for the dance. Music department teachers Cheryl Suwardi, Joseph McCoy and the advanced choir teacher, David Boban, also had a section where the choir students would sing during the dance. There were two DJ’s, Robert Piña and student DJ Leteirria Snell. 

Carpenter-Stevens went through many steps in order to plan out the Homecoming dance, including getting approval from the principal, David Verta, as well as getting assistance from Athletic Director Chris Moore for the pep rally. 

Oct. 10th Release - Spirit Week Fun

by Alyssa Robinson & Jalisa Lee

Hammond Central has another spirit week to put down in the books. Both staff and students participated in pajama day, superhero day, 90’s day, spirit wear, and color wars. 

Monday was pajama day and it was filled with students and teachers looking comfy and cozy in their sleepwear. Everyone participating filled the school with sleepy vibes. 

Senior  La’Tonia Looney Allen, was ready for this year’s spirit week. Since it is her last year, she wants to ensure that she participates in the fun, and does it big when she can. 

Tuesday was superhero day, and although some students did not actively participate, many still enjoyed others go all out. Sophomore Tanyla Kemp was one of the students who did not participate, but caught the vibes for the day. 

“Even though I didn’t have the time to dress up myself, I really enjoyed super hero day,” Kemp said.

Some even viewed super hero day through a different perspective. English teacher Angela Hererra used the day to represent a superhero who has had a more personal effect on her life. 

“I use superhero day to honor my father who was my hero. I always wear a Vietnam shirt.” said Herrera. 

Wednesday was  90’s throwback day and many students and staff were dressed in attire of the 90’s era. Students dressed up as Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes from the R&B group TLC, and there were even students who dressed up as the hip hop group Kris Cross. 

Senior Kenneth Grant and he stated that 90’s day was his favorite day of spirit week. 

“I enjoyed the 90's day but I’m not too happy that this will be the last homecoming spirit week I’ll participate in,” Grant said. 

Thursday was  Hammond Central gear day, where students and staff wore their favorite HC attire. The week was closed out on Friday with color wars. Seniors wore white, Juniors wore purple, sophomores wore blue, and freshmen wore gray.

Oct. 10th Release - Wolves devour Cardinals with ease

by Juderson Blair & Alejandro Velazquez

Students, staff, and parents came out in droves to support The Pack for their homecoming match Friday September 23 against the East Chicago Central Cardinals.  Hammond Central dominated the Cardinals with a winning score of  48 to 6. 

Junior linebacker Giovani Bailey-Hannah stated that the homecoming crowd was definitely motivation to play hard and get the win over E.C. 

“I loved how many people came out to the game to show their love and support for us,” Bailey-Hannah said. 

Despite his smaller stature, Bailey-Hannah is not afraid to get down and dirty. He stated that although he may be small, he always finds a way to get through the line and make the tackle he needs to in order to complete the play. 

“I always want to be ready for the other team, so watching and studying film from previous games allows me to get prepared,” Bailey-Hannah said. 

The team showed off their new jerseys in honor of the Indiana National Guard and Army Reserves. 

Senior wide receiver Jordan Woods was named JEDTV Sports Network Player of the Week for the third week in a row.

"When you put in work, it pays off," Woods said. 

Oct. 10th Release - Hammond Central Wolf Pack shows spirit at first ever homecoming pep rally

by Miracle Williams

Spirits were high as the entire school building joined in celebration for the 2022-23 pep rally on Friday September 23 during 8th period on the new state of the art athletic field. 

The opening of the pep rally began with the Hammond Central cheerleaders. Sophomore Damia Robinson stated that she enjoyed the cheerleaders’ performance the most. 

“I believe the best part of the pep rally were the cheerleaders. They truly put their heart into their dance,” Robinson said.

Homecoming court nominees were introduced from freshmen to seniors. Each nominee was announced one by one, while being escorted onto the field as the crowd cheered them on.  

Fall sports teams were then introduced, which included: girls and boys soccer, football, girls and boys golf, boys tennis, cross country, and volleyball. 

The games that students were allowed to sign up and participate in at the pep rally included tug-of-war and dodgeball. Sophomore wide receiver and safety Cameron McNeal enjoyed being able to participate in the pep rally.

“I thought it was really cool. I got to get out of school early to support my teammates and play dodgeball,” McNeal said. 

The Hammond Central marching band also performed songs such as “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga and “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X to name a few. JROTC members participated by helping usher students to their correct student sections in the bleachers. 

Oct. 10th Release - Hammond Central Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

by Lisette Ariza & Sebastian Hernandez-Martinez

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of histories of the American Latino community. National Hispanic Heritage week was first proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, and then later expanded by Ronald Reagan in 1988 to last a month. 

It is now celebrated at festivals, art shows, conferences, and community gatherings to try to get other people to try to understand the Latinx community. More than 500 years of Hispanic and Latino history and heritage can be found in national parks or shared through National Park Service programs and partners in communities across the country.

Here at Hammond Central, the month of the Hispanic Heritage celebration is showcased through decorations, music in the cafeteria, the students themselves showcasing their culture, book fairs, and so much more.  

Hammond Central Assistant Principal, David Garcia, who is both Mexican and Guatemalan, stated that he enjoys the month-long celebration of a culture that he is proud to be a part of. 

“Being a member of the Latino community means that everything I do I represent my people. When I graduated high school, college, and when I earned my masters degrees, it made me proud to know that another educated Latino is added to the census numbers,” Garcia said. 

He stated that being Latino means a lot to him as many traditions were passed down to him and his siblings from both of his parents' cultures and home countries. Garcia is not only an assistant principal but also a father, and he stated that it is important to him to teach his children about his [and their] culture and be able to raise them to be proud of where their family is from. 

For many Hispanic students, they are given an opportunity to have a better life all thanks to their parents' sacrifices. Garcia stated that in order to show his parents that he appreciates the sacrifices they made for him and their family, he tries to always be the best version of himself, regardless of the adversities he has faced being Latino. 

“Like everyone else, I have faced my share of challenges and I have been faced with racist comments and discrimination. However, I do not let those ignorant people deter me from my goals for myself and my family. Nothing makes a hater more angry than seeing the person they dislike be successful and that’s how I handle ignorance- with education,” Garcia said.

Spanish teacher Maria Robles also touched on how important the Hispanic culture is to her, and how sometimes there is an added pressure to be successful within the Latino community. 

“It is an honor to be Latino, but also a big responsibility. American people  expect us Latinos to respect and accomplish good things like education, work and to learn the  language [English] and if you do not do it they judge you,” Robles said. 

But that has not stopped her from instilling her roots, culture and language in her household and classroom. She stated that she has passed down traditions within her culture, including costumes and the language to her children. 

Her classroom is also not just about learning the language of Spanish, but teaching her students about the culture and traditions of the people who speak that language. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Robles had her students complete slide show presentations that included successful Hispanics within the U.S., including those in the government, education, show business, and sports. 

Junior Dylan Castillo, who is both Colombian and Venezuelan, explained how Hammond Central has a very diverse Hispanic community.  He stated that the school environment has always felt welcoming, especially with the similarities that are shared through different cultures within friends and peers. 

“Being part of the Latino community includes sharing the different cultures and lifestyles that every ethnicity has, and embracing how similar but also different they are,” Castillo said. 

Hammond Central will be hosting the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Thursday October 13 from 5 pm to 7 pm, where there will be free music, performances, and food, and encourages all HC families and community members to join in the celebration. 

Oct. 10th Release - '22-'23 Title I Open House 

by Mya Hurley & Aavia Taylor

Hammond Central opened its doors to all stakeholders when it hosted the annual Title I Open House on September 21. 

The School City of Hammond gets funding from the Title I program. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title I was created to ensure economically disadvantaged children receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education, by helping to close academic achievement gaps. 

Head Principal Dave Verta presented the different programs that HC has to offer for the 2022-2023 school year as an introduction at the open house 

“Since we are a Title I school and receive funding, the federal government requires us to hold an open house for parents and guardians at the beginning of the school year. It gives our community a chance to see the technology we have and other instructional tools we use that were purchased using Title I money,” Verta said.  

According to Parent & Community Engagement Facilitator, Rocharda Moore Morris, the Open House Title I event serves two purposes for parents.  First, the Open House is held at the beginning of the new school year to allow parents an opportunity to meet their students' teachers. 

The second purpose is to comply with the federal requirements of the Title I Grant program, which indicates that the school must inform the parents what the Title I program is, their rights under the program, what the grant money can be used for and how Hammond Central High School spends the money received.

Moore Morris explained that her contribution to the event was to coordinate the evening with administrators, teachers, support staff and other personnel in the school. This coordination involved advertising the event to parents, teachers and students and inviting resources such as organizations, businesses and social services, trades and colleges. The resources are invited so that parents and students can find out what resources are available to assist them.

“The open house is a wonderful event for the beginning of the school year.  It allows the parents an opportunity to meet their students' teachers and find out the academic and behavior status of the students.  The parents, if need be, are able to correct any issues early before the mid semester grades are finalized,” Moore Morris said. 

Oct. 10th Release - HC volleyball team honors seniors

Senior volleyball players were honored at Senior Night Wednesday October 5 prior to their match against Gary Lighthouse. 

Defensive specialist Camila Cazares, outside hitter AnaCecilia Cornejo, right hitter Kaylee Jackson, outside hitter Yasmine Jordan, defensive specialist Jasmin Rojas, Maria Uvalle, and Aneia Berryhill were all celebrated by teammates, family, staff and their peers for their hard work and dedication they have put into the volleyball team these last two seasons as Wolves. 

The Pack community came through for their Lady Wolves as the seniors were walked out by family and loved ones holding signs, homemade t-shirts, balloons, flowers, and baskets of goodies for their senior players. 

Head Varsity Coach Jessica Castillo was in tears as introductions for each player were given before the game. 

"I've cried so many times today I can't keep it together. This was such a special group of girls," Castillo said. 

Each senior also invited teachers that have impacted them most throughout their time in high school. Each teacher was honored with a flower as a "thank you" for being supportive towards the players. 

Oct. 10th Release - Steady improvement for Girls Cross Country

by Keasa Kennedy & Jaylon Richardson

Runners pushed for their best over all times this past weekend in the Girls Cross Country sectional meet. 

Freshman K'myah Ray finished overall in 19th place and advanced to the regional competition this upcoming Saturday at Lemon Lake in Crown Point.

Two weeks ago, the team finished 3rd in conference out of 4 teams, and Ray came in 1st place winning the GLAC conference meet.  

According to Head Coach Jon Moskovich, the team does not really have a record on the season, except for the conference meet, and placing in sectionals. 

The Lady Wolves ran in five meets this year, and all of the girls showed tremendous improvement from the summer until now. 

"I'm very proud of our girls.  Last year, not one girl ran under 30 minutes, and you have to run under 35 minutes or your time doesn't count.  This year, almost all the girls always broke 30 minutes, and always improved on their previous time," Moskovich said.

Oct. 10th Release - Girls Golf season under wraps

by Maria Uvalle

Varsity Girls Golf wrapped up their season on September 16 at their sectional competition. 

Not every school offers girls golf, but Hammond Central is fortunate enough to add that to the list of fall sports.  America Guerrero is one of the seniors on the girls golf team. She stated she joined golf because she thought it would be fun to play a sport she never tried before. 

Although Guerrero has never played golf prior to this school year, she was still able to help the team place 7th at sectionals! She ended the tournament placing second amongst the HC ranks.

“Always give a chance to anything you would never have thought of trying out, and to never be insecure of your choices,” Guerrero said.  

This will be her last year in high school but she says she will still continue to play golf when she graduates.

“I want to tell the rest of my team that I had so much fun meeting them and creating fun memories while learning a sport we all never thought we would try,'' Guerrero said. 

Ana Cecilia Cornejo is another senior on the girls golf team. Cornejo has been playing golf since she was only four years old and it has been a part of her life ever since. She plans to play golf when she graduates from high school to continue working on her skills. 

“Playing golf has a way of relaxing you. Just being able to be on my own and releasing any stress or negativity from the day is one of the best feelings,” Cornejo said. 

Cornejo stated that if anyone ever had any doubts about playing golf, to just go for it because it is so much fun. She cannot wait for the team’s senior night. 

“Getting to celebrate and share fun memories with my teammates means a lot because they made the season such a great experience. It has been such a pleasure getting to know them,” Cornejo said.

Randy Chavez is the varsity golf head coach. He stated that he wanted to teach golf not only because he enjoys playing it, but he wanted to pass on his love for the game to his students. Chaves says he decided to coach girls golf because he 

“Being able to watch the athletes understand and enjoy the game is probably the best part,” Chavez said. 

The golf team would not have been as successful as they were without fellow senior members Elizabeth Ramirez, Natalia Lopez and Vanessa Ramirez. 

Oct. 10th Release - Boys soccer finishes strong

by Lisette Ariza

The Hammond Central soccer team had their senior night on Saturday Sep 24, 2022 at 1pm. They defeated Lowell High School 2-1. The first goal was scored by senior Luis Limones. Throughout most of the game, it was tied until towards the end of the game when Limones scored another goal for the win. 

The first round of sectionals was against Highland HS. The Wolves were victorious and finished with a 3-0 Win for HC to advance to the next round. Two goals by freshman Julian Cortez and the 3rd goal by senior Fabian Montes. 

The second round sectionals was against Lake Central, where HC fell short in an 8-1 loss. The only goal came from senior Luis Limones' penalty shot.

October 10th Release - Girls Soccer ends season with loss against Lake Central

HC girls soccer went into the first round of sectionals and faced East Chicago Central on Thursday October 6. They came out victorious over the Cardinals with a dominating win of 11-0. 

The Lady Wolves faced Lake Central on Saturday October 8, but were defeated by the Indians in an upsetting 5-0 loss. 

The HC girls soccer team ended with a record of

6-3-2 for the regular season. 

Oct. 10th Release - Geology Club studies Earth, turf and everything dirt

by Jaylen Steward 

The Geology club has geared up for year two of Hammond Central High School for all students interested in learning more about Earth science. 

There has been one meeting since the start of the club and during the meeting those who showed up participated in learning what a topographic map is and how to read one. They also learned how to create maps. 

The founders of the club, science teachers David Coffey and Leigh Neace-Coffey, have good hopes for the future as they feel the club can go really far.

“We plan on doing more with topo maps, and learning how to create maps too!!” Neace-Coffey said.

There are also new potential opportunities for Hammond Central to plant trees. The Geology club has hopes for being able to be involved in some way with this activity.

Neace-Coffey also plans to have a lot of outdoor activities within the club.

“We do want to do outside involvement, just don’t have anything planned yet,” Neace-Coffey said.

The next meeting will be Tuesday October 11, where more activities will be discussed. They will also continue learning more about topographic maps and other topics.

Oct. 10th Release - Genders & Sexualities Alliance Club

by Asia Griffin

Hammond Central Highschool opens their arms for every gender, sexuality, and allies. The GSA Club is a place where people of any identity and sexuallity can join.  Meetings are held every Thursday after school in Social Studies teacher and sponsor Anita Cox’s room (B210), except the first Thursday of the month, which are held during advisory in the media center. 

According to Cox, the club is a safe space for kids to go to get to know other people and know that there are people just like them. The club gives open arms for students to just hang out, get resources and advice, and make friends. The club provides activities you can do to be involved with school events, gain more social skills and learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community.  

Cox shared the reason why she made the club. The club gets really involved, like for instance, the students in the club made banners for the homecoming pep rally and they hung them up in the bleachers. 

“Students wanted to start the club and needed a sponsor/advisor. I decided to do it because my son is transgender and I know that support for our LGBTQ+ students is greatly needed. Mrs. Cruz assists in sponsoring the group,” Cox said.  

Cox also explained that the students in the club lead it and it is all about their social qualities and abilities.

“Students conduct and direct the club.  The students who came to meetings last year mostly just wanted to make friends. I provide resources, advice, and activities for students to make friends,” Cox said. 

There are over 4,000 GSA clubs in every state and club participants explained that the clubs really affect students and society as a whole. Sophomore May McCoy joined because it was a safe place to socialize with peers.

“GSA can affect you, it helps you with feeling comfortable with your sexuality, your gender, etc. If you are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, then this is a good place for you,” McCoy said.

Cox shared that although society has come a long way on the topic, it still has a long way to go. 

“When it comes to society, I learned that many of our members struggle with not only society accepting them, but their families as well. I also learned that society has come a long way in embracing the rights of people who identify as LGBTQ, but we still have a long way to go until everyone feels safe, free, and protected. Twenty years ago, I didn't know one student who felt safe to identify as homosexual. People didn't even know what transgender meant 20 years ago,” Cox said.   

Thanks to clubs like GSA, many people have been able to learn about the community more and get more congenial. According to Cox, she noticed that many students in the LGBTQIA+ community are more on the shy side and have trouble socializing with their peers. 

“​I realized that many students need to practice their social skills so they can make more friends. So many of our members are shy or introverted and need a place to meet new people where they are not judged,” Cox said.  

Other students have explained that the club helps and it gives resources such as Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), which helps support families and friends within the community. PFLAG now encompasses all of the LGBTQ community. 

According to GSA members, the club “helps you feel comfortable with yourself.” The GSA club has a google classroom where you can find information, resources and announcements. 

Class code - 5ril5h2

Oct. 10th Release - Anime Club & Chill

by Trinity Austin 

As of last year, Anime Club has moved over from Gavit Middle/Highschool over to our very own Hammond Central Highschool. 

Former senior students of Gavit’s Anime Club were inspired to make their own Anime Club at HC. The Anime Club is facilitated by Chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher, Kat Healey. She also helps run all Academic clubs as well. Most of the club members are seniors, so they welcome new members with open arms.  

“Angelo and Brian approached Mrs. Parsley last year in search of a sponsor. Mrs. Parsley was telling me about it, and I let her know that anime is something I am very familiar with and enjoy. The boys approached me and the rest is history. I feel good about the decision, I feel a little like this is an extension of the Anime Club Mr. Cerajewski led at Gavit only because of how it started. But now it has grown into our own HC club.” Healey said. 

The Anime Club’s activities consist of watching anime, planning for fundraisers, and connecting with other students who share the same interests.  

The club tries out a variety of Japanese foods while still including the classic American snacks. They have tried different flavors of Pocky, slurped ramen while testing out their chopstick skills, and have endeavored other Japanese candies including wasabi peas.

A senior at Hammond Central and also Treasurer of the club, King Riley, is significantly content with the decision he has made in joining the club. According to Riley, he decided to join the anime club since he knew there were fundraisers, food, and most importantly anime.   

As treasurer of the club, he keeps track of expenses, keeps track of inventory and assists their advisor when it comes to consulting with higher official officers to have their ideas approved. 

“Being King Treasurer is a fascinating role that now many can’t take on. I’m not only here to watch over treasure, but I’m also here to help the club keep their composure and to keep us together. I will be the glue for this club,” Riley said. 

There also is a secretary, senior Mikah Stapleton, and a President and Vice President. Stapleton was one of the students that were a former member of Gavit’s anime club. 

“As secretary for the anime club, I make sure people are signed in and answer the question of the day. Usually, the questions are anime or snack related so that we know what people like and what to watch next. I like being secretary because it's an easy and chill job. Also, I get to know the people better that are in the anime club, it's a great position that I love to do,” Stapleton said.

Stapleton stated the main thing that has changed surrounding the anime club is not its atmosphere but the age of the anime itself.  In Gavit, they watched more old-school classic anime such as Dragon Ball Z, Evangelion, and Sailor Moon, but now they watch newer up-to-date anime such as Assassination Classroom and Hunter x Hunter (2011). 

The Vice President of the anime club, senior Angelo King, deals with the ideas and suggestions regarding the fundraisers. Fundraisers would help with the club’s snack budget and costs regarding field trips. King has resigned from being last year’s president and has now moved down to the vice president position, though he's made a jump, he now feels more happy and content with having the change of authoritative roles.  

If or when they have a set budget, the club is planning on going to the Mitsuwa Marketplace for the New Year's Mochi, a sticky rice flour-based dessert. But also just regular weekend trips to various nearby restaurants that specialize in Japanese cuisine. Hopefully soon to a small anime convention where the members could have fun and branch out. 

Healey was able to bring back the nostalgia they experienced at Gavit even though the people there have changed completely.

The club is planning to have their own bake sale, premier movies, and possibly sell shirts for future fundraising opportunities. While there is hope and ideas for fundraising, most of those ideas will remain ideas if the club officers do not transform that into action. 

Though Healey wishes to have an official room to have their meets, having Healey’s classroom being meant for chemistry, there are certain restrictions the members have to follow for their own safety and the safety of students participating in the class. Healey desires the club have a classroom where they could be more relaxed instead of having to assist with caution. 

According to Healey, anime is a diverse art form that is a thriving independent industry in japan. It is particularly suitable for any range of people due to its wide range of diversity finding an anime suitable for any situation.

All of the anime the club watches is age-appropriate and Healey personally goes through and makes sure there is not anything inappropriate. 

So far the club has watched Hunter X Hunter (2011) and Assassination Classroom. 

Anime club has given everyone a constant bright feeling to start off their week, gaining newfound friendships, a chance to a different variety of food from a different culture, and has given a safe haven to let others geek out about the interests they enjoy. 

The Anime Club has its meets after school on Monday in classroom B306, after school until 4 PM on Mondays. 

Oct. 10th Release - Robotics Q & A with Coach O'Brien 

by Adalynn Garza

What is FRC Team Hammond 71 Robotics about?

The team was founded by Bill Beatty and Darrell Noble in 1996.  Since then, the team has won 4 World Championship, putting the team legendary in the FIRST program.  We are a sport and not a club.  Our team has members from both School City of Hammond High Schools, Hammond Central and Morton. FRC Team Hammond 71 is one of many FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) teams around the world that is dedicated to educating and helping students through not only building a robot, but also by introducing students to engineering.  We help motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills.  We do a lot of community outreach to help out the Hammond Community any way we can.  

Where do you guys’ practice and compete? 

Our room is located at the ACC (Area Career Center), Room 203.  This is where the team meets and practice every Wednesday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm until December.  Then the first Saturday in January, we have our kickoff where we find out what the game is and then decide what type of robot we should build.  Then we will meet every day except on Sundays building our robot and practicing until we leave for competitions in March.  Our competitions are in the southern part of Indiana and the World Championship is in Houston, TX.  But we are trying to get a district competition here in Hammond for the 2024 or 2025 season, so everyone can see what we do and what we are all about.

How has the experience been coaching the robotics team?

Coaching this team is my passion.  The experience is like no other and it is hard to explain.  All I know is this team and the FIRST program helped save my son back in 2010 when we found the team his freshman year.  Without this program, my son would not be where he is today, graduated from college with a robotics engineering degree and working for a great company making sure their machines are running right.  He even won a scholarship for college. This program helps so many kids and I get to be part of that.  Plus, any kids that are on the team has access to billions of scholarships through the program of FIRST.  They don’t even need to know anything about robotics, our mentors will teach them all they need to know to be successful.  I want the best for students, and coaching this team, this family is everything to me.  Watching them learn and get excited is the best reward. 

How long have you been coaching robotics? 

I have been with the team for 12 years, but been head coach since 2018 and I love it!  My oldest son is an alumnus of the team, he graduated in 2015 and I now have my youngest on the team following his brother’s footsteps.

What is something you want the team to accomplish? 

I would love to see my team members accomplish anything that they dream to do or to be.  I want them to see their worth, their value, and see that when they believe they have no one on their side, they take another look around and they will see they have someone that will be there any time.  That is what I tell my team, I am here for them always.  Of course, I want them to also learn as much as they can and be proud of what they have created no matter the outcome of the competitions may be. 

What has been the biggest thing your team has built? 

The biggest thing our team has built, is connections.  Connections to their team members, mentors, and the community.   

2022-2023: Issue 3

Nov. 27th Release - ​HAPA Harvest celebrates all things fall

by Mya Hurley & Aavia Taylor

​HAPA  hosted the HAPA Harvest, a Fall-themed event, at Hammond Central High School on Thursday, October 27.  

The event featured all of the departments across the district within the Hammond Arts and Performance Academy. There were performances from the orchestra, concert band, rock band, dance department, choirs, and a preview of Lion King Jr. by the theater students. 

The art department conducted face painting, and displayed artwork throughout the event areas as well. 

In addition to the performances and face painting, NHS hosted their first annual trunk or treat event. Many students, teachers and community members dressed up to celebrate Halloween. 

Alexander Akers, a teacher and the director of the HC rock band stated that he and Morton High School’s rock band teacher Mr. Whitney set up the equipment and helped their students prepare for their performance. Their job was to help run sound, combat any technical problems and assist students in any way before, during and after the performances. 

”​I have not participated in HAPA Harvest before, as it has been a few years since HAPA put the event on. I am extremely excited for all of the students to showcase their talents and hard work for the city of Hammond! How can you go wrong with face painting, live music, and candy!?”, Akers said.

Music teacher Paul Wagner stated that HAPA Harvest was set up like a festival. There were a lot of activities and events taking place throughout the evening that kept guests entertained from start to finish.

According to Wagner, the NHS organized and ran the trunk or treat. Students in the beginning choirs at Hammond Central helped the directors of the festival with setting up the music venues, organizing the food donations, and breaking down and cleaning after the event was over,” Wagner said. 

“HAPA Harvest was a great time. Everybody was having fun, we had a LOT of people come, and it was a great showcase. There were so many smiles on the faces of all the visitors,” Wagner said.

Nov. 27th Release - Bowling club sponsors strive to create a fun atmosphere

by Azaleah Frechette

The bowling club, founded by ethnic literature teacher Cali Lemus and PLATO instructor Tracie Clayton, was constructed solely for the entertainment of those students who love to bowl. 

“I thought it would be fun for students to have a bowling club, I want them to have fun and learn a little bit about the hobby. With the aftermath of the pandemic, this club is just an outlet to have fun with people interested in the same thing,” Clayton said. 

Lemus was involved in her high school’s bowling club all throughout high school and she wanted to be able to provide that experience for the students here at Hammond Central. 

“Some of my best memories in high school were from my time in the bowling club. I really wanted to be able to share that with the students at HC and just give them a chance to go do something fun for a couple of hours every week.” Lemus said. 

According to Lemus, last year’s numbers were really low, and the club struggled with student involvement and participation. 

“While it was really discouraging last year, our numbers this year have really grown and I hope to see the numbers grow every year. I just want kids to know that the bowling club exists and it’s a really fun way to spend time with their peers and be involved,” Lemus said. 

Sophomore Jenniyah Daniels stated she was initially hesitant on joining the club, but once she joined, she was not disappointed with her decision. 

“I really love the bowling club. It’s been really fun. Ms. Clayton and Ms. Lemus interact with all of the members and give us useful tips, all while maintaining such a fun atmosphere. Joining the bowling club has been such a wonderful experience to make friends and have fun,” Daniels said. 

Lemus also stated that her favorite part of being a sponsor is just being able to hang out with some really amazing kids and do something she thinks is really fun. 

“We get to joke around and eat pizza and just have a good time,” Lemus said.

The club fundraises for the money to bowl so students don’t have to pay, all you need is transportation to the location. If the Bowling Club seems like something you would be interested in, there is still time to join. Contact Clayton at tlclayton@hammond.k12.in.us and Lemus at cllemus@hammond.k12.in.us.

The members of the bowling club go out every other Thursday to Olympia Lanes Bowling Alley and bowl from 3:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. 

Nov. 27th Release - Billion year old rocks are discovered in upper peninsula

by Julie Ortiz

Earth Science teacher David Coffey and environmental science and AP environmental science teacher Leigh Neace-Coffey and co-sponsors for the Geology club, recently went on a trip to the Western and Central part of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The purpose of this trip was to go rock hunting. Neace-Coffey planned the route to take and Coffey drove them there. For the Coffeys, the trip was a fun way to spend time doing something that they are both passionate about besides teaching. 

“The main type of rock we found were metamorphic rocks. Rocks are not always easy to come by. Oftentimes, you have to use a hammer to break off a piece,” Neace-Coffey said. 

Metamorphic rocks are formed deep within the Earth under intense heat or intense heat and pressure. They also found gneiss, lithic, sandstone, schist, and granite rocks. 

To determine how old rocks are, scientists use the radioactive decay of certain elements in that rock. According to Coffey the rocks they found are 1.1 and 3.6 billion years old. 

“You can learn a lot about an area based on the rocks you find there. Scientists look at tectonic activity today and apply that to back then. From this, we have learned that the UP used to be a rift zone where the ocean was spreading apart,” Neace-Coffey said. 

Due to the rocks found in the Upper Peninsula, geologists know that there were above-water and underwater volcanoes called island arcs. According to Neace-Coffey, at one point, the spreading center stopped spreading apart and the continents started coming together. As a result, one of the island arcs got pushed up onto the other continent. 

Coffey is currently teaching about the 3 different types of rocks. His students will be able to look at and handle the different types of rocks while learning about the environment where they were formed. 

“We plan on going back next summer to collect more rock samples,” Neace-Coffey said.

Nov. 27th Release - Community Dinner

by Samme Jones & Aavia Taylor

The National Honors Society hosted the second annual community dinner in the cafeteria on Thursday November 17. 

The community dinner is a Thanksgiving feast provided to the whole community and anyone is welcome. 

According to Director of Student Services and former Hammond High School principal Linda Fullilove, the community dinner started as a suggestion by HHS administrators to do something nice for the community. 

Fullilove stated that Maritza Medina, a Spanish teacher and Bible Club sponsor, suggested that she would speak with the members of her Bible Club about helping put on the dinner. The club agreed to assist, but wanted to honor Chris Lampkin Jr., a former student at HHS who had passed. 

Lampkin Jr. was a member of the Bible Club and his father Chris. Lampkin Sr. had continued to be involved with the club by not only attending, but by leading prayers, reading and discussing scriptures after his son's passing. 

Neither Fullilove or her other admin had any issue with the dinner being held in honor of Chris Lampkin, Jr., so the idea moved forward with a response of contributions of food and clothing donations from students, staff, parents and businesses in the community.

Fullilove stated that the home economics students prepared part of the meal under the direction of their teacher, Ms. Werner. Over ten turkeys were donated, Strack and VanTil's donated prepared mash potatoes and other sides, and they had a meal with all the trimmings. Bible Club and staff members volunteered as servers.

"The community response was just as phenomenal as we had over 300 people eat and choose from clothing for children and adults.  We had more than enough food and donated most of our leftovers to the men’s mission on State Street," Fullilove said. 

American Sign Language teacher and NHS co-sponsor Shanda Collins-Alexander stated that everything was organized by NHS through Hammond Central. They received many donations from students, staff, and community members. 

Social studies and dual credit teacher Jessica Castillo also co-sponsors NHS. 

“The community dinner is a great opportunity to give back to the community by way of giving a free meal,” Castillo said. 

Since NHS is in charge of the dinner, they are also responsible for organizing the whole ordeal from start to finish. The co-sponsors used the donations to buy and make the food that was served. The duo spent countless hours prepping and cooking the meal for the Hammond Central community. 

“Hosting this dinner is a lot of work, but it’s such a wonderful idea to bring the school and community together,” Collins-Alexander said. 

Not only was there a whole Thanksgiving spread served, but the school band performed and there was a table for children’s activities. 

Nov. 27th Release - NHS hosts first annual Trunk or Treat

by Amari Tucker, Alexi Cook & Lebron Hill 

Ghouls and goblins, superheroes and villains, princesses and witches attended Hammond Central on October 27th for the first annual Trunk or Treat hosted by the National Honors Society. 

All who attended shared a night of tricks, tasty treats, and pumpkin and face painting. 

Co-sponsor for The National Honors Society, Jessica Castillo, stated that the NHS wanted to start off the year giving back to the community. 

“We decided on a Trunk or Treat because it gives us the opportunity to interact with the community in a positive way. It’s also a great way to show off the building and all the incredible things we do here,” Castillo said. 

NHS prepared for the Trunk or Treat by asking teachers and other community members if they would be willing to donate candy. They partnered with the Hammond Common Council with big thanks to Councilman Barry Tyler Jr. 

The HAPA Fall Harvest also took place simultaneously, so there was a lot more to do than just trick or treat for those who attended. 

Many students, teachers, and community members attended the Trunk or Treat, including Senior Naomi Segura. 

“It was packed. There were so many people that came out, I could barely move,” Segura said. 

According to Castillo, NHS’s next focus will be on the 2nd annual Community Dinner, which will be hosted on November 17th.

Nov. 27th Release - Yearbook haunts Hammond Central 

by Maria Uvalle 

The Hammond Central yearbook hosted their very first haunted house maze on October 28 to raise money for their club. 

Halloween is a time for kids to go out and trick-or-treat for candy and celebrate the spooky season. Teens love to get scared during Halloween, so the Hammond Centrals yearbook staff came up with an amazing idea for a fundraiser. They created a haunted house maze for community members to come and get spooked. Some of the themes included the villains from horror movies It, The Nun, and Saw. 

Yearbook sponsor and English teacher Amari Norwood stated that she was really excited about the outcome of the maze. 

“We spent a lot of time and money on this fundraiser. We have been trying to come up with things that kids love to do outside of school and incorporate here at Hammond Central,” Norwood said. 

Coming up with ideas for a fundraiser is not easy. Especially if you are trying to find something that teens would love to come out and participate in. 

A senior yearbook member Alexia Avila stated that the staff planned the event for about two months. There was a lot of brainstorming at first, but the pieces started fitting together the closer the event got. 

“We first designed the layout and decided on themes. Then we created lists to buy what was necessary to accomplish the themes. We bought lots of props and just went from there,” Avila said. 

Senior yearbook member Ezmerada Grande was excited to get her peers to support the yearbook with the fundraiser. She stated that events like this are helpful for kids to get up and participate instead of being at home. 

“Students take pride in coming to school when they have events that are interesting and different from the norm,” Norwood said.

Nov. 27th Release - Parent-teacher conferences strive to bridge the gap between communication

by Juderson Blair

The first parent-teacher conference of the year took place here at Hammond Central on November 8th. 

Rocharda Moore-Morris, the Parent & Community Engagement Facilitator, stated that it is her job to ensure that teachers prepare properly for the day. Teachers are responsible for pulling any records needed for student behavior, grades and progress; set up their Google Classrooms for virtual meetings; and send out any Parent Square messages to set up time slots for conferences. 

“Our main goal for parent-teacher conferences each year is to get as many parents as possible in the building or on the phone to meet with teachers about student progress,” Morris said. 

Conferences ended up being the same day as election day this year, so not all teachers were able to be present in the building. Social studies teacher Anita Cox was one of those teachers, but that did not stop her from getting in touch with parents. 

“I didn't attend parent-teacher conferences. I was working the election. So what I did was Parent Square all the parents who had students with A’s. Then I called every parent who had an F leaving a message to have a conversation with them,” Cox said.

Many teachers who did attend the conferences in person, however, did not have a huge turn out regardless of their efforts to get parents to sign up for slots. Science teacher Ian Rausei stated he only had a total of six parents come discuss their child’s progress.

“While I enjoyed the experience I had with those parents who came out, the experience would have been better if more parents attended,” Rausei said.

Both parents and teachers are given the opportunity to voice their opinions on a survey about how well conferences went. Morris takes that information, and collects the data to see how parents found out about conferences, how many attended in person or on the phone, and if the conferences went well. 

According to data, there were a total of 275 phone conferences, 166 parents who attended in person, and 30 Google meets, totalling in 471 parent-teacher conferences that took place on November 8. 

Nov. 27th Release - After school tutoring in full effect

by Alyssa Robinson

Students are now able to get help with math and English after school as tutoring has started back up at Hammond Central. 

Math teachers Dawn Veenstra and Gerald Childers along with English teacher Gina D’Angelo will attend after school tutoring sessions to help with math, English, and calculus classes. 

Math department Chair Dawn Veenstra stated that her main goal with tutoring is to help bring students the confidence they are lacking when it comes to their math skills.  

“I find that students often need more clarification when it comes to math assignments,” Veenstra said. 

She also stated that this is a great opportunity for students to get help with SAT preparation.

“If I had the opportunity to have something like this in school, I would have taken advantage of this to prepare for the SAT. I see the benefit for students who just need assistance with their homework or need tutoring to prepare for the SAT,” Veenstra said. 

AP literature and English teacher Gina D’Angelo agreed with Veenstra about students taking advantage of the services being offered. 

“I teach a very difficult subject and I want my students to be able to come and get help and succeed. When I was in high school I played sports and my coach made us do a study table before practice or a game,” D’Angelo said. 

Dual credit math teacher Gerald Childers also stated his main goal is to help students improve their math skills. 

“Since Covid, I find that more students need help and time with math,” Childers said. 

Tutoring is offered every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2:40 pm to 3:40 pm. 

Nov. 27th Release - HC’s Girls Swimming Team Testing the Waters

by Trinity Austin & Julieta Villanueva 

The Hammond Central girls swim season has come to an open and the girls are training harder than ever for their first meet on November 22. 

The Health and Physical Education teacher, Sue Mathewson, is the coach for girls swimming. She trains the more intermediate swimmers and overall leads their practices. It is her 25th year as a swim coach, including when she was at Hammond High. Alongside Mathewson is assistant coach and substitute, Veronica Matthews, who teaches both the beginners and intermediate so they could make their way into the advanced subsection.  

According to Mathewson, when joining the team you do not need to have experience in swimming, but it would be useful. However, an updated and current sports physical is required to participate on the team.

With Mathewson being a certified lifeguard, she ensures that safety will always be her number one priority. To ensure safety, they always completes stretches before practice to ensure no one gets any cramps. If worse comes to worst and injuries occur, they do have a training room where they can treat anyone that gets injured.

“We do alot of swimming, we do a lot of stretching and we do what we call stroke drills to improve on all of the basic strokes of swimming. We have freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Freestyle is the most common one but the other three are a little harder to learn, so we do a lot of training for those strokes,” Mathewson said. 

The team is sorted into different levels: the beginners, intermediate, and the advanced. Each group has their own routine and lane during the swimming meets, it includes doing different techniques. Each swimmer also swims different distances depending on how skilled they are. 

Senior Violet Lopez, and captain of the team, has a strong passion for swimming in which she has been partaking for three years. Lopez joined sophomore year, due to the will of being there for her sister and ended up falling in love with it. 

The routine for practice does vary each time, ranging from moderate to days where Lopez struggles.  

“We start off with stretches and we go in the pool and they give you a lane. I'm usually in lane eight or seven, then they give us instructions on what to do. First we do 100m swim, 100m kick, and 100m pull and then after that we do not do very specific drills.  It kind of is a bit more random and it can get very hard sometimes,” Lopez said. 

According to Lopez, she enjoys the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle. She’s competed in a 500, which is 20 laps back to back along with a 200 relay.

“To be honest I feel like swimming is the best sport of everything because it’s in the water. It’s just a good sport to focus and feel free. I highly recommend it,” Lopez said.

Sophomore Arely Amador is one of the beginner swimmers on the team. She stated that during practice, the team first goes into the weight room and conditions. After a while they then go into the pool and do a few stretches. They then go inside the pool and start swimming. 

When it comes to swim meets the routine is different, but consistent. The order in which the events take place is very specific, always running the same way with a state official meet. The referee lines the starters up on the starting blocks. While referees check for any infractions of swimming strokes in which they have the right to disqualify if they mess up.  

For example, with some strokes you have to touch the wall with two hands, if you only touch with one hand and the referee sees it you get disqualified.

The swim team has had their meets at Hammond Central and various schools like East Chicago, Morton, Gary West Side, South and North Newton. For sectionals, they go to Munster, Crown Point, and Lake County, the larger meets are called an invitational. 

“It has been a personal passion of mine. The Swim team generally are good students who care about their grades, and they’re caring individuals who care about each other. It really is a joy to coach the team because we become like a family and it really is a lot of fun,” Mathewson said.

The swim team meets at the swim room Monday through Friday after school at 2:45 to 4:30.

Nov. 27th Release - Lady Wolves look towards new horizons for year two 

by Jaylen Steward

The 22-23 women's basketball season is here and the Lady Wolves are ready. The girls are putting last season behind them and pushing for a state title this year. With returning players and a few new faces, the Lady Wolves are looking ready for battle this year on the court.

Head Varsity Coach Okeisha Howard, also known as “Coach O” is very excited for the new season and cannot wait to coach her team into the promised land. 

“The goal of this year is a title. Focusing on winning is the main priority,” Howard said. 

According to Howard, the team dynamic last year was not where she hoped it would have been, as a negative locker room environment and clashing attitudes were a major roadblock for last year’s success. However, she stated that this year the team chemistry is much more cohesive and the girls work much better on the court together. 

Senior guard Jaida Fraizer believes as one of the new faces she can be a key role in the Lady Wolves success this year.

“With me being a new addition to the team I feel I can make my teammates better and get them to play more aggressively as well as keeping a positive mindset,” Fraizer said. 

Frazier also expects her team to win a lot more than last year seeing as this year's team is an all around more powerful and dedicated team than last year. 

She also stated that being an upperclassman, she wants to be supportive on and off the court to ensure her teammates hold their heads up high 100 percent of the time. 

Returning junior guard Makayla Bruce also stated that she believes this season will go in a positive direction. With her being a part of last year's team and this year's team she can clearly see the difference.

“I see this season being a lot smoother with a lot of learned lessons,” Bruce said. 

As she is also an upperclassman, she plans on being a leader on the team by teaching the underclassmen new skill sets to add to their style of play as well as improving her own game, as she is focusing on shooting more efficiently in game scenarios. Bruce also stated that she wants to be an encouraging teammate who will help when she sees something not going right whether it be on or off the court.

The Lady Wolves kicked off their season against Crown Point on November 1. 

Nov. 27th Release - HC Wolves defeated in round two of sectional games

by Adalynn Garza

The football season came to a close Friday November 4 as they were defeated by the Merrillville Pirates 52-8 in round two of the IHSSA sectional games.

While the game against the Pirates ended in defeat, the boys walked proudly off the field as their season was filled with many wins, including their second win against Morton in the first round of sectional play on October 28.  

Going into the first round of  sectionals, Head Coach Adam Hudak was ready for the Governors. 

“We plan on coming out strong from the beginning against Morton and getting the job done,” Hudak said.

Hudak was confident and had every right to be. The varsity boys proved him right and brought home another win. Not only did they win but they showed great athleticism as a team against Morton High School. 

The whole team did bring out the win together but sophomore Dashawn Woods and seniors Jeremiah Ruth and Jordan Woods were the stars of the game. 

“Jeremiah Ruth was a force all night on defense. Jordon and Dashawn led the way for us on offense,” Hudak said.

During the game senior wide receiver Jordon Woods got a 50 yard touchdown giving our varsity football team a lead. This also gave Jordon Woods another chance to get player of the week for WJOB+JEDtv. 

“That touchdown felt amazing and getting player of the week is always an accomplishment for me,” Woods said. 

Wide receiver and defensive back Dashawn Woods also got a touchdown during the Morton game. 

“It's a every game thing nothing new man,” Dashawn said. 

Although HC had the lead, Morton started to come back to bring the score really close. However, sophomore defensive back and wide receiver Nikos Evans helped keep Morton from taking the win with an amazing save. 

“I felt great when I made that play that night. It was amazing. I just knew I had to step up and make a play and that’s what I did,” Evans said. 

After Evans' save there was less than a minute left on the clock and HC had possession of the ball. The Wolves took a knee and ended the game. The final score was 27-26. 

Although the Wolves came up short against Merrillville the following week, the team headed into round two of sectionals with confidence. 

“We just need to play 100% every quarter and play hard. If everyone does their job we shouldn’t have a problem, we have good players and they have good players so this game should be a pretty good game,” Evans said. 

The Wolves ended their season with an overall record of 8-2, including sectional play. 

Nov. 27th Release - HAPA students show who king of the jungle is in Lion King Jr. 

by Lisette Ariza 

Seven shows, one stage. From elementary to high school students, School City of Hammond and HAPA came together to perform the Lion King Jr. play. 

The play was directed by co directors Erin Fitzpatrick, Dr. Davis, and Aarynn Bernard and hosted at The Donald E. Gavit auditorium located at Morton high school. The play ran from November 10-13 for the general public, but the first show was performed November 9 for the elementary schools. 

Rehearsals started in September, where the actors and directors put long hours each week preparing for the big show. The practices did not go unnoticed and those long hours allowed many families around the community to enjoy the show with their little ones. 

The acting, dancing, and singing tied smoothly together with the props and background. Bernard shared that the hardest part of preparing for the play was mentally and physically preparing to be able to give the expected energy when executing rehearsal and performances with 140 students. 

A total of 140 students joined together to sing, act, dance, and be part of the tech crew. Many students rehearsing for the same play can either affect the play positively or negatively but for both Bernard and actress Ana Serrano from Hammond Central, it was a positive effect having all those students from different grade levels and schools. 

Serrano felt that the effect was positive because it allowed so many different groups of people to get to know each other in order to work together. For co-director Bernard, it was also a positive experience as the different ages of students blend together and allowed different perspectives to be brought to the table. 

“Having elementary students participate in the play brought such amazing energy, and having middle and high school students there brought the professionalism that HAPA teaches,” Bernard said. 

Hammond Central senior America Guerreo was also a member of the Lion King Jr. cast and shared that although having so many students from different grades made for a different environment, it all was still so easily managed. 

“The fall run-throughs in costume and makeup was one of my favorite parts of the whole play experience,” Guerrero said. 

Lion King Jr. had so many memorable and well showcased performances from the audience's perspective. Whether it was Scar and Simba fighting, or all the actors singing after Nala and Simba came back, or the drums in the beginning of the show. 

Bernard stated her favorite part was tech week when costumes, tech, choreography, and music all came together. Serrano enjoyed  being around the entire cast and being able to work with Dr. Davis, the vocal director. 

Lion King Jr. is an adaptation of the original movie. Watching the play, the entire movie was represented and easily understood, the flow was easy for adults, kids, and for everyone to understand and kept everyone hooked throughout the entirety of the play. 

Guerreo stated that there were a couple different adaptations from the original movie. For example the song for the mourning of Mufasa was different, which added to the deep feelings on how Sarabi felt after Mufasa’s death. 

According to Bernard, there were many similarities that represented the movie. The play enhances the story we know and love by adding the Swahili language to the presentation along with the African details all throughout the costumes in fabric and style. 

“Lion King Jr. made it easier for kids to understand and it really created an enjoyable musical experience for everyone,” Serrano said. 

Nov. 27th Release - The horrifying realities of The Great Depression: A project by Mr. Buckner

by Kamiyah Johnson

Business management teacher Jonathan Bucker brought the horror of reality about the Great Depression to his classes by having students create self-made posters about business operations during that time. 

Students were to pick an event that led up to or occurred during the great depression of the 1930s and create a horror movie poster, along with a document explaining their movie. 

Some events that led up to the Great Depression were the stock market crash of 1929; the collapse of world trade due to the Smoot-Hawley Tariff; government policies; bank failures and panics; and the collapse of the money supply.

Events needed to be researched, selected, and then approved. After approval, students began working on the event document and poster. Once they have developed a solid foundation for understanding the event they partnered up with their assigned group and discussed their ideas for execution. 

According to Bucker, the document the students needed to complete would act as a script for the trailer, give the setting, and which actors would be starring in their film.

“This project was very important for his students, but not just for their grades. The biggest take away I wanted them to gain was an understanding of the way the Great Depression occurred, and why,” Bucker said.  

Nov. 27th Release - Mrs. Robles Spanish classes honor Dia de los Muertos

by Miracle Williams

The Day of the Dead was recognized and honored in Spanish teacher Maria Robles’s classes. 

Many teachers at Hammond Central have put projects together to better their students' understanding about the content being taught in class. Projects such as these allow students to be more engaged and want to be more involved in what teachers have in store for them. 

Robles educated students about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) by explaining the meaning and importance of it, as well as taking a closer look into Mexican culture and tradition.  Días de los Muertos is celebrated from November 1st to November 2nd, to honor loved ones who have passed over to the other side. 

She set up her ofrenda, or altar, which is a central component where they place down pictures of the loved ones, as well as items that belonged to them and served meaning in their lives. 

Robles set her ofrenda up with a picture of her mother, as well as decorations such as flowers and candles. 

“The day of the dead is very important to me and my people,” Robles said. 

As for her students, she allowed them to join in on the tradition. She had them take loved ones and represent them, allowing them to decorate and write about them. She also decorated her walls with her students’ pictures of loved ones, flowers, sugar skulls and coloring sheets from the Disney movie Coco. 

“I chose Coco on because it’s such a lovely movie. It’s my favorite,”  said Robles. 

Her classroom door was decorated from top to bottom with pictures from Coco with words that read, “Recuerdame y Viviré Para Siempre,” which means, “Remember me and I will live forever.” 

Nov. 27th Release - Students individually chosen to attend Natural Helpers fall retreat

by Asia Griffin 

Hammond Central had their very first Natural Helpers Retreat on November 2 at the Good Fellow Club Youth Camp at Indiana Dunes National Park.  

The retreat was created in the late 1970’s by a group of counselors and teachers who realize that students go to other students with their problems. The information provided on the retreat trains the natural helper on how to skillfully help people through their issues.

Social studies teacher and Natural Helpers sponsor Edward Klapak stated that the retreat is designed to teach the six-step process of the helping skills to students who are identified by their peers as being a natural helper. 

“The students who are chosen to go on the retreat already have the intrinsic ability to help people through their tough times,” Klapak said. 

Students are invited to the retreat personally. While on the retreat, the students learned team building skills, individual skills, and they learned the six step process of helping. The students also have the chance to explore other ideas such as communication, self-affirmation and knowing their own limits. There are physical activities and team building exercises which everyone participates in as well.

Students have exclaimed that the retreat was a fulfilling experience and that they never thought they'd seen themselves in the manner in which they do now. Klapak also stated that the retreat is an experience that can help them not only in high school but years after as well.

This was one of two retreats being held this year. The next retreat will be held in February. 

2022-2023: Issue 4

Jan. 10th Release - Christmas around the world: an editorial by Miracle Williams 

Christmas is a holiday celebrated and loved by millions of people across the world, but we all celebrate in different ways. Well, some people do not even celebrate that fact.

You are probably used to celebrating Christmas with a big tree, and presents under it, while sipping on hot chocolate. While in other countries such as China, their celebrations are like Valentine's Day. Everyone exchanges gifts, and goes out to have fun and party. Amongst other things, groups of Christians in China celebrate the “Sheng Dan Jieh.” That is their “Holy Birth Festival,” and they decorate with evergreens, posters, and pretty paper chains. 

Fun fact: KFC is widely eaten in China during the holidays!

In other countries like India, they do not celebrate Christmas, but instead a five day festival called “Diwali.” Like Christmas, you give gifts, and there are festivals displaying bright colors. Though India has Diwali, there is another festival by the name of “Pancha Ganapati” which was created back in the year of 1985. This celebration is said to be an actual Christmas alternative.

More or less, in other Asian countries such as Korea and Japan, they do not treat Christmas as a religious holiday like many other countries do. They use it as a day to spend time with family, and give gifts. But, in Korea, they do not see it important enough to continue with outside travels.

Feliz Navidad! In Mexico, they celebrate Christmas as well as we do, but for them it is more rooted in Spanish and Indigenous culture. They have candlelight processions, Spanish Christmas carols, fireworks and dancing, as well as elaborate nativity scenes. 

Do not forget that many countries celebrate other holidays during Christmas, such as the more popular “Hanukkah” and “Kwanzaa.” 

The Jewish and Original Hebrew Israelites celebrate Hanukkah. It is the festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and the subsequent rededication of the Second Temple. Hanukkah lasts 8 days, and every day from the first, you light a candle on the menorah. Like Christmas, you are able to give a gift to each of your loved ones on each day. Each day they feast as well, more popularly known to have lamb, and unleavened bread.

On the continent of Africa, a lot of Africans celebrate “Kwanzaa,” which is not a religious holiday but again is rooted deep in Africa's many cultures. Many African-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa too. Due to history, most find it interesting and important. Usually starting December 26th, and ending January 1st, on the 6th day there is a communal feast called Karamu. Many believe that voodoo has a place in this beloved holiday, while it has to do with spirituality, it is not evil. 

For each candle lit during Kwanzaa, they each stand for something important

• (1) Umoja (Unity)

• (2) Kujichagulia (self-determination)

• (3) Ujima (collective work and responsibility)

• (4) Ujamaa (cooperative economics)

• (5) Nia (purpose)

• (6) Kuumba (creativity)

• (7) Imani (faith)

In Islam, there are no holidays rooted to be like Christmas. In fact their only two holidays are “Eid Al-Fitr” and “Eid Al-Adha”. Those of which have to do with Ramadan and the sacrifice of Abraham. 

Our world is very diverse, and we have our differences, and different ways of different things. They are all unique and beautiful in their own ways, and no matter what we celebrate, we still have fun with them.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a Great Kwanzaa to everyone!

Sources Cited: 

Hanukkah: Definition, History, Customs, Story, Food & Facts 

What is Hanukkah? Info you need about Chanukah 

Want to know more about Kwanzaa? We've go you covered 

How Christmas is celebrated in Mexico 

How is Christmas celebrated in South Korea? 

Christmas in Japan 2023: Facts and Traditions 

Diwali, the greatest Hindu holiday of the year 

Pancha Ganapati 

Islamic Holidays - National Today 

Jan. 10th Release - Science Olympiad team prepares for competition

by Julie Ortiz

Hammond Central’s Science Olympiad team had their first competition on Saturday December 3 at Whiting HS. 

After coaching the science olympiad for 20 years at George Rogers Clark, science teacher Michelle Parsley decided to continue the role this year for the first team here at Hammond Central. 

“A science olympiad competition consists of 23 events that include all scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and engineering,” Parsley said. 

A science olympiad competition is similar to a track meet, where each member competes in some pre-selected events which are usually three events per team member. The students can win awards in individual events, and teams can earn trophies based on their overall team scores.

Aside from Hammond Central, other schools in the area like HAST, Whiting, Highland, and Munster also participate. This year, the regional competition will be held at Purdue Northwest on February 11, along with the state competition on March 11. 

While there are only six confirmed members on the team, Parsley hopes to have a full team. 

“Most of our team members are freshmen this year, so my goals are simply for them to gain experience this year, which will make them more prepared for next year and beyond. If we retain this year’s competitors and recruit more next year, we can gradually grow into a full, competitive team,” Parsley said. 

Two of the freshmen on the team are Daniela Reynoso and Joy Kakish. Reynoso wants to improve her work ethic and solve problems in a logical way. Kakish wants to learn from her mistakes during competitions regardless of winning or losing. She stated that she joined the team because she wanted to further improve herself by studying new things.

“I want to compete in a competition and be proud of my results whether I win or not,” Kakish said. 

Reynoso hopes to do well and looks forward to improving for future competitions. 

“For me, a big goal would be to win a medal, I want to make my community proud with outstanding results and show them what I can do,” Reynoso said.

For any students interested in joining the Science Olympiad team, you can see Parsley in room B304 for more details.

Science Olympiad team members Angelina Wheeler, Daniela Reynoso, Joy Kakish, Jasmin Perez, Georgia Gutierrez and Annabel Diaz the Whiting HS Invitational Science Olympiad Tournament. 

Jan. 10th Release - Hammond Central's boys swim team strives for overall improvement

by Sebastian Martinez-Hernandez

The Hammond Central boys swim team season started off with high hopes with a win against the Bishop Noll Warriors at home. Their current record stands at 2-2. 

Head coach and business teacher George Fotopoulos stated that his biggest achievement of the season so far has been having swimmers improve their swim times from last year's season. 

“The team can improve on learning more strokes as the season progresses, but I’m happy with the improvement I’ve seen so far,” Fotopoulos said.   

The roster consists of 8 boys and a team manager, and two of the top swimmers are sophomores Omar Molina and Diego Arriaga. 

Coach Fotopoulos is satisfied with the progression of the team and stated that there is nothing he would change about how things have turned out this season. 

“Seeing the students motivated and accomplish their goals is honestly the best thing I look forward to each season,” Fotopoulos said. 

Wednesday January 4, the boys battled the waters against Calumet High School and came out with a win. 

Arriago stated that his biggest achievement so far this season has been getting better at timing on his relays, fifties, and one hundreds. 

“I think that I can work more and improve on my one hundreds even though I fee like I have already improved a lot,” Arriago said. 

Diego wanted to join the swim team because his sister mentioned it to him and he stated he does not regret the decision to join. He is the acting captain of the team, but expressed he wished more Wolves would try out for swimming. 

“If I could change anything about the season it would be the amount of boys who are on the team. There are many more girls than guys on the team,” Arriago said.  

The Hammond Central boys swim team will continue to complete up until the second week of February. 

Jan. 10th Release - Spirits high for the Holiday Season with HAPA Holidays

by Trinity Austin & Julieta Villanueva 

The Hammond School DIstrict had their second annual HAPA Holidays on Thursday, Dec. 8th, at Morton High School. 

Including Hammond Central and Morton, both middle and elementary schools joined hands for their performances, where all 600 students performed the finale with the dance team. Hammond Central brought in 200 of their HAPA students. 

During the preparation the directors stepped-up and prepared to take on the large event. With the choir and piano teacher, and one of two directors for the highschool choir, David Boban, prepared for three months before the event starting in September. 

Boban is a piano and choir teacher at Hammond Central. He did plenty of things in order to prepare for HAPA Holidays at Morton High School. He played piano for any performances that needed a pianist and also conducted the finale song which included around 200 students singing together, the band playing percussion, and the dance classes from both Morton and Hammond Central performing as well. 

“It's the most students we've ever had for a finale song, and I'm really hoping it's an impressive and fun performance for everyone on stage and the audience,” Boban said. 

According to Boban, the biggest challenge while preparing for HAPA Holidays was the planning stage due to HAPA expanding a lot within the last year.  Last year's HAPA Holidays program only included Hammond Central and Morton's band, choirs, drama, and art department. However, this year Scott and Eggers Middle Schools, as well as a couple of small performances from the elementary schools were also included. Being able to fit all those performances in a two hour event, and all the logistics involved was difficult. 

“It's a good problem to have, and we are very happy that we have so many students involved in HAPA that will be able to perform for such a big audience,” Boban said. 

Joseph McCoy, band and Music History and Appreciation teacher at Hammond Central, was the Instrumental Music Director for the HAPA performance as well as one of the conductors for the beginning bands at the holiday program. 

McCoy did many things to prepare for the event at Morton, like helping in selecting pieces for the ensembles, conducting rehearsals, and communicating schedules with the parents of the performers.

According to McCoy, HAPA Holidays is a special annual event which takes place during December, that celebrates the winter spirit. During the event students and staff are able to showcase various holiday themed performances, skits, and exhibits for students, parents, and other visitors to see. 

Hammond Central's dance, choir, band, orchestra, rock band, theater, and art programs all participated in the HAPA Holidays program.

“During HAPA Holidays, various vendors across the district also showcase their own services that add further appeal to the event,” McCoy said.

According to McCoy, He always aims to encourage others to cherish every opportunity and connection offered to them, and to let loose and enjoy those brief moments that we all can share when we put our best foot forward to create spectacular events like this one.

Boban had to direct the choir as well as accompany the parts needing a piano played for choir and solo.

The HAPA schools last biggest production was The Lion King, with 150 students participating, whereas this production will be four times bigger.   

The Visual Arts Department gathered portraits, complementary and analogous abstract tempera paintings, and oil pastel drawings of ribbons to put on display by entrance of the MHS auditorium, while MHS students had created snowflakes for the High School Dance performance titled Winter Dreaming.  

Tina Lazzarine, the Intro to 2D Art and AP Art History teacher at Hammond Central stated her gratitude of having such a large-scale  event come together and connect every School City of Hammond school by creating a big memory and experience for all who came. 

“Many of us only see our own small part, but it is such a great experience when it all comes together,” Lazzarine said.  

HAPA Holidays 2022

The Director of HAPA, Scott Sowinski, had expected an estimate of 800-1000 attendees but had exceeded his expectations with an  estimated 2000 in attendance. The event was such a success that the auditorium was sold out so there were complementary seating arrangements in the cafeteria, which displayed the event with a live stream feed.

Though the event did have different for profit vendors and sold tickets for five dollars, it was simply a community event where everyone could get together and enjoy the holidays that were yet to come. Profit was never the event's main focus, but to serve their community was. 

“We had a gallery for our visual arts program, vendors, and what I think was a wonderful experience for our community. Since we are always learning, we have grown to understand the large need for our community for awesome experiences such as this and are very grateful,” Sowinski said.

The event was a huge success in showcasing holiday spirit while giving back and serving the community with an amazing variety of artistic abilities. All participants showcased what the district‘s talent holds.

Jan 10th Release - The History of Christmas: an essay by Jon'Trece Thorpe

The History of Christmas

Christmas has always been about receiving and giving gifts, the legendary Santa Claus, festive lights, and distracting commercials bursting with joy. What if I told you many years ago none of this existed in this loved holiday. The origins of Christmas stem from both the pagan and Roman cultures. The pagan cultures lit bonfires and candles to keep the darkness at bay. The Romans also incorporated this tradition into their own celebrations. Christianity soon interrupted these traditions as the religion spread across Europe and they painted the holiday as their own. They adapted the Pagan ritual into a celebration of Jesus's date of birth. 

The mascot of Christmas as we all know is Santa Claus. His original name was Saint Nicholas. Before he became the symbol of this holiday he was just a humble monk. He was mainly recognized for his piety and kindness. Another tradition of Christmas is the trees we use to decorate our house with. Plants and trees that survived during winter had a special meaning for people. Ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

 Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. In America the first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania. The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. 

Caroling is also a traditional Christmas tradition that isn't much popular nowadays but it was invented in the 173th century. It began in the oral tradition, but didn't always involve Christmas or even singing. The first carol service is believed to have been held at Truro Cathedral, Cornwall, in 1880. It was organized by Edward White Benson, the First Bishop of Truro, who later became the Archbishop of Canterbury. A separate tradition of 'wassailing' also existed as far back as Anglo-Saxon times. Franciscan Friars produced the first carols in the 14th

century; these took the form of a dance in a circle with linked hands and everybody singing the song. Caroling may not be as popular anymore but in nicer neighborhoods, people still carol. Also in smaller towns and villages, there are still traditions of people who go door-to-door, caroling. 

Even though Christmas is pure and all about spending time with your family and giving gifts as well as receiving them it is still plagued with a dark side and mysteries. The Krampus is a seldom taught part of the Christmas holiday mainly in the United States. This devil travels with Santa on his yearly journey and punishes the wicked just as easily as Santa gives his gifts. Some stories tell of the Krampus merely whipping bad children while other myths have the devil putting the children in a sack and taking them away to be devoured at a later time. 

Another strange mystery of Christmas is Black Pete. Children are taught to believe that they receive their presents from Saint Nicholas who is accompanied by a black servant called 'Black Peter'. Adults will dress up as Saint Nicholas and Black Peter (a white person painted in black face), and visit children and adults. The fight over Black Pete has exposed a deep rift in Dutch society—between those who see glaring inequalities for the country’s minority population, and those who believe firmly that their tolerant and liberal society offers equality to all. 

Christmas will forever be a very iconic holiday not just because of the two weeks off of school but the rich history, cultures, and traditions deeply rooted inside of it. Christmas is important because it is widely celebrated secularly because it accounts for significant economic activity in the United States and worldwide. Christmas celebration helps to shape the traditions that keep our family connected in a special way during this season of joy.

Jan. 10th Release - Holiday Chess Club Tournament 

by Adalyn Garza 

The Hammond Central Chess Club held their first tournament on December 12. 

History teacher Aaron McWaters is the head coach of the chess club and stated that many students signed up to play in the holiday chess club tournament. 

“Fifteen students signed up for the tournament, and there were five rounds of 15 minute games,” McWaters said. 

The first day participants learned how to play and got ready for the real tournament on December 14, where they would face off for first place in the chess tournament. 

Mcwaters was excited and ready for the tournament to begin on the 14th and anticipated what the outcome of the tournament would be. 

When the tournament began the atmosphere was nice and quiet and everyone was really focused on each match.

“I tried to keep it quiet so people could think but they were having a good time. People were nervous with it being their first tournament and using chess clocks for the first time, but it made the atmosphere more competitive,” McWaters stated. 

McWaters was filled with excitement and anticipation for the crowned champ and could not wait to give out the prizes for the top players. 

“I think the most exciting thing about the tournament was giving the players prizes and medals to compete for. It really made it more competitive and fun for the players,” McWaters said. 

The excitement and anticipation build-up came to a head when sophomore Caleb Flanagan and senior Jose Tiscareno had to play each other for the championship in the tournament. 

“The fourth round between Caleb and Jose was exciting; at the time they were tied at 4 wins and were fighting for the lead,” McWaters said. 

Caleb Flanagan took the win and got first place for the holiday chess tournament. 

“I think everyone will come back for our Spring tournament, and I’m hoping we can get more players with sports and other extracurricular activities ending soon,” McWaters said.

From beginner to more seasoned players, McWaters was pleased with the turn out and success and turn out of the first tournament and excited for more tournaments to come. 

Hammond Central hosted an Indiana Chess Association regional tournament on January 7th.

Jan. 10th Release - Varsity Wolves hungry for state title

by Jaylen Steward

This year the Hammond Central boys basketball team is looking to finish what they started last year and take home a state championship. 

After a disappointing early exit in the first round of regionals last year, the Wolves look to rewrite the story this year and claim that state championship title. The team is very confident that it can be done even with new faces on the court and the sidelines. Everyone in the Wolves locker room is locked in this year as everyone all has the same end goal: a championship.

Senior guard Kenneth Grant might be the most focused out of the entire group. Grant's main focus is to bring a championship banner to Hammond Central by any means necessary. Grant also stated that he and everyone else are looking forward to the upcoming season and all expect a much more successful ending than last year. 

“We’ve added several key pieces to the team with the arrival of new players and a redesigned game plan,” Grant said. 

Junior guard Baron Owens has high hopes for himself and the team. Being given new responsibilities as being a main voice in the locker room Owens is taking this year a little bit more personally. 

“ We expect to be the best team in the region. After last season we went back to the drawing board and we’re coming back better than ever,” Owens said.

Junior forward Daniel Garza has very high expectations for this season seeing as his season last year was put on pause due to transfer issues. Garza was submitted to the sidelines due to a transferring issue last season which potentially led to last season's shortcomings. Garza is ready to get back on the court for the wolves and looks to make his impact felt around the region. 

“With my time away from the game I’ve done nothing but get better. I look forward to helping bring Hammond Central home a state championship this year,” Garza said.

Coaches and team members have extremely high expectations for this season as everyone feels they are one of the top teams in the area. This season is sure to come with its ups and downs but the Wolves are prepared for whatever may come and are willing to do whatever it takes to cut down those nets in the end.

Jan. 10th Release - We’ve got the spirit, come on lets hear it!

by Amari Tucker, Alexi Cook & Lebron Hill

Can you imagine a school without spirit? The students at Hammond Central High School do not have that worry thanks to our JV and Varsity cheerleading teams.

Junior varsity cheerleader Emauri Buchanan stated that she was really looking forward to this winter season of cheer. 

“I am very excited for this year. We get another chance to show everyone what it is we can do,” Buchanan said. 

The Hammond Central cheerleading team had a great season last year supporting the boys basketball and football team with well-known cheers such as “Wolf fans in the stands” and “Don’t stop, rock get it.” This year also new cheers have been introduced such as “Dribble like you're trying to make his legs fall off” and “JAM with us.”

Cheerleading coach T’Wanna Broadway is very excited to show this year’s team talents off. She stated that cheer members Ariana Smith and Shawnise Bennett are just a few of the girls who really stand out with their talent and efforts. 

“Smith sticks out to me because she loves to teach and learn new cheers. Bennett stands out as well because of her voice and when she calls out a cheer she can tell her whole team,” Broadway said.

Broadway knows who will show up to help teach the younger girls the new cheers that have been added in. 

Senior varsity cheerleader Egypt Rettew stated this cheer season will be different from last year for her because she is more invested than ever before. 

“It is my senior year and I want to leave my mark on Hammond Central’s cheer team,” Rettew said. 

With Rettew being an original Hammond High cheerleader she enjoys teaching the new girls the throwback cheers from Hammond High School and also the new ones that they have picked up along the way.

CheerBattle2022

“I want my senior year to be unforgettable. I want to have fun at practices and on the floor. I plan to go out with a bang. This year I am going to give cheer my absolute all. “ Rettew said. 

The Hammond Central cheerleaders will be in action throughout the boys basketball season, cheering their Wolves on. 

Jan. 10th Release - Powerlifting Club 

by Alejandro Velazquez

Hammond Central has added Powerlifting to the list of new clubs available for students to join this year lead by advanced speech teacher Jonathan Buckner. 

Powerlifting is a club that focuses on weight training and development. They want  to strive for personal development of strength both mentally and physically. 

“The goal of the club is to create a culture in which members motivate each other to become stronger, and encourage a safe and healthy activity to improve physical wellness and longevity,” Buckner said. 

According to Buckner, he had a few students in his class that were talking about weightlifting. When he asked them if there was a club or sport that allowed them to work on developing their passion they quickly informed me there was not. He stated it was at that point where he saw a need that we could easily meet. 

“I enjoy being able to give students every opportunity to be successful when they are willing to put in the work,” Buckner said.

Buckner’s hope is to get the club off the ground and going strong and getting the club members to have a sense of ownership and belonging. 

“I would like the club to have a strong presence while being a force that competes at local, national, and international events in the sport of Powerlifting. I would like to see students afforded the opportunity to Lead, Letter, and earn scholarships to further their educational and athletic careers,” Bucker said.

Powerlifting club will take place after school on Mondays and Fridays. According to Buckner, Wednesdays may be added if there is a need for more weight room time. For more information, contact Buckner at JPBuckner@hammond.k12.in.us or go to his room at C205. 

Jan. 10th Release - Hammond Central's take on talent

by Kamiyah Johnson & Alyssa Robinson

The Hammond Central yearbook staff hosted its first talent show on November 18, showcasing the talents of some of our brave students. 

Yearbook sponsor and English teacher Amari Norwood wanted to give students the opportunity to be able to express their talents for the entire student body to see. 

“We are involved with a performing arts program, and seeing kids showcase their talent every day and I believed that it would be a good idea for the kids to have that outlet,” Norwood said. 

The talent show held 9 acts, including a group and a couple different pairs. From dancing to music, the students left it all on the stage for everyone to see. 

Jan. 10th Release - Enviornmental Science students learn about local ecosystems

by Keasa Kennedy

Students in environmental science teacher Leigh Neace-Coffey’s classes were able to attend an in-school field trip to learn about the different ecosystems in our community. 

Neace-Coffey’s students are working on PBL focusing on how humans can make changes that will positively affect the ecosystems in Northwest Indiana. According to Neace-Coffey, students have been learning all the ecosystem vocabulary and were ready to learn firsthand about different ecosystems and what we can do to protect and support them.  Students will then get to choose which ecosystem they want to focus on for their PBL. 

Guest speakers from The Nature Conservancy and Save the Dunes came to discuss the different ecosystems in Northwest Indiana and what citizens can do to help preserve them.  The Nature Conservancy works to protect natural areas in Indiana and around the world, and helps educate the public about what people can do to help. 

Save the Dunes, which was established in 1952, helps protect and advocate for the Indiana Dunes, Lake Michigan, and the surrounding natural areas for the health and vitality of the environment and the people who live and work in Northwest Indiana. 

Jan. 10th Release - Hammond Central bible club

by Azaleah Frechette

Religion is a phenomenon that has existed with mankind since our coming to. With the installment of the Bible Club, no matter what religion, different beliefs can come together to analyze and study the bible. Though the Bible club has mainly Christian members, no religion is excluded. 

The goal of the Bible Club is to give back to the community and help out wherever they can. Ranging from biblical plays to basic community service, the bible club strives to be there for any and everyone. 

Club sponsor and ENL Coach Sarah Darwish stated that she took on the club as a thanks to God for saving her sister’s life, but also in hopes that joining members would find the same thankfulness she did in God and in indulging in the Bible. 

Wanting to provide a space of tranquility and union, Darwish hoped that the bible club would inspire even those not in the club to be better and do more not only as students but as members of the community. 

Darwish hopes the bible club will have a positive impact on its members and community. The club meets on Thursdays after school in room A310 for any students interested in attending. 

Jan. 10th Release - Karate Club kicks it into gear

by Maria Uvalle

Are you interested in doing some karate? Well you are in luck! Hammond Central now has its very own karate club. 

These classes will be taking place at the JROTC shooting range located next to the swimming pool. Practices will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:40 pm to 4:00pm. This club will include different types of fighting techniques and weapons to compete with different schools.

Karate club member Thomas Melgoza stated that he is excited for a new club like this. 

“Karate instills humility, control and maybe even stoicism. These are virtues that other clubs/teams don't necessarily teach,” Melgoza said.

Karate is an important club for teens because it teaches many things. Not only is it good for your physical health but also for mental health. It promotes self-discipline, hard work, instills values of honor and most important respect. 

If you would like to join or learn more information about karate club contact Sg. Sheriff in room B118. 

2022-2023: Issue 5

Feb. 27th Release - Afro-Latinos & colorism in the Latino community

by Julie Ortiz

Spanish teacher Veronica Garcia taught her Spanish 2 classes about Afro-Latino culture and colorism in the Latino community this past month. 

Garcia wants her students to learn about the rich history of Latino culture and its ethnic makeup. She would also love for her students to learn that the world is much smaller than we’re taught to believe and that we have many similarities with various cultures.

She hopes that students can benefit from learning about different cultures aside from their own.

“I feel by learning about different cultures, they can see a bit of themselves and expand their thinking and appreciation of various cultures,” Garcia said.

Colorism and Afro-Latino discrimination are significant issues in the community. Latino media like novellas can also contribute to the problem of colorism when different skin tones and cultures aren’t represented accurately.

“Colorism is an unfortunate phenomenon in the Latino community and it affects Latinos of all shades. It is common to give nicknames related to skin tone and oftentimes novella actors are not accurate representations of the “look” of the countries they represent,” Garcia said .

This lesson that Garcia has been teaching for 10 years ties into Afro-Latinos and Black History Month. Afro-Latinos often get discriminated against by both sides of their culture. 

“Latinos come in all shades and colors and there are many Afro-Latinos who have made important contributions to the community. Afro-Latinos are often ignored and are not considered ‘Black’ because they’re Latinos and then aren’t considered “Latinos” because they’re Black,” Garcia said. 

It’s important to celebrate different cultures and their contributions.

“It’s time we celebrate the many contributions of the Afro-Latino community and Black History Month is a great time to do so,” Garcia said. 

Feb. 27th Release - HC Wolves’ cry for redemption is heard with sectional win

The tension in the air could be cut with a knife at the Class 4a Munster Sectional 1 championship game on Monday March 6. 

The Hammond Central Wolves faced off against the Munster Mustangs for the second year in a row in the boys basketball sectional tournament. HC overcame the Mustangs’ quick defense with a 54-53 win. 

This year, the Wolves came for redemption as Munster knocked them out of the run for sectional champs in last year’s competition. They tore through the first two rounds of sectional play defeating Gary West Side in game one 62-54, and defeating Morton with ease in round two 71-30. 

Senior shooting guard Kenneth Grant went into the championship game feeling determined to win and was not going to let the Munster defense stop him. 

“Going into this game, everything had to be put on the line. Every shot had to go in. Everything had to be perfect for us to win this game,” Grant said. 

With both teams having similar records at the end of their seasons (HC 21-1, Munster 22-2), each team came into the final round of sectionals ready to play, bringing more than 3,500 spectators to witness the historical game. 

Fans sat on the edge of their seats as both teams played basket for basket the entire game. The fourth quarter brought the most intensity as each team would not let the other’s score advance more than two points at a time. With 6.9 seconds left on the clock, senior Jordan Woods tried to drive up the lane to get a bucket. Although the plan did not result in scoring, Woods was fouled, sending him to the freethrow line.

“I was trying to dunk it. My mindset was to put the ball in the rim,” Woods said.

The score was still tied 53-53. The clock read 2.9 seconds. The pressure and tension was at an all time high. Every fan was on their feet in the stands, on the floor. All Woods needed to do was score the two baskets and the Wolves would have the upper hand. 

Woods missed his first shot, but made the second basket. The Wolves led the score 54-53. With 2.9 seconds remaining, Mustangs junior Jermaine Coney threw the ball from one baseline to the other, hoping his throw would give them the opportunity to score just one more bucket. 

His teammate Brandon Trilli, caught it and went for the last shot of the game, but it missed, it bounced over to the other side of the rim and was rebounded by junior Matthew King, sealing the win for the Hammond Central Wolves.  

“Any time you beat a team on their home floor for sectionals is a huge win,” Coach Larry Moore Jr. said. 

The Wolves will travel to Michigan City High School for the Regional 2 Championship game on Saturday March 11 to face off against the Mishawaka Cavemen at 4 p.m. 

Feb. 27th Release - JAG students shine bright at Career Development Conference 

by Azaleah Frechette 

Jobs for America's Graduates is a program that helps young adults lead a productive and rewarding career. Through JAG, students get an advantage in today’s rising workforce through student centered activities bringing them to their full potential. 

The whole purpose of JAG is to prepare students for after high school. Students are being taught how to create a resume, how to fill out job applications, interviewing skills, how to manage finances, locating a home and renting it, buying a car, and even filing taxes. 

Elizabeth Magnan, the sponsor of JAG at Hammond Central, first began sponsoring JAG in 2020. Her spin on the JAG program is authentic to HC and will start as the base building block for future JAG related developments at Hammond Central. 

“I was very excited about getting to start the JAG program here at Hammond Central and make it my own. Our JAG students are doing so well, and I can't wait to see what the future will hold for us,” Magnan said.

Preparation for the competition was tedious work according to first place senior Ar’Mariay Anderson, who had to review the requirements thoroughly and handcrafting an amazing resume to “wow” the judges. Anderson stated that the biggest setback was not the work, but preparing for the interview portion of the CDC. 

“I was most nervous about the interview portion of the competition. I didn't know how talking to people I had never met would feel. However, the interview went amazing! I was extremely hopeful. I wanted to win but I knew I had to take the steps necessary to do so,” Anderson said.

Anderson explained that she had gone over potential questions and practiced her communication skills to secure her first place win. 

Senior Kylan Gabriel, also had some doubts when it came to placing in the competition. Brainstorming ideas with his team, Gabriel was hesitant about their business proposal of their clothing business compared to their competition. In the end, they ended up placing second for the Entrepreneurship Plan. 

“To be honest, seeing the competition, I didn't think we were actually going to place but I'm glad to see that we prevailed in the end!” Gabriel said. 

Gabriel stated that his favorite part of JAG happiest is the environment and how it feels welcoming. He recommends joining for a great education and even greater environment. 

“Initially, my specialist made me want to join JAG because all of the benefits of JAG. I felt like we were all a family when I initially joined. JAG was very welcoming and it's a good program to participate in community events and also to help out around the school,” Gabriel said. 

Both Anderson and Gabriel stated that the program is really inclusive and feels like a big family. Having learned life lessons and everyday skills needed for adult life, JAG is the program you’re looking for if you want a welcoming environment that will also help you prepare for your future.

Registration however, will have to be at the beginning of the school year since it's a long process to get accommodated with each student. 

“This enrollment process includes getting several papers signed by your parents/guardians, providing your social security card, birth certificate, explaining your household situation, and sharing "barriers" or struggles you may be trying to overcome with your JAG teacher,” Elizabeth Magnan said.

Magnan is located in room A301 for additional information about the JAG program. JAG students look forward to the next CDC competition which will be held March 17th, 2023. 

Recently, JAG held its first of three competitions on January 27th, 2023. The competitions are formally referred to as Career Development Conference (CDC) and the Hammond Central Wolves showed up and showed out.  The following students placed and brought home awards: 

• 1st for Outstanding Senior: Ar'Mariay Anderson 

• 1st for Chapter Commercial: Hector Aguilera, Matthew Hutcherson, Quentin Stewart 

• 1st for Social Media Campaign: Seayra Goerg 

• 1st for Employability Skills: Quentin Stewart

• 2nd for Entrepreneurship Plan: Armani Crockett, Kylan Gabriel, and Jaylen Steward 

• 2nd for Critical Thinking: Randhal Moran 

• 2nd for Outstanding Senior: Randhal Moran

• 3rd for Digital Invite: Seayra Goerg

• 3rd for Entrepreneurship Plan: Ariana Smith and Ar'Mariay Anderson 

• 3rd for Employability Skills: Natalya Torres

Feb 27th Release - Expectations reset for 2nd semester

by Mya Hurley

As of Monday, January 23, a couple expectations for students regarding safety procedures have been taken into effect. 

Students are expected to wear their IDs around their necks for security purposes. Students who have their IDs will enter the building through door “A” or door “D if they are bus riders. Students without an ID will be required to enter through door “B” and be given a temporary ID at the cost of $1. If a student loses their ID, they must purchase a new ID for $5.00. 

Students are also expected to use their school-issued lockers. Students are no longer allowed to bring book bags or coats inside their teachers’ classrooms. Locker information can be found in PowerSchool through the SCH website.

Head Principal Dave Verta stated that there will be a security guard in the vestibule area from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. checking IDs for late arrivals. 

“If a student doesn't have their ID and their parent or guardian is with them, the student will be sent back to their vehicle.  If the student is alone, they will be escorted to the ABR where they will remain the rest of the school day,” Verta said. 

Students who are having issues with their assigned lockers are being asked to send an email to Hammond Custodians and clerical. 

Feb. 27th Release - Ten college degrees on the rise  

by Alyssa Robinson

For many students, college is the next step after high school graduation, which is near for those students who are currently seniors. Finding a major is often a challenge for many, especially if you are not quite sure “what you want to be when you grow up.” For those who are unsure what path they want to travel down, here are some majors that have been trending amongst college students in recent years. 

Software engineering and computer science are two very popular majors because people are living in the day and age of technology. Since technology is always changing and improving our lives, there will always be jobs in engineering and developing. 

According to crimsoneducation.org, “Software engineering majors learn how to design and develop software programs before sending them to customers. This math-heavy degree also focuses on building software for particular operating systems, designing databases, and all about computer architecture.” 

Senior LaTonia Allen stated that she would like to go to college for software engineering and become a software developer.

Nursing is one of the most in demand degrees for people to earn. You can find this as an alternative major because it is accessible, quality training options, industry growth, active, and exciting work. It also gives you a variety of working environments. 

According to bestcolleges.com, “As a large portion of the population ages, they will seek medical care to address their age-related health concerns and improve their quality of life.” 

Hospitality and hospitality management are also very in demand. It helps you understand how to greet and treat someone when they are a customer in your line of service in any line of service you choose. According to Boston University, earning a degree in Hospitality Management prepares you for a wide variety of careers in different sectors of hospitality, enables you to transform the industry with innovative ideas, and offers you exciting global opportunities. 

Architecture is a popular degree which allows for a creative outlet. According to youngarchitect.com “People have a passion for space and environments, just like they do for people. You're highly affected by your surroundings. You can see, feel and understand the energy in the environment.” 

If you have a love for building things and the spaces that they create, then architecture might be the major for you. 

Pharmaceutical sciences not only makes you a very reasonable salary, but also falls into a category for those who have a passion for medical science. Pharmaceutical Science can give you flexibility and opportunity to grow. According to the BLS, pharmacists earned a median annual salary of $128,710 in May of 2020. Payscale reports clinical pharmacists earned an average of $119,650 per year in January 2022.

Financial technology and accounting majors not only teach students how to take care of their financial needs, but also teach how to help others in financial areas. According to bestcolleges.com, “As banks, governments, and companies around the world update their systems (including adopting blockchain and distributed ledger technology), they will look to fintech graduates to help them capitalize on the latest financial technologies.”

Bestcolleges.com also stated that accounting is one of the best majors for 2022 because all reports indicate healthy, stable market growth. Accounting majors learn versatile skills they can use in most financial departments and workplaces. They learn accounting competencies and advanced financial skills. 

Senior Ahkeem Harrington stated he would like to attend Stanford university and major in accounting.

Finally, construction management is in demand because it shows no signs of stopping. There will always be homes, businesses and infrastructures that need to be built.  According to newschoolarch.edu, earning a degree in construction management is helpful in a variety of ways. Besides providing job stability and enabling you to increase your earning potential, it also allows entrepreneurial types to take on a position that can help benefit society and the environments we live and work in.

If you are trying to figure out what path you want to take after high school, maybe one of these fields could be the place you find yourself fitting into. 

Feb 27th Release -   Boys wrestling ends in top positions  

by Hanna Castillo 

Hammond Central’s wrestling team is stacked from the coaching staff to the rosters. 

With four coaches, lead by Head Coach Kevin Persley and a total of 22 wrestlers on the roster, the team has had great success this winter. 

The Wolves came out on top 37-33  in a tough match against Griffith High School on January 11; they defeated Whiting with an astounding 63-12 win; and took the win at the conference tournaments against Morton High school, East Chicago High School and West Side High School. 

During regionals, two wrestlers, senior Quentin Stewart and sophomore Anthony Hinton, qualified for the semi-state competition where the Wolves were eventually eliminated.

“Setting a good example for the kids to follow and constantly reminding them that it takes a lot of hard work to improve, placing a lot of value on the basics of our support while communicating our goals as a team and individuals helps keep them focused,” Persley said.

During this past season, many core values were instilled. Such as, always being respectful to other coaches, referees, their opponents, and especially to each other. The Wolves were also also held accountable for their actions on and off the wrestling mat. 

“Academics comes first, it's that simple. You can be the best wrestler in the state but if you don't handle your school work you won't get the opportunity to prove it,” Persley said.

Persley spent the season training the wrestlers to become better starting with a light warm up for 6-10 minutes into their stretches.  From there they start their everyday drills for roughly 20 minutes followed up by either covering new techniques or refreshing areas that are needed to improve on. Persley structured practices so that the last 20-40 minutes the team would wrestle.

“With coaching there are some trial and errors. It's always the coaching staff's objective to put each wrestler in the best position to win as possible,” stated Persley. 

With a successful season, coaches and wrestlers on the roster look forward to a bright future of wrestling at Hammond Central. 

Feb. 27th Release - Hammond Central welcomes first boys volleyball program

by Adalynn Garza & Sebastian Martinez-Hernandez

This year Hammond Central High School is starting a boys volleyball program and everyone is very excited to see the outcome. Right now the boys are conditioning for their upcoming season with head coach Jessica Castillo. 

“I am really excited about the first boys volleyball team for Hammond Central. My goal is to build a program and to maintain it, giving boys who traditionally do not play a sport in the spring the opportunity to participate in volleyball,” Castillo said. 

On Sunday January 23, 2023 the boys volleyball took a visit to the Sportplex for a practice tournament against many different teams. The Wolves stood their ground and came in 3rd place overall at the practice tournament. Head Coach Jessica Castillo is very happy about the way the boys played at the practice tournament. 

“It was a really good experience for the boys. They were able to work with boys from other schools and learn how to play organized volleyball. I think the boys had fun and definitely learned a lot about the game and also made friends along the way,” Castillo said.

Junior backrow player Brian Hernandez was also very happy about the way the team played at the tournament. 

“I was nervous at first but as I was warming up with the team my nervousness went away and after it felt good to play with my team and play against other teams who play really well. I think we played really well for only 2 weeks of practice, we also communicated very well which made us play even better,” Hernandez said. 

Even though many of these players are new to the sport many of them are very serious about it, which is making the team come together very well. 

“Most of us are new to the sport of volleyball but we are definitely very passionate about it,” Hernandez said. 

Sophomore Ceasar Madriz is looking forward to the upcoming season. 

“I want to accomplish getting better at the sport by the end of the year and want to have a good time and understand the sport better,” Madriz said. 

The communication that the boys volleyball has and the way they play together as a team is a key factor to making them become better day by day. 

“The team is great.Tthey are good people and they all respect each other,” Madriz said. 

Sophomore setter Jorge Limones stated that the experience so far has been really fun and he enjoys his teammates.

Students who are interested in playing boys volleyball can attend tryouts on February 27, 2023 from 3-5. The boys volleyball program will run from February 27th to May 8th.

Feb. 27th Release - HAPA prepares for "12 Angry Jurors"

by Trinity Austin & Julieta Villanueva

The auditions for the play “12 Angry Jurors” took place on January 23rd-24th for the play that will be performed March 9-12th at Morton High School in their Black Box Theater. 

In the play, instructions are given to 12 jurors to decide whether or not a young man is guilty or not of murdering his abusive father. These 12 ordinary people bring their own histories, prejudices, and biases into the jury room as they work through this life or death decision imposed on them.  Many may believe it is an “open and shut” case, but is it really?   

Melissa Brassard is the Technical Theaters Director and will be the one supervising the plays production. According to Brassard, the set up of the play will take place in a courtroom with the audience surrounding the stage while they sit. This set up is also known as an “in the round”. 

“We are always looking for students who are willing to really act out the characters, not just read the lines.  Just like the audience, the other characters in the story only know what the others show about who they are, so we need actors to really try and show these different personalities,” Brassard said. 

Hammond Central has 3 students cast as jurors: America Guerreo for Juror 4, Ta’Shon Wilkerson for Juror 5, and Miranda Campos for Juror 6. There are also two understudies, Jamilia White for Jurors 4 and 11, and Ana Serrano for Jurors 2 and 9. 

Wilkerson is a Sophomore with the desire of wanting to be an actor. He was previously cast in “The Lion King” musical that was performed earlier this year in November. One of his challenges was learning to tone it down a notch since he’s always been a very eccentric person. 

Wilkerson’s acting technique of choice was to make the character his own while finding himself in the character. 

“Juror 5 is the youngest of the jurors, and despite how he looks now, he came from the slums. He grew up in poverty and knife fights, while now he is successful but he's still humble. He is less talkative than the rest of the jury, but since he is the youngest, it's hard for him to speak up against his peers. He's the character most relatable to those who grew up in a more chaotic and dangerous environment,” Wilkerson said.

Like Wilkerson, Brassard also believes this play will give the audience a chance to relate to one of the jurors since the play is fast-paced and gives the audience a chance to see which they relate to. Brassard continued to state how she thinks the audience can question for themselves whether or not the defendant is guilty.  

 Scott Sowinski, Director of HAPA, shared his expectations for the play and stated that he hopes for the play to become a cultural and socialized learning experience for the students and community. 

“This show is perfect for our point in time and also a great examination of the idea of ‘justice' versus opinion and bias,” Sowinski said. 

He also shared the process of how HAPA starts the production of a play. They first have to buy the rights for the play, they did this last year for “12 Angry Jurors.” They then meet with the directors of the play and figure out what they will need for the play. 

He also added that it's not always easy to start and make a play and that they try to make it something that is good for the students and community to view. Their goal is to make the play into something meaningful for everyone. 

According to Wilkerson, he can’t wait to see everyone enjoy the production. 

“Opening night I want to see everyone's reactions to the magic we are making,” Wilkerson said. 

During the three day performances of the play, seats will be limited so that each audience member could feel a connection with one of the 12 jurors believing that they too could also be a jury member.

Feb. 27th Release - HC Bowlers 'set up' for success

by Amari Tucker

Most people think of football, basketball or baseball when it comes to high school sports, but for junior Diamond Gist and freshman Jeremiah Travis, their favorite sport is bowling.

Gist first started bowling when she was just 4 years old. She watched her older sister have a passion for the sport and that made her intrigued to learn more about it. 

When asking her parents why they were so confident in putting her into this sport they told her it was an inside sport to keep her occupied. That is how Gist started the bowling league on Saturdays. 

The preparation of Gist's parents got her to where she is now: competing in Fort Wayne in the IN State Semi-Finals. The tournament took place from Friday January 27 through Sunday January 29.

Gist was one of the 29 girls selected to compete in the tournament. 

“This weekend was definitely an experience. Seeing all the different emotions and dedication from many boys and girls. I loved laughing with them and seeing how supportive all the parents were,“ Gist said. 

Of the 29 girls selected, they went ahead and selected the top 10. Gist placed 17. 

“There was one time I was stressed about making the cut, but then I sat and thought, If I make the cut, that’s great, but if I don’t then don’t worry about it because it’s all a part of God's plan for me,” Gist said. 

Overall, Gist enjoyed herself and was very ecstatic to make it as far as she did.

Gist, along with Travis, each earned “Bowler of the Year” for the Greater Lake Country Conference (GLCC) at the GLCC Bowling banquet earlier this month. Gist had the girls highest average of 182 and Travis rolled the boys highest game with a 286. 

Feb. 27th Release - Moynihan helps lead the Pack with positivity and perspective

by Lebron Hill

For those who do not know his name, English 10 and speech teacher Kevin Moynihan has enjoyed the opportunity he was given to join the Pack here at Hammond Central and become a Wolf. 

Moynihan began teaching here at HC with the opening of the school last year, but has been teaching for the last 28 years. He transitioned over to HC from Clark, but has also taught at Whiting and Michigan City High Schools. 

Being no stranger to the teaching profession, building relationships with students and faculty is a top priority for Moynihan. His ultimate goal is to create an environment for his students where they always feel accepted and supported. 

“If they were struggling when they came in, then my hope is that they feel a perspective shift before walking out.  I believe that having a positive effect on others is life's greatest currency.  It pays us back in immeasurable ways,” Moynihan said.

He fell in love with English during his senior year of high school because he had a teacher who truly inspired him in class. 

“She always had words of wisdom and always encouraged me. She pointed me in the direction of Valpo University,” Moynihan said. 

One way he shows his intention in the classroom is through projects that his students can truly relate to. While reading Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” he had students create their own soundtrack to represent their take on the play. 

Moynihan’s love for education and his students makes  him a perfect piece to the Hammond Central Wolf Pack puzzle. 

Feb. 27th Release - What is Critical Race Theory? 

by Juderson Blair

Critical Race Theory, or CRT for short, is a controversial topic that has had many people buzzing in recent years. 

According to Education Week, Critical Race Theory is a way of understanding how American racism has shaped public policy, or a divisive discourse that pits people of color against white people. Liberals and conservatives seem to be in a strong disagreement. 

In the spring of 2021, the topic exploded in the public arena, especially in K-12, where numerous state legislatures have been debating bills that seek to ban its use in the classroom. 

Emerging in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s, CRT is an academic and legal framework that can be primarily found within the fields of law, sociology, and education. It seeks to understand and challenge how race and racism are embedded in legal systems and institutions, and how they shape social, economic, and political structures.

CRT suggests that race is not a fixed biological or genetic category, but rather a socially constructed concept that has been used historically to create and maintain power structures that advantage certain groups over others. It also recognizes that racism is not just individual prejudice or bias, but rather a structural and systemic problem that is deeply ingrained in society.

Some critics argue that it promotes division and identity politics, while proponents argue that it is a valuable tool for understanding and addressing systemic racism, which has made CRT a subject of significant controversy and political debate in recent years.

Black History Month 2022 was recently observed as American society grappled with the importance of Black history, with discussions centered on the relevance and necessity of critical race theory. 

In the aftermath of George Floyd's death at the hands of police officers in May 2020, this reckoning with racism was thrust to the forefront of many American minds.  Since then, the race debate has been interpreted by some in the U.S. as an attack on White America, with 14 states now limiting the teaching of Black history and racism in schools. 

These constraints, which come under the guise of banning the teaching of critical race theory, limit what some state-supported institutions can discuss about America's racial past. 

People who advocate Critical Race Theory argue that it is an important framework for understanding and addressing systemic racism and that it can provide valuable insights into how legal and political institutions maintain racial inequality amongst different races. They also argue that efforts to ban or restrict the teaching of Critical Race Theory are an attempt to silence discussions about racism and maintain the status of racial inequality.

Feb. 27th Release - Athlete safety in professional sports

by Juderson Blair

Many of us all know of the tragic story of Damar Hamlin. For those who have not heard this story, Damar Hamlin is an American NFL safety for the Buffalo Bills and wears the number three on his jersey. On Jan 2, 2023, Hamlin was hit in the chest by Bengals receiver, Tee Higgins, in the first quarter of the game.  

Hamlin then suffered from cardiac arrest, leaving him unresponsive on the field. He was resuscitated and then rushed to the nearest hospital, where he was resuscitated again. 

Fortunately, the 24-year-old safety has since continued to make what doctors have referred to as "a remarkable recovery" since his heart stopped. 

Similar to Hamlin’s story, another player, Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback for the Miami Dolphins, was stretchered and carted off the field with head and neck injuries after he was sacked by defensive tackle Josh Tupou. Tagovailoa was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center but was later discharged and flown back to Miami with the team.

However, this injury was controversial and put the Dolphins under scrutiny in recent weeks. During the franchise’s Week 3 matchup against the Bills, Tagovailoa appeared to suffer a head injury. When the quarterback stood up and shook off the hit, he stumbled shortly after. 

He cleared concussion protocol and returned to the game, later saying he suffered a back injury. This resulted in an investigation into the concussion check, and while Miami Dolphins and both the NFL and the players association agreed the protocols were applied correctly, they found it to be insufficient. In turn, they updated the protocols. 

This is not the only thing players are trying to change. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.’s non-contact injury has brought on a public outcry against artificial field turf in the NFL during the Super Bowl.

In the second quarter of Super Bowl LVI, while running a route at SoFi Stadium, the Los Beckham appeared to get his foot caught in the turf. Los Angeles Rams reported that he may have sustained a second torn ACL, the same condition that led Beckham to end his season early in 2020.

Following Beckham's injury, a number of NFL players started a Change.org petition urging the league to outlaw artificial turf and switch to real grass instead. Famous athletes, such as defensive end Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers and tight end George Kittle, posted the petition on Twitter with the hashtag #FlipTheTurf, noting Beckham's injury as the most recent example and sharing their own experiences.

"When playing on turf, every player is just one mistake away from permanently changing their career. This had a negative effect on me that may have been avoided," Bosa said. 

NFL players, coaches, owners, and team doctors are working hard to find and create safer ways to play football. If that is a new helmet like the Riddell's Axiom helmet or Better concussion protocols. The NFL will do whatever it takes for the safety of their players.

Feb. 27th Release - New Year, new resolutions

by Kamiyah Johnson

When I hear the term “New Year’s resolutions" I think of starting the year off fresh. The actual meaning of the term New Year’s resolution is “a tradition, most common in the Western World but also found in the Eastern World, in which a person resolves to continue good practices, change an undesired trait or behavior, accomplish a personal goal, or otherwise improve their behavior at the beginning of a calendar year.” 

Everyone may not have a resolution that they want to accomplish, but there are some people that do. Some of the Hammond Central student body shared what their New Year’s resolutions were.

Sophomore Kendriana Smith stated that a New Year’s resolution is when you start the year off and want to make a change.

“My New Year’s resolution is Be better than last year. Last year was a really hard year for me so this year I want to make it better. There was a lot of stress and other things that made my year hard for me. This year I want to make it better than last year completely,” Smith said. 

Sophomore Aliyah Hentley stated that New Year’s resolution mean trying to make the new year better than the previous year. 

“My new year’s resolutions are to be more active in the gym, more happy mentally, and save more money. By the end of the year I hope to have accomplished all of the things I have set for myself,” Hentley said.  

Everyone's resolution is different. Some people create vision boards for how they want their futures to be. Others write down goals they want to accomplish. Having a New Year's resolution can keep you on track, and benefit you in the long run. 

Having goals helps keep people motivated, and willing to make changes in their lives. Studies show that 43% of all people expect to fail before February, and almost one out of four quit within the first week of setting their New Year's resolution. Most people quit before the end of January, and only 9% see their resolutions through until succession. 

Some people assume that creating a New Year’s resolution is a waste of time, but it is not. You are ten times more likely to achieve your goal if you make a resolution than if you do not. Make it about what you want to achieve today, and for the rest of the month, then continue accomplishing those goals throughout the remainder of the year.

Sources cited: 

www.forbes.com/health/mind/new-years-resolutions-statistics/ 

2022-2023: Issue 6

April 4th Release - Students showcase projects at Spring PBL night

by Hanna Castillo & Julieta Villanueva
published April 4, 2023

Hammond Central students and teachers hosted a Spring Student Showcase on March 16, displaying the Project Based Learning that has been taking place throughout the school. 

The showcase, also known as ‘PBL Night,’ is an event that gives teachers and students the opportunity to showcase big projects they have been working on. It mostly includes projects from freshman and sophomore classes, but it was open to any other student or teacher who wanted to showcase their hard work. 

“Artifacts of Our Now” was one of the PBL projects showcased that evening, which was presented by Mary Eggers’ world civics class. The project was meant to help students think about how different items could historically impact our society. 

Nayima Mora, a freshman in Eggers’ world civics class showcased a poster about Roe v Wade which was a very famous Supreme Court case where many people protested on May of 2022, over a document that was leaked stating that a person’s rights and liberty to an abortion, was going to be overturned making abortions illegal.

“This is probably the most impressive project that I saw and I wanted to give her the recognition for it,” Eggers said.

Another project called “We Can Do Better” was a project that had students create letters for the School City of Hammond about different ways to improve the 2023-2024 school year. Students learned how to articulate what issues they wanted to discuss and came up with solid facts to prove that it would benefit them and our community. Students worked on their pieces separately and they voiced their opinions about what could be improved at school. They used surveys and conducted research in order to complete their letters. 

“I hope that the SCH administration and school board listen to students and change policies that would improve learning conditions and help make HCHS a place where students feel valued and eager to make the most of their high school experience,” Cox said.

According to Cox, though the project was very time consuming and not as fun as others, it was a very important project overall. 

“We won't know if we met our goals until we evaluate changes to the 23-24 school year,” Cox said.

Many other projects were displayed throughout the hallways of HC while parents, teachers and stakeholders were able to walk through and observe what the students have been working on. 

Event coordinator and instructional coach Megan Tiscareno created Bingo sheets for all who signed in. Each presenter stamped off on the cards of those who participated, giving those who filled their cards out completely a chance to win a raffle prize. 

“I created the Bingo sheet for anyone who signed in, but it doubled as attendance and some teachers even offered extra credit to those who attended the event,” Tiscareno said. 

April 4th Release - Class of 2023 top 20 students is officially selected

by Trinity Austin
published April 4, 2023

With Hammond Central’s Class of 2023 Top 20 recently released, seniors are rushing to get prepared for graduation while the affiliations with the top 20 are relishing their accomplishments.  

The Class of 2023 top three are Seniors Ada Austin, Rhandal Moran, and Nicholas Garcia. With such an achievement of being the class’s top pride, they each had staff and teachers of HC who they owed to their accomplishments with advice to give to their fellow student body. 

The valedictorian of the Class of 2023, Ada Austin, has been accepted into various colleges with the benefit of knowing earlier than usual due to REA, (Restrictive Early Action). A few of her acceptances are Notre Dame, Cornell, and DePauw University. She plans on majoring in finance while minoring in philosophy with hopes of incorporating them into her career path in the future.  

Austin credits HC for showing her that independence is not always needed and it is okay to use other resources such as asking for help, finding sources online, and being mindful of what you already have. 

Having to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, in-school and out of school work has become both a motivator and distraction to her in life

She has owed her success to the support of teachers here in HC such as Chris Howard, Kanisha Jenkins, and the librarian Cynthia Cruz.  

“A notable success that I worked hard at getting towards was being accepted to Notre Dame. Ms. Jenkins and I sat down together at her desk as she helped me write my Notre Dame supplemental essays. I also have Mr. Howard to thank for being the recommender I put under College Apps for the University, as well as being accompanied by Mrs. Cruz to the college fair in October and introducing me to the representatives,” Austin said.  

Cynthia Cruz, one of HC’ s librarians and someone who has known Austin since Kindergarten at Maywood Elementary, has noticed her exceptional knowledge since then. Back at Maywood, there was a program for students who were advanced in reading called Junior Grade Books, a program where Cruz was the mentor. 

“I feel so relieved that Ada and other young people from Hammond Central are going out being equipped to be good citizens. It was a pleasure working with Ada and our other students. They are great young people and will be ready to take on the world,” Cruz said.

In Junior Grade Books students would dive deep into literature and state their observations. Cruz stated how Austin’s observations were always insightful with pursuit to strive for a deeper meaning. When reading Austin’s symposiums, people were always impressed. 

Austin’s business teacher, Kanisha Jenkins, also looks forward to seeing what Austin has in plan with her future. 

Jenkins stated how Austin was one of her best students with teaching being an easy, rewarding, and fulfilling experience all at the same time. 

“Ada has exemplified nothing short of hard work, dedication, and persistence. What stood out to me about Ada is how well-rounded and goal-driven she is, her mindset, the respect she has for not only me, but her peers as well, and her ability to connect learning to life. Ada has many great qualities, but what stands out the most to me, is her mindset, communication skills, self-discipline, consistency, and diligence,” Jenkins said.  

Jenkins cannot wait to see how Ada will make her career finance-centered. She feels that her business class has shaped her to allow her to explore different areas of business. Since finance is an extension of business,  Austin has now learned various ways to business and financial theories to help companies and clients make and manage money.

The salutatorian, Rhandal Moran, is planning on attending Purdue Northwest, majoring in nursing masters. Unlike Austin, Moran plans on finding a new discovered independence as well as discovering new commodities. 

Programs Moran recommends is National Honors Society, a program that offers community service as well as a place to meet fellow students. Moran also recommends JAG, which is a program offered to juniors and seniors that teaches students ways to manage and use money once high school is completed. 

“I would say the JAG program at Hammond Central has specifically prepared me for life after high school by teaching me how to manage rent, know how credit works, know what car is best for me, make connections, and so much more,” Moran said. 

Having to overcome challenges such as Covid-19, difficult life lessons, and switching schools, Moran’s motivation was to prove he will not give up despite what life throws at him. He did not have motivation to be the best but, he had the urge to learn and excel at what he does. 

The people who have supported him the most in life and school have been his best friend, math Department Head Dawn Veenstra, JAG Specialist Elizabeth Mangan and art teacher Tina Lazzarine. 

“I would say that Mrs.Veenstra really taught me how to be more into any subject by not being afraid to ask questions. Ms.Mangan has really helped me throughout this and last year with opportunities that have helped me grow as a person. Mrs.Lazzarine has really just been a very nice teacher and the schools all around need more people like her,” Moran said. 

Mangan, one of Moran’s teachers, had nothing but great things to say about him. 

“I have always had positive experiences teaching Randhal. He has consistently been one of my best students. One thing that stood out to me about Randhal is that he always turns in his work on time, is an active listener, and asks questions when he needs help. He always strives to be the best version of himself and has a very bright future ahead of him. Some of Randhal's best qualities are that he is respectful, ambitious, motivated, diligent, and proactive. Not only does he get things done, but he gets things done the right way,” Mangan said.  

Mangan encouraged Moran to pursue his nursing career because of his caring personality and excitement to help others. She also helped him break out of his shell and gain more of a confident image of himself.  

“I showed him where he can obtain his CNA at the Beginning of a Start Training Center in Merrillville, IN. He is finishing up this program now and will work as a CNA soon. I also have helped Randhal perfect his people skills. When we first met he was very shy, it took some time to bring him out of his shell. Now, he is much more comfortable communicating with others which will help him in his future career as a nurse,” Mangan said.

Nicholas Garcia, who is ranked number three overall, also plans on attending Purdue Northwest with the goal of studying civil engineering while balancing working as a landscaper. 

The class he owes the most to is AP language and composition. He believes the class gives students the most benefit out of all classes to take at HC. 

The people he credits the most to are his parents, who are his motivation despite if he might get off-track, and the people who taught him values and morals at a young age. Garcia also credits his history teacher, Eric Schrieber, for teaching him about life and leaving an overall positive influence on him. 

According to Schrieber, Garcia is a pleasure to have in his class. He stated that Garcia has amazing focus and found motivation to be successful. He also stated how his work ethic is strong and how  he can not wait to see what is in store for Garcia since he encouraged him to pursue his degree. 

Advice Garcia leaves to his peers is to do your best to stay on track and not to be afraid to ask questions. He urges students to take advantage of the resources and opportunities that are available to them here at HC. 

“The best advice I can give to my peers and underclassmen is to stay on track and do the right thing. It is important to have friends and hang out but don't let that become more important than school. Always be yourself, don't find yourself around the wrong influences, and always remain focused,” Garcia said. 

Austin urges students to get ahead of your college starting process if you plan on attending, especially juniors. 

“I had the benefit of starting a CommonApp account and doing my personal statement the summer before my senior year started. That way I wouldn’t have to worry about procrastinating about that task at hand and focus on the other things I would have to check off my list during the year,“ Austin said.

Austin also added programs such as the year-round program that groups a diverse group of young women with professional writers and media makers for one-on-one mentorship. Girls Write Now has helped her develop her writing skills when navigating through college essays. Girls Write Now has given Austin insight from various views of the world that she can use as a motivation in writing. 

Moran’s advice to his fellow peers is to not get involved in any drama since it will only lead to stress, unnecessary problems, and a worse overall experience. He also shared guidance about friendship problems and how to overcome fake friends. 

“Some people are only your school friends. The real ones will always check up on you. Try to be that friend too and if they don't reciprocate then know that they aren't your real friend. Don't get hung up over one person because more people will come along. Just try to be as genuine and supportive as any good friend would be,” Moran said.

Moran has also endured the distinction of friends and foes himself and owes HC for teaching him how to overcome that. 

“Being in school has also taught me how to understand how not everyone is your friend just because you talk to them.  Knowing your boundaries in and out of school really helps with that,” Moran said.

Moran has gotten a grasp of the idea of what he wants for his salutatorian speech; he wants it to consist of thanking all of the people who have helped him and to reflect on his high school experience while understanding how everyone could have experienced it differently.

Though Austin has yet to figure out her valedictorian speech, she knows she wants to incorporate a reflection of her journey and recognition of the people who had supported her along the way.  

Graduation will take place at HC’s football field on Tuesday, June 13th.

April 4th Release - HAPA students shine bright at ISSMA competitions

by Azaleah Frechette
published April 4, 2023

Hammond Central Wolves participated and won medals in the ISSMA Ensemble and Solo Contest for their outstanding performances on January 28 and February 25. 

ISSMA is the Indiana State School Music Association. ISSMA’s Ensemble Contest helps prepare students for their futures by utilizing public speaking, presentation, and public performances. 

Students are critiqued based on their intonation, tone quality, articulation, tonguing, bowing, note accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, interpretation, dynamics, musicianship, suitable cuts, appearance, poise, posture, and concert decorum. The list of what students get critiqued on must sound daunting to most but is very necessary in order to give accurate feedback to the performers! 

The following Wolves placed at the Regional Solo Ensemble contest held on January 28 at Munster High School: 

• Jocelyn Ester, Silver, Group I Clarinet Solo

• Diego Fernandez Arriaga, Gold, Group III Violin Solo 

• Natalia Garcia, Silver, Group I Marimba Solo

• Kathina Gil Munoz, Gold, Group III Clarinet Solo

• Brianna Mattox, Gold, Group I Tuba Solo 

• Romeo Moran, Silver, Group II Trumpet Solo

• Baron Owens, Gold, Group II Snare Drum Solo

• Zaidian Plantz, Silver, Group I Snare Drum Solo

• Elizabeth Ramirez, Silver, Group I Flute Solo

• Frank Rucinski, Gold, Group I Trombone Solo

• Angelina Wheeler, Gold, Group III Flute Solo

• Angelina Wheeler, Gold, Group III Violoncello Solo

• Maya Bacio, Jordan Cunningham, Jocelyn Ester, Annaira Figueroa, Kathina Gil Munoz, Maria Jaramillo, Jori Lawson, Omar Padilla-Moreno, Elizabeth Ramirez, and Angelina Wheeler, Silver, Group I Large Woodwind Ensemble

• Natalia Garcia, Zaidian Plantz, Frank Rucinski, and Jonathan Segura, Gold, Group III Percussion Ensemble

• Andrea Fernandez Arriaga, Diego Fernandez Arriaga, Natalia Garcia, Brianna Mattox, and Angelina Wheeler, Silver, Group III String Quintet
  
  

The following Wolves placed at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest at North Central High School in Indianapolis on February 25: 

• Brianna Mattox, Gold with Distinction, Tuba Solo

• Brianna Mattox, Gold with Distinction, Perfect Score, Voice Solo

• Frank Rucinski, Silver, Trombone Solo
  
  

The schedule for ISSMA Contests are usually held throughout the year, but Cheryl Suwardi’s class participated in the Solo and Ensemble contest that is held once a year in January and February. Suwardi, who teaches band, orchestra, and music theory, helped students prepare for their success.

April 4th Release - Modified Day Program helps students graduate on time

by Alyssa Robinson
published April 4, 2023

The Modified Day program, which helps students who are struggling to stay on track with credits and attendance, has made its debut here at Hammond Central at the start of the second semester. 

The program is run by Hammond Central staff with the help of several student mentors from Calumet College of St Joseph.

MDP consists of students of all grade levels including freshmen to seniors. It helps students finish their classes by using an online application called PLATO, to learn the skills needed to pass. The program runs from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. 

Algebra teacher and Mentor Coordinator, Ce’Etter Carpenter-Stevens stated that the ultimate goal for the program is to get students to graduate on time. 

“Although these select students are not in a traditional classroom setting, we expect for them to complete their course work to help get their way across the stage,” Carpenter-Stevens said. 

The HC admin team began the MDP to ensure that support was provided to students who have issues with attendance and/or focusing inside a traditional classroom setting. According to Carpenter-Stevens, sometimes all it takes for a  student to be successful is for them to be removed from distractions and put in a learning environment that is better suited for them. 

April Mendoza, a junior psychology major at Calumet College of St. Joseph and former Hammond High School alumni, is a mentor for the MDP.  She stated that she chose to participate in the mentorship because she knows the positive impact this type of program would have on students. 

“I knew many kids at my high school Hammond High who struggled severely in school and this program would have helped but we didn't have these type of resources and also I noticed that students seem to connect a lot better with people around their age. I want to be a person that makes an impact on these students' lives,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza stated that if this mentorship program is available in following years, she would love to continue lending a helping hand. 

“I would do absolutely whatever it takes to help students who need help and try to make their lives as simple as I can. I can't help but wonder if we had these resources when I was in high school if it would have made a difference in a lot of my classmates' lives, and maybe they would be in a different position in life,” Mendoza said. 

Principal David Verta is very proud of the work that is being done with the MDP. 

“I feel like the program has helped many of our struggling students to realize that school is important and that they shouldn't take it lightly. As many know, our motto here at Hammond Central is ‘everyone graduates on time,’ so I also feel like our seniors have taken it very seriously because it helps them walk across the stage,” Verta said. 

Verta stated that he plans on continuing the  program for years to come to help struggling students fulfill their academic needs. 

April 4th Release - Hammond Central Boys and girls swim team season wrap up  

by Alexi Cook & Lyric Walker
published April 4, 2023

Top Performers

Boys

• Omar Molina (200 Freestyle Record; 100 Freestyle Record, 200 Freestyle Relay Record)

• Thomas Melgoza (200 Medley Relay Record, 50 Freestyle Record, 200 Freestyle Relay Record)

• Cristian Perez (200 Medley Relay Record, 100 Breastroke Record)

• Diego Arriaga (200 Medley Relay Record, 200 IM Record, 100 Butterfly Record, 200 Freestyle Relay Record)

• Ernesto Herrera (200 Freestyle Relay Record)

• Leonardo Arambula (200 Medley Relay Record, 100 Backstroke Record)

Girls

• Violet Lopez (200 Medley Relay Record, 100 Back Record)

• Angelique Munoz (200 Freestyle Record, 500 Freestyle Record)

• Larae Fairley (200 Medley Relay Record, 100 Breaststroke Record)

• Stephanie Robledo (200 Medley Relay Record, 100 Butterfly Record)

Sectionals

Boys
The Boys teams had every swimmer drop a considerable amount of time, moving us up from our projected finish -while breaking 9 of the 12 possible team records.

Girls
The Girls team logged solid times, with many swimmers dropping considerable time. This sets them up to improve greatly next season!

April 4th Release - Mental awareness and possibilities for school improvement  

by Asia Griffin
published April 4, 2023

Mental Health is a huge everyday part of people's lives. Students, teachers, staff, parents, and many others have mental ailments such as anxiety disorder, depression, etc. Poor mental health is very common to find in somebody because a lot of times people do not know how to help themselves and that is okay. Other times people just cannot come to help themselves and that is okay too. 

Depression, stress and anxiety is a huge issue in the school system; everybody suffers from it. Several things can be the cause of it such as their family, stress on their grades, other students, trying to work a job, past trauma, feeling lonely, social stress, and not focusing on themselves. A lot of people do not know that it is okay to be going through problems and mental hardships. They mostly push it down and act like it does not exist. They put a smile on their face and say they are ok when they know deep down they really are not.  

Students need an outreach they can get to, they need to be given more time on their mental health and a break every now and then. I anonymously interviewed students and adults on mental health in the school system.  In the interview more than 90 percent chose that they or someone they know suffered from depression, stress or anxiety. They stated what might help students and adults mental health.  

The summary of the responses are having someone to talk to and not being neglected by the school system. Some people feel like nothing would help them, and being in a stressful environment with nobody to help them makes it much harder.  Most of the responses are asking for somebody to listen to them and acknowledge their pain and suffering.  

Over 70 percent of the responses feel lonely frequently and have severe anxiety to the point where a lot of them have not been able to have a good night’s rest. Only less than 50 percent of them can confidently say they are ok, and over 70 percent of them are worried about the mental health of someone they know.  This shows that people are aching and as a community and school system we should do something about.    

In the interview a question was asked on how they think the school system could help people's mental health. One anonymous participant stated the following: 

“I do think this school does need a better social and learning environment. A better schedule, more lenient deadlines, less pressure on students, providing basic mental health training to students and or teachers, more counseling with students who potentially suffer from a mental illness, and better lessons that could get students willing to learn more frequently.”  

Other participants’ responded similarly, stating that the school needs better support, including counselors that students can actually talk to and have activities that bring people together. The school and community needs to be more interacting, uplifting and caring. There is no way that over 90 percent of people either are or know someone that is suffering from mental illness and nothing is being done about it.

An idea was brought up stating that mandatory mental health check-ups should be something to think about. These check ups could even be online to save time. Not many people will probably be 100 percent honest but it is worth a try. A question on if the check-ups could be effective in the school system and over 80 percent of the responses think the check-ups could be effective. 

Another idea is that the school gives more time to people, letting them have a break to let go of some stress and anxiety. There should be days where one could take off their mental health, this should be highly enforced. We all know that there are days where everything just feels terrible and you just need to breathe but you still choose to go to work or school because of the requirements. Mental health days are a need. 

The school system should make events where people at school just have fun and get a chance to talk to people and make new friends. It could just be the school doing fun activities that are not just sports related. These said events could take place during an advisory where nobody is doing anything anyways. 

There could also be anonymous help for kids that cannot bring themselves to ask for help. It could be a form that every teacher and counselor posts on their google classroom. People could just have a chance to vent if that is all we can offer. Nevertheless, all we need is a better support system from the school. The students and staff cannot just be perfect robots all the time. Everybody needs a break.

April 4th Release - Team Hammond 71 Robotics pushes for state qualifier  

by Asia Griffin
published April 4, 2023

On Saturday, February 25th, Team Hammond 71 Robotics had their open house to reveal to their robot and explain what the game is to everyone that was in attendance. 

Every year the game changes and a new robot must be built according to the game they are playing. Their game this season is called CHARGED UPSM presented by Haas.  They had two competing alliances of three that were invited to process game pieces to bring energy to their community. 

Each alliance brought energy to their community by retrieving their game pieces from substations and scoring it into the grid. Human players provided the game pieces to the robots from the substations. In the final moments of each match, alliance robots raced to dock or engage with their charge station. 

The robot is all student built with only guidance from their mentors.  The team members were proud of what they built.  After the demonstration, they gave out three nominee awards.  

The first one was a Dean’s List award, which recognized the leadership and dedication of the most outstanding secondary school students in the FIRST program.  Mentors of the team got together to choose one or two students on the team that fit the criteria of FIRST. 

They nominated two young men, Nathaniel Hernandez and Ulyses Pineda, who both are in the 11th grade at Hammond Central High School.  With these nominations, Hernandez and Pineda qualify to go on to compete against other nominees from other robotics teams to earn a scholarship from FIRST.  

The next award they gave out is called Woodie Flowers.  This award  recognizes a mentor of the team who has done an outstanding job of motivation through communication while also challenging the students to be clear and succinct in their communications.  It is the student’s responsibility to choose the mentor that fits the criteria.  This award went to Judy Pineda, who is a mentor on the team.  With this nomination, she will also compete against other nominees from other robotics teams to earn the title for the 2023 Woodie Flowers.  

On Friday, March 3, FRC Team Hammond 71 Robotics traveled to Mishawaka, IN to compete in their first competition of the season.  Despite the weather conditions, they were determined to compete.  On Saturday, March 4, qualification matches started and the team ran their robot with only some minor hiccups that were immediately fixed and continued their matches until the end of the day.  

The next day the team had three more matches in the qualifications to run.  At the end of the qualifications, the team ranked 9th out of 33 teams.  Right before they broke for lunch, the top 8 teams picked alliances to join them to make it through the semi finals and to the finals.  As the top 8 were picking their alliance partners, some were selected out of the top 8 which moved Team Hammond to the 6th spot of the alliance captains.  

The team chose two other robotics teams to join them which were Team 5484 Career Academy from South Bend and Team 328 Penn Robotics Golden Rooks from Mishawaka.   After the lunch break the semi-finals started.  

The team and their alliance partners won their first two matches and then lost the next two matches, knocking them out of the semi finals.  The team did rank 4th in the semi-finals which allowed them enough points to make it to state. 

 The Hammond 71 robotics team competed this past weekend in Greenwood, IN.  You can watch each event for the competitions at www.twitch.tv/firstinrobotics.

April 4th Release - Academic Super Bowl team strives for success  

by Adalynn Garza
published April 4, 2023

Hammond Central’s Academic Super Bowl team has been preparing for competition since December. 

ELA teacher and one of the team’s coaches, Megan Brown explained what the Academic Super Bowl team was all about. 

“Academic Super Bowl is more of a mental competition than an athletic one.  Each year a new subject or theme is released and students pick subjects that they feel the strongest in. When they pick their subject they study the materials and delve deeper into the subject so that when it comes time to compete against other schools they have a well rounded understanding of the topic and material,” Brown said. 

Some of the subjects that the Academic Super Bowl goes over are fine arts, English, science, math, social studies, and interdisciplinary. This year the theme is The Age of Exploration. 

Science Department Head and coach Kathryn Healey stated that one of the biggest challenges while coaching the Academic Super Bowl team has been getting students to commit and be consistent. 

“I would love to find a core group of students who will be able to compete this year and help the team grow next year. I feel like it was a little easier to catch the student’s interest in the smaller schools where everyone walked home. Now that we have this big school we were hoping to have a bigger team but that hasn’t worked out yet. I don’t know if it’s transportation issues, or that there are so many exciting clubs and organizations and teams that the student can join that we get drowned out in all the possibilities,” Healey said. 

There are many perks to being a member of the team that will not only help you with school and everyday life, but also help make those college applications look even better. 

“[Being on the team helps students] learn about different topics that aren’t necessarily covered in every day classes. [Students] are able to make friends, and have the opportunity to letter in academics and graduate with an academic cord.  This is also something to add to your brag sheet for college. The program is something that only takes place in Indiana, so it’s not something that other states offer,” Brown said. 

Social Studies teacher Katelyn Sheive also encourages students to come out for the Academic Super Bowl team. 

“Students should join to learn more about topics they are interested in and collaborate and bond with students and staff with similar passions,” Scheive said.    

Brown urges students to try something new. 

“Ultimately it’s a fun program to be part of.  Learning and competing with your teammates is a great experience.  It’s an opportunity to make friends, learn new topics, compete against other schools, and make memories having fun in high school,” Brown said. 

Students are also more than welcome to still join the Academic Super Bowl.

“The more the merrier!  All students are welcome to join.  We also offer Academic Spell Bowl in the fall and Quiz Bowl in the winter,” Brown said. 

The Academic Bowl team also competes in tournaments at different schools to show off their knowledge and skills. 

“We were invited to an Invitational competition in Lowell to compete against other area schools, but were unable to attend.  This would have been a practice competition before we have our state qualifying area competition at Merrillville HS in April,” Brown said. 

Also look forward to popcorn sales from the Academic Super Bowl team coming up in April. This will help fund field trips, possible t-shirts, and entry fees. 

April 4th Release - Does spending time in nature have a positive impact on mood and reduce anxiety?  

published April 4, 2023

Over spring break, social studies teacher and GSA advisor Anita Cox wanted to put some theories to the test about the correlation between spending time in nature and how it affects moods. 

Cox invited her psychology classes along with any members of the GSA club who wanted to attend. While this experiment was not for a grade, she stated that she wanted to provide an opportunity for those students who may not have an escape during school breaks. 

“After reading studies that claim that spending time in nature is good for our mental health, and dealing with very anxious and moody students every day, I was inspired to put these claims to the test,” Cox said. 

Out of the 13 students who signed up, only four decided to brave the weather and spend some time out in nature at West Beach in Gary, IN. Kathina Gil-Munoz, Araceli Nunez, Veronica Rosario, and Leticia Roman geared up to join Cox in seeing if they could prove these claims to be true. 

Although temperatures were in the 40s and it was cloudy, the small group ventured out to spend some time outside. Cox stated that she wanted her students to do whatever they wanted and spent about two hours at the beach. 

“We went on a hike and looked for heart shaped rocks. Students could bring art supplies, sports, equipment, instruments and snacks,” Cox said. 

Cox believes the small turnout may have had something to do with the weather not being as nice as anticipated. And although only two of the four students completed the survey she created to analyze their moods, Cox personal experience leaned toward the claims of spending time in nature to be true. 

“I don’t know if the students’ experiences met the objective of our trip, but I know I sure felt better afterwards. West Beach is one of my favorite places to find peace of mind,” Cox said. 

April 4th Release - Students Design Chairs to Raise Awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month  

by Julie Ortiz & Mya Hurley
published April 4, 2023

April is Child Abuse Prevention month. To raise awareness, art teacher Tina Lazzarine had several students from the art club work on an art project called “Chairish the Children.”

“Chairish the Children is an annual auction event organized by Prevent Child Abuse Lake County to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month.” Lazzarine said.

In this auction event, middle and high school students in Lake County get to design and decorate chairs with a theme that appeals to children. 

Thousands of dollars have been raised since the first annual Chairish the Children event in 2011.

Sophomore Marissa Hamilton is one of the students who designed a chair. She chose to design a chair for fun, and worked with a friend to design it. 

“Our theme is a koi pond, we picked it on a whim, a kind of spur-of-the-moment decision that we went for,” said Hamilton.

Hamilton’s favorite part of the project was the detailing on the chair that made it look like a tree.

The chairs that were decorated will be on display at the Indiana Welcome Center in April with online bidding from April 17th to May 4th. All money that is raised will benefit Prevent Child Abuse Lake County, also known as PCALC.

April 4th Release - What is Critical Race Theory?  

by Juderson Blair
published April 4, 2023

Critical Race Theory, or CRT for short, is a controversial topic that has had many people buzzing in recent years. 

According to Education Week, Critical Race Theory is a way of understanding how American racism has shaped public policy, or a divisive discourse that pits people of color against white people. Liberals and conservatives seem to be in a strong disagreement. 

In the spring of 2021, the topic exploded in the public arena, especially in K-12, where numerous state legislatures have been debating bills that seek to ban its use in the classroom. 

Emerging in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s, CRT is an academic and legal framework that can be primarily found within the fields of law, sociology, and education. It seeks to understand and challenge how race and racism are embedded in legal systems and institutions, and how they shape social, economic, and political structures.

CRT suggests that race is not a fixed biological or genetic category, but rather a socially constructed concept that has been used historically to create and maintain power structures that advantage certain groups over others. It also recognizes that racism is not just individual prejudice or bias, but rather a structural and systemic problem that is deeply ingrained in society.

Some critics argue that it promotes division and identity politics, while proponents argue that it is a valuable tool for understanding and addressing systemic racism, which has made CRT a subject of significant controversy and political debate in recent years.  
Black History Month 2022 was recently observed as American society grappled with the importance of Black history, with discussions centered on the relevance and necessity of critical race theory. 

In the aftermath of George Floyd's death at the hands of police officers in May 2020, this reckoning with racism was thrust to the forefront of many American minds.  Since then, the race debate has been interpreted by some in the U.S. as an attack on White America, with 14 states now limiting the teaching of Black history and racism in schools. 

These constraints, which come under the guise of banning the teaching of critical race theory, limit what some state-supported institutions can discuss about America's racial past. 

People who advocate Critical Race Theory argue that it is an important framework for understanding and addressing systemic racism and that it can provide valuable insights into how legal and political institutions maintain racial inequality amongst different races. They also argue that efforts to ban or restrict the teaching of Critical Race Theory are an attempt to silence discussions about racism and maintain the status of racial inequality.

2022-2023: Issue 7

May 2nd Release - Environmental science classes celebrate Earth Day

by Sebastian Martinez-Hernandez
published May 2, 2023

Earth day is an annual event that takes place on April 22 every year. This day people all around the world take the day to demonstrate support for environmental protection. 

The first Earth Day took place in 1970 when a United States senator from Wisconsin organized a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues. 

Some activities that take place on Earth Day can include recycling, picking up trash, and just showing love to our beautiful planet. Rallies took place across the country and, by the end of the year, the U.S. government had created the Environmental Protection Agency. By 1990, Earth Day was an event celebrated by more than 140 countries around the globe. 

To honor Earth Day, science teacher Leigh Neace-Coffey’s environmental students  created posters and dioramas based on topics they chose in class dealing with how humans are impacting the environment. 

“I want students to become more aware of what humans do that is harmful to the environment. Earth Day creates awareness, which is the first step to change.  Humans across the world impact climate change on a daily basis.  Becoming aware of the do’s and don’t is vital to our Earth remaining habitable,” Neace-Coffey said. 

Neace- Coffey stated that she has been trying for the past two school years to get outside containers for recycling, but because of construction activities outside, it hasn’t been possible.  

“I would absolutely love it if each classroom had a paper recycling bin and a plastic/aluminum recycling bin,” Neace-Coffey said. 

According to Neace-Coffey, reducing our greenhouse gasses that are being emitted would have the most impact on the world.  Over 75% of greenhouse gasses are emitted in the U.S. through transportation, generation of electricity, and industry. 

The most common greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.  Greenhouse gasses affect the climate by trapping heat in the atmosphere.  This in turn increases the temperature, which is having devastating effects on Earth.   

Another impact is to educate others, especially students, on the harmful effects of climate change. With this important information, students will then grow into educated adults and into making educated decisions when purchasing cars, homes, appliances, etc.

The students’ projects were displayed in the library media center. 

May 2nd Release - April recognized as 'Stress Awareness' Month

by Julie Ortiz & Mya Hurley
published May 2, 2023

April has been recognized as Stress Awareness Month since 1992. Its purpose is to bring awareness to the causes of stress and what you can do about it. Stress Awareness Month also helps remove the stigma around mental health and speaking out about it. 

To understand how stress affects you and what you can do about it, first, you need to be familiar with the definition of stress. Stress is the way that you react when you feel threatened or under pressure in a situation that you have no control over. You can feel stressed alone and even in a group situation. 

Different things in your life can cause stress. Work, family, or even school. Stress can be caused by one major event in your life or a series of events that can build up over time. This can make it hard for people to realize what’s making them stressed and even more difficult for them to talk about it openly with others. Things like big life changes, uncertainty, and overwhelming responsibilities can also cause stress. 

Knowing how to deal with stress is just as important as knowing the causes. Some helpful things to do are breathing exercises and meditation. Physical exercise can also be a good stress reliever and improve your overall health. 

Even talking to someone like a family member or a therapist is helpful. It might be hard to talk about at first, but finding a sense of community with other people who feel the same way that you do can help you feel less alone with what you’re feeling. If you feel uncomfortable talking to someone, another good thing to do is journaling or just writing down what you feel. This can help you come to terms with whatever you’re feeling at the time. 

Oftentimes, physical and mental health are thought of as two separate things, but they shouldn’t be. Mental and physical health go hand in hand and can affect each other. Stress doesn’t just affect your mind. Stress can cause serious physical health problems like insomnia, digestive issues, heart disease, and immune system challenges. It can also lead to other mental health issues like depression and anxiety. 

Overall, we should spread awareness and help each other take action to relieve stress for our mental, and physical well-being during stress awareness month, and continue all year long.

May 2nd Release - The origin of Easter: a short essay 

by Juderson Blair
published May 2, 2023

Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead around the time of the Jew’s Passover. The exact origins of Easter are not clear, but it is believed to have been derived from several pre-Christian traditions, including the pagan festival of Ostara, which celebrated the spring equinox and the rebirth of nature.

The date of Easter is determined by the lunar calendar and falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox (The beginning of Spring), around March 21. This means that Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25. Today, Easter is celebrated by Christians around the world with church services, family gatherings, and traditional foods such as Easter eggs and hot cross buns. Even though Rabbits don’t lay eggs, their placental mammals give birth to a litter of 12 or more bunnies.

According to the Bible, Jesus was crucified on a Thursday(KJV Matthew 28:1-5), But In Christianity, they say Jesus was crucified on a Friday, now known as Good Friday, and his body was placed in a tomb. Three days later*, on the Sunday morning following his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead, which is celebrated as Easter Sunday.

The word "Easter" itself is not mentioned in the Bible, but it is believed to have been derived from the Germanic word "Ostern," which means "dawn" or "rising," and may have been used to describe the resurrection of Jesus.

Over time, various customs and traditions have been added to the celebration of Easter, such as the use of Easter eggs and the Easter bunny, which are believed to have pagan origins. However, the central message of Easter remains the same – the triumph of life over death and the hope of resurrection for all believers in Jesus Christ.

May 2nd Release - Wolves Baseball seeks big wins this spring '23 season

by Adalynn Garza
published May 2, 2023

The Hammond Central baseball team has had many games with many things to talk about. This athletic group of boys are led by head coach Micheal Caston. Coach Caston who has been a part of the Hammond district for a very long time.

“There is no place I would rather be, than here in Hammond helping these young student athletes be successful on the baseball diamond,” Caston said. 

Coach Caston believes that the boys baseball team should set their goals small and work up from there. 

“We are still building on the foundation of our program and we don’t need to get ahead of ourselves. We should be looking to be over .500 in the win column and looking to win another GLAC championship. It will all come down to how we build off these small goals and drive forward to the level of success,” Caston said. 

Caston also has big goals that he wants his players on the team to achieve. 

“I want them to be able to say after four years that they learned the game of baseball. I want my kids to grow as students and as athletes. We always say they walk in as boys and leave as men, just teaching our kids how to be winners on the field and in life,” Caston said. 

The Hammond Central baseball team recently got the win against the Whiting Oilers.  According to Coach Caston, Whiting always has a solid group of kids who play the game tough, who always have a young coach who’s in his first year. Caston believes that HC just had too many veterans for them to compete with us this year.  

“I was very proud of my guys. We hit the ball pretty good and put up 10 runs in the first inning. Joseph Greene also hit a grand slam. It was a nice way to get the season started,” Caston said. 

Some of the key moments of the Whiting vs Hammond Central game was Joseph Green was 2 for 3 with 4 RBI’s and a grand slam while earning the victory on the mound. Senior Joseph Merrick was also 2 for 3 with 3 RBI’s. 

Senior Joseph Greene is a left-handed pitcher, and has started this season off with a bang. 

“I felt amazing hitting that grand slam against Whiting because we lost to them last year on our senior night, so it felt good knowing I gave us a lead with the home run. I feel like it definitely helps set the tone for my teammates to go out there and hit with confidence as well,” Greene said.

 Joseph Greene has been playing baseball for 12 years straight and he wants to go as far as he can in baseball. Greene also has some things he wants himself to achieve and the team. 

“Something I want to achieve this season is becoming sectional champions. My biggest goal I have for the team is to be a winning team and a program, because there are a lot of guys on the team and us being a winning team will show them how to be leaders,” Greene said. 

Senior Rogelio Cornejo is a catcher and right handed-pitcher and he has been playing baseball for 14 years straight. Cornejo does want to go and play baseball in college, if only it meant he could study engineering at that school. Cornejo stated he just wants to have fun this season and really live his senior year. 

“Last year I felt like I worried too much about stats or college aspirations and forgot that it's a game at the end of the day,” Cornejo said. 

Cornejo also has the same goal Joseph Greene has for the team this year: win sectionals. 

“I want us to try and win sectionals. It would be a big accomplishment to win the first baseball sectional for our school. I also want us to be first in our conference this year,” Cornejo said. 

Although the team has been successful, there have still been  some challenges for Cornejo. 

“The hardest part of catching is probably the mental aspect of it. You have to know every play, where people are supposed to be, what to call each pitch, and what situation you are in,” Cornejo said. 

The baseball team's record as of April 29 is 6-5 with many more games left this season. 

May 2nd Release - Softball team swings for the fences 

by Samme Jones & Aavia Taylor
published May 2, 2023

The Hammond Central High School Softball team had their first game against Bishop Noll on March 28th.

Unfortunately the team had a devastating 23-4 loss against the Warriors. 

The starting players are Pitcher Odelia Gascon, Catcher Alainnah Pabey, 1st base Jasmin Rojas, 2nd base Johanna Harper, 3rd base Emiley Stasko, short stop Alissa Dejesus, left field Sierra Peterson, center field Talina Cisneros, and right field Alexa Lopez. 

Seniors Stasko, Dejesus, Rojas, and Lopez look to lead the team in their last year at HC. The team is looking to improve and get as many wins as they can.  

Returning underclassmen Peterson, Gascon, Cisneros, and Harper are helping to shape the newest additions to the team this year and help pave the way for future seasons at HC. . 

The new players this year include  freshmen Alainnah Pabey, Desiree Perez, Destiny Cutnoe, Gabriella Wilder, and sophomore Jalaiayh Woody. 

The Lady Wolves have a record of 4-5 right now and have a busy schedule of about 10 games within the next 12 days.  They will play Morton in sectionals on May 23rd. 

May 2nd Release - Boys Volleyball celebrates senior players

by Hanna Castillo
published May 2, 2023

Hammond Central acquires a boys volleyball team for the first time ever this spring sports season. 

This is the first year because boys volleyball was not an IHSSA (Indiana High School Athletic Association) sport until this school year. With it being the first year of the Hammond Central’s Boys Volleyball program, winning is the top priority for the school’s reputation.

The Wolves started their season strong by winning their first two games back to back. They started the season off against Bishop Noll High School and won 3-2. 

They followed that match up against  Morton High School and defeated them 3-0, where the Wolves celebrated their senior night with a win. 

According to Head Coach Jessica Castillo, all players bring great energy and passion to the game. 

“Jorge Limones is our setter. He is a sophomore and brings so much energy and skill to the team. Trayvon McCullough is a sophomore who has a powerful hit and is willing to work hard to improve his hitting. Luis Limones and Diamonte Pickett are seniors. Luis is a team leader and a great all around player. Pickett is great at blocking and hitting. Hector Barajas is a sophomore and an all around player as well who brings his passing skills to practice and games” Castillo said. 

Castillo explained the core values she tries to instill in her team everyday.  She stated that communication is key, which is important on and off the court. She went on to say that teamwork is also extremely important. 

“We all have to work with people who will bring different skills to the table. It is important to learn to work with those around you. I believe family is extremely important.  My team is a family. They work together, laugh together, and strive to be the best versions of themselves,” Castillo said. 

With the boys volleyball team being an emerging sport, the season is really one big learning experience for everyone according to Castillo and Assistant Coach Elizabeth Mangan. 

“As a coach I value sportsmanship, perseverance, reliability, and teamwork. I hope that this season is a learning year for our players and that we build a strong foundation for the upcoming years,” Mangan said. 

The Wolves face Bishop Noll at Bishop Noll High School on May 2, and will battle George Washington HS at home on Thursday May 4. 

May 2nd Release - Girls tennis team longs for a home court to call their own

by Trinity Austin
published May 2, 2023

Hammond Central’s (HC)  girls tennis season has come to an open and they have been practicing harder than ever for their upcoming meets. 

Head Coach of Girl’s Tennis, Veronica Dupey, has been coaching for 16 years, she’s coached at Clark and now HC this year. Since most of the girls are new to tennis, she’s been in a building phase teaching them how to play and hopefully prepare them for the conference. 

Senior Ellyssa Dixon, a player on the tennis team, has currently won two of the three matches she’s been in. 

“My motivator to win a match is to make my coach and teammates proud. I want to show that I can do my best and my teammates and coach can depend on me. I strive to gain their trust,” Dixon said. 

Dixon’s decision to join the tennis team dates back all the way to elementary school at Maywood. She was on the tennis team with her friend and now class valedictorian, Ada Austin, once they reunited in HC they decided to join the tennis team so they could reminisce on the good times they had back then.  She’s also gained another reason to participate in the tennis team, Dixon hopes to improve her skills as well as become involved in the community.  

According to Dupey, the practice usually consists of doing drills to build up their skill, team building exercises, learning the play format, learning the scoring, and encouraging the players to always strive for better. 

Dixon added onto Dupey stating how they practice the basic techniques such as serving, forehand, and  backhand so they can strengthen themselves and obtain muscle memory. Once they’ve gotten to a certain skill level then can focus on the more technical aspects. 

When/ if a player is injured, there is a site clinic and athletic trainer; players are welcome to take advantage of these resources without missing any class time. When the injured player is released the athletic trainer will offer suggestions and support for a return to play if needed. 

The number one player is the player who gets number one in singles and/ or doubles. 

Dupey has been pleased with the girls progress but isn’t content with their current court situation. They don’t have a home court at HC but instead practice and play their games at Harrison Park on Homan Ave. by Egger’s Middle School. 

“I really enjoy what the girls have accomplished through the season. We would love to have home courts. Having to share with another school or the public has not been ideal.”

Dixon is also frustrated with their court situation and wishes there to be a court at HC. 

“The team and I complain about it all the time. There are no bathrooms and it isn’t easy to get access to travel-wise. It has no toll or downsides for HC to get a court as we should have enough money to get a court. No one will destroy it as they haven’t done the same to Harrison Park. The upside of a home court is that it will last a long time and will give students another way to exercise and have fun,” Dixon said.

Head Director of the Athletic Department, Chris Moore, stated they plan to finish their athletic facilities within the next couple years. They do not plan to add a tennis court but to renovate Harrison Park’s court instead.

For students interested in joining HC’s girls tennis team, Dupey has a few set list of requirements. She recommends to keep up with your grades, have school pride, and strive to become a role model.   

“I have been on the tennis team for a few weeks to maybe a month. We have had multiple practices and even had them on Spring break. We all try our best at the practices. It seems like every practice we get better and better. All we do is improve,” Dixon Said. 

The Girls’ Tennis team will be competing April through May at various schools including: Motorn, River Forest Sr. HS, Lake Station Edison Jr-Sr HS, and Whiting.   

May 2nd Release - Karate Club students focus on concentration and self control

by Amari Tucker
published May 2, 2023

Hammond Central’s Karate Club is led by Sensei Tyrone Sheriff and has taken off this 2022-2023 school year. 

“I am Hanshi (Japanese for Master Instructor) Tyrone Sheriff, many know me as Sgt. Sheriff JROTC Instructor. I have over 55 years of Martial Arts experience and hold the rank of 6th Degree Shotokan Karate-do, 6th Degree Okinawan Kenpo & Kobujitsu, 6th Degree Okinawa Kobujutsu, 10th Dan Shiryudokai & Kobujitsu,” Sheriff said. 

Sheriff lived in Iwakuni Japan and Okinawa Japan. He was named the 1988 Okinawa grand champion in the Battle of the Pacific. Because of the special training Sheriff went through, he had many opportunities in his life such as Executive Protection Agent for Mariah Carey, Chris Tucker and several more celebrities. 

“It is amongst the best things I have done in my life to teach here and share Karate-do,” Sheriff said. 

Sheriff initially started the program for the students of Hammond Central. After sharing his stories many students became interested and came to him with requests of potentially starting a team. 

He believed it would be a good idea and would help the students focus on concentration and self control. Getting students involved wasn’t a problem for this program. With advertising around the school and recruitment from other students, there were over 20 students on the first day of training.  

Although the program is only in its first year, Sheriff and his students are already looking to compete. Next year, they will attend an annual tournament held at Purdue Lafayette where they will be able to compete against other schools. 

The art of karate is beneficial in more ways than just self defense. It helps with health, physical fitness, mental focus, self-discipline, concentration, emotional control, memory, courage, and polite human behavior. 

“Working with and developing the future masters of karate and leaders of up right actions has to be my favorite part of teaching karate. However, watching so many with skills and talent give up so easily, is my least favorite part. Life is learning to live, operate, and grow in the pain zone,” Sheriff said. 

Senior Jonathan Martinez has also taken an interest in karate because of Sheriff. 

“My favorite part of learning karate is being able to have an outlet where I can release my energy and really have the chance to see what my limits are and to see what my body is capable of. It’s something that is hard to be good at without practicing and dedicating time into it but that is what makes it so interesting to me, “ Martinez said. 

Practices are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:40 pm to 4:00pm. 

May 2nd Release - Students Design Chairs to Raise Awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month

by Julie Ortiz & Mya Hurley
published April 4, 2023

April is Child Abuse Prevention month. To raise awareness, art teacher Tina Lazzarine had several students from the art club work on an art project called “Chairish the Children.”

“Chairish the Children is an annual auction event organized by Prevent Child Abuse Lake County to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month.” Lazzarine said.

In this auction event, middle and high school students in Lake County get to design and decorate chairs with a theme that appeals to children. 

Thousands of dollars have been raised since the first annual Chairish the Children event in 2011.

Sophomore Marissa Hamilton is one of the students who designed a chair. She chose to design a chair for fun, and worked with a friend to design it. 

“Our theme is a koi pond, we picked it on a whim, a kind of spur-of-the-moment decision that we went for,” said Hamilton.

Hamilton’s favorite part of the project was the detailing on the chair that made it look like a tree.

The chairs that were decorated will be on display at the Indiana Welcome Center in April with online bidding from April 17th to May 4th. All money that is raised will benefit Prevent Child Abuse Lake County, also known as PCALC.

May 2nd Release - HAPA presents: Spongebob the Musical 

by Kamiyah Johnson
published May 2, 2023

Hammond Central's HAPA students were able to bring the beloved characters from the popular TV show Spongebob Squarepants to life on stage at the Walter J. Watkins Black Box theater this past April. 

The Spongebob Musical was a great way to showcase the talents of our HAPA students, which required a lot of energy, creativity, and humor to pull off successfully. The students were able to capture the essence of the characters from the TV show and truly bring them to life. 

One of the most impressive aspects of the musical was the attention to detail. The costumes and set design were top-notch and really helped to transport the audience to Bikini Bottom. The performers were able to create a world that was both believable and fun. 

Technical Theater teacher Edward Cook put his students to work to help with the production of Spongebob the Musical. His classes helped build the set as part of their class, which took roughly four weeks to complete. They would even work after school hours to ensure the set was everything it needed to be for the production. 

“Building sets for any production is fun, but stressful. It’s time consuming and you have to worry about making the director happy. Not only meeting the expectations of how they want it, but making sure we’re following the director's instructions,” Cook said. 

Cook has been working in theater for 25 years and stated that doing this kind of work is second nature to him. 

Another impressive aspect of the Spongebob Musical was the humor. Each performer was able to capture the wacky and zany humor of the TV show through each individual character. They were able to make the audience laugh out loud with their silly antics and over-the-top performances.

Overall, the Spongebob Musical was a fun and creative way to showcase the talents of the HAPA students. Each of the beloved characters from the TV show were brought to life on stage in a way that was both entertaining and impressive.

May 2nd Release - HC honors Cynthia Cruz for National Librarian Day

by Lebron Hill
published May 2, 2023

Sunday April 16th was National Librarian Day and we would like to honor our very own librarian Cynthia Cruz for her hard work and her dedication to the school. 

Cruz was inspired to become a librarian because she has always been interested in books. She loved reading and working with others, so she felt that being a librarian would be the perfect job for her. She attended Indiana University in Bloomington where she received her masters degree. 

Ever since then Cruz has taken off and spirited into the librarian industry. She has been a librarian for over 30 years, which have come with many roles, responsibilities and challenges. 

Not only is she in charge of monitoring the students who come into the library, but she also orders and organizes all of the books. On top of that, she also has to keep track of over 2,000 chromebooks. 

Many believe that libraries and the jobs that come with it are becoming one of those dying jobs due to the ever advancing world of technology. However, Cruz also does not believe that. She stated that just because technology is advancing, does not mean that libraries cannot advance as well. 

One of Cruz’s biggest priorities is to have a positive impact on all of the students here at Hammond Central. She stated that she believes she makes an inviting environment that promotes learning due to the welcoming environment. You can always find Cruz supporting her students at sporting and academic events throughout the year. 

“It can be challenging trying to encourage kids to read books again after the pandemic, but students want to come into the library all day, so I must be doing something right,” Cruz said

May 2nd Release - Government threatens TikTok ban

editorial by Azaleah Frechette
published May 2, 2023

Tiktok, a short-form video hosting service owned by a chinese company named ByteDance, has recently been targeted by congress here in America in order to have the app banned. 

According to a court hearing held on March 23rd, 2023 Tiktok threatens privacy concerns for all the Americans using it and thus has been accused of unlawfully utilizing its data. 

“From the data it collects to the content it controls, TikTok is a grave threat of foreign influence in American life,” California Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the House Energy and Commerce Committee chair, said in her opening statement to the hearing.

At the hearing the only representative to speak up against the vote was libertarian republican Rand Paul. The details in his speech included that the government should have had broader regulations on apps already and that singling out the biggest free speech app on the internet was not the solution to their problem. 

“In June 2021 Newsweek reported that big tech companies complied with 85% of the U.S government's request to turn over your personal data. This data includes phone calls, emails, texts, photos, shopping histories, driving routes and more. Some companies that were named were Apple, Google, Facebook, and Microsoft. Receiving over 112,000 data requests.” This was paraphrased from Rand Paul's testimony by a famous TikToker photogsteve81, one of the many content creators discussing the TikTok ban and how restrictive and hypocritical the government is and trying to be.

I, as in me Azaleah Frechette, think that the bounty on TikTok is unlawful and unnecessary. I feel the government is only trying to ban TikTok because it shows how corrupt and hypocritical our government is behind closed doors. 

Since TikTok has over 1.6 billion users, according to demandsage.com, the government is worried that our enlightened population will overthrow them and challenge their decisions harsher than we already have been. They’re too scared that we, its people, will learn that we are able to overthrow them if they aren’t serving us the way they pledged to when they were first elected. 

Banning Tik Tok would be against everything America stands for, freedom.

May 2nd Release - Should the United States have stricter gun laws?

editorial by Julieta Villanueva
published May 2, 2023

Should there be more gun laws in the United States? In the U.S. it is fairly easy to get guns; you can get one at Walmart or in the many gun shows that are held throughout the U.S. In Indiana, you are required to be 18 years old or older and pass a background check in order to buy a gun. 

According to Sandyhookpromise.org, every day 12 children die and 32 get injured from gun violence. That means that every year 4,380 children die from being shot with guns. 

During the year 2020 there were a total of 45,222 recorded gun related deaths. And so far in 2023, more than 11,500 people have died from gun violence.  53% of suicides were done with a gun according to Pewresearch.org. Guns are also commonly used to commit crimes like burglary, and to threaten people. 

Most of the people that buy guns claim to only want it for self defense, but sometimes those guns are used by the wrong people. Whether it's by the gun owner’s family or friends, there is always that chance that someone could take it and use it in a crime. 

“With guns being a product that can be easily carried away and quickly sold at a relatively high fraction of the initial cost, the presence of more guns can actually serve as a stimulus to burglary and theft. Even if the gun owner had a permit to carry a concealed weapon and would never use it in furtherance of a crime, is it likely that the same can be said for the burglar who steals the gun?” Ian Ayers and John J. Donohue, professors at Yale law and Stanford Law University said. 

According to a survey done by pewresearch.org, Americans are divided on whether or not there should be stricter gun laws in the US. About half of them say that there would be fewer mass shootings if there were more gun laws. The other half says that it would not make a difference even if there were stricter gun laws. 

Many people also think that the second amendment is there for a reason. Americans have the right to bear arms in order to protect themselves. Many argue that creating more gun laws would infringe on their rights. 

Lawrence Hunter, Chairman of Revolution PAC, stated, “The Founders understood that the right to own and bear laws is as fundamental and as essential to maintaining liberty as are the rights of free speech, a free press, freedom of religion and the other protections against government encroachments on liberty delineated in the Bill of Rights.”

On the other hand there are people that think that creating stricter gun laws would not be violating the second amendment. According to an article by the Office of Justice Programs, “the meaning of this clause cannot be understood apart from the purpose, the setting, and the objectives of the draftsmen.” 

The second amendment does not prohibit adding more gun laws and some think it is meant to stop congress legislating away a state's right to self-defense, according to an article by Cornell Law School.

Today’s gun law debate is ongoing and seems like Americans will never truly come to an agreement on whether or not there should be stricter laws enforced. What do you think? 

May 2nd Release - Mass school shootings becoming the norm 

editorial by Alyssa Robinson
published May 2, 2023

We live in a day and age where school shootings are common and we watch them happen and hope nothing like that happens at our school. In reality, they can happen at any time and any place. The only way these can be prevented is to talk to the students and understand the staff's point of view. 

On March 27, 2023, there was a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. The assailant, 28 year old Audrey Hale, was transgender and a former student of the school.  She killed three children and three adults.  

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee made a statement video regarding the shooting, where he expressed his deepest sympathies for the community. 

“We can all agree on one thing – that every human life has great  value. We will act to prevent this from happening again. There is a clear desire in all of us, whether we agree on the action steps or not, that we must work to find ways to protect against evil,” Lee said in the five-minute video. 

Principal David Verta expressed his thoughts on the situation. 

“My heart goes out to the victims and the family of the victims. I have a family and I would be absolutely distraught if my child or any of my students or staff ever gets hurt on mentally damaged in this way,” Verta said.  

A survey was given to 50 Hammond Central students who were asked a series of questions. The first question was: Are school shootings becoming more common? 92% of the students answered yes and 12% answered no. 

The second question asked was: Do school shooters fit a specific profile? Majority of the student responses were neutral  

The third question asked was: Are guns the only threat to school safety? Majority of students disagreed. 

Suspension Expulsion Interventionist Jermaine Boyett stated that he does not believe that it’s just guns that are the only threat to school safety. 

“Sometimes we are our own greatest enemies and we may let things slide that add up to bigger situations that may or may not harm the school,” Boyette said. 

May 2nd Release - Technology use vs. classroom expectations

editorial by Alexi Cook

Cellphones and other technology such as iPads, Chromebooks and Macbooks once were helpful in the classroom until they weren't.

Teachers have found that technology has become a huge distraction in the classroom and teachers unfortunately had to step in and take action because of the issue. Teachers at some schools have come to terms with administrators and have decided to either not allow students to have cellphones out in the classroom or to just take the devices and place them in a bin that is usually kept in the teachers desk to prevent theft until the end of the period. Some teachers also make students place their phones in separate plastic baggies with their names on it. 

Of course this was going to start controversy between schools and students as well as parents that don't agree with the decision as well. So I decided to step into the debate and create a survey for anonymous students to fill out. In the survey the students were asked if they thought it was a good idea for teachers to make students turn in their phones during class periods and to give a reason behind their yes or no answers. The survey results showed that 84.2% of students said that they didn't agree with the decision. 

An anonymous student stated, "With everything that’s going on in today’s society, students should be able to reach for their phones without a hassle for emergency purposes.When in a panic situation your sweat glands and nervous system activate.  It can be hard to obtain your phone out of a plastic bag with sweaty fingers. However, students can and should be disciplined for cellphone usage if it’s not an emergency!” 

Another anonymous student stated, “The biggest thing would be for emergencies. Having a phone out during learning time isn’t good, I understand but just having it on us is enough. it could be an emergency at school and they can’t have their phone because it’s put up somewhere in a bag or the family has an emergency that involves said student.” 

On the other hand, according to the survey 15.8% of students said that they agreed with the decision to have students give up access to their cellphones during class. 

An anonymous student stated, “I believe it would be better to do this, but I know lots of students will not like this at all. It would eliminate the big distraction that's keeping lots of students from doing a lot better in school.” 

Another anonymous student that agreed with the decision stated, “This would be a smart idea because this would give the class the ability to learn with no disruptions and the teacher would be able to teach the class when there's not a phone distracting the class.” 

While both sides of the arguments have strong reasons, I do not agree with the decision to make it mandatory for students to turn their phones in during class. One of my own reasons is because due to all of the school shootings that have been happening in America, I feel like all students should be able to carry their phones at all times just in case of an emergency because anything can go wrong at any time of the day. 

Some students also feel more comfortable and can actually focus while still having access to their phones during class. Students also use their cellphones to listen to music while doing work in class because it helps them focus. Overall, students shouldn't have to turn their phones in during class strictly because of emergency situations and safety concerns.

2022-2023: Issue 8

June 8th Release: Hammond Central honors the class of 2023 Top 20 students at dinner

published June 8,  2023
by Lebron Hill 

On Monday May 15th,Hammond Central hosted an honorary dinner to commemorate the class of 2023 top 20 students’ achievements and hard work. 

Senior Natayla Torres, ranked number 17, stated how she is going to remember how hard she worked for this accomplishment for the rest of her life. Her main motivation in doing well was her late father. According to Torres, he always wanted her to do well in school and that helped motivate her more, remembering what he wanted for her. 

Torres participated in many extracurricular activities throughout high school including volleyball, basketball, the National Honors Society and being the president of the JAG program her junior and senior year. 

She plans on attending Indiana University Northwest to study medical sonography. When asked what advice she has for the underclassmen, she stated it’s all about staying focused. 

“It’s so important to stay focused. Don’t get caught up in the high school drama and keep to yourself,” Torres said. 

Senior Esmeralda Granda, ranked 13, has been working at being in the top 10-20 since she started high school. Her parents have been a major factor in doing her best to fulfill that goal because they did not have the same opportunities as she did to be successful while they were in high school. 

She has played tennis for three years, was the captain of the team, was a member of the National Honors Society, worked on the yearbook staff and was senior class president.

“Being in the top 20 is hard work. But don’t try to be an overachiever and participate in every activity because it will drain you out,” Granda said. 

Granda plans to continue her career as a cosmetologist with a license and work in a salon straight after high school. Her goal is to eventually own her own business. 

Senior Fabian Rojas, ranked number four, is another top 20 student who feels like all of his efforts and hard work the past four years has paid off. 

“I did this for my parents. The sacrifice they made for me to be in the position I am in today is just very valuable to me,” Rojas said. 

Rojas has spent a lot of his time volunteering at his local church the past six years. He plans on attending Purdue University Northwest and majoring in chemical science. 

Senior Luis Limones, ranked 15, is another top 20 recipient who wants to make his parents proud. Like many of his peers at HC, Limones’ parents were not warranted the same opportunities as he has been given, so his success is dedicated directly to his parents. 

Limones is driven not only by his parents, but his loves for sports. He played on the boys soccer and volleyball teams while attending HC. He plans to attend IUN and major in bio chem and play soccer while in college. 

“Don't let up. Always keep trying and don't ever give up on your dreams,” Limones said. 

Senior Israel Diaz, ranked 8, also dedicates his high school achievements to his parents, as they did not graduate from high school. 

“I’m so proud of myself for being a part of the top 20. Having parents who did not graduate high school makes this experience so much better,” Diaz said. 

Diaz also played four years of varsity soccer and plans to stay close to home at Purdue University Northwest, majoring in chemical engineering. 

“The best advice I can give to the underclassmen would be to stay in school, don’t be a follower, and keep your circle tight,” Diaz said. 

The graduating class of 2023 will celebrate their commencement on Tuesday June 13 at 6 p.m. at Hammond Central on the football field. 

June 8th Release - Senior Quentin Stewart makes history for JAG and Hammond Central.

by Adalynn Garza
published on June 8, 2023

Hammond Central has a lot of programs and classes for students to join and enjoy, but there is a specific class that has been making history. The Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) class for Hammond Central is a core class for juniors and seniors and is run by Elizabeth Mangan. 

Mangan has been a JAG teacher for 3 years and has been teaching JAG here at HC since it’s opening last year. 

“JAG is a public speaking, career preparation, employability skill, and financial literacy program,”Mangan said. 

This year the JAG program had a competition that was held in Orlando, Florida. Senior Quetin Stewart was one of the students who was invited.  

“The competition had JAG programs from 40 different states and the Virgin Islands. The judges of the competition were also employers from Kohl's, Regions Banks, and Habitat for Humanity,” Mangan said. 

This means there were many competitors in the competition and Stewart won 5th place  in the employability skills category at the National JAG Career Development Conference. 

Stewart is the vice president of the JAG program for Hammond Central. He has been in JAG since his sophomore year at Gavit. Stewart is really proud of what he was able to achieve during this competition. 

“It felt great to know that all of my hard work I put into that competition really paid off. Winning was the only thing that was running through my mind during the competition,” Stewart said. 

Mangan stated that it felt amazing seeing Quentin win and she was instantly crying with tears of joy when they announced Stewart’s placement. 

“He had worked so hard to achieve this award and I am incredibly proud of him. After the competition, he thanked me for helping him and told me that he would not be the same person he is today without our JAG program,” Mangan said. 

Each year the competition is held in a different place. Who knows what is in store for the JAG program next year. Upcoming juniors and seniors can join the JAG program next year and have unforgettable experiences like Quetin Stewart and the rest of the members. 

"He thanked me for helping him and told me that he would not be the same person he is today without our JAG program,” Mangan said.

June 8th Release - Hammond Central community comes together to help bring student-led project to life

by Sebastian Martinez-Hernandez
published on June 8, 2023

The Green Go Project, a student project created and founded by Maurico Morin, was just recently funded in order to add more green life around the halls of Hammond Central. 

“Go-Green started out as a conversation between my friend and me. The hallways in the school are just not as fulfilling as they should look. I wanted to take action and bring about a shift in school hallways that would last for years,” Morin said.

Walking through the hallways can seem mundane for many, especially when there is not much color to look at. By adding plants and greenery, it brightens up the school to make it feel more friendly and inviting. 

”Making a sustainable atmosphere that made people feel comfortable was the goal of this project. Everyone will be impacted by greenery since plants contain serotonin, a neurotransmitter that has been shown to improve happiness and calmness. Non-allergenic plants suitable for school hallways include peace lilies, monstera deliciosas, and birds of paradise,” Morin said. 

According to Morin, the project was funded by  DonorsChoose, a school fundraising organization. It was a long process, having to go through the school board, and the project took him about three months to get accepted.

“On a large portion of this project, I kept receiving rejections, so I had to work extra hard to move things along. Eventually, this project finally got approved after months. The project was funded within three days after it was eventually approved and made public,” Morin said. 

Morin showed that he did not want to give up and wanted to see his project come to life even though there were many rejections. He stated that his ideal locations to have these plants are in wide and big spaces around the school. He believes the plants will have a big impact and help inject something fresher and more vivid into the passageways.

Assistant Principal David Borsits stated that Morin brought the project to him for approval back in December of 2022. 

“The project is a great idea and I told Mauricio to run with it. He did a ton of research to identify indoor plants that are low maintenance, have little impact on allergies, and big impacts on air quality. After a couple months of weekly project updates a specific list of plants was finalized and another staff member in the building was identified to assist with the project,” Borsits said.

Morin was able to raise the funds for the project through Donorschoose.com by receiving donations from many sponsors including General Motors for up to $500.00. 

According to tropicalplantrentals.com, having indoor plants in schools is an ideal way to make students and their families feel welcome. Adding some live greenery is nature’s way of saying you belong here. Indoor plants can be used to enhance school staff rooms, school lobbies and school offices and have many benefits. 

June 8th Release - MLK Park to reopen just in time for summer break

by Alyssa Robinson
published on June 8, 2023

Just in time for the summer, Martin Luther King Memorial Park has reopened its basketball courts for the youth of Hammond, Indiana.

The park was shut down in August of 2022 because of an altercation that sadly ended in the death of a Hammond High alumni.  According to NWItimes, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott stated that their goal in closing the park wasn’t to keep it closed forever, but they were waiting for the “situation to cool down.”

Head Principal Dave Verta stated that he is excited for the reopening of the park as it gives students something to do over the summer. 

“Since it is the end of the school year that is a very nice thing for the city to do for the students since they will be out of school. They can have the opportunity to exercise and get sunlight and it is a good way for students to stay out of trouble,” Verta said. 

Verta stated that the park offers many families a place to go and spend time together when they do not want to be inside and it is a place for students to gather with their friends and have positive social outings.

Law enforcement also has a big hand in the safety of the community. HC resource officer Lawrence Joyner also believes that the park reopening will give students a chance to stay out of trouble this summer.

“Gang Activity, fights, and shootings are always going to be an issue but we cannot hide from it forever. We need to face it head on by increasing the police presence around the park which should deter kids from doing things that they shouldn't,” Joyner said. 

Joyner stated that an easy way that the community can help to keep an eye out on any gang or suspicious behavior is to call 911 and report it.

Senior Ezekiel Jones stated that he enjoys going to the park and hanging out with friends and playing basketball. He said it is a great way to stay in shape and exercise.

June 8th Release - Track and Field finishes season on the right foot

by Aavia Taylor and Samme Jones
published on June 8, 2023

Hammond Central boys Track and Field team finished out strong by going to the regional championship.

The Track and Field team’s season started mid-February. Their expectations for the season were to build up the program and get as many athletes on the team as possible to qualify for the regional meet that took place in Valpo on May 25. 

Sophomores Travon McCullough and Dashawn Woods have worked tirelessly, competing in sprints and hurdle events. 

“The Distance Crew” consisting of freshman Frank Lopez and seniors Matt Hutcherson, Vynce Overshawn and Hector Aguilera, have done a tremendous job in the 4 x 800 relay all season. 

Freshmen Zierre Taylor, Davion Terry, and Frank Lopez have been major contributors to the team even though they are first year competitors. This season they were able to win an indoor meet at Bishop Noll and an outdoor meet at River Forest.

Their biggest challenge of the season was probably keeping everyone healthy. The first part of the season they were training inside and running on the concrete, which is not the best for the shins and joints. 

The highlight of the season was consistently setting individual personal records. There were very few instances where runners were not beating their last best time. There was a lot of guidance from the seniors, so going into next year they are faced with the challenge of finding new leadership. 

Luckily they have done a great job of teaching their distance runners how to stay focused and orderly so the others should be able to follow in their footsteps.

Lopez is the runner to watch for the boys. His times landed a great place for him to start as a freshman. According to head coach Adam Hudak, there is a lot of room for growth, but he has a mindset to achieve greatness. 

For the girls, freshman Indiah Hutchinson proved to be an excellent athlete who excelled at everything she tried, and track is no different. She started as a freshman setting some great personal records as a foundation.

Regional Track Qualifiers included: Deshawn Woods & Trevon McCullough 300 Hurdles;

4x100 Relay:  Donte Moore, Davion Terry, Deshawn Woods, Trevon McCollough; and

4x400 Relay:  Jordan Hensley, Davion Terry, Deshawn Woods, Trevon McCollough.

June 8th Release - Senior student-athletes sign to continue pursuing their prospective sports at the collegiate level 

by Juderson Blair
published on June 8, 2023

With the school year coming to a close, many HC seniors are making plans for the next chapter in their lives. Whether it be the job force, higher education or trade school, many graduating seniors are preparing for their next move. 

The following student-athletes have not only committed to furthering their education at the collegiate level, but they have also committed their time and dedication to playing the sport they have trained and worked hard for their whole lives. 

Hammond Central is proud to present these hard working scholars and the schools they signed to. 

Ahkeem Harrington

Ahkeem Harrington #2 WR Football. Harrington has been playing football since he was six. He signed with the Crimson Wave where he will be furthering his education in Accounting and business. He said he chose this school because it was a great pick for him. 

“It was around the community. The school is for sprinting. I'm fast, as you can see and it just made sense to me,” Harrington said. 

Joseph Greene

Joseph Greene #3 baseball: center field and pitcher. Greene started his baseball career at the young age of three. He did take a little break but came back for his  Junior and Senior year. Greene signed with South Suburban College and that is where he is going to major in kinesiology. He chose South Suburban College because it was close to home and he wants to be a part of a great team. 

''Just in case baseball doesn't go my way I want to choose a career where I could still work close to baseball, like an athletic trainer or strength and conditioning coach,” Greene said. 

Joseph Merrick

Joseph Merrick #22 baseball pitcher and infielder. Merrick has been playing baseball for 14 years ever since he was four. Merrick will be joining his teammate Joseph Greene at South Suburban College where he will continue his studies in exercise science and  Kinesiology. 

“I've been looking at the school for a while now. I had plans before my dad had passed away. He really wanted me to come to the school, so that was like a major reason why I chose South Suburban. I had to make him proud,” Merrick said. 

Kenneth Grant

Kenneth Grant #23 basketball Guard. Grant has been hooping since he was only seven years old. Grant will be going off to college at College of Dupage where he will be majoring in Psychology and business. 

“Choosing College of Dupage is a great opportunity that I know will help benefit my future. I knew it was going to guarantee where I wanted to be later on,” Grant said. 

Luis Limones

Luis Llimones #10 Center mid soccer. Limones has been ruining kids' dreams for thirteen years, ever since he was five. He will be Attending Indiana University Northwest, where he will be Studying biochemistry. His Club Coach was working there which made it an easy decision to choose that university. 

“Follow your dreams, no matter what. There's many ups and downs, but in the end it's always worth it,” Limones said. 

Matthew Hutcherson

Matthew Hutcherson (cross country). Hutcherson started running track in 7th grade and started Cross Country a year earlier in the 6th grade. He will be attending Potomac State to continue his cross-country journey, where he will be majoring in sociology. Hutcherson chose to attend  Potomac State  because they were just the most genuine when they reached out. 

“My advice for the young student-athletes is everybody knows about the distractions that can go on in Hammond,IN and at school that can be in your face. But I promise you if you just stay on a narrow path and keep your head up and keep moving forward, those distractions really can’t get to you. You just have to face each distraction head on, day by day and you will be able to overcome them and get what you want,” Hutcherson said.

Yasmine Jordan

Yasmine Jordan, volleyball. Jordan officially committed to continue pursuing her volleyball career at Calumet College of Saint Joseph. She plans on majoring in graphic design and minoring in business. 

“Although this was definitely not easy to accomplish, signing to play volleyball at the collegiate level is one of my biggest accomplishments ever. I couldn't have done this without my mom, who is my biggest role model, and my good friend Ana Salazar,” Jordan said.

Emiley Stasko

Emiley Stasko, softball. Stasko signed to play softball with Calumet College of Saint Joseph where she plans on majoring in kinesiology. 

“My advice for student-athletes is to never give up, even when it’s tough because ending up on top makes it all worth it ,” Stasko said.

June 8th Release: HAPAPALOOZA appreciates and displays HAPA artists in a festival event

by Trinity Austin
published on June 8, 2023

On Saturday May 20, the Hammond Academy of Performing Arts (HAPA) hosted HAPApalooza at the Wolf Lake Pavilion for a music and arts festival from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

HAPApalooza is a music and arts festival featuring HAPA students and teachers performing at Wolf Lake. During HAPApalooza, there are other enjoyments such as the concession stand, face painting, art activities, and chalk provided to draw on the sidewalks. The dance department provided entertainment by dressing up and performing as mimes, while the theater department provided acting throughout the evening. 

For such a big event ranging from different schools across the Hammond district, there were several directors involved. Alexander Akers from Hammond Central (HC) and Keegan Whitney from Morton High School (MHS) were the directors of HAPApalooza. For the Pavillion, Jill Gajewski was head in charge. The newly retired, Scott Sowinski, was in charge of the coordination of the event such as insurance and renting the Wolf Lake venue. 

The director of HAPA, Scott Sowinski, credited the teachers for the preparation of HAPApalooza while he signed off paperwork and organized the meetings. While Sowinski set out the marketing materials he particularly mentioned MHS’s Whitney and HC’s Akers for holding down the fort where they are. 

Akers, who’s usually the teacher for rock band and guitar class, had to juggle directing HAPApalooza as well as preparing his own classes for the festival additionally. His guitar classes will be performing “Hey Jude” originally by the Beatles with vocals backed up by David Boban’s advanced choir students. 

The HC rock  band combined with MHS’s rock band while they performed an estimated 3 hours of music including covers from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“With all performing arts and art, HAPApalooza brings life, positivity, vibrance, motivation, and pride to the community. I hope that it will bring the community together to celebrate the artistic achievements of our students, while celebrating the existence of HAPA and all of the opportunities it brings our Hammond students. The world needs art; it allows us to forget about the stresses of life and enjoy the present,” Akers said. 

HC sophomore and participant in HAPApalooza, Victor Marquez, also enjoyed the positivity the arts gave especially choir and musical theater. 

Marquez has also been in the plays Matilda, Clue!, Spongebob, and participates in choir. 

In HAPAPALOOZA Marquez planned to sing his original song, but unfortunately due to being short on time, Marquez’s act was cut short. 

When writing a song, Marquez got a lot of seemingly random ideas to incorporate into his piece. 

“Well you see my inspiration roots from- I like to do research on a lot of different aesthetics and I’m a big fan of Halloween and the whole creepy stuff. I'm a big fan of that and I love just dark things so that's like an aesthetic I’m kind of looking into as a good source of inspiration,” Marquez said.  

When it comes to making the melodies for his songs, Marquez stated he hears several ideas for melodies in his head and tries to incorporate them into his music while making sure it doesn’t sound chaotic. Marquez believes he has a gifted ear when it comes to music so, when making songs and melodies, it just comes naturally to him.  

Marquez hopes to impact people through his words and actions, insinuating humor when he does musical theater. For choir, he has other plans.

“I would hope when in terms of musical theater just to have great humor and have people laugh. In musical theater I like to improvise some lines sometimes and my intention is to have people get a good couple of laughs and make sure people have a very good experience. With choir, I just want to sound good, like really good,” Marquez said. 

Fortunately, the planning for HAPApalooza went smooth sailing and all they had to deal with was the meticulous details. Details such as renting the porta-potties, obtaining a HAPA Cafe license, moving large items to the location, securing security, and making sure sound was working well.

Sara Sjoquist, an art teacher at HC who teaches Intro to 2D Art, Intro to 3D Art, advanced 3D, and Ceramics one and two. Sjoquist participated in the festival by letting attendees receive complimentary face paintings.  

Participating in the HAPApalooza event, they had experienced difficulties gathering student volunteers for the festival. Since HAPApalooza took place on Saturday, most students were not available to attend, resulting in mainly visual arts teachers taking over the booth for the majority of the festival. 

When preparing for HAPApalooza, Sjoquist’s top priority was to ensure the students were well represented and involved in the festival. Despite not being able to showcase their work, due to the fact the festival was outside and they did not want to risk their hard work being stolen or damaged. 

Sjoquist hopes for next year's HAPApalooza to display students' work digitally instead of in person so they could eliminate the risks she worries about. Next year they optimistically wish for a large screen backdrop that will display students previously completed art pieces. 

Sjoquist looked forward to the awards ceremony displayed during HAPApalooza, which was held for students in the district who have shown talent and/or outstanding growth.

The origin of HAPApalooza started with a former teacher, Matt Alley, who wanted to do a band event revolving around mainly contemporary and rock music. The event went on the dock of the Morton Auditorium where the atmosphere was overall relaxed and fun. They then repeated this event during COVID-19 online, and once again last year but even bigger, using the Wolf Lake Pavillion as the venue. 

According to Sowinski, after last year’s graduation, he discussed the event with the people at Wolf Lake. He had to formally apply, send in a letter, fill out an application and get approval from the city. 

“I can tell you that the port authority was kind enough to donate the Wolf Lake space to us for free. We had to apply for that with a letter and explain that our event was for our students and community. HAPA has to pay for the supplies, tech needs, and also the security and transportation. But , because the event is free, it is really not that expensive. It is low cost for huge exposure in a public place,” Sowinski said.

With HAPApalooza, the message Sowinski wanted to get across was that “we are a community.” 

“The thing I love most about HAPA is that we unify everyone through the arts. This event is a big district event that shows that we are better united. It highlights how we all come together to create art and have fun. We want the community to see how important HAPA is and how important it is to HAPA to be a part of the community and grow amazing people like you through arts and expression,” Sowinski said.       

Akers appreciated seeing his students be given opportunities to show their creativity on stage. 

“As a proud teacher, I am looking forward to my students having the platform to celebrate their hard work and talents. I am ecstatic to see them own the stage, as they have worked very  hard. I am also thrilled to perform with my band, but mostly because of the joy it will bring others in the community,” Akers said. 

Sjoquist wanted to give her students the opportunities to explore what mediums suited them best as well as give them another way to find ways to cope with stress. 

“I want all of my students to discover what they enjoy using as a medium best because artists manifest in many different styles and ways.  Knowing how to express yourself artistically gives you coping mechanisms throughout your whole life,” Sjoquist said. 

Marquez suggested some advice for future vocalists and in general people looking into the arts. 

“If you really do like singing just have fun with it, it’s what I do. That's something I prioritize when I do a musical or play or even when I’m in choir. I prioritize having fun and enjoyment the most, as well as taking it seriously.” Marquez said. 

To close off the festival Aker’s band, Caught of Cline, closed out the festival with a performance. The members include Akers, Whitney, and band teacher Joseph McCoy. 

June 8th Release - Hammond Central's Early College Program takes off

by Julieta Villanueva
published on June 8, 2023

The Vincennes University Early College program is a program dedicated to helping students get ahead by giving students an opportunity to obtain college credits while they are still in highschool.

Jessica Castillo is an Early College Social Studies teacher here at Hammond Central and she has been part of the Vincennes University Early College program since it began in 2013. 

According to Castillo, the Early College program was created back in 2013 to provide students an opportunity to receive college credits while in high school. Students have the ability to receive up to an associate's degree which is 60 credit hours. Students can also receive an ICC (Inter College Core) certificate if they reach the required 30 college credits. 

These are classes that can be transferred to other colleges. HC has partnered with Vincennes University to provide that opportunity for students. Moving forward, the main partner will be Ivy Tech but students in the Early College program will still have access to classes through Vincennes, and Indiana University as well. 

There are also many benefits to being part of this program, students get the opportunity to receive college credits while they are still in high school, they can take general college classes while they are in high school which can save them and their parents or guardians a lot of money. 

“We have had students walk into college as a sophomore because they already have all the credits they needed to bypass their freshman year of college. We have had students be directly admitted to their programs of choice in college because they were so far ahead with taking dual credit classes during high school. It tremendously benefits the student to be a part of the Early College program,” Castillo said. 

The requirements needed to enter this program are good grades, behavior, and attendance. Students also have to fill out the application for the program. 

According to Castillo, this program provides students with an opportunity to get ahead in college. It means less money out of their pockets to pay for college and potentially a quicker way to college graduation. Students in these classes learn critical skills to be a step ahead in college and career readiness.

Gerald Childers is a dual credit math instructor at Hammond Central, he has also been part of the program since its start in 2013. 

According to Childers, the program is about High school students working to accumulate college credits to springboard their college experience and offset the cost of college tuition. Students can also be placed ahead in the crowd, ahead in salary, and set themselves up for the rest of their lives for continued success when they enter this program. 

“It means the world to me to be a part of this program! To see a former student graduate college in 2-3 years is an amazing feeling you were a part of that success,” Childers said.

Kaylee Jackson is a senior at Hammond Central and she has been part of the program since her freshman year 3 years ago. She joined the Vincennes University Early College program because she wanted to get ahead in highschool and she wanted to give herself a challenge to help her prepare for college. She first heard about the program when she was in 8th grade when her school did a presentation about it. 

“I love being in this program because a lot of the teachers are super helpful and it helps create a lot of opportunities for you to experience,” Jackson said. 

According to Jackson, the program can be challenging because you can feel overwhelmed but her teachers really helped with that since they are very supportive. There are many benefits to being part of the program, you can earn college credits for free and you create an easy transition from high school to college when you graduate. It looks good on a student's transcript and it has personally helped her get more scholarships from colleges. 

Jackson stated that she would definitely recommend the program to others as it was such a great experience that helped her out in the long run. 

“Now that I am almost done with high school and about to graduate, I am super glad I decided to be a part of this program, and I think every school needs this,” Jackson said. 

June 8th Release - HC honors Bertha Guzman for Lunch Hero Day

by Hanna Castillo
published June 8, 2023

Hammond Central High School celebrated their cafe manager, Bertha Guzman for Lunch Hero Day, who has been working at the school since Central opened up. 

Lunch Hero Day is a day to honor and give thanks to school nutrition professionals, and takes place on the first Friday of each May. This year, it was celebrated on May 5th. 

Guzman says that working to feed the children while seeing the kids get and eat their food with joy is what motivates her to do a good job in the role of a cafe manager.

“Just by having the ability to be calm and patient while guiding your workers and stepping in when needed helps me be the best I can when it comes to working with a team,” Guzman said. 

Guzman has been working for the School City of Hammond since 1981. She first started off as a substitute teacher and moved on to becoming a kitchen helper. Just after three years, in December of 1984, she was permanently employed where she then started working at Eggers Middle School. 

In those years at Eggers, working as a right hand man for the cafe manager, Guzman became a cashier, banker and finally a cook. And in 2015 she left to work at Hammond High School which is now known as Hammond Central High School.

“Though the job may become stressful at times, the job has to get done. I don’t complain, I just finish what needs to be done,” Guzman said.

According to Assistant Principal David M. Borsits, Mrs.Guzman has done incredible at her job, even during difficult times. Since Annie Dillon (the previous cafe manager) retired, Guzman has held it together and was short staffed the whole time.

“She’s gone above and beyond. She’s here at 5:45 in the morning and stays until after 3pm often. I’ve seen it,” Borsits said.

Guzman stated that she hopes to continue seeing the Hammond Central students get fed with good quality food every day to be able to see the children with smiles, at least up until 10 years from now.

June 8th Release - Advanced Art students get a taste of fashion week 

by Amari Tucker
published on June 8, 2023

As we near the end of the school year the students in Sara Sjoquist’s advanced art class looked forward to an exciting and time consuming final project. The students have been working diligently on creating wearable items out of recycled materials. 

The inspiration behind this project came easily to Sjoquist. She believed having the students pick their own design and material would be more engaging for them, and she was right. 

“These are my advanced students so we’re kind of doing a lot more things that are conceptual on their level. This is a way for them to work with what they want to work with.” Sjoquist said. 

Although Sjoquist inspires students to use new materials she is open to everyday items such as plastic, paper towel rolls, and even garbage as it will be easy to manipulate and shape into their desirable piece of art. 

Confidence also plays an important role in the significance of this project. Sjoquist believes the idea of other peers seeing their work will motivate them to not only give their all but enjoy the art they created. “It can be anxiety ridden, but I think it elevates them to try hard on it and pushes everybody to give it their best,” Sjoquist said. 

Some other projects Sjoquist took pride in were the pop art that her advanced students made which can be displayed in the showcase by the dance room, and also the fairy garden pieces her ceramics students worked on. 

This final project was not just limited to students as Sjoquist made a piece herself. She made a fully wearable dress out of white, plastic grocery bags. 

“I liked the flow of it, it's an easy material to twist and manipulate and I wanted to be a good example of just using something that you wouldn’t normally think of, '' Sjoquist said. 

Sophomore Hanna Castillo had a very interesting take on this final project as she also made something wearable, a corset. The corset was made out of stapled paper rolls taped together to make it more stable. 

“The corset is covered by aluminum foil to make a unique color and texture for the corset to stand out. Along the top, I chose to glue cotton balls so that the corset isn’t given a simple look, but instead given a cute look, and on the back part of the corset, I punched holes so that I could tie the corset with strings similar to how you would tie a normal corset,” Castillo said. 

Another student, Marcus Beal used aluminum foil, masking tape, glue, and paper to achieve his goal of a mask. 

Sjoquist hosted the fashion show on Friday, May 26 in the art wing. She announced all designers and their looks as they walked the catwalk and showed off their looks. 

June 8th Release - Freshmen students venture to Medieval Times

by Julie Ortiz and Mya Hurley
published on June 8, 2023

Freshmen students from Anthony Amador’s World History class and Paige Dombrowski’s English class went on a field trip to Medieval Times on May 17th as part of their medieval time period unit. 

Amador taught his World History classes about medieval life and history. Meanwhile, Dombrowski’s English classes read the classic Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet. 

Dombrowski saw this trip as an opportunity for her students to see how the characters of Romeo and Juliet were living during those times.

“My hope for my students is for them to learn about what life was like during Medieval times, from food and drinks and men and women’s clothing, royalty, and to get an idea of the entertainment of the times in relation to what Romeo and Juliet were living,” Dombrowski said. 

She also recognized the benefits of experiencing something that you have read about. 

“Experiencing what you read can have a positive impact on both your cognitive and emotional well-being, and can help you become a more empathetic, knowledgeable, and creative individual,” Dombrowski said.

One student, Alannah Pabey, a freshman in Mr. Amador's class stated that she personally loved it and thought it was eventful and fun. 

“It was a great experience. I feel like I learned a lot about the types of things people did back in medieval times, like sporting events. I think it was an amazing idea." Pabey says. 

Freshman Amairany Gonzalez did not know what to expect from this field trip. She had never gone to Medieval Times before, but she was excited to see the costumes. She stated that there were many different parts of the show but the final duel at the end was her favorite even though her knight did not win. 

Before attending, Gonzalez had different expectations as to what it was going to be like.

“Nothing looked like I thought it was going to be. I was surprised when the show was about tournaments and knights. Before going I had in mind that I was going to see castles, kings, nobles, and peasants acting like they were living in the medieval ages,” Gonzalez said. 

She also thought that Medieval Times looked realistic based on what she had learned about that time period.

“I do think Medieval Times was realistic. I found it realistic when the knights showed chivalry which is something that was known to be important in medieval ages, not only that, but the stunts that they would do on the horses were realistic,” Gonzalez  said.

Overall, Dombrowski was excited for her students to have fun and learn about medieval history at the same time. She hopes to make the field trip a tradition that her students can participate in year after year. 

June 8th Relase - To uniform, or not to uniform?

editorial by Alexi Cook & Lyric Walker
published on June 8, 2023

There are many arguments about whether schools should require uniforms or not and many people have different opinions about this topic. Let’s end this debate once and for all.

Parents, teachers, and students all have their different reasons as to why schools should require uniforms and why they should not. There are a lot of pros and cons about being out of uniforms and there are pros and cons about wearing uniforms.The school board of School City of Hammond had a meeting about uniforms and decided to let all students wear their casual clothes. Some parents probably did not agree with that decision since we have been wearing uniforms for many years.

We created a survey and posted the link so anonymous students could fill it out and give their personal opinions on how they feel about school uniforms. In the survey, we asked students if they thought that it should be mandatory to wear school uniforms again. We also had the students explain their answers. 65.6% of the students said that we should not return to wearing uniforms. 

An anonymous student who chose yes stated, “I believe that if we were in school uniforms they can help to create a sense of unity and equality among students, reduce bullying and peer pressure related to clothing, and promote a more focused learning environment.”

Another reason going back to uniforms would be a good idea is because kids will not get bullied. When we are out of uniform, kids show off their nice shoes and clothes. Not all kids have money to buy nice clothing. So to prevent students who do not have nice clothes, wearing uniforms would be for the better.

Another anonymous student stated, “I say yes and no. If we go back to uniforms, students won’t have to get judged based on what they wear because everyone dresses the same. I also say no because not wearing a uniform helps students express themselves.”

"Uniforms can help to create a sense of unity and equality among students." 

For the most part, the majority of the students chose no. Their main concern was the financial part. Most of them were saying that it would cost extra money to buy uniforms and how some people may not have enough money to be buying uniforms on top of their casual clothes. 

In my opinion, going back to wearing uniforms would be a great idea. If we were wearing uniforms, it would cause less stress. We would not have to worry about figuring out what to wear the whole week. All we would have to worry about is which pair of shoes we would wear. I just feel that it is way more simple and quick. Wearing uniforms would also be easier for those who cannot afford a lot of casual clothes.

June 8th Release - Violence In School.. Why?