Embedded Files
Coffee with a Cop
By Danielle Kellough, on Friday Apr. 4
I hope everyone was on their best behavior on their way to school this morning, as some of our local law enforcement officers rolled in to spend the morning with the Juniors and Seniors at Sheridan High School.
This morning, Juniors and Seniors were given the opportunity to sit down and talk with the law enforcement officers that keep our community safe, but what did the students think about this event?
” I greatly enjoyed it. I spoke to some State Patrol officers. The coffee was good, but there were no donuts,” Senior Riley Jenkins said. "They told me how the State Patrol gave them some great advice for life in general."
I also attended this event. I thought it was great to talk to some of my local law enforcement. As for what Riley told me, I agree: they didn’t just talk about their jobs. They were giving students real life advice, from school to just things we might need down the road in life.
It was a great turn out. Juniors and Seniors filled the commons, but I couldn’t help but wonder what other people were looking for when talking to these cops, so I asked a few of them what some helpful information they received during the event was.
“You need knowledge of life before you go out into the real world to learn in college,” Andreaya Valentine said. I couldn’t agree more with what Andreaya said. I received so much advice as well.
It seems that Coffee with a Cop was a hit with the students! I know I'm hoping for this event to return next year! What about you? Will you come join us next year?
Photos from Coffee with a Cop Below
Class of 2025: Upcoming Events
By Kenzi Perkins, on Tuesday Apr. 1
The school year for the class of 2025 is coming to an end, but the festivities are far from over. For the next month, the class officers, (President Isaiah Brown, Vice President Clark Johnson, Treasurer Ava Heller, and Secretary Dylan Fox), have lots of fun activities planned for the senior class.
The Senior v. Staff Basketball game has already passed, (see Kameron Van Balen’s feature article), but there are still lots of events planned for those graduating this year. There’s Senior Tag, the class trip to Kings Island on April 25, Senior Skip Day on May 5, and Senior Sunrise and the Powderpuff Football game on May 7. There will be General Idea coverage on each of these events, so stay tuned to hear all about them!
Each of the class officers have played a hand in planning these activities for the seniors, and they’re excited to see them unfold. “I’m looking forward to our Senior Sunrise the most. We’ll have a big breakfast, plenty of time to hang out and talk, and a Powderpuff Football game that seniors can either participate in or watch,” Vice President Johnson said. While Johnson is most excited for the Senior Sunrise, though, one of the other officers is more anxiously awaiting one of the more thrilling events.
“I’m most looking forward to the senior trip because I love roller coasters and it’ll give me a chance to hangout with all my fellow classmates,” Treasurer Ava Heller said. It can be assured whether you’re most looking forward to the sunrise, the trip, or the infamous game of tag, that if you’re a member of the Class of 2025, you’re going to have so much fun during the next couple of weeks.
The rest of the school year is slipping away fast, but it’s no doubt that it’s going to be an absolute blast. To all our seniors: have fun and be safe! Enjoy these last few weeks of high school before you move on to bigger and better things!
Spring Break: What’s on your Agenda?
By Brady Hamm, on Monday Apr. 1
Things are finally starting to warm up after what felt like forever, which can only mean one thing: spring is coming! Spring is a favorite season for many, with the sun shining bright and the warmth making the trees and flowers bloom. With spring shortly arriving and Easter coming up on April 20, schools are going to be letting out on spring break for their students and staff. Sheridan’s spring break was originally going to be from April 16 to the 21, but due to the excess amount of snow days and weather cancellations, Sheridan will have school on the 16 and 17, leaving us with a 4-day spring break. It may not seem like a long break, but people around Sheridan still plan to use this time as best they can.
During our spring break, teacher Mrs. Mary Peresta plans to take a trip to “Shenandoah National Park” in Washington D.C. with her husband and kids. While there, they also plan to go to “The Smithsonian Zoo and Museum” So they can walk around the 163 acres of zooland and see more than 2,700 animals. Peresta has stated that she is ecstatic to see the pandas. Meanwhile, teacher Mrs. Whitney Williamson is staying a little closer to home, and is taking her kids to the Columbus Zoo so that they can attend the annual “Eggs, Paws, and Claws” event, where they search for Easter eggs decorated with different zoo characters. The teachers aren’t the only ones with big plans for the break, though.
Senior Kory Holden says he’s excited to have some school time off, and with this break he wants to hangout with his friends more. Holden is ready for Easter and hunting for eggs. “Sleeping in will be the best part of my spring break,” Holden said. On the other hand, some students won’t be able to kick back and relax on their break. Senior Kameron VanBalen is one of these students, and unfortunately, she will be working for the entirety of our spring break.
Junior Raelyn Olson is visiting her family in Kentucky during her spring break. While down there, they plan to celebrate Easter and go out onto a lake. Junior student Isaac Young will be spending most of his time during break at the gym. “I’m gonna be working out a lot on break, and celebrating my Lord and Savior on Easter,” Young said.
Sophomore Milo Bullock and his grandparents will be attending his younger brother’s dirt bike race for qualifiers down in Tennessee at the Loretta Lynn Ranch. Bullock is ready to watch this race and see his grandparents again. “There’s gonna be some tough competition for him but I think he’s got a good chance to win it,” Bullock said. There are a lot of fun things happening over spring break, some people even celebrating their birthdays, like Ali Sims! Her birthday is on April 20. For her break she is gonna stay with her family and celebrate her birthday and Easter.
Freshman Teagan Holmes is excited for break so he can go down to Texas and visit family members. Lastly, Freshman Aireyanna Moore will be staying in Ohio going to The Dawes Arboretum with her family. No matter what grade they’re in, it’s clear that the students at Sheridan High School have fun things planned over their spring break.
Whatever plans you do or do not have, hopefully everyone can find a fun way to spend their break whether that’s spending time with their family or just simply sleeping in. Make the most of the break, no matter how short!
The Breakfast Bag Debacle
By Kenzi Perkins, on Thursday Feb. 27
Riiiiiiiiing. It’s 7:20 am at Sheridan High School, and students stampede through the front doors as the bell rings to start the school day. You’ve been waiting outside since 7 o’clock, and you’re hungry, looking forward to the school breakfast waiting for you on the other side of the glass doors. Amidst the sea of your peers shoving each other and weaving around you, you try to find the breakfast cart, lost in the middle of the crowd. When you finally reach your destination, you pick through the Got Milk? bags, hoping to find something good. There’s strudels in some, PopTarts in others, but all of the bags you sort of like have something you don’t want in them. Defeated, you grab a plastic bag containing a pack of donuts and a juice box, already knowing that you’re going to toss the juice into a trash bin at the first chance you get.
On average, around 530,000 tons of food waste are produced by Ohio high schools annually each year, not even including the miscellaneous trash that accompany it. When we are handing a bag full of things we don’t like, of course we’re going to throw them away. The juice boxes or snack that isn’t wanted is doomed to the landfill from the moment they’re put in the bags.
Looking past the tons of discarded food left behind by students trying to enjoy their breakfasts, each of the “meals” are encased in a single-use plastic bag, serving no other purpose than to keep a moderately desirable breakfast together. Like the unwanted juice box, the plastic bag’s fate is condemned to the bottom of a trash bin.
Our country’s excessive use of non recyclable plastic is already an issue, crowding our landfills and polluting our natural resources. Our school’s breakfast bag situation is not helping this predicament at all, and a few students are hoping to do something about it.
Representatives from the National Honor Society and the Student Council are trying to come up with solutions to the unnecessary waste being produced by the wasted food and single-use plastic bags. Everyone should be doing their part to help the environment, and that’s no different for Sheridan High School.
Instead of throwing that undesirable juice away, offer to split your bag with a friend, at least saving the food from going to waste. In the meantime, if you can think of anything that may help solve the great Breakfast Bag Debacle, reach out to your NHS and StuCo representatives!
Open Mic Night
By Kenzi Perkins, on Friday March 14
Do you enjoy watching live music? What about poetry readings, or dances? If you do, then Sheridan High School’s Open Mic Night was where you should have been this Friday! Guitars, acapella, poetry; you name it, we had it! Current and alumni students came out to share their talents with the community, and it was an absolute blast!
Organized by the 2025 Prom Committee and Mr. Stephen Gioffre to raise money for this year’s prom, a collection of various musical and creative arts was assembled for the event. Each group or artist held their own unique skills: guitar, drums, vocals, and dance, to name a few. There were bands, (both rock and country), choirs, duets, and soloists: a little bit of everything. The Commons, where the performances took place, was the place to be on this Friday night.
For those of you who were not able to attend, let me give you a little sneak-peek of what we got to see: Rock bands, country bands, father-son and father-daughter duets, acapella choirs, Disney covers, dancing, poetry readings, and multiple soloists with their own original songs! There was something for everyone at our open mic night!
If you couldn’t attend this year or are wondering whether or not to next year, let this writer assure you that there is no better way to spend a Friday night than listening to the incredible music made by many of your peers and acquaintances. I couldn’t get enough of the performances tonight! Admission is only $5 to see all of these awesome artists share their talents, and all proceeds go towards the prom. We hope to see you there next year, so come rock out with us!
Sheridan FFA’s Strawberry and Kettle Corn Sales are Back!
By Danielle Kellough, on Monday, Jan. 27
Spring is almost here! You know what that means; Sheridan FFA is selling their famous strawberries and kettle corn! Ordering starts Monday, Jan. 27 and ends Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The FFA is selling HUGE 8lb flats of strawberries for $25, and kettle corn for $10. Kettle corn flavors include Original kettle corn, Caramel Kettle corn, Cinnamon Toast Crunch kettle corn, Cinnamon Apple kettle corn, and Caramel Apple kettle corn. Not only do you get to purchase delicious treats, but you get to help our FFA chapter in many ways! I spoke with Haley Conn, one of the advisors of our chapter, to find out some of the things the money goes too.
“Money collected goes into our general FFA funds account. That money is used for a variety of FFA activities including paying for contest entries, FFA meeting supplies, tractor drive-in day, the parent-member banquet, kindergarten farm day supplies, All FFA week activities, state convention and national convention trip, conferences, hotels for overnight trips, etc. Basically anything we do in FFA, outside of class things, is funded through fundraisers,” Conn said.
But why does the FFA do these fundraisers and are there anymore coming up?.
“We do fundraisers in order to do all the things that our chapter does (listed above). We are able to provide our members with a large variety of leadership opportunities and career skill development opportunities because of the funds raised through fundraisers. We also get to do a lot of fun things because of those funds. Students build everlasting memories of the time in our organization because of the experiences we are able to provide them,” Conn said. “This is tentatively the last fundraiser for the year, unless we decide to do a plant sale in the greenhouse class. It is at least our last major fundraiser for the year (we only do 2: fall fruit and spring strawberries).”
Go get you piggy banks and one of our FFA members to start your order! Money is due by Feb. 26 so get your strawberries and kettle corn before it’s too late!
A Head Start on Success
By Danielle Kellough, on Monday Dec. 23
We are halfway through the 2024-2025 school year at Sheridan High School. With that being said, many students of the class of 2026 are graduating this year. As a member of their class, I’m so proud of each and every one of these students. The dedication and work that they have done to graduate this school year is inspiring. For this article, they’re going to share a little bit about themselves!
Gavin Parkinson-
Age:17
Favorite Childhood memory: Kings Island with parents
Motivation:Money, Friends, Family, Girlfriend
Goals/Plans: Gap year, Electrician
Why early grad: Wanted to get out of school to work more
Challenges: Not being able to work for a while
Excited for: Traveling and build a log cabin
Describe yourself: Caring, Kind, respectful, funny, protective, supportive
Jaelyn Valentine-
Age:17
Favorite Childhood Memory: Playing Just Dance and WII with her sister (Andreaya Valentine)
Motivation: Being able to get out of school and get a job.
Goals/Plans: Find a good place to live, work herself up, and grow a family.
Why Early Grad: “If I don’t need anymore credits then why come”
Challenges:
Excited For: See where life takes her
Describe Yourself: Hardworking, optimistic, outgoing, hilarious
Adreaya Valentine
Age:16
Favorite Childhood Memory: Playing Softball for Somerset
Motivation: Graduating with her older sister (Jaelyn Valentine)
Goals/Plans: Dental or Biology Major
Why Early Grad: “The satisfaction of graduating before I turn 17”
Challenges: Feeling like she fits in with her actual grade levels and having to balance two grades at once
Excited For: To see how everyone at the school grows
Describe Yourself: Empatheicatetic, emotional, determined,
Kendra Hackworth
Age: 19
Favorite childhood memory: “Going to the store with my Nanna”
Motivation: “My Boyfriend, Evan, definitely motivates me the most.”
Goals/ Plans: Go to college and major in psychology
Why Early Grad: “I decided to graduate early because I needed to go full time at work to make good income,”
Challenges: “I faced having to do my school work on time while trying to make as much money as possible, which limited my sleep greatly”
Excited for: “The freedom I'll have and just less stress.”
Describe yourself: Bubbly and friendly
Brianna Nichols
Age: 18
Favorite childhood memory: “Anytime all my family is together! For cookouts, birthdays, holidays, anything. Family is important.”
Motivation:Goals/ Plans: Family is a huge motivation and she plans to take a year break off school, maybe go to a trade school (still deciding major)
Why Early Grad: “Sp I can be done with school and start my life!”
Challenges: “I struggle like anybody else anxiety, depression, stress, I struggle spiritually but I know Jesus is by my side.”
Excited for: To gain life experience and to make money
Describe yourself: Kind, generous, caring for others
Sarah Smathers, Sheridan’s Spanish Teacher
By Eric Olds, on Monday Dec. 3
Sarah Smathers is Sheridan’s Spanish teacher as of the beginning of this school year. Originally an online program taught Spanish, but this program didn’t effectively teach the subject. Sheridan has thus hired a Spanish teacher to get the job done.
Smathers went to Ohio University in Athens where she studied Spanish for four years. She now teaches at Sheridan High School. Smathers is 23 years old. She was given the golden opportunity of visiting Spain for three months during college.
“The most memorable moment in Spain would be seeing how different the everyday life activities were, such as taking the bus or dining in a restaurant. Teaching English at a Spanish elementary school was also very eye-opening,” Smathers said.
Smathers's experiences in Spain were key in helping her learn Spanish. The countless interactions and conversations boosted her experience and is what allows her to speak consistent and fluid Spanish.
“The best way to learn Spanish would be to first get a base. By that I mean learning what adjectives, verbs and the present tense are. After that, immersing yourself by speaking Spanish and hearing Spanish from others significantly helps. One more thing is being pushed outside your comfort zone,” Smathers said.
If you are interested in learning Spanish it is not so different from English. Many English words are from Spanish and are easy to recognize and translate. Experience gained from speaking Spanish to others is priceless in actually learning the language and putting it to use.
In conclusion, Sheridan’s need for a Spanish teacher was high and they have received a perfect teacher for the job. Many who take her class learn much more than from the online program. Smathers is a great teacher and more people should take her class.
Sheridan High School’s Role in Christmas This Year
By: Rylan Mitchell on Monday, Nov. 25
Deck the halls, because it's Christmas time and Sheridan High School is taking a major role in some of our favorite Christmas traditions this year. Just some of the most anticipated events this year are going to be the annual Adopt-A-Child basketball game on Nov. 17th, where donations are being collected, and Adopt-A-Child, where students buy gifts for many different kids in the community.
Along with the many thrilling activities that Sheridan will be hosting this year, there will also be several charities for the less fortunate so they too can experience a great Christmas. Through Nov. 19th and 27th, Sheridan will be hosting Penny Week, where students may drop off any spare change or bills to their homeroom teacher. The goal is to raise $4,000 for the less fortunate families, so gather up your spare change, and get ready to help support your local community this holiday season.
The organizers behind all of these upcoming celebrations this Christmas season is no other than the Sheridan High School Student Council. A member of the council since seventh grade, Stella Rockey, says “This year we plan to do a lot more for the holidays compared to last year,” said Rockey. Along with Penny Week, the council will also be hosting Adopt-A-Child to help out the less fortunate families.
The Adopt-A-Child is certainly one of the most well-loved activities that the Sheridan Student Council students get to partake in around the holidays. “I really do enjoy what we do for Adopt-A-Child, because there are less fortunate families, who aren’t able to afford Christmas presents,” said Rockey. The Adopt-A-Child program is a gift-giving opportunity for members of the Student Council to go to any large department store and pick out gifts for the less fortunate with money raised from the Penny Drive. They essentially get assigned a child that is any age and get to miss school to shop for gifts that match that child’s list. “It feels really good to be able to give to people, knowing that they will be happy on Christmas day,” said Rockey.
There are many opportunities to celebrate Christmas at home, but what about at school? Since most kids and teenagers spend the majority of their days in the school building up until that exhilarating two-week break, a lot of their Christmas spirit gets oppressed. “I think that not just Christmas spirit but the spirit of giving is always important to have, and when a person gives something it makes them feel positive, as well as the person receiving it.” said Lisa Householder, Principal of Sheridan High School. For the high schoolers, getting in the Christmas spirit can help influence them to perform their best for the upcoming finals. “Christmas spirit does get me really motivated, mainly because I know one of the best holidays is coming up,” said Rockey. Some simple ways that any school can help generate some Christmas enthusiasm, is adding decorations throughout the building including a tree or two and having Christmas-themed assemblies where students can showcase their best Christmas spirit.
Of course, none of this could be done without the help of generous donors and sponsors. We thank Mrs. Stockler, Mrs. Peresta and Mrs. Householder for helping donate time, money, and organizing some of our favorite Christmas activities this year. Without them, this year’s Christmas would not be nearly as spectacular and enjoyable.
With all of that information, this upcoming Christmas season is guaranteed to be fun and worthwhile. So if you are a student or staff member of Sheridan High School, make sure to stop by and donate or try out some of the activities, as they can make your own holiday season experiences a lot brighter for you and the loving Sheridan community.
Harvest for Hope 5K
By Journey Reichley, on Wednesday Nov. 20
On November 9, the Sheridan FFA held the Harvest for Hope 5k. The event took place at Glenford Fort Reserve where there was a carefully and accurately formed path to follow. Although it was the first year hosting this event, there were a sizable number of people who showed up to support as well as participate in the event. If you didn’t know about this event, here is some background information as to why we organized it.
According to an article from Suicide Prevention Resource Center, “Farmers have among the highest suicide rates of any occupational group in the U.S.” October 10th is World Mental Health Day. During our Ag Leadership class, an idea was sparked that we should try to raise awareness for mental health in the agricultural workforce. Ideas were flowing left and right until organizing a 5k was brought up. Through the planning process, we were trying to find an organization that we could donate all the proceeds to. All profits will be donated to the Perry County Farm Bureau for agricultural suicide prevention and mental health awareness. The Sheridan FFA will work with them to determine what programs in the county should be implemented to raise awareness.
The age divisions for the 5k included: 10 & under, 11-17 years old, 18-64 years old, and 65+ years. The top three runners for the 10 & under category were John White, Wade Pressdee, and Kylah White. The top three runners for the 11-17 category were Benjamin Helsel, Seth Johnson, and Daniel Akers. Top three for the 18-64 category were Lane Householder, Wes Phipps, and Madeline Gillenwater. The winner of the 65+ years category was Merle Glass. Overall, there was $1,524 raised to put towards the cause. Thank you to everyone who showed up to support this cause.
Runners lined up at the start/finish line ready 10 & under category winners
to begin the race. John and Kylah White
11-17 category winners Ben Helsel, Seth Johnson 18-64 category winners Lane
and Trip Akers Householder and Madeline
Gillenwater.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
By Ali Sims, on Tuesday Nov. 19
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a program that allows older kids to bond with younger kids after school. The quality time that the Bigs spend with their Littles can help nurture the younger students, developing social skills and providing a positive influence for them if they lack one. Here at Sheridan High School, Big Brothers Big Sisters is in full swing.
The program is advised by Alicia Stockler, one of the counselors at Sheridan High School. “The program for this year is going well. They all matched up pretty well,” Stockler said. She pairs the Bigs with Littles in the program based on personalities and interests.
A member still going in 2024, Chelsea Newman, is a senior this year and has experience with both being a Big and a Little in this program. She joined the program her freshman year. She decided to continue the program because she loved how inspiring and fun the program was, and enjoys helping out little kids. The bonding at Big Brothers Big Sisters isn’t just beneficial for the Littles, but also for their Bigs, creating lasting memories and relationships.”My little saying he really appreciated me,” Newman said, when asked what her favorite memory of being a Big Sister was.
Two new members, Reese Soloman and Faith Hysell, both have experience with babysitting kids or their own siblings. They were asked about why they joined this program. “I wanted to help elementary students,” Soloman said . “I wanted to make kids feel safe,” Hysell confessed. They were also asked if they would do this program again. “Yes, because I enjoy it,” Soloman said. “Yes, because I feel like everyone deserves someone,” Hysell said with a smile.
The program started in 1904 in Cincinnati Ohio. If you are interested in this program and want to make a difference in your community, you can go to https://www.bbbs.org/ for more information. You can also contact Mrs. Stockler to apply for the 2025-2026 school year!
NaNoWriMo at SHS
By Ali Sims, on Tuesday, Nov. 12
What’s NaNoWriMo? Nanowrimo stands for National Novel Writing Month, and it is a challenge worldwide pushing writers to brave the attempt of writing an entire novel in thirty days. The challenge holds young writers (through their young writers program router) to write 30,000 words over the duration of the month, or, for adults, 50,000 words in the month. This all takes place throughout the month of November.
Sheridan High School's Creative Writing class is undertaking this challenge as a group under the young writers program. The teacher leading the class, Mrs. Lena Moore, also participates in NaNoWriMo, but with writing for the goal of 50,000.
Moore was interviewed regarding her involvement and experiences with National Novel Writing Month. ”I was introduced to NaNo in 2010 in a writing group that I joined,” Moore said. “Even when I don’t reach my goal it’s still a fun challenge.” Over the course of 14 years, she has participated in NaNoWriMo almost every November. For this Novel Writing Month, Moore is writing a fantasy book that has a little bit of cosmic horror.
Based on her own experiences with NaNoWriMo, Moore decided that she would like to implement it into her Creative Writing curriculum. “I was looking for something different for creative writing, and having done NaNo several times before, I was looking forward to seeing what my students would do with it.”
National Novel Writing Month has provided Moore’s students, along with many others nationally, with the opportunity to flourish creatively in a productive manner. The NaNoWriMo website states that the organization “believes in the transformational power of creativity,” which is something that the Sheridan High School Creative Writing class is able to feel firsthand this semester.
If you would like to be a part of NaNoWriMo like the Creative Writing class, visit the website at https://nanowrimo.org/about-nano for more information.
A Spirit of fun!
By Kameron Van Balen, October 31, 2024
It was an amazing spirit day with some very astonishing costumes this year for dress up day, hosted and run by the drama club this year, which pulled in some creativity for many groups of people. This year however it was hosted on a Thursday, so that the sports and clubs could join in on the fun and not have to worry about messing up their uniform.
This year's competition had several categories: Best Comic, Scariest, Group, movie or book, and original! In each category there was a winner and they each got a prize for their efforts. People came in with their costumes and showed their Halloween spirit, others used the day to wear only a hat. All in all the day was a huge success for the Drama Club and getting recognition for their works.
The winners of the competition part of that day were: Xander Gray, Chelsea Newman and Shelby Solomon, Camryn Adams, Mason Courtright, and the toy story group!
National Honor Society Induction Ceremony and Banquet
By Kenzi Perkins, on Tuesday Oct. 29
“I pledge myself to uphold the high purposes of this Society to which I have been elected, striving in every way by word and deed to make its ideals the ideals of my school, and of my life,” 49 students recite at the foot of the stage, each and every one of them clutching embossed certificates in their hands. The vice president has just sworn them into the Sheridan High School chapter of the National Honor Society.
The National Honor Society is an organization circulated around the nation, and it is composed of the top students in the school; those who get the best grades, participate in school affiliated activities, and serve their community. Last Tuesday, we at Sheridan High School celebrated the induction of those students at the 2024 National Honor Society Induction Ceremony and Banquet. 49 students of the 2025 and 2026 graduating classes here at Sheridan met the criteria and were chosen to be a part of this prestigious organization, along with the four senior officers, who were sworn into their office at the beginning of the ceremony.
Elected President Kenzi Perkins, Vice President Brody White, Treasurer Cora Hall, and Secretary Josie Ramey took their oaths to uphold the standards of the Society, setting an example for the inductees. Lighting the ceremonious candles of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Character, each of the officers recognized the pillars that support the National Honor Society, illuminating the path of the Society to the new members.
The rest of the returning members of the Sheridan chapter of the Society were also in attendance, perched on the stage, responsible for introducing the inductees to the crowd of family members, announcing their extensive accomplishments to the beaming faces below. The new members walked across the stage as their names and repertoires were read aloud to the congregation, and signed their name in the National Honor Society book, which holds within its pages the names of hundreds of past Sheridan students who were also a part of the National Honor Society. With a handshake from the principal, Lisa Householder, and the reception of a crisp piece of paper with gilded edges, the 49 students officially entered the sanctity that is the Society.
Congratulations to the 2024 National Honor Society Inductees, and thank you to the returning members of the senior class. Your leadership, hard work, and service to your community has paid off, and the Sheridan community is eager to see what the future holds for these bright students.
Special Announcement by Sheridan FFA: Harvest for Hope
By Journey Reichley, on Sept. 26
The Sheridan FFA Chapter would like to invite you to participate in our “Harvest for Hope” 5K Run, which is a new event we are holding to raise awareness for mental health in the agricultural industry. Why is this so important? Did you know that farmers and other members of the ag industry are 3.5 times more likely to commit suicide than the general population? Farmers are the “glue” of America, working endlessly long hours to provide our nation with food and other essentials. These leaders of the agricultural industry have a lot of pressure put on them, from equipment breaking, grain bin incidents, equipment accidents, weather concerns, like drought, and the weight of the world on them to supply us with food; stress that can take a toll. Our chapter would like to do our part to show our support by hosting the 5K.
The race will be held on November 9, 2024 at Glenford Fort Preserve. The address is 11995 OH-757 Glenford, OH 43739. On that day, registration opens at 7:30am with the race starting at 9:00am. The divisions for the 5K are 10 and under, 11-17 yrs old, 18-64 years old, and 65+ years. There will also be a 1-mile fun run that will not be timed that anyone can participate in! The cost of this event will be $25 if you are pre-registering and have paid by October 18th, t-shirt included. If you register the day of the race, it will be a $30 charge, but the t-shirt is not guaranteed! If you are still wanting to support our event but don’t want to run you can purchase a t-shirt for $15! Checks or cash can be dropped off or mailed to Sheridan High School 8725 Sheridan Rd Thornville, OH 43076. Please make checks payable to Sheridan FFA. All proceeds from the race will be donated to the Perry County Farm Bureau Impact Fund to benefit Mental Health in Agriculture. It’s going to be a super fun time, you won’t want to miss it! To register to participate, or order a t-shirt, please scan the QR code below!
Homecoming 2024 was Out of This World!
By Kenzi Perkins, on Friday Sept. 27
Homecoming is the crowning event for the fall semester, and this year, Sheridan High School did homecoming up right. When students arrived at the dance at 7 on Saturday, they were welcomed with a show of twinkling lights and the dazzling blues and purples of the galaxy; the whole room glowed. The theme for Sheridan’s homecoming was ‘Out of This World’, and it’s safe to say that it lived up to its name.
The student council had chosen the theme at the beginning of the year, and has since then been planning the event, selecting decorations, creating the graphics for the tickets that were sold for the dance, and even staying late after school to help decorate for the big night. Some students even went the extra mile to stay after the dance Saturday night to clean up.
Of course, one of the most important things the Student Council did was organizing the selection of the homecoming royalty; ordering the crowns, setting up voting, and the President Katie Lawson and Vice President Maia Tipton announced the court at both the Homecoming football game and at the dance itself. The crowd waited with bated breath as Lawson prepared to pronounce the king and queen: Jacob Householder and Aleah White!
The king and queen were both crowned at the Friday night football game, and followed through on their royal duties by taking to the dance floor Saturday night. The DJ was blasting music to dance to, good times being had by all.
A special thanks to all of the people who helped make Homecoming happen; Mrs. Mary Peresta, teacher advisor of Student Council, Katie Lawson, Maia Tipton, Sheridan High School’s Student Council, and so many more! With this year’s dance being such a success, we’re all anticipating the coming years, hoping they can live up to Sheridan’s Homecoming of 2024!
Seniors Aleah White (left) and Jacob Householder (right) posing for a photo on the football field after being crowned 2024 Homecoming king and queen.
Homecoming 2024 Spirit Week: Fab or Flop?
By Kenzi Perkins, on Tuesday Sept. 24
Spirit weeks at high schools everywhere are a crowd pleaser; the chance to dress in wild clothes, and not having to feel funny about it because everyone else is, too! This week, for Sheridan High School’s Homecoming, that spirit has taken over. The Student Council has chosen and organized the themes for this week:
Monday- PJ Day: wear your pajamas to school!
Tuesday- Camouflage vs. Flannel: camo wearers vs. plaid patriots— who will win?
Wednesday- Dress Your Age: Freshman dress as babies; Sophomores dress as toddlers; Juniors dress as college students; Seniors dress as senior citizens!
Thursday- Decades Day: dress up in your favorite decade’s garb— 50’s, 80’s, 90’s, you name it!
Friday- Color War: Freshman dress in grey; Sophomores dress in white; Juniors dress in red; Seniors dress in black!
There are some fabulous themes this week, or at least this writer thinks so. However, if the themes of this week are compared to the favorite themes of students, will they match? Against the picks of Sheridan High School students as observed by a previous General Idea article, how will this week fare? According to ‘Top 5 Spirit Week Themes’ by Nora Covey, Pajama Day was the number one fan favorite, almost unanimously. The other favorites were Jersey Day, Hawaiian Day, Wild West Day, and Soccer Mom vs. Barbeque Dad Day.
Comparing this week’s themes to the overall choice picks, the Student Council didn’t do a bad job trying to please the student body. Pajama Day is the most popular, and it made its debut this week on Monday, starting this spirit week off strong. While the rest of the favorite themes didn’t make an appearance, there were large numbers of students participating during this Homecoming spirit week, and so even lacking the “favorites”, Sheridan High School’s Student Council made sure that it wasn’t a flop.
Top 5 Spirit Week Themes
By Nora Covey, on Monday Sept. 9
Spirit weeks are a big deal here at Sheridan High School. They usually occur on weeks that have upcoming events and give the students something to look forward to, all the while contributing a way to break free from the everyday routine that can quickly grow tiresome. Some examples would be the week before Thanksgiving, Christmas, Homecoming and Prom.
The week is filled with different instructions for what you should wear that day. The student council is responsible for deciding what the themes will be which puts a lot of pressure on their backs; considering that they need everyone to like the themes so that the students will participate. That being said, this paper will also be beneficial to those in the student council that will need to know what the best spirit week themes are in order to create a week that will create a higher participation rate.
Believe it or not, all of the students I have interviewed said that pajama day was their favorite. The students said they liked it because “everyone participates in it” and “wearing pajamas is the comfier option for clothing”. Which brings me to the conclusion that getting rid of pajama day would be a travesty and will not be acceptable by the students of Sheridan High School.
Even though everyone likes pajama day the most, there are still four more days out of the week to fill with different themes that won’t be considered a bore. This being said, I went around to interview some different people to try and figure out what the best themes would be in order to fill in the other four days. The most occurring ones I found consisted of jersey day, hawaiian day, wild west day and a soccer mom vs. BBQ dad day. With the addition of these themes to the spirit week, we should have the outcome of more participation and school spirit.
Sheridan Glanemann - a sophomore at Sheridan High School - informs that, “taking note of what the students want to participate in would increase the popularity of our spirit weeks.” I for one, couldn’t agree more with this statement and think that it should be taken into further consideration by the student council when they go through the steps of deciding themes. From this information comes the question; how can we help our students get more involved in their school through something as simple as a spirit week?
Scout’s Law: How One Scout Left an Impact!
By Eli Rohozen, on Tuseday, Sep 10, 2024
Very few individuals can claim to have left a lasting, memorable mark on their school, one that continues to have an influence even after they leave. Meet Coal Ranck, a Boy Scouts America member in freshman year. Recently for his Eagle Scout project, he decided to build a sign for our school, placed just outside of the parking lot on Aug. 12.
Now, you might be wondering: “What exactly is Boy Scouts America?” Boy Scouts America is a program in which young men and women learn valuable life skills and make friends at every corner. The famous scouting organization has been around for over a century, beginning in 1910.
There’s an advancement system in BSA. You get age-based ranks by completing requirements based off of the Scout Law and Scout Oath. A big part of ranking up is doing a service for your community, which is why Ranck built the sign.
“The sign exists to show the high school from the middle school and to give a clear indication of which is which,” Ranck said. “Creating the sign was five simple steps: pouring the footers, sanding the steel and aluminum, assembling, powder coating, and installing,” he added.
“The sign was free to the school through donations, but if you wanted to call Eagle Machine & Welding, it would cost $12,000 for the sign,” Ranck said.
“I think that it’s really cool that scouting is able to help out our school and that scouts are able to get recognition for this type of thing,” Xander Ray said, a junior who’s also a member of Boy Scouts America. “I think that his project really instills the values of the scouting program. I’m very proud of Coal.”
Xander Ray, a member of the Thornville troop, has yet to undertake his Eagle Scout project. However, when he does, he will make history as the first member of his troop to complete such a project.
“Coming up in late fall, maybe early October, I plan on building a handicap-accessible kayak launch down at Rush Creek Lake in Bremen, OH.,” Ray said.”As of now, what they have there is a rock in-between the bank, so it’s not very physically accessible. Maybe someone who has full physical capability can, but it’s pretty hard for someone who may be an amputee or a senior citizen.”
Ray’s future project highlights the commitment of Boy Scouts to make meaningful contributions to their communities which help people that are physically or mentally impaired.
Through their efforts, both Ranck and Ray demonstrate how individual projects can make a substantial impact and leave a lasting impression on their communities.Their work not only fills personal and organizational goals but also symbolizes the spirit of service which is central to the Boy Scouts’ mission.
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