ISSUE 1
In this Issue
Friday Night Lights - Alivia Simpson
Positive Pilgrims - Nicole Keller
Improv - Mackenzie Edstrom
Blood Drive - Alexa Orozco
A world full of Theatre - Quincey Hess
Admin Shifts - Lauren Schumacher
Guidance Office Space - Lauren Schumacher
Ye Pilgrim_ ISSUE #1 (1).pdfFriday Night Lights
Alivia Simpson
Plymouth Rockies are taking on another season for football. Football players are getting ready to take on Friday nights. Senior, Jackson Lee, said,“I think that I’m doing pretty well to start the season. I’ve had to learn the offense part pretty quick since coming back from surgery, but it has gone well. While that’s good, it takes all 11 guys going out there and doing their job to win, so we’ve had to step some things up this week and continue to get better each day.”
The Rockies have faced some loses at the beginning of the season but they are getting better each day during practice so they could face more big teams and get a big win. Sophomore, Ivan Winkle said, “ I believe we can improve. We’re having some issues on both sides of the ball right now. I feel I’m prepared for the rest of my games. Just gotta keep going to practice and weights to get better for Friday Nights out on the field!”
Also, sophomore, Donald Saxton, said, “The team is built extremely good. We have seniors, juniors and sophomores playing Friday Nights. We have talented players and have grown a lot since the first week of June. I am prepared for the rest of the games and so is the team. We focus on winning and playing at our best ability. As long as week keep it up we are going to have a long season. ROCKIE PRIDE!”
Plymouth Rockies will be traveling to Northridge tonight, September 7, and taking on the Raiders at 7:00 p.m.
Positive Pilgrims
Nicole Keller
Last year, Riley Hospital for Children reported more than 60 collegiate and high school Dance Marathons contributing to their mission of helping children all across the United States. Senior and Dance Marathon President, Kelsey Owen, has continuously been dedicated to this cause.
Owen said, “Riley Hospital for Children has greatly impacted my family as the doctors there saved my brother’s life. Knowing this, I chose to be President so that I could give back to the hospital that saved his life.”
Giving back to Riley Hospital for Children is exactly what Kelsey Owen has done for the past four years through Dance Marathon. She encourages the Plymouth High School student body to help make a difference as well. There is a variety of ways for students to become involved:
- Canning at Walmart and Kroger
- Painting Canvas Night
- Car Wash
- 3 on 3 Basketball
- Annual Dance Marathon
Owen has put considerable time, efforts, and now even “FTK” bracelets into the Dance Marathon cause.
She said, “I was inspired to make the bracelets as doing things “FTK” is a great passion of mine, as well as beading is a stress reliever. Someone can purchase an “FTK” bracelet by talking to me at school or messaging the PHSDM instagram (phsdm_ftk).”
Owen’s generous, stress relieving idea, making bracelets “For the Kids” has been successful. She reports already selling approximately 60 bracelets, for a total of $120. The bracelets may be inexpensive at just $2, but the cause they promote is priceless.
Owen understands how valuable the Dance Marathon mission is, which inspires her countless hours of work to achieve the $40,000 fundraising goal for the 2019 DM.
Owen said, “The fact that the money we raise at Plymouth High School, puts smiles on those affected by Riley Hospital for Children is what motivates me to continue doing PHSDM.”
Every penny raised through PHSDM goes directly to the “Magic Castle Cart” at Riley’s. This cart contains toys and nik naks.
Owen explained, “This helps children forget for a second that they are in a hospital room, which is unconditionally motivating to me.”
All of the high schools and colleges that have contributed to Riley’s mission have been recognized for their efforts in raising over $5 million since Dance Marathons began at Plymouth High School.
Improv
Mackenzie Edstrom
Improv club, the place where students come into a free environment and express themselves however they want. Many members of the club are also part of theater department and for them the club provides extra practice on their acting skills. Many members of Improv said that they’re considering pursuing acting as an adult.
All the seniors in the club in unison said, “It has been my dream since I was a kid.”
Club Sponsor, Mr. Connor said that he is planning on doing the showcases again and also mentioned that some of the students are going to try to plan on performing outside of the school.
Senior, Braeden Baker said “I am excited to see new faces show up and I’m excited to see the new students grow.”
Mr. Connor has been doing improv for seven to eight years now and started Improv club last year.
Mr. Conner describes Improv club as “A group of students that are basically the veterans that have put the time and effort into performing. Improv is a club for students that is a stress free club and you can go there and be yourself and not be judged.”
Improv meets after school in the studio theater on Wednesdays after school. Feel free to join them after school or ask Club President Katy Smith for more details.
Blood Drive
Alexa Orozco
Imagine this: one of the happiest days of your life, the day you hear the cries of a newborn signifying a new addition to your family, takes a sudden turn for the worse. For Athletic Secretary, Mrs. Kriss, she doesn’t have to imagine it because she lived it. Mrs. Kriss’ niece was born without an aorta and so the doctors had to lifeline her and in the process required a lot of blood.
Mrs. Kriss said, “You never know when you’re going to need blood. My husband also had leukemia and he had blood transfusions. It could be your parents, it could be you, it could be your best friend. Blood is always needed.”
Mrs. Kriss’ niece was only one of the 5 million Americans ranging from all ages that needed blood transfusions that year. People who undergo surgery or have been in an accident require transfusions, therefore blood is always in high demand. Plymouth has realized this demand and has partnered with the Red Cross. This partnership included hosting a blood drive on August 29, 2018. The blood drive was operated by Mrs. Kruyer, who has been running the blood drive for years. As always, Mrs. Kruyer reminded donors to stay hydrated and to stay healthy up to the day of donating to forestall any problems.
Seniors Rosemary Szalay, Andrew Haines, and Cody Deaton shared their motivation for taking part in the blood drive.
Szalay said, “I’ve had blood transfusions before so I wanted to pay it forward.”
Haines said, “Just knowing that I’m helping people is why I do it. It feels nice, I mean the needle doesn’t feel nice but giving blood feels nice.”
Deaton, who has donated six times already, said, “Students, remember how many lives you’re saving by donating blood.”
Juniors Nazareth Towle and Abby Spicer also shared their motivation to participate in the blood drive.
Towle said, “The blood drive was something I always wanted to do, I always wanted to help people and I think donating your blood is one of the best ways you can do that because it’s always needed and can always help someone out.”
This blood drive was Towle’s first time donating.
Spicer said, “With all of my mom’s and grandmother’s medical conditions I thought if they ever needed blood I could donate. Plus I also donated to the hospital before so I thought what’s the difference between doing it for the hospital and doing it for the Red Cross so I decided I would donate,”
All together, the blood drive was able to donate 75 units of blood which will be distributed to hospitals around the country for patients. 75 times the potential to save 3 people gives PHS the satisfaction of saving 225 lives!
Haines said, “You’re saving lives, so why not? Why not give blood? It’ll take you ten minutes and you can walk out of here feeling good.”
The next blood drive at PHS is scheduled for the spring and for more information either to donate or to volunteer feel free to contact Mrs. Kruyer.
A World Full of Theater
Quincey Hess
Many PHS students have likely heard of the ongoing restoration and repurposing of the previously disused Rees Theater. For those who missed out on this local project, the Rees Theater was a movie theater established in 1940. Since then, the theater has been a source of artistic expression and family friendly fun within Plymouth. That is until it's unfortunate closure in 2009. The Rees Project aims to generate the capital necessary to renovate and redevelop the theater for various events that will take place within it after it’s 2020 grand reopening. Some of the programs that are planned to take place include concerts, exhibits, dinner theater, seminars, live theatrical performances, and children’s theater summer programs.
One of the organizers within the Rees project, Shelly Heiden, said, “It is amazing how this community gets behind great causes and addresses the needs. It is not just one person, it is not just a group, it is the vast community of hundreds of individuals that find something they believe in.”
Plymouth High School will be involved personally with the Rees Project this coming October as many PHS students will be participating in a fundraiser designed to raise money for the Rees Theater venture. This fundraiser will be taking place on October 5th at the Christos Banquet Center from 6-10 pm. At the fundraiser, several acting students will be putting on a skit as part of the live entertainment taking place. Moreover, it is predicted that other groups within PHS (choir, band, and speech) will be taking part in this upcoming fundraiser. Ms. Faulstich, PHS’s theater teacher encouraged our students to learn more about the Rees Project.
Ms. Faulstich said, “Follow the Rees Theatre on Instagram and Facebook. It’s really kind of fun to watch.”
Aside from performances from an assortment of groups at PHS, at the fundraiser there will also be Silent and Live auctions, a 50/50 raffle (a raffle in which 50% of the ticket sales are given to the winner), a Wine Ring Toss, and dinner with a choice of salmon or prime rib. Of course, throughout the event the future of Rees Theater and the potential advantages of its redevelopment will be deliberated.
Tickets to the fundraiser can be bought at Bowen Printing or the Marshall County Historical Museum. Due to limited seating, those interested in attending are encouraged to purchase their tickets as soon as convenient.
The Rees Theater Project also strikes a personal note with Plymouth Community Schools. The new stage at the Rees will be named after the late Bob Pickell. Mr. Pickell was a music teacher to both secondary and elementary level students before his retirement at the end of the 2015/16 school year. Many of his prior students mourned his unexpected passing, just weeks after retiring. After the construction of the new Rees stage, it will be called The Bob Pickell Performing Arts Stage in honor of Mr. Pickell’s contribution towards fostering a love for performing arts within his students.
In the spirit of this, Ms. Faulstich said, “I’m proud of our PHS students for performing on October 5th to help raise money for the Rees.”
For those interested in donating towards the Rees Project or who simply desire to know more, checking out the Rees Project website (located at https://www.reesproject.com/) might prove to be advantageous.
Offering further appraisal of the Rees Theater Project and its impact of Plymouth, Heiden said, “This community is seeing change, making changes and continues to move forward.”
Admin Shifts
Lauren Schumacher
“I’ve changed careers a couple of times,” shared Mr. Josh Martin, Plymouth High School’s new assistant principal. “It’s a lot messier than just deciding what you wanna be when you’re sixteen and then being from point A to point B.”
While this alone is much-needed reassurance for many students worried about their futures, Mr. Martin’s full story can come as an even greater relief. Being a PHS graduate himself, Mr. Martin, class of ‘91, reflected on how the school, as well as young adulthood in general, has changed.
Mr. Martin said, “Kids still struggle with the same problems… [but] I think one of the big changes is those things just get amplified because of social media… That 24/7 connectivity, I couldn’t imagine being a teenager with that.”
As for himself at the time, Mr. Martin describes his teenage-self as “a chameleon,” easily connecting and fitting into any group, whether it was his soccer team, skateboarders, or the gamers he could geek out with.
The high school’s former assistant principal, Mr. Kyle Coffman, was promoted over the summer to the role of principal at Riverside Intermediate School. This shift left large shoes to fill, but together with Mr. Ken Olsen, Mr. Martin is more than up for the challenge.
Mr. Martin said “I wanted to experience Plymouth High School on a grander scale… it gives me an opportunity [to] support teachers and through that, help support students. I wanted to continue impacting Plymouth High School but you have a bigger reach as an administrator. You can affect policies and the way teachers think and that’s what I’m hoping to be able to do.”
Guidance Office Space
Lauren Schumacher
1) I know many students aren't sure what a safe space is, let alone that they can find one right here in our building! How would you explain it to someone with no prior knowledge?
We have now decided to call this room the Reset Room. It is a place where students are able to step out of the mainstream/chaos so they have a time/space to self-regulate strong emotions.
2) How did the Guidance Department come up with the idea of having a safe space within the school?
Through our self-study for a grant process over the past two years, we visited other schools that used a similar concept. We liked it and adapted it. It is still a work in progress, naturally
3) Who is the safe space open for?
Ideally, it is open for anyone; however, we are not providing it without parameters. We specifically encourage our students with anxiety disorders, depression, etc. to be aware of it as a resource
4) To you, why is it important for schools in general, as well as Plymouth specifically, to offer non-academic services like a safe space to students?
As a school and as a society, we have to acknowledge that social emotional health is key to all success. We want to provide as many ways as possible for our students to experience growth and learn self-management.
