• Salem High School
• Education
• Elections

By Monika Spaulding, Writer

Hoping to better educate students on how the government works in the United States of America, the state of Indiana is requiring schools to go over the election process and the importance of a democratic society leading up to the November 5 general election.

As part of the process, the history/social studies department at Salem High School has created five-days of lessons for teachers to present during homeroom over the next week. All students at Salem Community Schools, grades 6-12, will sit through lessons about this topic.

“These lessons were designed to equip our students at SHS with the knowledge to actively participate in our democracy, recognize the responsibilities of citizenship and make informed choices that shape the future of our country,” said Principal Luke Dean.

Lessons that will be discussed include: systems of government in Indiana and the United States, methods of voting, party structures, election laws and the responsibility of citizens to vote.

“It is important that we not only prepare our students to be successful after school with their own personal endeavors, but also know what civic responsibility they have in shaping the future for generations to come,” SHS Assistant Principal Nick Karr said. “Our students are in the stage of life where they define their beliefs and ideals that will only continue to become more relevant in the future, and it is extremely important that they understand the privilege and responsibility they have in participating in our democracy.” 

Superintendent Jill Mires said this is not only a responsibility, but a great opportunity to educate students and prepare them to be active in the election process and democracy as a whole.

“They will learn more about how our government works, the importance of voting and the impact that they will make on their own community and our nation,” she said. “But what makes this even more exciting is our teachers collaborated together to develop these lessons which will be delivered to all students in all classrooms in grades 6-12.”

By Madelyn Moore, Guest Columnist

As my parents said their goodbyes and hesitantly shuffled their way out of my new home, my stomach sank. I looked around at all of my unpacked items and clothes which sat in plies, waiting to be put where they belong. Was I really about to start over on a random Monday evening? A consuming feeling of regret clouded my mind, and I started to wonder if I ever really wanted to come to college or if it was simply implied that I had to go.

My roommate then ran to hug me, squeezing any doubts out of me. Alexa quickly proved to be a lovely and fierce ball of fire. We roamed the campus we barely knew, confidently laughing and talking as if we had known each other for years. I felt alive and thought that maybe a new start was not the horrible force that I once believed it to be. Yet my new safety net of comfort broke the very next day as Boiler Gold Rush (BGR) began.

Thrown into a random group of students, I no longer was with my roommate and my feelings of regret began to crawl back of out the shadowy corners of my mind. I quietly spent the next few days walking around with my group on the same campus I once confidently roamed.

Surprisingly, by the end of BGR Saturday night I had made several friends and was beginning to feel thrilled when considering starting my classes the next week. I no longer was confined to the same group of people, and I had the opportunity to be reconnected with people from home as well as spend more time with Alexa.

As classes started, new friends were made and a routine was finally created, I found myself enjoying life in a way I had not before. I formed new relationships, discovered new interests and hobbies and recognized an ability to find peace no matter my environment. I walk those campus sidewalks lined with fallen leaves, with renewed confidence.

I now laugh as I consider my first week of college, full of mishaps, a horrible attitude and shattered hopes that laid somewhere on campus sidewalks (along with my lost dorm key).

• Salem High School
• Awards & Recognition
• Arts & Culture

Hard work and talent was on display at Old Settlers Days when 3 Salem High School students were selected as the winners of the art contest. Congratulations!

1st Place - Junior Jaylyn Hamilton

2nd Place - Junior Gabrielle Curtis

3rd Place - Senior Chloe Zink

• West Washington High School
• Awards & Recognition
• Education

103 students at WWES had perfect attendance for the first nine weeks of the school year. A drawing was held for these students in each grade level for a $20 gift card to Lincks Clothing and Shoes.

The winners were: Kindergarten: Adeline Mendizabal, 1st grade: Thane Rippy, 2nd grade: Traxton Williams, 3rd grade: Mickaha Ray, 4th grade: Aubrey Nokes, 5th grade: Hunter Hensley, 6th grade: Ava Waddell.

Congratulations to the winners and to all who kept a spotless attendance record!