What’s recently happened?
With a strong start into the month of May, four John Adams High School students have been recognized by the school board for their excellence in the Spanish language. Seniors Erika Ruiz-Yamamoto and Marcelina Kukawska and juniors Lauren Gallegos and Lucia O’Brien received the Indiana State Award in Spanish on May 1.
The award is a huge honor, and demonstrates the students’ commitment and perseverance towards the language. Originally presented by the American Association of Teachers, the Indiana Chapter awards the best Spanish students in the state. Cecilia Stanton-Verduzco, a very committed and well-loved Spanish teacher, nominated these four young women for the award.
“They love to learn more about the language as well as the culture. Their eagerness to learn and ask questions is what inspired me to nominate them,” Stanton-Verduzco said.
What’s coming up?
On Sunday, May 21, the National Honor Society (NHS) will be hosting a Day of Sustainability. With all proceeds going towards Unity Gardens, a local organization that hopes to reduce negative impacts through sustainable agriculture, the event is going to have a large impact throughout the community.
The officers of NHS saw the need to spread awareness about the effects of the school’s carbon footprint and the environmental impacts, taking the opportunity to inform others and create a step in the right direction for a safer future.
“A Day of Sustainability is an opportunity to look inwards. It allows people to become aware of how they can reduce their environmental impact and give back to the community but in a fun and relaxing atmosphere,” Eavan Kelly, vice president of NHS, said.
NHS committees have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Day of Sustainability is fun and affordable for all. With the promise of a thrift store, cake walk, garden tutorials, and a chance to pie teachers in the face, the Adams community is buzzing with excitement.
Olivia Purcell, an NHS representative, said, “I am excited for our Day of Sustainability; I feel that it is important and gives a chance for our school and community to give back to our environment and helps to decrease our carbon footprint.”
Teacher spotlight:
At Adams, one of the many creative outlets available for students are newspapers, better known as “The Tower,” and yearbook. John Nowicki, editor and instructor of both courses, has been working at Adams since the 2017-18 school year.
While Nowicki does not do the job for the money, he has transitioned “The Tower” to the bustling and informative website it is today.
“When I took over, we were a group of 14 people that printed issues twice a month. Currently, our roster is at 32 contributors,” Nowicki said.
While every year is different than the last, the roster has increased tremendously in the current school year, increasing production rates. While it is not always easy to work with teenagers, Nowicki and his team do their best to create up-to-date news and opinion articles.
Unfortunately, Nowicki’s time on “The Tower” has come to a close, but with plans for next year, “The Tower” will live on.
“All good things must come to an end,” Nowicki said.
Student spotlight:
Julia Maina, a senior at Adams, plans to attend Loyola University Chicago in the fall. Maina will be double majoring in bilingual and bicultural education and marketing.
As Maina reminisced about her time at Adams, some of her favorite memories were sporting events, such as football themes, hanging out at Eddy Street, and even trying something new: attending baseball games. Maina also touched on her time in Spanish class and the opportunities it provided her.
“Through Stanton-Verduzco’s class and the Peru trip alone, I have learned so much about myself and the person I want to be. Through it all, she has never doubted my ability to see it through,” Maina said.
Another added bonus about attending John Adams High School were the International Baccalaureate (IB) classes it had to offer. While Maina never expected to take IB Physics, the experience was well worth the struggle. She advises others to get out of their comfort zone and do the same.
“Academic-wise, I’ll always say to take those tougher classes and don’t stress out about your grades where it’s all you think about on a day-to-day basis. Try your hardest and always seek to do better than before,” Maina said. “Understand that you are not your grades; as long as you strive to perform well, that is all that matters. Never be afraid to ask for help. I learned to ask all the questions in Jeff Kindelan’s physics class, and while it was nerve-wracking and sometimes embarrassing, it always helped me understand more and helped me not suffer alone.”
While Maina will miss her friends, she is excited for the new possibilities that college will bring. From hanging out with her roommate to working to achieve her master’s in five years, Maina has no doubt that many memories will be created and cherished.
Lastly, as Maina leaves behind her high school years, she encourages others to live in the moment and not take anything for granted.
“Literally do not take any moment for granted. It's so cliche, but I kid you not, I've spent the last month spending as much time as possible with friends and actually living life,” said Maina.