#1StudentNWI: Michigan City Inspires Community Involvement and Growth

#1StudentNWI: Michigan City Inspires Community Involvement and Growth

What’s Happened:

Over the past month, students have questioned the animated bumblebees that were hung up around the MCHS hallways, and they were recently informed by administration that the bees were in celebration of MCHS becoming a “B” rated school on Indiana’s A to F scale.

MCHS has made incredible improvement over the past few years by bringing their graduation rate up to 88% and now by bringing their previous rating of a “D” up to a “B.”

Principal Candy Vanbuskirk said, “I think it all started with Superintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins and Assistant Superintendent Wendel McCollum. They were both instrumental in turning this school system around. Last year, we barely missed becoming a “B” rated school. This year, however, we are not only a “B,” but we are almost four percent higher.”

The success can be attributed not only to the hardworking students but also the teachers that inspire them to push themselves to their limits.

“It’s no surprise to me that we received a B, especially with our A+ teachers. Classwork and tests may be harder than they have been in the past, but I have the help that I need to pass with flying colors,” said senior, Kenny Recktenwall.

The next goal for MCHS is to become an “A” rated school. The expectations are set high, but VanBuskirk believes that they are very reachable.

She said, “I-STEP is one of the major components on the rating. The more kids that take the test and pass it, the better the school will score and everyone here is dedicated to improving.”

What’s Coming Up:

1Student-Michigancity-October-2017-02MCHS tries to ensure that its students are engaged with the community through various activities including the annual “Howl-o-ween” at Ames field.

“Howl-o-ween” was started a few years ago, and its name alludes to the wolf mascot of MCHS. It is held at Ames field each year in October and invites the community to bring their children for a night of trick-or-treating around the football field. Each sport and some clubs are featured at this event. Students volunteer their time to pass out candy to kids celebrating Halloween. Not only does this allow for the students to give back to the community and invite fans to their upcoming games, but it is also a fun night for everyone involved.

Senior basketball player, Molly Heath said, “The night is an awesome team bonding exercise, so it never feels like work. We always have a few kids that remember us each from year to year, and that is such a great feeling plus their costumes are absolutely adorable.”

“Howl-o-ween” also reminds the high school students that it is perfectly acceptable to still have fun as they also dress-up in various costumes.

“Every year I try to coordinate with another teammate. Last year, I went as a gorilla and my sidekick was a banana. I am really excited to see what we come up with this year,” said junior volleyball player, Hannah Noveroske.

This year, “Howl-o-ween” will be held on October 26th with a suggested donation of $1 to the Athletic Booster Club.

Student Spotlight:

1Student-Michigancity-October-2017-03Marissa Workman, a senior at MCHS, is preparing for her senior season on the basketball team while also participating in athletic training, Steering Committee, National Honor Society, and volunteer work with MCBL, the Michigan City Basketball League. In addition to that, Workman rounds out her impressive resumé by maintaining a 3.7 GPA.

Workman started playing girls’ basketball in the fourth grade and ever since then has tried to be involved in every aspect of basketball possible.

“Nothing can compare to how I feel when I’m on the court. Basketball is my escape from the world, and the court is where I create memories with my teammates that will last forever,” Workman said.

Workman is inspired to stay so involved not only because her activities have made her high school experience enjoyable, but also because she has learned from her mother.

She said, “My mom, Kathy Workman, gives back to the community, is a friend to everyone, and is an overall amazing human being. I hope part of her will be reflected in me in my future.”

1Student-Michigancity-October-2017-04MCHS has proven to be extremely helpful in Workman’s life by giving her all of the tools necessary to succeed, and she was able to take advantage of them.

“The staff at MCHS really cares about their students. That was important because I knew help was always close by,” Workman said. “Also, as an athlete, I always had my coaches that provided an ideal environment to motivate me and push me to my limits.”

Workman plans on attending Purdue West Lafayette in the fall to major in Business Management and hopes she will be able to open up her own restaurant one day.

Teacher Spotlight:

1Student-Michigancity-October-2017-05Michael Livovich, former English teacher at MCHS, recently switched from teachers juniors to teaching fifth grade students at Knapp Elementary, but he is still keeping consistent with his successful methods.

Livovich graduated from Chesterton High School and then proceeded to attend Indiana University Bloomington to major in English and Religious Studies. Later, he also attended Calumet College to participate in a “transition to teach program” and rounded out all of that with a recent Masters in Education Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Although Livovich did not always want to teach, he has found that being a teacher is his calling in life.

“As a kid, I never wanted to be a teacher. Still, my parents were educators and they nurtured in me a worldview that prioritized the needs of others. After college, I did a year of AmeriCorps service, assisting elderly folks in Chicago. Then I ran a large food pantry in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago for a number of years. I loved it. Eventually, my loose inclination to serve those in need sharpened into a willingness to hack at a root cause of poverty: lack of education. In the end, I decided that my involvement in public education would be the most certain and vigorous way to serve people directly,” Livovich said.

1Student-Michigancity-October-2017-06Livovich has proven to be an inspiration to his students at the high school level and hopes to do the same for the younger children he is involved with now. One day, Livovich hopes to be a principal of an elementary school, but for now he is working on building a classroom library in hopes of helping students find a love for reading and the English language.