Fall Play:“Our Miss Brookes”

Angela Troyer and Braxton Troyer- Staff Writers

The stage: it is a way of self expression, a place for students to become someone else.

Auditions began, the lights glaring in faces as young actors took to the stage. Bruce Bordner (director) and Kim Nonnenmacher (co-director) quietly sat, serving as the only audience.

“I enjoy acting, I think that its fun. To go on stage and be someone totally different,” Luke Shyposki (11) said.

This entire process began weeks ago with auditions. After the auditions come the trying hours of hard toil and dedication to the play that entail after school rehearsals, memorizing lines and still balancing normal school days with an attempt to have an active social life outside the walls of CHS.

The kids are working hard, it takes a lot of work on their part to put together [a show of this size], Bordner said.

As the play progresses, scripts are set aside so one can open up as their character and find ways to relate.

“Well in some ways he’s [Ted - the character Shyposki portrays] a lot like me [but] in some ways he’s not,” Shyposki said.

With opening night only weeks away, costumes are found and lines are re-examined. Everything must be right for opening night.

“The show is one of the larger casts done. It includes a large cast that has a lot of distinct characters not just one or two leads … and really does highlight a lot of individual acting talent,” Bordner said. “A lot of high school kids can relate, it’s a high school friendly show.”

Opening night will be Nov. 5^th at 7 p.m. in the BPAC, Nov. 6^th (unless the football team wins sectionals then this show will be pushed back to Nov. 8^th at 2:30 p.m.) and Nov. 7^th. Tickets go on sale next week from Mr. Bordner at $5 for students and $6 for adults. Tickets will also be sold the week of the show in the café commons at the same prices.

 

College Go!

Dara Marquez- Staff Writer

Promoted hugging was seen through the junior and senior hallways during the week of October 12 to 16. It was announced that College GO! Week had begun for CHS.

“It was a week where the public and a few private Indiana universities opened up admissions for us to apply for free,” Juliet Barrett (12) said.

Students hurried to get applications completed and turned in as the week offered them the free application entries, but it wasn’t the only motivation to participate. Although students were limited to in-state colleges, the week was successful with the amount of entries according to the online website www.learnmoreindiana.com.

“The more schools you apply to the better your chances of getting into one of your choice,” Barrett said. “It provides you with more options in case you ever choose to change your mind.”

There are about 30 to 40 application entries in a regular week for CHS, but during College GO! Week there were about 150. It was the first year for this program where the amount of entries could affect the admission offices, but because it helped many seniors and juniors to prepare for college it may continue.

“From what we have heard, it will be a reoccurring event [each] year,” Christa Shippy said.

 

Movie Review: “Paranormal Activity”

Ashlee Brinkman- Staff Writer

“Paranormal Activity” can only be viewed in select theaters now. So prepare to be filled with thrills, chills and tears?

Yes. In the theater there were people tearing up. The audience gets so absorbed into the subjective first-person camera-recorded movie that a random flow of emotions come out. Paranormal Activity follows a young couple in which the girlfriend (Katie) is haunted. The boyfriend (Micah) helps keep track of events by buying a high-tech camera.

The rather short movie was at first dull filled with subtle, slightly scary things. Although once it hit the last 20 minutes even the big tough guys in the next row were screaming.

The supposed story of it being based on documented events is questionable. However the ending puts and unexpected addition to the audiences fear.

I would definitely recommend driving out to South Bend to view the movie. Sitting in the dark movie theater, surround sound, having to drive home late and then climb into bed only contributes to the fearful sensation.

I give paranormal Activity a four out of five stars (lacking one for dull beginning). If it doesn’t send you home with nightmares it will at least send you home paranoid.

Cross Country runs into regionals

Sarah Mauser- Staff Writer

An athlete runs towards the people ahead of him, sweat dropping from his brow. He takes a deep breath in and runs faster, hoping to catch the people ahead of him. Suddenly another runner streaks past him, putting him back a place.

Last Saturday, the Boys Cross Country team ran at Ox Bow Park for regionals.

The team beat second place South Bend St. Joseph by 26 points and, for the first time, both qualified for semi-state and earned a first place title.

All seven varsity runners, Collin Chupp(10), Todd Dion (12), Jarred Fair (12), Alex Rodriquez (11), Brian Willoughby (12), Andrew Witkowski (12) and Daniel Zelaya (12) have all advanced on with a time under seventeen minutes.

“It’s an expectation that we would make it to semistate considering that we have made it the last two years,” Coach Jeff Payne said.

The boys will run hoping to do better than last year. The race will be at New Haven High School. It will be a 5K or a distance of 3.1 miles.

“At this point in the season, we reduce the number of miles that we run and increase the speed at which the runners run,” Payne said.

The team hopes to place well as they take on teams that they have competed against before and some teams they have not.

Other teams from the area that willl be advancing are South Bend St. Joseph, Northridge, Warsaw and Mishawaka.

“The two toughest teams [to run against] will be Huntington North and South Bend St. Joseph’s,” Payne said.

 

Tennis team ends historic season

Jose Alvarez- Sports Editor

The tennis team culminated a dream season last Friday when they traveled to Indy to represent Concord in state finals. The Minutemen came short of their final goal, when they fell to eventual champions Park Tutor. The Minutemen, however, are keeping their head high beaming with pride.

The Minutemen have no regrets from the season.

“We did the best we could maybe if we would’ve been more prepared at the beginning of the season. We were definitely strong at the end of the season… maybe if we would’ve played more experienced teams during the regular season we would’ve done better at state,”

We met our goal of going to state and we had an incredible season, both with our record and just bonding with the team. Yes, we were a strong, successful team (and we will look back and be very proud), but I think our friendship was even more important. We wanted to win not only for ourselves, but for every other player who was fighting to win.,” Andre Moore (12) said.Matt Schoeffler (12) said.Nevertheless making it all the way to state is a tremendous accomplishment, especially considering that this was the first time in Concord’s history that a tennis team made it to state.

Despite coming on the wrong end of a 0-5 score the players feel it was much closer than that.
“Not really [disappointed] just that the whole team lost, if one of us would’ve won we could’ve gone to state as individuals… we could’ve won we just had a lot of errors and missed hits,” Schoeffler said.

Most of the current team will graduate next year, so next year’s team will be composed of new players.

“I don’t think they will be as good as this year was, but Jason only lost one match the whole year, and they got some good freshman coming up,” Jared Queener (12) said.

The Minutemen finished with a record of 19-2

We had a few moments when I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it. Shivering in the freezing cold waiting for Jason Denton’s regional deciding match to finish was torture. Both the cold and the thought that we might not make it was awful. We are the first team in the history of Concord high school to ever win semi-state. Our year will stand alone on the board above the tennis courts and that’s something that we will always have,” Moore said.“I feel like I finished my senior year strong, but I still have a long way to go. I’m very proud of all of the guys on the team and I’m thankful to have such awesome coaches. Concord has always had strong athletics and it makes me feel good knowing that tennis has finally been given the spotlight it deserves,” Moore said.

 

Minutemen look to rebound against the Raiders for Homecoming

 

 

Jose Alvarez- Sports writer

 

 

 

The Minutemen will look to get back on track tonight, when they take on the Northridge Raiders. After coming short against a strong Plymouth team 27-41 the Minutemen will for the first time see how they respond to adversity.

“It seemed like we didn’t come out to play in the first half… It was half our mistakes and partially they beat us they just came out to play,” Logan Draus (11).

“I don’t think we’re going to get over it [the lose] for a while because we can still face them in sectionals and I know we’re going to be looking forward to that game… we have to turn the page and play better next time,” Doug Acker (12) said.

They will quickly have to forget that tough lose because another NCL opponent will be visiting Concord today, the Raiders. They come with a record of 4-3, but will be keen to build on their most recent victory after squeezing by the Goshen Redskins 40-34 in a triple overtime thriller.

Overall the mood of the team is that of optimism knowing that despite the loss, they are still a strong team and only fell to the Pilgrims because of their own miscues. In their game, Concord started off slow and ultimately dug themselves in too deep a hole, and even though their offence began to display their arsenal, it was a little too late.

This game will also hold extra incentive because it’s Concord’s homecoming game, and despite popular opinion that they will inevitably come out on top, they know that they can’t get too confident and in turn end up losing the game. Falling behind against an inspired Raider team could prove costly.

“We’re expecting a tough game, but everybody is pumped up. I think we’ll come out and play well…they [Northridge] looks a lot better this year,” Draus said.

A new change from last year that fans will get to see is that instead of having different floats for each class, there will be only one large backdrop wall featuring the homecoming court.

The game will be today at 7:30 also, homecoming king and queen will be announced during halftime.

Need Help Choosing?

Tyler Knudson- Jlab 140 Online Editor

Students from all over Northern Indiana poured into Goshen High School last week for the college fair, an event where colleges from around the Midwest set up booths in the school. At such events, representatives from each college stand behind a booth to try to inform students about their college.
There are many things one should know before attending the college fair, and many things that you will learn there, such as how to handle school expenses. With the expenses involved in paying for a college education, many students may not know where to start when preparing for college.
Justin A. Marqueling (Hanover College Admission Counselor)explained that gift aid is a general term for financial aid, scholarships, grants and other rewards that don’t need to be paid back, that are available to students.
Students have a choice as to whether they want to attend a private or public school, though some students may feel pulled towards public schools due to the lower cost. According to Greg Hetrick, from Wabash College Office of Admissions, private schools are trying to close this gap, by offering scholarships and additional aid targeted at incoming students, especially the ones that don’t have a lot of money, which will even out this cost.
Public schools are usually filled with lots of students, while the smaller schools are generally private schools. Of course, whether or not class size is a factor for choosing a college depends upon the individual student’s preferences. Another difference between the two options, according to Hetrick, is that private schools are now pushing for students to graduate in four years, while public schools have more students staying for five or six years.
Students without any acquaintances in college won’t have to worry about social clichés or any of the other childish antics that surround high school life. Many of the admissions representatives agreed that it is important for high school students to understand that the college lifestyle is much more mature and a lot of the same principles don’t apply. College is a fresh start, where grades and everything else from high school will be thrown out the window after being accepted.
“It’s not high school, it’s a whole completely different world. It doesn’t matter how well you did in high school, even grade wise, here,” John Kruse (Alma College Admissions Representative) said.
The fair was a success, as it was hard for many late comers to find a parking spot before entering the crowded cafeteria at Goshen High School. Many of the representatives from the various colleges plan to show up at CHS during lunch time in the following month, in hopes of attracting students that didn’t make it to the event. The next major college fair is the National College Fair on Monday, Nov. 16 at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 Capital Ave., Indianapolis. There will also be a college fair for students with learning disabilities on Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Logan Center in South Bend.

Obituary

Lawrence “Jake” Jackowiak

(1957-2009)

Jackowiak died of a heart attack last Friday. He was temporarily filling in for the Superintendent, and held this position right before his death. He was born on Dec. 20, 1957, to Stanley and Wanda Jackowiak.

Throughout his life, Jackowiak has been a major contributor to Concord High School. Jackowiak started out his career as a Support Services teacher, and later became an athletic director for twelve years before having come to the central office as a business manager. After getting his Superintendent’s license, he became the Assistant Superintendent for Business.

Jackowiak is survived by his mother, his wife, Robin, and his three children Adam, Eric, and Amy, his cousin who works at Concord, Mike Jackowiak, as well as his brothers Jeff and Rob Jackowiak.

Jackowiak was known for being funny, optimistic, and there for others.

Jackowiak was an advocate for the Concord Employee Medical Clinic. Jackowiack was also a member of the Concord Rotary, Indiana Association of School Business Officials, Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, and belonged to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. At one point he was also the president of the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association and was once a certified instructor in the Americans Sports Education Program. Jackowiak loved to help others and solve problems in a carefree manner.

Jackowiak’s outgoing personality and worry free solution to solving problems will leave a gap in Concord’s administration that will be impossible to fill.

Tyler Knudson- Jlab 140 Online Editor

Students pray for Concord

Braxton Troyer and Sarah Mauser- Staff writers

See You at the Pole has been a nationally organized occasion for more than 20 years, inspiring young learners to gather under the commonality of faith. he morning was alive with the voices of students, gathered for one purpose only, to worship together.

Wednesday, at sunrise, staff and students went to the flag pole outside the main entrance at 7:15 a.m. Sponsored by the Fellowship for Christian Athletes club, praying at the pole was a time for religious people to assemble in a giant circle and christen the new school year through prayer. But above prayer, the main goal was to focus on fellowship.

The dew-laden air was first filled with one sound, the collective singing of all those attending the annual event, and accompanying the songs were guitar chords strummed.

The songs sung were related to spiritual matters and tied into the focus of praying for leadership of nation, school and student body. They featured lines such as “Let all the earth rejoice,” “He wraps himself in light,” “You are worthy of all praise” and “For the joy of the Lord is our strength.” After singing the first song, “How Great is Our God,” three students read different Bible verses.

“It’s a time to ask for the safety of our staff and show our faith,” Daniel Eichorst (12) said.

Then students split into smaller groups of four or five individuals, and the minor groups went around the circle allowing all students to say a prayer.

“I like the opportunity to worship God and come together to pray for our school and community. We get to commit the school year to God,” Sarah Clark (11) said.

After each student spoke their own prayer, the assembly reconstructed the giant circle and sang “Holy is the Lord” to bring See You at the Pole to a closing note.

Sponsors were pleased with the large turn out, being 20 or so people, and hopefully next year’s See You at the Pole have more participants.

Boy’s tennis serves into NLC with ease

Angela Troyer- Staff Writer

Thursday evening the boys tennis team started to face off against area high schools serving, volleying, and playing their way to a victory.

Concord Minutemen fans rally at the opening night of the NLC championship. Having won the NLC for the last two years the defending Minutemen look to win again.

“We won NLC last year and we should win if everything goes as planned,” Andre Moore (12)

said. “Technique is what makes us really strong and we all know each other and really want to win.”

Countless hours of practice are finally paying dividends for the Minutemen as they await for their much anticipated match against the Northridge Raiders. “We know Northridge is our toughest competition. Our goal is to see them in all our finals,” Head Coach Todd Denton said.

A new line up and the camaraderie of the teammates the Concord tennis team could be coming home with a third year victory.

Part two of the NLC match will be tonight at Concord. The leading opponent being Northridge.