Final exams are coming up, old schoolwork is getting thrown away, and lockers are emptying as the 2024-2025 school year is coming to an end at Carterville High School. Let’s recap the year, CHS.
One of the first major events from this year took place from September 7-14 which was homecoming week, where all week students dressed up, decorated the hallways, built floats, and did all they could to prepare for homecoming. Sophomore Hope Werner says, “I just love the energy of it. I feel like everyone is so upbeat and excited the entire week, it feels sort of like a movie. The hallways are decorated, everyone is dressed up and having so much fun, and you can tell. It’s just one of my favorite weeks overall.”
After a week of preparation by hallway and float decorating, Friday rolled around, starting HOCO with a pep rally where CHS assistant principal and athletic director Mr. Diel had to kiss a pig because his classes raised the most money for a donation to the city of Carterville to make a splash pad at Cannon Park.
After the pep rally, CHS lined up the floats everyone worked so hard to decorate to show them off to the other schools in the district and everyone in downtown Carterville. CHS also had their homecoming football game which had a two-hour rain delay, but Carterville still came out and won against West Frankfort.
Eventually, we made it to Christmas break where everyone enjoyed their break by sleeping in and having fun with family members. Junior Alexis McClellan says, “I always love Christmas break. I get to see my friends who live far away. With the amount of time we are provided, I get to go out and shop a lot more for friends and family for Christmas gifts and such. I just have a lot of fun during this time and get to hang out with more people I didn’t get to before.”
Just as Christmas break ended and everyone was getting ready to come back to school, a big snowstorm hits causing trees to fall on houses, power going out, and everything being covered in snow.
All the snow and ice caused CHS to have a week of e-learning days before it was safe enough for everyone to go back to school. Thankfully, everyone who was affected ended up being okay. CHS freshman Kendyl Bilderback said, “It (the snow storm) turned off the power to my house and it was cold outside and just not a fun time at night. But during the day you could play with the snow.”
Once everyone thought there would not be anymore big snowstorms that would cause them to miss school, there was another one. Unfortunately, CHS used up all their e-learning days on the last snowstorm, so now students will have to attend school for a few more days at the end of the year to make up for the additional snow days.
What is one thing you’ve learned this year?
And while some students take the questions seriously saying things like, “I’ve learned that even though you might think you know someone really well, you truly don’t know what is going on behind closed doors and if they actually want to be your friend or not.”
While another student at CHS decided to take it the funny route and said, “I’ve learned that crashing cymbals right next to your ears is very loud, and that a noise that loud hurts.”
What was your favorite class this year and why?
Most responses were talking about how the teachers at CHS made their classes more interesting by making the material easier to understand when students are confused, and just talking with students and using humor to make their classes feel like a more welcoming environment making it easier to learn and feel comfortable with the teacher and other classmates.
Junior Alexis McClellan said, “My favorite class this year would have to be Film and Literature. Mr. Coleman is a great teacher and he really connects with the students to get them to understand the material in the class. The students in this class are also really fun to be around, so the group discussions are always fun to get into, when I used to really not like them. This class has also really helped me to appreciate the art of films and literature in the right aspects.”
Freshman Kendyl Bilderback said, “My favorite class this year was science with Mr. Swartz. Although we learn a lot of serious things he makes it fun and easy for everyone to comprehend and understand in a better way.”
While all of the students at Carterville High School are excited to finally be done with this year, the incoming freshmen are both excited and nervous about going into high school. In an interview with future freshman Cameron McClellan, he was asked what he was most excited about going into high school and he said, “I have a bunch of friends at the high school. I am also very excited to participate in the new clubs and elective opportunities.”
When asked what he was most afraid of going into high school, he said, “I’m most afraid of how big the high school is. I am definitely going to get lost a few times looking for my classes on my first day.”
We’ve all felt a little nervous first going into high school, but with the help of our friends, we can make next year just as memorable.
