#1StudentNWI: Wheeler High School’s successful & spectacular blood drive

What’s recently happened? 

On February 2, the Wheeler High School (WHS) National Honor Society (NHS) and its sponsor, Katie Glavin, set up a successful blood drive. 

The second trimester for WHS students is about to end, and with it comes finals. Finals week for students starts on February 13 and lasts until February 15. 

After finals, students get a five day break thanks to Presidents Weekend and Teacher Records day. Some students have already made plans, such as taking group ski trips, mini vacations, and lots of resting. 

The WHS Boys Swimming team also has a Sectionals meet on February 16. The WHS Swimming Team had previous Sectionals for the girls team earlier this month. The boys team is looking forward to the competition. 

The WHS Football team also begins football workouts on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. These meetings will begin at 3 p.m to 4 p.m. in the weight room. 

All students who are interested in joining football the upcoming year are encouraged to join. 

To kickoff the beginning of the third trimester, WHS is doing an “Anything But A Backpack” day. This event was a hit the previous year. 

The main premise of this event is to carry school supplies in anything but a backpack. Some vessels that students brought last year include canoes, bicycles, shopping carts, and even empty trash cans. 

Students are only limited by their creativity; the only rules are no animals and no motorized vessels. 

Students must also pay a dollar to participate in this event. Students can visit Amanda Gibson for the wristband and for any questions about the event. She can be located at the Student Guidance Department in the WHS office. 

Staff spotlight:

Melissa Pearce, WHS’s Grade 11 Honors English teacher and Grade 12 English teacher, wasn’t always planning on becoming an English teacher. In fact, she was pursuing biology in college. 

Pearce initially started college without any career in mind. However, it didn’t take long for her to realize that her passion for writing and literature was beyond her enjoyment of genetics and physiology. 

“I was passionate about writing and literature, something I think I may have inherited from my journalist grandfather,” Pearce said.

Pearce found herself in several teaching positions often. This naturally led her to find a new determination: teaching was the correct career choice for her. 

Xavier Dabu is a WHS sophomore and member of Low Ceiling, a four man band with three WHS students and a Portage High School student. 

“I never really had any interests but music. I’m always thinking about music and ways to interpret it,” he said. 

Dabu is now living in the moment and focusing on his passion for all things music. This passion is what directly led to his realization of the big question that high school students face: what do you want to be when you grow up?

His answer to this question was always to be concerned and afraid, but focusing on making music is the main goal he has. When Dabu listens to, or makes, music, he doesn’t experience the uncertainty of the future; he experiences the happiness that comes from improving his passion.

He eventually wants to do something music related in the future. 

His favorite part of being in Low Ceiling is playing for people. 

“Learning songs and writing is fun, but I don’t think I would do it without the fans,” he said. “I also get to show a part of myself when I play music that I can’t really show normally.” 

Dabu describes the feeling of being up on stage as a way to destress and feel the most normal. His fans can clearly see this change in personality. When Dabu is playing guitar or singing, his entire persona changes. 

“The best thing that happened to me in 2022 and 2023 was playing Low Ceiling’s first show and going outside of my comfort zone,” he said. “Making new friends and showing people my talent has made me an extremely happy person this year, and I want to keep making music and playing for people.” 

Dabu encourages people to push past their comfort zones and to be the best version of themselves, even if they’re uncertain of the outcomes.