GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Growth, Grit, and Community at Crown Point High School

What’s recently happened?

Both the JV and varsity dance teams recently advanced to nationals, marking a major achievement for the program. The varsity team made history by advancing straight to the finals for their pom performance, a milestone that highlighted the team’s energy and preparation.

Junior Tyler Eberhart believes the atmosphere on the floor made the experience unforgettable.

“My favorite thing about pom was just the energy when we were performing, and we made history by making it straight to the finals, so it was a really fun experience,” Eberhart said. “For kicks, we did the Crazy Hair and Makeup, and everyone just went all out and gave it everything they had.”

The teams’ success at nationals reflects months of hard work, creativity, and commitment, making this season one to remember for dancers and supporters alike.

What’s coming up?

On Thursday, March 5, all junior students will take the SAT during the school day as part of Indiana’s statewide testing requirement. The juniors should arrive prepared and on time, as testing will take place throughout the school day.

While students are testing, ninth and 10th grade students will take the spring PSAT, and seniors will have an e-Learning day.

The state of Indiana requires that the SAT score taken during the school day be included on every student’s high school transcript, making this an important testing date for juniors.

Additional information about the SAT and what to expect on test day can be found through school-provided resources.

Staff spotlight:

English teacher Kendra McPheeters brings a passion for both literature and research into her classroom at the high school. Teaching honors English 10, dual credit composition, and AP Research, she values the unique strengths each course offers her and her students.

“I wouldn’t say I have a favorite. There are aspects of each of the classes that I enjoy,” McPheeters said.

In her honors English 10 class, McPheeters focuses on building strong foundations in reading and writing.

“With 10-H, I love the literature that we teach and really getting to know those foundational composition skills,” McPheeters said.

Her dual credit composition class allows her to reconnect with students and deepen their understanding of writing.

“With DC Comp, especially for the ones that are coming back to me from 10 H, I get to say, now we get to bring all of these rules that I taught you before,” McPheeters said.

In AP Research, McPheeters enjoys guiding students through an in-depth academic process, from forming questions to presenting their findings.

“With AP Research, the whole process of developing their inquiry, getting their data together, analyzing it, and presenting it, the whole process,” McPheeters said.

One of her favorite parts of teaching high school is the relationships she builds with her students and watching them grow over time.

“I really like getting to a camaraderie as a class with high school students, and you just get to be real people together,” McPheeters said. “Getting to see that development from early high school, where students are still figuring things out, to seniors who are fully formed adults ready to go out into the world.”

As the school year comes to a close, McPheeters is focused on helping her AP Research students reach an important milestone.

“With AP Research, we are finalizing and presenting after spring break,” McPheeters said. “That’s going to be a 20-minute presentation with oral defense, so getting through that process of submitting those 5,000-word papers and presentations is a good feeling for everyone in the class.”

After a rigorous year, she looks forward to a more relaxed and celebratory end to the course.

“In May, we get to learn pretty much whatever we want and just enjoy celebrating the success of that together,” McPheeters said.

Through her dedication to both academic growth and meaningful classroom connections, McPheeters continues to guide her students as they develop into confident writers, thinkers, and individuals ready for the future.

Student spotlight:

Junior Rico Ardister is making a name for himself in the world of broadcasting after recently competing at the BPA State Leadership Conference. There, he and his team earned recognition for their work in broadcast production.

“It was very much a Broadcast music production,” Ardister said.

The competition required both technical skill and strong presentation abilities, giving Ardister the chance to showcase his work in a professional setting.

“It’s a presentation event designed to get insight on behind the scenes of a real broadcast production that you would typically see on television,” Ardister said. “We play the video, and then we describe how we put it together, everything we use to put it together. We are judged on professional skills during the presentation.”

Despite the success, Ardister admitted the win came as a surprise.

“I was going through a lot of emotions. I didn’t know if we were going to win at all,” Ardister said.

His passion for broadcasting goes beyond competition, especially when it comes to one specific aspect of the field.

“I just love the voices. I’m really obsessed with voices in broadcasting. News production voices are really important,” Ardister said.

Interestingly, broadcasting was not always part of Ardister’s plan. His interests shifted after getting involved in a school program.

“At first I did not want to do this at all. I wanted to be a cinematographer, but then I joined radio TV,” Ardister said. “My entire perspective changed. I was like, wait, I’m kind of interested in news.”

Now, Ardister is looking ahead to a future in the field, motivated by both his experiences and the encouragement he has received along the way.

“I do want to do this in the future,” Ardister said. “I was inspired to just follow my dreams and try anything. I tried this out, and it’s now my main goal.”

Through newfound passion and dedication, Ardister is continuing to grow in broadcasting, turning an unexpected interest into a clear vision for his future.