GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Marian dances into the end of the year

What’s happened recently?

The weeks of April have been full and busy at Marian High School. From spring break, to field trips, to prom, every student has had something to look forward to.

Prom was held on Saturday, April 25, at South Bend’s Century Center. The venue’s halls were colored with vibrant reds, blues, and greens, and filled with silky skirts and dark suits. The theme of the night was “La La Land: City of Stars Prom,” based on the hit movie. Upperclassmen dressed up and enjoyed time dancing with their friends.

“It was a lot of fun. I liked some of the music they played,” said Junior Bella Jenks.

Several students shared that their favorite part of the night was seeing some of their favorite teachers get on the dance floor with them, and many others expressed how wonderful it was to see everyone dressed up so nicely.

The next week, on April 29, active student body members were invited on a special field trip to attend a South Bend Cubs baseball game. This included student council members and Spirit Knight captains. These hardworking students were rewarded for their efforts and enjoyed concession stand food, time with their friends, and a nice break from school.

Both of these events gave students a unique chance to connect with their friends and peers outside of the classroom.

What’s coming up?

Just around the corner looms the advanced placement (AP) tests for many juniors and seniors at Marian. The AP tests provide an opportunity for students who take the corresponding AP class to earn college credit, which they can then transfer to most universities.

Many students have study plans already in place, going home and practicing on top of their regular homework. The chatter in the halls frequently revolves around the topic- essay tips, helpful sources, and practice tests.

Seniors have hope as they look forward to their graduation on May 29. Though the thought is bittersweet, many share an excited sentiment. Several events will be held to celebrate their achievements such as the Senior Breakfast, Senior Appreciation Day, and the Academic Awards Ceremony, all coming up in May.

For those at Marian who aren’t seniors, several new leadership opportunities are opening up. Applications for the Overall Spirit Knight captains are out along with applications for the Student Body Cabinet and the class cabinets. Campaign posters will soon be appearing in the halls, so stay tuned. These upcoming events mark both exciting beginnings and endings for the students of Marian.

Staff spotlight:

Cheryl Archambeault, lovingly referred to as “Mrs. A” by all at Marian High school, is in her sixth year as the administrative assistant for attendance. She is the first face people see when they walk into the building and she greets all by name and with an encouraging message.

Her favorite memory was a student telling her he would never go to Marian’s rival school, St. Joseph South Bend, because there was no Mrs. A. She has carried this with her since.

Recently, Archambeault was nominated to be the April Notre Dame Federal Credit Union’s Colleague of the Month. Notre Dame Federal Credit Union partners with Marian to honor students and staff each month, recognizing those who show deep commitment to the school community.

Archambeault plans to work at Marian until she retires. Before being hired, she volunteered at the school, helping where she was needed, and eventually being encouraged by girls she volunteered with to apply for an open position.

“Let’s just be honest; it was Jesus. This was where I was supposed to be,” said Archambeault.

A day in the life of Archambeault is a constant frenzy. Kids are always coming and going, needing tardy slips to class, or off-campus passes. Archambeault handles it masterfully, keeping clean attendance records. The most challenging aspect of her job is getting correct attendance from all teachers for every student in the building.

“We work as a team and we just have to work together, and it works out,” said Archambeault.

For Archambeault, the craziness is all worth it. She loves the students of Marian high school, who she affectionately refers to as her kids. She makes an effort to know every student’s name and call them by it, making them feel seen.

“It’s all good. I tell the kids ‘you got this, hang in there.’ I say that a lot,” shared Archambeault.

Outside of work, Archambeault likes to feed and watch birds, specifically hummingbirds, which remind her of her mom, shop, do word puzzles, and be with her husband and son.

Student Spotlight:

Brynn Micinski is a high-achieving, ambitious junior known for her outgoing personality and contagious laughter. She is on the Varsity Girls’ Basketball team, Girls’ Track team, is a Spirit Knight sports captain, and has been the reigning class president since her freshman year.

Micinski decided to be involved coming into high school because she wanted to prepare herself for the world ahead of her and believed the best way to do that was to try new things, meet new people, and be bold.

“To me, it’s important to be so involved because it really gives me a sense of community. I can find friends in all of the different groups I’m in,” said Micinski.

She describes herself as outgoing and empathetic, qualities that allow her to navigate many situations and be a good friend, as well as humorous, which helps her bring light into all situations. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry and to attend the University of Tennessee or Indiana University.

“When I show my true self it leads me to people who value me and want me to be involved in things,” said Micinski.

This upcoming month, Micinski is running for student body president. She has been class president for the past three years, and is excited for a new challenge. She will face competition for the role, which, if she gets it, is a much bigger responsibility.

“My biggest campaign strategy is outreach. I want to put my name on everything so people start to associate my name with the role. I want to be honest with everyone and show them what I plan to do,” said Micinski.

At Marian, Micinski’s ideas include a Campus Ministry podcast, food trucks once a month for more lunch options, to update uniform policy to allow boys to wear khaki shorts, and to fundraise in the summer.

Micinski is a hard working person and her ideas and goals are purposeful and progressive. She believes hard work is what you place, and is excited and prepared for the future that lies ahead of her.