GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Munster High School shapes futures

What’s happened recently?

From September 29 to October 4, Munster High School (MHS) students celebrated the beginning of the school year by dressing up and enjoying a week of homecoming activities. 

The MHS Student Government hosted a spirit week, a pep rally, and a parade to celebrate homecoming week. Seniors were encouraged to come to a Senior Sunrise and 80’s Workout Day before school started as well. The homecoming football game and homecoming dance closed out the week.

The spirit week was divided into underclassmen and seniors. The senior spirit week included Nerd Day, Random Costume Day, Senior Citizen Day, and 80’s Workout Day. The underclassmen spirit week included Pink Out, Soccer Moms versus Barbeque Dads, Wild West, and Tropical Luau.

On Friday, students were encouraged to wear their class T-shirts that coordinated with the school colors. Seniors wore black, juniors wore red, sophomores wore white, and freshmen wore gray. 

The Homecoming football game was U.S.A. themed and the MHS football team won against Highland High School.

Spirit week was complete with the homecoming dance. This year’s theme was Golden Hour, and there were decorations and music that furthered the fun of the homecoming dance. 

What’s coming up?

On Friday, October 24, Munster High School (MHS) will host Halloween Halls, an opportunity for kids to participate in safe, indoor trick-or-treating. The event runs from 5-6:30 p.m. and it is free for children in fifth grade and below as well as their parents. 

Clubs and sports around MHS decorate sections of the school and pass out candy. As children parade through the halls, they can find pirates, mummies, the Lorax, and much more. 

Children are also invited to dress up and collect candy as they walk through the halls of the high school and learn about the clubs offered at MHS. 

This event promotes safe trick-or-treating while allowing children and parents to enjoy supervised fun at the school.

Staff spotlight:

Imagine fairy lights twinkle throughout the room, with a couch and rug sitting in the corner. All that is heard is the clicking of a type writer and music playing softly. 

This is the typical visual that students see as they walk into class with AP English 11 teacher Steven Stepnoski. Despite the calming aesthetic of the room, he comes into class with energy and enthusiasm that engages students and fills the room with laughter.

“I think that’s how I teach, and it’s really just who I am. Every reference I make is a part of me that I am sharing with my students,” Stepnoski said.

Stepnoski has focused his class on accessibility. He tries to make English a fun, understandable subject by providing students with as many opportunities for growth as possible. 

“I love the randomness and personality of it. Every single day is up and down. The first period is completely different from the fifth period,” Stepnoski said.

He learned the importance of accessibility in classrooms from when students were forced to learn digitally due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He found himself having to find creative ways to keep students’ attention and make the e-learning experience just as useful as in-person learning. Many of the techniques he used during the pandemic were carried into his classroom once in-person learning came back.

“In those COVID years, I had to learn how to teach in a more visually appealing way. I had to focus on keeping my students motivated,” Stepnoski said.

Stepnoski tried to find a job that fulfilled all aspects of his life. His wife introduced him to a strategy referred to as ikigai. He has used this strategy to find his personal fulfillment and he recommends it to his students that are trying to find what to do out of high school.

“It is basically this thing where you can reach a higher fulfillment in your life by finding what you can get paid for, what you are good at, what you love, and what the world needs. For me, teaching filled all those boxes,” Stepnoski said. “It’s what gets me motivated when my alarm goes off in the morning.”

Stepnoski’s constant passion for teaching radiates on to his students and creates an environment in his classroom that promotes positivity. Stepnoski is constantly finding ways to keep students encouraged to always want to learn more. 

Student spotlight:

Munster High School (MHS) is ranked ninth in Indiana because of the academic excellence of the student body. One of these students is MHS Senior Logan Hayes who has pushed himself academically to succeed at MHS.

Hayes found an interest in architecture and has pursued it throughout high school by taking classes that pertain to his interests. helping him as he moves forward into early adulthood and college. 

“I have taken all four years of the Project Lead the Way (PLTW) course at MHS, culminating and simulating actual architectural work in civil engineering and architecture (CEA).”

Through the classes he chose and the time he has put into them, Hayes is able to further explore his passion for architecture at Ball State University (BSU) at the honors college.

“When I found out I got in, I was more than ecstatic,” Hayes said. “In my mind, it was genuine proof that my academic efforts had paid off.”

Hayes is motivated by the hard work of his father. Throughout his life, Hayes’ father has pushed him to stay focused in life. 

“My dad will push me to my limit and demand that I excel beyond the standard, because complacency is the mindset of those who are walked on in life,” Hayes said. 

Hayes plans to continue his hard work at BSU and follow his passion for architecture. 

“I love designing and I love sustainability. Architecture felt like an appropriate career where both are of importance,” Hayes said.