GreatNews.Life Student Voices: Valpo celebrates Halloween, prepares for fall play

What’s recently happened?

On October 15, Valparaiso High School (VHS) freshmen, sophomores and juniors took the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). Freshmen and sophomores took the regular PSAT, which is taken to prepare for the SAT test that students usually take in the spring of their junior year. Juniors took the NMSQT/PSAT, which can also qualify those with high scores for the National Merit Scholarship.

“I think the PSAT helps us prepare and grow for the actual SAT,” Junior Tania Bot said. “It gives us an idea of what the test will be so we can be set up for success.”

Aside from standardized testing, many students recently participated in fun, Halloween-themed activities. VHS’s HOPE Club organized a Trunk-or-Treat in VHS’s parking lot on October 27 from 5-6 p.m. Many clubs participated in the Trunk-or-Treat, each with their own theme.

“I liked giving candy out to the kids,” Sophomore Melanie Casillas said. “They were all super sweet and cute. I also had a lot of fun with my Spanish Club friends.”

In addition to the Trunk-or-Treat, students and teachers also had a Halloween dress-up competition day on October 31. As part of this competition, teachers of the same subject wore group costumes to school. This year, English teachers wore t-shirts with the popular trend “6-7” on them, and math teachers dressed up as characters from the Super Mario franchise. Teachers in the social studies department wore shirts from the band Korn, and the science teachers dressed up as lumberjacks.

What’s coming up?

VHS’s annual fall production is right around the corner. From November 21-23, the Drama Club will perform its upcoming show, but with a twist – nobody but the cast and crew know what the show will be. On the first day of rehearsals, all those involved had to sign a contract saying that they would keep the secret of what the production is until opening night. 

“I cannot tell you the title of the show,” said Drama Club Director Colleen Peluso. “There are far too many people in this room to reveal it. This play is unlike anything we’ve done before. We will recommend it for ages 13 and older, due to mild violence and unnerving suspense.”

Peluso described the show to be a psychological thriller, noting that this play will be distinct from Drama Club’s past fall productions. Rehearsals have been happening since early September, when a cast of 18 people were selected to be part of the production. Everyone auditioned not knowing anything about the production that they hoped to be in.

“When Ms. Peluso didn’t announce the show last year and she was just describing it mysteriously, it made some people nervous and some people excited. I was one of the people who got excited,” said Sophomore Clara Kolasa. “It was interesting going into the audition not knowing what I was auditioning for, but I’m so glad I did end up auditioning, because now I can be a part of this cool, awesome show. I think people should come to this play because it will be like nothing they’ve ever experienced before. It’s an experience.”

Tickets, which are $10, went on sale on Monday, October 27, and the link to buy them can also be found on posters hung up around the city of Valpo. The cast and crew will be staying silent until the opening night. The one thing those involved often answer if asked about the production?

“Don’t tell the secret.”

Staff spotlight:

As a VHS special education teacher, Debbie Clifford has known since high school that she wanted to jump into this field. She was originally drawn to the profession by her passion for working with people and helping them gain new skills. After over three decades of teaching, Clifford still identifies with the reason why she began teaching.

“I really enjoy working with students,” Clifford said. “It’s fun to meet them as freshmen and then see how they change as they become upperclassmen. I also enjoy having an incredibly supportive administration and I appreciate my colleagues, who have become some of my closest friends.”

A Michigan City native, Clifford has been working in Valparaiso Community Schools (VCS) since 1995, and before then she taught in Indianapolis for five years. When she came to Valpo, Clifford taught at Benjamin Franklin Middle School for two years before switching to working at VHS in 1997.

“I have not encountered any real challenges working here at VHS,” Clifford said. “I have always had very supportive administrators and supervisors. I have had the pleasure of having both of my kids go through Valparaiso schools. The biggest perk ever is that I was able to give them their diplomas at graduation. That was incredibly special.”

At VHS, Clifford helps to teach students in math class, especially classes like Algebra 1. Between classes, Clifford is often found in the main math department hallway, greeting old and new students alike.

“The one lesson I hope students learn is to be willing to try,” Clifford said. “If you never try, you will never be able to master something. I think learning math is important in everyday life. I have this conversation several times a year with students who will say ‘When will I ever use quadratic formulas in life?’ Sometimes it’s not an exact skill they will need, but it does demonstrate that they are capable of being taught a process and then implementing it, which will indeed be part of their everyday adult lives.”

Student spotlight:

VHS Senior Jack Blumenthal is one of the 18 cast members for this year’s fall production. This show is his first one with the VHS Drama Club. Because the production is a secret, Blumenthal auditioned blind for his first-ever production at VHS.

“I really just wanted to know what the secret was! It was also the first non-musical in a while which opened things up for me,” Blumenthal said. “I’ll never forget the day when we all read through the script for the first time. It was a powerful mix of fear, excitement, confusion, and just pure chaos.”

During rehearsals for the upcoming production, Blumenthal turned to his love for being able to step into a different character to make people laugh, gasp, or cry.

While Blumenthal is also sworn to secrecy and can’t say much about the production, he agrees with many other cast members about how he thinks the production will go.

“VHS has never done anything like it,” Blumenthal said. “Everyone has to come see the show. If you don’t go see the play, all you’re going to think about is how you should have once the secret is revealed.”