Charleston High School -

CHS Press

Spring 2025

Internships at Charleston High School 

By Den Correll 

Are you going to be a junior or senior next year? Do you want to test out your skills in the career you want? You might be interested in applying for an internship! Applications are closing soon, so here are the details you need to know before you decide to apply. 

An internship can help you see what the career you want is like before you decide to invest time and money at college for it, and some students may find that they want to pursue other careers instead. As Ms. Niebrugge pointed out, “It’s just as important to find out what you don’t want to do.” 

So what exactly does an internship entail? Well, you’ll be spending 80 minutes—or potentially two class periods if you do an extended internship—daily wherever at your chosen workplace. You’ll pick from multiple career pathways. The list of places you can apply to is always growing, and you can always ask about a place that’s not on the list. You’ll get the opportunity to experience what it’s like to be in the field you want, and you get to study the inner workings of it in person. Once a month, you’ll meet with Ms. Niebrugge and your fellow interns; you’ll be sharing time to discuss what you’ve learned and teach it to each other. Internships are typically one semester long, but they can last two semesters in some cases. Students could potentially have four internships by graduation if they take internship for two semesters both junior and senior year.  

If you think an internship is right for you, there’s still some time to apply. The application and three teacher recommendations are due by March 7. Once students have decided on a placement and it has been approved, the remaining paperwork is due May 1. 

For more information, see the section about student internships on our school website: https://www.charleston.k12.il.us/o/chs/page/internships  

E-Sports Team 2024-25 

By Erin Jones and Dala Collier 

High school e-sports teams are paving a new path for modern extracurricular activities. It is an avenue for students to hone their skills, foster teamwork, and sometimes even earn scholarships. Charleston has embraced the growing trend of high school e-sports by establishing its own team. The team is led by Co-Coaches Justin Gunther and Brian Shamhart. The school’s official athletics page lists e-sports among its spring sports and activities, indicating the team’s active presence during the season. 

E-sports have grown significantly over the years. More than 6,000 schools now offer e-sports as a club in school, with games such as League of Legends, Super Smash Bros, and sometime even Fortnite. 

There are several reasons why high schools, including CHS, have promoted e-sports from a club into a recognized sport with competitive teams. E-sports are an opportunity to build teamwork, communication, and leadership. E-sports are also inclusive, open to any person with a variety of skillsets. 

While e-sports have plenty of advantages, there are also a few challenges. Some parents worry about screen time, increased sedentary activity, and the pressures that come along with competitive gaming. However, coaches have worked on ways to decrease screen time, such as including breaks and turns so that each player won’t just be always sitting in front of the screen. 

With e-sports on the rise, one thing is clear: The days of gaming being just a hobby are over. High school e-sports teams are here to stay, bringing new opportunities for students to connect and thrive. 

The Power Chords 

Eli Heise 

For more than ten years now, CHS’s Maximum Forte has been wowing audiences all over Charleston and even beyond, but last year, a new group joined the mix. 

Distinguishable by their unique neon color palate, the Power Chords are the newest a cappella group here at CHS. The Power Chords serve as an introductory group, preparing their members with the skills to become a cappella musicians themselves. Both groups have been rehearsing and performing practically non-stop since their formation, trying to perfect their set, including songs by Ariana Grande and Dua Lipa. The Power Chords consist of freshmen to seniors, who are all involved in track, Scholastic Bowl, cheerleading, speech, and more. 

In the past months, the Power Chords have been travelling and performing across the Midwest. They sang the National Anthem for the Bloomington Bisons and opened for the professional a cappella group Radius. They also attended the Illinois Championship of High School A Cappella. 

When asked about their favorite parts of being in the group, Noah Northrop said, “My favorite thing isn’t the music itself; it’s hanging out and just being friends along the way.” Brayden Cobb added that his favorite part is “learning new challenging repertoire with some of my closest friends,” and  Kei Webber agreed: “I really just like working with everybody.” 

CHS Cheer Team 

By Bristol Schrock  

This season has been very good for the Cheer Team at CHS. This was the first year that they went coed. After many growing seasons it was good to see improvement and wins. With thirty-one cheerleaders, they won first place many times during competition season. “It was so much fun seeing our hard work pay off,” Millie Richter, a senior on the team, said. One of the team’s favorite memories was winning their first home competition and being able to celebrate the win with friends and family.  

Since this year was the first year that CHS has had a coed team, there were many rule changes, and learning what they could and couldn’t do was a struggle at the beginning. They had to practice and learn together to be able to overcome these challenges. By having this learning curve, however, they became closer and were able to perform better together. The team also had a lot of team-bonding experiences. They got to perform at the Cardinals Stadium in September, and they also did a lot of volunteer activities.  

Colleges are taking notice of our talented team as well. Six cheerleaders are going to be recruited for cheer in college, and some are sophomores and juniors.  

The coach for the cheer team is McKenzie Snoddy. She has thrived at making the team winners and helping them learn new skills and stunts for competitions. 

For next year’s season, they will start having open gyms on Mondays and Wednesdays starting March 3. They are 3:30-5:30 p.m. in Baker Gym. Tryouts are April 14-17. Two out of the three clinic dates (April 14, 15, and 16) are required to officially try out for the team on the 17th. The information packet is available in the office for those interested.  

Overall, this has been one of the best seasons for the team, and there are many more to come.  

Future Teachers Club 

Cody Sweet

Charleston High School has a new club this year for students who are interested in one day becoming teachers. The club is officially called Educators Rising, but our school has aptly nicknamed it Future Teachers Club. The club is sponsored by Mrs. Pendergast-White and meets every other Thursday in the Food Lab. It provides an opportunity for students to job shadow and gain experience in whichever teaching content area in which they plan to major. 

Club President Emma Morecraft along with several members had the opportunity to attend an Educators Rising Conference at ISU where they were able to meet hundreds of likeminded students and gain insight on the workings of the organization. 

Educators Rising is a community-based movement from PDK International with chapters in forty-six states, as well as in Germany, Italy, Guam, Japan and Puerto Rico. In 2005, it underwent a slight rebrand, changing its name to Future Educators Association to more accurately reflect the international nature. 

Media Center Reading Competitions 

By Erin Jones 

 Oscar Wilde once said, “It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.” 

The media center in high school serves as an important resource for high-schoolers. High school media centers have upgraded significantly over the years. Originally known as just a library, our space has evolved from just a library to a place where we can have fun and relax with our friends over a warm cup of cocoa. But our media center doesn’t just have the warm environment; it also has monthly contests for high-schoolers. So not only does our school have a media center full of books, but we also have a media center full of fun. 

For this season we have a winter reading challenge. For each book a student has read, the student can place a snowflake behind the wall of the circulation desk. At the end of February there will be a prize drawing. As students rush to read as many books as they can, others wait in anticipation to see the top three winners. 

In March, another competition, the Reader’s Choice Awards, come to an end. These awards are for Illinois students in grades 9-12 who can vote for their favorite book from the Lincoln Award master list of twenty titles. Our media center offers incentives for every book read, and the students who have read three or more titles are eligible to vote for their favorite. 

Two students who have qualified to review the books for this competition wrote about This Golden State and Dear Medusa. One student shared, “Dear Medusa is a heartfelt book about real-life issues.” Another wrote, “This Golden State is fast paced and will keep you on your toes but has a very reliable narrator.” 

With our newly renovated and improved media center in our high school, now more than ever students are perusing the shelves and enjoying the amenities. The competition for who reads the most is now stronger than ever. Ms. Darimont, the school librarian, has said, “I am glad more students are coming to the media center to read.” With the wall piling up with snowflakes, it is getting quite chilly. As more and more students put snowflakes on the wall, who will be the student to make it fall? 

Trojan Brew  

By Bristol Schrock 

Trojan Brew is the coffee shop at CHS. It has offered many new opportunities for our school and students, and it helps students get real-world experience in running a coffee shop. The skills they learn, such as customer service, can apply to running other businesses as well. 

Trojan Brew is an Early Bird class, so it’s 7:30-8:30 a.m. The students that work in it get a grade for their work, and it stands out on college applications. Mr. Crutchfield is the teacher and supervises the café and student workers. 

Trojan Brew is in the library and is open 8:00-8:30 but are closed on Mondays.  Sometimes they are open during lunch but only on certain occasions, which would be announced over the announcements.  

Next year students must sign up for the class through the internship class. With it being all an internship, some drinks may be added or replaced. 

The students say they have learned valuable skills from working at Trojan Brew. “I’ve learned how to work as a team with others and customer service,” said Jake. Another student said they learned “how to work with others and quickly.” 

Overall Trojan Brew has helped the school a lot and has made a pretty good amount of money to keep it in business. Student and teacher support is the best thing to keep it running and producing drinks.  

Scholastic Bowl 

By: Ally Ulm  

This Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in Champaign, Scholastic Bowl will have a tournament for freshmen and sophomores. The top ten teams get medals, but the top team wins a plaque. 

The list of CHS students involved in Scholastic Bowl includes senior Hassan Abou Zaid, sophomore Alex Chiritescu, junior Soren Flygare, senior Dylan Hawke, senior Blaine Homann, sophomore Braxton Lake, sophomore Vincent Torrepalma, junior Danner Vanheise, sophomore David Walsh, and senior Josie Whirley. The staff sponsor is Anne Kidwell. 

Scholastic Bowl, also known as Scholar Bowl, Academic Team, or Quiz Bowl, is a test of knowledge played out between two teams using buzzers. Scholastic Bowl is played in teams of four or five players each, depending on the rule set being used (IHSSBCA). Scholastic Bowl is played by over 500 High schools in Illinois. It started circa 1986.  

Matton will host their invitational on February 15th. 

Finals Week 

By: Erin Jones 

For high-schoolers, December brings more than just holiday fun and winter break anticipation—it brings upon the arrival of finals week. A time when there is late-night study sessions, caffeine-fueled focus, and a mix of determination and anxiety. Finals week serves as an academic crescendo of the semester. 

For many high-schoolers, finals week is stressful. “It’s as if everything you’ve done all semester comes down to this one week,” says Mia Carter, a junior at Lincoln High School. All the pressure to perform your very best is intensified by the weight that finals carry to high-schoolers overall grades. Balancing multiple subjects, students face a challenge with each hour of review. 

Schools are increasingly recognizing the toll finals can take on student’s mental health. Some schools provide destress programs, yoga sessions, study breaks, and even therapy dog visits. 

As the week wraps up and students submit their final tests, the sense of relief is palpable. For better or worse, finals week is an enduring hallmark of the high school experience—a moment of both trial and triumph. 

The Importance of Recycling 

By: Bristol Schrock  

Recycling offers many benefits for our environment and helps preserve our Earth. Not all people realize how important recycling is, but it helps to make a greater impact in keeping the environment healthy. 

At CHS we have a science club, which is run by Mrs. Hernandez. She has made a nice recycling program for the high school. The Science Club members and students from the functional classes collect the recycling from each individual classroom and other places in the school about every two weeks. Then the recycling is taken to CCAR to be processed by clients. Eventually the recycling from the high school is made into various products such as writing paper and paper towels.  Mrs. Hernandez is very thankful to be able to collaborate with CCAR and letting students see the entire recycling process. 

One benefit of recycling is that it helps conserve natural resources. Many natural resources take a while to grow or produce, so it’s important to conserve what we have already. Recycling paper and wood helps conserve trees. Yes, they do grow back, but they can’t replace whole forests that have be taken out by clearcutting without having to wait many years. Also recycling plastics helps us to save fossil fuel hydrocarbons. Recycling plastics eliminates the need to make a lot newer plastic. 

Another benefit that comes from recycling is that it protects ecosystems and wildlife. Many ecosystems get taken over with harmful plastics and other wastes that can easily be recycled. If plastics and trash are not properly recycled, it all could end up miles away in a river or the ocean, polluting the water and making it unsafe for animals and plants. Recycling can help save many ecosystems from being polluted and animals from dying.   

Another benefit is that recycled material can be used again and made into other things. Carpets, aluminum cans, comic books, and egg cartons are some of the things made from recycled materials that you will most likely see. Using products that are made from recycled materials means that they can be recycled again, so instead of having to waste more supplies, you can use the recycled ones. This reduces wasting materials that can be used on other things.   

Recycling can help our Earth and us in many ways. Make sure to recycle when you are able to make sure our Earth stays healthy for future generations. 

Black Friday

By: Dala Collier

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving in the United States, known for massive sales and deals that kick off the holiday shopping season. It is a day when retailers offer significant discounts on a variety of products, from electronics to clothing to shoes. This is to attract customers and to boost their sales of products. 

Historically, Black Friday has been around since the early 20th century, but it really became popular in the 1980’s. The “holiday” started to become popular when retailers started using the term to describe the point at which they began to turn a profit and going “into the black.” In recent years, Black Friday has become a more popular thing. It is not just a day for sales anymore. It has enlarged to the whole weekend, including Cyber Money, which is for online Black Friday shopping deals. 

 The concept of Black Friday is simple. Offering big discounts to attract customers, making retailers end the rest of the year more profitably if possible. Suppliers have started presenting deals and discounts in advance to extend the shopping and to avoid the big crowds that come on Black Friday. Regardless, the principle of Black Friday is always the same. It is the time for consumers to get good deals on items they have been wanting, retailers to increase their year-ending sales. There is competition with stores, always leading to the best discounts. The shoppers plan their purchases in advance before Black Friday. 

On this day you should be prepared and think smart. Not every deal is good just because the price is lower. Thinking smart and being prepared can make your Black Friday shopping experience better. 

Holiday Market 

By: Ally Ulm 

Friday, December 6, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. there will be a holiday market in the A&M Center. Admission is free. This event is being run by CHS Industries, student-run school businesses. CHS Industries includes Trojan A&M Center, Trojan Greenhouse, Trojan Design Center, Trojan Print Shop, Trojan Brew, Trojan Bakery, and Trojan Detailing.  

They will be selling cookies and cake pops from the Trojan Bakery along with hot chocolate, coffee, and water from the Trojan Brew. Trojan Design Center will sell Trojan apparel such as t-shirts, crewneck sweatshirts, socks, beanies, joggers, cinch bags, and fleece blankets. The Trojan Print Shop will also have holiday gift tags for sale. Students from the agriculture and industrial technology classes have made and will be selling cutting boards and baby kitchen helpers, which are wooden foldable stands that children can use to help in the kitchen. The horticulture students will be selling poinsettias.  

Santa will be there for children, and families are welcome to take their own photos. There will be a craft table for children to decorate wooden holiday ornaments, free of charge, to take with them as well as coloring pages and holiday cards. Students from family and consumer science classes will be helping with these events.  

This event is a very good way to show the students' efforts and hard work. All the proceeds from this event will be given back to CHS. For people who cannot attend this event but would still like to support, please check out their page on the CHS website at the links below: 

• About CHS Industries: https://www.charleston.k12.il.us/o/chs/page/chs-industries 

• Shop CHS Industries: https://chs-industries-104518.square.site/ 

• For custom orders or questions, please email cusd1_cte@charleston.k12.il.us. 

Mock Election Results 

By: Ally Ulm  

This week Mrs. Carter hosted a mock election for staff and students. The candidates were Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and Robert Kennedy, who dropped out of the race on August 15, 2024. 

The eligible write-in candidates included Chase Oliver, Cornell West, Claudia de la Cruz, Jill Stein. 

Student Opinions 

When asked how the mock election affects the school, Kolton Sims said, “I think the mock election is great for student interaction, but I think it can go both ways, good and bad.”  

When asked how the mock election will get students ready for real-life voting. Charlotte Bennett said, “I feel like [it will help me] to know how to vote when I’m of age.” She also said that the volunteers were very helpful with explaining the mock election process.  

Charlie Gaines said, “I think it has given me a lot of insight on the voting process,” He also said that the sticker was his favorite part of voting. 

Teacher Opinions 

When asked do you think the mock election is good for CHS, Mr. Cox said, “I think it's good in theory, but you guys can't vote for four—or depending on what grade you are—years. So, I don't think a lot of students will take it seriously.” 

Mr. Belleau said, “Absolutely, we talk all the time about the importance of being civically minded for being a citizen, but, yes, I think it is very important for students to know what is going on in the world.” 

Mr. Schubert said, “I think it's a great idea because there is so much more than just the presidential election. I think what they are doing with this event is phenomenal.” 

Results and Statistics 

100 out of 205 freshmen voted, which is 49%. 117 out of 196 sophomores voted, which is 60%. 73 out of 170 juniors voted, which is 41%. 57 out of 190 seniors voted, which is 30%. 22 out of 99 faculty voted, which is 19%. The winner of the mock election was Donald Trump with 197 votes, defeating Kamala Harris with 91 votes, Robert Kennedy with 15 votes, and Cornell West with 1 vote.  

Reflection 

When asked if she would want to run this event again in the next years, Mrs. Carter said, “I would love to do this event again. So far, we have had a really good turnout. I could see us doing something bigger in like the library.” She also said, “I was a little overwhelmed by all the participation, but I’m grateful that so many people have shown up in support.” 

How Necessary Is a College Education? 

By: Bristol Schrock 

Some students think going to college isn’t important or will be beneficial for them, but going to college opens up so many opportunities for people who decide to go.  

Getting a college education is beneficial for personal development and your overall well-being. It helps you develop leadership skills, like being able to lead projects in management jobs and other positions that require leadership. Also, getting a college education can help with communication skills. In college many students make good use of their written and verbal communication skills, which are used in most professional settings. These both help with students’ personal development as people moving into a career. 

Another opportunity that comes with getting a college education is a wider spread of job options. Many places require a college degree for certain positions, and if you want a specific position your chances of getting it with a college degree are higher than if you didn’t. If you just have a high school diploma, you most likely won’t be a very high-ranking candidate in a competitive job market. Having a college education makes you more valuable to the company and increases your chances of employment.  

College in general can also help you build strong relationships with many people. You establish connections with many people that share the same interests as you. Many college students all say that they make a strong connection with their academic advisor and other faculty members. Also, they can get close with alumni, graduates who can be mentors for new students and those who will be attending the college. They can help organize and participate in events which can lead to preparing for professional jobs in the future. 

Veterans Day 

By: Bristol Schrock 

Veterans Day is on November 11 and has been celebrated since 1919. It was originally called Armistice Day. This year Veterans Day is on Monday. People started it to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the end of World War I. On May 13, 1938, an act was approved that made the day a legal federal holiday. 

   People celebrate Veterans Day in different ways. There is a ceremony held in Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, while parades and other ceremonies are held in other states. Some other ways people celebrate are buying a veteran a meal and flying a flag.  

Other countries also celebrate their veterans but call it something else. In Australia and Canada, they call it “Remembrance Day”. Many people in Canada wear red poppies in honor of their war dead. In Australia, Remembrance Day is celebrated like how the USA celebrates Memorial Day. In Great Britain, they celebrate Remembrance Day on the nearest Sunday to November 11. The day is filled with church services and parades of ex-service members in Whitehall, which is a wide ceremonial avenue leading from London’s Parliament Square to Trafalgar Square. Also, people in Great Britain leave wreaths at the Cenotaph, a war memorial in Whitehall.  

Veterans Day is a holiday to celebrate the war heroes who have risked their lives for our freedom. Citizens should make an effort to show their gratitude for what our veterans accomplished. Happy Veterans Day! 

The Backpack Policy  

By: Cody Sweet 

On Friday, September 20, at 1:58 p.m. our school’s administration sent the following email to every student and parent: “Book Bags, Backpacks, and Coats – Book bags and backpacks shall be left in student lockers and shall not be worn or carried from class to class. Coats should be removed and placed in student lockers when students enter the building and remain there throughout the school day.” This rule had not been enforced since the Covid-19 pandemic and since then many students had stopped using their lockers entirely.  

Since the policy has started to be enforced again many students have either struggled to get from class to locker to class within the typical five-minute passing period, or even just to carry their things between classes. Other students have found interesting and creative means to carry their things without breaking the school’s newly enforced policy such as a large pocket, small handbags, or even a bucket. Others chose to abandon backpacks altogether, opting instead to leave their supplies in their locker where they can be easily accessed as needed. 

With the policy now being enforced for more than a week, students have had time to readjust and think critically about it. When asked, senior Fin Murry said that it would be much safer, and with backpacks no longer posing as a serious tripping hazard, it is easier to move throughout classrooms. Other students said the lockers don’t feel like they have enough room to hold all their things. 

One common suggestion among students was that CHS do what some other schools have been doing for years, either requiring or providing clear backpacks. However, it would be incredibly expensive for the school to provide backpacks for hundreds of students. If families were required to buy their own, some families might not be able to afford to buy new backpacks. Furthermore, the schools that do have students use clear backpacks still make them store their bags in lockers.  

Other students suggest that the rule only be enforced for underclassman or that seniors should be exempt from the rule since they have already gone four years without the rule, while freshman have dealt with the rule for their entire school career. However, this policy idea wouldn’t address the safety risk at hand, and it would also be difficult for teachers and resource officers to tell the difference between upper and lowerclassman, especially sophomores and juniors, without student IDs being on constant display.  

Eli Heise, a freshman interviewed, expressed disappointment at the rule being enforced again saying he “had been looking forward to the convenience of always having a backpack.” However, he acknowledged that it was a good decision for the safety of students and staff. 

Perhaps the student who put it most succinctly was Josh Peterson in saying “It’s not the ideal choice but it’s the best choice.” 

September – Suicide Prevention Month 

By: Den Correll 

As the month draws to a close and welcomes October, the end of Suicide Prevention Month—as September has been nationally declared—draws nigh. While these thirty days represent many other things, preventing and being aware of suicidal behavior in yourself or others around you is very important, especially for high school students. Therefore, remembering what this month stands for, and continuing to support your peers when they need it even after the month has ended, can be beneficial for not only our school but our community. 

In the year 2022—just two years ago—over 49,000 people in the U.S. committed suicide and succeeded. That is one death every eleven minutes. According to an article by the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), it is the second leading cause of death in those aged 10 to 24. Suicide rates in the U.S. have been increasing rapidly for about two decades now, especially in teens. A study published this year showed the statistics of which age groups had a higher number of people admitted to mental health treatment facilities in the year 2020. Adolescents were the fourth highest age group to be admitted, young adults being the first.  

As a whole, mental health has become an allegedly taboo subject. However, in recent years, schools have been introducing mental health as a topic, including suicide, in health classes. Some schools have implemented “mental health days” alongside their sick days, and school counselors are becoming more common. These things can be sensitive subjects for many, but normalizing the discussion of them helps us keep students safe. By implementing assistance for students who struggle with balancing their mental health needs and schoolwork, we create a safe and accepting environment for everyone.  

For students, learning how to balance your needs, wants, and responsibilities is difficult. Oftentimes, students who struggle with mental illness will become overwhelmed by the amount of stress from trying to do so and end up shutting down completely, no longer trying to do any of the things they want or need to do. This causes a loop of insecurity from the pit they’ve just fallen into. They keep falling deeper as due dates pass and the weight of their expectations gets heavier, their head spinning with thoughts of “I can’t do it.” Teaching students how to balance the chaos in their minds is essential for getting over this hump.  

We tend to find that the first and most important skill is knowing when to reach out for help. Standards have changed a lot over time, meaning that the old habit of keeping your feelings to yourself doesn’t work like it used to. (However, let’s remember that the life expectancies of people from that era were not very high. Studies show that these habits and health treatments weren’t as effective as they seemed at the time.) Despite the times changing, that old habit still lingers in many people. While it’s not good to rely on others all the time, it’s okay to need help if things get bad. Self-evaluation can help you understand if what you’re experiencing is something you can handle on your own or if it’s something you need to get help for or just get off your chest. Handling something on your own doesn’t mean bottling it up, however. To handle it on your own, you’ll need to know how to cope with it. 

Coping mechanisms can vary greatly based on the kind of person you are, your schedule, your capabilities, and even the kind of things you enjoy. Going outside, indulging in hobbies, journaling, playing in a sport, or just spending time with friends can help you get set on the right track to self-balance. Journaling is one of the key coping mechanisms you will hear from counselors or therapists. Learning how to express your emotions in that way can be extremely beneficial. While some find comfort and self-expression in art forms like that, others find that having a physical outlet for their emotions is what helps them. This includes sports, playing an instrument, running, or exercising. Finding your own outlet is important. An outlet can be a hobby, a therapist, a job, anything. However, making sure your outlet is healthy is important too. A healthy outlet does not harm you or others. An example of an unhealthy outlet is self-harm. Self-harm is defined as “the act of purposely hurting oneself (as by cutting or burning the skin) as an emotional coping mechanism.” Self harm is often a precursor to suicide and a sign that someone is struggling. 

Recognizing the signs of suicide in your peers can help keep them safe. Even if you don’t interact with them often or at all, checking in on someone who doesn’t seem to be doing well is the right thing to do. When someone plans to end their own life, there are signs. To many, these aren’t obvious. However, this is because—up until recent years—we were never taught to recognize them. Someone who plans to commit suicide may exhibit the following: Talking about wanting to die, feeling guilty or ashamed, or feeling like a burden to others, show intense depressive symptoms like feeling empty, hopeless, or being in great amounts of emotional or physical pain, or changing their behavior, which includes making suicide plans, withdrawing from their social life, writing their will, giving away their belongings, making dangerously risky decisions, having mood swings, increasing or decreasing the amount of sleep they get or food they eat, or starting to use or increasing their use of drugs and alcohol. Generally, they tend to become a different person, usually described as an “empty shell” of themselves. Knowing the warning signs can prevent tragedy. You can save lives by taking simple actions.  

Despite the fact that we hold the ability to do so, to try to help to the best of our abilities when we notice these things, it isn’t guaranteed to work. Sometimes, it’s out of our hands. While suicide is preventable, we are only human, and it is not our responsibility to try to fix others. All we can do is try to provide support for our peers and for our community as a whole. Do not let yourself feel guilty for being unable to help someone. It’s not your fault. You can only do so much. Never let others bring you down; that includes letting others drag you down with them if they feel unwell. Humans can do good, but they are not perfect. Put yourself first. Don’t try to pick others back up if they’re only going to pull you down. 

You are worthy of love. 

You are worthy of being here on Earth.  

But most importantly, 

While you are only as good as the standards you set for yourself, 

You are only human. 

Stay safe. 

“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” 

• Oprah Winfrey 

“Every one of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.” 

• Princess Diana 

“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” 

• John Steinbeck 

“Don’t let the walls cave in on you 

You get what you give, that much is true” 

• “Where’s Your Head At” by Basement Jaxx 

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, please reach out to someone. 

You can reach out to a teacher, friend, family member, counselor, therapist, or helpline. 

You don’t have to suffer alone. 

No one does. 

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK 

Crisis Text Line: 741741 

The National Mental Health Hotline: 1-866-903-3787 

Call4Calm Line: 1-866-359-7953 

IDHS Mental Health/Crisis Text Line: Text “TALK” to 552020 

Sources 

“Addressing Pediatric Suicide.” Children’s Hospital Association, 26 Sept. 2023, www.childrenshospitals.org/content/behavioral-health/summary/the-state-of-pediatric-suicide#:~:text=Approximately%202%20million%20adolescents%20attempt,second%20only%20to%20unintentional%20injuries.  

McDonald, Jorie Nicole. “50 Self-Care Quotes to Inspire a New Mindset.” Southern Living, Dotdash Meredith, 1 Mar. 2024, www.southernliving.com/culture/self-care-quotes.  

National Institute of Mental Health. “Warning Signs of Suicide.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, 2022, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/warning-signs-of-suicide.  

“Suicide Data and Statistics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 17 June 2024, www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html.  

“Suicide Statistics.” American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 26 Aug. 2024, afsp.org/suicide-statistics/#:~:text=Suicide%20rates%20by%20age%20range&text=Youth%20below%20age%2025%20have,rate%20of%2013.62%20per%20100%2C000.  

Yang, Jenny. “Acceptance of Specific Age Groups by Mental Health Facilities U.S. 2020.” Statista, 23 Jan. 2024, www.statista.com/statistics/712850/mental-health-facilities-accepting-specific-age-groups-in-us/.  

New Librarian at CHS 

By: Heighden Fairley 

CHS is thrilled to introduce Mrs. Darimont, our new librarian. She is no stranger to teaching; she taught English at Matoon High School for eleven years. This is Mrs. Darimont’s first year in the library setting, and she is already looking for new ways to encourage students to read. 

Mrs. Darimont attended McKendree University for her undergrad before going to DePaul for her master’s degree. After eleven years of teaching English, Mrs. Darimont is thrilled for new opportunities at CHS. Her top priorities for her first year are to find where she fits in and find new ways to encourage people to read. Mrs. Darimont chose to come to CHS because of her previous teaching background, and to stay close to home.  She says her favorite part of the library setting as opposed to the classroom setting is seeing lots of students and getting to interact with new people every day. Her least favorite part is all the tech issues.  

In Mrs. Darimont’s free time, she loves to read and spend time with friends and family. She says her family is what inspires her the most. She says that when she was younger, she probably wanted to be a pop star, but she turned to teaching in college.  

Meet Mr. Chappell 

 By: Bristol Schrock 

Mr. Chappell is one of the many new teachers we have at CHS this year. He is located in the A&M building and is the Industrial Tech Educator. He shows students how to use engineering and manufacturing tools. He went to Eastern Illinois University right here in Charleston for his bachelor’s degree, and he went to Grand Cayon University in Arizona for his master’s degree. 

His biggest goal for this year is to make his “students more self-efficient and help service our community and school with as many projects as possible.” He has taken a liking to working at our school because of the students and staff who have been very kind and welcomed him into our school. He also loves the beautiful A&M Center that allows him to have the space to teach students. He’s very excited to have his “hands on the shaping of tomorrow’s Charleston.” Something that inspires him is his fiancé and his son. “They never seem to not impress me with all they do and who they are,” he adds. They inspire him to make himself better every day. 

We are so happy to have Mr. Chappell at our school and can’t wait to get to know him more throughout the year and years to come.  

Freshman Field Guide 

By: Dala Collier 

One tip for up-and-coming freshmen would be to make connections with upperclassmen. Become friends with people who have taken the classes that you will be taking that year. They can also show you around the school and to your classes, as well as tell you stories about their first-year experience. I recommend building relationships with your peers and staff. This will make your school year a lot easier. Those relationships will ease the transition and will be helpful to you. 

I suggest going to orientation and paying attention because it is important, and it will help you a lot with all the information you get from attending. 

Learn the school, such as where your locker is, the office, the nurse, the gym, and more. This will help you navigate all your classes and make it easier.  

One of the most important things is to be present in school, do not miss school unless it is important because you really do not want to miss work. 

I also recommend being friendly to everyone and introducing yourself to people. Having relationships with people makes school simpler.  

A lot of people make the mistake of not taking school seriously. Stay on top of your work, turn in assignments, do not put things to the side until the last moment, and do the things your teacher recommends you do so you can be successful. 

I also advise you to stay organized. Every week, you could check your bookbag for papers you do not need, clean out your bookbag of unnecessary things. Stay organized by always having extra things, for example, pens, pencils, highlighters, and paper. 

I highly suggest to always ask for help on assignments, tests—anything. Asking for help when you need it is especially important. No teacher ever wants to see you fail, so do not be scared to ask for help, even if you don’t have a strong rapport with the teacher yet, they will always be open to helping you.  

Staff Interview: Mr. White 

By: Marlee Zuniga 

Mr. White is a new math teacher here at Charleston High School. His family consists of one sister, his mom, his dad, and a dog named Olive. His hobbies outside of school are playing sports and watching sports on television. He also likes to play video games sometimes and hang out with his friends. 

Mr. White was born in Las Vegas and lived there for quite some time. Mr. White said he wanted to be a teacher since he was a kid. He had always looked up to his teachers throughout all his school years. As a little kid he also wanted to be a firefighter, but once he got into middle school, he knew he wanted to be a teacher. He knew being a teacher would give him a great opportunity to help students. 

The requirements Mr. White had to meet to become a teacher were a lot of long hours studying his work to get better, a lot of math, a lot of practice, and a lot of asking for help. He went to school in Flora, Illinois, and he then went on to Eastern Illinois University for college. 

He said his thoughts on Charleston High School is that it's very nice and big and that he was lucky enough to get an opportunity to become a student teacher for one year here at CHS. He knew this was where he wanted to be and felt very lucky that he got the opportunity to do so. He said he loves all the friendly co-workers and staff here. His inspiration in life is “helping others succeed.” 

The challenges Mr. White faces every day are making sure his work is easy as possible for students to understand (for example, ensuring there are no language barriers and trying to be as clean as possible with his directions). His biggest goals and priorities for this year are to stay on top of all his grading and to get better at using new technology more and, of course, to have fun! 

CHS is very excited to welcome Mr. White into our Trojan family and is very happy he is enjoying his time here! 

New P.E. Teacher and Soccer Coach, Mr. Tresslar 

By: Erin Jones 

As we welcome new staff all around CHS, we also welcome Ben Tresslar as our new P.E. teacher and soccer coach. He wanted to become a soccer coach and P. E teacher because he loves interacting with all different types of people from teachers to students to parents. He also wants to motivate and make sure everyone reaches their full potential when learning from him. 

Mr. Tresslar chose to work at CHS for many different reasons, such as his love for Charleston in general and because he was a graduate of CHS. He knew working here was the perfect choice because he had many people here who really influenced him to go after what he truly wanted to do. He said, “I want to be an amazing P.E. teacher just like the one I had when gone to CHS.” Before student teaching here he was a lifeguard for five years and worked as a CNA. As Mr. Tresslar was growing up, he has wanted to be many things—from a doctor to a dentist to a physical therapist to finally a P.E. teacher. 

Mr. Tresslar went to Eastern Illinois University where he got his degree in exercise science and recreation. He chose this major because he wants to fill kids with passion and to inspire children to strive for their best. He says what brings him joy is seeing kids filled with joy by learning and growing into their future selves. 

When asked what his biggest goal for this year was, he said, “I want to get a chance to make a strong connection with all the students and new staff here.” 

A few interesting facts about Mr. Tresslar is that he has two dogs, one named Calvin and the other Cooper.  Mr. Tresslar also has a peanut allergy. 

As we welcome Mr. Tresslar among a lot other, we hope to help him fulfill his goals. 

New Staff: Ms. West  

By: Jackson Simmons

Ms. West is a new teacher at Charleston High School this year. She teaches Physical Science, Chemistry, and Forensic Science. Ms. West’s family consists of her parents and her two Shih Tzu-Poodle mixes, Piper and Quinn. Outside of school, Ms. West enjoys decorating, bracelet making, crafting, creating more decor for her classroom, and tapping into her musical abilities.  

Before Ms. West began her teaching days, she went to high school at our very own CHS. For higher education Ms. West attended IUPU and received a bachelor's degree in science. Then when she knew it was time to get to work Ms. West received her teaching certificate from the University of West Florida. 

When asked her first thoughts on CHS, Ms. West said, “It’s an interesting adjustment from going to high school here to teaching here.” She also said that everyone has been friendly and welcoming. Ms. West also mentions that she loves the kindness and support she's been getting from the staff here at CHS. 

Ms. West says that as a child she always wanted to be a Forensic Scientist or have a career in something involving heavy amounts of science. She says that she chose science because when she was in school she remembered her most influential teachers and role models always being involved with science. This is where her passions began to grow. 

This year Ms. West’s biggest goal is to, “Be a support system and ally throughout the school.” Ms. West is most inspired by her parents and says she looks up to their work ethic. She also takes inspiration from her aunt who is an English teacher, so teaching clearly runs in the family. 

When asked for a quote that she lives by, Ms. West says, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”