What’s recently happened?

Organized by Student Government and Principal Morgan Nolan, Munster High School (MHS) students were able to gather outside the school to view the April 8 Solar Eclipse. Protective solar eclipse sunglasses, purchased with student government funds, were issued out to all students and staff who participated in the viewing.

Wilbur Wright Middle School, Elliott Elementary School, Eads Elementary School, and Frank H. Hammond Elementary School also took part in the viewing.

“Over at Eads, we had a great view of the eclipse and the students did a lot of learning in preparation to go outside,” said Eads Principal Linda Bevil. “We hope this is a big memory for them where someone will ask them ‘Where were you during that eclipse?’ and they will have this experience.”

With the leftover solar eclipse glasses, MHS Science Teacher Michael Bakker, is currently collecting them to send over to students on the other half of the globe for their solar eclipse.

What’s coming up?

Next week, MHS will be in the midst of Prom Spirit Week. This Spirit Week is new this year, as the Student Government wanted to bring back the energy of Homecoming Spirit Week.

Here are the days:

Dynamic Duo Day
Celebrity Day
Country vs. Country Club
Jersey vs. Jersey Shore
Mustang Day

Prom Court, consisting of six senior boys and six senior girls will be announced on Monday, April 15. Prom will be held that Saturday, April 20, at Villa Cesare in Schererville.

Staff spotlight:

Taking a step into the school he once and still holds admiration for, Gene Fort, former Munster teacher, visited MHS for his Spring Break. Walking into the building, with Choir Director Luke McGinnis greeting him, Fort was eager to observe and hear all that has become of MHS since he taught at the Munster schools from 1954 to 1995.

“There was never a time I never wanted to be there teaching,” Fort said. “I loved standing at the door on sunny and even gloomy days as the kids were coming in. It was exciting and new with the beginning of this new high school and being young. We created the things that students today probably take for granted.”

Fort was able to see MHS’s beginnings, as the school was established in 1966. He played a part in building up the Advanced Placement courses here, beginning the student publications, and helping the music department. His official position was the Social Studies Department Chair.

“With the yearbook, I went in and talked to Frank from Frank H. Hammond and told him ‘You know, we’re going to be starting the first year of this high school and we need to have a yearbook,’” Fort said. “He said that was a marvelous idea, and I ended up being in charge of forming a staff—I chose Sandy Sands to be editor—and meeting an hour each Friday to work on it. I am not a journalism major, so it was kind of like the blind leading the blind, but it was a glorious ride. I look back and think about the start of all these new things that have evolved into what it is today.”

Fort was very involved with the music program at MHS as well. He enjoyed helping the theatre and choir as they were also navigating their beginnings at the school.

“I think the most memorable thing would be taking those kids to Indianapolis for all the big contests and competitions and watching them perform and coming up with first, first, first,” Fort said. “It blew the minds of all these people because this new upcoming school was taking these first awards. It was beautiful.”

Student spotlight:

Joining the swim team in sixth grade to help better her speed for softball, Senior Addison Sanow did not anticipate that swim would become such a crucial part of her life.

“I ended up sticking with swim,” Sanow said. “The people on my team have become some of my closest friends.”

This past season Sanow and her team came in second place in sectionals and won their conference. The team ended up having three relays and five individual events at State. Sanow attributes some of this success to their new coach this season.

“This year, my senior season, we got a new coach, Coach Matt,” Sanow said. “I love that he was able to be my coach for my last year. He has pushed me to go toward my best times, and I am so grateful for him.”

Sanow has been able to incorporate her passion for swim into school. Project Bio, a class offered at MHS, prepares and teaches students to go snorkeling on the Florida Everglades. Over spring break, Addison, and the rest of the Project Bio group, participated in snorkeling, lectures about underwater life, and even a day at Disney.

“To prepare for the trip, we practiced snorkeling at the MHS pool almost every Sunday, and it was worth it,” Sanow said. “We learned all about how to identify fish when we saw them on our scuba dive as well.”

Sanow is grateful for the opportunities like Project Bio hat MHS provides. Along with swimming opportunities, she is also active and passionate about art.

“One of my favorite parts of being in MHS is being in the art classes they have,” Sanow said. “I’ve made so many great friends throughout the years at Munster through art, and I love doing art.”

As she looks toward graduating from MHS, Sanow plans on attending the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to study art education. She will be continuing her swim career there as well.