2023 Issue 4-Spring Edition

Staff List

Editor In Chief: Lucy Allen

Photo Editor: Kasten Grimm

Video Editor: Aidan Terry

Social Media Editors:

James Cornelius, Taylor Grainer

Website Editor: James Cornelius

Cartoon Editor: Owen Leisy

Podcast Editor: Will Clark

Staff Writers: Analise Mullen, Courtney Hunter, Kirby Abad, Cassidy Aitken, Marah Klemz, Molly Rawlings, Gracie Cheney

CP Spring Playlist

Created By: Analise Mullen

Comic By: Owen Leisy

Spring Break

Earth Day

Whatever That May Mean To You

Staff Member: Analise Mullen

Position: Staff Writer

Look up from the newspaper and out the window. Perhaps you’re seeing the sky, the trees, the grass, or buildings, cars, people. Oftentimes when we think about earth, or nature, images of forests or mountains come to mind. It’s easy to forget about everything else. The steel buildings, the concrete, engines, iphones, books, planes. All of it is earth. Earth has provided us with all the materials necessary for the life we lead today. Concerns for the state of our planet are on a high rise.

The most recent example is the Willow Project. In which Alaska is being used for oil drilling, at great risk to the environment and habitat at hand. Issues like this have been causing uproar, particularly among the young population and this does exclude SHS. With Earth Day around the corner on April 22, it is safe to say that these issues have been on people’s minds. The recent addition of Earth club in our school perfectly exemplifies this shift towards change. Earth club has set up an aluminum recycling system at SHS to help decrease the amount of waste being produced from Sandpoint. Earth club ran a protest against the Willow project recently. Junior Noah Spinney comments, “I want people to understand that we only have one earth and we must take care of it.”

This holiday is focused on bringing attention and awareness to issues such as rising water levels and lack of biodiversity. Educating oneself on these concerns is a large part of celebrating this day but it is not the only part.

Aside from taking political action for the bettering of the environment, many people celebrate earth day in simple appreciative ways. It’s easy to get caught up in day to day business and Earth day can act as a simple reminder to slow down and take a moment to appreciate your surroundings. Mckenna Hunter says, “I just spend Earth Day outdoors, typically hiking, camping, or on the water.” Regardless of our views and differences, we are united by our residence on Earth. So take a moment April 22, and celebrate. in whatever way you see fit.

Early Release Friday

Everything you need to know about next year’s schedule change.

Staff Member: James Cornelius

Position: Social Media Editor

It’s official - next year, during the 2023-2024 school year, early release will be moved from Wednesday to Friday. Be ready for full school days Monday through Thursday, followed by an early release on Fridays at 2:10. So why make the change? There are a few key benefits to this adjusted schedule, such as better continuity in education and more continuous instruction would be available throughout the week, allowing students to spend full time in the classroom for more days in a row. Placing early release at the end of the week would also add time to the weekend, allowing students to leave early and begin their rest. Additionally, students statistically miss school on Fridays more than any day of the week. Fridays are both more convenient for students to skip and frequently missed for sports, activities, and trips. Placing the early release on Friday makes it so that students won’t miss as much if they don’t attend school that day. Of course, this change may be accompanied by a few cons. First of all, students will need to adjust to the full schedules from day to day. Currently, students are provided with a “break” in the middle of the week with a short schedule; this leaves no more than 2 fully scheduled days in a row. However, switching to Fridays leaves up to 4 fully scheduled days in a row, which may add stress to student and teacher schedules. Furthermore, many athletics and clubs already schedule around early release Wednesdays; an adjustment would call for rescheduling of practices and events. Despite these setbacks, early release Fridays have received overwhelming support from parents and faculty. In the staff survey, an 87% majority elected to switch to Friday for early release. In a parent survey with over 1200 entries, a whopping 94% supported the change.So what do you think? Do you like the idea of early release on Fridays? Or do you prefer Wednesdays? Whatever the case, be prepared to adjust your schedule for the 2023-2024 school year.

Hike into Spring

An insight to SHS students’ favorite hiking trails this Spring.

Staff Member: Taylor Granier Position: Social Media Editor

Now that spring has arrived, the temperature is rising and the snow is melting. Hiking is the best way to make up for the long, dreary months and lack of vitamin D. Sandpoint has many beautiful trails to hike up while soaking in the sun and enjoying some fresh air. With the frequent cold weather, it’s time to take these opportunities and enjoy the outdoors for as long as we can before the next winter arrives. Here are a few of the hiking trails that SHS students enjoy most.

Scotchman Peak: Senior Kennedy Denny shares that one of her favorite hikes is Scotchman Peak. “The trail is so hard because the elevation gain is so high, but running into the mountain goats is so cool.” This hike has a beautiful trail that Denny describes as, “SO green and lush and you see so many plants that are untouched…then at the top the view is AMAZING and you’re so high up.”

Roman Nose: Another one of Denny’s favorite hikes in the Sandpoint area is Roman Nose and she explains that “The hike isn’t hard at all, but the views are breathtaking.” Denny also says “It’s a great backpacking trail, especially if you’re wanting to do a last minute trip. There’s so many things to do around Roman Nose and so many places to explore.”

Beehive: One last hike shared by Denny is Beehive, an easier hike that still comes with some challenges to push yourself. “Beehive has SUCH amazing scenery… The lake you come out at is really small, but super gorgeous,” Denny says. She also explains that during the hike “You go through trees and end up following cairns at the end of the trail and it’s super beautiful.”

SPRING

Softball

Focused on success for the upcoming season, the SHS Softball team is motivated to win regionals and state. “I’ve played softball since I was little and I’ve always really enjoyed playing,” says Peyton Cessna, a member of the Varsity Softball team, “this team has a lot of potential.” Determined to win and fostering friendships along the way the team enters the season with a competitive mindset looking for victory and achieving great things both on and off the field.

Baseball

The Sandpoint High School boy’s baseball team is gearing up for an exciting season under the guidance of their new coaches, Ricky Klontz and Scott Fitchett. The SHS baseball team has been working hard on the field, dedicated to improvement. As the season progresses, the Sandpoint boys are looking forward to putting their hard work and dedication to the test. They are determined to take the regional title and have a competitive run at State. Their commitment to teamwork, combined with their positive attitude and determination, will undoubtedly lead them to success in the upcoming season.

Girls Lacrosse

The Sandpoint High School girls’ lacrosse team has been busy at work creating a successful team. Coming off a 2nd place division finish the SHS girl’s lacrosse team has been dominating on the field and building a strong sense of camaraderie off the field. The team’s success can be attributed to the unique strengths that each player brings to the table. According to team member Terra Bode, “Everyone brings their own strengths that work well together and makes a fun, lighthearted team.” This emphasis on teamwork and collaboration has been a key factor in the team’s success. Despite facing tough competition from other high school teams, the Sandpoint girls have managed to stay focused and united, working together to achieve their goals.

Staff Member: Kasten Grimm

Position: Photo Editor

SPORTS Tennis

Boys Lacrosse

The Sandpoint High School boy’s lacrosse team has been making impressive strides on the field this season. With a strong focus on teamwork and skill development, the team has set its sights on the ultimate goal: winning the Idaho State Championship. According to team member Blayne Kanning, the team’s success can be attributed to their dedication to constant improvement. “My favorite thing about the team is the constant progress that we have made and continue to make with each year,” Kanning said. With each practice and each game, they have been building on their strengths and addressing their weaknesses. With the season on the way, the Sandpoint High School boys Lacrosse team know that their hard work and perseverance will pay off in the end, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goal.

Track

The Sandpoint High School Track Team coming off a second-place finish at regionals for both the boy’s and girl’s teams is looking for the district title. Made up of Sprinters, Distance runners, throwers, jumpers, hurdlers, and pole vaulters the track team is full of diversity. Throughout the early portion of this season, the team has been battling any rough conditions thrown at them. Almost every practice started off with clearing the track from the recurring snow storms. With the regional title in mind, the team is working hard no matter what North Idaho Weather conditions, fostering good sportsmanship and creating a positive environment.

The Sandpoint High School Tennis Team is currently working from the SHSgym due to the ongoing winter. Coming off a strong regional win last year the tennis team is looking to win the District title and place well at state. “Tennis is one of my happy places, I love the feeling of a solid hit and the fluidity of the sport,” said Junior Berkeley Cox, “it’s a super fun sport, and our coach (Kent Anderson) is like a mentor to me.” Focusing on the road to state the tennis team continues to strive for success and set themselves up for a great rest of their season.

Mama Mia! A recap

Staff Member: Courtney Hunter

Position: Staff Writer

For the last three months, cast and crew members involved with the Mime and Masque production of Mamma Mia have been working non stop to bring it to stage. The amount of work that goes into Musicals is remarkable, and this one is no exception. In the past, the School Musicals have been able to build on to the stage so that set pieces don’t move, however, due to many changes and re-scheduling in the school art system, they were not able to build directly onto the stage. With this in mind, all set pieces are moveable in order to make way for many choir and band concerts that have used the auditorium. The actors and directors have been rehearsing every school day they can from 3:30-5:30pm. Director Jeanie Hunter, expresses immense gratitude for all her cast and crew members every rehearsal. Mrs. Hunter is also the Drama teacher at Sandpoint High School and has grown many connections with her other directors. The directors include Kamie Berkey, Taryn Quayle, Angie Aller, Whitney Telford, Courtney Hunter, Dalton Hawkins, Emma Shmitt, and many more. Members of the crew are all voluntary which makes their work even more special to the people who witness it. They all are not paid and yet they are still working as hard as anyone to get this show on stage.

The production of Mama Mia ran six shows and was incredible to see. It brought so much joy to the audience. You could tell the actors were having fun as well. After interviewing a few of the seniors taking part in the performance, they all agreed that this was the perfect musical to end their high school career. Macy Korsten, who plays Lisa in the Musical, said, “This musical was so fun. I’m surrounded by friends, and the small cast makes it so much more fun.” Sarah Kugle (Tanya) agrees fully. “Saying goodbye to this show was tough and a long process, however the memories will last a lifetime.” Courtney Hunter ( Rosie.)

Learning the Rocks

Lucas Mahlum shares his experience

Staff Member: Analise Mullen

Position: Staff Writer

Rock climbing has grown in popularity over the recent years. As the youth are leaning into outdoor activities, indoor rock climbing has been a convenient substitute through the winter. Sandpoint Rock gym, albeit small, provides a wide range of difficulties. Sophomore Lucas Mahlum says, “I’ve met a lot of cool people there and I hope the community keeps growing.” There are also many different outdoor rock climbing activities that enthusiasts can participate in throughout Sandpoint. Mahlum enjoys climbing outdoors but says that it can be a lot different from indoor climbing, “The difference with outdoor rock climbing is that you are a lot higher and you aren’t falling on a comfortable mat. It’s more exciting since you are putting your life in someone else’s hands. Also the holds can be a lot different.”

If you are interested in rock climbing head over to the albeit small gym today! “I think the rock climbing community is growing since it’s such a fun way to exercise and hang out. I hope it continues to grow, so the climbing gym can expand to new places in sandpoint.”

What is BPA?

A look into what BPA is and their recent win.

Staff Member: Cassidy Aitken

Position: Staff Wrister

For those who don’t know what it is Business Professionals of America (BPA) is a unique opportunity for members “to showcase their skills in areas involving Finance, Business Administration, Management Information Systems, Digital Communication & Design, Management, Marketing & Communication, and Health Administration.” says adviser Mrs. Neiman.

Students in BPA have the ability to work with computers as well as gain valuable friendships. “I think the most valuable thing I’ve learned from BPA is if you want something, just go for it.” says member Hannah Bennett. Bennett later stated that being apart of BPA also helped her make friendships not just within her team but also outside of it.

Recently BPA had the opportunity to attend state. On the last day of State down in Boise some of the members were able to snag some awards. Member Owen Miller speaks about his experience in Boise “The best part was when I won some state awards on the last day in Biose. Hannah and I got second in our team event and I got second in another event. It was also amazing seeing two of my other clubmates also getting awards in State.”. With these wins that the BPA team was able to achieve, they successfully secured their spot at nationals at the end of April in California. If you are looking to join BPA and maybe get the opportunity to win some medals Mrs Neinam gives this advice “…Why not? What is the best that could happen? Come and talk with me and I will get you involved!”

Test after Test

A year of testing for the class of 2024

Staff Member: Cassidy Aitken

Position: Staff Writerter

Junioryear is commonly referred to as the hardest year of high school, and well that is certainly true for the class of 2024. This recent school year the state of Idaho made a change that ISAT testing would be moved to the Junior class from this year on. This means that the current juniors (the class of 2024) will take the ISATs in march.

Along with taking the ISATs to graduate SHS students most also take the SAT. The SAT takes place during april. Along with the ISAT and SAT Juniors who are taking AP classes must also take the AP exams during the beginning of May. For some students this means up to 10 tests in the span of 3 months. This is a insane amount of testing for any person to endure. With hours already spent studying for the SAT and AP exams its unrealistic for the State of Idaho to expect Juniors to be ok with another 5 tests. Students get burnt out after standardized testing, and it doesn’t help that SATs and AP exams are in the coming months after.

When asked if Idaho thought about students when making this decision Noah Spinney states “I believe idaho did not think about students when making this choice. Idaho only wants results in which benefits them.” Many students at Sandpoint High School share this belief. Student Kaden Brady States that “I think that the fact that we have to take ISATs on top of SATs is just ridiculous.”. Although Idaho believes that testing a Junior will produce a more accurate result than maybe testing a Freshman or a Sophomore, it is still unfair that Juniors have so many tests to take. A long class period or day of testing can drain a person and make them feel burnt out. With the stress of everyday life Juniors do not need another thing on top of it. Although teachers and the school have made attempts to try and ease the stress of this, it is still a lot for a 16-17 year old to take on.

McDonalds Toy Teir List

Some nostalgia for those growing older

Staff Members: Marah Klemz

Position: Staff Writer

McDonald’s Happy

Meals have been a pin point in many children’s lives with the burger, fries, fruit, and drink, but the food is not the only thing contained in a child’s box of joy! Since the 1990s, the Happy Meal has been giving out toys and trinkets to bring a smile to one’s face. Some of these toys were more liked, while others weren’t so much. That is why this toy tier list is brought to you today, ranking the toy sets and placing them into the following categories: ‘slays so hard I would die for it’, ‘it slays but its eh’, ‘it’s not the worst it could be’, ‘high key mid’, ‘boring’, and ‘why did they produce this’. Only one toy graced the highest tier which was the Shrek toys! The lowest ranking toy was unidentifiable by the small picture but appears to be toys with long arms; honestly, I think it would scare a child. As of late, the company started to produce small childrens books, which is rather odd; the toy is there to distract the child while the parent or caregiver is busy munching away. With the addition of books, imagine a small thing shouting, “Read this to me!!” whenever they get a meal. Regardless, for teens and adults alike, the small toys do bring back memories of one’s own childhood.

Spring Celebrations

Staff Members: Gracie Cheney

Position: Staff Writer

Withwinter over and spring beginning, so many awesome holidays are coming up! It seems like this really is the season of celebration. And for good reason! Spring is such a beautiful time of the year, with all its bright colors, birdsongs, and sunrays. It also brings some different holidays that students at SHS celebrate!

Easter is possibly the most popular holiday this time of the year. Through the nation and in our school! About every 4 in 5 students here at SHS celebrate Easter. A traditionally Christian holiday, with all the fun candy and spirited traditions, it’s hard not to join in on the fun! So what are some of the ways our students celebrate? Of course, there’s the typical dyeing eggs and having Easter egg hunts! A lot of people said they sometimes go to church with their family, hang out with their family and friends, eat an Easter meal, or do outdoor activities.

The second most popular holiday during spring is St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday where it looks like the color green threw up on everything is surprisingly popular. A little over half our students celebrate it, the ratio being around 14 in 25 students. Not surprisingly, the most popular way to celebrate is to wear green and avoid being pinched. Students also said they eat a lot of sugar, decorate the house, eat a feast, or watch a movie. Some more unique celebrations would be going to see ancestors, making soda bread and corned beef, and getting gold coins.

The third most popular spring holiday among students is Passover. It’s a Jewish holiday celebrating the Hebrews’ liberation from Egypt, and around every 1 in 5 students celebrate it here at SHS! These students said they usually celebrate by eating the Passover meal with their church on Good Friday, reading the Bible and watching movies about it, cleaning, and eating kosher.

Some notable holidays that students celebrate during the spring are birthdays, spring break, and Lent. Lent is another Christian spring holiday in which people fast and pray for 40 days and give alms from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday.

There are so many unique ways to celebrate these holidays and so many students at SHS have cool traditions of their own. Maybe consider trying something new for your preferred spring holiday this year! Or add onto the traditions you already have. You could even try celebrating a new holiday! Just know that there is no one right way to celebrate, and new traditions could be a lot of fun!

A New Agenda

Becky Meyer and her Plans for the School District

Inside of the walls of Sandpoint High School, and many other schools around the district, a subtle feeling of discontent can be felt like an omnipotent weight placed on the hearts of the students. The winter has a way of taking a toll on the emotional states and productivity of many, but this year it feels different. When looking forward to the winter-times, there is a single driving force that keeps students coming to school. That force being the promise of snow days. There is a sort of magic in waking up in the morning and having a fresh layer of snow glinting in the morning sun. Freeing you for a day away from the stressors of school. Yet this year there have been almost no snow days. And why? Many are blaming the new superintendent, Becky Meyer, but is this fair? I set out to find the truth. Becky Meyer is in no way new to the position of superintendent. Before being employed by unanimous vote in the Lake Pend Oreille board of trustees, Meyer worked as superintendent in the Lakeland School District. Nor is she new to Sandpoint. Meyer worked at Sandpoint High School for many years, working her way into the position of principal. There is no doubt of her formal training, she has a Ph.D in education from the University of Idaho. But is that enough?

Public opinion among students is that Becky Meyer is rather incompetent at her job. This sentiment stems from the fact that the new superintendent has chosen to not call in a snowday a number of times where students felt it was clear that conditions outside were unsafe and bordering on dangerous. Becky Meyer has stated on many occasions, including in an interview I had with her, that parents have the final say on sending their children to school on any given day, and if they feel that conditions are unsafe, they should keep their children at home. The problem arises when one considers the fact that the school-day continues on as normal whether half the students are there or not. This would lead to select students, those who had been kept home in order to keep them safe, to potentially miss a test, or an important lecture, or the deadline of a project. This obviously has adverse effects on the grades of students, until they come in on their own time to make up for the time they missed. It is clear as to why there has been a level of

Staff Member: Aidan Terry Position: Video Editor

public outcry because of these questionable decisions on the superintendent’s part. People love snow days. They’re a brief respite from school day monotony. When you take something the people love away from them, they get mad. That’s just how it is.

Becky Meyer has also been implementing many new security measures in the school district. Obviously, these protocols are intended to protect the children, and the sentiments come from a good place. Nobody is arguing that there isn’t an epidemic of fear going around the United States, for good reason, but some are beginning to question whether these new policies are truly necessary. Video security is now at the entrance of almost every school. The idea is good in theory. Its execution is questionable in practice. The security is a half measure at best and may create more trouble than it’s worth. The video security bars people from coming in, true, but if you flash a student id card, or make up a reasonable explanation as to why you need to be in the school, you can get into the school with almost no pushback. In order for this to be effective more care at these entry points would have to be made.

Although some students are questioning these security measures many parents are relieved to know the school district has someone in charge that is making student safety a priority. While researching for my interview with Becky Meyer, I found a rather interesting policy she implemented while superintendent of Lakeland School District. Meyer had chosen to install armed guards within the schools of Lakeland. Later on I found a draft of Meyer’s five year plan for the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Among the top lines read the words Armed Guards. So, I decided to ask Meyer about this interesting new policy she had planned for the schools. Meyer stated that these armed guards, which she does plan to implement, would be retired law enforcement trained in order to try and protect the schools. These armed guards would be paid around the same salary as our teachers and would first be implemented in Clark Fork.

As Spring is now upon us the chance of a snow day is zero but we can all hope for more snow days next year!

FIGH T I N G F IRES

Staff Member: Kasten Grimm

Position: Photo Editor

A First-Hand Experience

Sandpoint High School - Meet Carson Brintle, an SHS senior passionate about firefighting and determined to become a firefighter after graduation.

Brintle has always been interested in public service and helping others. However, his passion for firefighting began through his volunteer work with the North Side Fire Department.

Since that moment, Brintle has taken every opportunity to learn more about firefighting and emergency services. He has volunteered with the Northside Fire Department and has put all his free time into learning more about firefighting and emergency response. While finishing up his senior year at SHS, Brintle figured out his life post-high school plan and is setting himself up for success.

“One of the most important things that I have learned is to ask questions. It’s better to ask a stupid question than make a stupid mistake.”

Brintle plans to pursue a career in firefighting after graduating from Sandpoint High School. He has already worked several fires and is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. In addition, Brintle is gathering the required gear for his career, and if you see him in the halls of Sandpoint High School makes sure you point out his good-looking boots.

Currently, during a structure fire, Brintle is in charge of retrieving required tools off the trucks and directing water toward the fire. After his first couple of fires, Brintle learned the importance of adaptability, after all every fire is different

Brintle focuses on making a difference in his community and has a passion for helping people in their time of need and has been amazed at the cohesion between the different emergency response agencies. “It was a good experience to see the communication chain of command and the crew’s collaboration.”

His dedication and passion for firefighting serve as an inspiration to his fellow students and the Sandpoint community. We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors as a firefighter.

Staff Member: Urielle Kirby

Position: Staff Writer

Abad

The SHS Talent Show Awaits All

Earlier this year, I suggested that this school has a talent show before the end of the year. The talent show is now expected to happen on April 28th. Although there is no further information yet, ASB President Alex Manning is very excited for it and so am I. SHS has not had a talent show in a long time, so a talent show that everyone can watch in person will definitely get everyone pumped and excited.

As for the people that signed up, there are currently a little over 10 who did. Manning hopes for a talent show filled with excitement and talents. I hope the same. Talent shows have always meant a lot to me ever since 4th grade, and to see it come physically to this school before I graduate as well as other seniors truly makes it just as special. Whether people perform to impress or perform just because, I believe that it is very important to showcase skills that SHS students have that may not be seen in school or many places, and for them to truly express themselves in something that they value a lot, and maybe even others as well. I hope that the Talent Show will last for ages to come and for everyone to always have meaningful memories and opportunities.

Staff Member: Gracie Cheney

Position: Staff Writer

Rising Stars Ode to April

Poetry lurks in the shadows waiting to come out of its corner

Poetry is an art form that has existed on the Earth for thousands and thousands of years. It has always been a form of expression used to bring light to certain subjects, evoke strong emotions, or simply make you think. With April being the recognized Poetry Month, it’s good to know why poetry and poets throughout history deserve to be recognized. Haiku. Sonnet. Free Verse. Slam. Acrostic. Limerick. Ode. These are all different types of poetry. And these aren’t even all of them! Even within poetry, there are so many different ways to express yourself! Odes and sonnets could be used for expressing love to someone. Haikus could be used for expressing a certain mood. Slam poetry could be used for addressing serious issues in an artistic way. Every song you listen to that has lyrics? That’s a poem! Depending on interpretation, even songs without lyrics could be considered poetry.

No matter what your style is, there is a type of poetry that would suit you. That’s what makes it such an impactful art form! And besides emotionally, poetry and poets have had such a powerful impact on our society as a whole. Throughout history, poetry has been incredibly influential on our society. William Shakespeare, who is famously commended for his tragedies and sonnets, himself has greatly influenced our society and the English language.

Whether or not students are annoyed with having to read through all of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare has impacted the way that everyone talks. Admirable. Dawn. Lonely. Dwindle. Hostile. Auspicious. Belongings. Break the ice. In a pickle. Fair play. What’s done is done. These are all words and phrases that Shakespeare invented! It is almost guaranteed that every student has used at least one of these words or phrases throughout their life, and there are even more that are in the dictionary because of Shakespeare and his poetry.

To celebrate poetry month, you can try writing a certain type of poem, like a haiku or sonnet. Students can get together and share poetry they’ve written or found somewhere else. You could even look for poems and poets that you really enjoy reading! Poets.org has an article titled National Poetry Month: 30 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month.

Poetry is such an overlooked art form, but going out and finding pieces that you love this April could be a cool experience. It might even inspire you to delve deeper into the world of poetry. You could even find an art form that you genuinely enjoy in poetry. So don’t wait! Celebrate National Poetry Month this April!

Who is Mr. Clary?

A look at our additional assistant principal.

Staff Member: Taylor Granier

Position: Social Media Editor

The love and support that has been shown for Mr. Dickinson is truly amazing. As he recovers from his car accident, he leaves some big shoes to fill. To temporarily take on Mr. Dickinson’s job would take someone who already has a connection to at least half of Sandpoint High School’s students, has a good working relationship with current principal Mrs. Crossingham and assistant principal Mrs. Granier, and has the ability to add an extra job to their day. Luckily, Mr. Clary was the person perfect for this opportunity to add positivity and support to our school along with impacting the students.

Although he hasn’t been here long, he already says, “... I have had a positive interaction with over half of the students, which means the more I can get students to smile and show that they are appreciated and that I’m here to help them, the more I feel like they’re gonna want to be at school. So that’s what I think is the most exciting thing, is to feel like I am actually being productive and having positive interactions with students.” He is currently the halftime principal at Southside Elementary while the other half of his job is teaching. To be able to come to SHS and help around here means he gets his teaching job covered while spending his mornings being a principal at Southside and his afternoons as an assistant principal at SHS. It’s a big jump from elementary school to high school, so when I asked him what his first impressions were of high school he admitted, “It’s kind of intimidating. High schoolers are intimidating. There’s a lot of them that are bigger than me and so how do you approach a student who’s super angry about something and thy’re bigger than me… that gets a little scary…”

Clary was a 7th grade English teacher at SMS allowing him to have connections to over half of the students at the high school,“...anytime we have adults working with our discipline, the kids getting in trouble, it’s so much easier when you already have a relationship with them, so I already know them.” Whether you already have a connection with Clary or you are just getting to know him, he wants everyone to understand one thing, “Students need to know that no matter what, even if they’re in trouble, I still like them… Oftentimes when students are in trouble they feel like we don’t like them and that’s not ok. I like all the students, they just made a really bad choice and I want to work with them, so I’m hoping that the students that I have a conversation with know that we’re here to help them make better choices and not make them feel bad about themselves.” As you can tell, Mr. Clary is very excited to be here and we are excited to have him!