The Pony Express The student newspaper of Center Hill High School
September 2018
Center Hill High School
Volume 2, Issue 1
Making History
The Hill has 5 National Merit Semifinalists Askew, Greganti, Heath, Kinggard, Lindsey earn top PSAT scores By Emily Merz Editor-in-Chief History was made at Center Hill High School in September, when five seniors were recognized as National Merit Semifinalists. Sebastian Askew, Jonathan Greganti, Adam Heath, Zoe Kinggard and Mary Lindsey are part of a successful group of students who took the PSAT, or Preliminary SAT. “The PSAT group from the Class of 2019 was a record-breaking group for Center Hill,” said Michelle Jones, who teaches PSAT along with Meredith Smith and Judy Terry. “We had a good feeling about the entire class from the very beginning. Their entrance cut score was higher than any previous group of sophomores, and it was one of the largest groups in Center Hill history to qualify for the PSAT class.” The students did not disappoint, Jones said. “The class produced five National Merit Semifinalists, a record for Center Hill, and one National Hispanic Recognition Scholar,” she said. “In addition, nearly all students in the class earned a place in the 30+ ACT club, with several earning composites over 30 and one scoring Center Hill’s first ever perfect 36.” According to The College Board, the National Merit academic
Photo by Emily Merz Mary Lindsey, from left, Zoe Kinggard, Sebastian Askew, Jonathan Greganti and Adam Heath made history at Center Hill High School in September. The seniors make up the school’s largest group of National Merit Semifinalists.
competition began in 1955. Students can qualify for the competition by taking the PSAT their sophomore and junior years. “To me, being a National Merit semifinalist is gratification,” Lindsey said. “It’s proof that even through all the self-doubt I have of my abilities, hard work can pay off.” Winners are selected based on test scores. The qualifying scores vary by state and are different every
year. Many colleges and universities offer huge scholarships for National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists. “There are two different types of scholarships,” Lindsey said. “You can get one from the NMSC for $2,500 or individual ones from colleges that vary from school to school.” The financial reward is unmistakable, Greganti said. “Being National Merit at the
schools I’m looking at, it means just about a full ride – tuition, room and board, meal plan and books,” he said. “When combined with some other scholarships, it can mean a college or university will pay you to go there instead of you paying them.” Greganti said being named a National Merit Semifinalist was unexpected. “I went into the PSAT class in the
middle of the pack,” he said. “After the class I expected to be maybe top 10, not 4. When Mrs. Terry called out my score I just about cried out of shock and joy.” The five semifinalists must now go through an application process in order to possibly become finalists. “The next step for me is just a matter of paperwork and writing an essay about why I deserve National Merit Finalist,” Greganti said.
Classroom pets promote education, fun By Candice Buford Staff Writer Center Hill High School has many teachers with animals in the classroom for educational purposes and fun. “They teach kids compassion, responsibility and companionship, but for science they are also related to a lot of our lessons,” said Jennifer Denham, a biology teacher. Denham sometimes brings a small corn snake named Richard to her classroom. Last year another of Denham’s snakes, Corny, escaped and wandered the school before being found. She said corn snakes are harmless and non-venomous.
“Snakes are different than most other classroom pets,” Denham said. “(Corny) could climb up walls or into corners and be invisible, but snakes require a specific heat and humidity. I had two students last semester that decided to leave a small opening in his cage and he was able to get out and starve before I got to him.” Denham said she takes precautions now with Richard. “I bring him in a couple times a week for his safety and protection,” she said. Snakes make good classroom pets, Denham said, because they need very little maintenance. “Clean water, clean habitat,
correct temperature, humidity, proper diet and feed at the proper time,” she said. “If you don’t keep the habitat clean or wash your hands after touching them, you can make the animals sick or you could get sick.” Denham acknowledged that her students can be scared of snakes. “For the most part yes,” she said. “They tend to be a little afraid of the snake at first so they poke it and I have to correct them on that.” Ashlee Young, one of the Spanish teachers at CHHS, has a white bunny named Blanca in her classroom.
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Photo by Candice Buford Omaria Crutchfield, junior, reaches to pick up Blanca, a white bunny in Ashlee Young’s Spanish III class. Crutchfield said having an animal in the classroom is a conversation starter.