15 minute read
OPINION
Does attending SAT prep courses ultimately help your score?
II think it is a subject that should be tried by many students in hopes of boosting up your SAT score and having a good chance at getting into a college you want. SAT prep was a concept that first started in 1938, it was created by Stanley H. Kaplan, and it has been helping students prepare for the SATs ever since. “In the past, 85% [of students] have done better by taking [the program] sophomore and junior year. Comparing it to real SAT scores by triangulating, comparing three scores: the PSAT for eighth grade or freshmen year, junior year, [and] the actual SAT Test [to] see if students’ scores have improved over time,” Cynthia Schnieder said. “[It] gets students used to how questions are written, eliminates answers, [and to help] students choose what they want to do in their life.” This is what the SAT program does, prepares you for the best that you can be. “All students are going to benefit from it because there will be questions you can eliminate from the SAT,” Schnieder said. If students go to SAT prep, they are most likely going to be prepared for any possible question and some parents might think about the money that they will be spending. “HHS is more affordable than some [other courses]. Private SAT places are up to $1000,” Schneider said. A few good reasons to take SAT prep, as shown above, are to improve scores that can help you get into a nice college at a cheaper price. Despite these reasons, there are also a few problems that students find why the prep course is unhelpful. “It’s only once a week and a lot of the information isn’t really helping,” junior Parker Amato said. Students taking the course only have five weeks and one PSAT. Because of the short time span of the class, students like Amato might consider not taking the class. However, you never know until you try. “It is not going to hurt anybody to take the course and in some way help you learn how to study,” Schneider said. The teachers are just trying to help the students get the best score they can because they are important. “I think it is important because the SAT score is important for the future, so it is important to prepare,” Amato said. By Trevor Book
Advertisement
Trevor Book is a first year staff member. Check out his Marvel Battle blog on huntleyvoice. com. T. Koop
The SAT prep program is there to make sure you know what to study because if you do not study what you learned in the program, you may not be well prepared for the test. “I would recommend [SAT prep], but also practice outside of school and manage your time outside of school,” Amato said. Now, when I mean practice outside of school, I mean you can practice for an hour, a couple of hours, even 30 min. Then you can go and hang out with their friends. The practice is meant to help you. Now I have firsthand knowledge of the program and I know how short it is and how it is only five weeks long but I can tell you it does help. I believe HHS has one of the best programs and it is fairly cheaper than other SAT prep programs outside of the high school. If you want to surpass your goal, I would go into the SAT prep program at HHS as soon as possible. LET’S ROCK THIS SAT JUNIORS!
Equality in activities and athletics Opinion Recognition
What HHS can do to recognize activities on the same level as sports
WWith the many sports and activities that compete and receive regional or state titles, it can be hard for administration to give every group the attention they deserve. Some students involved in academic or artistic activities feel they get the short end of the stick when it comes to recognition given in school.
There are many factors involved that contribute to the situation. Typically, when students qualify for state, they walk around the school in the morning as a “send-off ” to their competition. However, this is not a requirement for any group to do.
According to Tom Kempf, associate principal and club/ activities director, there have been situations in the past where activities have denied these offers.
“There really are equal requirements and recognition options, it just seems that often the [activities don’t] take us up on it,” Kempf said.
Tom George, the teacher and sponsor of the Speech Team, sees the reluctance of his own students.
“My students in the past have been reluctant to do that,” George said. “A lot of fine arts kids, I feel, want the recognition but then don’t want to be By Kate Alvarado
in the spotlight when they’re walking around the school.”
This can make it seem as though sports are given more opportunities, but in reality, the school tries to be as equal as possible. We cannot fault administration when activities decline offers given by the school.
However, this is not the problem most students have. Their feelings of inequality come from where their regional and state plaques are being hung.
In the commons area, the trophy cases hold some plaques, medals, and trophies of different activities in the school. However, the plaques for the Medical Academy are by the medical wing and the Silver Cord plaques are on a wall outside of Principal Marcus Belin’s office. Many plaques are placed around the school and in teacher’s rooms, but all of the athletic plaques are hung together on one wall. “Having all the trophy cases, regional awards, and sectional awards separate doesn’t have as big of an impact [than] when you look at the wall and see everybody’s regional and sectionals plaques,” said Luke Bucaro, a member of Speech Team who placed fourth at state in Humourous Duet Acting with his partner Andrew Burkey. “There’s power in numbers, so it would be cool if all the clubs and activities are together on one whole wall.”
Seeing a single plaque on a wall will not make someone stop in their tracks and want to admire it. But seeing a wall filled with plaques dating from years ago to today definitely will. To students, putting them all together on one wall seems like an easy fix but according to Kempf, it is not that simple.
“It’s about proximity to the association. When you’re trying to advertise the success of your athletic teams to the athletic fans, then you put it near the athletic area,” Kempf said. “We don’t have an activity wing, so it’s just about geography and getting the most exposure as possible.”
This makes sense, but who says things cannot change?
Students argue that the athletic wing shares space with the fine arts wing. “It’s ironic because the gym [is] there but it’s attached to the wall that the performing arts center is on. Right Kate Alvarado is a first-year writer and floating editor. Check out her Kickin’ It Back With Kate blog on huntleyvoice. com. “Everyone here, we’re all equal. We’re all working for the same opportuni ties, and [we have] the same goals.” Luke Bucaro [ ]
N. Darnall
outside of the PAC, the lobby of it, can be a clear [place] to put it,” Bucaro said.
To students, it is not always about where the plaques are, but rather what kind of message it sends. How are students supposed to feel knowing that athletes belong on a Wall of Fame and kids interested in academics and art belong somewhere else?
“There are no bad vibes between the club people and the sportspeople,” Bucaro said. “Everyone here, we’re all equal. We’re all working for the same opportunities, and [we have] the same goals. Everyone works their butts off for everything, so if everyone works their butts off [we should] have equal representation.”
Athletic Director Glen Wilson sees the Wall of Fame as a way to track the history of athletics and celebrate their accomplishments.
“Perhaps [this is] something to consider for other areas such as academics and activities, because, at least in our world, it’s been something that is very prideful for the family of a student to achieve that,” Wilson said. However, it is important to realize that responsibility lies in the students and advisors as well.
“One of the things that I encourage coaches, club, activity, and academic sponsors, [to do] is to get that information shared with us so that we can [get] it out. I do a lot of posting and sharing on social media, but I share what I get,” Belin said.
It does not matter how many posts he makes about a specific event. Ultimately, it is up to students to show up and cheer on their classmates. We need to care in order to show others that they should care as well.
“It’s going, supporting, and talking about them just as much as we do sports. I’m only one person,” Belin said. “We need to continue having that conversation and talking about supporting what’s going on in classrooms, activities, and sports both academic and athletic.”
After all of this, one thing is clear. This is something that can be changed if students want it enough. This is the first step to letting administration know what we want, but we need to keep pushing for it.
“I am not opposed to finding other places for them. We just haven’t gotten to that point yet, [but] it’s been talked about. The thoughts and ideas are there, it’s just a matter of going through some of the planning and figuring out how we execute that,” Belin said.
At the end of the day, students appreciate everything administration does for them, and administration sees their hard work and wants to recognize them as deserved. It is just a matter of communication.
Sophomore Emily Heflin runs Christian club focused on practicing faith
By Emma Gribbens
AAs sophomore Emily Heflin walked into Huntley High School ready to take on the new club, she felt excited. Heflin recently took on the role of leading the JOY club. Most people do not know a lot about this club, but Heflin hopefully will get more participants as the leader. The JOY club has a specific meaning relating to what this club does. “JOY club is a Christian club,” Heflin said. “JOY actually stands for Jesus Others and You. [We] meet every week [and] usually have a passage from the Bible that we read out of. We’ll read it together, followed by a discussion and questions.”
During the club they do a bunch of different activities with the Bible. “I didn’t start it, but I did take it Heflin meets with other students in JOY club.
up this year,” Heflin said. “A family friend used to run it, but a while before we were in high school someone started it.”
Through her determination, she was able to restart the club. Heflin was able to take on this role and help lead.
While Heflin mostly runs the club, she is grateful for the assistance from teacher Joni Runck. Her main goal this year is to spread the word and increase membership.
22 THE VOICE MARCH 2020 I make sure to keep a safe space for the students of the Christian faith to connect, learn more about their faith and work to make a positive impact on the school,” Runck said.
“We don’t have a ton of members right now, but I’m hoping to expand and get more people interested in it,” Heflin said. She hopes to expand throughout her time of running this club by helping make JOY club more well-known throughout HHS.
JOY is a positive club to go to and a way to get together and discuss. The club helps give members a productive mindset.
Heflin plans on improving the club and recruiting new members by putting posters up and making announcements around the school. Heflin, over time, hopes the club becomes increasingly more popular. Her goal for this club is to help improve the structure, gain members, and share with students how this club is a forward-looking place. S. Laput
Chad Radtke, Agent 12396 Princeton Dr Huntley, IL 60142 Bus: 224-569-4500 www.gladwithchad.com
Good news. Rates just got lower.
I’m excited to announce auto insurance rates just went down. I can help you find coverage that works for you. LET’S TALK TODAY.
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company, Bloomington, IL State Farm County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas, Richardson, TX 1901155
Proud to be the Platinum Sponsor of Huntley Fall Fest
Serving Communities since 1857. Stop in today.
11700 S IL Rt. 47 Huntley | 847.802.4020
2100 W. Algonquin Rd. Lake in the Hills | 224.241.8804
4520 W. Algonquin Rd. Lake in the Hills | 224.241.8502
Member FDIC
4591 Princeton Lane Lake in the Hills, IL 60156 224-858-4142 www.goslowdrivingschool.com
Our goal is simple: To teach
Check website for restrictions. Hurry, this Big Deal ends Sunday at 7 am! Purchase a $595 voucher to Go Slow Driving School for Only $297.50! Hurry, this Big Deal ends Wednesday at 7 am! This voucher is valid for the “Go Slow and Steady” Package. students how to be safe, responsible and considerate drivers! Call about upcoming schedules and promotions!
A future career in choir Features Music
FFour periods of the school day, beautiful notes are expelled from Senior Melissa Bala’s vocal cords. She is the only student who is in every choir that she could join at Huntley High, and she could not be happier with her decisions. Not only does she sing all day in school, but she also sings in choirs outside of school. “This year I am in Treble Choir, Bel Canto Choir, Master Singers, and Buddies Choir. Then, outside of school I am in Encore Youth Choir and I am also in my church’s youth band,” Bala said. It is rare to find a passion so early in life and be able to implement it so thoroughly, but Melissa has done exactly that. Her sophomore year was when she discovered just how much she enjoyed singing. Now in her senior year she has ensured that, with the stresses that the last year of high school brings, she can spend the majority of the day doing what she enjoys. Yet, though she will be going to school to be a teacher, Melissa Bala is not going to teach choir. “I’m going to college to become a special education teacher, but because music has played such an important role and because of the Buddies Choir that we have here, I’ve been influenced and impacted enough where I actually want to try and get my minor in music so that I can bring music into my classroom,” Bala said. Along with in all of her choirs and the musicals, she is also the president of the Best Buddies Club. She helped choir teacher Alexandria Bieber found the Buddies Choir, new to Huntley this year, and has been pivotal in integrating the Buddies into both choir and the musicals. She is a born leader, she has used that skill to help others, and she will continue to do so for the rest of her life. “I think of Melissa as a teacher. She is very mature and she leads her students and I look up to Melissa in a lot of different ways because she has a lot of admirable qualities,” Bieber said. Melissa is an inspiration for all those she encounters, not only for her leadership qualities, but for what she has endured and how she continues to live her life by putting others first. Her whole life, she has dealt with medical problems surrounding her wrist. She has had several surgeries, the latest being just this last winter break, which she had to fit into her schedule around finals. Considering her circumstances, her generosity and love for others is even more admirable. She makes an effort to help each and every person she encounters, putting them before herself and, by doing so, representing a truly altruistic lifestyle. “If anything is kind of slipping through the cracks, she is the kind of person that notices and takes it upon herself to fix it,” Bieber said. She treats everyone as an equal, as a friend, and she will help anyone and everyone, no matter the situation they are in. She is also extremely supportive, willing to go out of her way to cheer someone on or making a point to go see a friend in a show they’re performing in. Melissa redefines what it means to be a good and strong person. She has overcome problems life has thrown at her while still undertaking the problems of others. In just her 18 years, she has accomplished so much and she has a whole life of helping and leading others in front of her. “Once I started getting really involved with Buddies here I fully knew that was my passion. It just makes me so happy and I am just so excited to see what the future holds with that aspect of my life,” Bala said. Melissa Bala does not only have strong vocal cords, but a pure heart By Kimberlynn Bjurstrom
