What’s recently happened?
Cupid has recently arrived at La Porte High School (LPHS) and brought the Valentine’s Day spirit with him. His presence was very strong in the cafeteria where National Honor Society (NHS) members sold carnations.
Students sold carnations Monday, February 5 through Monday February 12. Carnations were $3 for one, $6 for three, or $12 for six. Half of the proceeds went to the La Porte County Small Animal Shelter
NHS retrieved volunteers to sell, organize, and distribute the carnations. When purchasing, students were able to write a special message to the intended recipient.
“I enjoyed that it offered volunteer hours while supporting a great cause,” Senior Michael Pham said.
Students received their carnations on February 14 during Slicer Resource Time.
What’s coming up?
The Christopher Iselman Writing Contest is officially open for entries. This contest is given at LPHS every spring and is open to all students.
Christopher Iselman was a student in the class of 1970 who had a passion for writing and all things English. When Iselman passed away his senior year, his parents and teachers organized this contest and award to honor him and his love of writing. The LPHS English Department has presented this contest every year since 1974.
“It’s a good way to get young authors’ voices out into the world – not just in school but in the community. It encourages students to take a step forward into their own lives on their own permission,” 2023 Poetry Winner Jack Komasinski said.
Students may submit entries in all categories including short story, essay, personal narrative, and poetry. Short story, essay, and personal narrative categories have a limit of two entries per person, and poetry has a limit of three.
These entries can be submitted to any English teacher. It is important that the entries are typed in double-spaced 12 point font. There must be an attached typed title page with the title of the selection, student’s name, and the category of the entry.
The first page of the entry must include the title and may not have the name on the first page. This is important because the judges, who are members of the LPHS English Department faculty, will judge the entries anonymously.
There will be one winner per category, and they will be announced in May. These winners will receive certificates and small plaques. Additionally, they will have their names engraved on the permanent plaque in the English Department.
Staff spotlight:
English Teacher Jenna Johnson is well known at LPHS. Many may say she is known for her singing, but she is not only a great singer, teacher, and reader – she’s a truly wonderful person.
Johnson has taught at LPHS for five years and currently teaches English Literature for seniors, AP Language and Composition for juniors, and English 10 for sophomores. Next year, she will be teaching a new dual-credit public speaking course.
Johnson attended undergraduate school at Valparaiso University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English, in theatre, in Japanese studies, and in the humanities. She also holds a Master of Arts in theatre theory, history, and literature from Indiana University. She completed her teaching certification at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Growing up in Jackson Township, Indiana, Johnson knew from the beginning that she wanted to be a teacher. She tried different grades but found a home at the high school level.
Both of Johnson’s parents were high school English teachers, which caused Johnson to stray away from high school English. She quickly realized, however, that English was the place for her.
“One of my very favorite things is the opportunity it gives me to come to know all my students, hear their stories, learn their interests, and help them grow. The students truly are the best part of the job! They often make me laugh, and I hope that I can return the favor. It is a great responsibility to work in education, and I am honored that my students trust me to help them on their journeys into adulthood,” Johnson said.
Unfortunately, Johnson faced multiple challenges last year. Last February, she became very ill, and the doctors discovered Johnson had a blood clot in a major vein in the brain. Johnson was forced to take weeks off from school to focus on recovery and took a major toll on her physically and mentally.
Students and faculty rallied together to support Johson during this time in her life. Johnson received multiple cards, posters, and letters from all. When she returned, students had posters and even a small party to celebrate her return.
“I will always be grateful to the people in this building who shared their well wishes with me. When we walk through the doors of this building, we have the opportunity to forge bonds with each other that teach us, not just about course skills or content but about what it means to care and support one another. Education is a field that supports others. It supports us in the learning of new skills, and it also teaches the tools that can help us during the most difficult times in our lives. I felt that so strongly last year and still feel inspired by the strength and kindness of the Slicer community. We have so much to be proud about our school,” Johnson said.
Outside of school, Johnson is an avid reader and loves the royal family. She is even saving up to travel to the United Kingdom with some friends for her birthday in a few years.
Student spotlight:
Senior Stephanie Leon has a bright future ahead. Leon is a Lilly Endowment winner as well as a Posse Scholarship recipient. Because of these, Leon is going to Purdue University for engineering with free tuition.
“This means I can go into college with one less weight on my shoulders, allowing me to fully focus on all aspects of college life without worrying about the finances. It also showed me that hard work and sacrifice do eventually pay off,” Leon said.
Leon has decided to go into engineering because it blends all of her academic interests into one thing. This path also allows her to not be limited in what she does and gives multiple opportunities.
At LPHS, Leon is involved in French Club, Art Club, Envirothon, Academic Super Bowl, cross country, track, soccer, National Honor Society, and National Technical Honor Society.
“LPHS has taught me things I like about school and how I learn best. It also showed me the environments in which I thrive and how to face difficult challenges,” Leon said.
Leon’s favorite class at LPHS is AP Chemistry because it is not only one of her favorite subjects but taught her valuable lessons that went beyond the textbook.
Outside of school, Leon loves to hang out with her friends, go running, painting, and baking.