A big thanks to Whitney Green and Egypt Miller for nominating Pike High School. I forgot to give you a shot out on air - so here's your claim to fame! :)
I took your advice and featured Pike's ROTC program, Business Professionals of America and Key Club. The ROTC was very visual and cool. One student tried her hardest to teach me how to throw a rifle, er, how to SPIN a rifle. I was awful! The rifles are heavier than I expected and was sure I'd lose a toe if I dropped it. I did get a chance to sit back and watch a few of the drill routines the students were practicing. The formations and precision of the groups were amazing!
The Business Professionals of America or BPA is a "co-curricular" organization designed for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. It's Pike's largest club with over 180 students! The students learn interviewing skills, PC repair, and marketing presentations…not to mention participate in business related competitions. Lots goin' on there!
The Key Club was busy at work when I visited them. They just started a drive called "Pennies for Patients" to raise money to help cure leukemia and other blood-related cancers. (Benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.) They students dropped boxes off in each classroom in hopes that people would donate their loose change, so don't forget to drop those quarters in!!!!
GO RED DEVILS - HOLLA! (As Ms. Chisley says...)

Can I please begin by saying THIS SCHOOL IS HUUUUUGE!! (One of the largest in the state, actually.) From sports to extra-curricular activities and programs, I didn't know where to begin. How could I cram all of this information into a small 2-min. story?!
I began by talking to the students (off campus) of the Vocational Building Trades. They are in the middle of building a house...a REAL house! They have one year to complete construction, then the house is sold with all of the money going back into the program for next year's build. This class is extremely beneficial to students interested in employment in a construction field. They get real, hands on experience and they talked about how much they loved not having to sit in a classroom all day. Who wouldn't love that?!
Next, I headed to the high school to talk about the dance marathon, which took place the weekend before. Students learn different dances while raising money for Riley Hospital for Children. Last year, they raised over $58,000. This year, they beat their record with approx. $130,000!!!! Isn't that phenomenal?!
After being blown away by the charitable aspect of Carmel, I headed to one of their multivariable calculus classes. (huh?!) Yup, I said it "MULT-VAR-IABLE CAL-CU-LUS!" I'm not going to pretend like I knew what that was before I went there and it's still a foreign language to me. The students said that normal calculus uses only a few letters in their formulas. Multivariable Calculus uses many different letters (or variables.) Get it?! Yeah...me neither. :)
GO GREYHOUNDS!

FUN, FUN, FUN - 3 words to describe my experience at South Putnam Jr. - Sr. High School. This school is AWESOME! :) The first thing I did was hop into a student-made boat (built out of cardboard and duct tape) and paddled my way across their swimming pool. Haha! I swear there was a method to their madness...it's a physics project. If the boat makes it across the pool, then they pass - if not, well, they end up wet! It was great fun.
As if I couldn't laugh anymore, we went to one of the math classes where they celebrate Pi Day. (March 14...3/14) In honor of the math constant pi = 3.14, they celebrate by bringing in pies and doing chants and songs all about Pi. I had a piece of chocolate something (I have no idea what it was) but it was amazing!
At 5th period, I headed over to the gym to talk with the winners of the February challenge. (The 7th and 8th grade compete and the Junior and Senior class compete.) They tally up the number of tardies, absences and disciplinary problems and the class with the lowest number wins a video game party during 5th period. (Plus, they get to raid the concession stand...)
My day at South Putnam ended with a prom proposition…I respectfully declined, but it was the sweetest thing I’ve seen in a while.
GO EAGLES!

This school has a phenomenal campus ministry program. They actually brought in two professional swing dancers from Indy Swing to teach lessons before prom. I looooove swing dancing! The first two hours of Guerin Catholic's prom is an 18-piece band!!! And the second two hours is a DJ. The students were having a blast learning an alternative style of dance (I bet they'll still bust out the soldier boy!) haha.
Can you imagine everyone having a laptop in your school?! That's how they roll at Guerin Catholic. The incoming students get new Macs and the older kids have Dells (no jealousy or anything here...) :) They also have smart boards, which I had never seen before. This enables the teachers to teach using a touch screen. The kids also use smart boards to learn vocab - we visited a Latin class where students were playing a word matching game. Gosh how things have changed since I went to school!
The Relay for Life "Team Guerin" was my favorite part of the day. A few students are trying to raise money by designing and selling t-shirts, soliciting donations, etc. Last year, many students attended the Relay for Life walk, but now there is an overwhelming support for the cause - two students at school have been afflicted with cancer as well as their Guidance Counselor's wife who just passed away this January. I wish them all the luck in the world and admire them for their cause! EVERYONE, BUY A T-SHIRT!!! Call 317-582-0120
GO GOLDEN EAGLES!

This will be my last day with Fox59 as I've accepted a position at WITF in Pennsylvania as a Host/ Producer. I want to thank all of the students who made "How Cool Is Your School" possible...as well as the school adminstrators who let me disrupt their day. haha :)
With a heavy heart, I leave behind my family and friends, but trust that they are always with me no matter what path I take. Here's to a wonderful ride!

To quote the great Tracy Forner, "...And, we're clear."