Eighth graders give speeches for high school senate elections

Eighth grade students spoke to their entire class during first period for the Carmel High School Senate Elections. Photos by Claire Abdellah and Jackson Adams

Eighth graders enjoy floor hockey unit

Story by Tristan George

Last week, eighth grade students participated in one of the more popular gym activities in Wellness class: floor hockey. Students at Clay enjoyed floor hockey for many reasons. 

“I like to play floor hockey because I get to play the whole time, and because I get to play the duration of gym class, I get a good workout in," Tyler Trent, eighth grade, said.

In most gym activities that involve teams, some students play much more than others because there can only be a certain amount of students on the playing field at a time.  For example, in basketball, there can only be 10 students on the court at a time, 5 per team.  With floor hockey, however, there are no substitutes, so everyone can play the entire time.  

In addition, Clay students like floor hockey because it gives kids a chance to learn how to use teamwork. They have to work together to move the ball up the court to get a shot in order to score a goal and win a game.

Students also like to play floor hockey because there is an element of competition.  Eighth graders that have been participating in floor hockey are playing in a tournament against the other teams in their class.

“I like playing hockey because it allows me to be a part of a team,” Cooper Biggs, eighth grade, said. 

Anika Antony, Kate Matich, Cara Sajdyk, Sophie Oliphant, Claire Given, Ali Orme, eighth graders, get ready to compete in a floor hockey game. Photo by Emily Speidel

Last week, eighth graders competed in the floor hockey tournament. This week, they are learning how to ballroom dance. 

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Students prepare for the "Super Bowl" of physics challenges

By Jaala Al-Haffar

He calls it the “Super Bowl” of all challenge labs. 

He claims it’s the biggest day of the eighth grade year. 

Mr. Andrew Simon and the other eighth grade science teachers purposely withhold important information about physics labs to see what students’ minds can come up with and create. 

“It builds up the pressure and makes it more fun,” Billy Freudenthal, eighth grade, said. 

Chase Southard, another eighth grader said, “It makes the challenge more exciting and makes us look forward to it.”

This “Super Bowl” of physics lab will be the egg drop. 

The drop is going to be roughly six meters high. All eighth grade students have to come up with a creative way to drop the egg to the ground without causing it to shatter in pieces. The egg drop will take place on Thursday, October 17 during each science class. 

The lab teaches the students about force and how to change time by not focusing on the drop but on the time it takes to get to the concrete, and how to slow that down. 

Ms. Gretchen Smiley, eighth grade science teacher, says that she loves physics labs. Her favorite egg drop structure she has seen is, of course, the one all the science teachers made together. Mrs. Susan Fulp, eighth grade science teacher, says this challenge is one of her favorites throughout the whole year. 

Science teachers have been helping the students prepare for the lab by making them do similar projects but with potato chips.The teachers are looking forward to all the creativity that will come out of the students during the lab and the willingness from the students.

A final photo goodbye to the Class of 2018

Eighth grade students celebrate award end of the year with awards ceremony

Students run for Carmel High School Senate, make speeches this morning

Story by Carly Chia

“Calling all eighth graders wanting to become a leader for your class!”

That’s what students heard on the morning announcements during this last month of school. It’s a special call made for all eighth graders wanting to help lead their class during freshman year at Carmel High School.

It’s called the CHS Senate.

Senate is a student congress at CHS that helps organize events for the student body. Eighth graders can run for Senate near the end of the year. During this campaign, they put up posters to let the students know to vote for them.

They are allowed to put posters up in the eighth grade hallways, main halls, or cafeteria.

To be qualified for Senate, students need to be enrolled in Carmel High School. Second, students need to be a member of the class 2018. Third, students must currently be passing all four core subjects and have passed all four core subjects in the previous quarter.

Now, you may be wondering what CHS Senate is and what they do.

“Senate helps organize all the homecoming events, and they also help with Dance Marathon,” Lauren Alexander said.

Mrs. Lori Harmas introduces the Senate candidates. 

Alexander is not alone. Other candidates running for office include Emily Worrell, Ellie Clark, Crystal Xue, Ruchal Desai and Griffin Gonzalez.

The Senators also work on organizing events with other Senators from other grades and the Student Body President of CHS.

Senate is a group that benefits the Student Body, but it also benefits the Senators that are a part of Senate.

Desai said it benefits her by “learning about being more confident and being a better leader.”

Alexander said, “Being a part of Senate is being in a select group of people that can lead your classmates to greatness.”

Some of these Senator candidates already have a course of action of what they’re going to do if they get elected as Senators.

“I hope to help Freshman students find their Greatness because Clay Trojans’ greatness doesn’t end this year. Our Greatness will come with us our whole life,” Alexander said.

Only eighth graders get to vote for their class leaders for freshman year. They listened to speeches this morning during first period and cast their votes.

The winners were Gonzalez and Xue.

Ellie Clark, eighth grade, speaks. 

Emily Worrell, eighth grade, speaks.

Crystal Xue, eighth grade, speaks. 

Eighth grader finds voice in front of microphone

By Ellie Goldstein and Emma Moulton

If you attend Clay Middle School, you have most likely heard the voice of eighth grade student Griffin Gonzalez. Gonzalez speaks daily for the morning announcements, during lunches, and anytime in between.  

He has promoted the eighth grade creative club Styles with Giles, he also pumped up the crowd during the eighth grade Walk of Greatness dance.  During the eighth grade lunches, he often has dance-offs and sing-offs with fellow students to advertise upcoming events.

Gonzalez just got into announcing this year.  

At the beginning of football season, Coach Josh Cole gave him his first football announcement. He could have been quiet when he read it over the P.A., but Gonzalez decided to have fun with it and do his own ESPN voice.  The voice was a big hit, and ever since he has done at least one announcement each week.

When asked about his confidence speaking in front of so many people, Gonzalez said, “It’s just fun, and I don’t think about people watching me. I’m really comfortable doing it now.”  

Next year at Carmel High School, Gonzalez hopes to become part of their Senate and their radio team.  As for after high school, his dream job would be to work for ESPN announcing, specifically college basketball.  

Gonzalez recently has gotten in touch with a college graduate who has taken all four years of announcing at Cincinnati and Indiana University.  Gonzalez said, “He is going to give me tips to help me become the best I can be and entertain people really well.”

Announcing has also given Gonzalez a chance to meet new teachers and interact with the students.  Through out this year, Gonzalez has found that announcing is what he is best at. He said, “I just feel happy that I have so much fun doing something that I love.”

Eighth graders celebrate end of year with dance

Eighth grade students attended a dance on Friday, May 16 to celebrate the end of the year. Many staff members were also present. Along with a DJ, there was also a photo booth for the students. All photos by Sean Kim

Eighth grade students march during Civil War unit

Mr. Andy Simon travels to New York City, representing Clay Middle School's Sandy Relief efforts

By Maya Mash

What do you think of when you hear New York? Is it Broadway, fashion, maybe even sports? How about Mr. Andy Simon?

Mr. Andy Simon, eighth grade science teacher, has the opportunity to fly to New York and hand-deliver the check that the students of the Sandy Relief Club collected for the Robin Hood Foundation. 

The Robin Hood Foundation is a charity to fight poverty in New York City. It has run for 25 years and has distributed more than $1.45 billion in grants for the homeless, schools, and job training programs. 

"I am humbled to be representing all of the Clay Nation for their efforts, but I’m also nervous about all the celebrities and billionaires that are going to be there," he said. 

Simon is going to be there May 9 to May 13. This trip is very important to Clay Middle School because the trip will complete the circle and establish a relationship with the Robin Hood Foundation. They are excited to meet Clay Middle School, Simon said. 

Simon has this opportunity of a lifetime to meet the Robin Hood staff and go to the gala on Monday night.

The gala is an event to raise money for the foundation. Last year they raised over 80 million dollars in that one night. He cannot wait to leave and come back to share all of what he experienced in New York with his students.

You can follow Simon on Twitter as he travels to NYC: Clay Sandy Relief @asimonclay