All photos by Magdalene Conrad, Malachi Conrad, Parker McCloskey and Mackenzie Stubblefield. Click on photos in the gallery below to view images.
New Albany defeats JHS 79-56
Author: jhshyphen
We are the student newspaper of Jeffersonville High School.
Supplies for Food Pantry and Connor’s Closet
by Areli Hernandez
Additional Reporting: Tyler Conley
The food pantry and Connor’s Closet at Jeffersonville High School prioritizes the needs of students and families. As winter break comes to an end, items and clothing are in high demand to help students.
Those interested in donating supplies for the Food Pantry may turn them in to room A225 or in A204. For more information, contact Michelle Houchin.
Michelle Houchin: mhouchin@gccschools.com
If someone outside the school is interested in donating items for Connor’s Closet, contact Stephanie Soper or Jennifer Mitchell for further information. Students who are interested in donating, may bring their donations to room C125.
ALL clothing must be in new conditions.
Stephanie Soper: ssoper@gccschools.com
Jennifer Mitchell: jmitchell@gccschools.com
JHS wrestlers defeat Providence during Senior Night on Wednesday
All photos by Malachi Conrad. Click on photos in the gallery below.
Red Devils battle New Albany tonight at 7:30 p.m.
by Austin Bainbridge
The Red Devils enter a hostile environment tonight against an imposing New Albany team after dropping three out of the last four games.
The environment at New Albany should add to the excitement of the rivalry game.
“New Albany’s a loud environment that really helps their players along with getting in the opponent’s head,” said sophomore guard Cornelius Weobong.
Red Devil fans are also ready to see Jeff get back to form.
“I don’t think New Albany has the basketball IQ to beat our guys,” said sophomore fan Preston McCombs.
Jeff is looking to get back in the win column by changing their approach.
“I think as a team we need to pick it up in practice and work hard to prepare for this team,” said senior point guard Elijah Cheeks.
The team is also looking for leaders to help get the young team ready to play.
“Me and (Terrence) Nord need need to pick up our leadership in game and practice; we have to get people to give it their all,” said Cheeks
The New Albany team is headlined by stars like sophomore shooting guard Noah Washington, who will be a struggle to stop.
“New Albany is looking dangerous this year — they have some good players, but I still have confidence we can stop them,” said head coach Sherron Wilkerson.
The team is also looking to get out to an early lead and retain it throughout the game.
“We want to come out on fire and not wait until our backs are against the wall to comeback and put up points,” said Cheeks.
Jeff has its own players to watch out for, especially junior Jacob Wilkerson.
“(Jacob) Wilkerson has to keep doing what he’s doing — he’s balling right now; he just has to keep on track,” said Cheeks.
While New Albany seems like an unstoppable team, Jeff sees weaknesses to exploit.
“They don’t play defense and don’t really want to guard the ball; I think with our offense we can take advantage of that and win this game,” said Cheeks.
Red Devils prepare to face New Albany this Thursday
Lawrence North defeats JHS 71-53 on Jan. 3
All photos by Parker McCloskey and Malachi Conrad. Click on photos in the gallery below.
Silver Creek defeats JHS 64-51
State championship rings handed out prior to last night’s game
All photos by Magdalene Conrad, Malachi Conrad, Parket McCloskey, and Isaiah Stewart. Click on photographs in the gallery below.
Niemi wins Sophomore Class JHS Christmas Shirt Fundraiser
Red Devils prepare for Silver Creek tonight
by Austin Bainbridge
The Jeff boys’ basketball team faces one of the top-ranked schools in Indiana, Silver Creek, for their home opener in a big benchmark game tonight in Johnson Arena.
“This is an important game; even though it’s not a rivalry like Floyd or New Albany there is a very good team and a win would be huge,” said sophomore guard Cornelius Weobong.
Silver Creek is looking like one of the best teams in Indiana and is searching for a statement win against Jeff.
“They’re really good at sharing the basketball. They’ve got six guys that could score 20 on any given night. So they do a really good job of moving the ball,” said head coach Sherron Wilkerson.
Jeff isn’t looking as potent as last year’s state championship team but still sees this as a competitive game.
“Our biggest keys are — Number one, we’ve got to guard for basketball. Number two, we’ve got to rebound. Number three, we have to take care of it, we cannot turn the ball over,” said Wilkerson.
The fans are also looking forward to a competitive game like this early in the season.
“I’m excited to see our guys play at home. I hope that we can come away with a win against a team as good as Silver Creek — that would be a big momentum boost,” said English teacher David Kummer.
To come away with a victory Jeff is going to have to capitalize on opportunities and not give Silver Creek very many.
“We have a lot of time where you get a good cut, get the ball, and then we miss, we give them free possession again… and then on defense we have got to know where we were at and we’ve got to sprint to our spot. We can’t give them easy points,” said Weobong.
Silver Creek is good as a team, but they also have players who shine above the rest.
“Brandon Hunter — he just recently had a game where he had 13 rebounds at the point guard position. When you have a point guard putting up 13 rebounds, that means that he is worthy of being able to get you a triple double, which probably makes him the most dangerous player on the floor,” said Wilkerson.
The Red Devils are looking to overcome some of early year struggles.
“Our mental toughness and our physical toughness is probably our biggest hurdle right now. And I think that once we’re able to correct those two issues, I think then you will start to see us jell into a unit,” said Wilkerson.
This game has been on Jeffs’ calendar for some time and they’ve been preparing.
“We’ve been preparing for Silver Creek since the buzzer went off at Seymour; we’ve been gameplanning and preparing pretty intensely,” said Weobong.
This young Jeff team could put itself on the map with a Silver Creek win, and they’re ready for tonight’s challenge.
“A win would be huge for us because this particular group as a unit has not been through the fire yet. So it would be nice to be able to go through the fire and come out successful. These guys are ready to be recognized,” said Wilkerson.
In addition to tonight’s battle with the Dragons, Jeff players and coaches will be honored with the presentation of their state championship rings from last season.
Kentucky fans react to new football coach
by Sophia Waldridge
After 13 seasons Mark Stoops brought historic stability to Kentucky and led four 10-win campaigns in 2018 and 2021. He also showed the team eight consecutive bowl games and two top-25 finishes. But after too many losing streaks and a 41-0 loss to Louisville on Dec. 1, Kentucky fired him. Will Stein is the new Kentucky coach.
Many Louisville fans are happy because they want real change and challenge. Senior Kaeleb Hayes, who is a die hard Louisville fan, said that Kentucky “needed to do it” and that the team would be “better off without Stoops and the team will get along so much better with the leadership and the stability of Stein.”
But others do not agree with Hayes and think that Stoops should not have been fired. Sophomore Eli Tate, “I think that we will have better prospects but at the same time he was a good coach and I don’t think that this one game should have caused him to be fired.”
Sophomore Cali Smith agreed with Tate and is also a Kentucky fan; she said that the team will have to come up with new critical thinking skills and “learn to adapt with a new coach with different teaching styles.”
Freshman Harper Gordon also said that the Wildcats will have to adapt and thinks that it was a good thing because “Stoops has been a bad coach for three years and gave us a horrible season.” She said the new coach Stein is better for the team because he will push them harder.
Kentucky fans aren’t too happy, but most of them are rallying for the new coach and can’t wait to see how he trains the team differently and if they’ll get any better under different and new leadership.
Column: Schools should adjust early start times for teens
by Sanae Ittu
The hardest part of school isn’t the homework — it’s the early time that forces teens to function on almost no sleep. The CDC reports that 7 out of 10 high school students don’t get enough sleep. When teens are tired, we don’t learn well, and early bells make the problem worse.
Studies consistently show that early start time leads to more stress, lower attention, and high chances of students drifting off in class. The American Academy of Pediatrics confirmed that early time causes chronic sleep loss which links to higher stress, irritability, and difficulty paying attention in class.
Sleep deprivation doesn’t just make teens feel tired, but affects our academic performance. Oxford academic researchers using EEG data from high school students found that students in early morning classes had lower attentiveness and performed worse than mid-morning students. Teachers noticed right away that students have unfinished assignments, slower participation, and struggle to stay alert during instruction. Early start times make learning feel harder than it should be.
The main benefit of starting school later is better attendance and grades. The University of Washington Study decided to test out starting school later to see the effects it has on students. In the same study, after school start times were pushed back, final grades were 4.5 percent higher and first period absences dropped. There are also more benefits like improved mood and fewer car crashes among youth.
Early start times also take a toll on students’ moods. When teens don’t get enough sleep, it shows through low energy, irritability, and difficulty staying positive throughout the day. In early classes, it’s common to see students with their heads down or barely awake, but in later classes those same students are noticeably more alert and engaged. When someone starts the day exhausted, it becomes harder to focus, stay motivated, or complete work until they feel fully awake again.
Some may argue that teens can just go to sleep early, but this would not work because teens can’t just go to bed early; our bodies naturally stay up later at night.
Dr. Mary Carskadon stated during a PBS Frontline interview, “there is another part of their brain..the biological timing system, or the circadian clock… But when they start the day with the empty bank…they really should be home in bed sleeping, not sleeping in the classroom.”
Column: Listening to music provides healthy benefits
by Brooklynn Stevenson
Music has long been a part of human culture for centuries, serving both as a form of expression and a way to communicate. Music plays a significant role in enhancing our mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. Engaging with music can foster personal growth and improve our overall quality of life.
One of the most notable benefits of music is its impact on mood. According to Right As Rain, listening to music can trigger the release of dopamine in the brain. This is why many people turn to music during times of stress or sadness. Playing a favorite song can uplift spirits and provide a deep sense of comfort.
Music allows individuals to process their feelings and experiences in a healthy way.
In addition to the emotional benefits it provides, music has been shown to have several advantages as well. According to PMC, engaging with music can enhance memory and boost focus. Learning to play an instrument requires multitasking and commitment, all of which are skills that can bring good academic performance and problem-solving abilities. APA states that students involved in music education often score better in math, science, and English than their nonmusical peers.
A significant part of music is the social aspect. Music often brings people together, bringing connections. Whether through concerts or just listening with friends, the communal experience of music can enhance social bonds. Collaborating in music also encourages teamwork and communication skills, which are essential in personal and professional environments
Music can have therapeutic effects as well. Music therapy is recognized for its effectiveness in treating mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It can help individuals express emotions that may be difficult to express or articulate. Additionally, music is often used in rehab programs to aid in physical recovery. Overall, the benefits of music highlight its importance as a huge aspect of human experience.
Column: Education system should do more to relieve neverending pressure
by Jilliann Denbo
As a kid, I’ve always thought I would be a teacher, or maybe do something with ocean animals. And I always thought I could just change my job whenever and it wouldn’t affect me. I used to have so many goals and different career paths I had wanted. But now all that is just a fantasy.
Kids like me didn’t even know there were many options for careers only because I was never opened up to the idea of ‘different jobs’.
Now that I’m a sophomore, the next two years really impact my career. I’ve always been indecisive on what I want to do or how I want to do things. And knowing I have to make the right choices sometime this year really scares me even though I know exactly what I want to be, I just don’t know where to start.
I never really thought about how much money I’m going to make, or how confusing it would be to pick the right paths for my career. There are always little Google forms about picking classes to help with a career choice , I never know which ones to pick. It always makes me nervous because I don’t have any idea if I chose the right thing or how it will affect me.
Many people like me feel this way too. There is just a never ending pressure about picking our career. Maybe it’s all too soon?
Teachers don’t give us enough opportunities to explore their career, yes we get to move paths only once maybe twice. But what if that isn’t even enough?
Education should focus on more than making us pick a path early, it should equip us with a broad knowledge base, and explore many different possibilities open to us.
Some students mix up degrees and careers, leading them to pick the wrong classes. I feel us students should have a little more of an understanding about exactly what classes to choose for each career.
Yes, picking a wrong career will not ruin anything. But pressure from friends, family, and society make it feel like it will. Even if we know exactly what they want to be, people can push us to pick classes that have nothing to do with our career.
Feeling stressed about a career can affect our mind and body, as well as, a lot of students overthinking options before making a decision.
Teachers can start giving kids more options at a young age by opening our minds to different ideas and pathways.
In all, students shouldn’t have to stress out as badly as they do just because they have zero idea where to start. Education should have more openings into teaching students where to start.
thehyphennews.com 