Online readership grew for the fourth consecutive month, thanks to Hyphen readers:
by Austin Bainbridge
Head coach Sherron Wilkerson sits at his desk, planning practices and workouts and developing ways to help players improve. During the offseason, Wilkerson has to put in a lot of effort to maintain one of Indiana’s best high school teams.
“To win a state championship as a team we must be disciplined and mentally tough,” said Wilkerson.
JHS has a tough schedule and has high expectations from players and coaches alike this season, but the players aren’t concerned about the pressure.
“I’m not worried about the competition; our coaches have given us everything we need to win,” said freshman Cornelius Weobong.
The coaches help the players improve, but the players know to get better they have to work on their own time to meet the expectations they’ll face this season.
“I work out with the team, but I also do pushups every night. I also jump a lot to improve my vertical,” said varsity player and senior PJ Douglas.
“To win a state championship as a team we must be disciplined and mentally tough.”
Basketball Coach Sherron Wilkerson
This commitment is essential for the Red Devils, who are expected to contend for a state championship.
“This season is different because we are in contention for a state championship, and that’s huge for this team,” said Wilkerson.
The players have a good reason to believe in their skills, as they train intensely. The players know what’s at stake.
“I train hard seven days a week so that we can make and win a state championship,” said Weobong.
The confidence of everyone surrounding JHS, especially the fans, is high.
“I think they are going to win a state championship, and I’m excited to see it,” said English teacher David Kummer.
The hype for this team has very good reason, too. The coaches have helped the players get better since the final game of last year’s 20-8 season that ended in a 52-51 semi-state finals loss to Ben Davis.
“My coaches have really helped me improve my game by showing me what I need to work on,” said Weobong.
These players feel that confidence. They worked hard all summer and fall getting ready for the first game.
“Practice is a big part of what we do. It translates directly into games,” said Douglas.
The fans are also hoping to help this team out on the court
Kummer said, “Fans contribute to the team during the games with big crowds that can motivate this team to play better.”
This team’s hope for the season is sky-high, and they are ready to get on the court and meet those expectations.
“As a team, we put in the work, and are ready to back up the expectations,” said Douglas.
JHS faces Cathedral High School at home this Saturday; the boys’ and girls’ teams will play. The theme is “White Out,” and the fall Homecoming crowning postponed due to weather will take place at halftime of the boys’ varsity game.
by Shelby Keesee
At long last, after weeks of deferral, Jeff High’s long awaited Homecoming is set to take place this weekend.
Yet what is Homecoming – and why are we thrilled?
Homecoming is the celebration of school traditions and the highlighting of certain students whose goals are to become Homecoming King and Queen. Others may attend to commemorate JHS, dress fancily, or simply to socialize with peers while showing Red Devil spirit.
Poor weather conditions several weeks ago are to blame for the event’s delay. Storms producing heavy rains and weather warnings were present in the area prior to the original date.
After discussions with Student Council sponsor Natalie Woods, principal Pam Hall and the administrative team decided to postpone Homecoming to the first boys’ and girls’ basketball home game to give the courts their deserving recognition.
“We did not want to have our Homecoming court out there in their dresses or in their nice suits getting drenched, so we made the decision to look for an alternative date,” stated Hall.
Although Homecoming has been delayed, voter decisions have remained intact and up-to-date.
“The student population has already voted, so the first round of votes are for all those people who signed up that want to be on court or candidates, and then they are chosen by vote by their class,” stated Woods. “The second round of votes are just for the King and Queen, so the whole school gets to vote for the King and Queen of their choice.”
Results from the voting window have stayed exceptionally quiet, but the royalty and court members will be announced this Saturday night.
“We have 20 Homecoming court members. We have four duos of seniors – so we have four boys and four girls for seniors, and then we have two boys and two girls for each junior, sophomore and freshman classes,” said Woods. “Our seniors come make up the King and Queen candidates, and then our juniors, sophomores and freshmen make up what’s known as the Homecoming court.”
While attending Homecoming, JROTC Saber Team presentations are expected, along with a more formal ceremony where students are presented to JHS community members, staff and other students.
Both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams will play this Saturday; the theme is “White Out.”
by Madison Pritchard
Jeff High Cheer has done it again. This marks the fourth year in a row that the team has gotten a bid to make their way to Nationals. They competed at the UCA Hoosier Hills Regional competition on Nov. 17 and received their bid to attend.
“I feel grateful and fortunate that we have been able to make it to Nationals for four years straight. I’m proud of my teammates for working hard the past six months. And I’m excited to make some more memories in Orlando,” stated senior cheerleader Violet Fondrisi, who competed at the regional.
The work doesn’t stop there, though. The cheerleading team still has a long season ahead of them.
“I take it one day at a time, and I think about how our hardest practices will only make us better,” Fondrisi said about their intense preparation.
The moment they received their bid was bittersweet, especially for the seniors on the team.
When asked about her goals for the season and Nationals, Fondrisi stated that she hopes the seniors are able to “enjoy one of (their) last experiences being a Jeff High cheerleader.”
Jeff High Cheer is hopeful for their season, and they plan to win big once they hit the mat in Orlando.
by Emelyn Gantulga
When I was younger, I yelled at my parents for not getting me what I wanted. Now, looking back at it, one can realize how much time has passed since then. Traveling to a new foreign place is tough, but going through it alone is even tougher. That’s why people should cherish the time they have, although they may not get along with someone else. Moreover, as a student who had to travel to a new continent, there are many key elements to be aware of. These key elements include being homesick, being safe, and getting used to the new environment.
A home is considered a safe place, or the people that make a person feel safe. And when a person travels somewhere else, they’ll miss their home and culture. Home is what makes a person feel warm and happy because they’ll always know that they have somewhere to go.
However, moving somewhere new takes that feeling away because a person will find out that it’s never going feel the same way it did. Additionally, that’s why most people get homesick the minute they step into a new place because they know it will never replace the feeling of home, which is why when a person travels to somewhere new, they need to be aware of getting homesick and being safe and getting used to what’s around them.
It’s important to be safe. An article by the United Nations states, “More than 50,000 migrants die in search of a better life.” From this article, we know that even though people travel for new opportunities, they should still consider the myriad amount of risks that come along the way.
Furthermore, people should also be aware when traveling, because it’s hard to predict what will happen that day. This is only to ensure the safety of people that travel somewhere new because it’s hard to get somewhere far away. This is why people should prioritize their safety when it comes to traveling and getting used to somewhere new.
Despite getting older, people still keep familiar habits. The National Library of Medicine states, “Creating a healthy home environment in infancy is critical, as home characteristics in early infancy (six months) may remain constant into toddlerhood.”
This could signify that traveling and living somewhere new can be compared to a baby getting used to their home. Additionally, when people travel somewhere new, there can be new experiences they haven’t felt before, which will give opportunities for people to erudite in new places. Because, in some places, there could be certain foods that aren’t the same as back home, and temperature and culture may be different. This is a feeling many travelers feel when they travel somewhere new to live in because in most cases they either travel to experience a new feeling or to do it for the benefit they desire.
In conclusion, traveling can be a tough experience. This is because traveling can make a person feel a thrill, along with many other feelings as well. On the other hand, key elements to look out for when it comes to traveling include being homesick, being safe, and getting used to the new environment. Additionally, moving somewhere completely new can be fun, but one should always be cautious no matter the circumstance.
All photos by Romier Hunter-Lawrence and Maggie Nifong.
by Tyler Conley
Censorship, the most complex and confusing matter of the modern day. All of our life, we’re told that we have a voice. But in reality, do we?
In the past millennium, so much has changed. In this new day and age, the media has changed so much. Over 5 billion people are on the internet at any given time, no matter the time of day. Ever since the internet was created in 1983, it has been monitored heavily, just like all other forms of media at that time.
All forms of media are under watch. And to a certain extent, it makes perfect sense, Freedom of speech and expression does not condone illegal activities. But, is it illegal to have the freedom of creativity and expression?
Youth have less and less of a voice everyday. The only way to change is to make people realize that our voices are just as important as anyone else’s.
In 1985, a group called the PMRC (Parents’ Music Resource Center) was created to monitor music and educate parents on what their children listen to. But, it wasn’t just a suggestion. It seemed more like a law. Headed by former First Lady Tipper Gore, all of the music coming out at the time had to pass through them.
Bands like WASP, Def Leppard, Prince, and Twisted Sister were no match for this organization. And to combat the oppression, some of these artists took to the stand to try and sway their opinion.
Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider was one of the most important and famous cases of the artists trying to take back their music. Twisted Sister’s song “Under The Blade” was the song in question that was going to have his album banned, for allegedly having topics the PMRC thought kids should not know about.
And sadly, all of the fighting was for nothing. They had all decided beforehand their final verdict. The music of the accused wouldn’t be banned, but parental advisory stickers were added to every CD deemed “Nasty” by the PMRC. This is an instance of censorship terribly backfiring.
Kids all over the United States were going out and purposefully buying albums with Parental Advisory stickers. Being a part of the youth today, I would agree that the advisory sticker is eye-catching; it makes me very curious about the material of the album.
Ironically, this almost 40-year-old incident still has relevance because it has not changed.
In March of 2023 in Boise, Idaho, an art exhibit was censored, and teens were told they could not testify in some legislative hearings.
Adults silence teenagers and young adults, telling them what they can or cannot see and listen to. And when young people try to say something about it, we are ignored and told we do know what we’re talking about.
I think there’s a stereotype that teenagers are not knowledgeable enough to speak up. Adults have lived longer than us, but we have the right to live our own lives. No one should have to conform to a certain idea or belief, yet censorship is a growing problem.
“We are seeing tremendous attacks on First Amendment freedoms across the country right now, at all levels of government. Censorship is proliferating, and it’s deeply troubling,” said Joe Cohn, legislative and policy director with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
And now, we can even be censored for being ourselves.
“This year, we’re seeing a wave of bills targeting drag performances where simply being gender nonconforming is enough to trigger the penalty,” Cohn said.
It’s understandable to dislike or disagree with someone’s idea, but being censored for being ourselves is becoming a serious issue, and it should not be. It’s no one’s business what I wear, what I say or who I am.
We have changed in the United States over the years. Youth have less and less of a voice everyday. The only way to change is to make people realize that our voices are just as important as anyone else’s.
No matter who you are, you have a voice. No one can tell you differently.
All photos by Ifrah Daber and Andrea Campbell.
Readers can learn more on the history of Taylor High School by examining Greta Reel’s May, 2020 Hyphen story.
Editor’s Note: This story will be updated as JHS media and other student organizations examine the history and legacy of Jeffersonville’s Taylor High School.
Principal Pam Hall announced that all Jeff High classes will resume on the regular in-person schedule on Thursday, Nov. 14 after today’s early release due to a damaged sewer line.
Greater Clark County Schools are working with the Clark County Health Department to ensure the building has been fully sanitized and disinfected for the safety of students and staff.
Check back; this post will be updated as decisions are made about tomorrow.
thehyphennews.com 