by Sam Ottinger

“Welcome to one of the most exciting nights of music anywhere in the Kentucky Indiana area,” choral director Kyle Broady commented last Tuesday night. And, he was absolutely right.

Gospelfest was a fantastic, moving, and very energetic event. The concert style worked perfectly to create an environment of connection among those in the audience. The singing along of audience members would typically be one of irritation, yet somehow they were able to make it feel as though it belongs among the singing voices of the choir.

The performance consisted of eight songs. The very first, sung by the chamber choir of JHS singers, started off slow with a soft piano sound of “I Believe,” yet it soon grew into an energetic piece as the sizzles of a cymbal joined, and the audience was encouraged to clap along. 

Following this piece was a favorite among the crowd, as well as one favorite of my own, known as “He Heard My Cry.” Senior Luna Guyse began with a solo accompanied by similar soft piano notes and then transitioned into a harmony and cymbal climb. The crowd cheered nearly after every other lyric.

The next two songs, “You Should Know” and “My Soul Has Been Anchored in the Lord,” were sung by the gospel ensemble, with solos from Guyse, freshman Vivienne Diehl, sophomore Presley Inzer, junior Nairah Jadusingh and junior Joshua Broady.

A very special quality that I noticed during Gospelfest was not just the opportunity of connecting with our community, but also being able to connect with our own family. During “My Soul Has Been Anchored in the Lord,” Roosevelt Escalante invited a surprised Broady to come up and sing alongside Broady’s son. 

“He [Dr. Roosevelt] wanted to do it so I could sing with my son, which was pretty special,” Broady said when asked how he felt at that moment.

Before the final song, “The Blood Still Works,” Dr. Escalante was able to perform with his daughter.

Both pieces didn’t just have beautifully sung vocals, but also the warmth of family being able to share the joys of singing together. The way Dr. Escalante’s daughter’s performance flowed into the final song felt as though that warmth was reaching out to encapsulate the audience with it, as the song once again allowed the audience to join along in clapping to the melody.

When going back to the song after Broady came up to sing, “Going up a Yonder,” there is another very special quality. This Gospelfest did not just include JHS choir students but also two other choirs, including the Southern Indiana Children’s Choir.

This was a brand new organization, performing for the very first time, consisting of children in second to fifth grade in Clark and Floyd County. They were selected from their elementary schools by their music specialist or teacher and had rehearsal only once a week.

This in itself made it special for how talented these young kids are, but the conductor who helped teach them their skills is none other than Leslie Gabhart, who used to be a choir teacher here at JHS, and she even was the choir teacher for Broady.

The other choir that combined forces for this Gospelfest was Borden Junior- Senior High School. All three choirs joined together to perform the jazzy piece “Bless the Lord.” Each choir was able to be powerful, yet not overwhelm the others.

“Bless the Lord” had to be my favorite piece for the whole concert. Throughout the song everyone just seemed to work well with one another. The live band, the JHS choir, the Borden choir and the Southern Indiana Children’s choir really showed off their talent with this piece.

The following piece, “No One Like You” – sung by the JHS and Borden choirs – returned to a slower, softer start. This song may not have been the most energetic one, but that does not mean it was even close to being boring. As a soloist started the lyrics off, there was a really captivating way that they performed. For after the third line the singers were able to raise their pitch on the word “me” to this enchanting sound.

For something that started more than two decades ago, the emotional energy created in that auditorium was as young and thriving as ever. The love that could be felt in that room, for the people and for the music, was something I haven’t felt after any other school event.

By: London Williams

Barbie has been loved for many generations. She’s the plastic doll we’ve all grown to love. She’s fantastic, and so is this film! ‘Barbie’ came out this past Summer on July 21, 2023. Competing alongside “Oppenheimer” as one of the year’s most anticipated movies. This movie has made over 1.34 billion at the Box Office (for the US) just so far! Barbie jumped out of her box and has been crushing it at the box office ever since the release of this film! The feeling after watching ‘Barbie’ is unlike any movie I’ve ever seen. This movie is so charming and nostalgic. It has you thinking about it long after watching. It manages to have a perfect balance of relatable, real-life issues while keeping its innocent, humorous, and lighthearted approach. 

The plot of Barbie is pretty simple; Barbie has an existential crisis and goes to the real world to figure out why her perfect life seems to be falling apart. Ken tags along, and they both go their separate ways in self-discovery. Barbie runs into the mother-daughter duo that has the answers to all her problems, while Ken is convinced that the real world is run by men. (Which of course, makes him go back to Barbieland to make a world full of Mojo Dojo Casa houses and horses.) This movie perfectly handles the topic of equality. After Barbie goes back to Barbieland and sees what Ken has done she is torn and devastated, things didn’t go well in the real world, and now Barbieland is falling apart too. It feels like the “man vs. woman” situation Barbie felt in the real world. The way Barbie feels is clear and relatable for women while being easy to understand and empathize with for someone who couldn’t personally relate. 

I believe that the casting for the movie was perfect. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling did a fantastic job capturing their roles. It felt like Barbie and Ken came to life by how their humanization was portrayed. Robbie and Gosling took one-dimensional characters and gave them more depth and life. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are already extremely beloved actors. That’s another reason I think the casting is perfect. Who wouldn’t want to see the latest Margot Robbie or Ryan Gosling film? ‘Barbie’ also features many other well-known actors, including; Will Ferrel (as Mattel CEO), Michael Cera (as Alan), Dua Lipa (as Mermaid Barbie), and John Cena (as Male Mermaid), and that’s just to name a few! The casting for all the Barbies and Kens was epic, to say the least. It felt like every time I blinked there was an actor that I recognized. They even got Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice to create the song “Barbie World”! After that song came out, it was everywhere. I found myself having the song stuck in my head before and after finishing the movie. The release of “Barbie World” was one of the perfect buildups for the premiere of this film. Some would say it was also a “full circle” moment for Nicki Minaj since she frequently associates herself with the character. The song is also great as a standalone track that worked great with the end credits of the film. Who wouldn’t want to see this exceptional movie?  

I found the maturity rating for this movie very interesting. It’s definitely PG-13, but I noticed people being confused that a Barbie movie would be rated PG-13 instead of just PG. When I went to see this movie, there was an abundance of very small children walking in. This made me wonder about its advertising approach. This could just be parents assuming it was PG or just not caring if their 7-year-old sees a PG-13 movie; which definitely isn’t abnormal, but I thought it was worth noting. When I mentioned Barbie to a few adults in my life, they actually made comments about how they were surprised about the rating. After actually watching Barbie, it’s clear why it’s rated how it is; one very subtle sex joke, its mentions of death, and its topics of womens rights and equality. It feels like Barbie was in between PG-13 and PG, and they went with PG-13 to be safe. 

This movie has many beautiful moments. A notable one is when Barbie is sitting on a bench in the park by an older woman. She tells the woman that she is beautiful, as she is crying. Barbie realizes how beautiful people and the world are. Barbie is seen by a lot of people as a vision of the “perfect woman” who lives a “perfect life”. When Barbie sees the real world it makes it clear that it isn’t true. Nothing is perfect and that is what is beautiful. Things aren’t as simple as Barbie had originally thought. Beauty is all around us, and Barbie makes us realize that. Barbie truly is a beautiful experience you don’t want to miss! 

Digital Dispatch Oct. 2, 2026

Photos by Gabriella Kraft and Isaiah Stewart.

by jhshyphen 2 Oct 2026

Red Devils defeat Salem 5-1 last night

Photos by Shelby Keesee.

by jhshyphen 2 Oct 20262 Oct 2026

Policewoman turned scientist inspires lives beyond the classroom

by Noah Keserovic

---

Birthday: May 6, 1999 Hometown: Corydon, Indiana Favorite sport: Softball Favorite food: Pasta Favorite movie: “Iron Man“ Favorite music genre: Pop music Hobbies: Reading, arts and crafts Time spent teaching: Two years.

---

Biology and PLTW Human Body Systems teacher Karson Cecil sits at her desk, checking emails and grading assignments as the students in her seventh period Human Body Systems class work, constructing an origami diagram of a bone. A Louisville Police badge sits on her desk in a case.

One may walk past Cecil’s classroom without a second thought, just thinking that she is any ordinary science teacher; however, that isn’t the case here. 

At a first glance, no one would know that she once worked as a crime scene technician for the Louisville Police.

“My experience as a crime scene technician was fantastic; it was a fulfilling job and it was always something new each day. I left that position due to the schedule being too chaotic,” Cecil said. 

However, one may wonder why she would take up such a job, with so much danger and unpredictability.

“I just applied and showed up. But the biggest influence is ‘Criminal Minds’, the show,” Cecil stated.

After quitting her job as a crime scene technician she took her career in a completely different direction.

“I chose science because my degree is in science, and it’s my favorite subject,” she answered.

Despite the troubles and annoyances of being a teacher, she has still decided to stick with this career as a science teacher.

“I like getting to help students find something that’s interesting to them and discover that science can be pretty fun.”

Cecil had to take various different classes in high school and then college in order to be able to pursue her career in teaching, biology, and human anatomy.

“In high school I took Advanced Science classes and then in college I took a lot of biology and chemistry classes. I also took an education class, not with interest in teaching, just to fill a space, but then I went to grad school and took anatomy classes,” Cecil said.

Cecil is still a new teacher, at least compared to others, having chosen to teach at JHS for a simple reason.

“Yeah, because it’s close to my home and they were looking to hire a science teacher,” Cecil stated.

Her students have had many positive impacts on her life.

“My students impact my life by brightening my day and they always keep me learning too, they teach me new things which are important. They teach me slang, and I’ve learned some TikTok dances,” she said.

However, Cecil has also had impacts on the lives of her students as well.

“I say she’s taught me a lot and helped me learn a lot of information I need to know for my career,” said sophomore Haylee Schwarz, a student in Cecil’s PLTW Human Body Systems class.

Cecil has also been an inspiration for her students.

“She inspires me to be a better person because of the way she teaches,” stated sophomore Layla Dizdar, another PLTW Human Body Systems student.

Cecil thinks that science is a very important subject, especially in today’s world.

“Science explains the world and how it’s always changing. It is also important that people are able to keep up with new information,” she stated.

Some may find biology and human anatomy to be boring, so one may wonder how Cecil keeps her class fun and interesting.

“I try to incorporate different styles of learning and different games,” she said.

But, do her methods really work at all?

“I find it fun because I like learning the stuff but I find it interesting because of the people,” said Schwarz. 

Cecil also has a way to motivate her students to work efficiently.

“Knowing we can have fun after our work is done is a big motivator for everyone,” said Dizdar.

Many people seem to have a positive opinion of Cecil as well.

“I think she’s a very funny and kind individual,” stated Dizdar.

Despite Cecil having a rather chaotic history, and teaching such an important and complicated subject, she has one, very simple goal in her life.

“My biggest goal in life is to have a small hobby farm with miniature cows.”

by jhshyphen 1 Oct 2026

Charles Patton transfers love for science to his students

by Akiya Flynn

Principles of Biomedical Science and Biomedical Innovations instructor Charles Patton works hard to teach a wide range of scientific material in his classroom. Patton uses his genuine persona to engage his students.

 “The way he teaches is understandable, and he goes into detail and makes things make sense,”  said freshman Gem’maica Hunter-Lawrence.

No one would have guessed that Patton had prior work experience in science before teaching it. 

“I worked in various healthcare systems in the Atlanta healthcare market for about 15 years, and four years prior to teaching, I was with a healthcare startup system called VillageMD,”  said Patton. 

Patton has been teaching for two years; he is currently in his third year. 

“You kind of grow and learn and make changes in real time. Changes as needed,” he stated. 

Patton keeps a healthy classroom environment and uses patience.

“I try to be as approachable and honest as possible.”

Patton actively works to build a relationship with each student. He uses the students’ work as a way to learn, understand, and even help them. 

“There’s a lot of depending on how the day goes; there is no set schedule,” he stated. “Some days are more controlled than others.”

Patton conducts his classroom based on the behavior of the students in it. He prefers to work with the students rather than against them. 

“He’s nice and seems like a genuine person,” according to freshman Elise McCormack.

“I love science. I think that science is something that brings us tons of experiments and some sort of truth at the end.”

Principles of Biomedical Science and Biomedical Innovations Teacher Charles Patton

Patton sees his students as more than just students; he sees them for far more than what they write down on a paper.

“I like that he is bubbly and lights up a room. He listens and tries to put his feet in your shoes,” said freshman Harmoni Staton.

Because Patton cares so deeply for his students, he intends to welcome them with the same warm, welcoming personality every day.

“Everyday is what you make it, and the positive feedback from the kids keeps me going,” he stated.

Seeing the impact he makes on the students during the duration of teaching keeps Patton eager and ready to come back and work. He has a deep love for science and hopes to share a little of that scientific truth with his students.

“I love science. I think that science is something that brings us tons of experiments and some sort of truth at the end.” 

by jhshyphen 1 Oct 2026

JHS defeats Silver Creek 2-0 during Monday’s Senior Night

Photos by Isaiah Stewart and Parker McCloskey.

by jhshyphen 30 Sep 20262 Oct 2026

Floyd Central defeats JHS soccer 9-0 last night

Photos by Malachi Conrad.

by jhshyphen 30 Sep 2026

New Pace

Cross country team adjusts to recent coaching change

by Isaiah Gatton and Elijah Lahrman

The foundation of the cross country team was established as a strong program, but the team has had to adjust to recent coaching changes.

The team is now under the guidance of Coach Carlis Phillips, who has a background in sprinting and hurdles, bringing a new perspective to the program and enhancing it with the experience he has accumulated throughout the six years he has worked at Jeff High.

“I’ve been coaching for some time. I have been at Jeff for the last six years, working as the sprint coach for 4-5 years. I have a sprint background, hurdle background; I’m up for the challenge to try and build our little distance and cross country team to be as competitive as our sprinters,” he said.

His goal for the rest of the season is to get the cross country team in a competitive mindset, having the hunger to push past limits and barriers.

Phillips has also introduced new expectations for the team, including recommending runners purchase watches to track their mileage and implementing mile warm-ups and cool-downs. He views the season as an educational journey as he continues to guide the team.

“It is an educational thing, what a high performing cross country team looks like,” he said. “Just recently I recommended that they should invest in a running watch. Tracking is a big part of running. There are some foundation pieces that I’m implementing as well. Giving them information and knowledge about what a successful cross country runner looks like. I’m going to coach everyone in here like a champion. I do want them to be challenged, feel the tug and pull of what a successful runner looks like.”

With the change in coaching has come a change in training. Compared to previous seasons, runners have noticed more intervals, sprinting, and strength-focused workouts.

“We do a lot more intervals instead of just long-distance runs,” sophomore varsity runner Micah Nef said. “A lot of it is just focusing on speed work instead of distance.”

For some runners, the new training has been challenging but has provided an opportunity to develop different skills. Senior varsity runner Nathan Scovanner said he likes the balance between speed and endurance.

“I like that part, because we do need to build up some speed,” Scovanner said. “If we mix in both speed and endurance, we’ll become better runners overall, because we’ll have that speed and still be able to keep our speed going through our races.”

Junior Marcus Baker has also started to enjoy the new sprint-focused workouts. Having previously run sprints in middle school, Baker said the new practices have brought back something he enjoyed.

“I feel like every day when we’re on that track, he pushes us,” Baker said. “It feels good running sprints.”

However, not every runner has found the transition easy. Some athletes said they preferred aspects of former Coach Sam Mull’s approach, particularly his emphasis on endurance and the mental side of running. They are adjusting, though.

“I think it’s weird having a different coach, but it’s good to learn different things from multiple people,” Nef said.

Nef said her times felt faster when the team focused more on endurance training, although she acknowledged the new training has been more challenging.

Senior runner Lizeth Gonzalez said she sees value in both coaching styles.

“I like both of them,” Gonzalez said. “Whenever you do compete in a 5k, you do need the strength to push yourself. But at the same time, when you do long mileage, the three miles start becoming easier in a way.”

For Gonzalez, one of the biggest differences between Mull and Phillips is how they approach athletes mentally.

“Coach Mull taught us in more of a mental type of way, but also physical, and Coach Phillips is more of a physical type of coach,” Gonzalez said.

She said she would like to see the strengths of both coaches combined.

“I would enjoy having, of course, Coach Mull back, and have both of them as coaches,” Gonzalez said. “I know both of them could allow us to become better athletes because they both can focus on our weaknesses and strengths.”

The coaching change has also affected some of the traditions and activities that helped bring the team together. Nef said Mull was known for organizing additional activities that were not necessarily required but helped create connections among teammates.

“He was really good at getting things done and doing extra things that weren’t necessary,” Nef said, referring to activities such as a 24-hour relay that has been recently canceled.

Despite the changes, Nef said the team has remained close, with the team captain helping maintain that connection.

“We still have a good team captain, so we’re still close,” Nef said.

Other runners are looking toward what Phillips’s experience could bring to the program. Phillips’ background in track has given him experience working with athletes who specialize in speed, something that some runners believe could help the cross-country team develop.

“I do think so,” Scovanner said when asked if Phillips’s reputation would help the program. “I think it will bring some more people to the team, possibly. He also does have some experience, but cross country is a new thing to him, I’m sure that’s not going to affect him.”

Gonzalez also believes Phillips’s experience could bring more recognition to the program.

“I believe we are going to get more support,” Gonzalez said. “I feel like Coach Phillips has a good history with training athletes, sending them to state, and being able to train them. And I believe it will allow us to get a little bit more recognition as a team.”

For Scovanner, the transition has been a process. As a senior running cross-country for his second year, he said he initially had concerns about what the coaching change would mean for the team.

“At first, I was a little skeptical,” Scovanner said. “I didn’t know how everything was going to play out. I had a lot of doubts in my mind.”

As the season has progressed, however, Scovanner said he has become more comfortable with Phillips’s approach.

“I had faith, and so far, everything’s turned out really well,” Scovanner said. “I really like everything that’s been going on.”

While athletes have different opinions about the new direction, the team is continuing to adjust as the season progresses. Phillips’s emphasis on speed, strength, and competitiveness has created a different training environment, while runners continue to carry lessons from previous seasons.

by jhshyphen 30 Sep 2026

FCA allows students to strengthen their faith

by Lorelei Bingham

As Friday morning begins, students gather before school, ready to start their day off with breakfast, games, and conversations about their faith. 

For members of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), these Friday mornings are more than just a way to start the school day. They are an opportunity to connect with their peers and grow closer to God.

“FCA means quite a lot to me. It’s a time for me to connect with my peers, play games, eat breakfast, but it is also so much more. I’m able to grow closer to God even at school, and I look forward to every Friday morning for this exact reason,” stated senior Macyn Jackson.

Through games and discussions, FCA gives students opportunities to grow both as athletes and in their faith.

Main sponsor Pamela McCoy shared, “FCA is about athletes being able to come together to practice teamwork and commitment. Being able to have a space to gather together, pray, and learn about Jesus is important. We meet as a group for FCA, but the hope is that it will go out to the teams. FCA’s goal is to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes.”

Although FCA centers around sports and faith, every student has a different reason for being involved.

Freshman Eli Smith said that joining FCA has helped strengthen his relationship with God while helping him become a better person.

Jackson shares a similar reason for joining FCA. “I joined FCA because this is a community of people I can always have for support, and I’m there to support them too. I also knew joining would help me grow to be a better person all around.”

Student leaders play a big role in FCA. They grow in their faith while helping others grow theirs. 

“Being a student leader is challenging, but I love it,” said junior Clara Theriault. “I go through my Bible, make devotionals, and questions from scratch, so it really tests my knowledge, but I get to share that with my fellow peers who may not know what I’m talking about. That part makes it all extremely rewarding.”

The student leaders contribute to making FCA meaningful for its members.

“My favorite part of FCA is getting to hear our high school leaders talk about my religion and what it means to be Christian. It’s so meaningful to hear people my age or younger speak about the Bible and the connections we can make to our high school life. It shows me that even at school, I can be living through Christ,” Jackson shared.

Members also encourage their peers to attend, saying they can experience the community and learn about their faith.

McCoy explained, “At FCA we want to try and invite others to come to know more about Jesus and to form a community of peers that can join together and share their faith with each other.”

For some members, Friday mornings have become a meaningful part of their week.

Theriault said, “My favorite part about FCA is being able to devote every Friday morning to God and spreading the gospel.”

FCA allows students to strengthen their own faith while encouraging them to share it with others. 

McCoy hopes that message continues beyond the Friday morning meetings.

“I hope that they come away knowing that Jesus loves them and that they can take that and share it with other students,” shared McCoy. “I also hope that they invite others so they can know more about Jesus as well.”

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 2026

Bonnia Fouts advocates for her students

by Erin Osterhout

Dr. Bonnia Fouts roams around the classroom, watching as her students work on their volcano project and rushing to anyone in need.

Most people would assume that Fouts is merely a normal science teacher if they did not know her story.

However, this is never the full story. 

Few would look at Fouts and assume that she had two degrees.

“I had part-time jobs, but most of them involved teaching. My first job was a P.E teacher. I have two degrees — one is in physical education and health, and the other one was speech and drama,” she said.

Fouts dreamed of being a teacher as a young girl.

“I wanted to be a teacher ever since I was 8 years old. I actually started teaching my neighbors and helped them with their homework, and I loved it.”

Fouts then admitted that she had originally retired but came back after some time.

“Well, I actually retired in 2012 but I came back and this is now my 41st year of teaching. I got the ExCel award for best teacher of the year in Greater Clark County like Mr.Santry did. In 2005 I was the runner-up when I competed for best teacher of the year,” stated Fouts. “I got a bunch of neat stuff.”

Fouts loves working with students in the classroom and motivating them.

“I try to build a relationship with them and get to know them because you can’t motivate them if you don’t know them much,” she explained. “I will do anything for a student.”

Sign language interpreter Angela Liebert said Fouts makes her lessons fun and interactive.

“Mrs. Fouts is very hands on with her lessons; she makes them come alive out of the book. The textbook is the resource, but the way she teaches allows the concepts and things the students learn about come alive. She cares about the students and she cares about her job and profession. She really takes it to heart.”

Liebert said Fouts’s personality mixes into her lessons and interactions with colleagues.

“Mrs. Fouts is a very compassionate person. She is my friend. I can honestly say that Mrs. Fouts is my coworker and friend. We shared a lunch together. She’s always checking on you, and she is an example of a true true friend.”

Senior Breayden Eugene Duncan also described Fouts as as someone who genuinely cares about her students in the classroom. She has been helping him succeed for two years.

“Last year I learned ICP I was in there specifically for physics, and this year I’m learning earth/space. She always kept me focused in class and basically kept me concentrated and focused on work,” Duncan explained. “Honestly (she is) great at explaining and doing notes and stuff like that. Does easy assignments and overall is really nice and has helped me all last year and this year.”

Fouts’s ultimate goal is to help her students succeed. As she said, “I am an advocate for my students.”

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 2026

Life of a High School Counselor

Shelby McCorkle strives to help her students every day

by Anicko Griffin

Counselor Shelby McCorkle greets her students with a smile, answering questions they and others may have for that day.

“Hey girl! How can I help?”

McCorkle carries herself like any other person at Jeff High. Most people would never notice the hundreds of students’ pain, dilemmas, and anger she carries with her every day.

Although it seems difficult, McCorkle completes her job with a positive demeanor.

Some may see McCorkle as just another staff member. It’s invisible to the blind eye that she has been a school counselor for just over 14 years, finding her job the most enjoyable and important thing to her after her two kids. 

“I love working with kids. It’s never boring, and you all bring something new to the table every day. Are there things I would change about it? Yes, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” stated McCorkle.

McCorkle plans on being a JHS counselor until retirement.

“I genuinely want to help every student who comes through my door and help change their life for the better.” 

McCorkle’s father was in education as well. She also took the counselor career path.

“Now more than ever, a lot is going on with family, school, and teachers, and it’s important for everyone to have their safe space,” said McCorkle.

Her students appreciate her dedication.

“She always makes my day better,” said junior Brooklynn Weston. ”No matter what the topic is, she always knows what to say.”

McCorkle is always trying to gain students’ trust and give them a safe space. She genuinely values her job, and helping students with their next big step is a priority to her. 

“I love helping students figure out what path they want to take when they get out of high school. The person they are changes so much between 14 and 17, and I love being able to be there every step of the way.”

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 2026

Hands-on learning allows Francesca Hernandez to bring creativity to her student scientists

by Nehri Lewis

Science teacher Francesca Hernandez works to make biology meaningful and fun for her students by connecting what they learn in her classroom to the outside world.

“I think science is important, and if I can help others to understand the world around them more, then that’s a win in my book,” said Hernandez.

Her interest in biology started when she was in high school and had a teacher who made learning fun for her.

“I loved biology in high school. I had a fun teacher who took us on a bunch of field trips, and I wanted to be just like her. Shout out Ms. Lyvers,” said Hernandez.

Because of her own experiences as a student, Hernandez believes students should be able to learn science in ways they can remember.

“I’m a hands-on person. If I hear something, I forget it; I try to make sure my lessons have some level of hands-on work so that it sticks in their brains.”

Her teaching also focuses on helping students understand the environment around them and their responsibility toward it.

“The hardest part is getting students to understand that everything is relative; every action we make influences our world in some way. It’s up to us to choose how we handle that responsibility.”

Her students learn this sense of responsibility during her lessons

“She makes biology interesting by applying some of the real-world experiences to the science she teaches,” said freshman Akiya Flynn. “She breaks down the topic and puts it into more understandable terms for her students.” 

“I describe her teaching as she shows everything on her board and helps us understand things we need more help with by shortening it into easier forms for us to understand,” said freshman Rhaya Nord.

Environmental science is especially important to Hernandez because she believes students can better appreciate the world when they understand it

“People can’t care for the world if they don’t understand it, and they can’t understand it if they don’t know it exists.”

Hernandez also enjoys having a new classroom this year where she has more room to teach through activities and labs.

“I love my new classroom. I have windows, and I also have more space to do more labs.”

Hernandez wants her students to see that biology is more than just a class they have to take at school. 

“I want the readers to pay attention to their science classes because I promise it applies to them in some way.”

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 2026

James Huffman emphasizes problem solving through chemistry

by Zihan Lin

Chemistry teacher James Huffman walks behind his desk, capturing everyone’s attention with his voice. He flips through the slides on the board until he stops at a conversion equation; the students focus on him, waiting expectantly for him to demonstrate how to convert the units.

For Huffman, problems like these are more than just a chemistry lesson. He enjoys working through problems himself, but he also enjoys helping others find their way through difficult questions.

“Yeah! I like solving problems, and I like to help other people solve problems, specifically in chemistry but life in general,” Huffman said.

His approach to problem-solving is something his students notice in the classroom. Rather than just giving students an answer, he encourages them to understand how to arrive at it step by step.

“He taught us to remember formulas and learn how to do problems by putting them into steps,” junior Danna Lopez, a former student, stated.

Junior Rachel Santos also remarked that Huffman encourages students to approach difficult problems in different ways, especially when working with stoichiometry or other smaller subjects where they can’t seem to grasp the idea.

“He taught us to break down problems and try different methods, especially with stoichiometry,” Santos said.

Being a teacher isn’t what he always wanted; it wasn’t his first goal. Being an engineer was his first goal, but he wanted his life to revolve around helping people, no matter the problem.

“I would probably be an engineer. That was my first goal as a student, or I would be going the exact opposite, like I do now and be a social worker, like helping people with their problems, like life, versus solving problems as an engineer, which you know is much different.”

Although engineering was once Huffman’s goal, his interest in chemistry led him towards working with chemicals rather than engines. His experiences in his chemistry class, particularly the hands-on labs, helped him realize what he enjoyed most about the subject.

“Had an awesome teacher; I loved the labs. I loved being able to prove something with chemicals. I wasn’t as much—I don’t like to work on engines. I like to work with individual chemicals. I found that out from my chemistry teacher from high school,” he said.

His high school teacher not only helped shape his interest in chemistry, but also influenced the way he approaches teaching with his own students. 

“I would say mostly due to the awesome teachers I had as a student. I had some really good teachers, and because of those good teachers. I want to do the same thing as they did.”

In Huffman’s classroom, every problem has a solution—and sometimes, the solution is simply to keep trying.

“Remember (Chem)(Is)(Try),” he said.

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 2026

Art teacher Hayleigh Gnagie celebrates importance of art with her students

by Maryam Qahhar

New art teacher Hayleigh Gnagie instructs her fourth-hour class on shading and showing value in their artwork.

She has been making art her whole life and has always wanted to teach and help other students express their creativity and emotions through art.

“Yes, art is something I have been passionate about since elementary school, and I want to share it with everyone else,” said Gnagie.

Because of Gnagie’s strong passion for art, she intends to share it with her students.

For example, junior William Ponsford shared what he has learned in art because of Gnagie, specifically, “how shading and hue can give art more depth perception and detail.”

Gnagie’s background includes experience with children of various age groups.

She substitute taught for several months, including for GCCS at Jonathan Jennings and Charlestown Elementary before working at Franklin Square Elementary as a specialist. Now she teaches at JHS.

“Elementary kids don’t know how to handle their feelings as well as high school kids know how to communicate their feelings well and show if they don’t understand the assignment and how I can help them understand it more,” she stated.

“By passing down art to future generations, we help ensure the human creativity, history, and ability to imagine a better world are preserved and celebrated.” 

Art Teacher Hayleigh Gnagie

Gnagie also had influences growing up who helped her pursue her career and motivated her to pursue art. 

“My high school art teacher made me see that I can pursue my career.” 

Her students have also had a positive impact on her life.

“They make my day better by showing me different perspectives of life,” she said.

However, Gnagie has also had an influence on her student artists.

Junior Danna Lopez, an artist in Gnagie’s fourth-hour class, appreciates “the way she explains techniques, like how to grab a pencil correctly for shading.”

Art is not just a subject in school; it is a way to express and understand the world. It allows people to share their feelings, ideas, and experiences without always needing words. It can bring people together, tell stories, show different cultures, and inspire others. Gnagie said makes art more than just drawing or painting — it is a way of communicating and connecting with others.

“It’s the easiest way to express yourself without talking; also, you can use color to express your emotion,” she stated.

Since Gnagie is new this year, students shared their first impressions and what they think of her as a teacher.

“The energy I got when I first met her was that she was going to be a very creative and calm teacher,” said Ponsford.

Lopez added, “She seemed outgoing and chill.”

Gnagie feels that art is dying, so she wants to teach it to the youth so it does not.

“By passing down art to future generations, we help ensure the human creativity, history, and ability to imagine a better world are preserved and celebrated.” 

Gnagie has been creating art her entire life and hopes to inspire future generations on how important art is.

“If I could give young artists one piece of advice, I would say each artist’s journey is unique – embrace yours and keep growing.”

Birthday: July 7, 2003

Favorite color: Yellow

Favorite movie: Urban Cowboy

Favorite food: Mac and cheese

Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 202630 Sep 2026

Volleyball team faces Floyd Central tonight

Red Devils play Providence on Thursday in week of formidable opponents

by Austin Bainbridge

The JHS girls’ volleyball team snapped an eight-game losing streak against Madison and now faces Floyd Central today.

The Highlanders have not lost a game in over two weeks — to the same team JHS plays Thursday: Providence.

“I do feel a little underprepared, but I’m hoping we can get a win in at least one win of these two games. If we do that I’d call it a success,” said sophomore outside hitter Audrey Cheshire.

On Thursday’s sweep of Madison, the sole senior on the team, Mattie Barker, had her own student section and was thrilled about it.

“I loved my Senior Night. It was so cool seeing everybody show up just for me. It felt really special and amazing,” said Barker.

Barker, one of the most trusted backrow players on the team, is going to have to handle spikes from Floyd’s Georgia Tech commit Macy Sorg.

“That’s going to be a hard one. I just have to do my best reading her and hope for a little help for some tips or blocks up front,” said Barker.

The team expects outside hitter Jayli Burris to continue the tear she’s been on, including a 10-kill performance against New Albany.

“I think I’m going to keep it going. I don’t know why it took so long to get going, but I’m going to keep it going,” said Burris.

Even principal Pam Hall has her attention on the program this week and what a win could do for the team.

“Well, to be the best you have to play the best, and I really hope we can get one this week. That would be really big for these girls and I’d love to see it,” said Hall.

Both Floyd Central and Providence are formidable opponents, and coach Wes Briscoe is aware.

“They’re both such strong teams. Floyd is one of the best teams in the region, and they’ve really only lost to Providence around here, so this is going to be a tough one this week.”

Jeff plays Floyd Central at 7:30 p.m. at Jeffersonville.

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 2026

Tech crew adds life to each theatrical performance

by Natalie Creagh

From the lights, to the set, to the props, to the costumes. The technical aspects of any performance are extremely important, and take time. There are so many parts and pieces that go into a theatrical performance.

At JHS, there are many opportunities for arts to shine. Under the stage lights lit by the crew, performances benefit from the tech department, which is student led and full of different ways to help light up the stage.

“I see it as a way to supplement what actors do on stage. They’ve done all their prep work leading up to the show and then tech comes in that last week to make sure all their work is seen and heard,” said senior Tristan Cooley, who has done tech for shows both at JHS and in the community.

Cooley said his favorite show he’s worked as a tech for is “All Shook Up” performed at Clarksville Little Theatre.

“It was my first show I got to design lights for, and I was really proud of that,” said Cooley.

Cooley said his favorite moments of a show are often when the set is completed prior to the performance.

“After all the set is made and everything is ready, I love walking into an empty theatre and feeling the space, it’s peaceful and magical,” he said.

Junior Lindsay Austin, who has worked as part of the tech crew since her freshman year, said a lot of work goes into building the sets.

“You have to be a very dependable person in tech because every rehearsal counts,” she said, explaining her favorite show to work on was “The Ballad of Little Jo.”

“I also enjoyed making the bed for ‘Once Upon a Mattress,’ said Austin. “That’s when I first met some of the now sophomores and became friends with some of them. It was also one of the last shows I got to do with a former senior, Cheyenne.”

Senior Blessing James Vonsenden, who has worked tech and acted on stage, said she enjoyed being the stage manager for “The Ballad of Little Jo” “because I was so involved — I got to know a lot more people and see the whole scope.”

Lighting is an important part of any performance. “I did the light board for “Once Upon a Mattress” last year and I really enjoyed that,” said sophomore Nataly Barragan.

Theatre teacher and director Derrick Ledbetter said tech work brings shows to life on stage.

“I think it’s like the backbone of a live show. It brings the story to life. It’s often invisible when done right,” he said. “Tech also can help build self confidence. Sometimes there are students that don’t shine physically or academically, but tech gives them that chance to shine. I think it creates a diverse extracurricular ecosystem, and it’s a place where people can explore, make friends, and feel welcome.”

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 2026

Frank Marshall brings medical knowledge to JHS health office

by Eva Harbeson

Nursing assistant Frank Marshall has dedicated much of his life to helping other people. Even though he is already retired, Marshall continues to work as an assistant nurse at JHS. 

Marshall decided to continue working because he enjoys helping people and building connections.

“Since I started to work with JHS, I really started to have good connections with students and staff here. I just really enjoy working here,” he said. 

He said being a nursing assistant is more than taking care of someone’s physical needs — it’s about listening to people, understanding them, and making them feel comfortable when they need help.

“Listening to students more and actually listening to them makes a small difference in how you can help them,” he said. 

Working at JHS allows Marshall to interact with many different students every day. Sometimes students come to the nurse’s office because they are sick, injured, or simply not feeling their best. 

“I like being able to connect with students and help them, whether they’re sick, hurt, or just having a bad day,” said Marshall. 

Marshall’s friendly attitude is one quality that makes students feel less nervous while visiting the nurse.

“Marshall helped me feel more comfortable speaking up and not being afraid to say what I’m thinking,” said freshman Noah Sparks.  

Even though Marshall is retired, he does not see his job as something he has to do. Instead, he sees it as something he enjoys doing. He likes having a reason to get up and come to work, and he appreciates being able to stay involved in his community. 

“I enjoy coming to school every day. It gives me a reason to get up, stay involved, and continue helping people,” said Marshall.

His experience as a nurse assistant also allows him to help students and staff in ways that come from years of working with people.

RN Julie Simones said that Marshall’s presence and work have added to the health office this year. 

“He is amazing. I’m very happy to have him as part of our nurses’ staff here at Jeff. He is really good at what he does. He has been great from the beginning,” said Simones.

 His dedication has not gone unnoticed, especially by those who work alongside him in the health office.

“He is very respectful. He always knows how to help me when I need it the most. He is very, very honest as well. He is a very good nurse, he belongs here,” said junior Harper Ward. 

For many students, Marshall is more than just a member of the nursing staff; he is someone they know they can count on.

“He was very good at helping me whenever I was in pain. He was calm but very patient with me. Frank has always been there for the Football team at all times. He puts his needs aside for his students. He’s amazing,” said Senior Ke’Mari Smith.

Marshall’s passion for nursing is also something he shares with his wife, giving them something special in common.

“My wife is also a nurse, so we bond over being nurses,” he said. 

Their careers give them something they can talk about and understand together. Marshall said, “We understand each other. We can talk about our experiences, share stories, and support each other.”

Having a wife who is also a nurse has helped Marshall appreciate his career even more. He said nursing can be challenging, but having someone at home who understands the job can make those challenges easier.

 “My wife understands what it’s like to be in nursing, so when I have a tough day, she knows what I’m going through. We can relate to each other and help each other through it,” said Marshall.

Marshall’s decision to keep working after retirement shows how much he cares about helping others. He could have chosen to spend his retirement doing something completely different, but instead he decided to continue working with people. 

“I enjoy helping students so they can become better and get help quickly,” he said.

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 2026

Minecraft provides creative fun for the whole family

by Ayianna Maddox

Minecraft is a game full of creativity and wonder. Released on May 17, 2009 and fully released on Nov. 18, 2011, Minecraft records show that there are “212.32 million monthly active players in early 2026, with more than 350 million copies sold across all platforms since its 2011 launch. The daily active users average 31.96 million,” according to QuantumRun Foresight.

My family and I are among those statistics.

I’ve been playing Minecraft for as long as I can remember, and it holds a deep place in my heart. Growing up, I played it with cousins — when I got a turn, of course. Before I knew it, I had a copy to call my own, and I was playing with my mom.

As the years went on, we both got better at the game: designing buildings, coming up with creative ideas, and creating furniture. Each time we played, we figured out our style and evolved from it. Eventually, it became routine that I’d come home from school, find my mom playing, talk about the buildings she built, and the ideas she had while I was away. One time, I made a world for us, and I woke up to a village she built overnight.

Throughout the years, Minecraft has always been a factor. I taught my little siblings at a young age, and they started teaching each other. Now, after I’m done with school-related work, I’ll come upstairs and find them building incredible things. My brother even built an airplane.

With each update, movie, mini TV series, and add-on, I became more obsessed.

Villager News is a comedic animated series created by Element Animation that I watched on Amazon Prime Video, and eventually on YouTube. Recently, Minecraft added Villager News as an add-on feature, making villager interactions more comedic. 

When I discovered this, I squealed, “Finally!”

Minecraft is a wholesome, family-fun game for all ages, whether to express creativity, obtain all trophies, or to battle and see who’s the strongest in survival. 

Minecraft

Released: Nov. 18, 2011

My grade: 100%/A+

by jhshyphen 29 Sep 2026

Two Teams. One Big Matchup.

Red Devils face Floyd Central Tuesday in Hoosier Hills Conference showdown

by Layney Derricott

The Red Devils soccer team enters an important Hoosier Hills Conference match with Floyd Central tonight at 4-5-1 (1-3-1 in the HHC). Both teams look to add another win to their resumes, making this an exciting matchup.

Coach Rachel Foster shared that challenges are something the team will have to face and overcome while battling the Highlanders, currently 9-5-1 and 5-0 in the HHC.

“We will need to keep up our speed of play. Floyd is a fast team, and they move quickly. We will need to move just as quickly as them, beat them to the ball, and be ready when they’re attacking,” Foster stated. 

Floyd Central is a high-speed team. JHS will not only have to keep up with their speed, but their attitudes as well. Senior and team captain Abi Lemon said tomorrow’s game will be a mental challenge. 

“Our team will have to overcome the stigma. Have the ability to deal with people commenting on the differences between the two teams, not letting negative words knock us down. Holding our heads up high with good morale,” Lemon said. 

Foster said preparation for a team in an intense rivalry game is important.  

“We’ve been getting the formation down, being sure to move the ball quickly. Move just as fast as Floyd will. Every year we have a new team, new people to work with, and get accustomed to.”  

As the Red Devils prepare for the pace of the game, staying focused, and counting on each other, their focus now shifts to executing that preparation.

Sophomore Haylee Alvarenga said once the game starts this focus must include “making sure to stay on defense for the first half. Along with keeping up a positive attitude, to not get discouraged early on. Keeping a defensive team.” 

This defensive mentality affects the team as a whole, but leadership from individual players can make just as much of an impact.

Sophomore Jacqueline Escobar mentioned one person who can be trusted to hold everybody accountable while displaying a positive attitude. 

“Abi Lemon knows how to work well with everyone. She’s always available when needed, gives good advice, and knows how to bring you back down when things get intense,” Escobar stated.

Senior and team captain Laela Rudicel said the Red Devils are prepared mentally and physically for the challenging game with the Highlanders.

Being mentally and physically ready is only one part of the challenge; the team will mainly rely on its communication throughout the game, according to senior defender Alianna Brown.

“Communicating, along with being there for each other,”said Brown. “Being able to call on anyone; specifically sophomore Sonnie Darku, to switch positions with me. Letting others know when there’s someone approaching or coming for the ball.”

Red Devils soccer takes on the Highlanders tonight at 7 p.m at the JHS soccer field.

by jhshyphen 28 Sep 202629 Sep 2026

by Sam Broady

Star Wars has been releasing a lot of content lately. You can watch it all on Disney Plus. But will you enjoy it? Do you like repetitive spinoffs that keep you attached to the past? Or do you like refreshing stories with new characters and expansive lore? I believe the writers should focus more on originality than formula. This was the great mistake of the Disney purchase in 2012. They continue to show their desperate merchandise intentions through all these films, series, games, and more. But Star Wars isn’t the only cash-grab franchise; that term applies to Marvel, Pixar, and the rest of Disney as well.

Let’s start with the sequel trilogy. Whether you enjoy it or not, there’s no denying its similarity to the original trilogy and its reliance on fan service. Disney didn’t plan a storyline, their writing was based on the audience’s reactions to each installment. For example, the amount of backlash that “The Last Jedi” received led to a retcon of everything in “The Rise of Skywalker”. Rey is a Palpatine instead of a nobody; Anakin’s lightsaber is fixed; Kylo has his mask back; and Rose is heavily sidelined. Fast forward to season 2 of “The Mandalorian”. The first season is its own story, but the next one is a festival of cameos from well-known franchise characters including Cobb Vanth, Bo Katan, Ahsoka Tano, Luke Skywalker, and R2-D2. Then there’s an animated series entitled “The Bad Batch”, a prime example of one cliche after the other. There are some good episodes, but most of them have no stakes and old characters are thrown into the story on occasion to keep us engaged. Next we have “The Book of Boba Fett” which is literally living in the past. There are cameos everywhere and Tatooine is an overused location that loves smashing familiar sites in your face. Which is one of the problems with the series “Obi-Wan Kenobi”. It’s nothing new; it uses shaky cam too often; and it’s the third time we’ve seen the protagonist care for a child.

There’s a pattern to be noticed here. Disney is relying too much on our familiarity with the franchise in order to get viewers. I think plenty of people would still watch their content if they took a new approach. “The Mandalorian” was the first Star Wars series on Disney Plus and it succeeded because it’s a standalone story with a completely different tone. But people don’t realize that. The final arc of “The Clone Wars” is in the top tier of television. “Andor” is such a bold take on the lore and it doesn’t feel like Star Wars at all. Clearly, Disney isn’t always lazy. “Rogue One” is a great film that tells its own engaging story without the Skywalkers. “Rebels” is a fun series with many meaningful moments such as Ahsoka’s duel with Vader and Kenobi’s confrontation with Maul. The point is that Star Wars needs to be more consistent with its quality. One day, it’s the same old content. The next day, it’s the best we’ve seen in a long time. The reason Star Wars became popular in the first place is because it was something no one has ever seen before. It’s an exploratory adventure with memorable characters and iconic imagery that blew everyone’s minds with the ambition of its filmmaking. Now, they need to continue building off of that.

The other Disney projects have the same issues. The Marvel Cinematic Universe is even more formulaic and I cannot stand how unoriginal the majority of its installments are. They’re typical superhero stories with an overuse of poor CGI. Again, not all of them are like that. It mostly applies to Phase 4 and the amount of content released isn’t helping. They need more time to craft thoughtful and passionate projects. Pixar isn’t necessarily in the same boat, but even their films have a tiring formula at this point. Sure, each installment has its own creative premise and execution. But they all have very similar messages. Whether they’re about life, family, or friendship.

The moral is that people don’t like seeing the same thing over and over. We only pay to do so because we expect something from franchises that we fell in love with. Writers like Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, and Rian Johnson need to stay in the business because they have bold takes on storytelling in Star Wars. Dave Filoni dove so deep into the lore of the universe; Jon Favreau crafted an original and immersive western story; and Rian Johnson wasn’t afraid to take a trilogy into a new direction. I believe techniques like those are what’s most important.