The football team takes on Seymour on the road after getting defeated 67-20 by Lawrence Central in their first contest of the season last Friday.
The Red Devils go into tonight’s contest at Seymour expecting a tough match-up.
“Seymour’s a good team in my opinion. We’re going to have to play good football to win. If we go there and don’t play our best, we will lose,” said head coach Nick Cotner.
A new face on the varsity team, junior running back Jaylen Howard, picked up steam against Lawrence Central in his first varsity start and looks forward to more against Seymour.
“For my first varsity start, I thought it was really good. I had like 80 yards with a touchdown, so pretty good. I’m ready to do even better against Seymour, though,” said Howard.
Senior Jomall Owens defends for senior Cordell Thomas against Lawrence Central last Friday. The Bears defeated the Red Devils in the season opener 67-20. JHS plays Seymour tonight. Photo by Parker McCloskey.
One of the main components of the loss to Lawrence Central was special teams giving up 21 points, and Cotner isn’t ready to let it happen again.
“This loss is on me. Twenty-one points on kickoff alone is unacceptable, and that’s on me for not preparing us. Even with me coming into the job late, we need to be better. We’re going to be more in-depth in practice to be ready for Seymour,” said Cotner.
The team has identified some other parts of their game that need to improve as well.
“The d-line and special need to be better; along with that linebackers just couldn’t fill holes,” said sophomore linebacker General McLain.
The Red Devils have spent the week preparing for the Owls.
“We need to watch a lot of film and get better so we know exactly what we’re doing out there,” said junior Brayden Bachman.
The theme of better practices throughout the week is echoed by other players.
“Staying focused in practice is essential. If we do that, we’ll come out with the win,” said junior linebacker Cooper Spaulding.
The team has addressed their faults against Lawrence Central and are ready to take on the rest of the season, starting with Seymour.
“I think we did a lot of good stuff on offense through the air and ground game,” said Cotner. “If we could be a little more consistent, we definitely would’ve had a closer game. I think we can take a good week of practice and come out with a win.”
All photos by Malachi Conrad, Shelby Keesee, Isaiah Stewart, and Logan Vidt.
Sophomore Audrey Cheshire high-fives her teammates. Photo by Shelby Keesee.Sophomore Charlotte Hatfield runs onto the court after being introduced as a starter in last night’s game against Rock Creek. Photo by Isaiah Stewart.
Junior Haliun Otgonbayar serves the ball during last night’s game against Rock Creek Academy. Photo by Shelby Keesee.Junior Haliun Otgonbayar serves an ace last night. Photo by Isaiah Stewart. Junior Jaylianah Burris hits the ball over the net trying to score in last night’s game against Rock Creek. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Junior Joslin Wilson and sophomore Audrey Cheshire attempt to block a shot in the first set against Rock Creek. Photo by Logan Vidt.The Red Devils huddle and talk about the last possession during the match-up against Rock Creek last night. Photo by Malachi Conrad.The Red Devil bench cheers in support of their team winning a rally during last night’s game. Photo by Logan Vidt.Senior Mattie Barker celebrates the Jeffersonville point. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Sophomore Aome Crowdus prepares to serve the ball. Photo by Shelby Keesee. Coach Wes Briscoe talks to junior Kylee Doehrman about her recent play. Photo by Isaiah Stewart. The JHS bench celebrates the point their teammates just earned against Rock Creek last night. Photo by Malachi Conrad.
Junior Jaylianah Burris waves goodbye as the Red Devils celebrate their win against the Lions. The Red Devils defeated the Lions 3-0 last night. Photo by Shelby Keesee.
Art has been around since 30,000 BP. It has been a stepping stone to the development of the human race and the world around us. When language failed to tell the story, art was there to turn the page. Today, art plays an important role in how society functions, as well as in the way people express their beliefs as individuals and as a whole.
Art is essential to communities because it allows for expression in the school system. It allows for growth within the mind. Whether it’s poetry or digital design, it is vital to the development of high school students. It must be introduced; it is very important to their development, as it allows them to express themselves and helps them create new ideas and creations. And sometimes, the people behind the scenes help with this creative expression.
Art teacher Hayleigh Gnagie is new this year at JHS; she’s been teaching for about a year and really loves her job. Before teaching at JHS, she was an art specialist at Franklin Square Elementary. She believes that art classes give students a break from busy school days.
“At Franklin it was a space to calm down and find peace of mind, and I want to bring that here,” she said.
Sophomore Anya Bushmann works on carving and stamping clay as part of her art assignment. Photo by Areli Hernandez.
Art is a great influence on students around the school and can help with real-life problems. Gnagie explained that art has helped her students improve problem-solving skills and creative thinking.
Sophomore artist Estella Young agreed.
“Art that takes a long time can improve patience. Not only that, but it can help with attention span and not giving up if you keep making mistakes,” said Young.
Young enjoys digital art. While she isn’t taking any art classes at school, she believes that art is important for high school students.
“Art can be a good creative outlet in case of stress. Lots of teens feel stress, and art is one of the Number 1 ways to get it all out,” she said.
In a world full of high stress, creative activities can also give students a way to escape or take a break. Similar to Gnagie’s peaceful elementary classroom, Young described art as providing a break from stress or bad moods.
“Making art can help give distractions for a bad day. You can draw things that make you happy, and/or you can use it to express yourself,” she stated.
Art is often about emotion, too. Art teacher Jennifer Beckman proves that. She has taught art for 23 years, with genuine love for her students. Beckman doesn’t hesitate to get her hands dirty or to work alongside her class.
Beckman explained that she wants to show her students that art isn’t about being perfect. While technique is important, the process of learning hands-on is the true takeaway.
In order to accomplish great things, artists have to work hard, said Beckman. She said wanted to be an artist since she was young. She got a degree in photography and later got a degree in art and began teaching.
“Art was one of three things I wanted to do as a kid. I wanted to be a photographer, artist, or a farmer,” she said.
Beckman shows that if you put your mind to something, you can do it. She hopes to leave her students in a creative place with open minds; she knows that it will be important for every student to see what art can be when the opportunities to create art are endless and always ready to begin anew.
Art teacher Jennifer Beckman engages with her ceramics students while working on their assignment on August 13. Photo by Areli Hernandez.Junior Leland Lajoie, who is also a ceramics student, gives shape to his blueberry bowl as part of his assignment. Photo Areli Hernandez.
Hanover College admission counselor Emma Marzouk, a JHS alumnus, talks to the students who are interested about the campus. ”As a Jeff High alum, I encourage every students to chase their dreams and go for their perfect fit after school, whether that’s college, military, or work — there is something for everyone.” Photo by Kayleen Alvarado.Hanover College admission counselor Emma Marzouk. Photo by Kayleen Alvarado.
Entering school can be nerve racking, especially when students don’t have the support you need at home. When help is needed, most of the time a student goes to a teacher rather than a parent, showing that a strong relationship between a student and a teacher is very important, especially during the school year.
Building a strong relationship with a teacher could genuinely help a student with many challenges, like if they ever need help with their school work. Not only that, but having a trusted adult to talk to can also be helpful.
According to the non-profit organization EdTrust, “Strong relationships between adults and students must include expressing care, challenging growth, providing support, sharing power, and expanding possibilities. Importantly, these relationship-building actions must be done with an equity lens, one that supports positive racial, cultural, and ethnic identity development.”
Having a teacher who genuinely loves what they do and wants to share that passion with their students is very important, in addition to wanting their students to have a good time learning the subject.
“I like to learn. I’ve been a lifelong learner, and I think it’s really cool to be able to share my love of books and my love of history. And just my love of learning with students and pass that onto them and watch them get excited about…you know, uncovering things. That makes it worth it,” said English teacher Evan Myers.
English teacher Evan Myers teaches his fourth-hour sophomore English class. Photo by Isaiah Stewart.
Having to learn a new subject is hard enough, but also having a teacher to make lessons fun is always a positive. We can see how much they put their heart into it and want kids to have a good time while learning.
According to Jason Learning, a nonprofit education program focused on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), “Teachers have the unique ability to make students fall in love with subject areas they otherwise may have been intimidated by. Educators can make their students feel like a ‘math person’ or a ‘science person’ by teaching and adapting content in a way that works for students rather than against them.”
Being able to enjoy the class helps a student, especially when that student has fallen in love with the subject that their teacher has taught.
Sophomore Alyssa Anderson said English teacher Holden Henderson provided this kind of inspiration.
“Mr. Henderson impacted my life by, 1. Giving me a new obsession with mythology. Especially ‘Epic the Musical’ and ‘The Odyssey’ and making me happy. I always used to look forward to going to his class; his class was my favorite,” she said. “My favorite subject he taught was mythology and ‘Romeo and Juliet.’ Not only did I learn something out of those things, but I also got a few laughs in when I did.”
Sure, a teacher could just teach and grade papers, but a good teacher would not only just teach and move on, but would want to be more involved with their students outside of the classroom.
Math teacher Scott Lowe said his mission, which he includes in his syllabus, “is to build trusting relationships with all students. And it doesn’t mean just in the classroom, just in general. Our main goal is to be professional and to teach our subject. I (also) believe as teachers we should be trying to build relationships with these kids.”
Knowing teachers want to make a safe instructional environment and build relationships with their students is something we really don’t focus on enough. Often we just stress about school and don’t realize that our teachers do want to make an impact in their students’ lives, even if it’s just a small one
As Myers said, “Every single year when seniors graduate, I’m always crying at least once per season because I’m like, ‘I know I’ll never get to see them again.’ Yeah, I think as a teacher and a coach I get to make an impact, at least a little one.”
Senior year has officially started for the graduating Class of 2027. High school seniors are reaching their last adolescent milestone and preparing for adult life. Their emails, messages, and mailboxes are constantly filled with information about college, financial aid, and so much more.
While all of this is a good thing, the downside is the constant reminder that their childhood is concluding, and the trepidation of what lies ahead.
“My biggest fear is ‘what’s next?’ Just knowing the next step is being on my own and leaving everything and everyone I’ve ever known scares me a lot,” senior Harper Hylton said.
Senior Jenna Watts finds there are exciting moments to look forward to.
“I’m excited. I’m so ready for all the senior events to start, and it’s nice to know I’m almost done. Graduation is the goal, and I’m almost there!” Watts said.
Senior Alasia Sims expressed how the end of her high school career and the start of her adult life caused mixed feelings.
“I’m happy to be done with school and everything, then I’m scared because I’m going to have to actually go and do adult things,” Sims stated.
Senior year is commonly associated with balancing life inside of school and outside of school, such as working, volunteering, college, and career searching. As a young adult, all of these activities can impact students’ viewpoints of what awaits them, especially when it’s expected that the student has it all “figured out.”
Senior Sean Dyer takes his BC Calculus test. Photo by Logan Vidt.
“I’m nervous about adulthood. There’s more responsibilities, but that also comes with more freedom. I’m most nervous about money management,” senior Sean Dyer said.
At the end of the day, after four long years of high school, seniors are still kids growing into their adult shoes.
“I feel like I’ve slowly been entering into adulthood the entire of high school,” senior Enzo Magallanez said.
The Class of 2027 has a long, yet short, year ahead of them, but between college, financial, and career responsibilities, they are all kids enjoying their last year of freedom.
Senior Enzo Magallanez takes his BC Calculus test. The desire to do well in classes is just one of the challenges seniors face in their final year at JHS. Photo by Logan Vidt
The new school year is always nerve-racking — new classes, new people, and new teachers. The readjustment period is always a struggle after coming back from two months of summer, and it’s been even more so with Indiana’s new phone ban.
But students and faculty persevere and get through by talking to new people, catching up on late work, or reading a book.
Algebra II teacher Greg Bowen was a little intimidated at the beginning of the year, but he is slowly readjusting to all the changes.
“I was a little nervous about how kids would adjust to the new cell phone policy, and they’ve adjusted really well, so yes, now I’m excited,” said Bowen.
The new cell phone policy had all the teachers on the edge of their seats, but students adjusted better than they thought. It’s a different kind of year for everybody, including senior Leighla Perry.
“This is my last year of high school, and although I’ll miss it because of my friends, I can’t be more excited about graduating,” said Perry.
Perry’s also been involved in the JHS community since junior year by being a part of NHS, Anchor Club, and cheerleading.
“I love being involved; it looks good on applications, and it’s nice just helping people and knowing I’m doing a good thing,” said Perry.
Juniors are getting older and racking up college credits and AP classes.
“The year has been pretty good; it’s mostly just me waiting for IUS to start. I expected more out of my classes, especially from my AP U.S. history class,” said junior Kahlani Hunt.
It seems like everybody’s year has been great so far, including sophomore Savannah Valois.
“My favorite part of the school has been my math class; it’s been great. I thought it would be harder this year, so I wasn’t excited at first, but it’s been okay,” said Valois.
As one high schooler’s career ends, another begins.
“The year has been good so far; I’ve found my classes easily; I thought it would be harder navigating,” said freshman Harmony Staton.
Life this school year, although different, has been going better than anybody expected, and JHS is excited for what is to come.
Algebra 2 teacher Greg Bowen gives instructions to his honors class about the daily PRIDE slides on August 11 during fourth-period hour. Photo by Gabrielle Watkins.
All photographs by Jackson Anderson. Click on each image to view the gallery below.
Junior NHS members get congratulated and gifted with the National Honor Society certificate. Photo by Jackson Anderson. Business Academy principal Matt Barker formally introduces and congratulates all new NHS inductees. Photo by Jackson Anderson. NHS president Riley Dobson congratulates senior Anthony Ganchuluun and presents him with the National Honor Society cord on April 16. Photo by Jackson Anderson.National Honor Society student board members convene and hand over certificates to junior class members during the annual induction on April 16. Members are inducted based on their overall grade-point average, which must be at least 3.5, and their commitment to the NHS core values of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Inductees also must submit letters of reference with their applications. Photo by Jackson Anderson. Project leader Ubaldo Pille Jaramillo announces future project leaders for upcoming school year at the National Honor Society induction. Photo by Jackson Anderson.All National Honor Society members get recognized at the annual induction ceremony in the auditorium on April 16. Photo by Jackson Anderson.
Red Devils face rival New Albany tonight at 7 p.m., play Bedford North Lawrence and North Oldham this weekend
All photographs by Malachi Conrad; click on each image to view the gallery below.
Red Devils talk before starting the second inning. JHS (5-6) beat Oldham County (10-9) 16-1 yesterday. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Evan Shelton pitches to an Oldham County batter last night. Photo by Malachi Conrad. Junior Brett Shearer talks to some fans before going out onto the field. JHS defeated Oldham County 16-1. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Junior KJ Westbay hits the ball, making it to first base in last night’s win over Oldham County. Photo by Malachi Conrad. Junior Eli Harris catches the ball to get an Oldham County player out. Last night’s 16-1 win over Oldham County is the Red Devils’ third consecutive victory over the Colonels. Photo by Malachi Conrad. Senior Tripp Reuter tags an opponent to get them out. This play by Reuter ended the inning. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Tripp Reuter celebrates with teammates after a successful return to home plate. The Red Devils defeated Oldham County 16-1 last night. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Junior Preston Hart gives sophomore Carter Smith some motivation before Carter goes to bat in last night’s JHS game against Oldham County. Photo by Malachi Conrad.
Freshman Eden Stewart sits down at the lunch table. She puts her belongings and lunch box down, then proceeds to take her food out of the box. While eating her food, she takes out her computer. She starts working on homework or missing assignments while eating.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I usually prioritize finishing easier work in classes and taking more time to complete my harder work. This means doing work during lunch, advanced band, Spanish, and any other time I can. It’s really hard to do homework at home with all my band activities, but I usually manage my time well,” said Stewart.
High school can feel overwhelming at first, but freshmen learn how to adapt and succeed. Their experiences reveal why the lessons they learn in their first year truly matter.
For many freshmen, the transition to high school comes with challenges, but it also leads to growth. Stewart shares how they adjusted to this new environment and why it will help them to succeed.
“It was really hard. High school was really difficult to get into the flow with, especially because of my constantly full schedule between marching band, winter percussion, and all advanced classes. I’m still adjusting to it, and I know that with all the struggles this year, it will be easier next year. I will be able to have fun without a lot of stress,” said Stewart.
Although the transition can be difficult for many students, teachers support freshmen by making it easier and less overwhelming.
Math teacher Alyssa Jones helps freshman student Onah Barns with work during class on April 9. “To support freshmen, I listen to their problems and help with anything they need. Just caring about them and giving them extra time if they need it,” said Jones. Photo by Liddia Waterbury.
“It’s important to help freshmen adjust to high school because when you’re in middle school, you’re not really used to switching classes. Then, if you fail a class in high school, you have to retake it, and they’re not used to that either. To support freshmen, I listen to their problems and help with anything they need. Just caring about them and giving them extra time if they need it. Especially because you can get really behind on school work from seven classes if you don’t have that support,” said math teacher Alyssa Jones.
Support isn’t only about helping students adjust. It’s also about motivating them when they feel overwhelmed. Teachers play a crucial role in helping freshmen stay focused and confident during stressful times.
“If their lack of motivation is because they’re overwhelmed, then what I try to do is make it more manageable. I help them look at their grades in class and in other classes. I help them pick the most important grades and push to make sure they stay focused on them. They are the assignments that are going to help their grades the most. If they can just narrow their focus to one thing at a time, and get that done, they can make progress,” said English teacher Holden Henderson.
This shows how teachers help students feel less stressed by breaking work into smaller steps. While that support is important, students also need to find other ways to get motivated on their own.
“How I usually stay motivated is when I think about graduation. I usually end up thinking about how, like, if I don’t finish this, I won’t be able to succeed. I also stay motivated by thinking about how I want to make my family proud with good grades. This influences my hobbies and stuff because after putting in that much effort, they feel more relaxing. I look forward to doing my hobbies and other things,” said freshman Onah Barns.
Students motivate themselves through their own goals. At the same time, teachers can strengthen that motivation by building supportive relationships with their students.
“I just try to be myself, be relatable, and share my interests. I know that my interests overlap with a lot of yours. I feel a little bit more in touch with social media and modern media than other teachers. I just try to be relatable and make sure students know that I care about them as people and not just the numbers in my grade book,” said Henderson.
“It’s really important to have a good relationship with a teacher because you’re more likely to pay attention to what they say. If you don’t have a good relationship, you’re more likely to tune them out and do the bare minimum and not learn what they teach you,” said Henderson.
Strong relationships with teachers can impact how much students engage in class. When students feel comfortable, they are more likely to listen, learn, and reach out for help when they need it.
“To ask for help with school, I raise my hand, go up to the teacher, and ask questions. I know that they are here to help me and help me succeed. When I ask the teacher about work, they help me to understand it better. This also gets rid of a lot of stress when the material is important and I don’t know how to do it,” said freshman Madisyn Maratty.
Asking for help is important, and it also shows something bigger. Teachers are there to guide students and support them when they struggle, making help a key part of their role.
“Remember, there are so many trusted adults in this building who want to help you succeed, so find one and develop a relationship with them. Talk to your teachers about topics or things you may be struggling with. They are here to help you and truly appreciate hearing from you over hearing from a guardian or another adult.”
Freshman Counselor Andrea Schedler
“Remember, there are so many trusted adults in this building who want to help you succeed, so find one and develop a relationship with them. Talk to your teachers about topics or things you may be struggling with. They are here to help you and truly appreciate hearing from you over hearing from a guardian or another adult,” said freshman counselor Andrea Schedler.
Support from adults doesn’t stop at just being available when students ask for help. Teachers also take an active role in guiding freshmen, helping them build skills and habits they’ll need to succeed throughout the rest of high school.
“I make sure freshmen understand what is expected, that there’s certain behaviors that are not acceptable. I make sure that they know that teachers have deadlines to get work done. At first I try to push and guide them, then I get stricter, if they are still lacking in maturity,” said biology teacher Joe Somerville.
The freshman experience includes challenges, growth, and support. Students build habits and maturity while teachers continue to guide and push them towards success.
All photographs by Malachi Conrad. Click on each image to view the gallery below.
Senior Joel Ramirez sets the ball up in the first set. The Red Devils (7-6) defeated visiting Shawe Memorial in William S. Johnson Arena on Monday, April 20. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Anthony Ganchuluun jumps up and attempts to spike the ball during last night’s game against Shawe Memorial. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Jake Whobrey and senior Jacob Reed work together to successfully block the incoming shot from Shawe Memorial. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Malachi Crowder hits the ball over the net. Jeffersonville beat Shawe Memorial 3-0 in last night’s game. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Ralph Brooks sets the ball up in the third set against SHawe Memorial. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Jordan Rogers attempts to spike the ball as the game against Shawe Memorial nears an end. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Sophomore Liam Wooden serves the ball, attempting to get one of the last two points needed to win the game. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Kaleb Hagan scores the last point of the game and celebrates. JHS defeated Shawe Memorial 3-0. last night. Photo by Malachi Conrad.
All photographs by Malachi Conard. Click on each image to view the photo gallery below.
Senior Sarah Masingo bats against Floyd Central last night as the game neared an end. FC (11-6) defeated the Red Devils (1-6). 15-2. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Freshman Marley Oakes talks to senior Sarah Masingo before heading back to the dugout. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Sophomore Joslin Wilson gets the Floyd Central batter out after a successful catch in last night’s game. FC won 15-2, their 23rd consecutive Hoosier Hills Conference win. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Senior Aubrey Cannon throws the ball in towards the pitcher. Cannon is the team leader for stolen bases and runs, having 9 and 8, respectively. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Junior Lily Harden gives sophomore Joslin Wilson some motivation before she goes to bat against Floyd Central last night. Photo by Malachi Conrad.Sophomore Loralei Mashburn pitches to Floyd Central during last night’s Hoosier Hills Conference match-up. The Highlanders defeated the Red Devils 15-2. Photo by Malachi Conrad.The Red Devils group together and talk before they start the next inning. Floyd Central went on to beat Jeffersonville 15-2 last night. Photo by Malachi Conrad.
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