Fall Play This Weekend!


Messmer High School presents: Subway Circus
directed by Mr. Greg Flattery

Thursday, Nov. 15 and Friday, Nov. 16th 7pm
Saturday, Nov. 17th 1pm

$3 Adults
$2 Students
K5 and under free

The New York Subway serves as a backdrop for people from all walks of life to live out their dreams.

See you there!

Crochet is More Than Okay


This year Messmer High School offers a variety of new clubs. One of these is Crochet Club.
Senior Jamila Hightower is the creator and president of the club, and Theology teacher Mrs. Abby Demeter is the faulty advisor. The Crochet Club’s goal is to provide sleeping bags for the homeless using plastic bags that were collected beginning last year. It's about doing something good, and developing skills or learning new ones. 
When asked why Crochet Club is enjoyable, freshman Ti’ara Robinson replied, “It’s good teamwork and I’m helping the homeless.” Another student, senior A’Mariah Edwards added, “I learned how to tie bags and cut them; it was fun.”  Jamila stated her reasons behind creating the club, "I get a joy out of teaching something I know and I’m helping the homeless.”
Crochet Club is a great way to help the community and have fun in the process. The skills you learn are useful beyond the plastic sleeping bags. 
Crochet Club meets every Thursday at 3:15 in room 113. Please see Mrs. Demeter or Jamila Hightower for questions. 

See you there!


--Contributed by Christina Tenner, junior. 


Pepping Up the Spirit

Here at Messmer High School we have a Pep Band. The Pep Band consists of students from the  Bishop and Concert bands. For the Messmer/Shorewood football games, our Pep Band joins the Shorewood High School band. 
This combined band works hard to get the fans going at the games. The students have great communication with each other and get a chance to learn how to work together. Music teacher Mr. Greg Flattery is the Pep Band director. He teaches the Bishop and Concert bands. Of the Pep Band Mr. Flattery said,  "We are growing a diverse group that has the biggest sound that I’ve ever heard since I started 6 years ago." He added, "It has been a great success. Being with the Shorewood band has been a goal of mine since I started here." 
Mr. Flattery’s favorite thing is, "...being part of the big sound when people are playing the right notes and rhythms." He thinks the band will improve if it can practice outside of class time. 
A Pep Band player, Daniel Gomez, thinks that the band has played great the times he has participated. He says that his instructor makes playing fun for them, and they enjoy the sound. Daniel said, "I enjoy playing and like how the rhythm of the music comes out."

--Contributed by sophomore Luis Serna


Mock Election


On October 30th the 2012 Messmer Mock Presidential Election was held. 
This exciting event took place in the commons area located in the basement, during all lunch hours. Students from freshman to seniors were able to come out during their lunch hour and cast a vote for either Mitt Romney or Barack Obama. 
Social Studies teachers Mrs. JoAnne Carter-Hauser and Mrs. Julia Olson were in charge of the election. Students from the Leadership class also helped out. They participated in roles such as hall monitors and assistance with voting. 
The commons area was decorated with the traditional American colors of red, white, and blue. The students voted using iPads, which were laid out on various tables. This particular event was for Messmer students only; teachers and staff were able to vote in the real election. 
The Mock Election was a huge success. This event was a message to young people, encouraging them to get out and vote. Senior LaShaundra Terry-Lewis said, "It makes me feel important because my vote will actually count." Senior Puertokae Lagrant, hall monitor said, "Being a part of this election has given me the opportunity to see new faces."  
Mrs. Carter-Hauser said, "I'm very proud of seeing students participating in their constitutional right to vote. Also I’m proud of the students volunteering their time in this election to come out and vote." 
The end of this resulted in president Barack Obama as winner with over 85% of votes, for a second term in office. 

--Contributed by senior Jaron Carter
 

Let's Get CRAAAAAZZY!

Crazy Hair/Crazy Clothes Day was a chance for Messmer students, staff, and faculty to dress CRAZY as part of our spirit week celebration. 
Many people were very excited about spirit week and couldn’t wait to show their crazy side by dressing weird. 
As sophomore Kimberlie Jones said, “Crazy hair day brought out a variety of fun spirits and outfits, besides wearing our uniform.” 
People that dressed up are usually the outgoing students, but the quiet ones also showed their spirit. 
Freshman Chardonnay Johnson said, “Crazy hair day was awesome! I saw some crazy hairstyles and some crazy shoes which made me laugh!” 

                        GO BISHOPS!

--Contributed by sophomore Timia Scott

Super Secretaries!

The Messmer High School office keeps the school organized and running smoothly. The office secretaries are Ms. Dianne Szajna and Ms. Lakesha Jackson. They help Messmer function on a day-to-day basis. 
Ms. Szajna is the attendance secretary and the records clerk. Part of her day consists of putting tardies, absences, and early dismissals into PowerSchool. She has been in the Messmer community for 8 ½ years. Ms. Szajna said, “I like that every day is different and the days fly by quickly, and I also like when students become our friends and pop in all the time to say hi and make our days brighter.” She enjoys working in the Messmer office because she enjoys helping people. 
Ms. Jackson is the office secretary. Her day consists of helping students and parents, answering the multi-line phone system, and making sure the supplies are stocked. She has been in the Messmer community for 3 years. Ms. Jackson said, ”I love interacting with the students and making them laugh from time and time.” Things that would make the Messmer secretaries’ days easier would be for the students to be quiet coming into the office, updating their personal information, being on time, and having a parent or guardian call in an absence. Also, don’t forget your homework, keys, or bus fare! 
So the next time you walk in the office make sure you say hi and be respectful. We owe a lot of thanks to Ms. Szajna and Ms. Jackson!


--Contributed by sophomore Savannah Short

Multiples Raising Spirits

ARE YOU FEELING THE MESSMER SPIRIT? The week of November 5th is about Messmer Bishop school spirit. 
Tuesday 11/6 was twin/triplet day and students were excited to dress as their best friend or their favorite teacher, or to be a twin, triplet, or even a septuplet.
Some of the staff and faculty had fun dressing alike while participating in Messmer spirit week. 
Sophomore Avery Smith said, "Twin day was fun. We should do this more often, but next time have quadruplets." 
Being out of dress code really excited everyone and gave individuals the opportunity to have fun with their style while raising Messmer school spirit. 
                           GO BISHOPS!

--Contributed by Christina Tenner, junior

The Freshman Retreat


One reason for the annual Messmer retreats is for students to get to know one other and start forming lasting bonds. 

 
The focus of the freshman retreat is community and stewardship. The  students were split into small groups so they would have a better chance to bond with those they may not normally talk to. 
Lataja Dotstry said, “I enjoyed the retreat. I made new friends and got know my teachers a little better.”  Librarian Ms. Polly Partain added, “I have been lucky enough to participate in the freshman retreat before; it's a great way to start the bond that last for four years.” 
One of the activities at the retreat was the time capsule, were students put things in a box that they will read their senior year. Ms. Polly said of the time capsule, “It’s such a great way for a senior to see how they’ve grown over the years.” Also there was painting of stones for the Messmer Peace Garden, a movie, and making sundaes. 
Lataja said, “The most interesting activity was painting the stone because I got to put a piece of me in the garden, for everyone else it may have been different because there were so many good activities.” 
The freshman retreat was a great experience. Students got to strengthen their community and learn how to be good stewards while having fun in the process. 

 

 --Contributed by KeAndrea Lewis and Ramanda Davis, sophomores



The Senior Retreat

The senior retreat was held October 18th and 19th at Camp Minikani. It was an overnight event when the seniors were called to come together and bond with each other. 
There were numerous activities that allowed the students to get to know each other better. This included a trust exercise activity, where the seniors had to blindfold one another and lead each other to a destination.
There was also a prayer service that allowed the seniors to share their stories. Some were emotional, some were inspiring and uplifting. Senior Brianna Edwards said, “The retreats was so fun! It really inspired me to be more understanding of people’s struggles." Senior Ngozi Osademe said, "The retreat allowed me to get to know people better and spending a night really helped with the bonding." 
This was the last retreat for the seniors and will be the most memorable. Ms. Amy Gibson, the senior guidance counselor said, "I thought it turned out great this year and it allowed students to connect. I was very proud of the seniors trying new things. When I go to retreats it renews my faith in them and I can see that the seniors are bound for great things.” 
The senior retreat was about being together, having fun, while taking the time to thank God and renew your faith.

--Contributed by senior Neena Mathews 

The Junior Retreat

Retreats are a time for Messmer students to reflect, learn new things, and have fun, while feeling God's presence amongst our peers.
 The Junior Retreat took place Thursday and Friday October 18th and 19th at Camp Minikani. Juniors participated in various outdoor activities including rock climbing and the high ropes course. The objectives of the activities included team building, cooperation, communication, and trust. The activities took the students out of their normal element. 
Junior guidance counselor Ms. Lora DeFranco said, "It was a wonderful experience to see juniors in a different setting." Most students said they enjoyed themselves, but there were also some challenges. Junior Michaun Cobb remarked, "The retreat was very exhilarating.  I had fun using teamwork, but some activities were scary such as the high ropes." 
 At the retreat, juniors put aside any problems they may have with each other, to focus on the main task at hand.  It was exciting to see people who otherwise wouldn’t associate with each other in  or outside of school come together and enjoy themselves. 
Junior Edreena Tuggles said, "The retreat was interesting. We bonded as one, and I had a lot of fun."  Through this experience the class of 2014 was able to overcome fears, build relationships with peers, and bond like never before--all while having fun!

          --Contributed by juniors Ishmael Ali 
                     and Christina Tenner

The Sophomore Retreat

The Sophomore Retreat took place at the Tyme Out Youth Center about 45 minutes away from Messmer High School.  When the sophomores got off the bus they went into the gym, were introduced to the Tyme Out employees, and were told the expectations for the session. 

 
The theme of this retreat is "Relationships." The sophomore retreat teaches students how to interact with one another in many ways, and to keep God in all of their relationships. 
Some sophomores were wary before it began, but the retreat opened their eyes and they truly started to understand what it means to have a relationship with God first. Timia Scott said, "I took away that you have to go through a stage or process when starting a relationship and you shouldn’t ever jump into one."
In the group discussion the girls were able to ask the boys questions about relationships and vice versa. Timia said, "It allowed us [girls] to see where they [the boys] were coming from, and how they viewed us in relationships; telling them how we felt and what we thought of them was very good and helped us understand each other." 
English teacher Ms. Kathryn Pavlik helped out by running a group at the retreat. She said, "It was very fun. The [Tyme Out Center] staff was nice and they were well prepared for the retreat." Ms. Pavlik, new to Messmer this year, enjoyed getting to know the students and her fellow co-workers better through the retreat. 
The best thing about it she said was, "...the opportunity for students to answer each others' questions. I think everyone learned a lot about each other." The best lesson for the students, according to Ms. Pavlik, is that boys and girls are not very different.

--Contributed by sophomores Armone Crowell and Avery Smith



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