Smith’s Section
Faculty/Staff Shoutout
For the third issue of The Laker Review, CCHS principal Steve Smith recognizes our two guidance counselors, Kimberly Rydecki and Chelsea Neale. According to Smith, “These two individuals have done tons of behind-the-scenes work since the start of this year to help our seniors get back on track with their first and last normal year of high school.” The first thing they have done to benefit our seniors is letting students who wanted to retake the ACT do so digitally earlier this year. The two counselors have also helped by writing letters of recommendation for students who have applied for scholarships. Smith also states, “Having Ms. Rydecki and Ms. Neale across the hall is just like having two extra assistant principals who have always been right there to help in some way outside the duties of their jobs.” Having their help in these different areas in the front and guidance offices has improved the atmosphere greatly. Smith calls the two women, “second to none.”
Student Participation and Performance Shoutout
While the front office atmosphere is continually improving, student involvement is also on the rise. With the addition of the National Honor Society, Interact Club and Tabletop Gaming Club, students have even more options for participation. According to Smith, “The new Tabletop Club already has a list of 30 to 40 students wanting to join, and more are bound to be on the way.” There has also been a new incentive to increase attendance again since, at a 92%-93% attendance rate, the high school is closing the gap on the 95% goal. The recent CCR assemblies and special, sometimes all-day activities, have shown a positive increase in attendance. Recently, the attendance rates did take a dive due to the Influenza epidemic that has been sweeping the Midwest. As Smith said, “This past flu outbreak was bad. I saw kids come up to the nurse that I’ve never seen up here, and it was scary. The only positive was the perfect timing of an unintentionally built-in break [the two days off for election day] we had planned in the schedule.”
Christmas Extras
When Smith was asked what he wanted for Christmas this year, he responded with, “That’s definitely a tough question to answer, but I think I’ll have to go with a new guitar.”
