Hate Has No Home Here
Maritza Muniz and Grace Newton
Chapel Hill High School adopted the Hate Has No Home Here campaign that attempts to eliminate hateful speech and behavior from communities and encourage safe spaces.
The slogan, which was created by a third grader and a kindergartner in North Park Chicago, caught the attention of other North Park locals who then designed a poster and set the project into motion.
All Chapel Hill teachers have been provided with a “Hate Has No Home Here” poster to display in their classrooms. On the first day of school, homeroom teachers were encouraged to explain and converse about the posters and their meaning with students. “I think it sends a message of positivity in an era of negativity,” English teacher Tom Stanfa said.
Homecoming Week
Maggie Springer
Chapel Hill’s Student Government paired with the cheerleading team to construct a week of games and spirit to celebrate Homecoming. Nominations for Homecoming Court and sign-ups to participate in the spirit week lunch games took place October 16-20. The lunch games took place the week after and the spirit dress-up days began as well.
Each day had a different dress-up theme for the school to participate in. Every day during fourth period, teachers took a count of how many kids participated in the theme. The counts were totaled on Friday and the winning grade, the junior class, was announced during the pep rally that took place after 7th period.
The school-wide pep rally on Friday showcased tiger pride as well as commemorated the fall sports teams, who were introduced at the beginning. The cheerleading team and the band performed numerous acts to energize the crowd. At the end of the rally, the princes and princesses of each class were announced; however, the senior king and queen were kept secret until the homecoming game. Once game time came around, the winners, Anna Stouffer and Joe Mayo were called to the field during halftime to be recognized.
School Safety Week
Max Kurzman
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools participated in America’s Safe Schools Week in mid-October, devoting each day to an aspect of school safety. On Sunday, October 15, the effort started off with a focus on getting to campus safely. The district advocated positive behavior Monday and reviewed emergency weather drills Tuesday. Wednesday, School Safety Week highlighted building resiliency and understanding others’ viewpoints and went over the lockdown procedure Thursday. The district promoted a “Mindful Minute” Friday, to relieve stress over students’ daily lives. Saturday, October 21, ended Safe Schools Week, encouraging healthful living and physical wellness.
Challenge Day
Greta Timmins
The Student Services Department hosted a Challenge Day Program on October 12, a day-long event which aimed to build connections and empathy among students.
Over 80 students attended the event, along with about 25 adults. Participants took part in activities practicing peer communication and mediation. Activities ranged from small group discussions, where students were encouraged to open up about their personal experiences, to a group volleyball game.
“It gave you encouragement to do things you normally wouldn’t do, like giving each other compliments,” senior Cahlede Sikes-Smallwood said.
Counselor Ryan McGraw participated in the event and appreciated how it gave students a forum to speak who may have struggled to find one otherwise. “It’s definitely something I’m interested in doing again,” McGraw said.
