The MarTian news

by Maddison CarlockNewspaper Editor

October 2019Goodrich High School

Not everyone’s life motto is “stuff happens”, but for Hunter Johnson this saying is positive and

humorous. The past two years have been full of ongoing surgeries - 21 and counting - for Johnson, who suffered from extensive damage to his face after a hunting acci-dent. Requiring so much medical attention has kept Johnson out of physically coming to school over the past two years and has led him to want to be back in the classroom. “Homeschooling is repetitive and my relaxed

#Hunter Strong

schedule at home lead to negativity. I sat and played video games instead of talking to people, which made me depressed. Being with friends and teach-ers here at school adds to the amount of support my family has given me” stated Johnson. Support has also come in the form of Hunter Strong, a fundraiser started by Johnson and his fam-ily to raise money for the ongoing costs of his sur-geries, since they cost massive amounts of money even with the help of insurance, which, according to Johnson, has already paid about a million dollars. In addition to this fundraiser, a family friend put together a GoFundMe to raise additional funds two years ago that has raised $34,245. “We have gotten so much love, prayers, and financial support from so many people...friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, and friends of our family,” emoted Dawn Johnson, Hunter’s mother, from the comment section of the page. Hunter’s father, Gary Johnson, is a golf course greenskeeper at Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak. His position at the golf course has made him and his family eligible for assistance from The Wee One Foundation, an organization that was developed to assist golf course management professionals (or their dependents) who have overwhelming expenses due to medical hardship without adequate insur-ance or finances. “The first payment from Wee One Foundation was around $10,000, but they're giving us some more this time around,” Johnson said. This will come in handy since Johnson’s next surgery will consist of reconstructing his jaw bone and implanting permanent teeth. “For my upcoming surgery, each tooth will cost between $3,000 and $5,000. I need 16 teeth and insurance is not covering much of this surgery,” explained John-son, who hopes to have this surgery over the 2020 summer. Anyone interested in donating to Johnson’s cause can still donate to the GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/f/hunter-johnson

Senior Hunter Johnson focuses on the positive aspects in the face of adversity

photo by Jesse Smith

Thanks to Genesee Career Institute, stu-dents like sophomore William Westra can find success in classes like JROTC. Junior Reserve Officer Train-ing Course is a class that is run by officers in the army to develop students interested in the armed forces physically and mentally. “I joined because the Army can’t have 100lb children”, joked Westra, regarding the level of fitness required by the army. For sophomore Sa-vannah Belling, JROTC gives her a place to connect with others.

“My favorite thing is all of the people I have met that are really nice and help you out when you need it,”emoted Belling. Fellow female JROTC member, senior Cheyenne Sarace-no-Mills said she joined in order to figure out what she wanted to do after high school. “I wanted to figure out if i wanted to get a scholar-ship for ROTC instead of just enlisting after high school,” explained Saraceno-Mills. Senior Dyson Bon-ham said he wants to be part of the Marine Corps after highschool.

He wants to go for something along the lines of infantry, heavy weapons, motor-t (me-chanics). He has been in JROTC for three years. He said he was always interested in being apart of the military. This program is fun for him, it made him happy. It made him want to come to school everyday. “Leadership, you get put in leadership roles. It’s fun, highlight of my day; traditional school-ing isn’t my forte, but with JROTC, I get the chance to excel because it’s something I’m good at,” added Dyson.

by Ashton DawsonStaff Writer

2 GCI HIGHlIGHt

photos by Jesse Smith

Building Future Leaders in JROTC

Standing at attention are JROTC students Collin Shope, Cheyenne Saraceno-Mills, Alexis Welsh, Dyson Bonham, Savannah Belling, and Conner Kendrick.

Students in the JROTC program at GCI must have their shoes spotless and the lines on their pants straight and creased.

Spirit Week Standouts

HomeComInG In RevIew 3

Pajama Day Twin/Squad DayDress like a Teacher Day Beach Day Blue and Gold Day

Homecoming CourtFreshmen

Princess and Prince:

Averie Baszler and Cody Tripp

Sophomore Princess and

Prince:Lauren Cherry

and Gary Bosen

Junior Princess and

Prince:Jadyn Deering

and Grant Deaton

King Jakob McClard and Queen Raegan Lauinger were crowned at halftime.

Senior Princes and Princesses:Mason Rich, Raegan Lauinger, Nicholas Jackman, Rachel Rock, Haden Gross, Kevin Patterson, Rebecca King, Jaysen Ruhl, Riley McGaughey, and Jakob McClard

4 October 2019 The Martian News

STUDENT/STAFF SHOUT OUTS“Shoutout to Dr.

Sweeney for all of his

support.”

-MICHAEL CEMAZAR, 11

"Daniel Greene is

always here to make

me laugh."

-KASSI KRITZMAN, 12

"Mrs. Carlisle's

teaching has helped

me this year and she's

one of my favorite

teachers."

-ZACHARY HILL, 10

“Collin Austin is my

brother. We have an

incredible bond and

have been through a

lot together.”

-TARIK AL-SHIMARY, 11

"Mr. Yelland is an

amazing teacher who

makes learning fun,

which helps students

look forward to history

class."

-NATALIE EASHOO, 9

New English and Science teacher Mrs. COURTNEY COX explains a concept in anatomy to her class during the first month of school.

New Business and History teacher Mrs. LESLIE HOLT interacts with a student during her accounting class.

photos by Jesse Smith

After the retirements of Mr. Tim Cornwell and Mr. Rick Bell, the high school was in need of filling those two multifaceted roles. Replac-ing Bell is veteran teacher, Goodrich alumna, and girls' tennis coach Mrs. Leslie Holt. “I graduated from here and so did my kids and I coach the girls tennis team, so I'm happy to be back here,” stated Holt, who comes to the staff after 18 years of teaching at Carman-Ainsworth High School.

Along with tennis, Holt is bringing back the school store and assisting with DECA, a business club for high school students. Senior DECA president Luke Giza said he is looking forward to learn-ing from Holt. “She made it to nationals and can bring a new perspective to our DECA program,” confided Giza. Coming in with 15 years experience from Kearsley High School as the new English and science teacher is Mrs. Courtney Cox. “My

kids attend Goodrich and I wanted to be more involved at the school I work at with extra curricular activities,” commented Cox, who said she hopes to bring her love for education and excitement for learning to her classroom. Junior Aiden Koester, who has her twice a day in public speaking and College English 11, said he enjoys Cox as a teacher. “She is very open and she likes to build relationships with the students,” compli-mented Koester.

by Kailee MorganStaff Writer

New teachers make their debut on campus

Staff HIGHlIGHt

tHe maRtIan newSOctober 2019 5

Developing a curriculum for a brand new class can be challenging to the teacher assigned. However, for Dr. RICHARD SWEENEY, a further complication was funding his new horticulture class. “I need to learn how to write a grant, some parents and students have helped with some tools and old plants but it’s going to take a lot more than that,” explained Swee-ney, who said he needed the money for additional tools,

With the assistance of Mrs. Abby Harrison, Christian Alcorn and Haley Zarembski pick weeds in the courtyard.

Senior Dylan Wisner examines wrought iron decorations that were used in the original design of the courtyard.

Grant O'Brien, Madison Wallace, and Anita Lor clean up the overgrowth together.

photos by Cheryl Jerisk

Horticulture added to electivesby Zach Belau

Staff Writer

dirt, and new plants. While waiting for the fund-ing, horticulture students worked together to rebuild the courtyard by clearing out the old leaves and plants and replacing them with new ones. After the court-yard was finished, it opened for teachers to sign up to have a lesson outside just like the media center and computer labs. The upkeep was the responsibility of the class as well. “I’m excited to keep the new plants healthy and alive,” emoted KYLIE RHODE

(11). Some students who took the class chose it because the class also taught real world skills such as gardening. “I took horticulture because I thought it’d be a good introduction to growing my own food and maintaining a healthy garden for my family and I when I’m older,” noted ALEXIS OVERLAND (10).

Under the new charge of the hor-ticulture class, students Catherine Schaefer and Jenna Denison work to make the courtyard usable for other teachers and students.

Battle of M-15Goodrich Brandon32 26

SpoRtS HIGHlIGHttHe maRtIan newS

October 20196

Juwan Vines #24 on the carry

photos by Kurt Schulte

Tyson Davis, #3, with the catch

#50 Jakob McClard on the tackle

Varsity football pulls out win in tight game against new Metro League rival Brandon, plays for Mental Health Awareness Week

by Alissa GauthierStaff Writer

Perseverance is one aspect of having good mental health. The varsity football team has faced adversity year after year falling to Brandon in the Battle of M-15. However, after three long years of defeat, the team persevered and took home the jug.“Win-ning the jug after after coming back made for the most exciting win this season,” described senior lineman DANIEL GREENE. According to Greene, the game didn't start out how the boys wanted. Within the first five minutes the score was Goodrich 0- Brandon 13. “I realized when we were down we had to step it up. I felt the energy was off and we just had to start making little plays and the rest would take care of itself,” confided senior GAGE ASHLEY. Ashley was right; within a few good plays,touchdowns were scored. One play that was particularly powerful was a one-handed catch by junior wide receiver TYSON DAVIS that seemed to put the energy back to the home field advantage, with the Martians then taking the lead.“I was never worried. I had faith in my team that we would fight back and win the game,” expressed Davis. Perseverance also came in the form of junior DAVIS MORHMAN, who had to step and fill the position of JUWAN VINES who got injured during the game. “I was nervous to come in during the middle of a big game, but I was ready to play because I practice hard everyday and watched Brandon’s film so I had an idea of what was coming,” admitted Mohrman. The preparation of the team paid off and the Martians ended up taking the win at the conclusion of the game with a score of 32-26. " We knew that if we won the game then we would get the jug back, so we were more motivated." TUCKER REICKEL In addition to the game itself, mental health awareness was highlighted throughout the school. T Shirts and bracelets were sold for the football game and former Lions Quarterback, Eric Hipple, spoke to the whole school on game day. “We are playing this week so we don't forget the ones we lost to this cause, including former student Hannah Dawley, and so many other teen-agers around the world who might be struggling with their mental health,” emoted senior KEVIN PATTERSON.

7October 2019The Martian News

Chase Ferrier, Cecilia Sobocinski, Garrett Brown, Mikaela Moore

maRCHInG Band

Band receives highest honors at Goodrich Invitational Competition

Jordan Zmich and Katie Cartier photos by Kyla Dainty

Senior band members have been able to recall many changes to the fine arts program throughout their tenure in high school. However, in order to have band taken more seriously, the changes from this year were very obvious, beginning with attendance. Mr. AARON ORKISZ, the band director, required students to at-tend all practices outside of the classroom. If students missed, their grades dropped and after three absences, they were kicked out, with the intention of making students take band more seriously. “I like how the changes made a difference, especially with the attendance, making sure people are there on time and with them knowing it would affect them because it seems like people are taking band way more seriously than last year,” explained junior EMILY POLASEK. The attendance Polasek refers to

isn’t just class and night practices, either. Band members were also required to attend summer band camp, football games, and competitions. “It honestly feels so special to be in band because it is like a big family. People don’t realize just how much time and effort we put into all of it,” emoted senior JENNA HILLIER. The marching band hosted the Goodrich Invitational that welcomed bands from Holly, Bendle, Mt. Morris, Millington, Almont, Caro, Powers, Croswell-Lexington, Swartz Creek, and Kearsley. Goodrich end-ed up earning a 1-rating, the highest score possible for their Disney-themed show called “A Day at the Park”. “Goodrich was our second competition and we performed really well that day thanks to all the peo-ple that help us out with all of our training outside of school,” stated senior MIKAELA MOORE.

by Aly FurmanekStaff Writer