2023-2024 Year in Review

This year, the varsity cheer squad is faced with its newest challenge; rearranging the team after the loss of so many seniors.

While most of the articles I write are focused on those that I interview, this time I will be talking about my own experience as a varsity cheerleader, and how this team is going to do in comparison to the last three years I’ve been on the team.

The challenge isn’t just preparing for the upcoming basketball games, it’s figuring out a whole new role-assignment for the squad. For many cheers, the squad has had to move around many of the girls to fit together the stunts in a new way.

Although this is a challenging thing, I believe that it may be beneficial; by having the team re-coordinate itself, each member is going to have to develop a whole new set of skills to balance the rest of the team; which will, in turn, broaden the skills of the team overall. 

I truly believe that this season is something to be excited about. While last year’s ending was unfortunate, with the team not being able to present their usual dance that takes months of practicing due to sickness and COVID-19, we now have something to work off of- and a playlist that can be re-used in this year’s dance.

In my own experience, cheer has made me more well-rounded, and developed my personality into something more outgoing and confident. In cheer, it’s apparent that you need to be loud and proud, and not afraid to perform in front of an audience; which helps not only me, but I think many of the other girls as well when it comes to confidence and the ability to balance their school and sports life.

I can also say that the relationships you build while being in cheer will last not just a season, but for years to come. I know it may not seem like it, but you need to have good relationships with each other in order to cheer well as a group. Your stunting groups, chant lines, and those you sit with on the bench, will not only become your team, but your family.

I think that cheer is something that is absolutely worth trying as soon as you hit freshman year! If you are considering it as an option for next year as an eighth grader, I would highly recommend signing up at the end of this school year; I promise it won't be something you regret!

A Senior Project Brings Much-Deserved Appreciation for Veterans Day

Sam Breault, a senior at CCS, is officially on track to completing his senior project this Sunday in the auditorium with his Veterans Day concert involving a community band brought together and conducted by Breault himself.

I kicked off an interview with him by asking the following and getting his response:

Q: “What made you think of your senior project?”

B: “Well, I’ve always had an interest in music and I really like doing that stuff in general, but I’ve never been on that kind of the other side before so I wanted to try a new experience, and Veterans Day is a really underappreciated holiday. With not a lot of events going on I figured what better time.”

Breault then moved on to speak about his experience when it came to balancing school life and his senior project, while also finding time for himself. 

B: “It’s been stressful mainly because it’s kind of hard balancing it with school and also, you know, with a band you’re always gonna have little problems like people dropping out and just small stuff like that, but it’s seemed to have worked out very well!”

Breault is class president, president of National Honor Society, participated in numerous extracurricular activities such as band, chorus, jazz band, and half-past seven just to name a few, Science Olympiad, ecumenical choir, and many more, so it definitely can’t be easy balancing everything at once.

This weekend on Sunday, November 12, at 2:00 PM, Breault will be conducting his band through numerous songs. Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciated, all funds going towards DAV (Disabled American Veterans), so please be sure to stop by this weekend both to support Sam Breault’s senior project, and to say thank you to those who have fought for our country so bravely.

This year, the seniors put on a fantastic performance of “The Crimson House Murder” for the annual senior play. I had gained the privilege of interviewing both Sophia Nemier and Nevaya Adams on their experiences being involved in the play and what memories and valuable lessons they have learned from it.

I began the interview process by asking both girls what was the most challenging part of being in the senior play, their responses were as follows:

N: “Well, I had to manage my time because I didn’t have any time to do anything that wasn’t for school, so I’d go to school, go to volleyball, and go to senior play, so I had to manage my time for homework and stuff, so I think that will help in college.”

A: “I think the most stressful part was mostly like memorizing the lines.”

While both girls had different problems, they each claimed that the experiences will definitely help them with their college experiences; time management and the memorization of information are both extremely prevalent concepts in college. 

I then moved on to ask about any major memories Nemier and Adams had experienced, and what came to mind when they initially thought about the senior play:

N: “Yes, I had a blast during practice and the real play just hanging out with everybody, and probably my favorite memory is when Sam said, “Never fear, I am here” and we were playing in the curtains.” 

Nemier played the role of Jeeves the comedic butler with a poor sense of direction, so she interacted with almost everyone on stage. Sam Breault, who played the part of Hercules Porridge, the famous Hoboken detective, is the one she recalled in her memory.

A: “Definitely the senior play group chat, and the show where Pete tripped over the couch on his way out to the hallway.”

Adams was referring to Peter Reynolds, who played the Delivery Person with murderous intentions. Adams herself played the role of Penny Russel, a widow with a secret who turned out to not be a widow at all, but a wife who was protecting her husband from the blackmail of the owner of Crimson House.

I closed off the interview session with the question of if the girls believe that they had become closer with their peers who were in the show as well, both responding with yes. The senior play each year is yet another way to bring the class closer before their graduation, and a wonderful experience to participate in. 

The senior play is something that is highly recommended to be a part of next year for the now juniors, but up-and-coming seniors.

Stay tuned for new developments involving news surrounding Chateaugay High School.