IN K [ [ ] L I N G S
Crown Point High School Crown Point, IN @InklingsCPHS September 28, 2018 Vol. 83 Issue 1
Read about bilingual students at CPHS page 6
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“Looking into Homecoming” pages 8 & 9
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“Geno Christofanelli: A Rising Star” page 11
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PHOTO BY ASHLEY REKITZKE Officer Sean Steffel observes students as they walk into the school in the morning. Steffel is the school’s student resource officer. An officer is always present at the main entrance at the beginning of the day.
Challenges in society make safety top priority
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If you
SEE something, SAY something. Principal Chip Pettit
BY MORGAN TAYLOR TABITHA BEISHUIZEN ASHLEY REKITZKE co-editor-in-chief editors-at-large
P
arkland. Sandy Hook. Las Vegas. These “There are over 3,000 people at CPHS on a daitragic shootings have all hit hard, but ly basis. Notifying someone when you observe people start to listen when something something that isn’t right is the best, and most possibly catastrophic happens in their backyard. underrated way, to help us provide a safe and Near the beginning of the school year, Ma- secure campus.” cArthur Elementary had an incident where a With the increase in surveillance, privacy student had brought a weapon to school. For- becomes sacrificed. For senior Alex Warner, this tunately, the situation was handled quickly and sensation of being watched has been heightened effectively because it was immediately brought since the recent update in cameras. to authorities’ attention. “I feel like more of my privacy is taken Sometimes seemingly simple things are away. I’m resigned to the fact that privacy is a of utmost importance. According to Principal myth in the modern world. I’m more on-edge Chip Pettit, safety is on the forefront of every- about everything I do in the camera’s line of one’s minds and is the staff’s first concern. sight even if I’m not doing anything wrong,” “If you see something that isn’t right, you Warner said. “I’m not the biggest fan of feeling need to say something about it. Sometimes like I’m being watched and the insane amount through discussion we arrive at solutions that of high-tech cameras just increase that feeling. I we might not have thought of on our own. hope I’ll just get used to it.” Meeting with students, parents High surveillance is I want (the readand staff is important,” Pettit enough to put people on ers) to know that edge, as well as prevalent said. “For many of our staff, their children or their spouse coverage of these devastating safety is our first also comes to CPHS every day. shootings. Junior Sam Gold priority. There is I believe that resonates with said the abundant coverage nothing more of these happenings numbs people. People understand that we would not want to work important than emotions towards these ochere or send our family memschool safety. currences. bers here if we didn’t think it “Sadly, it does seem that was safe.” shooting have become the Principal Chip Pettit Students noticed an innorm currently. About every creased security presence this year. There are month there seems to be at least one shooting. added officers who are trained to handle vari- With the media’s constant coverage of them, it ous safety situations. Freshman Luke Byrd said seems that we’ve become more and more desenthat with more police, the school is safer. sitized to these tragic events,” Gold said. “We have on duty police and security at Pettit believes that there are statistically our school so if something goes wrong, they more shootings now than there were in the know how to handle it,” Byrd said. past, yet the risks CPHS faces must be looked Security is constantly being updated as new at relatively. technology becomes available. However, stu“Is the high school at a higher risk to have dents and staff must be involved by paying at- an active shooter incident? Higher risk than tention to their surroundings and speaking up what? Than an elementary school, yes. Are if they see something. schools safer today than they were 20 years ago? “We are always reviewing safety and se- Statistically, yes,” Pettit said. “However, I think curity protocols that are in place and making we can all agree that we are seeing too many adjustments as necessary. We have 120 new se- instances of gun violence at public places in curity cameras on campus. Most importantly, America.” for both students and staff, If you see somesee school safety on page 3 thing, you need to say something,” Pettit said.
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Future of School Safety Bullet Proof Doors and Windows
Mental Health Screenings
Heightened Gun Control
Coverings for Windows in Classrooms
Gun Safes for Trained Officers