Students and staff recognized at Hononegah High School

Students and staff at Hononegah Community High School have created a true sense of community through positive actions since the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.

The first group to be recognized at the January 15, 2025 HCHS Board of Education meeting were students from the National Honor Society who organized the school's first ever gingerbread house making contest.

Around 16 clubs with multiple members from each participated in the event.
Renaissance emerged the winner. Taking second place was Stagehands and third place honors went to Life United.

During the event, canned food items were collected and donated to the Old Stone Church Food Pantry.

NHS President Avani Joshi, Vice President Chloe Baumgartner, Secretary Emilee Mullranin, and Treasurer Gracie Wang were recognized for organizing a very successful event.

Photos appeared on a screen as Principal Chad Dougherty gave an overview of the event.

“It wasn't actual gingerbread but the structures had pieces hot glued on them. Some did two different houses.”

“For a good cause these members organized a spectacular event,” Dougherty added.

HCHS students Zachary Krenz and Jesse Puckett are the 2025 Vets Roll trip student representatives.

Puckett is considering going into the Naval Academy either next year or the year after. Krenz is considering joining the Army.

Dougherty said, “We appreciate your future service. It means so much in both your interest in history, your desire to serve. There is so much to be proud of here. You will spend three days with World War II veterans and Rosie the Riveters.”

“What you will learn from the Rosie the Riveters and the veterans you are going to be traveling with will probably outweigh the things that you learn in your history books and classes, at least to some degree," said Dougherty, “because you are getting your social studies [from a] primary source. You are going to get a personal touch in this trip.”

“You will also get the satisfaction of having been there to support some of these individuals who are going to need your assistance just to be able to enjoy the monuments.”

Dougherty credited retired teacher Jan Lang and BOE member Gayle Haab, who are also going on the trip.

“I am thrilled that both of you are joining us this year,” Haab said. “It is a life changing experience. We are taking 10 coach buses to Washington DC. with 220 veterans, some World War II veterans. I am really glad you will get to experience it.”

Both students went through an application and interview process.

Staff members Amanda McCoy, Amber Emerson, Alex Krahl, Angela Stone, Kaylee Peterson, Gail Santopoalo, Heather Hardwick and Rachel Norberg received a note of sincere gratitude for what they do as the Sunshine Committee.

Dougherty shared a note from them, “On behalf of the Sunshine committee we would like to express our sincere gratitude for recognizing our efforts to foster a positive culture for our staff. We are appreciative of your acknowledgment and of our contributions. The Sunshine committee's primary goal is to help create a positive and uplifting atmosphere of work where we can celebrate each other and build stronger relationships within our school community.”

The Sunshine Committee hosts dress-up days, staff shirt sales, monthly treats, family fun nights, years of service recognition, and a variety of different things.
Their main goal is to make the staff happy which then reflects positively on the students. They have organized special events including a bowling night last year. They also organized events during Homecoming and other times plus “First Friday's” events. They have also hosted a night at the Ice Hogs. 

“I am so grateful to them for taking the initiative to get this going. It was very well received,” Daugherty said.

The students and the Sunshine Committee receive certificates in honor of their contributions

The HCHS Student Council has remained active. They are talking about preparing Kits for Kids which provides essentials for kids who are in the hospital. The senior class is planning a senior trip and has decided on a class motto. The sophomore class is planning the winter formal which will be held on Feb. 22. The junior class is making plans for the 2025 prom. SOAR has met with freshmen.

The Key Club will be making Valentines Day cards for local nursing homes. They also volunteered at Roscoe's Hometown Holiday and Merry Market celebration.
Since the school year started, the Key Club has decorated cups for the Ronald McDonald Pop-Up tab fundraiser. They also lent a hand at the Kinnikinnick Book Fair, ran a 50/50 raffle, helped with a trunk or treat, worked at Midway Village's All Hallow's Eve Trick or Treating, helped with the Roscoe VFW Spaghetti Dinner and the Lockwood Park's Fall on the Farm event.

Renaissance Club is looking forward to working in the concession stand and are planning a student-faculty basketball game. In November the club looked forward to “staffing a bus” and organizing donations to supply Thanksgiving dinners to be donated to local families.

Another highlight of the meeting was a presentation given by Julie Gerard, Jessica Hecker, and Miss Schroeder of the Special Education Department. They showed a video of them teaching students how to use a new iPad device, called TouchChat, in the applied level communications class. The focus of the class is on building communication skills and independence. Some of the students have their own dedicated device, usually purchased with their insurance company.

One of the presenters said, “The growth that we have seen from some of our students is pretty incredible. Enhanced verbal skills have been experienced from specific students.” The expressions on the students' faces showed great joy as they discovered a new way of learning.