Poppy Benwell - Staff Reporter

Home is supposed to be a place you leave and return to. For me, it became something more complicated, something I carry, something I miss, and something people here will never fully see. I was born in Thailand, where I grew up surrounded by my cousins, who feel more like younger brothers, and the rest of my extended family. My grandmother and aunt raised me while my mom worked away from home. Life was simple.  In a way, I didn’t realize what was special at the time: riding bikes through the neighborhood, buying snacks with my cousins, and growing up in a place where everyone knew each other. Even strangers felt familiar.

OH students competed at the SkillsUSA State Leadership & Skills Conference in Peoria on April 24, winning a total of six medals including three gold (Katelyn Thilk; baking and pastry arts, Kaleb Stumpenhorst, Addison Terrazas), two silver (Nathan Overstreet; cabinetmaking, Jacob Dillon; masonry), and one bronze medal (Ashely Dauderman; baking and pastry arts) in various competitions.  From these awards, four students have the opportunity to compete at the Atlanta SkillsUSA National Competition in early June.    In April, OH students tested their technical skills and career readiness against students statewide through high-pressure, hands-on competitions designed to reflect real-world industry standards. “It’s a great opportunity for all high school kids and even post-secondary students to just compete and do things that you love,” said OH senior Stumpenhorst, who won First Place for Cabinetmaking.

Sometimes the smallest gestures can make the biggest difference. At OH, students in the new Letters of Love club are turning simple handwritten notes into messages of hope for people facing difficult times.  “Every meeting that we have, there is a list that we should write on a card, and things we shouldn’t write on a card,” said OH senior and club president Emma Chabot. “So every meeting is us writing these cards, and then we send them to the global nonprofit, where they then send them to hospitals that are nearby.”

This spring, the girls lacrosse team is entering its second year with a growing roster and stronger team chemistry. Players practice daily and prepare for upcoming games as the team aims to build a competitive varsity program and a positive team environment. With a 6-2 JV win against Burlington Central yesterday and a 13-4 varsity loss, the team looks ahead tomorrow to a JV game against Benet Academy with a bonded team and good team spirits.

Students and staff at OH have mixed feelings after Dunkin’ Donuts opened along Route 71 near the school's campus. While the new drive-thru offers a convenient morning stop, several students say it has added confusion and congestion to an already busy area. OH sophomore Layla Rafeh said the location has quickly become part of her weekly routine, but not without drawbacks. “Honestly, it can be good, but it’s also really terrible during traffic,” Rafeh said. “Everyone’s trying to get to school, and a bunch of the bus routes have changed, so it’s even worse. It’s just like a whole hassle.”