Girls Night Out will be here before you know it. It is such a unique opportunity for the girls at PJHS to get to know one another outside of school in a safe environment. Miss DeBella and other volunteers + staff members have an evening planned that is packed with fun activities and opportunities including getting your nails, hair, or makeup done; arts and crafts; playing with animals such as dogs and bunnies; dancing and listening to music; backyard games including cornhole, bounce houses, spike ball and more; learning how to cook; and playing video games. There is something there for everyone! We think it's going to be great, but in case that's not enough to convince you, we went ahead and interviewed a few former PJHS students about their GNO experience:

Ella Snyder- “My favorite part about girls night out was the yoga class. I recommend for students to go this year because its a safe place for girls to be themselves and to have fun. You learn a lot there are many different types of activities for everyone to do.”

Juli Robins- "My favorite part of girls night out was getting to hang out with new people and make new friends. I would so recommend going because it was really fun and I had a great time when I went.” 

Chloe Martin- "I personally thought it was so fun but I think a big part of it was I really liked the girls in my grade and we didn’t have drama. My favorite part was the bouncy houses.” 

Liberti Tipps- "My favorite part was all the fun activities like the plants and hair! I recommend going because you get to experience a different side of people you usually don't see! Also it helps people that don't get to do stuff like that to get them into stuff they have never done before!”

Smoke Signals was restarted last school year at PJHS. We love bringing  you exciting news and our takes on events going on locally and nationally. However, it is possible that many do not know who is  behind the screen here at Smoke Signals, so we thought we'd formally introduce ourselves!  

Bailey Quinter: Hello! My name is Bailey Quinter, I am an 8th grader and I am a writer in Smoke Signals. I am also in cross county, track, Student Leadership, Media, Junior Honors Society, choir, and band. I come from a family with two brothers. I love animals, writing, drawing, painting, and hanging out with my friends. I have two bunnies, Basil and Raven, they are both black velveteen lop eared rabbits. I also have two dogs, Kali and Finley. Kali is a Schillerstövare beagle mix, and Finley is a beagle bluetick hound mix. Finally, I have two cats, Sky and Peach.

Layla McDowell: Hi, I am Layla McDowell, I am an 8th grader and I am a writer for the school newspaper Smoke Signals. I am also in Junior Honor Society. I am a big animal lover, I love to read, I love to watch my favorite show on Netflix, and hang out with my friends. I have 3 dogs. Their names are Killian, he's a black lab, Coco, she’s a chocolate lab, and Brian, he’s a white lab. I have one brother.  

Addison Leonard: Hi, my name is Addison and I’m an 8th grade writer for Smoke Signals. I’m also in the school musical. I love to read, listen to music, and watch movies and TV shows. My favorite shows are Criminal Minds and The Bear. I also love Percy Jackson and The Olympians. I also love Taylor Swift. I have an older sister and a dog named Buckeye.

Lily Pierron: Hi, my name is Lily Pierron and I am an author of our school's Smoke Signals! I’m involved in the school's musical, Junior Honor society, Student Leadership, Concert band, Jazz Band, and choir.  In my free time I enjoy reading, hanging out with my friends, and trying new recipes. I also enjoy watching murder mystery shows/ movies. My favorite show is Criminal Minds. I have an older sister who is a senior, and a fish named Bandit.

Michelle Gray: Hi, my name is Michelle Gray and I am a 7th grade author of  our school’s Smoke Signals! I like to listen to all kinds of music. My favorite subject is ELA. I have a lot of cats and one dog. I hate putting dishes away. TI like going to school to see my friends. I really love soccer even though I don’t play it.

Jasmine Nickels: Hello I'm Jasmine Nickels I'm a member of Smoke Signals, Science Olympiad, and OAC. My best friend is LJ Beiris they are the one who inspired me to join and start writing to begin with. I’m an all A student here at PJHS. I have a dog and 2 cats, technically 4 cats but they are my mom's cats not mine. I plan on getting my master's degree in interior design. My dream pet is a ferret. I'm a die hard Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings fan. Currently my strongest personal skill is art. I spend about 3 hours a day drawing, not including my time in 4th period art class. I’m 14 years old and an 8th grader. That's about all you need to know about me.

Sophie Duley: Hi, my name is Sophie I am a part of Smoke Signals. I also Swim for MCY and Tecumseh during the summer. I also dive during the summer for Tecumseh. I am also in Student Leadership. In my free time I like to make jokes and spend most of my time at the pool.  

Mrs. Siegel: Hello! I am the advisor for Smoke Signals at PJHS. This is my second year being involved with this club, and I could not love it more. This club gives students the chance to be creative and express themselves after school. It also provides a way to connect with other people who have similar interests. I have been teaching for four years. Three of those years have been within this district, and I think Piqua is simply the best place to teach and learn! I l live in Fort Loramie with my husband, Austin, and our dog, Louise. We are expecting a baby boy later next month (March). Thank you for reading our words and encouraging students to write and be creative!

Have you ever noticed that with winter often comes a period where you're feeling more 'down' than usual? You are not alone! According to the NIH "'Winter blues is a general term, not a medical diagnosis. It’s fairly common, and it’s more mild than serious. It usually clears up on its own in a fairly short amount of time,” says Dr. Matthew Rudorfer, a mental health expert at NIH. The so-called winter blues are often linked to something specific, such as stressful holidays or reminders of absent loved ones." If you have noticed that you are feeling a bit more down in the dumps, there are things you can do to try to do to prevent or combat this. 

After completing research, many specialists say that staying connected to your people is a good way to keep yourself above the winter blues. Call or text a friend or loved one when you start to feel down, or plan a fun day out with someone who makes you smile. Remember, you are not alone! This is a good time to check in with your friends, especially knowing that this feeling can happen to anyone. 

Some other ways to beat the winter blues include exercise, reading your favorite book, or even watching your favorite movie/show.  A way to help your mental health during the blues is to journal, and write everyday. PJHS students shared how some of them stay ahead of the "winter blues". Addison L. listens to Taylor Swift or watches her comfort shows. Lyla S. puts on her favorite pajama pants for comfort, while Layla M. thinks about summer and warmer weather ahead. Laurie V. practices her guitar to occupy her mind. Ava B. sets goals in her head that she aims to accomplish in the future. She also talks to her friends about her feelings to help talk through them. Baily Q. takes comfort in petting her dogs, popping some popcorn, and watching her favorite movie after school. 

You are not alone if you are experiencing some level of the winter blues. It is important to know this! It is also important to make sure we are checking in with trusted adults when we feel like these feelings may be escalating into something  more serious than a case of the blues. Remember that your teachers and Mrs. Butt are great resources if you feel like you need some extra help this season of life. 

•    Conan Gray announced a new album called, “Found Heaven”  which will be released on April 5th.

• Taylor Swift went out on the field and kissed Travis Kelce after the Chiefs made it to the Superbowl.

• “Midnights”  by Taylor Swift won Album of the Year at the 66th Annual Grammys 

• The season finale of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” has been released on Disney+

• Noah Kahan has released “Stick Season (Forever)” which is the original Stick Season album with all the collaborations and his new song “Forever”

• Taylor Swift has started the international leg of The Eras Tour

• Taylor Swift announced her 11th studio album “The Tortured Poets Department” out April 19th

• The tracklist for “The Tortured Poets Department” 

  • • Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)

    • The Tortured Poets Department

    • My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys

    • Down Bad

    • So Long, London

    • But Daddy I Love Him

    • Fresh Out The Slammer

    • Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)

    • Guilty As Sin?

    • Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?

    • I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

    • loml

    • I Can Do It With A Broken Heart

    • The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

    • The Alchemy

    • Clara Bow

    • Bonus Track: The Manuscript

• The tracklist so far for “Eternal Sunshine” by Ariana Grande

  • • intro (End of the World)

    • bye.

    • eternal sunshine

    • supernatural

    • yes, and?

    • we can’t be friends (wait for your love)

• The Chiefs have won the Superbowl

• Beyonce has released 2 tracks called “Texas Hold Em’” and “16 Carriages” with the announcement of Act ii of her album “Renaissance”

Have you always wanted to be a teacher?

Mr. Askins: No. I used to work in Sports Management. 

What is your favorite part about being a teacher?

Mr. Askins: That everyday interactions I have with my students makes me feel young, even though I don't look it. 

Where did you go to college?

Mr. Askins: I got my Bachelors degree at  Bowling Green. I got my Masters at Ohio State University. 

Have you ever taught anywhere besides Piqua?

Mr. Askins: I have only ever taught in this district. I was at Piqua High School for 4 years and here at the Junior High for 12.

If you couldn’t teach science, what subject would you teach?

Mr. Askins: I can teach Social Studies but I would like to teach Art. I enjoy Art.

What kind of a student were you in junior high?

Mr. Askins: I was a very Average kid . I didn’t work to my potential, but I really did focus on my sports more than school.