Features

In 1962, John F. Kennedy was President, John Glen became the first astronaut to orbit the earth, and Myers Park High School was still located at 2400 Colony Road. There were no chromebooks, no Canvas, but kids were still going to learn at Myers Park High School like we  are today. Dona Leonard was one of these students, and today Dona sat down for an interview with Hoofprint staff. 

Dona graduated from Myers Park High School as a part of the 1962 class. This class was  significantly  smaller than MP’s upcoming class, the class of 2023. According to US News, Myers Park’s 2022-2023 class has 835 students, while Dona spoke on the class size of the 1962 class saying,

“It was about 525.”

MP has shown significant growth over the years and is showing no signs of slowing down. 

One topic around campus is Myers Parks’ parking situation. Dona spoke about getting to school and the parking, saying, “I was fortunate enough to be in a carpool to get to school, I had some friends I was riding with to get to school, we had to have parking passes to be able to park there on campus.” The way Dona got to school is similar to the way students get to school today, as parking passes are still required to park on campus. During the 2022 MP Football season, the Mustangs drew support from students and from community members, however this is not a new thing. When asked about activities outside of school Dona immediately said, “We would have football games, and those were really well attended, and the band would play.” Over the years some aspects of Myers Park might have changed, but Myers Park still maintains some of its core foundations. 

Education will always be the main purpose of schools, and Dona spoke about her classes saying, 

“I would have just general classes, English, history, math, biology, PE, and chorus.” Those classes are still offered at Myers Park, but the differences in which they are taught are jurassic. Today schools utilize technology and online resources to deliver information to students. However learning was not always like this, Donna said,

“It was all hand done brain work, there were no computers, we were not allowed to use calculators. It was all face to face with a teacher.” Dona also added on the topic of her education saying, 

“To me it was a very limiting [learning] experience.” She added, “At the time that I was going to school the thing most girls were told was that all they could do would be to become a teacher or a nurse.” In 2022, Myers Park offers a wide variety of learning opportunities and experiences available to all students. Myers Park has an auto program, a large CTE program, and a performing arts program. Today these programs give Myers Park a great reputation as one of the best high schools in North Carolina. This reputation is not new to MP, Dona said, 

“Myers Park at that time was almost the equivalent of getting a college education.” She added, “at that time if you told people you were a Myers Park graduate, it was like they knew that school had a wonderful reputation.” The education at Myers Park has grown and prospered over the years while maintaining a strong reputation as a good school. 

Although 60 years may seem like a long time, Myers Park still maintains some of its core values, while  also growing and strengthening in many different aspects. Myers Park still maintains a strong reputation and receives support from the community. Also, Myers Park has alumni like Dona Leonard that are scattered throughout our community. One can only imagine what Myers Park High School will look like 60 years from now.

Are you struggling with your schedule? Not sure how to start the college process? Simply in need of some emotional support? The counseling team here at Myers Park has got your back! The Myers Park Student Services team is an essential part of the school environment. They are constantly working hard while keeping the students’ best interests in mind. Their mission, as stated on their website, is to “collaborate with students and outside resources including teachers, administrators, and parents to assist students in reaching their full potential to function in a global society.” The counselors strive to encourage the talents and diversity of all students, helping them find steady ground at school. 

The counselors have a large assortment of jobs and responsibilities. They tailor the courses and schedules to best fit each student, provide assistance to mental health and disability concerns, educate students and families about the inner workings of Myers Park, and much more. 

It is highly recommended that every student meets with their designated counselor consistently throughout their four years of high school to establish a solid relationship. The better a counselor knows a student, the better they can assist them on specific needs including class changes or college recommendation letters. Though Myers Park has a very large student body and certain counselors have come and gone over the years, students should never feel that they’re left high and dry and should always check in with their current counselor or another counselor. Students can find via the last name who their counselor is along with other information and commonly answered questions on the Student Services Website: https://sites.google.com/cms.k12.nc.us/navigation or through the Myers Park High School website under “Parents and Students” i.e. “Student Support”.

A few of the counselors sat down for an interview to explain their role in the school and give advice to the student body. All of them said their primary purpose at Myers Park is to be an advocate for the students and to work with them and for them. They advise students to not wait till their junior or senior to reach out! 

Mrs. Sherill has been a school counselor for 20 years and at Myers Park for 15 years. “I’ve always enjoyed the school and activities environment so I knew I wanted to be in a high school,” she noted. When asked what her favorite part about her job is, Sherrill replied, “I love the college application process! I’ve enjoyed doing Spring College Night and book clubs with families. I love to help students make their own decisions, what’s right for them, not what their friends are doing or what their family wants them to do.” She is also a great resource for student-athletes with the recruitment/decision process, carrying a lot of personal experience.

Mr. Hunt is a new counselor at Myers Park this year and is very enthusiastic about being a personal aid for students. “I want students to know that they have a lot of options and a lot more to offer than they might understand or might think,” said Hunt. He wants students to know that he is always there if students just need to have some downtime and talk to someone. When asked what his biggest piece of advice is for Myers Park students, Hunt answered, “Reach out! Communicate with someone whether you’re having a great day or a not-so-great day, you may have more people in your corner than you realize. Build that relationship with your counselor. Having that support system around you is super important in these four years here.” 

All in all, the Myers Park counselors are a great resource for everyone. No student is navigating high school alone, just say the word and the counselors are there to help!

The Myers Park theater program left us stunned and amazed after its excellent productions in the 2021-2022 school year! Last year’s spring musical, Mamma Mia, had the audience laughing, smiling, crying, and dancing. This year’s shows follow the theme, “Life is a Mystery.” Ms. Roberts’ chosen lineup for this year does not disappoint!

“We have four production opportunities this year,” says Ms. Roberts. “The first one is a set of one-act plays. One revolves around The Art of Murder (that is what it is called). The second show is a student-written piece from a student who graduated last year, Roddie Trotter, called Dentist Office.” From October 6th through October 8th, audiences are welcome to enjoy these thrilling mysteries.

On November 17th, the MPHS theater will open its second show of the year. “The second show that we are doing is Clue! If you love the movie and the board game, that is what the show is,” emphasized Ms. Roberts. 

In December, Myers Park theater invites students to write their own one-act plays to be performed by their peers. “Our student-written production is Original Works. Students submit their scripts, and students vote on them. The shows are then performed on the stage in January and will receive full tech support from the technical theater classes.”

Myers Park theater is again taking on a big musical to perform in the spring. “Wrapping up for the year is our musical, Legally Blonde!” says Ms. Roberts. The beloved Broadway show will open on April 27th. 

There are many different ways for students to get involved in theater at Myers Park. “We have the after-school theater program where any Myers Park student can audition for a production. Students do not need to be enrolled in one of the theater classes. We also have students who tech the productions. Any students are welcome to sign up for tech, but it helps if you have previous tech experience.”

Another way students can get involved is through Myers Park’s Theater Honor Society, the International Thespian Society (ITS). “Troupe 780 meets the first Friday of every month to do an hour-long workshop to connect other theater students,” says Ms. Roberts. This is an excellent way for students to introduce themselves to the theater program. 

Auditioning for shows can seem like a scary task to many students. “It is important just to try,” emphasized Ms. Roberts. “You never know whether or not you’re right for the part. Freshmen have always been cast in shows in their first year. You never know if you are going to get it unless you audition! Everybody gets nervous. Everybody is anxious and questions whether or not they will get in. I continue encouraging people who do not make it to continue auditioning and to come and ask for feedback. I always offer feedback to students who have auditioned so they can learn what to improve on for the next audition.”

The Myers Park community should come to show their support and see the spectacular productions the school’s theater program put on. “Live theater is so cool and amazing because no show is ever the same…. The cast and the crew feed off the energy the audience gives them. They find new ways to explore their characters every night. Just come out and see these shows. These students work countless hours rehearsing and fine-tuning these productions. They love whenever their peers and the community come out to support them. The theater is a chance to escape from everything in the world now.” 

Getting involved in theater is a great way to “Make the Park your own.” Follow @mphs_theater on Instagram and explore the theater website, bit.ly/mphstheater, to find everything you need to participate in the program. 

Now more than ever, cookies are the popular choice of dessert. Specifically due to the just four year old franchise: Crumbl Cookies. Whether it’s the pink packaged boxes, mouth-watering ingredients, or the mysterious lack of an “e” on the end of the name, Crumbl Cookies has advanced itself quite quickly into society. 

Jason Mcgowan (CEO) and his cousin Sawyer co-founded the cookie spot in 2017. According to The Silicon Review, both Jason and Sawyer were actually more experienced in the technology and business fields than they were in cooking and baking. They both just had a love for cookies, brought culinary experts to help them out, and Crumbl was born! Jason and Sawyer decided to make Crumbl Cookies a technology-based place, where customers order on iPads, look at flat-screen menus, orders are processed through computerized or touch screen visuals, and cookies are baked and brought out in efficient ways. The co-founders are very big on customer feedback and offer in store and online experience ratings. They advertise through social media on various platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tik Tok. After their first store-front opened in Logan, UT, many customers loved the crumbly cookies so much that they showed them off all over social media, causing lines to get bigger and demands to get higher. Jason and Sawyer then opened up more store-fronts and started hiring professional videographers to take in-depth commercial-style videos of each cookie for the goal of continuous business. 

Their tactics clearly paid off as Crumbl Cookies now has over 100 locations operating in 17 states throughout the United States. An app and website exists, along with merchandise and home delivery options. Their Instagram has a whopping 1.2 million followers as of September 2021, and they have traditionalized putting out four new flavors each week. The company has been endorsed through social media simply by fans who love to drive there with their friends and family, try the weekly flavors, and give their review. Posting Tik Toks or Snapchat stories of “Crumbl Reviews” teens unknowingly advertise the cookie company to many, helping Jason and Sawyer increase their profit. The cookies have been described as “soft and crumbly,” hence the name Crumbl. Some creative and popular flavors include: Chocolate Oreo, Circus Animal, Classic Chilled Sugar, Sherbet, German Chocolate, Neapolitan, and Lucky Charms. The treats are 6-ounces each, and some can be chilled, solid, and soft, while others can be warm, melty, and crumbly. Milk Chocolate Chip, for example, is warmed, and Sherbet and Classic Chilled Sugar are chilled. Single boxes or individual cookies cost $3.48, a 4-pack box costs $11.18, and a 12-pack party box costs $28.68. To satisfy smaller cravings, mini cookies in every weekly flavare available in smaller boxes for $2 each. Additionally, bottled waters and packaged milks are sold to add a little something to the cookie-consumption experience. Some say these prices are on the expensive side, but most customers say it’s worth it and sharing cookies and boxes with friends splits the cost. Crumbl Cookies also has a rewards program called “Crumbl Cash” where one earns one point for every dollar they spend and can accumulate up to one hundred points to get $10 for free to spend at Crumbl. The cookies are well-packaged and hand-decorated, with many employees working at store-fronts so the lines usually aren’t that long. Not to mention, their facilities have high sanitation ratings. 

Crumbl Cookies has really been the latest craze and face of all things Instagrammable desserts. From the looks of it, more and more locations will be opened and along with more and more flavors produced. Take a little adventure to the nearest storefront and try the weekly flavors!