By BROOKE BOYER- Here at Indiana Area Senior High School, the most prominent concern is establishing a safe place for students to further their educations. Dr. Ralph May and Mr. Robert Fatula recently visited IHS to inform students and teachers alike. Through assemblies that took place on September 11th and 12th, the speakers achieved their goal of educating and empowering those in the high school.
Students of Indiana Area High School believed this assembly was both educational and worthwhile. Senior Chase Cunningham said, “I think the assembly brought about the right mindset that in a dangerous situation, you can’t think of yourself as the victim and need to know how to take action.”
Dr. May, a psychologist and the chief clinical official at the community guidance office specializing in trauma and crisis, was the first to speak at the assembly. He informed students of their role as first responders, emphasized the importance of reporting potential threats and seeking individual help, and taught students how to look for warning signs of threats. Overall, May demonstrated the significance of mindset and showed students ways that they can prevent violent situations from arising. “Prevention requires each one of us to take action and understand warning signs in order to understand what to do,” Dr. May stated.
Mr. Robert Fatula, referred to as “Bubba,” was the second speaker. Mr. Fatula is a director of threat preparedness for Gittings Security, and he is also a retired law enforcement detective. Fatula’s main goals were to educate students on how to respond to violent situations and provide procedures to be followed. His method is to train students’ brains by sharing survival tactics and giving students a plan to follow a “run, hide, fight” protocol. Fatula expressed, “Even though this assembly was short, I want students to know that they have a right to live and make decisions in these situations.”
Junior Bella Sharbaugh expressed how educational and beneficial the assembly was. “I thought it was very helpful to learn about the new procedures, and I now know what to do if a situation like this arises at school.”
Ian Steele, a sophomore, feels that the assemblies have been an improvement for student safety and the school should continue to do as much as possible. “The active shooter assemblies were definitely a good way to spread awareness. I think the school should continue to do more for this cause.”
The assemblies presented by Dr. Ralph May and Mr. Robert Fatula are bound to have a positive effect on IHS. With new procedures being implemented throughout the school, IHS will become safer and a positive area for all to learn in.
[Photo by Erik Puskar]
Photo Caption: Mr. Robert “Bubba” Fatula informs students about what to do in an active shooter situation.
Brooke is a junior and this is her first year as a reporter on The High Arrow staff. She joined journalism in hopes of informing and entertaining peer readers within IHS.
By Gabi Isenberg IHS Leadership is back this year, planning influential events for the community and IHS students alike. MiniTHON, a teacher luncheon, and fun tenth period activities are just a sample of the efforts Leadership has made to bring a variety of opportunities to the IHS community. Leadership Seminar
By Hayden Yankuskie Deanne Magolis, more formally known as Mrs. Magolis, taught at Brookville Area School District for 3 years, then Homer Center School District for 17 years, before joining the IHS community at the beginning of the 24-25 school year. She is an English 10 teacher. Mrs. Magolis taught
By Samantha Aljoe Miss Amy Kukula is a new addition at Indiana Senior High School. She is the new 9th grade English teacher. Miss Kukula went to the Cook Honor College at IUP, where she majored in English education and dance. Miss Kukula brings many new perspectives to IHS. In
By Ella Mosco The Fulbright program is a prestigious international exchange project that allows teachers from other countries to visit the United States schools. Fulbright scholars began in IHS on September 11 and were in classrooms every Wednesday for six weeks. This program encourages foreign teachers to immerse themselves into
By Gabi Isenberg When the air gets crisp and the leaves turn orange, it can only mean one thing – IHS Homecoming is right around the corner. 2024’s Homecoming festivities will be disco-themed and held on October 4 and 5 at IHS. Student Government Association is hard at work to
By IHS High Arrow Staff The IHS High Arrow Staff would like to thank everyone for a wonderful 2023-2024 reporting season! Take a look at the link below for our “year in review.” See you next school year! High Arrow Year in Review 23-24
