The End of an Era
Ashwin Mahadevan '18
The North Media Center is an area traversed by every Cherokee student at some point in his high school career. Whether it be for a school project, to borrow a book, or to simply accomplish some homework after school, the Media Center is an essential hub for student learning. An important part of this relationship is the Media Center staff who provide assistance that ranges from selecting a novel to learning how to use a database for a research project. An integral part of this staff is the 13 year veteran Media Center Specialist, Mrs. Martinez. As her journey at Cherokee comes to a close, her impact on the Cherokee family will remain forever.
Unbeknownst to most Cherokee students, the Media Center specialists, including Mrs. Martinez, are the silent heroes of our school. Many of the things we take for granted would not be possible without their efforts. As English teacher Mrs. Mary Henry states, “Mrs. Martinez does so much behind-the-scenes work for Cherokee that most students probably don’t realize how embedded she is and how important she is to our culture. She does things like help take care of AP testing in the media center, help students change passwords and work out tech issues, help students working on research papers or projects, stay late for students after school, and train and collaborate with teachers to plan projects.” All of these tasks require an extensive amount of patience, care, and meticulousness, something Mrs. Martinez is known for.
Beyond her work ethic, Mrs. Martinez is known to her coworkers for the inspiration and overall encouragement she provides to every student she assists. As her direct coworker in the North Media Center, Mrs. Carlie Cattanea couldn’t help but praise all of Mrs. Martinez’s virtues. “When working with students, she encourages them to fearlessly try new things, to work toward the goals they set for themselves, and to find their own voices.” Even those who don’t directly see Mrs. Martinez’s daily work, such as her supervisor Mr. David New, know of the enthusiasm she has for her job: “Every time she is instructing a student or delivering a lesson, there is always a smile on her face.”
This passion transfers outside of the Media Center as well. As a retired dentist, Mrs. Martinez has a secret love of the sciences and has transferred it over to her library work as well. Senior Shreya Mehta explained that Mrs. Martinez not only gave her school-related advice on English topics, but also science-related career advice. As South Media Center Specialist Mrs. Bakanas explains, “Every librarian brings their own perspective to the job, and I think her bringing her passion for research and science to the library will be remembered.” By combining her interests in the English language and science, Mrs. Martinez is the advisor to both the Cherokee Scout and the Deborah Heart Challenge. Through these endeavors, Mrs. Martinez has forged unforgettable relationships with numerous students and staff members, while also putting her innate drive to work. According to sophomore Sanjana Kondapalli, “The [Deborah Heart Challenge] team was very close to beating Lenape this year, and Mrs. Martinez definitely helped make that happen.” Mrs. Martinez also has the same legacy in the Cherokee Scout, as senior Namratha Konduru states: “She made Cherokee Scout the way it is today. The club grew and expanded in quality and quantity and more kids in classes have been reading the articles as well. She had a huge impact on this club and consistently making it better.”
In addition to her professional contributions, Mrs. Martinez will be greatly missed by many of the students and staff who cared deeply for her. Included are Scout Advisors Mrs. Henry and Mrs. Castor. Mrs. Henry cites the faith Mrs. Martinez had in her when she recommended her to be a Scout Advisor, the advice she gave her as a new teacher, and her attendance at her wedding as some of the defining moments in their relationship. Similarly Mrs. Castor states, “I remember when my grandfather passed away two years ago, Mrs. Martinez came to the funeral. It meant so much that she came to the viewing and funeral. I won’t ever forget that.” Mrs. Martinez’s comforting and kind manner are also things that will be greatly missed by everyone who came in contact with her at the Media Center. Sophomore Kendall Lippert explained, “I never felt out of place with her around and she was always there by my side. I cannot thank her enough for every opportunity she has given me.”Without Mrs. Martinez, Cherokee High School will never be the same. She is not only the glue that holds the Media Center together, but the glue that helps our whole school function. As senior Shreya Mehta says, “Cherokee will have to learn to be a little more dependent without her.” However, Mrs. Martinez has forged so many relationships, be they professional or teacher-student, through her 13 years here that her impact will always be remembered. She will always be the shining face that represents the North Media Center. Her legacy, via her actions over the past 13 years, will continue to help present students and will help future students as well. But, her smile will be missed by all visitors to the Media Center. As senior Catherine Powell accurately states, “Cherokee will be missing a ray of sunshine in the library without her.”
We at the Cherokee Scout thank you for all you have done, Mrs. Martinez. We wish you luck in the future and we thank you for all the service you have done for us.
Beyond the Classroom
Sanjana Kondapalli ’18
Tom Lowe is much more than he lets on. You have probably seen him in the hallways, as your substitute, or the friendly face you see when you walk into media centers. Besides being a retired history teacher, Lowe served in the US Navy for a few years and is the writer of the “Louie the Loon” series. He has published two books in the series already, with the illustrations drawn by his talented nephew, Ben Leadlove. His first book, “Louie the Loon and the Moon,” informs his younger readers about the phases of the moon and the importance of it. His second book, “Louie the Loon and Lake Satchakoon,” goes more in-depth and talks about the mating process for loons. He talked to the MD Earth Science classes in Cherokee High School about his books. In his talk, Lowe brought even more life and character to his books, affectionately calling the character Louie the Loon “good ole Louie” and saying, “apparently Louie is a nervous bird, but you just have to love him.” Students, such as Madison Hyland, replied to his interactive questions about the moon, saying, “the moon changes from [a] new moon to [a] full moon.” Another student participated by saying that the moon takes roughly 28 days for the moon to orbit the Earth. In his talk, Lowe gave insight into his beliefs and his reasons for writing a book, especially about nature.
Tom Lowe’s inspiration for writing his books stems from his intense love for nature and the environment. Being one-eighth Seneca Native American, Lowe integrates the Native American values into his life, explaining that “animal intelligence and instinct are different from humans, but not less important, not less pertinent.” About his passion for writing, Lowe says that “with a pen in my hand, and a blank page in front of me, I feel the need to express myself.” Lowe created the “Louie the Loon” series to express his opinions on the environment. His is an avid believer of protecting the planet, saying, “all other species have just as much a right to life as we do, but their habitats are being destroyed.” Lowe advises students to be spontaneous and “if you have a story in your head, write it down! Don't ever think your story is not worthy.” Later this year or in the beginning of next year, Lowe plans to release the third book in his “Louie the Loon” series, along with a book of his genealogy and another book whose topic will remain a mystery.
Tom Lowe is much more than he lets on. You have probably seen him in the hallways, as your substitute, or the friendly face you see when you walk into media centers. Besides being a retired history teacher, Lowe served in the US Navy for a few years and is the writer of the “Louie the Loon” series. He has published two books in the series already, with the illustrations drawn by his talented nephew, Ben Leadlove. His first book, “Louie the Loon and the Moon,” informs his younger readers about the phases of the moon and the importance of it. His second book, “Louie the Loon and Lake Satchakoon,” goes more in-depth and talks about the mating process for loons. He talked to the MD Earth Science classes in Cherokee High School about his books. In his talk, Lowe brought even more life and character to his books, affectionately calling the character Louie the Loon “good ole Louie” and saying, “apparently Louie is a nervous bird, but you just have to love him.” Students, such as Madison Hyland, replied to his interactive questions about the moon, saying, “the moon changes from [a] new moon to [a] full moon.” Another student participated by saying that the moon takes roughly 28 days for the moon to orbit the Earth. In his talk, Lowe gave insight into his beliefs and his reasons for writing a book, especially about nature.
Tom Lowe’s inspiration for writing his books stems from his intense love for nature and the environment. Being one-eighth Seneca Native American, Lowe integrates the Native American values into his life, explaining that “animal intelligence and instinct are different from humans, but not less important, not less pertinent.” About his passion for writing, Lowe says that “with a pen in my hand, and a blank page in front of me, I feel the need to express myself.” Lowe created the “Louie the Loon” series to express his opinions on the environment. His is an avid believer of protecting the planet, saying, “all other species have just as much a right to life as we do, but their habitats are being destroyed.” Lowe advises students to be spontaneous and “if you have a story in your head, write it down! Don't ever think your story is not worthy.” Later this year or in the beginning of next year, Lowe plans to release the third book in his “Louie the Loon” series, along with a book of his genealogy and another book whose topic will remain a mystery.
ONce a Lady Chief, Always a Lady Chief
Michelle Seitz ’16
Over the past forty years, Cherokee has seen Mrs. Lord-Morgan and Ms. Kay contribute their time to influence their students. Both of them have left their mark on Cherokee and impacted those around them. Just brief descriptions about these wonderful women leave out the true importance of their teachings.
Mrs. Lord-Morgan has taught business classes for the past forty years; thirty-nine of them have been here at Cherokee. She spent her first year teaching at Pierce College in Philadelphia. Mrs. Lord-Morgan and Mr. Lamplugh founded the Renaissance Program in 1999. This program resulted in traditions such as the Senior Pinning Ceremony, Smart Cookie Award, and People’s Choice Awards. Mrs. Lord-Morgan also scored the first three-pointer of a faculty basketball game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Although she will “miss most teaching and interacting with [her] students on a daily basis,” Mrs. Lord-Morgan looks forward to visiting her daughter’s family in Costa Rica, seeing her son in Oregon, and travelling to Europe with her husband.
Ms. Kay has been a secretary in the North Counseling Center for twenty-nine years. She still recalls her first day of work. She lent her voice to the PA system, announcing the names of students who should report to the Counseling Center. Ms. Kay enjoyed being of assistance to students through the Counseling Center’s “open door” policy. She will miss them dearly and loves helping them. After she retires, Ms. Kay will focus more on her hobbies, including knitting, crocheting, reading, and dancing. She also looks forward to “throwing [her] alarm clock away and just living.”
Best of luck to these women in retirement.