We are back and ready for normal. It has been an interesting year leading up to the return of students and staff Aug. 30, but thankfully we are now reaching normalcy with the five-day-a-week attendance. Students have now embarked this school year by engaging more with teachers and friends in a safe environment that enforces mask-wearing and social distancing.

At Freedom, we have always been incredibly proud of our clubs and activities and the positive impacts these organizations have on our school. This year is no different. Our clubs are starting to run up again this year after having to be dormant or deal with the uncertainty of last year. For example, Freedom Mini-THON commenced with the election of this year’s captains taking place in early September. Buddies Helping Buddies started running its monthly meetings, and the addition of new clubs like the Neuroscience Club is getting more students involved in extra-curriculars. FHS Theatre Company announced that it will be performing “Miracle on 34th Street” and “Curtains.”

We are starting strong. Unlike last year when the homecoming dance did not happen, this year it was better than ever. Leading up to the dance, the students enjoyed a wild and spectacular pep rally where the homecoming court performed skits. The dance ended up taking place Oct. 2 at Freedom’s lower tennis courts. It lasted from 6-9 p.m., during which Eric Chen (senior) and Gianna Dowling (senior) were crowned homecoming king and queen. Everyone indeed enjoyed a fantastic night under the stars.

Student-athletes at Freedom have been putting in hard work to make the most out of their seasons. On Oct. 23, the boys soccer team became EPC champions with a 5-0 victory over Parkland. A special congratulations to Peter Tichy (senior) for scoring three goals and two assists; also to Michael Krents (senior), and Austin Hoffert (senior), who also scored.

A round of applause goes to Avaline Fihlman (senior), who placed fifth in the EPC girls cross country championship and Alex Heidemann (senior), who won first in the boys EPC division. On to girls volleyball, under great coaching, the girls made EPC East Division champs.

Freedom’s football team holds third place in the conference, with a 6-2 record. Before their homecoming football game against the undefeated Allentown Central Catholic earlier this month, the team received a special surprise from the well-known and hero to many Dwayne Johnson, the Rock. Johnson sent the team an uplifting speech expressing to the players to not care about losses they endured but to focus on the present and play their hardest. He left the team with the motto, “Think about how you want to be remembered on the field, how you want to be remembered throughout the halls of Freedom HiS.”

The team also received new performance gear from his partnership with Project Rock under the brand Under Armour. They won that game 42-7 and, on Oct 30, played their last game of the season against their rival Liberty HS, where the theme will be a white-out for the Patriots. Everyone is excited and getting prepared for the upcoming event shown by the students’ work into the “Battle of the Classes” pep rally festivities and through the countless hours going into hallway decorating.

Not only is it football season, but it’s also college application season. Freedom guidance counselors have been very busy getting seniors well prepared to apply and secure their plans for after high school. On Oct. 13, Freedom held a college/career night. Additionally, opportunities to explore and visit what different colleges have to offer are now available. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology hosted a visitation Oct. 25, and a Liberty University rep visited Oct. 26.

Special recognition goes to all teachers, parents, and students working hard to ensure a safe and productive start to the school year.