The Tom Tom | April 2014

The Student Voice of Antioch Community High School

THE

HEROES OFACHS Volume 52, Issue 5 04.24.2014 www.tomtomnews.com

YOU ARE HERE

4

5

6

99

11 11

12

14

15

Class Rank: 33 of 303 10

16

17

18

20

22

21

A+ 24

26

32

27

O|S

33

34

28

30

31

THE END

PERSPECTIVES

LIFESTYLES

FEATURES

SPORTS

4 5 6

24 Prom Checklist 26 BJ’s Fashions for Men 27 Theaters: Two Thumbs Up 28 I See London, I See France

14 34

32 Antioch v. Lakes it Takes to 33 What be a Dancer

Editor’s Note Staff Editorial Editorial: Puppy Mills

NEWS

9 10 11 12

Artists in the Big Apple No. 1 No More Vape Craze The Fresh Faces of ACHS

30 31

“Oklahoma!” Sweeps Down the Plains of ACHS The Principal’s Report Card

Heroes of ACHS ONE|SEQUOIT: Joe Reiser

ON THE COVER Junior Shannon Zogran was selected as the April cover model through a contest on Facebook. Zogran said “My hero is my mother because she is such a caring and giving person and a great mom. I hope to be as awesome as her when I grow up.”

Zogran will lead a new group of Cardinal Crazies next year. She is excited about doing more with the group and making the Crazies a stronger presence around the school.

04.24.14 Tom Tom

3

Perspectives EDITOR’S NOTE

HERO: REDEFINED, ACHS STYLE

They don’t wear capes. They don’t grace the pages of comic books. They are everyday people. They are the heroes of ACHS.

A

SARA PETTY Editor-in-Chief

MARINA PALMIERI Managing Editor

the TOM TOM staff

2013-2014

Sara Petty Mr. Patrick R. Johnson, CJE Editor-in-Chief Adviser Marina Palmieri Managing Editor

Alexis Vetter Digital Director

Tyler Stephens Creative Director

Kathryn Holmes Tyler Dziubla Kyle Heywood Advertising Director Asst. Digital Director Asst. Creative Director

4

Madelyn Chassay Assignment Editor

Heather Latakas Assignment Editor

Arlenne Lozano Assignment Editor

Karen Pimpo Assignment Editor

REPORTERS Nathaniel Alexander Nicholas Dorosan Ian Gowland Chase Pogue

Sarah Chapleau Johnny Horton Heather Klean Lauren Ponzetti

Adam Chellberg Michael Horvat Brendan Moore Andrea Sodt

Mission Statement

Letters to the Editor

The Tom Tom provides fair and balanced news reporting for the Lake County area.

The Tom Tom is a student-run news organization that serves the Antioch community through a quarterly print news magazine and daily online content.

It is our duty to encourage the involvement of town activities and sporting events.

The Tom Tom is an open forum publication and strives to inform, educate and improve the atmosphere and student body here at Antioch Community High School.

Letters to the editor must be signed and should not exceed 250 words in length.

Those wishing to withhold his or her name must still sign the letter for the Tom Tom office purposes.

No more than two signatures can represent a letter. Unsigned letters will not be printed.

The Tom Tom staff reserves the right to edit lengthy material or withhold the publication of any letters.

Tom Tom 04.24.14

s the 2013-2014 school year comes to a close, we are reminded of the continuous support that teachers and faculty members provide for the students of Antioch Community High School. Each of us, as a junior and senior respectively, has been under a lot of stress in the past year. With ACTs, AP exams, college applications and schoolwork to keep up with, students are constantly under pressure from the school, their parents and themselves.

However, there are certain ACHS teachers and faculty members who help students cope with this pressure and ensure that their high school careers run smoothly. We have both been positively influenced by multiple teachers in the building that have provided support and advice whenever we needed it.

For juniors, this school year has been full of ACT and college preparation, along with loads of homework and projects from multiple challenging classes.

Many teachers in the building volunteered themselves as ACT mentors, taking a few juniors under their wing to prepare them for that somewhat life-changing exam.

Seniors have finally been able to put their hard-earned ACT scores to use on countless college and scholarship applications, as long as they were able to keep track of the deadlines that seem to appear out of nowhere. When deciding on colleges to attend next fall, seniors could use all of the help they could get; it can be overwhelming Although these staff members to weigh all of the different options alone, so it’s always helpful to hear may not seem like the superhethe opinion of a caring teacher who roes we see in comics and action has already been through the experience of deciding on a college and movies, they are definitely heroes major. With so much to do within in their own right. days that seem to fly by, it is not SARA PETTY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF surprising that many juniors and seniors have looked to teachers and staff members at ACHS to assist MARINA PALMIERI, MANAGING EDITOR them throughout the year.

Although these staff members may not seem like the superheroes we see in comics and action movies, they are definitely heroes in their own right. Whether these unsung heroes show off their superpowers as teachers in the classroom or administrative assistants in one of the offices, they all have one thing in common: ACHS would not be the same without them. The Tom Tom staff spoke to students, teachers and administrators to uncover the true definition of a hero here at ACHS. This newfound definition ranges from going beyond their job description to support students to simply being a friend to a student who is going through a difficult and emotional time.

In this issue of the Tom Tom, we featured 13 staff members as heroes. While we could have filled multiple magazines with the tales of our ACHS heroes, we were limited to nine pages. For more featured heroes, visit tomtomnews.com.

The Tom Tom would also like to introduce Marina Palmieri as the Editor-in-Chief for the 2014-2015 school year. We look forward to another year of serving ACHS and the Antioch community and know that the Tom Tom will be in good hands.

I have to admit, I was a little worried when we found out that two of the quietest staff members were going to be editors. It can be difficult to earn the respect of peers when put in a leadership position; it’s not the same as being a teacher, which is an accepted authority position. Marina, it has been so amazing to have you by my side on the staff this year. You are always there to reason out problems with me and keep me calm if I get stressed out. I think we have both grown tremendously this year and I cannot wait to hear about all of your accomplishments next year. I am more than confident in your abilities to be a great EIC. There is a reason why you have been chosen for this position and you should always be confident in all that you do. ~ Sara TT

STAFF EDITORIAL

THE EARLY GRADUATE Free Speech What is your opinion on early graduation for seniors?

Graphic by Marina Palmieri

S

eniors have the opportunity to decide if they want to complete an entire year or only one semester of their last year of high school, as long as they have all of the credits needed to graduate. But, is graduating early really a good idea for seniors?

If a senior decides to only take one semester senior year, they will still walk at graduation, but cannot attend prom unless taken by someone who is still in school. Prom is the last big bash of your high school career; would you really want to miss it if someone that is still in school doesn’t take you? Seniors who graduate early will also miss in-school events like Summer In Winter Week and school assemblies. Seniors are losing an entire semester of lasting memories when they graduate early. It could cause them to lose touch with their friends. It might make a student regret graduating early if they miss these last few months of high school.

On the academic side, students who would normally take more rigorous classes may be discouraged to take them because they only have one semester. Since they will not be there for an entire year, they will not be prepared to take AP tests at the end of second semester that they can use for college credits. They also can't take as many classes that would let them explore other options, such as foods, art and other lifestyle classes.

Unless early graduates are going to College of Lake County for a semester, they could get out of the routine of going to school and have a hard time starting school again in the fall. It can also be looked upon unfavorably by larger or more selective colleges if a senior graduates early and takes a semester off before college.

Seniors who graduate early cannot participate in winter or spring sports. Imagine graduating early, missing out on a sport you're passionate about, then they make it past sectionals and regionals? You'd probably really regret graduating early.

It is understandable if a senior needs to graduate early because they want to get a head start at community college and a head start on college credits that might cost more at other college or universities. It's also understandable if a senior needs to get a full time job to support themselves.

Another good reason is if they have family to take care of. But, if it's just because you want to get out of school because you can't stand it anymore, why bother? You could be making a huge mistake.

Seniors who are thinking about graduating early should weigh all of the options heavily to decide if graduating early, is really the right decision for them. TT

KAYLEE KARPIEL, SENIOR “I personally think that it should be the seniors’ decision on when they want to graduate. If they want to graduate early and start their college career as soon as they can, then they should be allowed to.”

YES 81%

NO 19% In a Tom Tom survey asking ACHS students if seniors should be allowed to graduate a semester early, 81 percent of respondants said that they think seniors should be able to graduate early. Nineteen percent responded that they think seniors should have to attend the full year.

TERI KLOBNAK, PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER

“Enjoy your high school experience, there’s no rush to get into the real world.”

04.24.14 Tom Tom

5

Perspectives EDITORIAL

OWL H LIFE TO SAVE A

Inhumane treatment and unhealthy living conditions represent a few of the intolerable actions occurring at puppy mills.

MADELYN CHASSAY Assignment Editor

P

uppy mill: a commercial dog breeding facility that is operated with the intention of making profits over animal welfare and is often in inhumane conditions regarding the well-being of dogs, also known as a puppy factory.

According to annimalrescuecorps.org, there are an estimated 15,000 puppy mills in the United States. In these mass-production factories, dogs are forced to produce litter after litter of puppies, causing many health issues. Not only do puppy mills supply nearly 100 percent of pet stores, many of these dogs have complications such as diseases, emotional and social issues, as well as deformities and genetic disorders.

These puppies live in crowded and unsanitary cages without sufficient veterinary care, food, water or other necessities. In many unsanitary puppy mills, the puppies are exposed to extreme weather conditions and dangerously high levels of ammonia from urine. Uric acid soaks puppies lying on cage floors, burning their skin and paw pads and causing respiratory distress. Most of these dogs are only released from their cages when they are transported to a pet store. This means they do not get a sufficient amount of interaction with humans, exercise or play. Because they receive no grooming, their hair often becomes so matted that all their fur must be shaved off. When their fur is shaved, for some, the animals are seen as emaciated. Their nails also grow long enough to the point that they get stuck on their cages and/or grow back into the skin, which leads to infection and other medical issues.

When multiple groups of dogs are in a shared pen, dog fighting is not uncommon, leading to many unnoticed injuries. Along with dog-on-dog abuse, sometimes puppies get their vocal chords cut out so they can no longer bark or whine for help. It is not rare to find dead dogs in puppy mills either.

When the parents are in “breeding boxes,” typically even smaller than the other cages and pens, they are forced to give birth to multiple litters. Usually, the puppies are taken away from the mother too early and do not get sufficient nutrients from their mother’s milk. This also causes emotional trauma. Female dogs are bred a minimum of twice a year, every year, until they die. These dogs are being used as money making machines and “disposable property.” Once puppy mill owners have dogs that are no longer profitable, they are usually killed on the property in very inhumane ways.

Dogs face multiple forms of abuse in puppy mills.

The increase of puppies from puppy mills is causing more dogs to be killed in kill shelters. There are millions of dogs in shelters that need a home across the U.S. When puppy mill puppies are sold in pet stores, they cost hundreds to thousands of dollars; in shelters, rescue dogs go from free to about $100. When buying a dog from a pet

6

Tom Tom 04.24.14

Cartoon by Andrew Pimpo To a human, a dog is just a pet or an animal, but to dogs humans are their world. The growth of puppy mills leads to unethical treatment of animals worldwide. This forces government officials to consider treatment and new legislation to stop the unethical conduct.

store that sells dogs from puppy mills, buyers usually end up spending even more money on veterinary services due to inhumane treatment. In some of the worst cases, the dogs do not live long at all. If you are looking to buy a dog online, many sites claim that their dogs are not from these mills, and many sellers sell these puppies at separate locations so the mill is not seen.

Do not believe that buying a dog from a puppy mill will “rescue” them. Even though you may have good intentions, your “rescue” just opens up space for another puppy mill puppy and puts money into the pockets of the puppy mill industry. If you are set on buying a pure bred dog, pure breeds end up in shelters as well. Before going to a pet store or pure bred seller, look at your local shelter first.

On March 5, 2014, Chicago aldermen passed an anti-puppy mill ordinance which goes into effect March 2015. This will ban all puppy mill puppies to be sold in pet stores in Chicago. Sellers that continue to sell mill puppies will be fined up to $1,000 a day and, in the case of repeat offenses, charged with a misdemeanor. Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego and Los Angeles are taking a step in the right direction to end animal mistreatment.

Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza said, “it cuts off a pipeline of the animals coming from the horrendous puppy mill industry and instead moves us toward a retail pet sales model that focuses on adopting out the many, many homeless animals in need of loving homes in this city.”

Although this only bans puppy mill dogs being sold in the city, they can still be sold in the suburbs. Hopefully within the next few years, every other town and state will hop on board to put an end to puppy mills. This abuse is unacceptable for our society. More people need to be informed on this issue and can help by rescuing dogs in need from a local shelter and reporting local puppy mills. TT

TM 03312041-001 Top Driver AD Lake Villa BW outlines.pdf 1 4/3/2014 1:49

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

8

Tom Tom 04.24.14

ARTISTS IN THE BIG APPLE

The Fine Arts department takes in artistic inspiration from New York City for biannual springbreak trip.

ACHS FIne Arts students explored various parts of New York City, including Madison Square Garden, the Statue of Liberty and Times Square. They were also able to take classes and learn more about their respective art, whether it was drama, dance or music.

Photos by Wanda Teddy

HEATHER LATAKAS Assignment Editor

O

ver spring break, the fine arts department--including choir, band, drama and dance--had the opportunity to go to New York. The trip consisted of tourist activities as well as classes in their respective art and an opportunity to perform.

On the first day arriving in New York, after a 19 hour bus ride, students took a tour of the city and Central Park. From there, they went to the observation deck at the top of the Empire State Building to look over the city. Students went to the memorial at Ground Zero, where they saw the two fountains lined with the names of all of those who lost their lives on 9/11. The day concluded with a slight mix up, with two buses mistakenly going to Chelsea’s Pier, then later reunited with the third bus at the

intended destination of Chelsea’s Market.

Day two began with a tour of New York’s well-known arena, Madison Square Garden.

The tour brought the students not only into the huge arena, but also behind the scenes into the most expensive suite and the locker rooms. Afterward, groups toured the Lincoln Center of the Arts. The entire group enjoyed dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and then finished off the evening exploring Times Square.

On the third day of the trip, the group took a ferry to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. While there, the choir performed around the American flag for the rest of the group and other tourists. After lunch on Liberty Island, the drama students took a ferry to New Jersey to collaborate with other students from Bloomfield High School. The rest of the department took a ferry to Ellis Island for a short exploration of the museum. From there, the students shopped on Fifth Avenue, followed by dinner in Trump Tower. To conclude, the students went to a fantastic

Broadway showing of “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The final day in New York began with learning opportunities for different groups of students. The band and choir had their workshop at the National Opera America Center. The dancers were a block away taking a dance class with Charity, a performer who just concluded five years in the Broadway show, “The Lion King.”

After their classes, small groups broke up to get lunch in Times Square. Then the buses took the students to the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum for the band and dance team to perform. After enjoying the sights at the museum, the group had dinner in Little Italy. Their last outing before leaving New York was exploring China Town and Little Italy before boarding the bus to return home.

Overall, the trip was one the students will never forget, taking away more knowledge in their art forms and of the city. TT 04.24.14 Tom Tom 9

NEWS

ACHS Graduation Requirements > 4 credits of English Graphic by Johnny Horton In an effort to develop stronger, more well-rounded students, ACHS is considering ditching class rank. This move would be in line with other schools in the county and immediate surrounding area. By losing class rank, students will hopefully be more willing to participate in extracurricular activities and take elective classes.

NO. 1 NO MORE

The battle between academic rank and well roundedness.

MARINA PALMIERI Managing Editor

O

ne of many goals of a high-achieving highschool student is to have a high grade point average, which, in turn, results in a high class ranking. Recently, many high schools in the Chicago area, including Evanston Township High School and Oak Park & River Forest High School, have considered and even decided to eliminate class ranking from students’ transcripts.

Before, one of the main aspects of a student that colleges and universities looked at was GPA and class ranking; now, colleges push to take into account additional features of an applicant, such as volunteering and involvement in school and community activities. Although Antioch Community High School has not decided to eliminate class rank, the removal of it has become more and more popular among staff and administration.

ACHS Assistant Principal for Student Services Omar Rodriguez said, “we looked into schools, definitely within our conference and then in the surrounding communities, and more and more schools are going toward eliminating class rank and not reporting it to colleges.”

ACHS Assistant Principal Aryan Haren agrees that class ranking is seen less and less.

Some high school students may have a high 10 Tom Tom 04.24.14

class ranking, but little to no extracurricular involvement; others may have an average or low class ranking with lots of school and community participation. The elimination of class rank benefits the students with extracurricular involvement, putting less emphasis on students’ grades and GPA. ACHS junior Heather Beckman said, “I think that class rank is not very accurate because kids can take easy classes and get good grades, and improve their rank or GPA.” Although class rank is still an important aspect, there are other characteristics that colleges consider when a student applies. In addition to academics, universities take into account the well-roundedness of an applicant.

“There are other factors that are playing into the admissions process. Counselors just earlier in the school year went to different articulations where colleges state what they like to see or what they want to see in their incoming student bodies,” said Rodriguez. “I think that there was more of a push towards volunteering and service learning and really making a difference in your community, as opposed to just focusing on the academics because, obviously, if students are doing that during their high school years and in their communities, that will spill into a college or a university, town, city, whatever. And obviously make their institution that much stronger.”

With the elimination of class rank becom-

> 3 1/2 credits of Gym > 3 credits of Math > 2 credits of Science > 1 credit of Foriegn Language > 1/2 credit of Health > 1/2 credit of Fine Arts > 1/2 credit of Business > Drivers Ed Course > No unpaid fees Total: 22 1/2 credits ing more and more popular at many schools in the area, it is even more important for students to become well-rounded.

“My personal take—and, I don’t know, everyone has a different philosophy—is class rank is something that really helps the students that are up at the top, but does not give anything to help the kids that do tend to struggle in high school and studies overall,” said Rodriguez. “[The elimination of class rank is] an effort to kind of make it an even plane altogether for everybody and not limit options or not hurt students on the lower end of the spectrum.” TT

VAPE CRAZE

“Safe” version of cigarettes may still pose health risks to those that use them.

ADAM CHELLBERG

W Reporter

No Once or twice.

Yes, Regularly

Have you ever used a vaporizer at school?

No Yes, regularly.

Once or twice.

Rarely.

Have you ever seen someone use a vaporizer at school?

No

Yes

Photo from vaporizerlot.com

ith the promise of being a safe alternative to smoking while keeping the nicotine high and none of the unpleasantries, vaporizers are becoming big business and wildly popular; Antioch Community High School included. But, being as new as vaporizers are, most people understand very little about them. With concerns ranging from health risks to underage use, vaporizers are far from not being controversial. With very limited research, few laws directly address the products and there is no decisive guidance from government agencies. Consumers, in many ways, have been left at the mercy of the companies that make the vaporizers, many of which hold ties to the tobacco industry.

One issue that has both the proponents and opponents in agreement is underage use. It’s not just the use that has many concerned though, it’s where the use is taking place. Reports of teens using vaporizers in school bathrooms, locker rooms and even classrooms are becoming more common. In a recent survey of 142 Antioch Community High School students, 73 percent of respondents have seen someone use a vaporizer in school. Furthermore, 39 percent of respondents see students use vaporizers in school on a regular basis; eleven percent admitted to having used a vaporizer in school themselves. It’s also worth noting that respondents were not guaranteed anonymity in their responses, although the survey was conducted anonymously. National surveys on high school drug use indicate that about 36 percent of high school seniors have used marijuana in the last year and about 18 to 23 percent use tobacco. The survey of ACHS students found that 34.5 percent of respondents have used a vaporizer. “[ACHS] views [vaporizer use] as any kind of paraphernalia used for smoking anything so it falls under a kind of catch-all category in our tobacco, alcohol and other drug discipline policy.

It doesn’t necessarily matter what [the vaporizer] is being used for now [because] we know what it could be used for so we have a policy against having them. [Student vaporizer use concerns our administration] greatly and I think there’s a lot of unknowns about them,” said Bradford Hubbard, ACHS principal.

While the safety of vaporizing is still inconclusive, the safety of its active ingredient nicotine is not. While the inhalation of nicotine via vaporizing is not thought to be as harmful as smoking tobacco, the danger of handling the e-liquid that vaporizers use is another story.

“In terms of the immediate poison risk, e-liq-

uids are far more dangerous than tobacco, because the liquid [and nicotine] is absorbed more quickly, even in diluted concentrations... Nationwide, the number of [poison control] cases linked to e-liquids jumped to 1,351 in 2013, a 300 percent increase from 2012, and the number is on pace to double this year, according to information from the National Poison Data System,” said Matt Richtel in his article “Selling a Poison by the Barrel: Liquid Nicotine for E-Cigarettes” in the New York Times. “Tiny amounts [of nicotine], whether ingested or absorbed through the skin, can cause vomiting and seizures and even be lethal. A teaspoon of even highly diluted e-liquid can kill a small child,” said Richtel. TT

Do you know anyone who uses a vaporizer?

No

Yes, < 3 times.

Yes, regularly.

Yes, socially.

Have you ever used a vaporizer?

142 students were surveyed at ACHS regarding vaporizers and use at ACHS.

A SIDE NOTE

Respect your teachers, respect yourself TYLER DZIUBLA

Assistant Digital Director

Sitting in class, I find it incredibly uncomfortable when fellow students are rude to their teachers. I always wondered why a student would want to talk back to somebody who is just trying to help them. Being a teacher is not an easy thing to do. They are in charge of providing an education to more than 100 students throughout a day, with all of those students learning in different ways and at different paces.

There is a reason why most people think teachers do not get paid enough. Their day does not end when school is over. When students stay after school, many will notice that most teachers are still there doing work, tutoring students, supervising clubs or coaching sports. Then, they go home and grade papers, tests and projects. Repeat. This usually means they get less sleep than students and come to school the next day without complaining like the students do.

I get that some students do not care about an education, but why make a teacher’s job more difficult by insulting and interrupting them. They are your boss for 50 minutes a day. There are only a few differences: they cannot fire you, they cannot hire their employees and they just want things to go smoothly. I know you do not get paid, but think of the knowledge as your reward. That knowledge may be what you need for your dream job. Most of what teachers teach you will be forgotten, but there are things that you just might be thanking that teacher years later.

So give your teacher a break. Their job is hard enough. You do not even have to like them, but respect that they are here to help you.

TT

04.24.14 Tom Tom

11

News Joseph

Van Herik

Pfeifer

THE FRESH FACES OF ACHS Johnson

Worden

Untch

Photos Courtesy of HR Imaging

As the year comes to a close, the newest crop of ACHS faculty look forward to the future.

JOHNNY HORTON

Reporter

T

he 2013-2014 school year brought a lot of changes including a new principal, new assistant principal for student services, new classes and new staff: English teachers Patrick Johnson, Andrew Van Herik and Samuel Worden; fine arts teacher and band director Jonathan Untch; and science teachers Stephen Joseph and Daniel Pfeifer. Each new teacher reflected on his year at ACHS.

12

Tom Tom 04.24.14

STEPHEN JOSEPH

Stephen Joseph is one of the new additions to the science team this year here at ACHS, teaching Chemistry Honors.

Joseph reflected on his year and his teaching by saying, “It has been a good experience.

I’ve learned a lot and I can’t wait to be able to implement what I’ve learned at the start of a year, and have a fresh start.”

One of the responsibilities of a teacher is to be able to connect with the student.

Joseph said, “Starting fresh with new students. Hearing about my first group of students succeeding is something I also am

looking forward to.”

There is always something to look forward to as a teacher, and new things for the next year. Joseph said he wants to include “more demos and possible labs that include building or creating/designing models” into his curriculum.

DANIEL PFEIFER

Another addition to the science department is Daniel Pfeifer. Pfeifer is a chemistry and physics teacher.

Pfeifer said, “It’s been an exciting year; there have been some ups and downs and I

can be difficult. Worden feels that this transi- help him to improve in coming years.

He said, “It will be amazing to have had tion has been somewhat easy for him and has had no trouble connecting with the students done everything once and now know what to do for next year.” and school.

He said, “One of the coolest things was when one of the students I had came to parent PATRICK JOHNSON teacher conferences just to say I was her faJohnson joined the ACHS team as an Envorite teacher. I’ve also enjoyed going to the glish teacher. His background in journalism games as a phoeducation and experitographer for the ence with media also website.” fit perfectly for his new Along with role as adviser to the the good there Tom Tom. are also some “Spending summer difficulties that planning for this upcome along with coming year with the JONATHAN UNTCH However, journalism program The fine arts department welcomed Jon- it. was crazy. There were athan Untch as a teacher and the new band these difficulties a lot of changes in store director at the beginning of this year. Along are not often as as and a lot of different with the students and other teachers in the de- humorous voices being heard. partment, he helped with drama performanc- Worden’s.

“I lost two Trust me, the changes and concerts with the bands and choirs.

JONATHAN UNTCH, BAND DIRECTOR es everyone is seeing As with all new experiences, Untch’s first desks this year. were certainly not the year at ACHS helped him to learn more about One when a kid tripped and split easiest to work tohimself and about his teaching. ward,” said Johnson. “I “This year has been an exciting and reward- it in half and aning experience. I have grown a lot as a teacher other when a kid sat in it and it just snapped,” come from a long line of Sequoits; tradition is important here. It is what I love about ACHS. and have developed great relationships with he said.

As the year comes to close, Worden is The Tom Tom is part of that tradition and I the students and staff here,” he said.

Like many of the new teachers, he did not looking forward to making some changes and am so proud of the acceptance of change this year. Our motto this year wasn’t ‘breaking have much trouble fitting in at ACHS and got learning from his experiences.

He said, “I can really revise my classes for news, breaking tradition’ for nothing.” involved in more than just what is required of next year and really be able to get better at Leading the Tom Tom staff isn’t Johnson’s him as the band director. only excitement for the year. The ACHS exUntch said, “I have shared in some incred- helping the students.” perience has impacted him in many ways. ible new experiences throughout the school “I absolutely love being a Sequoit. I’ve year. Some of the highlights of this year in- ANDREW VAN HERIK clude attending Broadway clinics in New One of the other additions to ACHS En- meet incredible students, incredible staff and York City and performing at the Statue of glish department is Andrew Van Herik. One incredible friends,” said Johnson. “I’m defiLiberty and USS Intrepof the key things that nitely looking forward to year two as I head id with the Fine Van Herik expressed the Sequoit Centennial Celebration. It is a Arts Department.” was how he was able total honor to be trusted with ACHS’s 100th With these sucto get the students birthday and my cardinal and gray blood isn’t cesses both in and to respect him. This going to let this school or community down.”

Moving forward, Johnson is both grateful out of the classcan sometimes be room, Untch is hard for younger and ready to work toward next year.

“I’m gifted with an incredible department. hopeful for next teachers. year.

Van Herik said They are constantly working to do more and “I am looking that this year has make student experience a number one priorforward to next helped him in “learn- ity. My experience this year is in a large part year for a lot of reaing the process of due to them,” said Johnson. “Looking forsons, but I am espebeing an authority ward, I cannot wait to continue to work with cially looking forfigure that they need my department to better our program. I’m ANDREW VAN HERIK, ENGLISH TEACHER ward to next year’s to feel safe and that equally as excited to develop Sequoit Student marching band there is someone Media more fully, which includes the new show and dunking in charge and they broadcast program I’ll be heading up with on Mr. Hickey in know what they are Ms. Giertych.” the teacher basketball game,” he said. doing.” *** In order to feel comfortable in a new environment the atmosphere has to be welcoming.

SAMUEL WORDEN Much like the freshmen, these new teachers He said, “The faculty and students have Samuel Worden joined the ACHS staff and been very accepting and supportive and col- became familiar with the school, the commuis also the webmaster.

Worden said, “It’s been good. First semes- laborative. The first year of teaching is always nity, and the spirit that ACHS embodies. As ter has been a little bit crazier than this second your hardest year, so it has been a good year.” the new teachers finish out the year, awaiting Van Herik is already looking ahead to next summer much like any other member of the one though.”

Coming into a new school and having to year as summer vacation approaches. He ACHS community, they’re looking forward acclimate to the students, staff and building feels that getting through his first year will to bigger and better things in coming years. TT think the highlight has been working with the kids. I really think that there is a good population of kids.”

Even with all the stress that teachers have to face they get to have some fun as well.

Pfeifer said, “A lot of times when I was sleeping at wrestling meets the wrestlers would try to pull pranks on me.”

Now that it is the end of the year the teachers reflect and try and improve for next year.

Pfeifer said, “I would definitely build on the foundation that I got here, since now I know the curriculum and I know the students and the teachers and how everyone acts.”

This year has been an exciting and rewarding experience. I have grown a lot as a teacher and have developed great relationships with the students and staff here.

The faculty and students have been very accepting and supportive and collaborative, and the first year of teaching is always your hardest year, so its been a good year.

04.24.14 Tom Tom

13

OF ANTIOCH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL

W

hen the word “hero” comes to mind the first thing that people usually think about is Superman or any other fictional character that saves lives. But, every day at school, there are people who walk down the halls with the costumes under their skin. A real hero is an ordinary person with an extraordinary influence on others. Heroes do not brag and they do not make their efforts known by all; many are too modest and selfless to do that. They take time out of their

own schedules to help others to the best of their abilities. People do not have to fly or have super strength to be a true hero in others’ eyes.

The heroes of Antioch Community High School are with us nearly everyday. The heroes contained in the pages of this issue of the Tom Tom were selected based on student and staff opinion. This list is an abbreviated version of the countless heroes found in the halls of ACHS.

Photos and Graphic by Tyler Stephens

THE THANKLESS VOLUNTEER

LAUREN PONZETTI Reporter

M

ost heroes are easily picked apart from the crowd; they don’t exactly blend in. When thinking of stereotypical hero, there are many of the same traits. As far as clothing, there are capes, tights, and they always wear tee shirts with a logo on them. Heroes are also firm, steadfast and unselfish. But don’t let the physical qualities fool you; we are surrounded by all kinds of heroes every day that make our lives easier and better.

Antioch community volunteer Dawn Latakas is the current president of Sequoit Pride and Antioch Community High School’s Fine Arts support group (AMPS) here at ACHS. Latakas participated in Sequoit Pride for a total of five years—she was previously vice president—and AMPS for six years. Many students at ACHS are not aware of the dedication, hard work and planning that goes into being involved in these groups, which proves to be a lot. Latakas is in charge of and helps out with all kinds of fundraisers and events all year long.

“I started doing all these things to stay involved in my daughters’ lives and to also help out the different groups in whatever they needed help with. I do the different things that I do not just for my girls now, but I feel it is important to help and volunteer for the whole school,” said Latakas. “There are so many different opportunities to help out and make someone’s life a little easier.”

Besides AMPS and Sequoit Pride, she was very involved with the ACHS dance team for the past six years, since her two daughters were members of the team.

For AMPS alone, there are many different activities such as helping out with drama productions, a variety of different fundraisers, setting things up for concerts and organizing functions held by the group. Besides participating and running all these different tasks, Latakas also runs the meetings for AMPS and Sequoit Pride. In Sequoit Pride, Latakas helps with the spirit shop, memberships, yard signs, auctions, organizing student breakfasts during testing, teacher luncheons, organizing senior portraits and putting together the annual kick-off night of scrimmages in August.

Although Latakas has most prominently worked with Sequoit Pride and AMPS, she is not restricted to helping just these two groups. At the Electrocardiogram (EKG) screening at ACHS, Latakas entered all the data that was on the forms and helped try to get every student tested, which ended up being 95 percent. Being this dedicated to

volunteering came naturally to Latakas, as she has helped out at ACHS for such a long time.

“I feel it is important to be there for your kids, which lead to being there for their friends and then just being there for the different groups that make up our school,” said Latakas.

This past year, Latakas was the recipient of the 2013-2014 Those Who Excel Excellence for a Community Volunteer award given by the Illinois State Board of Education. Due to her exceptional volunteer status, Latakas was nominated for this award in honor of all the different things that she volunteers for at ACHS. Latakas said she “really likes to help and be a part of these groups and do the different functions.”

Even though there are so many outstanding achievements that Latakas has reached, it would seem almost impossible to think that she doesn’t think of herself as a hero, but it’s true.

“No, I do not feel heroic. Many times volunteers don’t even get thanked for what they do. I do it because I like to help and I don’t mind taking on different projects that need to be organized,” said Latakas.

Although to some people it might not seem like much, every volunteer’s help goes a long way.

“No one person can do any of these different functions or events all on their own,” said Latakas.

“There are lots of different volunteers within the groups that help with the different functions that go on at the school and without their help executing them, you can organize all you want, you need to have the volunteers that want and are willing to work with you and see that you are there to join in and work with them to get which ever project done that is in front of you.”

Being a volunteer for ACHS requires a lot of determination, perseverance, sacrifice and selflessness. All of these traits also happen to be characteristics of a hero, so next time you see Latakas volunteering, or any volunteer in general, make sure to thank them. Because they truly are some of ACHS’s greatest heroes. TT

04.24.14 Tom Tom

15

FEATURES

THE SHOULDER TO CRY ON With the hard loss of three students last school year, many students turned to Kasbohm for advice.

HEATHER LATAKAS

Assignment Editor n the most difficult times, we need a hero the most. In the past school year, the students of Antioch Community High School suffered several losses. It impacted many students differently, some needing more support than others. While students could turn to one another for comfort, there were times when more was needed.

For those who struggled the most with the loss of good friends, the ACHS psychologists, especially Christine Kasbohm, were huge supporters, and undoubtedly heroes.

"I would describe my relationship with the ACHS students as one that is supportive, guiding and as someone that works with students individually and/or in larger groups to help them not only process through things, but also to help them work towards their goals. I am available to help all students in times of crises or when they need extra support throughout the school year," said Kasbohm.

Kasbohm is always available to help students with any problem they come to her with. She has a listening ear and a comforting heart. Kasbohm gives students somewhere to go if they feel like they absolutely need support but can't find it. She commits her time and energy to any student who needs her help.

In Nov. 2012, just after the loss of ACHS freshman Nicole Parfitt, certain students could barely make it through the two days of school before Thanksgiving break. Kasbohm was also there for students in February, just four short months later, when junior Joel Wittkamp died. She was also there for students after sophomore Cynthia Perez died in the summer shortly after last school year ended. But, Kasbohm isn't just here for school tragedies that Antioch suffered last year, she is here for any students that need help. Whether that be with family problems, friend problems or loss in their own personal lives.

"Last year was significant for the ACHS students and the staff in the losses that we experienced. I worked with several students that have experienced loss, not only the ones that oc-

I

16

Tom Tom 04.24.14

curred last year, but also students who may have lost a parent or sibling several years back," said Kasbohm. "I try to provide any support that they need, but also I provide information on the grieving process and let students know that everyone grieves differently and that is okay."

Kasbohm is a shoulder to cry on for all students whether it is when a student passes away like many suffered through last year or even something in their every day lives that they don't know how to deal with or need help with.

"I really look to see what is most needed at the time, anything from finding materials to create notes/cards/ banners, to just providing a safe and comfortable place to be able to experience some of the emotions that occur when a loss happens," said Kasbohm.

After Parfitt passed in 2012 students were comforted and were kindly given snacks and treats throughout the day.

A therapy dog was brought in to cheer up the upset students. Kasbohm was there for anyone who needed her.

"She made the hard times so much easier; she gave us a sense of comfort and happiness in the hardest time of our lives," said sophomore Madison Paddock.

Overall, Kasbohm made it an easier transition for those in mourning this past year to get back into a normal routine again. While this is only a few overbearing instances where Kasbohm's value shined. She helps kids every day in her job.

"I think what inspires me to help students daily is that I am driven to help all students get the best from their education in high school," said Kasbohm. "I will do the best I can to support that, and if I can make a difference for someone, then that's pretty awesome!"

Kasbohm's work with the students creates relationships that other wise wouldn't be there. In addition to working as a psychologist, Kasbohm is an adviser for National Honor Society, which allows her to also reach out and help the community among exceptional students.

Her work is valued by students, and she is viewed as a hero by many. TT

THE MOTIVATIONAL COACH

Polakow pushes success, boundaries and support in both her life and the lives of her students and athletes.

IAN GOWLAND Reporter

I

was the perfectionist, straight-A student and now I realize that I've learned not to be a leader but more of a follower. But not in a bad way. I can learn from others and they can learn from me. It's something I learned more and more as I grew up," said Marni Polakow, Antioch Community High School physical education and health teacher and head varsity boys and girls soccer coach.

The self-proclaimed "tomboy" is proud of her school, her team, her community and herself. Like anybody else, she's always learning and trying new things, pushing her boundaries beyond her comfort zone. Most recently, this push was acting.

"I helped with the winter play this year. I felt lucky to have that opportunity because I felt vulnerable," said Polakow. "It was hard work. It was something I've never done before."

It was a new experience and she is grateful that she had the opportunity to be a contribution.

"I was freaking out before I got on stage.

But I really enjoyed it because I got to work with the kids in the fine arts department that I didn't know very well before. I had a blast," said Polakow.

In addition to her personal accomplishment with acting, one of Polakow's soccer teams accomplished a milestone. This year, the first in school history, the boys varsity soccer team came away with a Sectional title.

"I've been playing soccer for 30 years now; to see the team accomplish this much makes me so proud of them," said Polakow.

Soccer was not the only sport she was involved in growing up. Polakow is a 2nd degree black belt in karate and picked up ice hockey at 29.

There are other ways in which she would like to branch out in the community in the future. Her dedication to her athletics made her want to put more effort into other areas of her life. Polakow is looking towards the future in regards to her career.

"I want to be Nationally Board Certified, which is a step towards becoming a better teacher. I love working with students but maybe in the future I would want to work with teachers more, or maybe become an athletic director," she said.

National Board Certification (NBC) is a voluntary, advanced teaching credential that goes beyond state licensure. NBC has national standards for what accomplished teachers should know and be able to do. The National Board certifies teachers who successfully

complete its rigorous certification process.

She describes herself as not being an average, run of the mill teacher.

"I'm not a one-dimensional teacher. Maybe I can inspire a few to change, whether it be with their diet or exercising more. Students can come to me, whether it be about their problems or successes, they can talk to me about it," said Polakow. "It's great seeing students after they go to college and they let me know they actually learned something in my class and they could apply it to their life.

Even if it's something that's not even related to me being a P.E. teacher."

Polakow is also concerned about her students' future and wants them to aspire to become greater in whatever it is they are passionate about in their lives.

"I'm very grateful for the way I was raised and not all of these children have that, so I like to be supportive in anyway I can," said Polakow. "A lot of kids don't know what they want to be. I like to motivate them.

For students, you can't forcefully motivate anybody if they're not motivated themselves. You need to have something in your life that you're passionate about. Wrap your head around passion. Being purpose driven will help you out in a lot of ways in your life."

Polakow's passion growing up was soccer, believing it to be something that she put so much time and effort in. It was soccer that gave her motivation to do many other things, also crediting the important people in her life who motivated her when she needed it most.

"I looked up to my karate teacher, he taught me how to have good work ethic. My athletic director at my high school always told me I could become whatever I wanted and I felt like he really believed in me.

And my parents, of course. They're my biggest fans, but my biggest critics too.

They taught me how to work hard and how to love," said Polakow. "Looking back on [my experience], that's the way I want to raise my family too." TT 04.24.14 Tom Tom

17

FEATURES

THE DIVERSITY ADVOCATE Social studies teacher and Diversity Club sponsor Amy Skonberg-Reznicek is a hero that students can talk to when they need someone to confide in and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where else to turn.

ANDREA SODT Reporter

H

igh school is hard time for teenagers. It is a time when teenagers are learning who they are and struggling with their identities. On top of that, it is a constant battle juggling time between school work, jobs, sports, extra curricular activities and more.

Sometimes, it can all be so overwhelming that teens have breakdowns; they have lost so much sleep keeping up with their activities and become run down. This could lead to problems in school such as failing to turn in work or even falling asleep in class. On top of the problems that every teenager experiences, there are the teenagers who are having problems feeling comfortable with things that they cannot help, such as sexuality, weight or the color of their skin. Sometimes, these kind of things are hard to talk about. Teens who feel self-conscious about things should always have someone they can talk to if they cannot talk to a friend or parents. However, sometimes simply talking to a guidance counselor does not allow students to really open up because they might not have a good enough relationship with a counselor to feel as comfortable as they could if they were sharing their problems with someone they see as a "best friend." Students seem to look to Antioch Community High School social studies teacher Amy Skonberg-Reznicek as someone they can talk to and trust.

Skonberg is a teacher and friend among many students of ACHS. She sponsors the Diversity Club at ACHS, which has smaller factions

18

Tom Tom 04.24.14

such as Rainbow Alliance. Rainbow Alliance is typically for ACHS teens in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, but it is open to anyone the same way a Pride Parade would be.

"Rainbow Alliance has been really, really active. A couple students have approached me the beginning of this year about starting a separate group. They've been really active and really wonderful in planning things, having meetings every other week. Really I think just forming a strong group and a strong core in order to make sure everybody knows that everybody is welcome here at ACHS," Skonberg said.

Rainbow Alliance is nothing more than the coming together of a group of teenagers who want to feel safe with other teens who wish for the same. A place where they know they won't be judged by what they like to do, the color of their skin or, especially, their sexual orientation.

"At a typical meeting, we will discuss current events; we'll usually watch some video clips; and we recently made friendship and pride bracelets according to what the students wanted to do," said Skonberg.

One activity that Diversity Club and Rainbow Alliance really get into is Day of Silence. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For Day of Silence, we've always started the day off with a breakfast for anybody who wants to participate so it's well beyond just club members. Then those students take an oath of silence to remain silent throughout the school day, and they are remaining silent in order to represent the silenced voices of many in the LGBT community who

Photos by Tyler Stephens Skonberg provides a safe learning and social environment for her students both in her classroom and in her clubs.

Finding ways to connect to students are important to being successful with students. Skonberg has managed to create a solid relationship with her students by being their advocate, not matter who they are.

don't really feel comfortable being themselves or even some people who have been silenced because of bullying or violence or other tragic acts," Skonberg said.

It takes a truly remarkable kind of person to go to such lengths to make people feel good. It is rare to find such a genuinely nice and caring person like Skonberg. Students and group members of Rainbow Alliance have nothing but praise for Skonberg, even if all she offers is simple words of wisdom to make the day just a little bit better.

"I find Mrs. Skonberg really easy to talk to, but I also feel that she deeply cares about every student's education to the highest extent," said senior James Novack.

It's a wonderful quality in a teacher when they cannot only act as a teacher, but also as a friend.

"Mrs. Skonberg is very accepting

and very friendly. It's cool how she supports LGBT and how she runs Rainbow Alliance. I definitely admire her and think she's a great person to look up to," said senior Kyle Rehm.

Little things can make a big difference and for Skonberg to be such an open book and a great listener for the students of ACHS is a blessing.

"Personally, I am an advocate for LGBT rights. We all have a right to be equal and respected. We all have the right to take advantage of the same laws. Gay rights are really important to me," said Skonberg.

"I'm not gay, but I had a lot of friends in college that were, and I just didn't see why we were creating a two-tiered system where they didn't have rights and here at the school, I think that our LGBT students are the most likely to feel uncomfortable and unwelcome; to be the victim of over-bullying in the comments in the hallways, so I felt it was really necessary for people to have representation and also to have a safe space where they can feel welcome to join together in a community where they know that everything is going to be safe."

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They come to save different problems whether they are big or small but all in all, they are saviors and they help people in more ways than they know. A person can be having the worst day, and sometimes, all they need is a pep talk or even a bad joke to make it little better, and no person is more qualified in telling bad jokes than Skonberg. TT

04.24.14 Tom Tom

19

FEATURES

THE SELFLESS TEACHER

Psychology teacher Anton Borchert gives students somewhere to go when they need guidance.

HEATHER KLEAN Reporter

W

alking through the halls of Antioch Community High School there are many familiar faces, but also some unfamiliar ones. A common face people see everyday is the one that shines with a kind smile and a friendly tone in his voice. Anton Borchert brightens up the halls wherever he may go. Not only does his personality shine through his teaching, but it also shines through his students whenever they are inspired by his words of wisdom.

Aside from being an ACHS psychology teacher, Borchert is also the adviser to Psychology Club, which is a great way for students to bond with others who share their love for psychology. Borchert is also a part of the TED Ed Club, the faculty council for the National Honor Society and the PBIS committee, which is in charge of morale and making sure that the students feel good about themselves.

Outside of school, Borchert likes to be physically active. He spends his time lifting weights, playing hockey and golfing.

"I love being outside," said Borchert.

Helping his students out is one of Borchert's main priorities. Many students go to him for advice, support and guidance about things going on in their lives. He appreciates it when students take the time to confide in him.

"My way of helping out in the community is helping my students outside of class time. I will spend time with them and help them with their personal issues or questions about life. The majority of my community work is still in the school. I go beyond what my teaching duties are to help my students," said Borchert.

He also benefits the Antioch community in a unique way.

"I always thank people that talk to me because it takes an element of trust to open up to someone else. I always thank people, not because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about me or that I like being asked for advice, but I appreciate how much effort and how much guts it takes to ask someone for advice.

I always help without judging or without asking more questions," said Borchert.

Borchert appreciates people who look up to him for advice, but sometimes he needs his own advice-givers.

"My dad, first and foremost, is the person I usually go to, but I was also blessed that I have two professional mentors that I met in my graduate work that I can call, email or text anytime I need to talk," said Borchert.

Many students appreciate the things Borchert does for them; he does not realize how much of an impact he makes in his students' lives.

"I look up to Mr. Borchert because he is a really warm-hearted and strong man who has been through a lot. I didn't know that until I had to go to him when I had problems in my life. He was my psychology teacher for two years, and I attended Psych Club last year. I was going to become a psych major because of him. I'm still not sure as to what I'm doing for my major, but he is definitely my hero because I can go to him about any-

20

Tom Tom 04.24.14

thing, and I always feel great when I am done talking to him," said senior Jenny Wright. "He has helped me realize how I can be a strong person, and he helped me get my priorities straight.

He is truly an amazing man."

Being selfless and giving up his own time for others really gives him the label of "hero," even if he doesn't believe it.

"Mr. Borchert is a hugely positive influence in my life. Whenever I'm having a bad day or going through something rough I always know he is available to help. No matter how hard the situation is, after talking to Mr. B I feel so much better, like everything in my life will be just fine, and it will be. He's such an optimistic and kind person and I, as well as others, are very lucky to have him in our lives," said senior Zoe Zeien.

Being a hero doesn't have to be like what you see in the movies; a hero can just be an extraordinary person who does things for others without expecting anything in return. Borchert is that everyday definition of a hero.

Borchert has his own heroes that he looks up to: his parents.

"My parents are my heroes.

My mom was a big hero for me because she always taught me to look out for my own first and foremost, and then she stressed so much that you need to care about other people. To me thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what is so valuable to societyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;that we have people that look out for others," said Borchert.

Borchert fits the criteria of the dictionary definition of a hero perfectly, and, even though he may not see himself as a hero, many others do. People think of him as a hero for setting aside his own problems to help others with theirs. So next time you see Borchert in the hallway, hopefully your view of him has changed from just an ordinary teacher to an extraordinary human. TT

THE LINE OF DEFENSE

ACHS security guards work to keep students safe in and out of their classrooms. These heroes give students an opportunity to be thrive socially and educationally.

NATHANIEL ALEXANDER

W Reporter

hen someones says “hero” what is it that comes to your mind? A hero is a person who has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal. Antioch Community High School security guards Noel Working, Robert Gabriel, Gary Braun, Susan Jacobs and José Becerra are heroes because they ensure that the learning environment at ACHS is as safe as it can be.

Working has worked at ACHS for seven years. His career at ACHS started once he retired and a close friend,

dean Ms. McGuigan, said that the security staff needed a male security guard. Working, the head of the security guard team, said that he enjoys his job and that the high school’s environment has improved tremendously since he started working here.

“ACHS has gotten a lot better,” said Working. “I feel that I have made it a great learning situation for the kids, since they feel comfortable around me.”

Working feels that he and the kids at ACHS have a bond in and outside of school.

“I usually see the kids outside of school, and they are very respectful. It makes me happy to know that I have done my job,” he said. He also mentioned how happy it makes him to hear ACHS students and alumni say he has impacted their lives.

Jacobs has worked at ACHS since November 2012. Jacobs said that her interest in becoming a security guard began once she found out that there was an opening, and since she loves working with kids that it would be an opportunity to do something in her free time.

“I have enjoyed being at ACHS. I enjoy the kids, I enjoy the staff and our new principal is wonderful,” said Jacobs. She feels that ACHS Principal Bradford Hubbard sets a good vibe along with staff members throughout the school.

Jacobs thinks that the school has impacted her by making her compassionate and patient.

“I feel that students can trust me and can talk to me when it is needed. I try to exude a sense of trust between us,” Jacobs said. She tries her best to be there for the students when they have no one else to go to.

Jacobs feels that the most important thing to do is to make a difference in someones day or life.

“I only deserve the title as a hero if, I was successful in making a difference in someone’s day or life,” she said.

Gabriel, ACHS’s newest addition to the security guard staff, said he has en-

joyed his time at ACHS. Outside of school, Gabriel enjoys adding to his train collection, working on his motorcycle and playing video games. He participates in several different clubs for charity, and is the leader of the American Riders Legion. Gabriel converts his own home into a haunted house every year for charity reasons. He also takes donations for the Open Arms mission in Antioch, Ill. Gabriel thoroughly enjoys working here at ACHS and exemplifies what a hero he is. Not only does he help to provide a safe environment here, he keeps a good relationship with staff and students.

“I enjoy it here, I’ve been at a couple other places I did not like. ACHS was a good choice,” said Gabriel.

Gabriel says that it is very important to teach the younger generation about respect.

The reason being that he feels that you can not get around without knowing how to respect others.

“I try to show the students respect, and try to instill in them that not only should you respect me as an adult, but also as someone who is here to protect you, and maybe inspire you in the near future,” Gabriel said.

Braun has been working at ACHS for seven years and each day proves that he is a hero to students, staff, and community members.

What got Braun to work at ACHS as a security guard is when he saw an ad in the paper.

Since the job was close to home, he decided to give it a shot.

“Antioch gets better ever year,” said Braun.

In his opinion, the behavior of Antioch’s students has improved a lot compared to when he first started working here.

Becerra has been a security guard since October of last year. This is Becerras first job as a security guard. He decided to try it out when Working offered him a job when they were short a guard.

“I’ve worked for corporate America and as a security guard and this is a great job. I enjoy working with the students as my first security guard position.”

In Becerra’s free time he enjoys flying planes, he is currently working on getting his pilots license. Becerra is a member in the American Riders Legion, and rides for charity.

There is more to the security guard staff than one may think. Besides patrolling the hallways, the security guards serve as encouragement to students. Next time you see a TT security guard in the hallway, take some time before the year is over to thank them. TT 04.24.14 Tom Tom

21

FEATURES

THE HEARTBEAT OF THE SCHOOL From the front office to the deans office to the athletic office, the administrative assistants of ACHS keep the school running from behind the scenes.

Stolarik is retiring at the end of this year, ready to pass the baton to the next brave soul running the race where she left off. very building has a backbone. In order Just a short walk down the hall leads to Nancy Coto keep the windows and walls from col- rey, ACHS’s secretary to the principal. lapsing, every structure needs a skeleton, Corey spends most of her day in the front office. hands holding up the roof so that everyone She arrives at the school much before any other staff can walk under. At Antioch Community member, getting ready for the day ahead. Corey orHigh School, the I-Beams are made ganizes everything for the substitute teachers and of dedication and paperwork, steady hands out their rosters for the day. Corey is the foreand stable hands that belong to most secretary to the highest rungs of administration three incredibly important em- in the school. She worked with past principals Mike ployees: Cindy Stolarik, Nancy Nekritz, Eric Ernd and John Whitehurst before curCorey and Patricia Fluger. rent ACHS principal Bradford Hubbard arrived this Stolarik is the athletic secre- year. Corey is also in charge of all registration and tary. This means that from her graduation related affairs and is one of the only staff small office near the sports en- members that works all summer long. She feels that trance she controls the entire her most important job is taking care of the staff and athletic program. She assumes being ready to help anyone who is in need of someresponsibility for player eligi- thing. bility, buses for field trips and “I want everyone to feel like they can come to me. sports games, sports sched- I love the staff, the students, the parents, the commuules, athletic websites, hiring nity. I think that’s why Antioch has such a family feel all sports officials and refer- to it,” Corey said. “I love getting up in the morning; ees, sports facilities, team I love coming here. The [staff and students] are so pictures, rosters and awards. easy to work with, you know. The day goes fast—it’s “I’m always busy. I don’t just a pleasure think there’s to be here.” ever a day Throughout when I don’t the exchanghave anything ing of manto do. But I love agement and it,” Stolarik said. progression of “This is the most reACHS, Corey warding job I’ve had is the constant — because I know evthat keeps the erything I do matters; school running it makes a difference smoothly.

NANCY COREY, SECRETARY TO THE PRINCIPAL and it’s helping kids be C o r e y able to do their sport.” works in the Stolarik described same office as her job as incredibly dePatricia Fluger, but Fluger maintains a very different tail-oriented and fast-paced. At the begin- job. ning of every sports season she is bombardEvery time someone walks into the dean’s office ed with kids showing up for information they are greeted with a warm smile. Fluger dedicates about their eligibility. Her favorite part of herself to greeting everyone who walks through the her job, she said, is helping the students get double doors. Her job entails much more than simply what they need to make the team, from ner- handling detentions, parking passes and paperwork vous faced freshmen to seniors signing up for the deans. for their last round of high school sports.

“It changes every day, every minute of the day,”

CHASE POGUE Reporter

E

I love getting up in the morning; I love coming here. The [staff and students] are so easy to work with, you know. The day goes fast it’s just a pleasure to be here.

22

Tom Tom 04.24.14

I don’t want [the students] to be crabby and miserable. I want [them] to realize that there is more to this world than just the crap that we deal with. [They] have a choice to be happy even when the world is falling apart.

PATRICIA FLUGER, SECRETARY TO THE DEANS

Fluger said. “The paperwork I do has to be done; we have to keep track of whatever’s going on. But that’s not what it’s about for me. It’s giving [the students] a place to go for anything. Teachers send them here... ‘Go see Mrs. Fluger, she’ll have safety pins,’ ‘Go see Mrs. Fluger, she’ll be able to tape your shoe.’ They know I’ll do what needs to be done.

I do what I do because it’s the right thing to do. Kids need help, I’m an adult, so I help them. I mean, I don’t have to do it. It’s not in my job description. There’s nothing else to it besides people have been kind to me throughout my life, so I feel that I want to be kind to others.”

Fluger graduated college with a degree in marketing, but after having children of her own, she found her way to ACHS. She hosts kids that need to take tests, that need a place to cool down. More than that, she cares about each and every student who finds their way to the dean’s office.

“I don’t just help the bad kids, I help all the kids that come through here. I don’t want [the students] to be crabby and miserable. I want [them] to realize that there is more to this world than just the crap that we deal with. [They] have a choice to be happy even when the world is falling apart.

[They] have a choice—what do you want to do? How do you want to react? And if I can be that example 80 percent of the time, then maybe [they’ll] think about it.”

Fluger’s kindness and nonjudgmental attitude serves as an inspiration to students, teachers and anyone who happens to cross her path.

All three of these women are strong and influential parts of ACHS and the community of Antioch. Without even just one of them, the infrastructure of the school would come tumbling down. They are three of the most important unsung heroes that should be celebrated every day.

“I don’t think there’s one hero...I think it’s one big team,” Solarik said. “Staff and students.” TT 04.24.14 Tom Tom

23

Lifestyles

PROM CHECKLIST

Are you ready for prom? Everything you need to know about getting ready for the big night.

SARAH CHAPLEAU Reporter

P

rom is a night people wait years to experience and a night people will talk about for years after. A lot goes into getting ready for it and, with everything from clothes to flowers to worry about, it can be overwhelming...and expensive. But if you look hard enough, you can find everything you need for prom without going completely broke.

DRESS/TUXEDO

For guys and girls alike, there is a lot of pressure to look your best for prom. Girls, this means searching for the perfect dress. Guys, this means finding a tuxedo that doesn't make you look like you grabbed something from your dad's closet. Luckily, there are plenty of places to find the best outfit.

Men's Warehouse is a good place to get a tuxedo if you are looking for a lot of choices.

They have many different styles of tuxedos and suits in general.

And there are a variety of prices, so everyone can find something within their budget.

If you prefer something more local, BJ's, located in downtown Antioch, Ill., is another great place to find an outfit for prom.

While they may not have as big of a selection, they have quality products for cheaper prices than larger, chain stores.

For dresses, head to David's Bridal for plenty of variety. You can either make an appointment, or just browse on your own. If you can't make it to one of the many stores, they have all the dresses seen in the store and many more on their website.

Another store to check for great dresses is Macy's. Even though their selection is not quite so large, they have relatively low prices. Also, they keep track of the dresses that are

24

Tom Tom 04.24.14

bought and what school the person who bought the dress goes to. This helps ensure you don't have the same dress as someone else from your school.

If you are really on a budget, check local thrift stores and consignment shops, such as Ooh La La Boutique in downtown Antioch. They have unique dresses that can't be found in other stores, and most of the time, you can find dresses for really cheap prices. Small boutiques are also a good place to find unique dresses. They won't be as cheap as a dress from a consignment shop, but by shopping at a small store, you can definitely save money.

FLOWERS

While the flowers aren't an essential part of your prom ensemble, if you choose to have them, it is important that they look nice. Fortunately, you don't have to travel very far to get them.

There are three local flower shops in Antioch: Floral Acres, Laura's Flower Shop and Antioch Flower Shop. All three of these shops allow you to order different flower colors and types. They also have good prices for their products.

Another option for your prom flowers is Jewel. Although their flower stock is smaller, it is still a convenient option.

ACCESSORIES

Accessories are just as important as your dress, and there are lots of them to think about.

For shoes, head to either DSW or Payless. Both places have cheaper prices and a wide range of shoes to choose from. DSW offers some more expensive options if you have the budget for it, but they also have an extensive clearance section. You can find shoes up to 70 percent off.

Payless doesn't offer the highend shoes that DSW does, but they have cheaper prices. They also have just as big of a selection to choose from. They often run sales when you can find shoes for a lot cheaper than the original price.

For jewelry and purses, check out Charming Charlie. They have an incredible variety of both. The store is laid out by color so you will be able to find the exact shade you need to match your outfit. They also have a range of prices, so even if you don't have a lot to spend, you can find something you'll love.

Another option is to borrow accessories from your friends or family. If your friends have gone to prom before, check out what they have and see if you can use it. Do the same if you have older siblings.

Or just reuse what you already have. You can save a lot of money this way.

HAIR/MAKEUP

Your hair and makeup for prom are other important parts of your ensemble. There are quite a few salons that will do both, so you can save time by only going to one place.

Living Well is one of a few local Photos by Sarah Chapleau

salons that do both hair and makeup for prom. They are conveniently located right downtown in Antioch, which is nice on the day of prom.

They have multiple stylists to choose from, so you can find someone whose style you like.

Other options include Salon Bliss, Jandee's Salon, Gemini Salon and Spa and Salon Sage. These salons may not all do hair and makeup, but they are still good places to go for your hair. They all have talented stylists that will work hard to give you the perfect prom hairstyle.

Another option is to do your hair and makeup yourself or with friends. If you all get ready together, it will be like a spa day before prom. This can be the most fun and also saves you money.

NAILS

Painting your nails is a delightful way to add something to your look for prom. From classic to funky, there are many ways to express yourself. There are also lots of places to get your nails done.

Queen Nails and Queen Nails II are popular locations. They have almost every kind of manicure from gel to traditional, and even have the option to have designs done. Their prices are relatively cheap, starting at $14 for a manicure. And they are local, which is great for convenience.

If you like local businesses, Nails 4 U and Professionail are two more places to get your nails done for prom. Nails 4 U doesn't have as many options for manicures, but they have lower prices than the Queen Nails salons. Professionail has the lowest prices of the four salons, but they also have the least amount of options. But if you are just looking for a traditional manicure, they are a good option.

Of course, doing your nails yourself is cheapest. Or you can grab your friends and do each others' nails. You may not be able to do anything other than a traditional manicure, but you do have complete control over the style. Make sure you practice before prom, though, to make sure you're happy with the way they turn out.

PICTURES

The pictures you take the night of prom will stay with you for years to comeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;so you want to make sure you like the ones you take.

The school normally has a photographer that will take pictures before the buses leave, making it most convenient. However, you are lim-

ited with what you can do in the actual pictures. Most of the time, the pictures are traditional prom pictures with one background. If that's the style of photo you're looking for, the school photographer is a good option.

The other option is to take the pictures yourself.

This way you can have more fun and be more creative with the photos.

You can choose the location you would like, such as the Hiram Buttrick Sawmill in town, which is always a popular place for pictures.

Taking your own photos also allows more freedom in posing your pictures. Instead of being limited to mostly traditional poses, you can do whatever you want. Some people even go for themes, such as superheroes. Also, taking pictures yourself will save you money, because it's free. This is especially nice when you consider all of the other things you need to buy for prom.

*** There are so many things to think about when it comes to prom.

And all of those things can add up to a lot of money coming out of your pocketâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;but don't let that overshadow your special night. If you do your research, you can save a lot of money and still look your best.

Kelsey Maldonado shopping at Ooh La La, a dress shop in down town Antioch, searching fot a prom dress. TT 04.24.14 Tom Tom

25

Lifestyles

Photos by Kyle Heywood

PROM FASHION AROUND TOWN BJ’s in downtown Antioch offers tuxedo varieties for ACHS boys.

ARLENNE LOZANO Assignment Editor

G

uys have it easy when it comes to picking out what to wear for that very special and unforgettable event: Prom. Girls, on the other hand, go through the struggle of finding the perfect dress out of the countless options available. With that being said, guys shouldn’t have to travel far just to rent out a tuxedo.

BJ’s Fashion For Men is located on Main Street in Antioch, Ill., and is right on target with providing everything a male needs for their special occasion.

BJ’s carries several basic styling essentials, including jackets, pants, shirts, ties and vests or cummerbunds. For prom, everything is as simple as knowing your size, personal preference and matching the formal wear to the occasion.

The shop does an exceptional job with ensuring that the customer walks out of the shop feeling as confident as can be. So guys, save some time, money and anxiety, and go to BJ’s to make the night one of the greatest.

We could all be a bit more involved in our own community, couldn’t we? Involvement isn’t all about being active within the school; it means supporting our local shops, attending all the carefully planned events, pursuing a job in the community and much more. TT 26 Tom Tom 04.24.14

Seniors Vivek Gupta and Brandon Schwarz worked with BJ’s owner and Antioch Mayor Larry Hanson to style themselves for prom.

Schwarz chose a classic all black tuxedo and black shirt, with a lime green tie and lime green pocket square as accents to make his prom attire pop.

Gupta chose opposite Schwarz, picking an all-white tuxedo, with a red bow tie and pocket square.

LOCAL THEATERS: TWO THUMBS UP Tom Tom reporters review local movie theaters on prices, picture, cleanliness, comfort, smell and sound Ticket Prices

$8.50 Round Lake Theater

$7.00

Fox Lake Theater

Drink Prices

$5.50

Round Lake Theater

$3.00

Antioch Theater

$2.50

Popcorn Prices

Slushie Prices

$7.50 $6.25 Round Lake Theater

Round Lake Theater

$4.00

Fox Lake Theater

Antioch Theater

$2.50

Candy Prices $3.50 - $4.00 Round Lake Theater

$1.50 - $3.50 Fox Lake Theater

Fox Lake Theater

$4.00

Antioch Theater

Round Lake Theater NATHANIEL ALEXANDER Reporter

W

hen you go to see a movie, you look for the best quality that you can get for your money. I reviewed Regal Round Lake Beach Stadium 18. The cinema was graded on a scale of one through five in these categories: sound, picture quality, aroma, cleanliness, comfort, food, employees, and pricing. I went to see “Need For Speed”, an action packed movie that was very enjoyable.

The sound of the movie received a three out of five. The movie did not have any boom to it, with “Need For Speed” being filled with explosive scenes, the sound was only coming from the front; there was no surround sound. As for the picture quality, it was phenomenal.

Next is the aroma and cleanliness of the cinema. Each individual theater was cleaned after every showing of their movies. The bathrooms were also very sanitary.

When it comes to comfort the theater gets a four out of five. The seats got uncomfortable after two hours. The cinema’s quality in food was very particular. I ordered a slushie, a soft drink and popcorn. The drink was not watered down, the slushie was very enjoyable, but when I got to the popcorn it was not fresh. The employees were very respectful and well mannered.

Finally, overall pricing at the cinema was not too great, the cinemas prices were outrageously overpriced. TT

$3.00

$2.00

Antioch Theater

Fox Lake Theater

Graphic by Andrea Sodt

Round Lake Theater

Sound: 3/5 Picture: 5/5 Aroma: 5/5 Cleanliness: 4/5 Comfort: 4/5

Antioch Theater Sound: 4/5 Picture: 4/5 Aroma: 3/5 Cleanliness: 4/5 Comfort: 4/5

To read more theater reviews, visit TomTomNews.com

Antioch Theater JOHNNY HORTON Reporter

T

he Antioch downtown theater was graded on a scale of one to five based on sound quality, picture quality, aroma, cleanliness, comfort, food concessions, employees and ticket price.

I saw the family-friendly movie, “The Nut Job.” Although you could hear the movie very well, it was a little loud at some points. Given that the theater is old, the screen became blurry at times, which causes problems for picture quality.

The staff keeps the theater relatively clean, but that is also given for a theater that only has one screening room. When you first walk in, the theater smells of popcorn, but it begins to have an older, dusty scent when you settle into your seat.

The seats are nice and soft, and on a day when the theater is empty, you can really spread out and get comfy.

The taste of the popcorn was very good, but it didn’t have that “melt in your mouth” quality.

All of the employees showed kindness and respect to their customers. They are also predominantly ACHS students, which is nice to get to see friendly faces.

The prices of the ticket and food were very affordable and overall it’s a good place to go with the family to see a movie. TT 04.24.14 Tom Tom 27

Sports

I SEE LONDON, Forty-one Antioch Community High School students spent spring break touring Europe and seeing the world.

MADELYN CHASSAY Assignment Editor

TYLER DZIUBLA

Assistant Digital Director

A

fter the frigid cold of winter, most people like to head down to the warm beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Instead, a group of Antioch Community High School students went on a trip to a different kind of place.

Traveling to the home of the British and to the “city of love”. It may not have been in the upper eighties like in Mexico, but for some of these students it was their first time traveling abroad. They crossed the pond and went on an adventure of their own.

Forty-one students went on the London and Paris trip this year’s spring break, organized by ACHS social studies teacher Stephen Rose.

“It cost the students around $3,000 dollars to go on the trip. That was not including expenses for lunches or spending money,” said Rose. “Students did a variety of fundraising

in order to help fund their trips. This included doing car washes, bake and lemonade sales and partnering with businesses like Suzy’s Swirl and the Antioch Pizza Shop.”

Students left for the trip right after school on Thurs., March 20 and took a eight hour plane ride into London, arriving early in the morning London time. Students were split up into groups of six with a chaperone with them. The chaperones were teachers from ACHS and one from LCHS. On the first day in London, the group traveled around near their hotel in Welmbley, London. They were allowed free time to explore and get lunch, and then met back at the train station to travel into the city of London for a lot of site seeing and souvenir shopping, along with riding on the London Eye. Throughout the next few days in London, students and chaperones went on multiple bus and walking tours, visited St. Paul’s Cathedral, Big Ben, the Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theater, Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guards, a tour inside and around Windsor Castle, the Tower of London to see the Crowned Jewels,

shopping in Piccadilly Square and Harrods (similar to Macy’s, but much bigger), King’s Cross Station to take photos at Platform 9 3/4 from “Harry Potter” and to a soccer game at Wembley Stadium. They then took the Euro Star, a train that travels under the water and the French countryside at 500 plus miles per hour, all the way to Paris.

Upon arriving in Paris, the group went right to dinner and had a walking tour to their hotel in La Defense. While in Paris, students and chaperones spent a rainy day on a bus tour in and around the city, and visited the Eiffel Tower where some went up to the top, ate crepes, went on a river boat tour through the Seine River, the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and many more beautiful works of art, Notre Dame Cathedral, a tour through the Palace of Versailles and its gardens, the Lock Bridge and many more landmarks.

Each night for group dinners, the group went to different ethnic restaurants for the students to explore new types of foods. There were a large variety of foods from Mediterranean, to fish and chips, to Indian food; all of which most students thoroughly enjoyed.

I SEE FRANCE 28

Tom Tom 04.24.14

Photos by Madelyn Chassay

At the end of the trip students took a nine hour flight back home.

Senior Andrew DiNatale said, “I had a great time on the trip.

We did not get a lot of sleep, but we got to see tons of things. Two of my favorite things were seeing the Eiffel Tower and putting a lock on the Lock Bridge. I enjoyed London better than Paris because I knew the language and people were nicer there.”

Rose agreed that he liked London a bit better.

He said, “London people are more friendly and the culture there is great. The city is nice to visit and is easy to navigate. My personal favorite thing to see on the trip was the HMS Bellfast.”

Rose still managed to enjoy himself on the trip despite being in charge of 41 students. Rose also wants students to know that there is still room for the Japan trip that students will be taking next summer. The classes of 2016, 2017 and 2018 will be allowed to participate. Contact Rose for additional information. variety of foods from Mediterranean, to Fish n’ Chips, to Indian food, all of which most the students thoroughly enjoyed.

At the end of the trip students took a nine hour flight back home.

Senior Andrew DiNatale who went on the trip said, “I had a great time on the trip. We did not get a lot of sleep, but we got to see tons of things. Two of my favorite things were seeing the Eiffel Tower and putting a lock on the Lock Bridge. I enjoyed London better than Paris because I knew the language and people were nicer there.”

Rose agreed that he liked London a bit better and said, “London people are more friendly and the culture there is great. The city is nice to visit and is easy to navigate. My personal favorite thing to see on the trip was the HMS Bellfast.” He also still managed to enjoy himself on the trip despite being in charge of 41 students. Rose also wants students to know that there is still room for the Japan trip that students will be taking next summer. The classes of 2016, 17 and 18 will be allowed to participate. Contact Rose for additional information.TT

Touring the Tower Of London

Architecture and art at the Palace of Versailles

The English Channel and the Tower Bridge

04.24.14 Tom Tom

29

Sports

“OKLAHOMA!” SWEEPS DOWN THE PLAINS OF ACHS

This year’s musical features talented student actors bringing the love story of “Oklahoma!” to the school’s stage.

LAUREN PONZETTI Reporter

A

ntioch Community High School’s spring musical is traveling to a place full of red dirt, wind and lots of tornadoes: “Oklahoma!” The play is open for public viewing from April 2427 in the ACHS Auditorium and stars senior Wesley Skym as Curly, junior Abby Shepherd as Laurey and senior James Novack as Jud Fry. “Oklahoma!” director Wanda Teddy said “Oklahoma!” is a “love story that doesn’t really make sense. There are multiple love stories that are being followed while, at the same time, Oklahoma is becoming a state.”

“Oklahoma!” is the story of two cowboys living in the Oklahoma territory during the early 1900’s who vie to win the heart of their similar love interest, Laurey Williams. Simultaneously, there is a second romance between Laurey’s friend Ado Annie and a peddler she has fallen in love with while her boyfriend was on a trip in Kansas City.

Skym said, “‘Oklahoma!’ is about a giant love triangle gone mad.”

He is particularly excited to see how the audience reacts to the end, which begs the question of who will end up with whom.

This classic musical is not expected to be well known by many young adults today, so ACHS bringing this production to the Antioch community is a great way to 30 Tom Tom 04.24.14

connect the older and younger generations in Antioch to Rodgers and Hammersterin classic.

Sophomore and show stage manager Josh Breezee said, “I’m excited for this production because it’s an older musical and my mom was involved with this musical when she was younger, so having an older musical is pretty fun to do the old dances and songs.”

“Oklahoma!” has one major change from any previous ACHS musical, and that is the orchestra. In “Oklahoma!”, the band will be sitting on the stage on hay bales performing as well as being dressed in costume. This change may take some getting used to as the orchestra is not used to being seen during the shows, but Teddy is confident that this adjustment will add some spice and originality to the musical.

Teddy said that, “‘Oklahoma!’ is different and fun. There is such a multitude of dance and music involved in the musical.”

“Oklahoma!” is said to be filled with a lot of intense scenes that will most definitely have the audience on the edge of their seats. This timeless tale of love is sure to be a hit among all ages, as it is going to certainly be a musical remembered for years to come.

The first showing of “Oklahoma!” will be at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium on April 24.

Be sure to attend if you would like to see how these crazy love triangles turn out. TT

Photos by Samuel Worden (Top) From left: Alex Fink, Avery Herbon, Zac Keller, Riley Beckett and John Jadrich get prepped for opening night of “Oklahoma!.” The first show will be tonight at 7 p.m.

(Bottom) “Oklahoma!” stars Abby Shepherd and Wesley Skym as Laurey and Curly. The two are involved in an onagain, off-again love affair that ends in marriage.

THE PRINCIPAL’S REPORT CARD

Even the principal is not exempt from receiving a report card this year, with grades from himself, students and staff.

KAREN PIMPO

STUDENT INTERACTIONS

Assignment Editor

R

eport card season is right around the corner, and we’ve got a special one to share.

Bradford Hubbard started as head principal at Antioch Community High School at the beginning of this school year. To commemorate his first year, select students and staff, along with his wife, have graded him on various qualities that define a great principal.

“It is by far my favorite part of the job, but something I never feel like I get enough of. I really enjoy my time with the student body.” ~ Bradford Hubbard “I love seeing him talking with students in the halls; he, along with the assistant principals, probably make up the most interactive administration we have had in our four years at ACHS.” ~ Sara Petty, senior and Tom Tom Editor-in-Chief

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS

“There are certain things that I prioritize. I am very organized in terms of where things are. In terms of the organizational skills with respect to time management—I think I need to continue to work on that.” ~ Bradford Hubbard “With the many hats that his job includes, he somehow manages to get it all completed. There are some times when it may be a little late, but he still realizes the importance of it and gets it accomplished.” ~ Jill Farrell, math teacher and department chair

SCHOOL SPIRIT

Hubbard’s Grade

B

Student Interactions

The Tom Tom’s Grade The Tom Tom’s Grade

A A

Student View: EIC Sara Petty Student View: EIC Sara Petty

Fashion Sense

Hubbard’sHubbard’s Grade Grade

B+ A- A-

A A

B+

The Tom’s Tom Tom’s Grade The Tom Grade Staff View: Audrey Nagel Audrey English teacherNagel

A-A-

FASHION SENSE

Organizational Skills

t

t

oior l Spiri hp hool S Sc Sc i

Hubbard’s Hubbard’sGrade Grade

C+ C+

The Tom Tom’s Grade The Tom Tom’s Grade

Hubbard’s Grade Hubbard’s Grade

B+B+ The Tom Tom’s Grade The Tom Tom’s Grade AStudent View: ANick Muskat Student View: Nick Muskat A-ACommittment to Family Committment to Family

A-

The Tom Tom’s Grade

A-

Guest View: Kelly Hubbard

D117 Superintendent: Jim McKay

A-

A

A

Veh icl e

Hubbard’s Grade Hubbard’s The Tom Tom’s GradeGrade

A

B+B+

Staff View: Jill Farrell Staff View: Jill Farrell

A

A

“I absolutely love this place, and so certainly I have a ton of school spirit. I probably don't participate in Friday spirit days as much as I should.” ~ Bradford Hubbard “I love how involved he is and how much school spirit he has, attending almost every sporting event.

Overall I believe Mr. Hubbard does a great job interacting with the students.” ~Nick Muskat, senior and Cardinal Crazies leader “Mr. Hubbard’s attire definitely screams principal. His sharp suit coats and matching ties, coupled with the occasional argyle sweater vest, say that he’s a man who wants the world to know he’s in charge.” ~ Audrey Nagel-Schoonmaker, English teacher

VEHICLE

“Mr. Hubbard’s vehicle is a gas guzzling giant!

While this reviewer only needs two wheels and muscles for energy, Mr. Hubbard’s family requires more. The choice of vehicle and color says ‘family man’ but does not scream ‘old man.’” ~ Stephen Rose, social studies teacher

COMMITTMENT TO FAMILY

“My professional life is very connected to who I am as a father. I think the one place I need to grow is finding time for them. But certainly I don't think that anyone could question my committment to my family.” ~ Bradford Hubbard “He is fiercely dedicated to making our lives as comfortable, safe, supportive and loving as he can.

I think it is partly because of this dedication that he feels a similar sense of commitment to his work at ACHS.” ~ Kelly Hubbard TT

Hubbard’s Grade

C

Staff View:Rose Stephan Hubbard’s Grade Stephen Rose The Tom Tom’s Grade The Tom Tom’s Grade

C

B-B-

B+B+

Graphic by Kyle Heywood

To finish this story and many more, visit TomTomNews.com 04.24.14 Tom Tom

31

Sports

Girls Soccer Varsity girls soccer battles against Lakes on Tues., May 6 at LCHS at 4:30 p.m. Be sure to come assist the girls and root them on as they play one of the most cempetitive and anticipated games of the season.

ANTIOCH VS LAKES: SPRING SPORTS EDITION The sister-school rivalry between Antioch and Lakes Community High Schools remains strong throughout the upcoming spring sports season.

ARLENNE LOZANO

Boys Tennis Help the tennis team destroy Lakes May 8 at LCHS at 4:30 p.m.

Assignment Editor

T

he school year is coming to an end so this is a great opportunity to get out and root for the school’s spring sports as they take on Lakes one last time. Sequoit softball, baseball, soccer, volleyball and track and field worked hard this season and plan on ending it with big wins. School spirit and support is always needed so the more the merrier. Gear up with your spirit wear and support your fellow Sequoits in their upcoming games against the rival: Lakes. TT

Softball

Competitiveness, determination and a fast pitch makes for the perfect softball team. April 28 and May 20 are varsity girl’s last games against Lakes.

Boys Track

Competition is on for ACHS’s boys track team.

Seniors Mike Dorosan, Tyler Thorn, Cameron Ayers and Daniel Lonski took roles as captains this year and ensure a positive future for the boys as they compete against Lakes on April 28 at 4:30 p.m.

Girls Track

32

Photos by Katie Holmes

Tom Tom 04.24.14

Hurdle over to the track April 28 at 4:30 p.m. to cheer on the girls track team. While the girls see some friendly faces from LCHS, the rivalry is still present. This meet will definitely be intense and entertaining for the crowd and the tracks stars.

Boys Volleyball Come see volleyball spike, serve, set and bump as they play Lakes one more time April 30 at LCHS at 6:00 p.m.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A DANCER

The mental and physical ability that is needed to be a dancer, is much more diffcult than it seems.

Sam Ditzenberger (Left) and Elizabeth Janito (Right) perform split leaps.

JOHNNY HORTON Reporter

I

t takes an athlete to dance, but an artist to be a dancer,”said Shanna Lafleur.

This quote can be seen on the jackets of the shine bright dancers, and is what the dancers strive for.

The beauty, elegance and grace of a princess; the balance and power of a gymnast; the drive and determination of a football player. All of these traits are complex on their own, but when combined have the power to create something more: a dancer. Although those traits are key components of a dancer, that is just the tip of the iceberg. A dancer must dedicate their life, along with their mind and body, to the sport to reach perfection.

I went to the Shine Bright Dance Studio located at 942 Tiffany Road in Antioch, Ill. to participate in an “All In One” class with three different levels: beginner, intermediate and the class I took, advanced. The class consisted of about 20 girls, ages 13 to 18. The class began with stretching, then progressed into a combination of turns and leaps.

When we started to stretch, I regretfully realized that the class would not be as easy as I thought it was going to be. I learned quickly that, in order to attempt to dance, you have to be extremely flexible. As we progressed along through the stretching, I felt my body slowly ripping in half. At one point the girls started to do splits, and trying my hardest to attempt it, I found myself in the most uncomfortable position of my life. As I sat there with my legs spread apart, the instructor came over and pulled my leg out. At that point I realized that I had officially been ripped in half. I learned that the dancers have to power through pain, and

Kristina Esdale (Left) Johnny Horton (Right) do high kicks during “across the floor.”

sacrifice their bodies.

Later on in the class we progressed into our “across the floor” portion. We started out with simpler technique, including chaine turns and battements. While the girls began to twirl and kick across the floor with grace, I began to fumble and bumble my way across the floor. The class then progressed to more advanced moves with variations of different leaps. As the girls jumped through the air with power and ease, I found my self doing exactly the same thing, but with a lot less coordination. It was very difficult to try and keep up with them, especially because the amount of experience it takes to preform the moves was beyond my ability. All of the dancers had the determination and drive to make each jump and turn look flawless. I had drive and determination to be able to actually walk out of the studio in one piece; I seemed to fail at that already.

The last thing we did I thought was the most difficult. The class came center floor and did pirouettes and fouettés . We began with a single turn, and that was as far as I could go. The girls progressed to doubles, triples and even quads. It looked as easy as spinning around in circles like when you were a little kid. However, I learned each turn requires great balance and the ability to “spot” by whipping your head around to the front each time to prevent dizziness. I got dizzy.

Overall I learned that it takes dedication, soul and (some) pain and suffering to be a dancer, along with knowledge and great coordination. I left the class tired and sore, realizing that dancing is not as easy as they make it look. I have a completely new respect for what dancers can do, especially since I was able to see first hand that I cannot do much of what they can. Even with all of this pressure the dancers are able to keep cool and composed in order to shine bright. Me, not so much. At least I tried. TT

Photos by Nathaniel Alexander Johnny Horton undergoes rigorous dance training at the Shine Bright Dance Studio.

Although the women make their moves seem effortless and graceful, Horton learns the true power and concentration it takes to be a dancer. Above, Horton is stretching to prepare for one of the most intense workouts he’s experienced.

04.24.14 Tom Tom

33

ONE|SEQUOIT

JOE REISER The purpose of the ONE|SEQUOIT Project is to display how Antioch Community High School has impacted current and graduated students’ lives through education, student life, athletics and community service. This project is our attempt to tell a story of ACHS through the lens of its students—past, present and future. These stories are not told by Tom Tom journalists. Instead, they are told by the Sequoits themselves. It is their words, their story and their experience. They are ACHS, and together they are ONE|SEQUOIT.

Senior Joe Reiser has been playing basketball for 8 years and believes that you should always try your hardest, even when no one is watching. He constantly challenges himself and this has been apparent in his service to both the school and the community. His passion for athletics and his desire to succeed in school make him the focus of our April issue’s ONE|SEQUOIT Project.

EDUCATION AND STUDENT LIFE I have five AP classes this year and it’s a lot of work that you have to put in because they’re run like college classes so the teachers expect you to put a lot in outside of school.

When you add them all on top of each other it gets even more difficult. However, I like to think my work ethic is one of my strongest qualities. Before you could get by with being smart, but now you have to really work at it. This year, I’m in International Club and Psychology Club and my sophomore year I was in the Rube Goldberg club. As a freshman, I didn’t really get involved in a lot of clubs or activities, but now that I’m a senior and I am involved in a couple, I kind of wish I started earlier. My advice is that it’s never too late to start something new.

ATHLETICS I played football, basketball and track my freshman year so I did three sports my first year. Then I decided I liked basketball the most so I decided to focus on that. I’m not really naturally gifted at it so I’ve had to work pretty hard at it.

Throughout sophomore and junior year I went to training every day during the offseason and I’ve put a lot of time into it. I just really enjoy it as a sport. I also take a lot of pride in representing my school and I think that one of the best ways to do that is on a sports field or in a gym. I feel like when I’m out there playing, I can represent my school and show how much dedication I’ve put in. I’ve learned a lot about leadership through basketball because I was captain this past year, and I learned what a good leader can do and what he can do to motivate other people and how that can have a positive effect on the entire team.

SERVICE I’ve gotten a lot of my NHS hours through the Junior Sequoits program which is the sports program for the little kids.

I’ve volunteered at the food pantry and last year we did a big fundraiser for them. It’s really rewarding to volunteer, but I don’t do it for myself, I do it to help the community because I know that there are people less fortunate than me who could use a little boost. Once they get that, it can help them find success. I feel like it’s important to give back to the community of Antioch because it’s done so much for me. TT

34

Tom Tom 04.2414

Open for Season!

Come in and bring your appetite!

Antioch Dairy Queen

Hours:11-9:30 Daily

966 Main St. Antioch, IL 847-305-8383