Blue & Gold, May 2014

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BIG PICTURE

FEATURE

Friday, May 23, 2014 Volume 91, Issue 9 1200 Broad Ave., Findlay, OH 45840

Foreign language teachers discuss study abroad page 6

NEWS

FHS Arts

Senior

farewells

As the spring semester draws to a close, students in all grades were able to showcase their artistic and musical talents in things like the art show and Cabaret.

After many years of late nights and proofing, the current class of seniors bid farewell to Blue & Gold after years in the program.

page 8

WEATHER TODAY Partly Cloudy High: 70 Low: 52

SPORTS National softball team to visit

page 4

sophomore Laura Schuck

SUNDAY Cludy High: 81 Low: 61

TOMORROW Sunny High: 75 Low: 54

page 7

INDEX Editorial...............2 Entertainment....3 News/Feature.....4

Feature................5 Feature................6 Sports..................7 Big Picture..........8

take a

quick look hats off

Barkey bests students simultaneously On Wednesday, history teacher David Barkey challenged several students to a game of chess. In this activity, he competed against all of the challengers at the exact same time.

5

things that make you look smart today

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Aluminum was once more valuable than gold.

Napoleon III had his entire set of fine cutlery made of it.

Within 5 minutes of waking from a dream you forget half its contents.

Within 10 ,90% of the dream is forgotten.

Since honey does not spoil you could technically eat honest that was 3000 or more years old.

New security entrances to be constructed n By Kaitlin Coward

As the number of school shootings across the country continues to run rampant, the administration has taken new security measures into their own hands.

Over the summer, RCM construction will begin building a new set of security entrances throughout the building in order to monitor who comes and goes throughout the school day.

“We live in an era that is very different from then the school was built,” principal Victoria Swartz said.

“There are multiple entrances to the school, and it’s a challenge to keep track of where everyone is supposed to be.

Another key feature of this new plan is the mandated use of lanyard ID’s.

“Students will need to wear their ID’s around their necks or shoulders,” Swartz said. “We will work on the procedure to train students, and we will not punish students for forgetting to wear them; they will only get in trouble if there are instances of insubordination.

“With student willingness to make this change, it should all run smoothly” Students like the idea of a new entrance but think the lanyards are a little over the top.

“The lanyards are inconvenient and impractical,”

sophomore Katie Keys said. “You should just be accountable for having your ID on you at all times.

“The use of lanyards feels too much like a tagging system and an overuse of security. It’s also just annoying.”

This security entrance is designed to keep unwanted intruders out of the building.

“The Security entrances will benefit the high school in several ways. There will be a secured entry into the school and everyone entering will have to walk by the manned security office,” Head of Security Mike Martien said. “He will be watching for those not wearing ID’s and monitoring what students and staff are doing.

“Once first period has started, the doors will be locked.

The officer will be able to unlock the doors by the push of a button. The office will have windows facing several different directions in a strategic way that will allow us to monitor the outside of the building for any intruders or suspicious activity also.”

Though the school has never had any major attacks, the goal is to stop the threat before it starts.

“After major instances of violence at schools like Sandy Hook Elementary, the state of Ohio has made changes to security protocol,” Swartz said. “We want to be able to do everything we can to stop or prevent crises before they happen

in case they ever would.”

The new facilities will resemble that of the elementary schools, and they have several key features.

“We will be able to better control the access into the school. Our officers will still be able to change their duty stations during the day while maintaining the security of the building.

With the way that the school was built back in the early 1960’s, security was not as big of an issue as it is now. We have approximately 1700 teenagers in the building at any one time. We have about 200 staff personnel also in the building.

The main priority for security officers is to protect students in a safe learning environment.

“With the violence that has occurred in other schools over the years, our community has basically mandated that we do the best possible job to keep our students, staff, and building as safe as we can,” Martien said. “It is an ever-changing process and we will continue to make our building as secure as possible when resources become available.

“This also teaches the students some ‘crime-prevention’ techniques that when they graduate and go off to college or work, that they need to be aware of their surroundings and what they can do to keep themselves safe.”

Photo

rshall

Ma

by Tess

The most commonly used letter in English is “e.”

The number of schools planning to implement a formal dress code has doubled since 2000.

news around the country

Radical mayor voices controversial opinion Mayor Cameron Hamilton of Porterville, California is facing backlash for suggestong that bullying victims should grow up and fight for themselves.

Misinterpretation in Iran causes trouble Six Iranian youth were arrested for making an “obscene” fan video of Pharell WIlliams song Happy. blast from the past

Chess extravaganza 1977 Czech chess player Vlastimil Hort plays 201 games simultaneously only losing ten.

Students react to aftermath of Tank Top Tuesday n By Kaitlin Coward

After tank tops took the school by storm last Tuesday, participants in #tanktopmassacre2014 are now facing the consequences of their actions.

This protest has caused administration to find ways to punish those involved.

“After talking with Dr. Wittwer, we are treating it sort of like a senior prank,” principal Victoria Swartz said. “We tried not to be punitive, and many students who were initially disciplined complied. Most of the problem started with insubordination, like those students who changed into a shirt, but then walked out and had another tank top in their locker to change into.

“There were also some very vicious things written about administrators that escalated the situation even more.”

Another source of issue were the comments made on sites like Twitter.

“It’s good that students can come together as a whole, but they definitely could have picked a better issue than tank tops,” junior Rashara Mason said. “It was fine on Twitter when people were just making critiques until somebody started using personal attacks.”

Some students disagree with the punishment for posts and pictures on Twitter.

“I don’t really understand how you can punish people based on tweets,” junior Chase Hoerig said. “They really just want the ability to exercise their authority over us.”

The protests have drawn many comparisons to the hand holding ones in previous years.

“This whole issue reminded us a lot of the hand holding

protest a couple years ago,” Swartz said. “We already have a fairly liberal dress code for such a conservative community, but maybe we need to outline the rules more clearly in the student handbook.”

Some students would like these rules to be altered in order to better their learning environment in the heat.

“Students should have the right to show their shoulders because honestly they aren’t that attractive, and it is hot outside,” junior Jake Brock said. “I hope that next year the administration considers changing the rule.”

If students want to make a better-prepared effort, they can take the issue to or make a presentation for Swartz.

“All of us are completely okay with listening to the arguments for a change in dress code, and I will be willing to listen to student viewpoints on the topic,” Swartz said. “The main reason we have the rule is because in the workplace, even at fast food restaurants, people will have to wear a uniform or some kind of business attire that is similar to our dress code.

“I don’t like having to take students out of class because I am a firm believer that you need to be here so that we can educate you, but we need to make sure students are following the rules.”

Many students have now accepted the rule and have stopped participating in Tank Top Tuesday after harsher punishments have been warned.

“They were a little bit harsh with the punishment, but at the same time it is a rule in the handbook,” Mason said. “You sign a waiver at the beginning of the year saying that you will follow all of these rules, so you need to accept it.”

Fight back

Posters including #tanktopmassacre 2014 and Save the Tanks littered the halls last Tuesday. These signs were just one of the many ways students expressed their feelings on the dress code. photo by Santo Rossilli

blue & gold

friday, may 23, 2014

EDITORIAL

2

Staff policy

OUR VIEW

Blue & Gold is a monthly student publication for the students of Findlay High School.

Blue & Gold is a public forum which is funded by advertising.

OUR VIEW

Yearly changes cause too much instability

As the spring semester comes to a close, the talk of new rules and regulations of the coming year has taken the school by storm.

Between new administrative policies and absurd rumors that spread like wildfire, the students have an opinion and wish to be heard.

As students learned about the new doors that will be installed, many varying opinions have been taken.

While the addition will certainly increase the safety of the students, it was an argument that the door was too expensive, keeping in mind the economic state of our school system.

This argument seems irrelevant, however, when acknowledging the massive amounts of violence happening in today’s schools.

Without more security in the school than there currently is, the high school will be unprepared for any outside attacks.

By adding a new, more secure entryway to the school, people entering and exiting the building can be more closely monitored, and a safe atmosphere more easily maintained.

Despite the various opinions of the better uses the money could have gone towards, the new doors will keep the security tighter and the students at less of a risk.

Another new directive that will be enforced is the expectation for students to have their student ID showing all times.

The incentive is meant to make any intruders stick out from the crowd, so that they can be pinpointed and questioned.

When a student forgets or loses their ID, they will be directed to immediately receive a new student ID for a fee.

This brings about the question, however, of how everyone in the school can really be expected to abide by this ruling.

Whether it is due lack of funds or a pure disregard for the rules, there are certain people who will not, under any circumstances, follow this procedure.

Furthermore, simply having an ID hanging around one’s neck does not necessarily mean that they are attendees of Findlay High School.

There will be no way to constantly scrutinize the pictures of each student to ensure that the face of the person wearing the ID matches the one pictured.

If the school is worried about young adults who have either graduated or do not attend FHS slipping in, there is no way to guarantee that they won’t just have a friend give them theirs.

Letters to the editor As an open forum for students, letters to the editor are welcomed by the staff, but we request that they be 300 words or less due to lack of space. All letters must be signed. Blue & Gold staff reserves the right to edit letters without changing the meaning. Letters may be dropped in room 286.

Staff editorials All editorials without a byline reflect at least two/ thirds opinion of the Blue & Gold staff but are not necessarily the opinion of the administration.

Contact us Blue & Gold 1200 Broad Avenue Findlay, Ohio 45840 (419)-427-5474

About us

If students end up with an abundance of ID’s because of the constant trips to the office to receive a new one, there is no way to control ID’s getting in the hands of non-FHS students.

Moreover, if an armed intruder were to come into the school, a missing ID tag certainly wouldn’t stop them from creating a disruption.

Despite whether or not the ID tags will create a safer environment, the security of the school will definitely be heightened in the future, aided by the limitations now placed on academic release.

Now, instead of students being permitted to leave the building during their study halls if their grades meet a certain standard, only seniors will be given the privilege.

In addition to this, only students with first and eighth period study halls will be eligible to apply for academic release.

The new rule seems reasonable, when acknowledging that academic release seems to have turned into something that it was not intended for.

Having students come and go in the middle of the day provides easier access to the school for people who are not students, and more opportunities for students to skip class or go home at their leisure.

However, academic release be available solely to seniors, however, also seems to be slightly illogical.

If any restrictions were to be placed on who can and cannot have academic release, it should be by grade point average or attendance record.

While some underclassmen that do not drive cannot benefit from an academic release, there are other non-seniors who would be grateful for an extra hour of sleep or permission to leave

n

override positive

By Kaitlin Coward

As I sit here at my desk on the final night I will ever go to print for a high school newspaper, I’ve been reflecting on my past three years on the staff of Blue & Gold.

Though I keep procrastinating the completion of the article, it isn’t due to senioritis; it’s due to the fact that it’s hard to formulate into words the amount of appreciation I have for this program and anything anyone has to do with it.

After taking the class on an impulse freshman year, I gained an invaluable amount of knowledge just from one period a day.

There isn’t a class you could take that would better teach you communications skills or how to succeed in the real world.

Not only did I get the chance to work with some amazing young and evolving people

who ended up being some of my best friends, but I also had the chance to work with two of the funniest and most dedicated advisers.

These people made possible interesting and MY VIEW important stories, along with my ability to travel all the way across the country to Seattle for a journalism convention.

So, as people finish the last proofing of their pages, I’ll draw my so-called ‘last words’ to a close by thanking all of the people I’ve worked with for such a great opportunity that will give me success both now and in the future.

kate’s corner

Dear editor, Many students here at FHS complain about a lot of stuff from the bathrooms to the parking lot to lunch. This isn’t even including how crazy scheduling is.

Not every high school is perfect, but it the list of negative qualities here at FHS getting to be too long?

First off, the bathrooms have a long way to go. The stalls in most bathrooms are so short that you can see your fellow bathroom buddy in the next stall.

The sinks are also a problem in most bathrooms because some of the faucets don’t even work, and the old soap dispensers are still on the wall even though they probably haven’t been used in a decade.

Some students also find that the knobs to turn on the faucet are unsanitary not to mention the

water that actually comes out of the pipes.

Now the student parking lot can be completely ridiculous at times.

A lot of students start to complain about the parking lot during the winter due to the snow and ice that rarely gets taken care of.

Some students even find the fact that we have to pay for parking ridiculous.

From the student parking lot to the drop off area in the front of the school, this area has a lot of heavy traffic and needs more work.

Even though this area has been moderately upgraded, there are still many areas that could use improvement.

When you’re at school almost everybody is looking towards lunch.

Understandably, it’s a time to relax, socialize and eat what you want.

Though recently it’s impossible with the time we’re given, and the food is not very appetizing.

As you can see, Findlay High School has a long way to go before people are actually happy with the high school itself.

junior Amanda Roberts

LETTERS EDITOR Do students consider the repercussions of their social media posts? to the

YOUR VIEW

sophomore

“Those who atAvrey Roberts tacked the administration didn’t care about the repercussions. On the other hand, those that were protesting recognized the repercussions and were willing to accept them.”

senior Geoff Hill

“I don’t think students were thinking about repercussions because I don’t think they knew there were repercussions.”

“Most people understand what they’re saying most of the time, but a lot of people miss some things and some people miss a lot of things.”

senior Aaron Lewis

junior Sam Majors

“Would there be any repercussions for putting my honest opinion in this newspaper?” senior Clay Robertson

The Thestaff staff Kaitlin Coward Editor-in-chief Adam Beaty Sports editor Tess Marshall Emily Schaefer Feature co-editors Catalina Petrescu Entertainment Editor Jayden Egler Logan Harris Tess Marshall Photographers

to the

Graduating editor reflects LETTERS EDITOR on journalism experiences Downsides to school

school early.

In retrospect, attending school in the morning to sit in a first period study hall cannot possibly be beneficial, and having the option of coming to school a period later for all students would only keep students more well rested and focused.

While it is hard for teenagers to remain focused in any setting, giving them more options to personalize their schedule would be appreciated and well received.

Overall, the 2014 fall semester will certainly bring changes, but it is nothing that the students of FHS are not used to at this point.

Having four different schedules in four years, and constantly taking away liberties given to the students cannot positive be for anyone.

Constantly making change and taking away privileges not only requires students to alter what they are used to each year, but it also limits their feeling of freedom.

Blue & Gold is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, Quill & Scroll and the Ohio Scholastic Media Association.

“In the moment, students are more focussed on what they’re fighting for rather than what is being said.”

“Most people just don’t think that they’re going to get caught.”

freshman Alex Wilkings

junior Marissa Roderick

Santo Rossilli TJ Stennett Business Editors Noah Keppers Online Editor Jordan Amann Meghan Betscher Jayden Egler Cheyenne Garnes Colton Hamilton Meghan Kirton Aaron Long Tim Pollele Santo Rossilli Reporters Madi Nuhfer Artist Andy Cantrell Adviser

blue & gold

friday, may 23, 2014

3

ENTERTAINMENT

The Hit List 4

Transformers: Age of Extinction

A man and his daughter unknowningly unleash a war between the decepticons and autobots in this fourth movie in the Transformers series.

5

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

The humans that survived the ape apocalypse wage a war on the remaining simeons. The battle begins July 11.

1

The Fault in Our Stars

Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Augustus (Ansel Elgort) wandered into each other’s lives while meeting at a cancer support group. From that moment on forward their story blooms into a unique romance. Based off of the John Green novel, this movie is sure to be full of heartbreak and beauty.

7

Maleficent

This film is a retelling of the villainous side of Disney’s 1959 animated film Sleeping Beauty.

Lazaretto Jack White’s much anticipated second solo album will be released June 10.

A Million Ways to Die in the West

10 The Strain

Directed by Guillermo del Toro this drama follows the course of a vampiric disease that takes on New York City.

The old west meets comedy in this new Seth McFarlane movie. Starring McFarlane himself in his first live action role and a plethora of other great comedians like Neil Patrick Harris and Sarah Silverman, this is sure to be a great summer comedy.

Top Six Summer Movies

9

Wish I Was Here

1. Jaws (1974)

2. Stand by Me (1987)

3. The Sandlot (1993)

4. The Goonies (1985)

5. Family Vacation (1983)

6. Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

This indie flick follows a man searching for what it means to be an actor, father, and husband.

2

Guardians of the Galaxy After stealing a prized orb from the evil Ronan, Peter Quill finds himself in the middle of a manhunt. Quill then teams up with a rag-tag group to save the galaxy and keep order. Guardians of the Galaxy is sure to be a major summer blockbuster.

3 X by Ed Sheeran

New songs like Don’t have revealed a slightly different sound than what Sheeran is known for, however the themes still seem to stick to around the same territory. imdb.com, www.filmofilia.com, huffingtonpost.com, righteousfilm.com, www.filmequals.com,

movieinsider.com, jaciburton.com, wunderground.com, musicboxtheatre.com, imjustsaying.info, comingsoon.net

From movies to music we tell you the good, the bad and the ugly

MOVIES Neighbors bring fresh ideas The Amazing Spider-Man 2 falls By Catalina Petrescu Neighbors short compared to predecessor Title: Starring: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron n

n By Catalina Petrescu

Title: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Starring: Emma Stone, Andrew Garfield and Jamie Foxx Plot: The sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man combines a plot of romance and action. Spiderman has to fend off more Marvel villains like Electro, the Goblin and Rhino.

Why see it: The new Amazing Spider-Man 2 is somewhat entertaining, but due to Sony‘s lack of funding, the effects were cheap, the villains thrown together and the screenplay not as smooth as the first one.

The chemistry between Stone and Garfield is better than ever, calling for another small plotline within the Spiderman epic. This film pales in comparison to the other Spider-Mans, including the Tobey Maguire ones. It also fails to reach the level of excellence that films like Captain America: the Winter Soldier and Thor: the Dark World whipped out earlier this season.

With the introduction of so many different characters and miniplots, this rendition is too busy. Without a direct storyline the secrets of the Osborn Corporation, Peter and Gwen’s relationship drama and the various villains all intertwine, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is not necessarily worth that $9.75 ticket.

Grade: B-

Godzilla teaches deep lesson n By Santo Rossilli

Title: Godzilla Starting: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor Johnson and Godzilla Plot: When two giant monsters attack the world, Earth must call upon an ancient monster to restore balance before human kind goes extinct.

Why See it: Godzilla does many great things. It focuses a lot on human aspects as well as the monsters. It really gives you an emotional connection to these characters where in past Godzilla films, the human characters were just throw aways. The monsters themselves just look outright amazing and you really feel the size of them, especially while they are fighting. The best feature of this film is its portrayal of the message that no matter how strong man becomes nature will always control us. The story itself is simple but gets the job done. Godzilla is a must-see epic for all movie fans.

Grade: A+

Plot: Zac Efron’s fraternity moves into a residential neighborhood right next door to Seth Rogen and his family. The frat and the family feud over noise, cops, and outrageous parties.

Why see it: Neighbors brings a fresh idea into the boring comedic world.

As Efron and Rogen face off, the audience is enthralled not only by the funny parts but by the film itself. Despite being a comedy, Neighbors is a pretty decent movie, showcasing the message that its okay to have fun in college but that you do have to study to get ahead at the end of that four years. A sour note on the comedy is that the trailer relayed most of the funny scenes. If you came in with the expectation of a lot more humor than what’s projected in the trailer, you spend a good deal waiting for more. All in all, Neighbors is entertaining thanks to the charming cast performance and well-written script that relate to both young and mature.

Grade: A-

TV Lurid classics inspire new Showtime hit Penny Dreadful n By Cheyenne Garnes

Title: Penny Dreadful Staring: Josh Harnett, Timothy Dalton and Eva Green Plot: It is Victorian England, and Sir Malcolm (Dalton) is searching for a cure to the illness his daughter Mina has contracted. He puts together a team of an expert gunman (Harnett), a fortuneteller who was close to his daughter (Green) and several other characters from rather lurid publicdomain classics.

Why see it: Fans of classic literature will understand and appreciate the show more than those who have not bothered to read the books that inspire Penny Dreadful. For example the character of Mina is based off of Mina Harker from Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which allows an insight regarding her illness, while some of the group members consist of Mary Shelley’s Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Treadaway) and Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray (Carney). But more than that, Penny Dreadful is surprisingly well done. In contrast to other television shows that try to retell classic stories, but instead ruin them, this show depicts the backstory of the characters, keeping them true and original, but then creates an entirely different situation, pulling it all together in an American Horror Story meets League of Extraordinary Gentlemen sort of way.

Grade: A

Music

Turn Blue has garage rock shift n By Tess Marshall

Album: Turn Blue Artist: The Black Keys Sound: Rock Last Release: El Camino Why buy it: While The Black Keys have been in existence for some time, they have just recently broken into the mainstream. Their newer albums have delivered a sound that proves to be friendlier to everyday listeners. However, Turn Blue brings back some of their heavier roots, including more lengthy guitar solos and a deeper meaning to their lyrics. They have moved away from their recent classification of “Indie Rock” more towards their original label of “Garage Rock”. The fuller sound draws parallel to artists of many years ago like Jimi Hendrix or Led Zeppelin. While The Black Keys will certainly remain at the top of the charts, it is refreshing to see a group that moves away from the sound that ultimately brought about their popularity. The band will undoubtedly maintain their massive following despite their slight style shift, and introduce their fans to a more mature sound.

Download this: Fever Grade: A+

Coldplay creates a mellower sound n By Catalina Petrescu

Album: Ghost Stories Artist: Coldplay Sound: Soft rock, alternative Last release: Mylo Xyloto Why buy it: Coldplay’s new album is interesting in the sense that vocalist Chris Martin finally got his band mates to share their song ideas, so he is not the sole contributor on this album. As a whole it brings a more mellow vibe than Mylo Xyloto did. It is less forceful on the ears and at first listen may seem a tad bit slow and potentially boring but after the first listen most of the songs are charming enough for more listens. Ghost Stories seems to expound upon a theme of love. Heavily acoustic with soft vocals, it can get redundant when it seems like most of the songs are just their title repeated every so often. Although this album explores the different ideas of the band members, it is just a soft mix of ideas that are neither memorable nor significant. At least 3 songs on the album are completely instrumental, adding to its experimental value but subtracting from its ear appeal. Ghost Stories is not worth listening to more than a song or two and is highly subjective to a softer crowd.

Grade: C-

dlo23, g &2014 eul friday, may

blue & gold

NEWS/FEATURE

4

blue gold seniors’ final bow &

Staff members reminisce about their memories, experiences

Awards and distinctions won by this year’s seniors include:

NSPA Pacemaker Award

OSMA All Ohio Newspaper OSMA Superior Ratings in: -Front Page Layout -Editorial Layout -Entertainment Layout -Feature Layout -Sports Layout -Editorial Writing -News Feature Writing -Review Writing OSMA Excellent Ratings in: -Commentary Writing -Editorial Writing -Sports Layout -Feature Writing -Feature Layout

Name: Kaitlin Coward Involvement in paper: current editor-in-chief, news editor 2011-2013 How long in journalism: four years College plans: I plan to attend Ohio University, where I will study both journalism and potentially another subject as a part of their Honors Tutorial College.

Why you chose to be a part of this program: I kind of took the class on a whim freshman year. I had always loved writing, and I thought it would be a good way to get involved in school programs. I never expected to be invested in it as I have become over the past four years.

What the paper has meant to you: The paper has been a large part of my entire high school career from interviews to late nights in room 286.

I have made some of my best friends through this class, and I have learned things that I never would have from other courses here at the high school. I have had the opportunity to help voice student opinions and make a statement about important issues. I cannot thank all the people I have worked with over the past few years, and I can’t imagine my high school career without Blue & Gold.

Name: Emily Schaefer Involvement in paper: current co-feature editor, reporter 2011-2012 How long in journalism: three years College plans: I will be attending The Ohio State University. I am majoring in Business with a focus in Marketing and I have been accepted into the Honors program.

Why you chose to be a part of this program: I always enjoyed writing in middle school and it seemed like a fun activity to get involved in when I started high school. I was surprised to discover that reporting had a very different writing style, but I liked the computer skills I learned through this class.

What the paper has meant to you: Blue & Gold can be time-consuming and stressful, but it’s also been one of the best classes I’ve taken.

I’ve learned so much, from designing a layout for a page to writing a story on an issue and it’s an experience I will never forget.

Name: Adam Beaty Involvement in paper: sports editor How long in journalism: four years College plans: I plan to attend Owens Community College for two years then transfer to the University of Toledo.

Why you chose to be a part of this program: I only took the class as something to put down on my freshman class registration. Unlike many of the people that dropped out of the class, I stuck with it due to a sense of challenge from Mr. McGonnell. That challenge, whether it was real or not, made me want to stay.

What the paper has meant to you: Over the past four years, my perception of the paper has changed. You may look at it as any other club here at the high school but it is nothing like a club. Room 286 is a work place or as close to one as you will get here. It’s about working as a team to get it done. Personally, I am not pursing a journalism major, but the paper has taught me about how the real world works.

Name: Catalina Petrescu Involvement in paper: entertainment editor How long in journalism: four years College plans: I plan to attend University of Cincinnati where I will be studying political science and international business.

Why you chose to be a part of this program: I thought I could be an asset with my writing skills but boy was I surprised to find out that English and journalism do not follow the same writing guidelines. Instead of story writing I focus on reviews and I found a strength in design.

What the paper has meant to you: Blue & Gold has been a lot of fun for me; I’ve met some incredible people by being on its staff and I’m grateful for the experience to make something every month that is a direct collaboration of hard work between my peers and I.

Name: Colton Hutchison Involvement in paper: current photo editor How long in journalism: three years College plans: I plan to attend Kent State University and major in Business Management.

Why you chose to be a part of this program: I took this class freshman year honestly hoping for an easy A, and I just kind of wanted to be in the paper. I never saw myself being a part of it for three years and putting so much time into it week after week.

What the paper has meant to you: This paper has meant a lot to me over the years. I have become close with a lot of people because of Blue & Gold that I know I would have never met if I was not on the staff. I have also taken away skills I haven’t learned in any other class, like how to interview and how to design a page all by myself. I am going to miss the program next year, but it definitely will help me as I move forward in my life.

Get all your graduation needs only at Walmart

1161 Trenton Ave, Findlay Findlay, Ohio

senior Catalina Petrescu

Name: Logan Harris Involvement in paper: photographer, reporter How long in Journalism: one year College plans: I plan to attend Owens Community College and study psychology and child education.

Why you chose to be apart of this program: My two favorite things to do are Photography and writing so I thought it would make for an enjoyable senior year. I wanted to use the class to improve the things I enjoy doing most.

What the paper has meant to you: Being a part of the newspaper helped in other classes as well as being a fun class to be a part of. I learned more about my writing and detail on photography than I knew before, and I made new friends with the students in the class. I liked being part of such a close and helpful group of people. Senior year would not have been the same without Blue & Gold.

COMING SOON

Students to help at summer camps n By Noah Keppers

Findlay High School students will collaborate with teachers from schools across the district as teaching assistants and counselors at two camps for students in grades one through five.

Camp Discovery aims to foster exploration and curiosity in campers by teaching them about science and technology, while Camp World’s goal is to encourage cultural awareness through instruction about foreign countries.

“I really like working with the kids, other FHS students, and adults running the camp,” junior Bethany Giedeman, a Camp World counselor, said. “My favorite part is definitely getting so close to the kids. They’re exhausting but they’re very sweet and a lot of fun.”

Camp Director Judy Withrow especially enjoys organizing the camps because they contribute to young students’ interests.

“At the end, we’re all absolutely exhausted, but we’re all so happy too,” Withrow said.

“We’ve all bonded and shared something that is whole and dynamic and helpful to those children, and it’s really a good feeling.”

Tournament will honor L-B student n By Colton Hamilton

At age 16, former Liberty Benton student Zach Morgan lost his life in a car accident. In memory of Morgan’s admirable character, The Zach Morgan Memorial Soccer Tournament was created and will be held on June 14 this year.

The money raised from this now annual tournament benefits students of Hancock County by providing funding for the Zach Morgan Memorial Youth Leadership Fund.

Though it is too late to register to play, the tournament is still in need of volunteers.

“The positions that are available are field marshal, runner, setup, and tear down,” Junior Erin Bosse said.

To learn more about the tournament and sign up as a volunteer, visit zachmorgansoccer.com.

Speakers selected for graduation n By Aaron Long

Valedictorian, salutatorian and three other seniors will speak at graduation on May 31 at the University of Findlay’s Koehler Center. The three seniors will be Trent Schroeder, Hannah Warren and Rachel Knopf.

Schroeder’s speech will assume a retrospective outlook.

“My speech just talks about all the things that we’ve learned in high school that haven’t been for a grade” Schroeder said. “I mention that high school has been about more than grade cards.

Also I talk about how the best years of our lives are yet to come, and how we will be learning even more.”

Other speeches will look towards the future, including Knopf’s speech titled “Changes and New Beginnings.”

Hannah Warren’s speech has a similar focus.

“It is about how changing the world isn’t necessarily a literal term; it can also be as simple as being the first one in your family to go to college or cheering someone up,” Warren said.

“You’re changing the world.”

blue & gold

friday, may 23, 2014

FEATURE

5

Retiring teachers reflect on past Maureen Gannon

Lori Faeth

n By Tess Marshall

n By Jordan Amann

Where else have you taught?

How long have you been teaching?

I taught in the Columbus public schools for many years. However, I have worked at many schools in Findlay. I taught at Donnel, Glenwood and Central. I have taught many different types of classes relating to political science including geography, government, and history. I even did my student teaching in sociology!

I have been teaching for 30 years.

What got you interested in your subject?

My first job out of college, I was hired for a special education position, but was not certified to teach it, so I had to go back and become certified. After teaching special education for one year, I knew it was what I wanted to teach. I absolutely love it.

How long have you been teaching?

What is your favorite memory at FHS?

Some great memories I have are seeing Dr. Crates (the former principal) walk down the hallway with blue hair and gold shoes during spirit week and the amazing behavior and respect I recieved from the students and the administration when I first started to work here.

However, the overall laughter and learning that occurrs in the classrooms is what I will always treasure.

I have been teaching for 36 years.

What got you interested in your subject?

I took a Political Science course in my first year at The Ohio State University, and I fell in love with it. I thought about going to law school, but I decided against it.

What is your favorite memory at FHS?

I love the memories I have of going on trips with students. I have attended many political rallies with my former students, to see political figures like Sarah Palin, Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush. We actually saw George H. W. Bush in Findlay at the Elk Lodge, and I have very fond memories of getting free food from Wilson’s and spending quality time with my students.

What will you miss about the students?

I really enjoy looking back at students I had many years ago. I actually had Mr. Cantrell as a student at Glenwood!

What do you plan to do after you retire?

I want to spend more time with my family and grandchildren. I also hope to live in Washington, D.C for awhile.

What will you miss about being a teacher?

I will miss the students. I love seeing how their minds work. They keep me engaged in my subject by having discussions and getting their opinion, because it is many times so different from the outlook of adults.

How has teaching changed since you began?

Technology has changed everything. I remember the messy old mimiograph machines I used to use. Now there are so many tools to use. My smartboard has made my classroom more interactive, and sharing current events and other content with the students is much easier.

What is your favorite thing about the school?

When my daughter was young, she was diagnosed with cancer. Both the staff and my students were extraoridinarily supportive. We had to take her to Columbus once a week for chemotherapy, and the other teachers helped me out by watching over my other children and being generally supportive. However, my daughter has grown up and is now working on Capital Hill!

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What has changed since you began teaching?

There are so many more federal regulations now compared to when I began teaching. The teacher has lost a lot of its autonomy as far as academic freedom in what and how they teach.

Kathy Lyon n By Santo Rossilli

How long have you been teaching at FHS? I have been teaching here for 28 years.

What is something interesting you have done in your career?

I spent four years in Spain. I loved seeing the country.Traveling abroad is something that I would recommend that everyone do when they are young.

What made you interested in your subject?

When I was 10, my mother worked for a hispanic pathologist.

What is your favorite part about being a teacher?

I enjoy when former students come back and tell me that they are majoring or minoring in Spanish because of my influence.

What has changed since you began teaching?

The state is much more involved in the school systems and passes a lot of regulations pertaining to the teachers and students.

What do you plan to do when you retire?

I hope to travel and spend more time with my grandchildren.

2:19 PM

Teachers share plans for summer, work outside of school n By Aaron Long

Summer vacation is approaching fast and students aren’t the only ones One of these induviduals is math teacher Jeff Harper.

HOTHEADBURRITOS.COM making plans.

“We do custom house remodeling,” Harper said. “We can add a second Teachers need something to occupy the summer break just as much as floor to a one-story house and do other types of additions.” students and some chose to spend the warm months supplementing their Harper has various reasons for deciding to work on building construcannual income. tion during his summer break.

One man who does just this is biology teacher Mike Ruthenberg, who “I’m a teacher,” Harper said. “We only get paid nine months a year. I spends his time off painting houses with fellow educators. want to eat.”

This supplements his teaching income while helping him keep busy Although money is important, Harper also enjoys his work because of during the longest days of the year. the expertise it requires of him.

“I needed something to do in the summer while not teaching classes “I am put in charge of all the tasks that require math skills. I like that and I love spending time outside,” Ruthenberg said. aspect of it.”

While some teachers choose to spend the summer painting houses, Another teacher that continues to work after the school’s doors close is others are involved in building them. math teacher Aaron Moyer.

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Instead of working on houses, Moyer performs various tasks around Lakeland Golf Course.

The course is owned by Moyer’s younger brother and was built largely by his family.

“My mother’s parents lived on the corner of the farm that later became the course,” Moyer said. “My whole immediate family grew up playing golf there.”

Among other things, Moyer stresses the gratification of working with his hands.

“I personally feel the need to do something physically strenuous in the off season.

“I can point to something physical and say I did that,” he said. “That’s not something you can do after a day of teaching.”

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blue & gold

6

FEATURE FEATURE

Teachers study abroad, share experiences n By Jayden Egler

College offers a broad range of opportunities for which students can take advantage.

In addition to meeting new people and taking on responsibilities most have never put much thought into, there is another chance suddenly offered to cement newfound independence.

Many schools offer programs that allow students to study abroad, an experience that has been highly recommended by many people who have done it.

“If you have the opportunity, do anything you can to make it happen,” Alyssa Baz said. “It was, without a doubt, the best part of my college experience.”

Immersive learning isn’t exclusively for students who are actively trying to earn a degree in a certain language.

Before going, be sure to consider the fact that the differences between America and other countries may be a little overwhelming.

“The biggest culture shock is that everything is smaller, “ French teacher Wendy Farabaugh said. “Its not so much a struggle to go there as it was to come back.”

And contrary to common belief, stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t always a bad thing.

“While I was in Nante, I lived with a host family. I had a host mom, dad, and two host sisters who went to school in Paris,” she said.

“It was just really great because I had a family when I got there, people who were accepting and welcoming when I didn’t speak perfect French.”

As expected, it can be hard to venture out into a foreign country and focus on school at the same time.

However, getting exposed to new ways of thinking and learning is well worth all of the paperwork that is required to be filed in order for the proper transfer of credits.

Requirements, however, vary depending on the college.

“There were students of varying levels that went,” Spanish teacher Elizabeth Fairchild explains. “To take certain classes you need to have the same prerequisites as at the university.”

When asked if they would do it again, all three teachers said they would because it is such a valuable experience.

Ultimately jobs, families, and other obligations can get in the way of travelling and seeing the world, so study abroad and be adventurous while you still have the time!

Señora ElizaebthFairchild Heredia, Costa Rica

Madame Wendy Farabaugh Nantes, France

Señiorita Alyssa Baz Seville, Spain Graphic from annualreport2011.com

The number of international students worldwide rose from 0.8 million in 1975 to 3.7 million in 2009

Women study abroad more often than men, accounting for two-thirds of participating students

The number of students has been increasing by about 12% each year

International students in the United States contribute about 20 billion dollars to the economy each year

The United States recieves the most international students with about 700,00 each year China sends more students to study abroad than any other country

For some countries, vaccinations and additional medical insurance may be necessary Information from bbc.com/travel

Juniors take additional courses, graduate early n By Jordan Amann

Every year, several ambitious juniors strive to earn all of their graduation requirements in order to graduate a year early.

This year, Findlay High School will be graduating several juniors.

These high achieving students have been planning this for the past two years with their parents and counselors.

“The process has to be started before the end of the sophomore year,” said Greg Distel, student counselor. “They see their guidance counselor and we have a form that has to be filled out and approved to be allowed to graduate early.”

Juniors Shae Golden and Alicyn Dickman are two of the few students who have been approved and will be graduating with the class of 2014.

They have had to make several additions to their course loads for this year in order to receive all of the required graduation credits.

“I had to make several alterations to my schedule this year to gradu-

ate early,” junior Shae Golden said, “I am taking two English classes and government,” Although they are not seniors, these students do have some of the benefits.

“They do not have to take senior exams and they get the three days off that seniors get at the end of the year.” Distel said.

With these perks, however, there are some disadvantages to missing senior year.

“I’m still technically a junior though.” Golden said. “For example, I still had to pay the $25 for prom that juniors pay and I couldn’t dress up on senior dress up day.” Golden said.

Early graduation is by no means an easy decision; Alicyn Dickman considered many factors before making this decision.

“I decided to graduate a year early to give myself time to travel.” Dick-

man said. “I want to study abroad in college, but I don’t want to miss a semester or a year of school.

Graduating a year early will ensue that, even though I may be delaying my studies due to travel, I will still graduate with my class. But I am very glad that I made the decision to graduate early. It has been a unique experience unlike anything I had expected.” Dickman said. “Most of my classes were through post secondary options, which gave me an opportunity to take classes similar to those I will be taking next year. Combined with early graduation, it has made my junior/senior year very interesting.”

After making this important decision that has had such an impact on their lives, both academically and socially, Dickman and Golden are happy with their choice.

Both girls will be pursuing a higher education at Bluffton University in the fall.

The Landing Pad produces great food, friendly atmosphere n By Colton Hamilton

Restaurant: The Landing Pad Why Go there: Upon first entering The Landing Pad, you will instantly notice how spacious and comfortable the restaurant is. The service is always kind and the restaurant simply exudes a pleasant atmosphere. Especially in luck are the sport fans that eat at The Landing Pad; you’d be hard pressed to find a seat in where there isn’t at least five T.V.s in your direct line of sight. Worried about missing a touchdown when you go to the restroom? Well don’t, because there’s even T.V.’s in the restroom. Somehow though, the constant streaming of sports is not too distracting for the non-

sport fan eating at The Landing Pad. The most astounding aspect of The Landing Pad is of course the food.

Personally, I have yet to try something there that did not exceed or at least meet my expectations. For a pleasant eating experience in the limited circuit of Findlay restaurants, you will not be disappointed by The Landing Pad. What You Should Get: Where to start? The absolute essentials at The Landing Pad are definitely the pizza, wings, and fries. Thin with butterygarlic crust, the pizza is certainly exceptional and will please everyone. To

go with the pizza is for my money, the best wings/chunks in town. With a variety of sauces, the wings/chunks are always hot and moist. Finally, The Landing Pad knocks it out of the park again with their great basket fries. Enough to feed at least two people, the basket fries are never greasy and will keep you coming back for more.

Check out more restaurant reviews at blueandgoldtoday.org!

friday, may 23, 2014

blue & gold

SPORTS

7

PIN DOWN

TEAM

The 2012 Olympic softball team crowd around their trophy from the Olympics. The US Federation Team will be coming here sometime this summer after construction of the new softball field is completed. photo from teamusa.org

US Federation Team makes plans to come to Findlay n By Meghan Betscher

A lot is happening this summer at our very own Findlay High School.

The Junior Varsity softball field is currently under construction to redo the current field, with an expected completion date of June 12, 2014.

Additionally, the U.S. Federation Team (Olympic Team in Olympic years) will be playing here this summer and will be practicing on our two new fields.

The USA Federation Team will be making their first ever visit to Northwest Ohio and will be practicing at FHS while here.

“We are fortunate and blessed to have amazing sponsors and donors throughout our community,” athletic director Nate Weihrauch said. “The Findlay Girls’ Fastpitch Softball Club (FGFSC) along with its sponsors such as National Lime and Stone and Advanced

Drainage Systems are paying for this project; as I mentioned, we are blessed.”

The US team will be arriving on Sunday, June 15 and will reside here through their games on Tuesday, June 17.

“These 24 girls are working towards the last 17 spots on the final USA team for 2014 summer World Championships. Findlay is a stop where they will be competing for the final spots,” FGFSC president Jim Welch said. “The magnitude of having the Olympic Team here in Findlay when we are in an area in America that only gets to see the best college players in the world play on TV is really a big deal.”

The Findlay Girls Fastpitch Softball Club uses FHS fields as their home field and are also in use by age groups from 8U to 18U regular season county league for games dur-

ing the week.

These new home fields will have a few notable changes.

“The outfield fence will now be 10 inches taller for both the right and left field,” Welch said. “This will give us the opportunity to install 32 ad signs for local business to show their support of the FHS softball program and summer programs.

“The ad money collected every two years for theses spaces will be used to continue to maintain the beauty of these two fields.”

Because of the addition of these brand new facilities, over four different weekends this summer, FHS will host tournament games from some of the best teams in the state.

The tournaments are not subjective to Ohio, but include surrounding areas as well amd will include a variety of teams.

Softball Facts n The Amateur Softball Association was founded in 1933 by Leo

Fisher and Michael J. Pauley. n Prior to ASA’s founding, softball was in a state of confusion and

without a universal set of rules. When Fischer and Pauley laid the foundation for softball’s future by adopting a universal set of rules, they set the stage for what would become softball’s national governing body. n The National Team Program has come a long way since the first

time USA Softball was represented internationally at the 1965 International Softball Federation (ISF) Women’s World Championship and 1966 ISF Men’s World Championship. Initially, only the winners of the ASA Men’s and Women’s Major Fast Pitch National Championships would represent the U.S. at international events until 1986 when an All-Star format was adopted.

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