Blue and Gold - January 2013 by Findlay High School

blue&gold

FEATURE

blueandgoldtoday.org

Friday, January 25, 2013 Volume 90, Issue 3 1200 Broad Ave., Findlay, Ohio, 45840

Vegetarians share when, why they made the change page 5

NEWS

THE BIG PICTURE

PARCC

Reach for the win

Assessments

In the 2014-2015 school year, students will begin taking end of the year PARCC Assessments in place of the Ohio Graduation Test.

Winter sports teams are having a good season, with the girls basketball team becoming 8-2 and boys swimming are also 8-2.

page 4

WEATHER TODAY Partly Cloudy High: 25 Low: 13

TOMORROW Partly cloudy High: 25 Low: 13

SPORTS Which championship game is better?

freshman Allen Hilkert and junior Michael Kalani

page 7

SATURDAY Partly cloudy High: 29 Low: 10 INDEX Editorial...............2 Entertainment....3 News/Feature.....4

Feature................5 Feature................6 Sports..................7 Photo essay........8

take a

quick look hats off

Gymnastics team Girls gymnastics won first at the Worthington Kilbourne Invite and senior Alexa Settlemire placed first on vault and broke the tournament record. They are 33-0.

things that make you look smart today

1. Children’s I.Q.s can be linked to how likely a person is to become a vegetarian. The higher I.Q. the child has, the more likely they are to be a vegetarian. 2. Sir Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osborne, Brad Pitt and Albert Einstein are all vegetarians. 3. A man named Tom Leppard has 99.9 percent of his body tattooed with a leapard-skin design, setting a Guinness World Record. The only parts of his body that are not covered are between his toes and inside of his ears. 4. Last year, the Super Bowl was the second highest day for food consumption in the United States, just behind Thanksgiving. 5. Around 60 percent of teams that compete in the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) bowl games pay more money to play than they actually make from participation. sources: health24.com, empire-ink.com, msn.foxsports.com, csmonitor.com

news around the country

Graduation rate reaches high point According to the United States Department of Education, more high school students are graduating on time than ever before. Out of four million students in the 2009-2010 school year, 78.2 percent received their diploma.

DOUBLE TIME

This past Monday, President Barack Obama gave his inaugural address to start off his second term. Over 37.8 million people tuned into the 57th inauguration.

Students react to Obama’s inauguration n By Lydia Bauler

An estimated 37.8 million people watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama on Monday. The 57th inauguration marked an important tradition of the American governmental system. “The inauguration is significant and worthy of notice because as a United States citizen no one has any excuse to not take notice of who the president is,” senior Sam Duling said. “While the president is only a part of one branch of our government, the president represents us in other parts of the world so he is hugely important.” Though deserving of national attention, the inauguration has for some not been as exciting this year. “People are much less, and I say this without bias, enthusiastic or excited because with the last election it was an even more bipartisan win,” Duling said. “The American people are very much split down the middle at this point in our history. “We know where he stands on his policies and we know where we stand on his policies, which for many people have been a huge disappointment.” For some, the elation has diminished since last inaugura-

tion marked a benchmark in our national history. “It wasn’t as momentous or big as his first (inauguration),” senior Becca Snedeker-Meier said. “It was kind of toned down or wasn’t as powerful. “There wasn’t as big as an impact since in 2009 it was the first black president to ever be elected which was so meaningful considering the history of oppression in our country.” Though the day may have lacked historical hype, this year’s inauguration took an interesting philosophical tone. “His (Obama’s) inaugural address was actually better,” Snedeker-Meier said. “It wasn’t just empty promises. “At least now he realizes that he isn’t always going to be able to enact all of the policies he wants exactly the way he planned instead of just saying words.” While some may view this step away from specific plans that are not likely to be kept as a positive change, others feel the president is creating a ruse to avoid key issues. “He is trying to convey a message that he actually knows what is going on,” Duling said. “To me it seems more of the same dancing around his failed policies. “When you win an election by a hair, that is not a good

thing as an incumbent president. You have clearly failed somewhere. One out of two Americans are completely furious right now.” With this year’s theme being “Faith in America’s Future”, how the nation and government would proceed in the upcoming term was a central issue. “Our future is either going to be full of change or miserable failure,” Duling said. “We have to change the way the world sees us. “America is in need of change and my outlook on whether that change will happen is grim.” Others feel the country will recover as long as compromise is reached within our political parties and government. “I am always optimistic about our future because I realize with things that I have learned in government this year that Congress really does have more power,” Snedecker-Meier said. “Although he is probably one of the most powerful men in the world, there are so many safeguards and areas of government that things usually work out. “Our nation isn’t going to begin to recover though until compromise is found.”

Wizard of Oz cast announced n By Kaitlin Coward

blast from the past

First Winter Olympics France hosted the first ever Winter Olympics Jan. 25, 1942. The games featured 12 different events, with bobsledding and skiing as the main two.

photo courtesy of The Guardian

ACTING OUT

Sophomore Aubrey Brown (Dorothy) recites her lines to other cast mates as they prepare for their performance of The photo by Emily Wolfe Wizard of Oz.

Rehearsals are underway for the selected cast of the spring musical, The Wizard of Oz. Parts were chosen, and sophomore Aubrey Brown was picked as the lead role, Dorothy Gale. “I was really excited especially since I’m only a sophomore,” Brown said. “I kind of look the part, and I’m really looking forward to being with the whole cast and taking on a new opportunity. “There are a lot of people involved this year so it will definitely add variety.” Other main cast members include seniors Rachel Cruea as the West Witch and Daniel Baumgartner as the Cowardly Lion along with juniors Makenna Fox who plays Glinda the Good Witch and Patrick Riley who is the Scarecrow. “I really enjoy being a part of a show that is so different

from the past,” Fox said. “Every set will be so different, and it will just be a unique experience.” Along with creative sets, many students see similarities between their characters and their actual personalities. “I’m a very motherly person to my siblings much like Glinda is very protective of the munchkins,” Fox said. “I’m really excited though just because I love being on stage because it’s what I do. “It’s a nice bonus to have such an awesome character.” Cast members are excited to present the production. “I’m really looking forward to how different the musical will be,” student director, junior Hailee Rennels said. “The cast will really get to go into another world, which is really different than the past.” The Wizard of Oz will run March 22-24 in the R.L. Heminger Auditorium.

blue & gold

friday, january 25, 2013

EDITORIAL

Barack Obama’s second inauguration less exciting

OUR VIEW

In the words of my mother’s four year-old student, President Barack Obama “got to start over” on Monday as he was sworn into office during the 57th inauguration. Despite the insightful, simple understanding from some of America’s smallest citizens, for many this inauguration was greeted with little enthusiasm. In the face of economic hardship, a continuing war in the Middle East and a strongly divided legislature, it is understandable that the American people are weary and ready for a change. As a nation, our political culture is often one of cynical skepticism towards our government. As founder and former president James Madison said, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” Total trust, as these wise words suggest, is impossible and foolish, but as President Obama hinted, America is great because we have the ability to come together in times of hardship. There are times to assert that stubborn cynicism and there are times to tap into those other characteristics, like compromise, unity and compassion. President Obama’s inaugural address asked the citizens of the United States to tap into more than just our trademark cold critical eye and this request couldn’t be more appropriate. As we struggle with wide divides between political parties and our government leaders, sharp tongues and stubborn distrust of opposing viewpoints will only add to our debilitating fragmentation. Our ideology calls for not just an aggressive defense of our own interests and beliefs, but also a respect for the common good and concern for our neighbors who deserve the same security and opportunities that we enjoy. Whether you agree with the president’s progressive approach to policy or not, his message to United States citizens to embrace the belief in one another’s rights to the things we hold dear, like life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, is one we should all heed. The senseless condemnation of that hotly disputed 47% that receive some form of aid from the government, immigrants and political parties only creates hostility at times when we cannot afford it. There needs to be empathy for our fellow Americans’ circumstances and not simply stiff unfeeling accusations of laziness and unworthiness. As President Obama states, “We recognize that no matter how responsibly we live our lives, any one of us, at any time, may face a job loss, or a sudden illness, or a home swept away in a terrible storm. “The commitments we make to each other – through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security – these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great.” If we are unable to embrace the full scope of traits that have allowed the United States to survive and become a land of opportunity, we will be held back by our own stubborn hand. We as a nation need to begin this new term with a renewed enthusiasm and passion for our country, even its imperfection; it is still one of the rare places in the world where its citizens enjoy such a stable democracy.

Fans excited about end of National Hockey League lockout n

By Kaitlin Coward

lockout occurring in the next 10 years. Although reaching a compromise is not easy, the NHL should have taken into account how many fans they actually have, and how not playing affected the overall fan base. Some fans were protesting the NHL by not attending games and by vowing not to purchase any merchandise in order to make a point towards the organization. While the lockout mainly hurt fans, small businesses in places like Detroit thrive in times when hockey is around, and business sales plummeted during the lockout drought. Luckily, the season was salvaged, and now businesses can get back on their feet and are able to make the needed revenue to survive.

After a 113-day lockout, National Hockey League (NHL) hockey is back. Fans were beginning to worry, suspecting that like the 2003-2004 lockout, there might not even be a season after all since it was taking so long for players and owners to agree on terms for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). On January 6, the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association agreed to the basis of a new CBA, which is a 10-year deal with an opt out option, new salary caps and a seven-year limit on player contracts. Hopefully, the opt out option is not used, so fans do not have to worry about yet another

With the lengthiness of the lockout, the NHL season has also been shortened from it’s original 92 game schedule to 48 games. The majority of the blame for the whole lockout is being thrown on NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and rightfully so, as there has already been three NHL lockouts under his control. While fans may despise Bettman, they are still tuning into games, with a record number of viewers for the premier game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers as well as the banner-raising ceremony for the defending champion Los Angeles Kings in their blowout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. Despite the wait, so far, the NHL season appears to be a good one despite the slashing of so

many games. The Stanley Cup favorite New York Rangers surprised, losing their first two matches over the weekend, while the other stars, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Blackhawks have maintained the best records. MY Now that the season is back, hockey fans everywhere can rejoice, although it took nearly six months to finally reach an agreement.

junior Nicholas Goldacker

ACT test should be super scored Dear Editor, One issue with the requirements for the Honors Diploma is how the ACT score is determined; the score for the Honors Diploma needs to be super scored. Super scoring is when the school takes the highest scores of each subject area on the ACT. Then, they find the average to give the student the best possible score. Many students really want to strive for the diploma, but sometimes it is the ACT score that stands in their way. Some students take the ACT, and score well on some portions, but not others. Then, they could take it again and do better in ceratin areas but then worse in the areas they had previously

for OGT’s for months, and when you take the test a lot of the questions are not what you learned. For exams the things you do learn in class are on the test because it’s more specific.” junior Aubrey Gordon

“I would rather take OGT’s, because I feel like they are more of a test on my overall knowledge instead of my one semester of learning.”

VIEW

kate’s corner

done well in. It sometimes just depends on the test, and some subjects may be difficult on one test but easier on another. If a student is then striving for the Honors Diploma, and they are relying on the ACT, the fact that schools do not super score could mean they fall short of the requirements. Certain students may fall just short of the required 27 when their composite score is looked at, but if a super score is taken, then they may fulfill the needed prerequisite. Many universities will super score when it comes to scholarships, so why does the high school not super score to determine the Honors Diploma? I feel that this is something that needs to be reevaluated so students that have the knowledge for the Honors diploma are not overlooked.

“I’d rather have OGT’s because they don’t really affect your grades, you get to review for weeks prior and you get out junior Tom Suh

sophomore Chase Hoerig

“I would pick OGT’s because I wouldn’t have to stress out over other exams for certain days” sophomore Will Bennett

“I’d rather have OGT’s just because they have a bigger affect on your future while exams only matter in high school.” sophomore Marisa Roderick

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.

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

About us

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

Adam Beaty Sports editor

senior Tyler Tomlins

EDITOR Would you rather take OGT’s or end ofLETTERS the year exams like the PARCC Assessments? sophomore Avrey Roberts “You prepare

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.

Kaitlin Coward News editor

to the

YOUR VIEW

ning depends on it.

Letters to the editor

Lydia Bauler Editor-in-chief

to the

Dear Editor, It is the start of the second semester here at Findlay High School which means two things: looking forward to spring break and scheduling. The latter of the two seems to be the big deal at this point in time for incoming freshman and lastyear juniors. However, the transition for the new schedule is bigger than most thought. Juniors, scheduling for senior year, are accustomed to the old schedule that not only worked out great for the last three years, but also deemed how their I.C.P. was planned. At the start of their freshman year, juniors planned out what classes to jump into right away or put off until senior year. A majority of students have planned a full schedule for senior year in order to maximize their credits and present a

good appeal on their transcripts; even though the new schedule offers a flex period for students, lunch is still inhibiting their scheduling process. There are students who planned their classes around senior, sophomore and even junior year to fill up their schedule and replace a lunch with a class of interest. School is a place for learning and although the lunch period is to keep children refreshed mentally and socially, most teachers let them eat in their classes anyway if they do not have a lunch. They understand; if students want to academically enrich themselves with a learning opportunity to further their education and interests instead of a blocked time devoted to lunch, then they should be able to. It is their decision to forego socializing for learning. The choice should be up to the students based upon whether they woul drather have a class or a lunch period, and most of their four-year plan-

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.

The staff

LETTERS EDITOR Lunch is key scheduling issue

Staff policy

“I would pick OGT’s over exams because it is a lot easier, and it is not so stressful by affecting your grade in that class. Also, you only have to take OGT’s once.” junior Natasha Snelling

Krystal Kornblatt Emily Wolfe Photo co-editors Emily Eckhardt Photographers Brandon Emsweller Zoe Houdeshell Aaron Long Tess Marshall Emma Penrose Catalina Petrescu Tim Pollele TJ Stennett Reporters Cameron Roth Artist Andy Cantrell Adviser

blue & gold

friday, january 25, 2013

ENTERTAINMENT

The Hit List 4

Perks of Being a Wallflower on DVD The highly acclaimed novel-turned-film is available on DVD Feb. 12. Charlie (Logan Lerman), a freshman in high school, meets Sam (Emma Watson) and Patrick (Ezra Miller), and they quickly become friends. Through a Catcher in the Rye type story, Charlie shares his past, relationships and friendships as he begins to discover himself.

5 American Idol

The ever-popular television series recently premiered with three out of four new judges. Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban join alum Randy Jackson for season 12. Catch the upcoming talent or get a good laugh from the bad auditions every Wednesday.

The Oscars

With a neck and neck race for best picture, the 85th Academy Awards are well worth watching. Lincoln comes in with the most nominations (12) with Life of Pi in at a close second with 11. After wins at the Golden Globes, Les Miserables star Hugh Jackman and Lincoln’s Daniel Day-Lewis are key best actor contenders. Catch all of the winners Sunday, Feb. 24 at 8:30 p.m.

7 Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures tells the story of Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich), who has a recurring dream of a girl whose life he keeps trying to save. This girl, Lena (Alice Englert), mysteriously arrives at school, and they begin to work together to discover information about their supernatural family. The popular novel hits the big screen Feb. 14.

season 12

Beyonce performs at the Super Bowl halftime show Pop diva, Beyonce, will sing during Super Bowl XLVII’s halftime show. possibly alongside the rest of recently reunited Destiny’s Child and Jay-Z. After rumors about her lip synching the National Anthem at the Inauguration, viewers may tune in to see whether or not she will at the half time show, Saturday, Feb. 3.

Safe Haven In the latest Nicholas Sparks’ romance, a young woman named Katie (Julianne Hough) meets and begins to fall in love with Alex (Josh Duhamel), a widower, while she tries to address her own personal secret. This is perfect for a Valentine’s Day date.

Willpower album

Following the popularity of the release of the single Scream and Shout featuring Britney Spears, will.i.am’s new album is quickly becoming one of the highly anticipated albums of the season.

Warm Bodies After a zombie kills a teenage girl’s boyfriend, he begins to spend time with her, while slowly regaining old signs of his humanity. Slowly he begins to become ‘human’ again, while falling for her. The flick is a semi-parody of the current zombie fascination in Hollywood. Warm Bodies comes to theaters Feb. 1.

Fox’s The Following Fox’s new show The Following, starring Kevin Bacon as Ryan Hardy, delves into the life of Jack Carroll (James Purefoy), a psychotic serial killer who joins forces with other serial killers who follow his commands. Hardy attempts to track down Carroll and his following Mondays at 9 p.m.

Paranormal Activity 4 on DVD

Whether you’re ready for a good scare or just a fan of the series, Paranormal Activity 4 will be released on DVD next Tuesday, Jan. 29.

imdb.com, www.filmofilia.com, huffingtonpost.com, righteousfilm.com, www.filmequals.com, capitalfm.com, jaciburton.com, wunderground.com, musicboxtheatre.com, imjustsaying.info, comingsoon.net

For all Oscar best picture nominees, we review the favorites MOVIES

Les Miserables impresses fans n By Krystal Kornblatt

Title: Les Miserables Starring: Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried and Samantha Barks Plot: Prisoner 24601, known as Jean Valjean (Jackman), is released from prison and breaks parole to create a new life for himself while trying his hardest to get rid of the Inspector Javert (Crowe). Valjean realizes he has brought poverty to Fantine (Hathaway), a previous worker, and must take care of her daughter Cosette (Seyfried). A while after Valjean saves Cosette from a life of despair, he sets off and tries to give her the best life possible. Cosette falls in love with Marius (Redmayne), the leader of a barricade rebellion, but the two are separated when Valjean must run away from the authorities. Why see it: Les Miserables is a sentimental story but with many brutalities. The film shows the audience how it really was to live in revolutionary France. With it’s many known actors this movie gave the original a great contemporary feel. All of the vocals are great; who knew the Wolverine could sing? The actors got into their characters which made the emotion much more believable. The musical is one big love story, but with enough action it is good enough for him or her. Grade: A+

Lincoln, Day-Lewis lead Oscar race n By Lydia Bauler

Title: Lincoln Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field and David Strathairn Plot: President Abraham Lincoln (Day-Lewis) navigates the turbulent waters of politics during the Civil War as he seeks to pass Amendment 13, which freed the slaves. The film outlines the amendment’s controversial history and the somewhat crooked means used to get Washington’s support. Roaring the in the background are Lincoln’s personal struggles with the loss of his young son and the immense pressure of administrative duties during the Civil War. Why see it: Nearly every element of this film is pure cinematic perfection. The character acting done by Day-Lewis and Field (Mary Todd Lincoln) was convincing and compelling. Their interactions with one another enriched the already phenomenal plot with an interesting subplot that emphasized the losses and dynamics of the Lincoln family. It continues on pleasantly, yet off the beaten path, with a clear focus on the shadier Washington deals made to pass the amendment, rather than the actionpacked war. Grade: A+

Zero Dark Thirty surprises n By Tim Pollele

Title: Zero Dark Thirty Starring: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke and Kyle Chandler Plot: Zero Dark Thirty follows the struggle of a CIA operative to find Osama Bin Laden and to convince her colleagues at the higher levels of the organization to authorize a strike. The film follows her and her obsession with catching Bin Laden, ending with the successful raid on his compound. Why see it: Some movies are said to be fraught with tension, but Zero Dark Thirty virtually is tension; even though any American will know just how this movie ends, the film is executed in such a way as to make the most disengaged audience bite their nails. Zero Dark Thirty has relatively flat characters, with little explanation given to the motives of the extremely stressed but determined CIA members who actually hunted Bin Laden down. The movie does provide an excellent (and mostly accurate) depiction of historical events. These scenes in particular and those of public unrest targeting American citizens are some of the most powerful of the movie. Even if the viewer finds the characters to be a little dull or is not provoked by these topics, they will certainly enjoy the heart-pounding action. Grade: B+

Django epitomizes classic Tarantino n By Catalina Petrescu

Title: Django Unchained Starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson Plot: Christoph Waltz plays a dentist turned bounty hunter who buys Jamie Foxx’s freedom. Together Django (Foxx) and Dr. Schultz (Waltz) pair up as bounty hunters and later plan to take Django’s wife, Broomhilda, from a Mississippi plantation called Candieland. Complications occur when they try to outsmart plantation owner Calvin Candie (DiCaprio) and his right hand slave, Stephen (Jackson). Why see it: Director Quentin Tarantino outdoes himself in a fantastic accomplishment of cinematography, picture, sound mixing and plot. Django Unchained is light even though its theme of slavery and redemption seems heavy. The overdramatic shooting scenes complementary to Tarantino’s style are funny in parts because of the exaggerated bang as bullets hit flesh and the bright red blood that overzealously decorates the white walls with splatters and sprays. Django Unchained is a great film that pulls together humor, picture and a fresh storyline that leaves the audience entertained and highly pleased. Grade: A+

Silver Linings Playbook breaks typical romantic comedy mold n By Kaitlin Coward

Title: Silver Linings Playbook Starring: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro and Jennifer Lawrence Plot: After his mother aids his release from a state mental institution, Patrick (Cooper), a former teacher, tries to rekindle his marriage with his unfaithful exwife, Nicki, who has a restraining order against him. While living with his parents and visiting his old friend, he meets Tiffany (Lawrence), whose husband recently died. She agrees to break the restraining order and give Nicki a letter if Patrick agrees to join her in a ballroom dance competition. Patrick tries to rediscover himself and win back his wife with the help of Tiffany and his dysfunctional family. Why see it: Silver Linings Playbook is unconventional but a hit. This movie has something for everyone, including sports, dancing, comedy and romance. The film is genuinely funny, with Patrick’s bipolar outbursts and blunt nature. Lawrence and Cooper have great chemistry, making them quirky, yet entertaining. The script is very well-written, and the plot twists and turns help to make it less cliché. The storyline is much more intelligent and interesting than the generic romantic comedy, making Silver Linings Playbook a standout and a possible Oscar winner. Grade: A+

Life of Pi falls short on excitement n By Catalina Petrescu

Title: Life of Pi Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan Plot: In the process of moving their zoo from India to Canada, a family faces a disastrous storm at sea. Pi Patel survives and becomes stranded on a boat with the only other survivor: a Bengal Tiger. Their journey to land is packed with discovery and dangerous experiences as the two develop a life-changing bond. Why see it: Based on the novel Life of Pi by Yann Patel, this movie is a good representation of the national best seller. It is nominated for several Oscars due to its vivid imaging, picture, and the quiet character developing adventure Pi Patel takes with Richard Parker, the Bengal Tiger. Despite its Oscar nomination this movie is slow and boring at times and too quiet to get excited about. It is likeable, but not loveable. Grade: B-

dlo25, g &2013 eul friday, january

blue & gold

NEWS/FEATURE

COMING SOON

Dance team shares skills with children n By Kaitlin Coward

Dance Team will host their annual kids clinic for kindergarten through fifth graders, Saturday, Feb. 9 from 12 to 3:30 p.m. in the auxiliary gym. Members enjoy spending time with children and performing a routine with them during the junior varsity boy’s basketball game versus Lima Shawnee at 5 p.m. “I love that we get to involve the kids of Findlay in our team and in our dances,” junior Bree Richards said. “The kids always enjoy learning about our dances, and they love performing with us.” The cost is $20 for each child.

FFE presents Findlay Fest n By Zoe Houdeshell

JUST DANCE

Senior Tyler Brown jumps over senior Stephen Hoban as they practice with the rest of the Men’s Dance Team. The team will be performing today at the Winter Pep Rally in the main gym. This performance has become a Winter Pep Rally tradition. photo by Emily Wolfe

New PARCC Assessments to replace OGT’s

Findlay Fest Show Choir Festival is Saturday, Feb. 2 from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the R.L. Heminger Auditorium. Findlay First Edition (FFE) will perform and many other show choirs will be competing. “This event is a great way to get to know other show choirs that FFE will be competing with later in the season,” Director Kevin Manley says, “The group looks forward to Findlay Fest because they get to watch the competition as well as perform”. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors/students and will be on sale at the door.

PARCC

HEADS UP

Some alterations in the curriculum required for these new PARCC Assessments include:

We the People competes in state mock hearing

•more advanced vocabulary

n By Lydia Bauler

n By Kaitlin Coward

Instead of taking the Ohio Graduation Test (OGT), education officials are considering using a system called the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers) Assessments at the end of each year to determine student success. With a test in math and language arts, students will have to take two end of the year exams to graduate. “The PARCC Assessments are the new math and language arts tests based on rigorous common core standards,” Directory of Secondary Education Richard Steiner said. “They will come in 2014-2015 to test student’s knowledge at the same level that they’re learning in class. “The assessments are computerized, and we are supposed to get the results almost immediately.” The quick results from these exams are factored into a student’s grade and are not detrimental to a student if he or she fails. “One of the good things about these tests is that they are not high stakes like the OGT,”

HELP OUT Items needed include: •Pencils/pens •Colored pens •Markers •Crayons •Glue/scissors •Bars of soap •Shampoo •Toothbrushes •Toothpaste

Steiner said. “They count for credit so a student could do poorly and still graduate.” With these tests being included in student’s grades, teachers are changing their curriculums in order to suit the assessments. “The PARCC Assessments, in combination with the 2014-2015 implementation of the Common Core Standards, in Ohio, have caused Findlay High School teachers and administrators to spend an enormous amount of time and effort in realigning our curriculum to better prepare our students for the upcoming PARCC Assessments,” English teacher Becky Pfaltzgraf said. “The new Common Core changes the expectation of what students should be able to know and do.” Changes include teaching a more difficult curriculum with more of Bloom’s Taxonomy. “ We are currently in the process of rewriting, revising and editing the ninth and tenth grade curricula. The eleventh and twelth grade curricula will simply need to be tweaked,” Pfaltzgraf said. “Dedicated Findlay High School English teachers have worked diligently over

the last couple years in researching, writing and piloting new teaching materials and strategies in an effort to prepare our students. “I am proud to be a part of a school district that cares about the students.” In order for students to live up to this potential, PARCC was formed in order to improve education across America. “It is a consortium of states, including Ohio, and their educational leaders,” Steiner said. “This process is a national movement to get states to have higher language arts and math scores. “It’s mainly a case of us not being competitive around the world, in order to raise the slumped standards.” Although the tests are designed to better education, some students would rather continue taking the OGT at the end of the year rather than making the switch to PARCC Assessments. “I would really like to just keep the current testing system,” sophomore Travis Yammine said. “It would be less stressful than having to change it.”

•greater focus on use of Bloom’s Taxonomy • higher standards in language arts and math classes •switching of books to different grade levels •development of new teaching strategies and materials

French honor society collects items for Haiti n By Kaitlin Coward

French Honor Society is once again accepting donations for Haiti. The group collects nonperishable toiletries and school supplies for those who don’t have these basic essentials. “Every year we do a collection of supplies for impoverished children in Haiti,” vice president Allyson Sabo said. “I’ve been to the third world country the Dominican Republican, and their lifestyle and schools are just so completely different from anything we have here.”

To help improve education in Haiti, French Honor Society partners up with Mission Possible to donate items to children. “People from Mission Possible pack the collected items in their suitcases,” adviser Susan Davidson said. “Many children are not able to go to school, and sometimes they find a rock to use to write with because they don’t have pencils. “Even if every student brought in just one item, it would help out so much.” Donating could help children who may not have hygiene products or school supplies.

“It’s important for all of us to give back and help out someway in both the community and the world,” Davidson said. “Students are learning how important it is to help others and especially to allow these children to get an education. “It makes us all aware of how others lives are so different from ours, and by giving them school supplies we can do our part to help the country become more developed because education is key to success.” Donations can be dropped off in room 281 until Feb. 5.

We the People is presenting in a mock hearing on the Constitution today at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in Columbus, Ohio. The team feels confident as they defend their 11 year run as state champions. “I believe we’ll win,” senior Ryan LaRiche said. “Most people of experience (judges that have observed teams in the past) think we’re doing very well. “We have a good understanding of how Congress functions and how it interprets the Constitution. Every unit focuses on a different aspect of this so as a class we know what the Constitution entails and why it is important.”

Blue & Gold holding meeting for interested students n By Kaitlin Coward

Blue & Gold staff memebers are hosting a meeting for any student interested in joining the newspaper or taking a Journalism class, Thursday, Jan. 31 at 2:45 p.m. “With a handful of seniors leaving the program, it would be great to come back and see other students partcipating in order to keep the program alive,” senior Emily Wolfe. “A lot of people do not realize how rewarding the program actually is. “Even though we put a lot of time into the paper, it really is a fun experience.” Stop by room 286 for more details.

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