blue&gold Friday, April 8, 2011
THE BIG PICTURE
FEATURE
Three ways to do prom on a budget page 7 Volume 88, Issue 6 Findlay High School 1200 Broad Ave., Findlay, Ohio , 45840
seniors Brandon Malec and Liza Schumacher
SPORTS
Making a scene
Henry balances three seasons page 8
Godspell cast members re-enact the gospel of Matthew as they tell the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
WEATHER TODAY Rain showers High: 53 Low: 45
SUNDAY Isolated T-storms High: 74 Low: 57
TOMORROW Rain showers High: 65 Low: 57
INDEX
NEWS
page 6
New technology reduces lunch wait page 4
page 6 junior Emily Dillon and senior Sophie Miller
Feature.................5 Photo essay.........6 Feature.................7 Sports..................8
Editorial...............2 Entertainment....3 News/Feature.....4
senior Alex Henry
test one
you can’t study for
photo illustration by Leah Cramer
Board moves forward with drug testing policy n By Leah Cramer
uring high school, students must pass a slew of exams to show what they’ve learned, but next year they can expect to be tested in a different way. This new pass/fail test will not force them to prove what they know, but rather, what they did or didn’t do. The Board of Education has asked a drug testing committee to move forward with the development of a policy that could result in random drug testing of students who hold certain privileges, starting next school year. “It’s something the school should be involved in,” senior Brandon Shanahan, Drug Testing Committee member, said. “Drugs affect athletes physically and mentally for their sports, but also affect their learning ability at school by making it harder to pay attention.
BLAST from the PAST Hank Aaron’s 715th homerun broke baseball legend Babe Ruth’s record on April 8, 1974, according to historyorb.com.
courtesy of classsicpopculture.net(fair use)
“You hear about things going on during the weekends and at parties and a lot of the time it’s people who you wouldn’t expect to be doing drugs or drinking. Drug use is pretty even throughout the student body. A lot of athletes who signed contracts that say they’re not going to use drugs don’t obey that.” Students in extracurriculars or who have a parking permit could be tested, which puts over 50 percent of students in the testing pool. “Kids can use it (random testing) as a deterrent,” Activities Director Debbie Benson said. “When they’re out with their friends and there’s peer pressure to do drugs, they can say, ‘I can’t do that; I might get tested this week,’ and use it as an excuse.”
Testing methods Since, legally, only students with certain privileges can be subjected to drug testing,
5
things to make you look smart
around half will go untested. “We will potentially be missing out on a key group of students,” school board member Shane Pochard said. “But, hopefully, just having this policy will help students who we can’t test see how serious of a problem drugs are.” Typically, five drugs are tested for each time and it is possible that those could be different each round, according to Kyle Preuter, president of Great Lakes Biomedical. Testing will most likely take the form of a urine test and a random number generator would determine which students get tested. “There are pros and cons to each type of drug testing,” Preuter said. “Saliva testing is the least intrusive, and then there’s urine testing which is very reliable, has been around for years and is very economical. “Hair testing can go back as far as 90 days, but is more intrusive and about three times more expensive than urine testing. Most
schools use urine testing because it is the most economical and can test for the widest range of drugs.” Details that have yet to be determined are what drugs will be tested for, what percentage of students will be tested and how often tests will be administered.
31
percent have tried drugs themselves
These factors will all affect the cost, which the board of education is searching for ways to fund. Testing 20 percent of the eligible students once per season would cost $10,608. “We are looking to fund it through state and federal grants, as well as with help from booster clubs and community members,” Pochard said. “We could also resort to raising parking pass costs.”
92
percent know at least one other student who has tried drugs
51
percent believe drug testing will not reduce substance use
story continues on page four
HATS
OFF
2. McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. plan to hire 50,000 people on April 19 to help with unemployment rates. 3. It takes six minutes to make one Marshmallow Peep, as opposed to the 27 hours it took in 1953.
sources: spiritmag.com, mnn.com, interestingfacts.org,berro.com, npr.org
In a February 2011 125-student survey,
Money matters
1. In a 2010 study of 20,000 women, blondes earn 7 percent more than brunettes.
4. A Google search requires as much energy as an 11 watt bulb uses when lit for an hour. 5. Approximately 500,000 detectable earthquakes occur each year, but only about 100 cause damage.
DRUG TEST
McDonald’s employee junior Meghan Donelson
Senior Tyler Copus was named as a National Merit Scholar finalist. “It feels pretty good to be the only one from our high school to be a finalist and the help from scholarships will be good too,” Copus said.
Copus
blue & gold
friday, april 8, 2011
2
EDITORIAL
THE GIST OF IT • Random drug testing will help students make better decisions. • Increasing class size capacities would decrease the quality of education. • Administrators unfairly denied seniors the right to watch V for Vendetta.
OUR VIEW
Staff policy
Drug testing will be positive change
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.
School board members are making a positive change by moving forward with a random drug testing policy for students with parking passes or in extracurricular activities and sports. After administrators presented the benefits of random drug testing, the school board approved a plan to develop a testing policy next year. Testing students will be a good change to the current athletic and extracurricular policy. These tests will find teens abusing drugs or alcohol and get them the help they need. Furthermore, a the policy will give students a reason to say no to drugs. Fewer teens will drink at a party or abuse illegal substances if they know they might be tested. All athletes sign contracts saying they will not use drugs, so it only seems fair to hold students accountable for their decisions. Drug abuse is a problem. According to a November survey of 1,364 Findlay students conducted by administrators, 48 percent of students either agree or strongly agree that drugs are an issue at the high school. Some see drug testing as an invasion of privacy, but when each week brings new stories about so-and-so drinking at a party or smoking weed, something must be done. The policy will likely include a consequence of required counseling or rehab. Unless the student has drugs with them in the building, law enforcement will not be notified. Keeping law enforcement out of the policy shows administrators are using drug testing as a tool to help students, not to simply get them in academic or legal trouble. One of the more common arguments against drug testing is that school administrators should not care what students do outside the classroom. Why is it their business? The answer is simple—drug abuse doesn’t just go away when students enter the school building. Illegal substances affect your health, the way you act and your ability to think (which, frankly, is pretty important in school). This isn’t about catching drug users and giving them what they deserve. Instead, administrators are helping students make responsible decisions, giving them the help they need and improving the overall quality of the school.
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 Contact Blue us & Gold 1200 Broad Avenue Findlay, Ohio 45840 (419)-427-5474
About us
Allowing bigger class sizes is step in wrong direction n
MY
By John Sisser
It’s truly a great time to be a senior. End of the year banquets are being scheduled, senioritis is more rampant than allergies and the graduation countdown is reachVIEW ing its final weeks. But the best part about grabbing the cap, gown and diploma and saythe ing farewell to high school is that seniors won’t face the wrath of Ohio Senate Bill 5’s (SB 5) elimination of
?
what’s problem
class size limits. Okay, so most seniors may not see that as the best part. The point is, though, a lack of class size limits is possibly the most dangerous aspect of the controversial SB 5. The legislation, which essentially takes away most collective bargaining rights for public employees, has been in the news for months. Class size limits are set by individual district administrators, not politicians. But the number of students in each class are part of teachers’ collective bargaining rights. Now that state politicians have taken away those rights with SB 5, classrooms could quickly become overcrowded. Why does this matter, you might ask? Simply put, smaller class sizes are more effective from an educational standpoint. The book School Class Size: Research and
Policy by Gene V. Glass states that smaller class sizes significantly help improve student performance, provide more opportunities and boost teacher morale. I can speak from experience when I say that some, not all, of my most beneficial classes have been those with only 10 or 15 students. Add in five or 10 more students and educators are unable to individualize their teaching styles and help children learn better. But this is all about something much bigger than how many students politicians allow districts to cram into a classroom. Sooner or later, elected officials must realize that cutting costs at the expense of educational quality is just trading one problem for another. In an education system where test scores are slipping, some schools are facing a 40 percent drop out rate and students are pressured to
activities in the future that they must be held accountable for the choices they make. There are always people who disagree with random drug testing, but if you’re doing the right thing you should have nothing to worry about, right? senior Kortney Mullen
and ineffective method of controlling drug abuse among the students. The Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) doesn’t deem it necessary for student athletes to be tested. So why should our athletes be subject to mandatory drug tests when all other student athletes across Ohio are not being tested? Though I do belive drug use is a problem, implementing drug testing is an action that should be postponed until the OHSAA makes it mandatory. junior Jared Moffet
to the
LETTERS EDITOR
compete with kids in Finland and South Korea, allowing for class size increases is a major step backward. Maybe I’m overreacting. Just because districts no longer have a limit to the size of classes doesn’t mean every classroom will overflow with 40 or 50 kids. However, putting this option on the table as a viable cost-saving measure is a scary political mentality and doesn’t bode well for the next generation of students. States like Florida have passed mandatory limits of 25 students per high school classroom. It’s discouraging to see Ohio moving in the opposite direction. Elected politicians consistently say they have education’s best interest at heart. But until they practice what they preach, all I can say is it’s a good time to be moving on.
Drug use not tolerated in college Dear Editor, As both an athlete and a student involved with several extracurricular activities, I believe random drug testing is a reasonable idea. For those who want to participate in college athletics, like myself, it is a requirement to go through drug testing. By having random drug testing for students in high school, it prepares them for what is expected in the future. Hopefully, this will show young athletes and students who plan on participating in
YOUR VIEW
Testing policy unnecessary, unfair Dear Editor, Mandatory drug testing for students in athletics or extracurriculars is an unnecessary
Principal should have approved film Dear Editor, I am irate that Mrs. Swartz denied our English teachers’ request to show V for Vendetta, a movie based off of George Orwell’s 1984. This film would have enhanced our understanding of the book. Considering that all of us are legally allowed to watch an R-rated film, it makes no sense not to approve it. If we are mature enough to read the novel, why can we not watch the movie? senior Caitlyn Eckhardt
Is it fair to drug test students in sports and extracurriculars?
“No, it isn’t the school’s business to check up on students in regards to what they do in their free time. It’s not their responsibility to make sure we are being good; it’s the responsibility of the police and parents.” junior Nick Topel
“Drug testing will ruin all of our extracurriculars and probably cut most of our sports teams in half.” senior Cody Mason
“Yes, because drugs are a problem and if we do drug tests, extracurriculars and sports will be taken more seriously.” sophomore Erin Rauschenberg
“Drug testing shouldn’t be allowed in school because it is an invasion of students’ privacy and it wouldn’t help the situation” freshman Jenna Reneau
“Athletes should be following the contract, so they shouldn’t have a problem with being drug tested.” junior Alex Zeto
“Yes. Athletes sign a contract at the beginning of the season saying they won’t do drugs. If they sign that contract, they shouldn’t have anything to hide.” junior Brooke Logsdon
Blue & Gold is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the National Scholastic Press Association, Quill & Scroll and the Ohio Scholastic Media Association.
The staff John Sisser Editor-in-chief Kim Maples Feature editor Taylor McGonnell Katie Logsdon Photo co-editors Lexi Perrault Sports editor Leah Cramer Michaela Marincic News co-editors Sam Malloy Advertising editor Kieley Ray Stacy Graham Emily Eckhardt Krystal Kornblatt Shelby Wilson Emily Wolfe Photographers Lydia Bauler Erin Dougherty Reporters Autumn Simmermeyer Artist Jim McGonnell Adviser
blue & gold
friday, april 8, 2011
ENTERTAINMENT
THE GIST OF IT • Tony Award-winning Shrek the Musical will be in Cincinnati. • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I is coming to DVD. • Jennifer Hudson’s album includes strong vocals and variety.
3
the
What’s buzz? 10 things YOU need to check out this week
5
Shrek the musical Animated flicks or album releases not your thing? No problem. Head south on Interstate 75 and catch Shrek the Musical at Proctor & Gamble Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio. See the Broadway hit with songs like Big Bright Beautiful World and Freak Flag. Opening night is Tuesday, April 12, but the show runs until April 20.
City of Fallen Angels Author Cassandra Clare’s popular teen book series, The Mortal Instruments, continue with the fourth installment, City of Fallen Angels. Follow the lead characters Clary, Simon and Jace in this vampire-themed book, now available.
1
Arthur remake in theaters
Off-the-wall comedian Russell Brand and Academy Award-winner Helen Miren team up in this romantic comedy. This remake of a 1981 film centers around a wealthy party boy who is faced with choosing between true love and his fortune. Catch this flick in theaters tonight, April 8.
Shrek
Concert features 30 Seconds to Mars The artists behind songs like The Kill will perform at The Fillmore in Detroit, Mich. next Saturday, April 12. The band, whose hit albums include A Beautiful Lie and This Is War, kick off their performance at 6:30 p.m., but hurry, as tickets won’t last long.
Rio film, stars Anne Hathaway Creators of the Ice Age series are back at it, this time with the story of Rio, a rare parrot who travels to Brazil to meet his mate. With voices from Anne Hathaway and George Lopez, this star-studded animated feature will be a box office smash when it hits theaters Friday, April 15.
Happy Endings premiere Wednesdays on ABC may get funnier. Happy Endings tells the story of a bride and groom who share friends after splitting at the altar. (Awkward…) Catch the premiere April 13 at 9:30 p.m.
Rio
10
Angry Birds Rio app
The first part of the final chapter in the Harry Potter saga hits stores Tuesday, April 12. Now is your chance to relive the magic with your own copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1.
The wildly addictive Angry Birds app has an upgrade. Based off the Rio film by FOX animation, the game has new characters and settings. Get hooked on this app, with 10 million sales and counting.
2
FOX’s Glee is back After a three-week hiatus, FOX’s hit show Glee returns with a Night of Neglect episode. The show will focus on artists that have rarely appeared (or been “neglected”) by the musical comedy. Songs will include Aretha Franklin’s Ain’t No Way and Celine Dion’s All By Myself when it airs Tuesday, April 12 at 8 p.m.
Foo Fighters album Foo Fighters deliver their seventh studio album, Wasting Light, this week. Available Tuesday, April 12, it features their single Rope as well as iTunes Bonus track Better Off.
Harry Potter comes to DVD
Arthur photo: courtesy of ramascreen.com (fair use), Glee photo: freetvguide.org (fair use), Angry Birds Rio photo: esato.com (fair use), Foo Fighters album photo: hypetrak.com (fair use), Shrek photo: broadway.tv (fair use), City of Fallen Angels book photo: mundiesource.net (fair use), 30 Seconds to Mars photo: 30stm.co.cc (fair use), Rio photo: allvoices.com (fair use), Happy Endings photo: blog.newsok.com (fair use), Harry Potter photo: calitreview.com (fair use), Bradley Cooper photo: share.triangle.com (fair use), Hudson photo: beattrend.com (fair use), Spears photo: shoppingblog.com (fair use)
HITor MISS From movies to shows to CDs, we’ve got you covered MOVIES
MUSIC
Lead actors ruin Limitless
The Strokes experiment with new style
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n
By Krystal Kornblatt
Title: Limitless Starring: Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro and Abbie Cornish Plot: Eddie Morra (Cooper) was a wannabe writer with a life no one wanted. When he meets up with his ex-brother-in-law, he takes a “magic” pill that allows him to use his full brain capacity. However, the incredible effects are not without consequences. Why skip it: Although the supporting roles are executed well, the main characters are annoying and overly enthusiastic. The cinematography is very shaky and could make anybody sick, much like an hour-and-a-half long roller coaster ride. Grade: C-
Cooper
Saw creators keep scare factor in Insidious n
By Lexi Perrault
Title: Insidious Starring: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne Plot: Josh (Wilson) and Renai (Byrne) move into a new house with their three kids. When their oldest son Dalton falls into an unexplainable coma, strange things start happening in the house. Alarms go off, whispers are heard through a baby monitor and bloody handprints appear on Dalton’s sheets, leading Renai to believe the house is haunted. But the couple soon finds out this isn’t the case and the true problem lies within Dalton. Why see it: The directors of the first Saw movie bring to the screen an original horror movie that doesn’t rely on cheap ‘pop out’ moments to scare the audience. Though the first half of the movie is extremely creepy, the film starts to lose steam as the explanation of the hauntings unfold. Grade: B
Spears’ finds success with seventh CD n
By Emily Wolfe
Album: Angles Artist: The Strokes Sound: Indie Rock Last Release: First Impressions of Earth Why buy it: Although a handful of songs are like their last album, this CD widens the genre of The Strokes’ music. The rough voice of lead singer Julian Casablanca plays throughout the whole album, giving listeners a taste of their classic sound. You’re so Right has a retro-futuristic style that shows a new side of the band. On the other hand, Under the Cover of Darkness is much like their previous hits. The album may have a different sound, but it still shows the band can conquer any genre and still please their audience. Download this: Machu Picchu Grade: B
Album: Femme Fatale Artist: Britney Spears Sound: Pop Last Release: Circus Why buy it: Spears puts together a nonstop party mix with Femme Fatale. Many tracks are fun and upbeat but lack originality. Others songs, like Criminal, stand out, as they are darker and more mysterious. The album touches both ends of the pop spectrum with great variety. Download this: Gasoline Grade: B Spears
Kelley has strong country debut with Georgia Clay n
Hudson shows variety in second album n
By Erin Dougherty
Album: I Remember Me Artist: Jennifer Hudson Sound: R&B Last Release: Jennifer Hudson (debut album) Why buy it: Hudson’s new album includes a variety of songs that will keep listeners entertained. Songs like Angel and I Remember Me are faster paced and carry a good tune while tracks like Why Is It So Hard and Still Here are slower and relaxed. Whether you are a long time fan of Hudson or just looking for something new to listen to, this album won’t disappoint. Download this: Gone Hudson Grade: A
By Shelby Wilson
By Lydia Bauler
Album: Georgia Clay Artist: Josh Kelley Sound: Country Last release: To Remember Why buy it: The album, filled with charm and nostalgic lyrics, showcases Kelley’s soulful voice. His vocals are smooth, without a hint of outdated twang or pop, and the melodies compliment his deep husky voice. While the instrumentals are somewhat forgettable, the whole package is great. Download this: Gone Like That Grade: B
3 TOP
albums on the Billboard 200 chart
1. F.A.M.E. Chris Brown
2. I Remember Me Jennifer Hudson
3. 21 Adele
blue & gold
4
friday, april 8, 2011
THE GIST OF IT • Food Services plans to update technology in the cafeteria. • Local newscasters hit the court to raise money for school programs. • We the People members will compete against 51 teams at nationals.
NEWS/FEATURE
MUSIC FOR MEALS
COMING SOON
Student band helps raise money
TV news team plays faculty in basketball
CROWDPLEASER
n
Newscasters from the 13 ABC All-Star Team will face faculty members in a basketball game April 9 at 8 p.m. in the main gym. Ticket proceeds go toward alumni scholarships and the athletic department. “Seeing results from many other schools Channel 13 has played, they get good crowds, so this is what we hope happens with us,” Alumni Director Roger Powell said. Tickets are $3 and available in the athletic office, at Main Street News and at the door.
Juniors Danny Pfaltzgraf and Greg Ornella strike a chord with their band We are Chimaera during the Second Annual Comedy Night. Proceeds from the evening went to the Family First Council Summer Food Program, which feeds lowincome children when school is out of session. “It was fun, and there was a good crowd that was very receptive of us,” Ornella said. “It was a good feeling knowing we were helping benefit kids who don’t have lunches.”
Cabaret features songs chosen by FFE members n
Machines make buying lunch easier By Michaela Marincic
New technology similar to checkout machines used in stores will make getting through the lunch line faster and easier. Known as point of sale, this technology allows students to pay for their lunch by logging into an electronic account that parents can restock over the Internet. “It has advantages in a lot of ways,” Food Services Director Teresa Welty said. “There are no tickets to keep track of and punch. “It’s proven that lunch lines move faster, which benefits students and staff and is timeefficient. And it’s completely confidential, which is a huge reason I like the program.” Programs allowing parents to deposit money into their child’s lunch fund online are already used in local school systems, including Liberty-Benton and Van Buren. Cafeteria employee Tina Rumschlag asked her former boss about using the technology here nine years ago, but nothing came of it.
DRUG USE
“I have a friend who is a cashier at Hopewell-Loudon (High School) and really likes the system; they’ve had it for several years,” the lunchroom cashier said. “It’s odd we’re this far behind because most schools have it by now.” Having worked with similar systems before, Principal Victoria Swartz assures the devices are “parent- and student-friendly,” especially for those on special lunch plans. “It helps keep students’ dignity intact if they are on free or reduced lunch because they don’t have to use a ticket that shows they are different,” Swartz said. The system also acts as a security measure, preventing students from spending their parents’ money on items other than food and making sure someone isn’t getting two meals or taking another student’s lunch ticket or free/reduced lunch. “I’m very happy about it,” Rumschlag said. “It will be easier to track student lunches, since
48 29
alcohol- or drug-related discipline incidents arose in 2008-09
52
incidents were reported in 2009-10 Percentage according to a November 2010 survey of 1,364 students.
technically they are only allowed to buy one meal per day by law. “We’ve also had fraud. A girl last year used another name to get free lunches the entire year and we didn’t catch her.” Point of sale machines would prevent qthis type of theft because a picture of the student appears on the screen when their ID number is entered. Along with the photo, information about the student appears, such as food allergies. “If the student has a peanut allergy, for example, and a cashier sees that child trying to buy a nutty bar, they can stop them,” Swartz said. “It’s a failsafe for allergies.” With all of these benefits, the Food Services director is gung-ho to get point of sale machines installed in the cafeteria. “I’m very open to the idea and familiar with it,” Welty said. “It’s just a matter of accepting that it’s time to move forward in the Food Services Department.”
LUNCH ROOM
Although the cost will be steep, principal Victoria Swartz believes it would be money well spent. “Saving the life and future of one student would make the cost all worth it,” Swartz said. “We want to use drug testing as a way to get students help, not to get them in trouble legally or academically.” While the policy is still being created, administrators will work together with students who test positive and their families. “The parents will be notified immediately and we will meet with the student and their family to discuss consequences that
will involve some kind of opportunity for counseling or rehab,” Swartz said. A positive drug test will not appear on a student’s academic record, nor will the law get involved unless drugs are actually found in a student’s possession. “The policy is still being developed, but the only penalties that will be included will be the taking away of privileges,” Swartz said. “We need to focus on getting students help and giving them an incentive to say no.” Not all students agree that drug use is an issue administrators should get involved in. “It (drug testing) is stupid because they should let us do what we want to as
Perfect for a quick lunch We honor the FHS Academic Card 510 South Blanchard Street in Findlay 419 • 422 • 3863
point of sale (POS) units purchased
Prom tickets go on sale
$18,900
n
expected cost of the machines and wiring
April 25 installation scheduled to be complete by the end of spring break
7-8 min. average time to get all students through the lunch line each period, according to a Food Services study; POS can lower this time
long as we’re doing our school work and participating,” senior Zach Copus said. “It’s an invasion of students’ privacy because what kids do outside of school is none of the school’s business.” While random drug testing is a costly and controversial issue, district officials believe it will be a positive step in helping students. “In life, workers are held accountable for their actions, just like students are held accountable for theirs in school,” Athletic Director Nate Weihrauch said. “Drug testing ultimately continues to help all school activities grow with members who understand the responsibilities of positive behavior.”
junior Abby Kehres
By Michaela Marincic
Prom tickets will be sold May 3-12 in the SAC office and will cost $20 for juniors and $15 for seniors. Light Up the Night is the nightclub-inspired theme for the dance. “It will have a club atmosphere with lots of black with pop colors and neon and black lights,” junior Morgan Burke, prom committee member, said. “We wanted it to be different from the rest of the years and not do something stereotypical like Hawaiian or Evening in Paris.” The dance will be May 14 from 8-11 p.m. at the University of Findlay’s Student Union.
AP Government students contend for national title n
By Michaela Marincic
Members of the Advanced Placement Government class will compete at We the People National Finals in Washington, D.C. April 28-May 3, continuing a 10-year tradition. At the national competition, students will present their knowledge of the Constitution before judges who then cross-examine them. “They have to be prepared for anything related to their information,” adviser Mark Dickman said. “They might prepare 2,000 things to say, but maybe only 20 of them will be asked about. “They have to do a lot of application, evaluation and higher-order thinking.” This marks the 20th time in 24 years the class qualified for nationals.
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HEADS UP
12
Administrators hope drug testing will lead to help for students continued from front page
percent said that drugs are a problem in the high school
By Lydia Bauler
Findlay First Edition’s (FFE) Cabaret will jazz up the auditorium May 6 at 7:30 p.m. and May 7 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The show offers a variety of numbers chosen by members. “In Cabaret, the students are able to perform their own kind of music,” senior Christine Wagner said. “The audience will get to see the students’ individuality instead of viewing them just as a group.” Admission is $5 for students and $8 for adults. Tickets will be sold during periods 4-7 in front of the auditorium May 2-6.
photo by Taylor McGonnell
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By Michaela Marincic
Upcoming Test Dates: May 7 & June 4 Learn More, Register and Get Free Practice Tools: www.SATSubjectTests.org
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© 2011 The College Board
blue & gold
FEATURE Find out three ways to plan the big day on your dime n By Kim Maples
There are certain traditions that are hard to forgo, but there’s more than one way to do Prom, depending on who you are and how much you have left in your bank account. Even though guys don’t have to spend money on a dress, they still have multiple expenses. Here are some ideas on how to plan your evening on your own budget.
Cheap
• Prom attendees with a cheap budget can save on gas by biking. • If you plan to spend an average amount, buy a corsage at the grocery store. • Big spenders can book a Hummer limo for an entire day.
on your budget
Expensive
Tuxedo: Salvation Army
Tuxedo: Rent one
Tuxedo: Buy one
The tux can be the most expensive prom item for guys. Thank goodness Salvation Army always offers deals on clothing. Even if they don’t have a tuxedo, they might have a suit, and that’s close enough.
American Commodore tuxedo in the mall may be one of the only places in town to rent a tux, but they have so many colors and styles there’s no need to go somewhere else. Make sure you color-coordinate with your date beforehand to avoid clashing.
Wearing pre-worn clothes isn’t your style, and you never know when a nice tuxedo might be useful, so maybe it’s best to just keep one handy. American Commodore Tuxedo offers them for $160.
Save on gas and help the environment by pedaling to Prom on your bike. Your date can fit on the back or in the little basket on the front, but avoid catching her dress in the spokes. If you own one, attach a side carrier to the back and try to fit her in. Don’t forget the helmets!
Corsage: A garden While you’re biking to your date’s house, stop by a random garden and pick a few flowers. Tie them together with a bit of ribbon, or if you don’t have one on hand, a rubber band will do. Make sure to brush off the bugs before you try to slip it on her wrist.
senior Michael Leonard
Transportation: Limo
Pick the nicest car between you and your date and ride to prom on your own dime. It’s not the most luxurious ride out there, but give it a good vacuuming and a nice air freshener and it’s as good as new.
Ride in style with a 2010 Hummer H2 Limousine from First Class Limos in Toledo. For a mere $1,400, you can party with a lit floor and ceiling, three TVs and a fiber optics show for six hours.
Corsage: Flower shop
Flowers are flowers, no matter where they come from. Check out the selection at Walmart and Meijer, or cruise over to Great Scot. Keep an eye out for coupons in local ads to save even more.
Order some fresh flowers at Gina Lynne Floral & Design and have your driver go by to pick them up. Why stop at a corsage when you can get an entire bracelet of orchids and roses for $29? Add optional beads for an extra ‘glam’ factor. Hoban Leonard
Dinner: McDonald’s Even the hungriest couple can eat for cheap at McDonald’s. Featuring a dollar menu with such favorites as the McDouble and McChicken, you and your date can both find something you’ll enjoy. Pull out her plastic chair like a gentleman and grab some napkins in case you drip ketchup on your suit.
After party: Sneak in
Schumacher and Malec
Don’t spend your own money when you can get free food and entertainment at someone else’s party. Sneak into one with a lot of guests so you’ll blend in, but move on before people start asking questions.
senior Connor Hoban
Transportation: Car
Corsage: Grocery store
Malec
5
THE GIST OF IT
Moderate
Transportation: Bicycle
seniors Brandon Malec and Liza Schumacher
Prom
friday, friday, january april28, 8, 2011
Dinner: Fifi’s restaurant
Dinner: Max & Erma’s
With French menu items like Filet Mignon and Boeuf au Fromage, you know Fifi’s Restaurant is expensive. Ordering a couple of prime steaks for you and your date could rack up a bill close to $60. They even have a wine menu. Even though you can’t order from it, it still screams high class.
This restaurant is perfect for prom groups who don’t want to break the bank for dinner. A standard selection of soups, salads and sandwiches ensures that everyone will find something they like. Your date will be charmed when you pick up the bill afterwards.
After party: Castaway Bay
After party: Your house Stock up on the soda and snacks to throw your own after party. The best part about hosting at your own house is you get to pick both the guest list and the music. Unfortunately, you also have to take care of the mess afterwards.
Leonard
CCGs, RPGs, minis, games, and more
Hop in your limo and party to Sandusky, where you, your friends and family can check into a Bayside Seahorse Suite at Castaway Bay. You get passes to the hotel’s indoor water park and you can throw in day passes to Cedar Point as well for a grand total of $543 per room.
Hoban and senior Nicole Bosse photos by Taylor McGonnell
BIG PICTURE THE GIST OF IT
• All 48 students who auditioned for the show were cast. • Students on the production staff helped with set design and lights. • The cast performed 16 songs, including Day by Day and Beautiful City.
6
friday, april 8, 2011 blue & gold
HEAR US
photo by Taylor McGonnell
Sophomore Price Anders (Marty) sings We Beseech Thee as the gangster disciple. The musical, Godspell, uses comedy and songs to tell the story of Jesus and his disciples. The spring production ran April 1-3.
GREEDY
photo by Krystal Kornblatt
photo by Taylor McGonnell
Junior Jenna McGlade (Courtney) plays a selfish rich man in the spring production of Godspell. The moral of the parable is that no man can serve both God and money.
PRAY
photo by Emily Eckhardt
Senior Sarah Black (Ann) narrates a biblical story during Godspell. Musical practices started at the beginning of January.
PARCHED
Junior Kai Roberts (Ernest) pretends to be a dried up seed, not absorbing the word of Jesus. Ernest is the class clown and does many different imitations.
SHOW STOPPER
photo by Taylor McGonnell
photo by Emily Wolfe
photo by Taylor McGonnell
photo by Emily Wolfe
Junior Leah Cramer (chorus) acts out the tale of the Good Samaritan. The cast used sock puppets, putting a twist on the story.
PUPPETEER
Senior Sophie Miller (Rose) leads the crowd in a game of charades. In this scene, Jesus plays Bible quotations and has the community trying to guess what he is acting out.
GUESS
Cast members finish their routine for O, Bless the Lord, My Soul. The fast-paced Gospel-style number in Act I featured a solo by senior Sophie Miller.
GET MAD
Senior Isaac Steinhour (Jesus) sings Alas For You. In this emotional song, he gets angry with his followers, calling them hypocrites.
friday, april 8, 2011
blue & gold
FEATURE QUAKE STATS Here are some statistics from Japan’s recent earthquake and tsunami disaster:
• A 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck 80 miles off the coast of Japan. • The nation now faces the looming threat of a nuclear meltdown. • Students sacrifice items during Lent to focus more on their religions.
Former students safe after record quake in Japan causes tsunami n By Kim Maples
Japanese yen projected cost to rebuild the country, equivalent to $309 billion
On a Friday afternoon in mid-March, 2010 Findlay High School (FHS) graduate Haruka Nakaura was a few minutes into the movie Inception at her home in the Aichi prefecture (state) of Japan. On screen, Leonardo DiCaprio’s dream world began to crumble. At the same time in real life, Japan was falling apart, too. “I really didn’t believe it actually happened until my phone started beeping. It was a text from the phone company saying ‘Turn on the TV, earthquake,’” Nakaura said. “It was all a mess. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I saw what happened.” Nakaura saw reports of a 9.0-magnitude earthquake, the largest in the recorded history of the country. But the damage caused by the earthquake was nothing compared to the wake of the tsunami it triggered. The wave washed up to six miles inland, destroying houses, cars and entire cities in its path.
8-inch
In the dark
12,596
people killed, and the number is rising
14,747
or more people missing, though some may be included in the death toll
25 trillion
crack found at the Fukushima nuclear plant leaking radioactive water
12
mile radius around the nuclear plant evacuated due to possibility of a full meltdown
sources: BBC, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, CNN
7
THE GIST OF IT
Nakaura lives around 350 miles from the epicenter and only felt a 3.0-magnitude quake. “We are so lucky,” Nakaura said. “I have friends in Tokyo who had blackouts, so they had no power for a couple hours a day. The trains didn’t work, which is a major transportation in Japan. “I knew what an earthquake was, but I hadn’t experienced it. I wanted to experience it, actually. But now that I know what it does and I’ve seen the effects, I regret it.” 2010 FHS graduate Kanae Hirayanagi also felt the tremor in Hamamatsu, a city in the Shizuoka prefecture of Japan. “I was in a shopping mall, and I first thought I was feeling dizzy, but it was the earthquake,” Hirayanagi said. “I had to hold onto something.” After the catastrophe, families and friends clogged the country’s communication systems to try to contact each other. “I have a few friends in Tokyo
and they’re all fine, but they were panicking,” Hirayanagi said. “They were using the social networking systems to tell us, because all the phone lines are closed.”
Meltdown Now, Japan struggles with radioactive leakage and faces the threat of a nuclear meltdown after reactors failed to cool. Residents in Tokyo were warned about a week after the quake that the tap water was not safe for infants. “I’m moving to Tokyo next month, and the water there is contaminated with radioactivity, so I’ll have to watch it,” Hirayanagi said. “Since they announced the contamination, people are buying all the bottled water. Even where I live, it’s always sold out.” Adding to the confusion are hundreds of aftershocks, several occurring every day. “There are still aftershocks so it’s still not safe to go to the affected area,” former FHS student Rina Ishikawa said. “But the images they show on the TV of the aftermath make me want to go help them right now.
Rina Ishikawa
Haruka Nakaura
“The images are devastating and I cannot imagine myself being in that kind of disaster.” The crisis has prompted a flow of aid from other countries and parts of Japan. “When I go to the city, instead of street performers, there are so many charities trying to raise money so they can send stuff to the people who were affected,” Nakaura said. “Everyone’s taking part in rebuilding Japan.”
Helping hand Hirayanagi, however, thinks the country needs more assistance. “We need more help from all over the world,” she said. “We’re running out of supplies, and we don’t have enough gas to carry the supplies (we have). That’s the biggest problem right now.” But both graduates have received support from their friends back in America. “Everyone messaged me after the earthquake, and it was so nice that even people I didn’t know were thinking of me,” Nakaura said. “Because of the messages, I feel like I got through it better.”
Kanae Hirayanagi
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant
9.0-magnitude earthquake
Japan
Tokyo Kasugai Toyota Hamamatsu
graphic by Kim Maples
Christians sacrifice favorite things during 40 days of Lent n By Kim Maples
Think of the thing that you love most in the world. Maybe it’s a technology like your cell phone, or a food like chocolate or maybe even an activity like watching TV. Now, at this very moment, you have to give it up. Not just for today, or even until tomorrow, but for the next 40 days. The thought may be impossible to some, but for followers of several Christian denominations, it’s a yearly sacrifice made during Lent, a religious season between Ash Wednesday and Easter. “I decided to give up Facebook for Lent, because a lot of times it’s an excuse not to do homework or work on other things,” senior Katie Collingwood said. “I figured if I gave up something that took up a lot of time in my day, it would give me more time to focus on God
and my religion.” The practice of Lent is symbolic of a biblical story about Jesus fasting in the desert for 40 days, according to St. Michael’s Associate Pastor Shaji Thomas. To observe the Lenten season, followers are encouraged to pray, perform more charity work and fast, including the tradition of not eating meat on Fridays. Some observers give up a personal vice to allow more time for praying and charity. “Some people give up cookies or chocolates, alcohol, soda, specifically one item. That’s part of a sacrifice,” Thomas said. “They become more and more aware about their sinful situations and thoughts and give those up. “The main purpose of observing Lent is to become more perfect and closer to Jesus.” Senior Tressa Hutton also embraced the
idea of sacrifice by giving up meat for the season. However, she can eat fish because it’s not considered meat in her faith. “I wanted to be able to give up something that I really love and eat all the time, to show that I can do it,” Hutton said. “The premise behind it is to give up something you feel you can’t live without, and realizing you can.” Of course, religious intentions sometimes meet with earthly temptations. “I work at a Lebanese restaurant and it’s really hard when I’m at work or when my mom makes something with meat,” Hutton said. “I always end up eating a lot more fruit and veggies. It gets really repetitive with stuff I can and cannot eat.” While Hutton finds herself inconvenienced by her sacrifice, Collingwood is fine without Facebook.
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“I thought it was going to be hard, but it’s not,” she said. “It’s actually nice not to have to worry about keeping updated on people’s lives. It’s really not any of my business. “I feel like I’m just out of the drama and I could worry about homework and scholarships and other important things.” Calling attention to the more important things in life is a primary idea of Lent, though some people who don’t celebrate the holiday might not know this purpose. “A lot of people don’t understand why we do it,” Hutton said. “They see it as, ‘Why don’t you give up something you don’t eat? Why don’t you give up broccoli?’ “It’s supposed to show that you can live without something. It’s to help make you a better person. Jesus gave up his life for us, and I should be able to give up something for him.”
175
“I figured if I gave up something that took up a lot of time in my day, it would give me more time to focus on God.” senior Katie Collingwood
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On the web
ONLINE OPINION
Baseball returns 10 lettermen
Online
More sports updates on blueandgoldtoday.org
Have you forgiven LeBron James for leaving the Cavaliers? Yes, I have No, and I won’t
Boys Track
Girls Track
Team hopes to place in top three of GBC
Young talent important to girls track team
Don’t care Vote at blueandgoldtoday.org
senior Jojo Brigadoi
senior Katie Huber
junior Zac Brown
blue & goldsports Friday, April 8, 2011
Triple threat
Training never stops for three-sport athlete n By Lexi Perrault
From intercepting a pass to scoring a goal to hitting a homerun, senior Alex Henry can do it all. Literally. Instead of focusing on one sport like many athletes, Henry plays a different one each season, sharing his talents in football, hockey and baseball. “I have been playing each sport for various teams ever since I was little,” he said. “The challenge of playing three sports is not having any time off to focus on just one sport.”
Balancing act Although this hectic schedule could be overwhelming, Henry prioritizes his activities. “I balance sports, school and social life by always having school and my grades my first priority,” he said. “My second is sports and making it to the practices and lifting when I’m not too busy with school. “Third, the little free time I find, I spend with my friends or sleep.” The senior has learned life lessons from balancing a busy schedule. “From playing these sports I’ve learned how to always work hard and stay dedicated,” Henry said. “Even when I am tired I push through it to work hard at practices and become a better athlete. This all applies for college and a job later in life.”
Leads by example Baseball coach Jeff Stutzman believes the senior has many qualities that make him a unique three-sport athlete. “Alex (Henry) has played on varsity for four years and is a tremendous leader,” Stutzman said. “What helps him transition from sport to sport are three things: his attitude, quickness and speed. As a coach, you never have to worry about Alex.” Henry’s mother, Donna, knows her son has made many sacrifices in order to be successful. “He had to maintain his school work and make sacrifices in his social life to commit to each sport at a high level,” she said. “He is very determined and can achieve anything he has an interest in.” After just finishing his hockey season and beginning baseball, Henry hopes to continue playing one of these next year. “I am looking to play baseball in college, but if that does not follow through, I will play club hockey at Dayton or Miami (Ohio),” Henry said. Though his future is still undecided, he has learned a lot from being a three-sport athlete. “I will never regret playing three sports because of the great experiences I have had,” Henry said. “Playing these sports has definitely taught me that my hard work does pay off, and I enjoyed meeting different groups of athletes and becoming close with all of them.”
Senior Alex Henry runs the ball in football, waits for a pass in hockey, and scores a run in baseball. The three-sport athlete balances his time between varsity sports, school, sleep and a social life.
LEADERSHIP
photos by Taylor McGonnell, Stacy Graham and Katie Logsdon
Softball team sets high expectations
Tennis seeks eighth league title n By Lexi Perrault
With seven Greater Buckeye Conference (GBC) titles already in the bag, the boys tennis team is hoping to finish the final year of the league with a perfect record. Coach Ray Elbin knows his team is more than capable of capturing the crown. “Winning the GBC every year it has been in existence shows that we’ve been a good and consistent team for quite a while and we can continue that this year,” he said. “Napoleon and Fremont will be our toughest challenges because they have five returning starters.” In order to prepare for GBC matches, the team plays a tough non-league schedule. “We play (Toledo) St. John’s, (Lakewood) St. Edwards and other difficult teams during the year in order to get a feel for what competition will be like,” senior Connor Hoban said. “Overall, we stand a good chance of beating these teams because we are strong in every
area of the game. “We’ll have to come out on a good day and perform at our top level.” Though winning the conference title is the team’s goal, Hoban and junior Chikara Oshima have even higher individual aspirations. “Connor and I normally play as singles, but we want to win state as a doubles team,” Oshima said. “We communicate well on the court and put a lot of time into practicing together, so the title is definitely within our reach.” Though Hoban acknowledges that getting to state for everyone on the team will be a challenge, he believes they have potential. “We have a very strong singles line up (Oshima, Hoban, sophomore Lucas Shaible) who practice a lot in the off-season,” he said. “The rest of the team is talented as well. “We have a lot of natural athleticism and drive to win. We all work hard and get each other motivated.”
Greater Buckeye Conference Napoleon leads all-sports race As the final sports season of the GBC gets underway, here are the current standings for the all-sports award:
Napoleon Findlay Fremont Sandusky Marion Harding Lima Senior
65.5 65.0 53.0 39.0 26.0 23.5
3
n By Lexi Perrault
FOREHAND
Junior Chikara Oshima returns the tennis ball during practice. The team is back in action Monday 4:30 p.m. with Maumee. photo by Taylor McGonnell
things to know about new softball coach Jake Trevino
Although the softball team is off to a bumpy start, the girls are hoping to capture the Greater Buckeye Conference (GBC) title. With an 0-6 record so far, senior Caitlyn Eckhardt believes the team can make improvements and accomplish their goal. “We want to win the GBC,” Eckhardt said. “To do that we need to work hard on defense and not make little errors that kill us. “We also need to work on our consistency with hitting.” Other goals are also important to the team, according to coach Jake Trevino. “My goal is to have them play every game like it is their last,” Trevino said. “We also hope they can have a combined batting average above .350. “We have strong pitching and hitting, but we need to work on our defense.”
Varsity records (as of April 6)
n By Lydia Bauler
Joaquin (Jake) Trevino is stepping up to the plate as head varsity softball coach, making him the third the team has had in three years.
1. “I jumped on the chance to coach when I heard the position opened up,” Trevino said. “It has been three years since I’ve had a head coaching job.” 2. “My coaching style is aggressive,” he said. “I believe in taking risks and having the kids take chances on their own.”
Baseball Boys Tennis Boys Track Girls Track Softball
4-1 3-1 8-2 8-2 0-6
3. “My goal is that the girls learn about respect, committment and work ethic from the game, which transfers to life,” Trevino said. senior Brock Ammons
Trevino
junior McKenzie Curlis