First Day 2013

Page 1

VOLUME 91, ISSUE 1

FIRST DAY 2013

SANDPOINT HIGH SCHOOL, SANDPOINT ID

SUMMER SNAPSHOTS>>p.4

HOMECOMING p.8<<HUNGER

>>

FALL PREVIEW p.6

Recently at SHS

SHS retains five-star status

Following submission of information to the state of Idaho, Sandpoint High School can again referr to themself as a “Five-Star High School” for the 2013-2014 school year. Idaho schools with a grade 12 are measured based on academic growth and proficiency, postsecondary and career readiness and student participation in testing. “I’m happy to report we don’t have to take the banner down out front!” SHS principal Becky Meyer said. Additionally, Meyer explained that the banner will be able to stay up for two more years. “Idaho is in transition to the Smarter Balanced Assessment this year instead of ISATs,” Meyer said. “Every student except seniors will take it this year as a pilot year. Whatever students DESI STORKS | PHOTO EDITOR received last year on the ISATs will n LANE LINE: Junior Sara Ahern rides her bike down the bike lane at the corner of Oak street and Third Avenue. This particular intersection is the meeting of two routes (City Loop and carry forward and this year the SBAC will just be piloted to norm and referEast West) on the new “Explore Sandpoint!” bike route around Sandpoint. Explore Sandpoint! also includes a route from downtown to Sandpoint High School. ence the new test.” Meyer also expressed excitement to report that SHS’s SAT results increased in all three areas over the previous year.

‘EXPLORE SANDPOINT!’

ENHANCES BIKE ROUTES

City committee of volunteers in cooporation with City Council strive to enhance bicycle safety in the Sandpoint downtown core and outlying areas including SHS Emily Chatburn Staff Member

Explore Sanpoint! is a collaboration of city council and Sandpoint pedestrian and committee volunteers, who have been working to designate bike routes in order to improve the safety of bike transportation. The main designated route that they have created is to get people from residential areas into either the downtown core or city beach. This route consists of 3rd street going north and south, and Oak Street going east and west. However, there are other routes throughout Sandpoint such as Ella Avenue and Boyer Road going north and south. Sandpoint High School and students biking to school were considered during the planning and implementation of the Explore Sandpoint! plan. Division Street connects with downtown via Larch street on the north side and Ontario/Lakeview at the south. Students are encouraged to take this route on the way to school. The goal of these routes are to provide a safer way for bicyclists to move between Sandpoint’s downtown core and outlying areas. “The question was: how could we get a 10-year old from a residential area to city beach safely?” Bruce Robertson from the City of Sandpoint Public Works Department said. A sign that is used to help designate bike lanes is the “sharrow”. The sharrow is a symbol of a bike with a chevron on the top that goes on roads without bike lanes. It also can

be put on roads with lanes, but the chevron is taken off the top. The purpose of this symbol is to inform cars and bikes that the street is shared for use. According to Biology teacher and avid biker Jim Barton, the painted lines have been a huge help. “I have noticed that the painted bike lanes encourage drivers to give you more room, and they do not seem to crowd you to the edge as much.” Nevertheless, there are still some safety issues that need to be addressed. A certain issue is the education of both cyclists and drivers. Both need to be aware of when the other one is required by law to stop, and when one is not. For example, a bicycle is required to come to a complete stop at a stoplight but then can continue on, whereas a car must wait for the light to change. This is among other rules that both participants of the road should be aware of. Although there is some education that needs to be shared, the awareness of bikes on roads throughout Sandpoint is improving greatly. Senior Austin Diercks is comfortable with Sandpoint as a bike and car friendly town. “I do feel safe. I feel like the drivers around here are pretty courteous and aware of bikers,” Diercks said. Robertson encouraged students to ride their bikes to school whenever possible, describing what a “great deal that is” and how the Explore Sandpont! committee is “delighted to see kids on bikes.”

Bike Myth v. Fact STOP

MYTH: Bikes must stop for stop signs in Idaho. FACT: Idaho code allows bikes to treat a stop sign like a yield sign.

MYTH: Bikes must obey traffic lights in the same way that motor vehicles do.

MYTH: Motor vehicles must stop for bicyclists on their bikes in a crosswalk. FACT: Motor vehicles do not need to stop for a cyclist UNLESS they are off and walking their bike.

TYSON BIRD | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SIX THINGS TO KNOW FOR HOMECOMING 2013

1

Everything except the dance has a Hunger

2

There’s a food drive this year, and food will

Games theme.

4

Powderpuff practices are on September 16 and 18 at 5:30 pm

5

be collected in your 2B class.

The dance is at the Events Center. Tickets are $5 presale and $8 at the door.

3 Football plays Timberlake on Friday at 7. The Dogs beat them last year.

6 The dress-up days all start with the same letter as the day (i.e. “twin Tuesday”)

As part of a district-wide program called “Technology Infused Classrooms”, the Lake Pend Oreille School district will equip 30 classrooms district-wide with full sets of Apple iPads. 61 teachers applied for the Technology Infused Classroom though only 30 received the grant. Eight Sandpoint High School teachers received one of these class sets for this year: Jim Barton, Mamie Brubaker, Kelli Knowles, Mary Bird, Mike Martz, Amy Yost, Erica Haynes and Lori Bocksch. The selected teachers three days in August training and learning how to best use the iPads in their class. “My ultimate goal is to connect with another classroom someday,” Spanish teacher Lori Bocksch said. “Whether through FaceTime, Skype, I’m not sure, but that is my end goal for the iPads. I still have a lot to learn before I get to that step, though.”

Remsen leads dance team

FACT: Bikes may completely stop and then continue through the intersection.

MYTH: Bikes are allowed to ride on the sidewalk in Sandpoint FACT: Sandpoint code prevents bikes on the sidewalk in the downtown core, but bikes may be on sidewalks in the rest of the city.

Teachers recieve class iPads

Following the departure of longtime Sandpoint dance coach Cindy Smith, Alyssa Remsen has been installed as the new dance coach for Sandpoint High School. Remsen has been a longtime Sandpoint resident and was a member of dance team herself, dancing under the direction of Cindy Smith. “I spent four years with coach Smith when I was in high school,” Remsen said during Meet the Bulldogs. “I’m excited to carry on the tradition she started.” In addition to dancing for SHS, Remsen also spent last year as assistant coach, teaching technique, helping at events, and getting to know the team. Along with a new coach, dance is also under leadership of new captains. Senior Hailey Nutt leads as captain, Brelylan Martin as co-captain and Katie Maddux and Jordan Garrett as lieutenant captains.

2013 SHS DAILY BELL SCHEDULE 7:00-7:55 8:00-9:28 9:33-11:04

EARLY BIRD FIRST PERIOD SECOND PERIOD

11:04-11:37 11:37-1:05

FIRST LUNCH THIRD PERIOD

11:09-12:37 12:37-1:10

THIRD PERIOD SECOND LUNCH

1:10-2:38 2:38-3:15 3:00-3:10

FOURTH PERIOD AFTERSCHOOL ACCESS BUSES ARRIVE


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