Countryside High School Paw Print Newspaper Volume 40 Issue 3

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Fashion Trends Over the Years

40 YEARS OF PAW PRINT AT COUNTRYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

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Countryside Graduates Return to Teach

Countryside Athletes Hall of Fame

Date: 02.14.19 Issue: 3 Volume: 40 cnmcountryside.com

1979-2019

Features

February 14, 2019 | Issue 3 | Paw Print Newspaper

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There’s no place like home...

Former Countryside students return to their Alma Mater as teachers sofiaBURGOS

staff writer

From student to educator, some of the teachers that Countryside loves most used to sit in the same seats you are in right now. Attending Countryside then and looking at it now, there have been changes and developments made throughout the years that present students might not notice.

Mrs. Michael, who teaches multiple areas of math, says “the campus is more secure and safe now than it was then.”

Mr. Leo graduated in 1986. He shared that the school was very different when he attended CHS, and explained that “there was an ROTC program where people wore military uniforms and got to experience what a military career may be like.

There were also eastern and western humanities, which discussed the art, travel, and culture of

both humanities,” explained Leo, where he then emphasized that it was one of his favorite classes. “We even had an auto mechanic and woodshop course.”

Technology has been a big factor in change for schools especially. Educators now have the ability to go into their computers and change grades or assignments when needed. Recent technology has also made students’ lives easier with the online grade book. Utensils like Smart Boards and Elmos have made teaching much more efficient.

Rice noted that “there was no Portal or grade system that allowed students to keep track of their grades.”

Michael says, “When attending Countryside I do not remember feeling the stress and pressure my students deal with now.”

The overall developments that have been made to the school are to keep students and staff safe and happy while also offering the best education to our student body.

M

2 0 1 9

2 0 0 0

rs. Rice is now a guidance counselor at Countryside High School, after attending the school herself. The picture on the left shows Mrs. Rice going to a school dance in high school. On the right, 19 years later, Mrs. Rice is pictured as a faculty member.

The long standing tradition of Inductions continues sayreSHIVELY

business manager

Inductions have been a theater activity that has gone on for years.

“Inductions is a learning process of who may or may not be able to act, to come and express themselves in different characters within a big organization.” Christian Ponce said, a senior at Countryside. There is a lot to do for inductions, for example, an audition. Students have the choices of singing, dancing, or acting, along with a special talent. After auditions, inductees are given a mentor, who partakes in “clue week”, which is similar to a Secret Santa. Once mentors are revealed so are the characters. Participating

$

in Inductions gives an incredible honor to become a part of the International Thespian Society.

“It looks good on college resumes especially if you want to become an actor.” Ponce said.

Teachers look forward to Inductions every year as well. Ms. Gerakios is an English teacher at Countryside and she is the perfect example of someone who had an outside perspective of Inductions. Ms. Gerakios was a theater teacher at Clearwater high school as well as an English teacher.

“I was never inducted in high school because I was shy, the only differences were that there were no characters from movies, shows, any of that. Our characters were from Broadway shows,”

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Gerakios said.

Everyone has a different story, even from an outside view. Mr. Angelo, the hall monitor, also loves inductions here at Countryside.

“I like the free expression every student has, and for them to get into character. You don’t see it from most students.” Angelo has never had any Thespian organizations or anything similar to Inductions.

“I never had it, if there was, I would never forget the amazing experiences like now.” Everyone has different opinions, or perspectives, of inductions, even teachers. Keep an eye out for Inductions this year, as the inductees are already hard at work preparing their characters.

Opinion

February 14, 2019 | Issue 3 | Paw Print Newspaper

3

Was high school better then or now? loganSCHNEITER

1979

2019

Standing for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, this popular show aired for eleven years.

Season eight will air on April 15, 2019, after nearly two years since season seven aired.

A show about a group of normal citizens with interesting occupations.

Building an empire of their own, the Kardashian’s and Jenner’s have fifteen seasons and are woth billions of dollars.

entertainment editor

Throughout the lifespan of Countryside High School, the institution has greeted four decades of students, teachers, and faculty.

Over the course of the school’s lifespan has the teenage life become more or less enjoyable? In other words, when would you rather have attended Countryside High 1979 or 2019? In order to concoct a solution, I have created three factors that will be judged to determine the ideal year to have attended the school, the curriculum for the school, the political climate, and the pop culture of the time.

In 1979, juniors and seniors were required to take the State Student Assessment Test (SSAT). This combined with the fact that the upperclassmen had exams, the SAT, and other various tests lead to a sickening amount of testing. However, now in the 21st- century students are not required to take a state assessment. All the testing students take in high school now is largely based off of the courses they decide to take, which personally sounds better than the same testing with an assessment. Despite the fact that there is still a requirement that students must have a passing score on eighth grade FSA reading assessment, students aren’t required to take an additional assessment in the junior or

Mainly consisting of Freddie Mercury, Only seventeen years old, Billie has Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John over 215 million streams on Spotify for Deacon, Queen was one of the most her song “Ocean Eyes” alone. popular rock bands of all time.

senior year of their high school career.

The overall tension and hatred tension in today’s society has made the world a much different place to live. It has become incredibly easy to offend any passerby and everyone seems to be incredibly sensitive about not just their political opinions but any strong feeling they have ever had. Back in the late seventies early eighties; there was still tension, but the tension was drastically less intense then it is in current day Countryside. No matter what aspect of modern day living you discuss you can find an issue that has people so divided that it causes hate groups. Such examples range from transgender rights, conservation of Confederate memorials in southern states, or even celebrity sexual harassment cases just to name a few.

This is going to be a fairly short section for the sole reason that musically speaking alone the 21st century pales in comparison to the 20th century, period. See Chart for reference.

Compared to living in 2019 I would personally prefer to live in 1979, mainly due to the fact that it generally just seems like a more enjoyable time to live. The pop culture nowadays and the political divide of the nation just is not my cup of tea. Unfortunately, the invention of the time machine has not yet happened, so the real winner is the perpetual march of time.

Considered to be one of the most The fourth and final editon to the Avengers series, coming out in 2019. popular space shows in America.

Campus: to open or not to open katieGOSS

features editor

The open campus debate in high schools has been a hot topic throughout the last decade with students. An open campus means that students are able to leave campus at lunch and they are expected to return after the lunch period to finish the school day. As the years go on, less and less high schools continue an open campus policy for reasons relating to security and academic purposes. With more school shootings, especially in the last couple of years, many schools are leery of letting students leave campus and come back. A student could go home and return with a weapon hidden in their bag, with the intent of harming others at school, or they could return with another person who does not belong here. But for every problem, there is a solution.

Although the office staff cannot remember every student who would leave, they could have all the students sign out and then sign back in to make sure everyone who belongs here gets in. That would stop strangers from getting in through the office.

Another reason schools do not support open campus is for the fact that car accidents can happen when you drive. Although it may not

be the student’s fault for the crash, lawsuits and blame towards the school can still occur.

However, we have school insurance nowadays.

The cheapest insurance is five dollars, and covers a student for the whole year, and covers the school too. Every student who planned on leaving campus could only leave if they provided proof of purchase of school insurance to the office.

Another concern is that students will not return back to campus after lunch, deciding to go home or out somewhere else.

I believe, however, as a high school student, that we should have an open campus. All adults talk about is how irresponsible and untrustworthy high schoolers can be, and though that is true for some, I do not believe that goes for the majority.

Having that lunch period to go off campus and leave school would teach students some sense of responsibility in managing their own time and school life. It would also give students a chance to have a break in their day, where they could go outside and get away from school for the lunch period. Adults in most jobs get a lunch break where they are able to leave or go wherever they need, and it is the break in their day. If the school is worried about students skipping after their lunch period, they could have a policy where if

you show up late or do not come back at all after leaving campus, after a certain number of times, you are not allowed to leave for the lunch period for however long.

From a county standpoint, they could put less money into school lunches since most kids would probably leave campus, and put that money into academics or funding for sports or clubs that need it. Students could also have a more variety of food options, which are typically healthier and more filling too.

Even if a school would not approve open campus, being able to go outside in general and get some sun and fresh air halfway through the day would be great. At Countryside, going outside, even by just staying within the fences that lock us into the school, is cause for a referral. Students need more than just sitting in a brick building with no windows, sunlight or fresh air for seven hours. Back in the day, having an open campus was common among high schools, however, nowadays it is almost nonexistent. Let us bring back the trust in students and treat them like the adults we want, whether that is by an open campus policy, or just simply letting us sit outside for some fresh air.

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Foc

February 14, 2019 | Issue 3 | Paw Print Newspaper

40 years of leadership: a time Countryside High School Opens 1979

Second Principal Lee R. Sullivan 1983-1994

First Principal Bill Williamson 1979-1983

The new and improved Countryside taurissaDORSEY staff writer The building of Countryside began in 1979.

Since then, there have been a substantial amount of changes throughout the years such as the flooring, the concourse, the lockers, and auditorium.

As of today, there is only carpet present in the wings of the school rather than all over. Some selective classrooms such as M wing, where the art rooms are located, have tile flooring. F wing, as well as D wing’s lab rooms, all have tile flooring.

In the earlier days of Countryside High School, B wing was once a hazard because of the heavy traffic of students. While students were heading to their next class, the hallway was so bad to the point that students were being stuffed into lockers and dreaded going to B wing for their next class.

Previously, there were no gates surrounding the school, parking lots, and fences. This allowed students to leave during the lunch period.

Currently, fences line the school and students are no longer permitted to leave campus.

Prior to remodeling of the school, Countryside had lockers in the middle of the concourse in rows.

Now, the lockers line both sides of the school in the concourse but are not in the center. The tardy booth was also in the concourse, located near M and N wing. This is where students who were tardy had to report to, “Kids would hide behind them,” replied Mrs. Tait, the U.S Government teacher. She also thinks that the school is, ”a lot more welcoming than it was before”.

When discussing what positive changes the school has experienced, Mrs. Brussow responded, ”I like the concourse better, it’s easier to find your way around”.

She also mentioned that her classroom M1B used to be the teacher planning room. The walls in her room used to be brick but now they are makeshift.

During 1982 the cafeteria was very modern and had a booth which contained trays that were arranged in a semi-circle. Inside of the circle were multiple tiers of food and students had half an hour to eat lunch. The cafeteria is still located in the concourse currently. However, today the cafeteria has lines that the students stand in

rather than a booth with food.

Even the media center had major changes done to it. The couches that are located in the library today were added in, with the new wooden tables near the back of the room. The media center has been updated steadily over the years by getting newer equipment year by year. The new equipment that has been added over time includes the computer lab and a phone charging station.

The auditorium has also had a major change from what it looks like now. Previously there was balcony seating that overlooked the auditorium.

The control room and seats were on it, with curtains that surrounded the sections. Currently, the auditorium has a whole second floor with excess seating available. The control panel is also very modernized and located in between the two areas of seating upstairs.

Over the 40 years of Countryside, many changes have occurred to modernize the school.

There are however many things that are still authentic to the original model of Countryside.

The school is not exactly the same as when it first opened in 1979, but it is continuously changing for the better.

cus

February 14, 2019 | Issue 3 | Paw Print Newspaper

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eline of Countryside’s history Fourth Principal Gerald Schlereth 2004-2019

Third Principal Julie M. Janssen 1998-2004

Present Day Countryside Who is Next?

2019all photo credits Brooke Micallef

The foundation of Countryside High School brookeMICALLEF

all photo credits Countryside High School Yearbook

main editor

A

lmost 40 years ago, Countryside High School was started on a flat dirt plot. In the two images above the original construction site for the high school is seen with the contracting signs as well as the flat land. Below left, is an aerial image of Countryside after it was finished with construction. Below right, is a modern day photo of Countryside High School. Between these two photos there are various difference to spot out with the building and the surrounding areas. How many differences can you find?

Sports

6 Present teachers tell of sports from the past February 14, 2019| Issue 3 | Paw Print Newspaper

Countryside’s Hall of Fame spotlights star athletes andreaLANDA-CRUZ, nydiaKUSHTA, delaneySEXTON

staff writers

In the past 40 years, Countryside High School has given a start to many athletes that have made it far in their athletic careers. Melanie Margalis, Olympic swimmer, and Jared Frayer, Olympic wrestler, are two athletes who have made it into Countryside’s unofficial athletic hall of fame. Jared Frayer was a wrestler who made it significantly far in his high school career at Countryside and went on to make a career for himself, making it onto the US Olympic Team in the 2012 London Olympics. He ended up getting 17th for the 145 lb category. He got his start here at Countryside High School, making four time Junior All-American.

Melanie Margalis is also an Olympian that got their start at Countryside High School. During her time at Countryside, she was a three-time state champion and held the state record for

cheriBURKETT

staff writer

Sports teams have been a large part of Countryside High School since the beginning and many people know Countryside for it.

Countryside has always had hard-working, competitive teams that will never go away.

Some teachers got to see these sports in action first hand, as a student, and others were once Countryside’s rivals.

Past Dunedin High School track runner, Mr. Shackton, remembers competing against Countryside and talks of how the high school was.

“I thought the school was awesome! It was brand new, it was like the rich school.” Mr. Shackton said. “As a student from another school, it was really cool to see the concourse and how huge it was, I was really impressed with the school itself, but the track team was so easy.”

Through years and years of hard work and practice, Countryside’s track team has improved greatly.

Past student, Mr. Parrulli, also got to see the school’s sports first hand. He attended Countryside as a student from 1983-1987, right when the school had opened. The school was fresh, beaming with over 2,600 kids, and the sports had just begun. He was an intrigual part to the Countryside band and was always at the games.

“Wrestling was already in the state championships and the boys cross country team had already set a personal record for PCAC.” Mr. Parruli said.

Wrestling and track have done so well and have done nothing but improved with more

coaching and practice. Unbelievably, football was nothing how it is now and needed a lot more practice to achieve their goals.

“Football was not good at all. They won maybe one game a season and two years in a row they won nothing.” Mr. Parruli said.

Fortunately, Countryside’s football teams throughout the years have progressed so far and have improved greatly, just as wrestling and track have done as well. Countryside is now one of the schools that other schools fear to hear they have to compete against. They have made themselves a very skilled, challenging team to beat. Still, they are creating a new record for themselves that is getting harder to beat year after year and they will always stay on top.

photo credit Pride Yearbook

M

r. Parrulli, pictured above, shows his pride and love for the Countryside band and football team as he practices with his fellow band members for the upcoming game in 1985.

photo credit Nydia Jushta

H

eading the Countryside concourse hall of fame are past and current Olympic participants, Jared Frayer (pictured left) and Melanie Margalis (pictured right).

the 200 yard individual medley. Melanie Margalis found herself making it onto the US Olympic swim team in the 2016 Rio Olympics. She got the gold medal in the 4x200 meter relay and fourth in the 200 meter individual medley.

One of Melanie’s high school coaches, Susan Richardson commented that when Melanie swam at Countryside she “was always someone you could count on to be the leader of the group and give everybody motivation.”

“When she was in high school the goal was to be the best so she could hopefully go swim in college,” Richardson said.

Her high school career paved the way for her to make it far in her swimming career, ultimately resulting in Margalis and Frayer being two exceptional athletes that proudly represent Countryside High School’s athletic program.

photo credit Margraet Trautwein

C

ountryside’s Hall of Fame pictured with some choice star atheletes from over the years.

Graphic by Andrea Landa - Cruz, Nydia Kusta, Delaney Sexton

Entertainment

February 14, 2019 | Issue 3 | Paw Print Newspaper

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‘79 Fashion: Can you still make it work? loganSCHNEITER

entertainment editor

Fashion goes through a continuous r o t a t i o n of what is in and out of style. Lately items of clothing from the late 70’s and early 80’s are regaining popularity. These include fanny packs, bell bottoms, and cropped tops. The future of fashion is unknown so why not focus on the past?

style: The Biker Look attributes:

style: The Rocker

-Leather Jacket -Pants -Shoes or Boots both applicable - A pair of shades

attributes: -Jacket -Pants -Shoes or Boots both applicable - A bandana

style: The Lennon

style: The

attributes:

attributes:

-Denim Jacket -Jeans -Boots - A pair of shades cool enough to bring the entire thing together

-Denim Jacket -Jeans -White flats (ex. VANS) - A pair of shades cool enough to bring the entire thing together

style: The Ziggy

style: Modernized Ziggy

attributes:

attributes:

Mila Kunis

-Striped bell bottomed pants.

-Worn with sandals -Matching Long-sleeve shirt to complete look.

-Striped bell bottomed pants.

-Worn with boots to tuck the pants.

-Matching Long-sleeve shirt to complete look.

The perpetual movement of time through the eyes of pop culture trevorRODRIGUEZ

staff writer

In 1979, Countryside was established. In 2019, it turns 40 years old. However, many things in culture have changed since then. To start, today, the population is about 7.6 billion people. In 1979 however, the population was only 4.3 billion.

Countryside isn’t the only one that turns 40 this year. ESPN, Nickelodeon, and the Happy Meal all turn 40. A few TV shows celebrate anniversaries this year as well such as the 35th birthday of LeBron James, The Simpsons’ 30th , the 15th anniversary of ‘Hot Fuss’, and Spongebob

1984

1989

In 1989 the longrunning show ‘The 1989 Simpsons’ aired it’s inaugral season.

1994

Walkman cassette. However, going into 2019, the toys to have include The Pomsies Patches Interactive toy, and Connect 4 Shots. Of course there were events that exclusively happened in each year. In 1979, you were able to call a “1-800” number and listen to messages from various Star Wars characters. Also, the Sahara Desert had snow for 30 minutes that year. In 2019, A man-made object landed on the far side of the moon, and an egg became the most liked post on Instagram, sporting over 52 million likes. Just like how 1979 was, 2019 is shaping to be a great year as Countryside celebrates 40 years of history.

In 2004, American rock band ‘The Killers’ released their debut album ‘Hot Fuss’.

This year marks the 25th year since Kurt Cobains tragic passing.

LeBron James will be celebrating his 35th birthday this year!

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Squarepants’ 20th. Also, 2019 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Pop Star Michael Jackson. He would’ve been 60 years old this year.

In 1979, Super Bowl XIII was held, in which the Steelers beat the Cowboys 35-31. This year, Super Bowl LIII will be held. Back in ‘79, No. 1 hits include “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor, “Ring My Bell”

by Anita Ward, and “What a Fool Believes” by The Doobie Brothers. Today, No.1 hits include “Thank u, Next” by Ariana Grande, “God’s Plan” by Drake, and “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. Christmas still had its big hits. In 1979, the “must have” Christmas toys included Mattel’s Intellivision, and the Sony

1999

As of this year Spongebob Sqaurepants is only one year away from drinking age.

2004

In August of this year, it will mark 5 years since the senior class started highschool.

2009

Miachel Jackson the “King2009 of Pop” danced his final dance a decade ago this June.

2014

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40 years of magic: The Great Straubo takes his final bow maeJOHNSON

staff writer

Since the opening of Countryside High School in 1979, Mr. Straub has spent 40 years as a teacher at CHS. Mr. Straub was a teacher at Dunedin High School before transferring to Countryside.

“In 1979, Dunedin High was huge - about 3,600 students,” Mr. Straub exclaimed in an interview. “In 79’ we were told [the faculty of Dunedin High] that half of us would be let go and so I wanted very much to start at a new school and this was my chance: Countryside.” Out of the original founders of Countryside, he is the only one left still working at the school.

One of the many infamous things that Mr. Straub is known for is his Christmas magic show. This tradition, every year the day before winter vacation, began when another chemistry teacher at Dunedin and Mr. Straub realized that the day before winter break the students don’t focus very much on work. “It really started the way it ended. After 43 years, it was every year my gift to my students.”

When asked how the magic show has impacted him as a teacher, he stated “It reminds me to be silly with students sometimes.” He and the other teacher got the idea for the magic show from a Harvard professor who did chemistry demonstrations and they felt that it would be a fantastic

show for his students. When he moved to Countryside in 1979, he brought his tradition with him - a tradition that would last for 40 years.

Of course, every show has a finale. After 43 hard-working and influential years of teaching, Mr. Straub has almost reached that finale. Compared to his first year of teaching to now, he said “there’s a feeling of knowing - that’s a good feeling. ...I have the content material stuck in my head so I don’t worry about telling students the wrong information anymore. It’s much more relaxed now, it’s happier.”

When asked about the biggest difference between Countryside then and now, he stated “Our population here has changed, but so what? We have a wonderful student body and a wonderful faculty and staff.”

Countryside High School has been lucky to have Mr. Straub teach for 40 years and leave his legacy on the school.

His work has inspired many students over the years and has left an impact on them as well. “I’m just as proud today to say I’m from Countryside as in 1979.”

We all wish Mr. Straub a wonderful retirement for all of his hard work he has put into making Countryside a better place for everyone.