Battlefield High School- Inside 15000 June Edition

15000 Inside

Go big or go home Celebrating the Class of 2016

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 8, May 2016

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In this

issue: pg. 4-5

Edited by Alie Paoli

pg. 6-7

Shout-out to

Thank you to our patrons!

Haymarket UPS for printing our magazine every month!

Renee Riddle - Dwyer Family - Amy EthridgeConti - Holtz Family - Laurie Payne - Licinio Garcia - Hughes Family - Michael & Nancy Barbuti - Glenn Pritchard - Nick Baker - Kate Harris

Contemporary Music Center for hosting our Open Mic Night fundraiser! and

AP Classes Standardized testing The buildup of stress "Things nobody at BHS says"

Off to Rio Edited by Lauren Bennett Lax boys The past year at BHS pg. 8-9 Edited by Elizabeth ISIS Wheeler

pg. 10-11 Edited by Heather Trobridge

Where is the magic?

Growing Pains Fight or Flight

pg. 12-13

Braiding bracelets

Edited by Sydney Guyton

pg. 14-15

COVER STORY:

Edited by McKenna RoperGo

pg. 16-17 Edited by Jessica Kronzer

pg. 18-19 Edited by Kirsten DeZeeuw

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B16 or go home

The choice

From start to finish

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 8, May 2016

May EDITORS-IN-CHIEF McKenna Roper Kirsten DeZeeuw Jessica Kronzer

BUSINESS MANAGER Justin Michna

DESIGN EDITOR

EDITORS

Alie Paoli Emma Hummer Heather Trobridge Lily Bartone Sydney Guyton Lauren Bennett

Elizabeth Wheeler

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pg. 20-21 Edited by Lily Bartone

pg. 22-23 Edited by Emma Hummer

pg. 24-25 Edited by Micheal Barbuti and Mary Alphonse

13 The advancements of children's programming The effects of fast fashion Sizing up space Summer Bucket List Oh June June Symbolism

7 Photo by Felicity Courtright

Things I wish someone told me Freshmen feels

Straight clubin' Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 8, May 2016

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AP Classes 3.

By McCall Moran and Julian Moore

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217 students at Battlefield were surveyed on Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Most students feel that the courses are important because they give them the opportunity to earn college credit, and look good on college applications. However, only a handful of students actually believe the classes are not challenging.

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1. 42%- It is worth the credits 2. 7%- They are easy 3. 19%- They take them merely to take them (do not care) 4. 31%- Think they are ridiculously hard

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Standardized testing What students actually think

By Jay Kim Every year, students stress about what school boards around the nation consider to be vital to learning: standardized testing. In Virginia, students are required to take SOL (Standard of Learning) tests in core subjects such as Reading, Writing, Mathematics, Science, and History. The pressure of doing well on standardized tests are felt by students across the world as it is a measure of knowledge that one has obtained over the year. Battlefield High School students are confident in their abilities, but what do they really think about these standardized tests?

Of the polled 520 students, nearly 99 percent of students (roughly 514 students) agreed that they would prefer to not take standardized tests. Over 67 percent of students agreed that standardized tests are not a suitable way to measure a student s knowledge and is an unfair way to judge students knowledge. A student who has chosen to remain anonymous states, SOL s aren't a great way to measure competency of understanding a subject because some people are just not very good at tests, but that doesn't mean that they don't know the material.

Standardized tests have been the point of scrutiny from not only students, but educators

across the nation as well. Many states such as Virginia have been known to evaluate teachers based on the performance of their students on these standardized tests. Many teachers have argued and even filed lawsuits against the board of education, calling these tests unfair to the students and an inaccurate way to judge the quality of teachers.

In October 2015, President Barack Obama stated, students are spending too much time taking tests, many of them unnecessary.

President Obama recommended to school boards around the nation to limit standardized testing to less than 2 percent of a student s instructional time. However, many schools continue to stress the importance of standardized 1

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tests and base their entire curriculum on ensuring that their students do well on these tests.

Standardized testing have caused controversy across the nation and some students are even opting to forgo the test entirely. In the state of Indiana, tens of thousands of students were reported to have skipped their Standardized tests and protest against taking them. It is clear that a reform for these tests are needed but politicians have made promises before, none of which have been successful. For time being it seems as though students, parents, and teachers will have to deal with the unfair and unnecessary agony of completing standardized testing.

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99% of students would prefer not taking the tests

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

Over 67% agreed that standardized tests aren't suitable measurements

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The buildup of stress

hings nobody 0at TBHS says

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By Jacob Baker, Andrew Young, Justin Michna Hey man, make sure you go by the rules of the road in the parking lot.

I have no problems with Patriot, I think they re good people.

Brendan Hogan s mixtape sucks!

Gosh, Mrs. Peyton is the meanest teacher ever!

Yeah man, I spent my whole life growing up in Dominion Valley This school needs more people, it isn t nearly crowded enough.

I m so glad Deja Brew is closed, that place was awful I am totally cool waiting for the buses after school, I don't mind.

The juniors are better drivers than the seniors I love it when kids stop in the middle of the hall!

I care more about my academics than I do football Manassas is such a great place! Let s take a day trip there!

Man, our varsity basketball team sucks. We didn t even make it close to states APUSH is the easiest class I ve ever taken! I wasn t even stressed!

I really hate watching promposals.

The college application process was so easy!

Wasn t the Spring Pep Rally great?

Hey man, you should get to Battle of the Bands early, it s gonna be packed Mr. Bair is so dull, he should put more energy into his lectures.

Yeah man, you should try out for the baseball team, they take everybody.

Don t you love it when kids get cars before they get their licenses?

What s the point of going to Giant after school? Who does that?

Who goes to Starbucks in the morning?

No one cares about the girls varsity soccer team, they didn t even win states!

Everyone who runs the Ultimate Frisbee Club is a bully!

Mrs. Augsburger should drink more coffee Mr. King does not care about his students.

Barely anyone goes to NOVA Honestly, I think the freshmen were the loudest at the pep rally Who s Steven Tian?

So when s the senior prank happening?

I m not tryin to graduate.

I love it when guys just slide into my DMs There are not enough guys with man buns here Lord of the Flies is a great book!

All those research papers really helped me!

I can t wait for the PSAT Mrs. Peyton is so short Mr. Dittmer is an awful teacher, singer, and writer!

IT school means perfect technology This school needs to have more camo How many days until graduation? I had no clue!

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Also known as the end of the year

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By Thayer Cumings and Nana Mantey

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The end is finally in sight, summer is right around the corner, but there is still work to be done, and with work comes stress, the feeling of tension resulting from very demanding circumstances. Seniors have applied, and hopefully been accepted, to colleges, Juniors are awaiting the intense workload to come from the next year, and sophomore and freshmen are trying to relax before the newest high school year. While it is all almost over, Battlefield students still reflect on the hardships they have had to face throughout the school year.

The homework was probably the hardest part because of all of the subjects, junior Jacob Kamm said. My grades in general were the main cause of my stress.

Some simple ways to relieve stress is breathing deeply and trying to become aware of your surroundings, but is those do not work, then sometime yoga, walking, listening to music, and talking to other people can help. They can help lower your blood pressure and heart rate, help you differentiate between the stress and reality, and get you focused on other things.

Sophomore Serenity Turnbull explains, I do after-school sports, and sometime homework gets in the way of it. I have trouble balancing the two, and trying to meet everyone's expectations is hard, but I use stress balls, which help.

A great way to calm down after a stressful day is to try to spend time with your friends. Do not do anything really big, but you could go see a movie or go out for lunch together. Do not spend time in very noisy environments. Go outside or find somewhere quiet and peaceful. If you are stressed from homework buildup and studying, then do not forget to take regular breaks.

Senior Charles Maddox agrees with freshman Alex Simber, The third quarter was probably the hardest part of the year, she says. Maddox also mentioned senioritis, saying You make it through the first half of the year, and then you get hit in the face with a massive amount of homework and tests.

Stress causes people to do things that they may or may not want to do, but in the end, it is not the stress that matters, but what causes the stress, and how people relax afterwards. It can be hard to avoid stress, but there are many ways to reduce and control it. Just remember, school is almost over, and summer is about to begin. Use these next few months to help stress die down, because after all, there is still next year.

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

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Road to Rio The 2016 summer Olympics are headed to Rio

By Brandon Hoagland

The summer Olympic Games are held every four years, allowing the best athletes in the world to represent their countries and compete for medals and Olympic world records. This upcoming summer, the games will be held in Rio, Brazil. Many of the sports that the athletes compete in are typically not televised regularly like swimming, track and field, gymnastics, weightlifting, and many others.

Junior Brandon Berry is looking forward to watching Trayvon Bromell race against Usain Bolt in the 100 meter dash, stating he enjoys the Olympics more than most sporting events because, 0It1s athletes around the world competing with each other, not just the US. For the US, the trials start near the end of June and early July depending on the sport."

The size of each team can vary for each sport and country. For example, the US swim team has over 40 swimmers, while teams like Singapore and Hungary have about 20.

Team size can vary based on how popular the sport is in that country, and how many athletes qualify in the trials. Most of the bigger countries, like France, Japan, and England, are much more competitive, and typically only take the top two athletes for each event.

Some of the best athletes will be competing in these games, such as Michael Phelps, who already has 18 Olympic gold medals in swimming, Usain Bolt who has won six gold medals for track. Some of the athletes who are expected to make the USA Olympic team are; Katie Ledecky, who has broken eleven world records so far, eight since her gold medal in the 800 meter freestyle at the 2012 Olympics, Aries Merritt who holds the world record in the 110 meter hurdles. Adeline Gray who has been a three time world champ in wrestling, winning one gold in the 67kg, two

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in the 75kg, and many more with team, will also be competing. In the last Olympics, of which team USA had the most medals with 103, 46 gold, while China had 88 total medals 38 gold.

Over 50 Olympic and world records were broken in London, some notable ones by Usain Bolt in the 100 meter dash, Missy Franklin in the 100 meter backstroke, and Michael Phelps broke the record for most Olympic gold medals and medal count.

Junior Thomas Muldowney is looking forward to watching Michael Phelps and many of the swimming events since he is also a swimmer, and enjoys watching sports like 0swimming and track and field that [get] a lot of

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

publicity when otherwise people don1t care much about2. The games start on August 5th and go until the 21st. Many people from around the world will be watching the games either live at the events, or on the TV. They will be able to witness another year filled with great performances, seeing many athletes dreams come true, and records being broken.

Lax boys By: Brandon Hoagland The lacrosse team had a bumpy start with some rough losses at the beginning of the season but after some hard work finished the season out strong. The team even made it into the confrence 8 tournament. Junior Zack Raczynski who plays as an attackman on the team said a reason for their struggle at first was 0probably getting comfortable with each other1s play and coming together as a team2. Zack also enjoys being a part of the team because of 0the camaraderie and the feeling of being in a family2.

Junior Andy Gobbi said one of the team1s biggest challenges was 0coming back and beating Patriot2 after having their first loss ever to Patriot in school history towards the begining of the season. They wouldn1t have another shot to play against them until the finals of the conference where they won seven to six. The loss to their arch rivals fueled the team to come back and win the next time they played.

The team started their season at the beginning of March with their first game against Langley High School. Then their last game will be against Madison High School in the first round of the playoffs. For the post-season the team will dye their hair blonde before the Madison game to help bring luck to the team. Overall, boys lacross had a strong year by making the playoffs and capturing a conference title. With only a few seniors leaving the team after this season, next year1s Lax boys hope to have another strong season and do even better.

Top: Junior AJ Dappen runs down the field with Westfield defenders chasing him as his teammates run to assist.

Middle: Juniors Cole McGuire and Declan Zuccolo run to take control of the ball during a game against Westfield..

Bottom: Prior to a home game against Patriot, the team warms up with 2V1 Groundball.

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

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CLASS OF 2020

CLASS OF 2016

The past year at BHS What it means to be a Bobcat

By Kennedy Evans Wow! It is June already, Bobcats. The school year is over for seniors on June 3 and underclassmen s last day is the 17. It is time to say goodbye to the seniors and welcome to the new senior class, the Class of 2017.

Everyone probably has a lasting memory, whether it is a happy one or a sad one, in this school year. Some happy examples might be a district championship, prom, or the spring carnival. A sad event might be losing a loving person such as Payton Freeze. The Bobcats will cherish these memories for a long time, and these events and people will bring us closer together as a Bobcat family.

During the last lacrosse game he would play as a Bobcat, senior Parker Baddley scored a couple of goals to contribute to the district championship game win by a score of 7-6 last Friday. Parker says, This game was very intense but I am proud of my teammates, and I am pulling out on top after losing to them in the regular season. The game came down to the wire. Patriot scored three unanswered goals, needing one more to tie the game, but Battlefield's defense prevails. Senior Jakin Thorne had a great defensive effort to contribute to Battlefield's tight defense. Jakin says, "Whew that game was a doozy. Kyle got what he deserved. I will remember this game for sure. Kyle Gunther, junior Lacrosse player from Patriot acquired a penalty for pushing Jakin out of bounds after a play. Both Jakin and Parker will remember this close rivalry.

On May seventh was Battlefields senior prom, which was at Foxchase Manor in Manassas, Virginia. Many people were enjoying the amazing night. Jordan Gittens was prom king, and Stephanie Hanke was prom queen. Senior Shea Swingle was thrilled to see her friend Stephanie become Prom Queen. Shea Swingle tweets, How hype am i that Steph Hanke won prom queen on a scale from 1-10? Eh, I am around a 34. Shea says, I will always remember my girl Steph winning prom queen. Woooohoooo!

Senior Andrew Bolkeye was getting down with the ladies on the dance floor. Senior 0

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

Andrew Bolkeye says, I had a blast at prom.

The lights, the music, the decor, the candy, all made May seventh a night to remember.

On Saturday, May 14th was the Spring Carnival. Sophomore Valentina Rincon organized a dunk tank of several favorite students and teachers. Some people that were dunked were a sophomore Nick Kash, freshman Alex Young, junior Emma Toureau, junior Christopher Giunta. The seniors were Tommy DeAngelus, Andrew Young, and Kennedy Evans. It was a wet day at the dunk tank station. Freshman Alex Young says, Wow it is sooooo coooold (the chatter, chatter, chatter of his teeth). Both Andrew and Alex Young were trash-talking to the people throwing the balls at the dunk tank. Senior Tommy DeAngelus says, "It is a little nippy in here. It is not bad. Everyone had a blast enjoying this occasion, even though it was cut a little short due to rain.

On February 10, Battlefield lost a spirited and wonderful human being; her name was Payton Freeze. Her friends and family will miss her dearly. The same evening of Payton's tragic passing, Park Valley Church held a candle lit vigil for her in front of Battlefield High School. Many of her friends and classmates showed up to honor her memory. Senior Brett Reid says She will be dearly missed. She was in my English class. Brett and Payton had English together. Senior Taylor Reed says, She was such a loving and caring person. We will always remember the loving and beautiful person that was Payton and the memories we had with her. This event will impact us forever, and it will also bring us closer as a bobcat family.

All these events are just examples of what it means to be a Bobcat. They all are memories that we will carry with us as our senior class moves on to the next chapter, and as our rising senior class will set the example for the underclassmen next year. One heart beat is a saying that the football players use, but it does not just define football. It defines Battlefield High School, home of the Bobcats.

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Battlefield students voice their opinions about this prevalent terrorist group

By Andrew Young and Grant Donaldson One of the most prevalent global forces today is the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, a terrorist group responsible for a massive amount of recent terror attacks such as the November tragedy in Paris, the 2015 Russian airliner bombing, and the San Bernardino, California shooting that left fourteen American citizens dead. The uprising of the group has prompted various reactions from all types of people, and developed diverse opinions in how to deal with the group.

As a result of the group s growing influence in the Middle East, nations such as the United States, France, and other coalition countries have used precision air strikes, as well as occasional use of special forces on the ground. President Obama has repeatedly advocated strictly for the use of airpower, trying to avoid another ground war in Iraq. However, some former presidential candidates such as republican Senator Lindsey Graham have openly stated that boots on the ground will be necessary to bring down the Islamic State.

Within the walls of Battlefield, responses to the rise of the terror group have been diverse. Physics teacher Mr. Thomas Moulen sees the rise of terror groups like the Islamic State as an issue that began many years ago, during the Carter administration when we were training the Taliban. Here, Moulen is referring to the late 1970 s and early 1980 s, when the Soviet Union attempted an occupation of Afghanistan, only to be repelled

by U.S.-trained Afghan insurgents. In regards to the Islamic State, Moulen believes that the United States has to work with other countries, and that there s not much more to do than what the bombs are already doing, without stepping on toes. He continues to say that, If they re going to put boots on the ground,they need to be boots of the countries near where ISIL is. Moulen also stated that he is against sending U.S. troops back to the Middle East, a position also held by President Obama, and many other members of the U.S. Government.

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On the student side, sophomore Javeon Farmer gave his two cents on student awareness of international terror, and his ideas of how the United States should approach it. I don t think we know every little detail [about ISIS], but I think we get the idea that it is a bunch of bad people who want to threaten America, Farmer said. He later went on to say that many students may not be informed about the nitty-gritty of the group, but that they have a general idea of their intentions. In terms of the threat level of ISIS to the United States, Farmer said, I think it s pretty serious because they re willing to attack Paris, and attack these big places. Farmer also noted that the threat must be taken seriously due to our community s close proximity to our nation s capitol. About what he would do to deal with the Islamic State threat, Farmer said, I would keep my troops here to protect us. I would stop worrying about everybody else and protect our capital. Farmer, like other Battlefield students, thinks that students at our school should research a little bit more just so we know what is actually going on in the world.

After talking to a variety of Bobcats, it became pretty clear that Battlefield is filled with countless varying opinions on the Islamic State, and that it is an issue with no easy remedy on anybody s part. One thing is for sure though, it is stirring attention all over the world and within our immediate community.

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The WORLD

ISIS

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

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Where is the magic?

By Kathleen Dwyer and Emily Payne

Walt Disney World is known as the happiest place on earth. The smell of vanilla and cotton candy fill the lungs of people when walking down Main Street U.S.A. in the Magic Kingdom. Tears of joy fill the eyes of children when they see Cinderella s Castle. Only one thought runs through their minds; they are finally home.

The cost for admission into the Magic Kingdom is 124 dollars per adult and 118 dollars per child.

Another option offered is the Park Hopper, which allows guests to go to more than park in one day and costs an additional 40 to 50 dollars per ticket. Disney has now introduced Disney Early Morning Magic which costs 69 dollars per adult and 59 dollars per child.

Disney Early Morning Magic offers breakfast at the Pinocchio Village Haus and the choice to ride The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Peter Pan s Flight. This will take place on select Tuesdays and Saturdays starting at 7:45 a.m.

One Florida native, Kelly Faucher, expresses her disappointment, saying I feel complete disappointment that Disney continues to focus on streams of revenue masked as 0

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improvements for their Passholders as well as those who have dreamed of visiting The Magic Kingdom.

According to time.com, if a family of four (two adults and two children) visited Walt Disney World, the tickets to enter the Magic Kingdom would cost 484 dollars. If the family included the Park Hopper option, the tickets would cost 644 dollars.

Finally, if they added on the Early Morning Magic option to their tickets, the total coming out to 900 dollars. This $900 would exclude any meals or shopping for the remainder of that one day. There are many more costly extras that guest can purchase, and the cost of these amenities can place a lot of stress on guests.

Many Disney fans question this new magic and have voiced their opinions. Mrs. Henry, an English teacher at Battlefield, visits Disney with her family often, I wouldn t pay for [Disney Early Morning Magic] because it s too expensive however, I would understand if someone did it for a once in a lifetime trip.

Regardless of the expensive costs, Disney World continues to remain one of the most popular theme parks in the world. Each visit provides magical memories and experiences that guests will never forget.

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Pictured above is the popular attraction and well known Disney landmark, Cinderella's castle. Disney World is a common destination for many bobcats, and will continue to be a great venue for family vacations!

Photo by flickr via Creative Commons

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

editorial

Growing pains

How is our town is growing faster than it can support?

By Andrew Young

It is a bright, Wednesday afternoon in Haymarket, Virginia. I m sitting behind the wheel of the jeep on James Madison Highway, my daily route from home to school.

The sun is strong, and I have my glasses on, but it isn t the brightness of the sun that catches my eye. Instead, it is the brand new, bright orange sign with Road Work Ahead on the side of the highway. Is it new? Yes. Am I surprised? Absolutely not. What I had just seen along the side of the road essentially captured what Haymarket has become -- a gigantic construction project, one that is too big for its britches, and one that is flushing the character out of a town that had quite a lot of it beforehand. I ll explain what I mean.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, the brand new overpass in Gainesville cost approximately $230 million, on top of the widening of the Old Carolina overpass and Route 66 expansion, which came out to a bill of $65 million itself. But the million dollar question that remains is, why?

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companies just keep on building wherever it seems like they have the chance. Their latest project? The Regency at Creekside, yet another gated community built on an old farm on Catharpin Road.

I know this may not seem like a huge issue right now, but this is important because pretty soon, the more houses there are, the more crowded this community becomes. Graduating classes of 850 will become graduating classes of 1000. Five public works projects on the roads and highways will become ten. Five fast food restaurants and grocery stores will soon become fifteen.

It s all a domino effect, and don t let it fly by you. If developers keep over saturating this town, and keep milking all the prime real estate space they can find, we might as well change the town name to West Fairfax .

There will be more traffic, more schools, more business, that could honestly ruin the beauty and quaintness that really makes this place a great place to live.

done?

The answer is simple: because our town is expanding faster than it can support.

Take a drive sometime through Haymarket.

Drive down Catharpin Road, Heathcote Boulevard, John Marshall Highway. You ll find a common sight there- development that will not stop, because builders and real estate developers seemingly don t care about communities or natural beauty of what Haymarket is. They just want thicker pockets, they want more cash flow, and they probably see that they have that opportunity here. But they don t care- they see good land that can be developed, and there s a good chance that they re not going to worry about oversaturating a town, for that would cause them to lose money.

Everywhere someone looks in this town, there s building- construction as far as the eye can see. Even though we already have massive gated communities of over a thousand houses each in Piedmont and Dominion Valley, these developing 0

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Fight or flight

What is visually appealing to students fighting each other?

By Emily Hillig CNN reports that on April 21, at the Howard High School of Technology in Delaware, Amy Joyner-Francis, a 16 year old girl, lost her life in a public school bathroom.

She was pronounced dead at A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children after she was helicoptered to the hospital following the injuries she sustained from being beaten up in the Howard High School bathroom before class began. Described on Pix11, a Delaware News Station, this fight was between two girls.

Another group of girls followed the antagonist, and jumped the already injured girl which led to fatal injuries. Following this incident, the school was closed for the remainder of the day. The next day, Friday the 22nd of April, the school reopened despite the traumatic incident that happened the previous day.

So far this school year, Battlefield has had one major physical altercation between students. These occurrences tend to happen in the cafeteria, near the main

stairs, by the wall and right in front of the elevator. Most fights are inferred to be between two or more boys; but shockingly, against most inferences, all the fights that have happened this school year were between two or more girls. Another type of fight is a Twitter fight. In a Twitter fight between two people, someone is usually offended by a comment another person says, which makes them want to comment their opinion. When these two people start going back and forth, others add into the mix, adding their opinions and teaming up on another's opinion. These alterations range from who someone is into, a fight between a couple to a fight between opinionated people.

Why do students videotape the fights that are going on in school? Senior Lauren Cardenas, a senior at Battlefield, mentioned that, Others take videos so they can gain attention, and they find the fights entertaining since there aren't that many that happen here.

Senior GiGi Schloss added, 1

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They take the videos for personal pleasure and to provoke the fighting, so it keeps going on.

From a male perspective, Zachary Troy adds that, [people most likely enjoy it] for the hype, and so they can re-watch the fight later to show to other friends. Sadly, some like to watch fights.

When asked why students think that other people enjoy watching fights, Troy adds, It dates back to the Roman times with Gladiators. Even back then, people enjoy watching others swing at each other. Our historical and past events show that we enjoy altercations between people whether they result in fatalities like the girl in New Jersey, or someone getting a black eye.

Abigail Witmer, a senior, adds that people enjoy watching these fights, so they can admit to others that they've seen a fight.

Others typically instigate these fights by egging the other people on.

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

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Braiding bracelets String bracelets that are perfect for summer

By Fabiola Garcia and Felicity Courtright When summer boredom strikes, there are lots of arts and crafts to create and explore. One of the many easy crafts to try out are friendship bracelets! There are lots of crafty bracelets you can try out with only some string and cardboard.

General materials you need for the bracelets: -4 pieces of embroidery string -Scissors -Tape -A sewing button -A hard surface to work on -Piece of cardboard -Cup -Pencil -Ruler FishTail Bracelet Procedure: 1. Gather four pieces of string, each 40 inches long.

2. Hold the strings together and fold them in half, then tie a knot at the fold.

3. Place the string on a hard surface and tape the knot down.

4. Arrange four of the colors on each side in a mirrored image.

5. Bring the outermost string to the innermost string on the other side, much like a fishtail braid.

6. Repeat step 5 and continue to measure around your wrist until it fits 7. Once your bracelet fits, make a knot at the bottom 8. Thread the string onto the button and tie it on to give it added security 9. Finish your bracelet by cutting off the excess string.

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5. Bring the outermost string to the innermost string on the other side, much like a fishtail braid.

6. Repeat step 5 and continue to measure around your wrist until it fits 7. Once your bracelet fits, make a knot at the bottom 8. Thread the string onto the button and tie it on to give it added security 9. Finish your bracelet by cutting off the excess string.

Go nuts for the donuts!

Which donuts are most popular among high schoolers?

By Inez Asiama & Regan Buckley Donuts are the sugary treats no high schooler can resist. National Donut Day is June 3rd and it gives the delicious pastry a whole day to be appreciated. There are many different types of donuts to choose from. Battlefield students were polled on their favorite donut brands. The options given to them were: Krispy Kreme s, Dunkin Donuts, Duck Donuts and store-bought donuts. The most popular donut brand among students was Duck Donuts. This is most likely due to its location that recently opened up in Bristow, which is still new and exciting to this area. According to senior Anna Craig, Duck Donuts, is just so good and you get to make your own donut. My favorite flavor is the one with bacon on top. So that is where most Battlefield students will probably be headed on June 3rd to celebrate yummy goodness that are donuts.

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Woven Friendship Bracelet Procedure: 1. Trace around the cup on a piece of cardboard and cut it out.

2. Add 8 notches on the circle and cut slits on the drawn notches.

3. Add a small hole in the middle for your string.

4. Cut off 1 piece of string and leave the other 7. Place the 7 strings on each of the notches so that you only have one remaining notch.

5. Always keep the remaining notch facing towards you and count 3 strings to the right and move the 3 string down to the empty notch. Then spin the circle so the remaining notch is facing you again.

6. Repeat this until you are satisfied with the length of the bracelet.

7. When you are done make a knot at the bottom 8. Attach a button on the remaining string and cut off the excess string Photos courtesy of Fabiola Garcia and Felicity Courtright

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 8, May 2016

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A fruity slice of summer!

DIY watermelon rice krispie treats

By Linda Tran and Destinee Clay Snap! Crackle! Pop! Rice krispies are a crunchy, sweet snack that can be eaten anytime. However, changing the boring rectangle shape of original rice krispies into something new can be fun. Making watermelon-shaped rice krispies is a unique twist on this classic snack. Watermelon is one of the most popular fruits during the summertime, so these simple treats can be a nice addition to parties and are great to share with friends.

Directions: 1. Before starting, prepare your cake pan by greasing the pan with nonstick spray or butter.

2. Add 10 oz of marshmallows and 1 tablespoon of butter in one big bowl.

8. After you have created the red Rice Krispies,

Ingredients: For the green outer ring (rind of watermelon)-2 cups of Rice Krispies cereal -10 ounces of mini marshmallows (1 bag) -1 tablespoon of butter -Green food coloring

3. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat it for about 2 minutes.

4. Mix the melted marshmallows and butter until there is a smooth mixture. Then add 5 drops of green food dye. Stir thoroughly.

5. Add two cups of Rice Krispies cereal to the bowl and continue to mix.

6. After mixing the ingredients well, press the rice krispies along the side of the greased pan to form a ring.

For the red center second (watermelon): -2 cups of Rice Krispies cereal -10 oz of marshmallows -1 tablespoon of butter -Red food coloring

To serve, first allow the Rice Krispies to cool, then slice them into pieces. They can be eaten immediately. To avoid getting your hands sticky, a straw or wooden stick can be pushed through the bottom of the triangular rice krispie treat for you to hold. If saved for later, an option would be to wrap the treat in cellophane bags.

Happy snacking!

For the seeds of the watermelon: -Several chocolate chips, or chocolate covered sunflower seeds 1

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You also need: -One 8 cake pan -3 big bowls (two for melting marshmallows, one for Rice Krispies) -Non-stick spray or butter to grease the pan -Spatula/cooking spoon to mix the ingredients -Additional butter to butter the spatula/cooking spoon

put it in the center of the pan and spread it out making sure it touches the side of the green ring. To produce a smooth surface, press the rice krispies down with a buttered spatula.

9. Place chocolate chips on the red center.

Photo Courtesy of Linda Tren and Destinee Clay

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7. Repeat the steps above using the red center ingredients. Remember to use red food dye instead of green dye.

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 8, May 2016

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Celebrating the Class of 2016

Life doesn't always have to be one way. Just because a girl rejects you, a college denies you admission, or a job doesn't call you back doesn't mean that your life is over or downhill.

Just stay positive and be open minded. "

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To the Class of 2016: you made it. A very important chapter in your life has finally come to an end. The journey from kindergarten to grade 12, that seemed never ending, has finally reached its conclusion. The marathon of standardized tests, Homecoming and Prom, Friday night football games, and 6 AM wake-ups, is all over. After graduation, everything will change. You will no longer be just a typical high school student, but a real person with incredible opportunities beyond the point of Graduation Drive. After you shake Mrs. Ethridge-Conti s hand and cross the stage at Jiffy Lube Live, you will be stepping into a whole new world.

In a matter of months, you, the Class of 2016, will be scattered around the country. You will be making remarkable memories and creating a new name for Battlefield High School graduates. The sky is limitless, and you will seize the day.

Before moving on from Battlefield, take time and reflect on the journey it took to get to this point. High school changed all of you. You felt the lowest and highest points of your life, but in the end: it was worth it. You met people who made an impact on your everyday life. Your teachers, classmates, friends, and teammates were all there through every high school event.

You may never see these people again, but they will forever live on in your memories.

It may be over, Class of 2016, but it will never be gone. You will always be the Class of 2016. While you may not walk the halls of Battlefield High School again, you will forever be a bobcat.

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By McKenna Roper

Go B16

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-Noah Kim, New York University My high school experience was not your average one due to the fact that I joined marching band my freshman year.

Drumline pretty much changed my life and perspectives."

-Myia Thornton, Berklee College of Music

Senior year has been a fun and interesting ride. It's gone by incredibly fast and it's the most fun I've had in high school.

-Cody Kennedy, Arizona State University

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 8, May 2016

or go home

Photo courtesy of Justin Michna Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Wheeler

Photo courtesy of Oakley Herrewig

Photo courtesy of Mikayla Sova

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 8, May 2016

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The choice

Teens share how they feel about premarital sex

By Jessica Kronzer and Kirsten DeZeeuw

***To protect the identity of the students interviewed, each participant was given a pseudonym (fake name) in an effort to preserve the individuals reputations.*** 0

Teen sex is an awkward topic for many, to say the least. Despite this, a study done by CDC in 2013, almost half of all teens, 47%, have had sexual intercourse. Even though no one wants to talk about it, it is not uncommon for a high schooler to encounter these dilemmas on a fairly regular basis.

Different teens have different perspectives on being intimate with their significant other based on influences such as religion, media exposure, the influence of their parents and friends.

Hannah, who is more spiritual than religious, says 0I think it1s okay as long as

you1re safe and you know what you are doing.2 While some people share this view, other teens have vastly different opinions on the subject.

High schoolers who are highly involved with religious organizationS, like Brian, feel that 0...it1s just different for different folks but personally I abstain from it because I think it1s a matter of self respect and respect for the person you1re with. It dives deeper than what1s actually going on it1s more like the dynamics between two people and how it relates to that.2 Similarly to how religion impacts

Photo by Jessica Kronzer

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 7, April 2016

a young adult1s decision to abstain or not, parents also play a role. 0Oh [parents] definitely [influence your decision to wait] because they kinda shape your morals and that1s a big thing, like do you want to do it, when do you want to do it,2 says Veronica.

Every parent wants their child to be safe, safety goes hand in hand with abstinence. Hannah feels that 0...every parent wants the best for their kids, so they most likely want them to wait but it really depends on what the kid is thinking so 3 parents can really only do so much influencing on that.2 Advocates for Youth claims that 83% of teens have concerns about their parent1s response when learning of their decision to have sex.

One of the best things a parent can do to help protect their teen is to talk about it. It is important for there to be communication on the topic because a lot of high schoolers feel in the dark about sex. Brittany, who is sexually active, says she feels 0Honestly not that educated [about sex]. Before I had it I didn1t know anything. Like of course there was sex ed but we didn1t really talk about sex, what to use [for protection], about birth control or anything, I feel like they need to step that up...2 Also according to Advocates for Youth, only 43% of teens have had conversations on how to talk to their significant other about using protection, but 52% of all teens have talked about condoms with

47% have had sexual intercouse

83% have

concerns about their parents reaction to their decison to have sex

43% have

Graphic by Kirsten DeZeeuw

Local artist, Kirsten DeZeeuw, designs a clever representation of the "birds and the bees," through a graphic.

their parents, and 49% have talked about other forms of protection.

However, parents are not the only ones to blame for lack of education; many students wish sex-ed was less vague. 0[Sex Education] tells you what everything is but it doesn1t explain it in detail enough to understand.2 Some students would go as far as to compare the course to describing the mechanics of a car. The class states the purpose of sexual organs, but fails to talk about protection and only encourages abstinence instead of teaching safe sex.

When it comes down to it, it is up to the individual to decide for themselves if they want to abstain or not.

Despite influences from religion and

parents, Veronica comments 0I am catholic so in my religion, premarital sex is a sin. Although in a dedicated relationship, I think it1s okay.2 In the end, a teen should make the decision to engage in sexual behaviors or not based on their own ethics and morals. Brian shares 0[My parents] have always been kind of 4you pick your destiny, you pick your path1, but this is what we are going to teach you.1 They never forced anything on me, they trust my judgement3 [I had the opportunity to] learn but to make [my own decision] , which I think is a healthy way to go about it.2

had a conversation on how to talk to their partner about protection

52%

have talked to their parents about condoms ***These statistics are from various national surveys, cited in the article.

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 7, April 2016

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From start to finish Looking back on the year

By Staff

Photo by Kirsten DeZeew

Even though the school year is almost over, it seems like just yesterday students were hopping of the bus and walking into the building for the first day off school. As the year comes to an end, students reflect on how quickly the year flew by.

Transitioning to a new school is a daunting task for any student. However, this year's freshmen were determined to make the most of the 2016-2017 school year. Freshman Ruby Bhamra says her favorite part of coming to Battlefield was participating in "IT and graphic design. That class is awesome, even though it [is difficult]... it pushed me to do my best in art... plus I made a lot of new friends."

Besides academics, a big part of the Battlefield experience is going to the fall football games. Senior Sabrina Drescher remembers them as "..the one time where all the students are supportive of each other [and] where there is genuine excitement and pride."

From the Pink Out games to blacking out the stands, students always showed how the school is a community and is "Bobcat Strong".

Photo courtesy of the yearbook staff

Photo courtesy of the yearbook staff

Photo courtesy of the yearbook staff

Throughout the year, students not only worked hard, but played hard as well. Junior Montana Coward, who plays on the varsity soccer team, says her "...favorite part of being a [member] of the soccer team is the girls pushing me to be better and to work hard every practice." Like other Battlefield athletes, Coward's participation on a team adds to the memories she has made throughout high school.

Senior Connor Bloodworth, who plays on the boys varsity soccer team, also reflects on the time he has had with his team, saying "The people I have met

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

Photo courtesy of the yearbook staff

Photo courtesy of the yearbook staff

Photo courtesy of the yearbook staff

here will forever impact me positively... and it's hard for me to let go [now that I'm a senior].

While some students look forward to school so they can get back in their favorite class or on the field, other students enjoy the social aspect of the day.

Sophomore Emily Hetzer says, "My favorite part of the school day is taking a break from classes and going to lunch." Even though students enjoy the rigorous curriculum the school has to offer, sometimes taking a break from class work is "just what the doctor ordered".

It has been a good year Bobcats, and it is time to say goodbye to the seniors and hello to the new Photo by Kirsten DeZeew

freshmen. The class of 2016 will be missed, but they have contributed to making Battlefield a better place. Bloodworth says, "I think what makes Battlefield so special is the way we connect to one another. We have [faced] so many adversities, and had 'humps to get over', but we did it all as a family." Here's to a good year Bobcats, have a great summer.

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

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The advancements of children's programming

By Brendon Estridge

A phrase that may come off as strange to many people is that cartoons are becoming more serious and respected, similar to the likes of movies. Not serious as in tone or mood, but taken seriously as an art or any other form of media. While mostly marketed towards children, many people, young and old, seem to have a lot of respect the medium. Even though that has been true for over half a century with cartoons like The Flintstones and Looney Toons (which had massive family appeal even in it s time), there seems to be a more of a shift in cartoons and animation in general as art rather than family entertainment.

To clarify, carctoons have never been just for kids. The appeal is sometimes meant to be broad for everyone to enjoy.

There are kid s programs specifically meant to teach, but in general, TV shows featured on channels such as Cartoon Network, Disney Channel, or Nickelodeon are designed to have a much broader appeal.

However, what is different about cartoons now opposed to those of the from those from the 40 s through early 2000 s?

One difference does not even have to do with the shows at all., but rather their 0

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fanbase. Fanbases are bound to rise from anything, but one cannot simply ignore the dedication of those who take interest in these newer shows. Again, many animations of the past had a loyal following; kids who would get up at 6 AM sharp to catch up with Ninja Turtles or Transformers.

When the age of the internet first came into place, people were able to reach out to other fans, quickly escalating connection between others with the same interests.

Even with that said, there is more than just the fans that have helped these shows evolve. With them not in the picture, what else makes things different?

Generally, each era has had their own thing they do best. The 1940 s through 70 s seemed to do the best with slapstick humor, the 80 s, while focusing a lot on toys, tried their share of more action and dialogue based comedy. The 90 s deviated a bit from here. Many 90 s cartoons feel a lot more experimental. Writers were constantly seeing what they could slip past the censors, as seen in shows like Rocko s Modern Life, Ren and Stimpy, Animaniacs, and other shows, hiding adult jokes that kids would not understand until they were much older. Other than innuendos, there 0

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Photo by youtube.com courtesy of Creative Commons

was a stronger emphasis on testing the viewer's everyday intelligence. In the 90 s, there seemed to be a subtle shift of emphasis with newer more mature themes. They were not entirely big and certainly did notdefine the xtreme sports hip hop vibe of most other 90 s media, but every so often it would make itself apparent. For an example, one episode of Hey Arnold involved kids mistreating an old man just for how he was weird because he prefered to be in the company of his pet birds rather than people. This could have easily been a PSA to not bully, but it was structured like an actual plot, rather than just the main character breaking the fourth wall and say, Hey kids, bullying is wrong. Shows began to experiment with a new subtlety that other shows seem to lack. That of course is to say that other shows knew how to convey messages in different ways, but still, everything was still a bit more experimental.

Today, many shows seem to further exemplify this theme of treating their audience with respect and having more meaning in their work. While many shows are still made with the attention on merchandise, the actual show or animation has the tendency to take the spotlight, not the shiny toy.

Because these shows have more mature themes, many of of them can also take themselves more seriously. It should be noted though that maturity doesn t by mean violent, grotesque, adult, and inappropriate, but rather the act of providing thought out themes. A great example would be Over the Garden Wall. The show is well known for its parallels to classic literature, it s foreboding ambient atmosphere, and fairytale-like story.

In order to stand out today, animators and storytellers have to treat their audience as people who can understands basic thought without it being described to them what they must understand. Only time can tell what new themes shows will tackle in the future.

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

The effects of fast fashion

By Katarina Ayala Some of the most popular and inexpensive stores include Forever 21, Zara, and H&M. While they are the most popular, they are also causes of environmental and social concerns. These brands are classified as Fast Fashion. Fast Fashion refers to clothing and accessories that are designed to reflect current industry trends and are produced using less expensive materials to ensure a low price.

To keep up with these trends, companies come out with new clothing very quickly. These garments are usually produced in the Global south by low paid, female workers and often are made by unsustainable fabrics.

Popular fabrics such as polyester and nylon are not biodegradable and therefore unsustainable for the environment. To manufacture these fabrics, factories require great amounts of energy and the manufacturing of nylon emits a greenhouse gas call nitrous oxide. According the Environmental Protection Agency, one pound nitrous oxide is 300 times the amount of one pound of carbon dioxide. The dyes used in 1

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clothing also has a big impact of the environment and a the people who live near the factories.

The Citarum River in Indonesia, is considered to be one of the most polluted rivers in the world because the the textile factories lining the shores. The dumping of chemicals in the water results in the river being filled with lead, mercury, arsenic, and other toxin.

According to the GreenPeace, with 68 percent of the factories producing textiles, the unfavorable health effects on the five million people living on the river and wildlife is huge.

The GreenPeace described the discharge in the water as highly caustic, will burn human skin coming in direct contact with the stream and will have severe impact on aquatic life.

The textile and garment industry also impacts the workers. In 2013, a garment industry in Bangladesh collapsed killing 100 workers. The event highlighted the conditions that millions of workers face in developing countries making clothes for Western retailers. As filmmaker, 1

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Andrew Morgan spent two year investigating the conditions that these worker endure. Morgan explained, The workers need these jobs but many are paid a minimal wage and have little job security, while their health is affected by the chemicals used to produce the cheap fabrics made into T-shirts that are snapped up for five dollars in Western stores. He also noted about fast fashion that, Quick turnaround times place often overwhelming demands on these factory workers, one effect of which can be the manufacture of lower quality clothing. This can encourage the rapid consumption and disposal of cheap clothes after they have been worn only a few times, creating a very unsustainable sector Fast fashion and the textile industry not only affects the environment but also the workers. Sophomore Maylina Sengkhyavong says, This news is really sad and surprising.

This makes me want to rethink where I buy my clothes and be more thoughtful and really think about where my money is going.

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up Sizing space

By Alex Young

When you really think about it, nobody knows what is out there; past our own constellations. Many astronauts claim that Space is an unlimited realm of stuff, yet can that really be proven?

The first astronomer to discover galaxies past our own was Edwin Hubble in 1924. Hubble s research proved that the Earth was slowly moving away from these new realms, which means that our galaxy, and all the others, are still expanding. By mathematically rewinding the ever-expanding movements, some astrophysicists believe that they can predict the time when the movement of galaxies began. They called this The Big Bang. It was said to have happened 13.8 billion years ago, yet in the scientific community, this can vary. Some say the time is correct, others say differently.

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The big question; how big is space actually? The answer to that, is never-ending.

Due to the theory of the Big Bang, and Hubble s research, the area of Space cannot be calculated because it is always expanding.

Since nobody has actually been to the edge of Space, that also backs up the never-ending assumption.

What lies beyond the Earth really could be anything. For all we know, just outside our galaxy could be others full of life, just like this one. The last attempt to get beyond this galaxy was conducted by SpaceX in February 2016. They created the Falcon 9, a rocket built to withstand many of space's hazards. The Falcon 9 reached the outer rim of planets until it reached temperatures too cold to function.

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but a failure because it could lead to more success in the future.

Freshman Dylan Perry strongly voiced his opinion when he said, The universe has to be unlimited. If it wasn t, we probably would have gotten to the end by now. Opinions will always vary with religion and customs coming into play, but like the amount 2

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

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Summer bucket list Tips to have a fantastic summer

By Charis Hadginikitas and Mary Riley Every summer, many Bobcats think, "this will be the best summer yet," but, unfortunately, that is not always true. Bobcats will soon put together a bucket list for this summer, including some of their most exciting ideas to make sure they never want to come back to school, (who would anyway). Going to the beach, going to other countries, or even just staying home and having fun can make a Bobcat s summer the best summer they have ever had.

Many students love to share how they have and will spend their vacations this summer; Sophomore Alexa Sengul, went to 0

Sweden last summer to visit family. Sengul said, [I] wish that I had some kind of guide, so I would have known everything to see.

Some students stay local, like junior Jordan Gaskins, who will be enjoying Wiz Khalifa, G-Eazy and Logic this summer, at our Bristow Amphitheater Jiffy Lube Live. Though many get to stay home and also vacation out of state. Gaskis said, I ll be going up to Ocean City and New York [over the summer].

Though everyone seems to go on vacations, many students have jobs that may interfere with leaving home; many have to work around their schedules. Sophomore Zach 1

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Estrada works at Wegmans and though long hours get him money to spend, it leaves him with little time to put it to good use. Estrada said, I fairly often have to work around my schedule because I work three to four days a week for four to five hours.

These activities are fun and creative ways to have an amazing summer, even if you can not travel! Keeping yourself engaged and having fun with your friends is the key to having an extravagant summer. While just sitting at home may be fun, it will get boring fast. Doing these activities, and more will keep yourself entertained and happy.

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Activites to fight boredom: Pool (enjoy a pool day with your friends) Go hiking (get outside and enjoy the sunny day around you) Amusement Park (Kings Dominion, Busch Gardens, Six Flags...etc) Go to a friends house and have a water balloon fight

Photo Courtesy Creative Commons

Have a movie marathon at your friend's house with all of your favorite movies Go to the movies with your friends Go to the mall with friends Go for a bike ride around your neighborhood Go to an animal shelter Color a beautiful picture (either in a coloring book or draw your own creation!)

Photo Courtesy Creative Commons

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

Photo Courtesy Creative Commons

Oh June!

Upcoming events in June

By Madison Holtz With less than a month left of school, students begin to skip school more and pay less attention in class. Almost all exams are done and students are just counting down the days.

However, few people know that June actually has some pretty cool holidays (besides the last day, of course!) and facts behind it.

National Doughnut Day - National Donut 1

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Day was established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to raise desperately needed funds during the Great Depression. This delicious day falls on the first Friday of June every year. This year it will occur on June 3rd.

Dunkin Donuts will be offering any guest around the world a free donut with purchase of a single beverage. Krispy Kreme will also be offering free donuts to their loving customers.

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Gay Pride Month - The entire month of

Did you know? - The longest day of the

June is Gay Pride month. In June of 2000, President Bill Clinton officially declared June, Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. During this month, most Americans try to accept the LGBTQ community for who they are and cherish their lives as well. Although this is a very controversial topic, many people truly appreciate this dedicated month.

year, or the Summer Solstice, takes place on June 21. The solstice occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, allowing the bright star to stay up longer than normal. The interesting thing about the solstice though is that it happens at the exact same time all over the world. No matter the time zones, it still happens at the exact same time. Also, as the sun sets extra late that night, it also welcomes the summer season. Be sure to look out for the sun on June 21!

National Adopt a Cat Month - You heard it here! June is the time to go celebrate your feline friends by adopting a beloved kitty. When female cats get pregnant, it is always around the same time of year; therefore, thousands of kittens are born every spring. If you are looking to adopt a cat this spring, be sure to contact your local adoption farm first!

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June Symbolism What June means and why

By Iana Fields This is the month where children are out of school and enjoy the sun beating down on them. This month is where all the stress from the school year is forgotten. This is the month where people celebrate and honor their dad s and all that they do. Summer solstice is during June 21 and is the start of summer. With a lot going on in June, there is a reason why it is the month of radiance and brightness. During June the cicada s come out to play. The annoying buzzing sound people hear during this month in particular are the cicadas singing their mating song. These bugs symbolize balance, partnership, and love.

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Honeysuckles, oaks, and roses are symbols of June. Honeysuckles symbolize love and renovation. This fits the description of summer love and new chances to change and improve over the summer. Oaks symbolize life, strength, stability, and time. June and oaks are symbols of time; creating long-lasting memories before time runs out. While roses symbolize love, they also show vitality, or energy, and spirit. June is the time of the year where most people are excited or carefree and the rose shows these qualities.

Birthdays between the days of May 21 and June 21 are the astrological sign Gemini.

This is a high energy sign and corresponds with June seeing as this month is full of energy. The symbol of Gemini s are twins which show a natural energy of partnership, balance,and

duality. Gemini s personality traits are influences in June. The other astrological sign in June is Cancer. These include people with birthdays between the day of June 20 and July 22.

Summer is known as the time for family reunions and family vacations. The sign Cancer symbolizes security, family community, and home values. Father s day is in June because the sun is represented by males(as the moon by females) and the sun is commonly out in June.

June is a solar month, with high energy and passion. June is a time to reconnect with family, have a summer love, and make memories. This is the start of summer so everyone should make it count!

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

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Things I wish someone had told me Advice from a graduating senior

By Elizabeth Wheeler High school hasn't been easy.

There have been nights these past four years when I ve felt overwhelmed, on the verge of tears because of stress. There have been days when it was the most painful thing in the world to have to crawl out of bed at 5:45 in the morning. There have been moments where I wanted to just give up, convinced that it would never get better than this.

But these past four years, I've learned something. Life is not about the night spent cramming for the test in the class that you dislike because it makes you feel like you can't do anything right. Life is not about feeling unwanted, feeling overwhelmed, or feeling unloved. It's about the lessons you learn and the knowledge that comes along with it, making you a better person for the rest of your life.

Nobody told me this when I was a freshman. There was no PowerPoint presentation with the counseling department telling us that everything always works out in the end. There was no handbook given to us, telling us that as long as we are happy our choices will lead us in the right direction. We weren't told to focus on being kinder to others. We weren't even told how to learn to be kinder to ourselves.

As a graduating senior moving over 1,000 miles from home, it feels like it's time to grow up. So, here are a few lessons I have learned over the past four years. I hope you'll consider them.

1.The college process can be stressful. There will be times you'll want to pull your hair out. Start as soon as the applications come online, ask for help when you need it, and remain calm. You'll be relieved when it's over.

2. To each their own (as my mother always says). There will be people you don't understand, people who don't share the 0

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same values or opinions as you do. You will have to interact with these people for the rest of your life.

3. You are going to make mistakes. You are going to spend hours on a project and then leave it on the countertop the day that it's due. You will say something stupid and wish for days that you could take it back.

When this happens, you'll be angry: at other people and at yourself.

But, you'll learn from it.

And that's what matters.

4. At some point, your teachers are going to stop taking care of you. It may be your sophomore year, or it may be your senior year, but it will happen. When it does, you won't like it. You will thank them, eventually.

6. When you have a question in class, raise your hand and ask it. There are probably at least five other people thinking the exact same thing. They will silently thank you for it.

7. As you get closer to graduating, many people will ask you about your plan --for college, for careers, for life. It's absolutely okay to tell them that you have absolutely no idea.

8. It's perfectly 0 fine to wear sweatpants and a t-shirt to school. It's also fine to wear heels and a dress, or a suit. Wear whatever you feel the most comfortable in.

9. You become like the people you spend most of your time with. Choose wisely.

10. Be active and join clubs during your freshman and sophomore years. When you re filling out college applications, you re going to be glad you did.

11. Taking a class that you are passionate and interested in is much more rewarding than taking a class because it s easy.

And finally: high school will not be the best four years of your life. But, it also won t be the worst. Appreciate the lessons you learn, the friends you make, and your last years before adulthood. It s going to go by faster than you think.

And a word to the seniors: life doesn t get easier after high school. You just get better at it.

"High school will not be the best four years of your life.

But, it also won t be the worst. "

Photo by Victor O'Neill

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Senior Elizabeth Wheeler's Senior Portrait.

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

Freshman feels How our rising freshmen feel coming into Battlefield

By Lauren Kronzer and Mary Alphonse Everyone remembers that first day of high school. Walking into this giant building full of all new people is, without a doubt, an intimidating experience. While middle school teachers try their best to prepare students, it is often a difficult transition to undergo. The pressure and stress of entering high school, is loads to take in; so how do our rising Battlefield high school freshman actually feel starting out?

There are a collection of rumors that fly around that can make Battlefield seem like a scary place. Most of the rumors include stories of what the upperclassmen supposedly do to the underclassmen. An 8th grader from Ronald Reagan Middle School, located in Haymarket Viginia, Rishi Datla, mentions the all famous battery incident (which 1

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never occured).

While Battlefield has had its fair share of bad rumors, people still think of it as a great school that has great after school activities and sports teams as eighth grader Eden Hallit says.

Eigth grader, Sonja Folland, who is more focused on the academic side of things, notices our streak of academic excellence. Overall, Battlefield is in the top 5% of America s Most Challenging High Schools, according to the PWCS website.

This staggering statistic validates why people may feel nervous about entering the rigourus academics at Battlefield. Though it is a great deal to take on, many feel the teachers are always there to help and provide support.

The transition from middle school to high school can be nerve-wrecking but exciting. Conner Wood, one of the eighth 1

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graders from Reagan, was most nervous for the daunting "Pre-AP classes which can be a lot to take on all at once. Most voice their concerns about how they are much more excited than worried.

Battlefield offers many activities and clubs for every interest and Esther Kim says she looks forward to marching band & after school activities.

One of the many perks to Battlefield is its wide variety of students as Datla exclaims he is eager to meet new people. Battlefield is a very welcoming school to anyone and everyone and offers something for all.

The pressure of entering high school is hard for everyone but we all quickly find how much of a great school Battlefield is.

Meeting new people and getting the once in a lifetime experience end up being some of the best four years of one's life.

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Straight clubin'

By Jessica Kronzer and Kirsten DeZeeuw

Clubs to join during the 2016-2017 school year With new clubs being formed all year round, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to after school activities. Battlefield offers a variety of clubs that allow Bobcats to find students whom they share a common interest with.

Game Club is a fun club where students have friendly competitions each Monday.

Club members play board games in Mr. Meermans classroom. Sophomore Willem Drescher joined the club because many of his friends were members. Drescher recommends this club because it s a fun way to spend time and compete against your friends.

Another unique club at Battlefield is Triple B Club, Triple B stands for Bobcats 0

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Breaking Boundaries. Senior Michael Conrad started the club because he was inspired by a child with Cerebral Palsy. He made a very big impact on my life, so I was really intrigued with special education. I wanted to help Conrad feels the special needs children are really cool kids and feels that the goal of the club is to get, normal teenagers and special education kids, and merging them together because they do not get to see their peers, us, as often as we see each other. It would make a difference to them and I know they enjoy it.

For students with rhythm, Urban Dance Club is a great organization for both experienced and inexperienced dancers.

Junior Jed Osei started the club with hopes 1

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of unifying dancers at Battlefield, We would always come up with great ideas and have all these great videos planned out, but we couldn t do it because we didn t have a club. Osei encourages dancers of all levels to check out the creative club. In fact Osei is proud of these new dancers. When you see someone who doesn't know how to dance...it s great to see them expand and grow their knowledge of dance Battlefield is likely to have a club to fit any student s interest. Next fall consider exploring the clubs available at Battlefield.

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

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Colophon Cover -Color: CMYK -Paperstock: 60 LB Text Boise Polaris -Photo by: Kirsten DeZeeuw, Jessica Kronzer, and Heather Trobridge

Typography -Copy font: Olympia Light, 9 pt -Headline font: Stafford Bold -Subheadline font: Olympia (Xlight) italic -Byline font: Olympia Medium Condensed, 14 pt -Photo credits: Olympia Xlight condensed, 8 pt -Caption Font: Olympia Xlight Condensed, 12 pt

Staff Writers:

Esperanza Almeda, Mary Alphonse, Inez Asiama, Katarina Ayala, Tristan Baird, Jacklyn Baker, Jacob Baker, Michael Barbuti, Isabelle Barrett, Lily Bartone, Lauren Bennet, Allison Brown, Regan Buckley, Taylor Cambell, Maggie Chi, Destinee -Type styles: Stafford, Stafford Bold Clay, Kayla Coleman, Kelly Cooke, Graphics: All photos taken bv the journalism Felicity Courtright, Thayer Cumings, staff Rebecca Cutsinger, Kyle Dean, Jake Dedekind, Tara Delaney, Caterina Deuser, Kathleen Dwyer, Grant -Program used: Studio Works by Balfour Donaldson, Alyssa Elazar, Brendon -Printed by UPS Estridge, Kennedy Evans, Iana Fields, -Color Process: Digital Printing Taylor Fisher, Ahmad Frej, Fabi Garcia, Nicholas Gonzalez, Charis Hadginikitas, Hartley Hall, Kate Harris, Dan'Nika Hill, Emily Hillig, Brandon -Photos: Original photos taken by the journalism Hoagland, Madison Holtz, Emma staff.

Jacobs, Jay Kim, Jean-Luc -Back cover by Jessica Kronzer Klingensmith, Lauren Kronzer, Alex -Photos and clipart courtesy of Balfour.

Lopez, Luis Marte, Neika Manafi, -Infographs and charts created using Piktochart Emily McCauley, Kyleigh McGinnis, and eas.ily Sarah McLain, Julian Moore, McCall Moran, Sydney Natysin, Anna Parsons, Rohit Netala, Tori Nguyen, McKenna Palmer, Emilene Parham, Anna Parson, Emily Payne, Bryan Plonk, Maheen Quereshi, Alexis Radun, Annabelle Ramos, Meriam -Donations: #142 Rihani, Mary Riley, Nana Ama -Subscriptions: $200 Mantey, Margaret Ryan, Cheyenne -600 copies printed Shifflett, Jordan Sisson, Mark Skorija, Open Mic Nights: $4500 Olivia Stickel, Linda Tran, Tylin Turner, Derek Viator, Heidi Watts, Sidney Werth, Tessa Wisenbaler, Alex Young, Andrew Young, and Savannah Zambudio

Endsheets Design

Photography

Buy a and subscription! Finance Operation Want a copy of Inside 15000 delivered to your house or to a family member or friend? Stop by room 1144 or email Mrs. Peyton (Peytonkc@pwcs.edu) for more information!

Cost: $25 for an entire year's subscription

A big Thank You The editors, staff writers, and photogrpahers of Inside 15000 want to give thanks to all those who participate in the making the news magazine possible. With all the dedication that has been put into the magazine, Inside 15000 won first place in a statewide compeition judged by VHSL. Thank you to Ms. Ethridge-Conti and Mr. Hintosh for proofing the content and allowing the magazine to happen. Thank you to all the generous patrons and all those who support inside 15000. Lastly, thank you UPS for printing the news magazine.,

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

Letter from

the Advisor

This last issue of 2016: This is the last edition that I am honored to advise. As Advisor of the newsmagazine, I have done just that.... advised my staff in their journeys as journalists.

I have seen this program grow from a news paper which came out perhaps four times a year, to a beautiful full color magazine which comes out monthly. The magazine's conception came from attending the Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Spring Convention in 2013, where freshman McKenna Roper was inspired by the workshops she attended. Over lunch we discussed moving the newspaper to a magazine the following year.

It wasn't until January of 2014 that we published out first magazine edition of "Inside 15000." The change required an enormous fund-raising effort. This led to the expansion of our Open Mic Nights at Battlefield., eventually moving the entire event to @4410, and creating a new Battlefield tradition that I hope will last for years to come.

Photo used by permission of Joe Cashwell

Since the beginning of the production of the magazine, we've gone from simplistic design and a writing staff of 45 students to much more sophisticated themes, design elements and in-depth story writing that hasn't always stayed in the safe zone, and a staff of 90 students.

My role in the magazine has always been to support the students in their vision of the journalism program. Sometimes that meant moving to a magazine, sometimes that meant supporting stories on suicide, drug use and other "untouchable" topics. I never pushed students to write any one story, but I always have supported their story ideas.

I have had the honor to teach so many journalist students since I took on the journalism program in 2012. The best part of my job has been to keep in contact with those students who have graduated, and following their careers, not always into journalism, but always with the skills that they have learned in our newsroom. These include a willingness, and courage, to approach

people they don't know and ask questions, sometimes really hard questions, the ability to relay information in an objective manner, and to convey facts in writing so that others can learn to think for themselves, discuss topics and discover new viewpoints.

Whenever a writer has come into the newsroom after a particularly challenging story has come out, expressing that "everyone was debating" and article, for example, Andrew Young's recent story on the Pledge of Allegiance, I remind them that the point of a publication is to get other to think and discuss a topic.; if that is happening in classrooms, then they have accomplished their goals. The goal is not to convince people to think like you do, but to challenge them to defend their own beliefs, and listen to those of others around them. This is the great gift that journalists have to offer: the opportunity to present the facts and discuss the solutions.

I wish the staff of the 2016-17 magazine, and Mr, Bridges, great success!

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 9, June 2016

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Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 6 Febrauary/March 2016

Inside 15000 Battlefield High School News Magazine Volume 2, Issue 6 Febrauary/March 2016

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