Nexus Volume 8, Number 2 (December 2011)

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Superior

Player, Ultimate Coach

“If you get the winning point, and the team captain Rashard Bird launched D [defensive stop in ultimate Frisbee the Frisbee the length of the field, lingo] that precedes it, I’ll give you my landing it perfectly in the hands of furry cheetah-print hat!” The coach freshman receiver Sebbi Di’Francesco, shouted to her players. who caught the disc in the end zone This is no ordinary hat. It is a 5 Brand for a Grady victory. ultimate hat made with a cheetah-print As the Gauntlet players rushed the fleece-fabric and is owned by none field in the jubilant euphoria of winning other than Susie Mercer, head coach a state championship, Mercer, in awe of the Grady Gauntlet, the school’s and still in ownership of her crazy hat, ultimate Frisbee team. Mercer, or “Meh watched the celebration, congratulated Mer”, as her players affectionately call fellow coach Dylan Tunnell and smiled her, adores this hat. In order to push her first smile as a coach of a statethe Gauntlet to victory, however, she champion ultimate Frisbee team. was willing to give this rare item You would have to play quite a bit of away. excellent ultimate Frisbee “I The game was to top that moment, even tried to the 2011 Georgia but after 15 years of miss my parents’ 50th Ultimate State playing the game Championship, and six years wedding anniversary so I and the next coaching it, could go to a tournament. I point would Mercer has quite d e t e r m i n e mean, they’d still be married the a few memories whether the that might. following weekend, right?”

Grady Gauntlet M e r c e r - Ultimate Frisbee player walked away began playing and coach Susie with its first state competitive Frisbee championship or since the fall of 1996 Mercer ended the game painfully and has never looked back. as runner-up to its opponent, the “When I was first introduced to true, Lakeside Vikings. With the score competitive ultimate Frisbee,” Mercer knotted at 12, it was double game recalled, “I was immediately in love.” point, and both teams had their eyes Since then, she has continued to on the ultimate prize. After a long day play for highly competitive ultimate of tiring games and high emotions, the teams around the area including Alloy cheetah hat was just the motivation and Top Shelf, an all women’s team of Gauntlet needed, the motivation to dig skilled veterans. The game has become just a little deeper and go all out for not only a sport but also a lifestyle to just one more point.

Mercer, and her dedication and loyalty Within moments of her offer, “my to the teams she plays on is immense. hat in exchange for a winning play,” “I arrange my entire schedule around

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ultimate.” Mercer said.

“I make arrangements at work, I miss social engagements; ultimate comes first.

I even tried to miss my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary so I could go to a tournament. I mean, they’d still be married the following weekend, right?

Obviously, they didn’t go for it. ” Starting in 2006, Mercer and a core group of enthused students launched a club ultimate Frisbee team at Grady.

Though originally small in numbers, the team slowly began to build, bringing in new players and gaining cohesiveness and competitiveness. Gradually, Mercer has been able to translate much of her knowledge and love to many students around Grady and build a successful ultimate club.

In 2008, Mercer found a coaching partner in fellow ultimate player Dylan Tunnell. After gaining fame in the ultimate world as one of the finest players ever to come out of Atlanta (attending Paidea School), Tunnell, a member of the 2009 U.S. national team that won a gold medal at worlds, he arrived at Grady to coach with Mercer.

“Having Dylan there changed the team from a fringe group of interesting kids who liked to run around to a more focused, competitive group of athletes,” Mercer said.

But even with the sport’s growing popularity and the presence of Tunnel on the coaching staff, Mercer still feels the ultimate team at Grady has room to improve. One problem Mercer commonly sees is kids coming out for ultimate but not taking the sport seriously.

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We all know our teachers as simply our teachers, but is there more to them then just grading, lecturing, and scolding?

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Before they were teachers...

As high school students, we are constantly asked what we want to do with our lives or what career we want to pursue. We respond to these questions with answers such as “a pediatrician,” “an engineer” or “a musician,” but do we ever wonder what careers our own teachers wanted to pursue when they were in our shoes? Surely being a teacher and handling more than 100 kids a day was not their dream job. So, what was?

For Nikolai Curtis it was biology. Whether it was working in a zoo, teaching or outdoor recreation, Curtis wanted to pursue a career that would fit his love for science.

After earning a degree in biology from Maryville College in Tennessee, Curtis was immediately employed by the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Indiana. He worked there for six months and then traveled to Atlanta to work at Zoo Atlanta. There, he worked with visitors in the reptile house and spoke on its behalf in interviews with the media.

Even though Curtis enjoyed his job at the zoo, he felt his career was not progressing. His interests changed to teaching. He began as a student teacher for a summer school program for West Fulton Middle School, now B.E.S.T. Academy. He was then hired to teach at Grady and this year, 2011, marks his 10th year of teaching biology here.

Curtis’s goals were high but he was able to achieve them, unlike Gayla Blair who, as a high school student, aspired to be “the next Barbara Walters.” After attaining her degree in journalism from Tuskegee University, Blair began substituting in the Atlanta Public School district while finishing her second master’s degree at Clark Atlanta University. While in pursuit

of her first master’s degree, she interned at KYW-TV in Philadelphia. There, she worked in the sales department and sold advertising. The job was stressful and required long hours.

Blair felt she was most comfortable with substituting and decided to complete a teacher-training program and earn her teaching certificate. Blair was hired at Southside High School, now Maynard Jackson, and then relocated to Douglass. After seven years at Douglass, Blair was informed that Grady needed English teachers, and she made the decision to apply.

This year is Blair’s first full school year as an English teacher at Grady, and she plans to continue her career here.

One staff member, inspired by her 10th and 11th grade English teacher, set her goal: to become a high school English teacher herself. Carrie MacBrien attained her bachelor’s and master’s degree in English and education from Emory University. After college she worked many odd jobs, including waitressing at The American Roadhouse to bring in money while she searched for a stable job. MacBrien began her student teaching at Harper Archer and attained her teaching certificate. She started teaching English at Crim and then was offered the position of language arts department chair at Harper Archer. She relocated to George Washington Carver, where she worked for three years. The year before Carver split into small schools, MacBrien was hired at Grady. She taught ninth-grade journalism and English her first year, and then was promoted to the Communications Magnet program coordinator. Today, MacBrien is happy with her career as the communications academy leader, though she does miss teaching in a classroom setting.

-Courtney Marshall

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re fe at u

We all know our teachers as simply our teachers, but is there more to them then just grading, lecturing, and scolding?





Before they were teachers...

As high school students, we are constantly asked what we want to do with our lives or what career we want to pursue. We respond to these questions with answers such as “a pediatrician,” “an engineer” or “a musician,” but do we ever wonder what careers our own teachers wanted to pursue when they were in our shoes? Surely being a teacher and handling more than 100 kids a day was not their dream job. So, what was?

For Nikolai Curtis it was biology. Whether it was working in a zoo, teaching or outdoor recreation, Curtis wanted to pursue a career that would fit his love for science.

After earning a degree in biology from Maryville College in Tennessee, Curtis was immediately employed by the Potawatomi Zoo in South Bend, Indiana. He worked there for six months and then traveled to Atlanta to work at Zoo Atlanta. There, he worked with visitors in the reptile house and spoke on its behalf in interviews with the media.

Even though Curtis enjoyed his job at the zoo, he felt his career was not progressing. His interests changed to teaching. He began as a student teacher for a summer school program for West Fulton Middle School, now B.E.S.T. Academy. He was then hired to teach at Grady and this year, 2011, marks his 10th year of teaching biology here.

Curtis’s goals were high but he was able to achieve them, unlike Gayla Blair who, as a high school student, aspired to be “the next Barbara Walters.” After attaining her degree in journalism from Tuskegee University, Blair began substituting in the Atlanta Public School district while finishing her second master’s degree at Clark Atlanta University. While in pursuit

of her first master’s degree, she interned at KYW-TV in Philadelphia. There, she worked in the sales department and sold advertising. The job was stressful and required long hours.

Blair felt she was most comfortable with substituting and decided to complete a teacher-training program and earn her teaching certificate. Blair was hired at Southside High School, now Maynard Jackson, and then relocated to Douglass. After seven years at Douglass, Blair was informed that Grady needed English teachers, and she made the decision to apply.

This year is Blair’s first full school year as an English teacher at Grady, and she plans to continue her career here.

One staff member, inspired by her 10th and 11th grade English teacher, set her goal: to become a high school English teacher herself. Carrie MacBrien attained her bachelor’s and master’s degree in English and education from Emory University. After college she worked many odd jobs, including waitressing at The American Roadhouse to bring in money while she searched for a stable job. MacBrien began her student teaching at Harper Archer and attained her teaching certificate. She started teaching English at Crim and then was offered the position of language arts department chair at Harper Archer. She relocated to George Washington Carver, where she worked for three years. The year before Carver split into small schools, MacBrien was hired at Grady. She taught ninth-grade journalism and English her first year, and then was promoted to the Communications Magnet program coordinator. Today, MacBrien is happy with her career as the communications academy leader, though she does miss teaching in a classroom setting.

-Courtney Marshall

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Rives leaves an impression with his clever expressions

“These expressions are used to increase students' motivation, enhance their comprehension of mathematical concepts and to bring a smile to their faces during periods when the absorption of another math process is just unbearable.” - Mr. John Rives

“Are you on Planet Reebok?”

Planet Reebok is a fantasy cartoon world created by Reebok to market “Shaq” basketball shoes. It reminds students they are detached from the concept being discussed during math class.

“Big Red Truck!”

Big Red Truck is a funny joke about people responding to questions in an obviously incorrect manner during a stressful situation, such as someone identifying a coin toss as heads when the face of the coin reflects tails.

“You sad!”

The expression “You sad!” was used in southern Louisiana by the Acadian students in order to make fun of someone making a mistake, particularly a careless error. This refrain was often directed at their teacher’s errors and followed by laughter by the students.

Photos by Kate Taber

“You big Yo-Yo!” The Yo-Yo was a favorite toy of mine during the ‘60s during the holidays.

I always got a yo-yo as a gift; my favorite was the Duncan Butterfly model.

The expression allows students to reflect on their behavior that does not conform to Grady policy.

“You’re full of prunes!”

“You are full of prunes” is an expression utilized to indicate the individual's response to a question is not credible.

Of course these explanations are simply obvious to everyone, therefore “Big Red Truck!”

-Interview by Kate Taber

Lies: All A

Two Truths and A Lie

Securing a prom date using math Using mathematical concepts to secure a prom date is simply a poignant way of responding to students asking the perpetual question, “When will I ever use this in my life?”

Obviously the knowledge of math concepts impresses all students. This makes the student possessing this comprehension of math concepts an even more attractive prospect for a prom date that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Mario Herrera A. Owns a house in Austin, Texas B. Dated Tigger, Winnie the Pooh character C. Had dinner with the mayor of Juarez, Mexico

Elizabeth Monaham

A. Knows the first 100 digits of Pi B. Ski-raced throughout high school career C. Met Johnny Depp in Paris

John Brandhorst

A. Was a college cheerleading captain at Michigan State B. Is fluent in Italian C. Loves teaching teenagers

Who are your style icons?

“Michael Jordan, Jim Jones and Tiana Taylor.”

What are your favorite stores to shop at?

“Tanger Outlet, the Polo Store, the Nike Store and the Adidas Store.”

When do you feel most stylish?

“When I have on sneakers, my Army pants, and a black Nike sweatshirt.”

What is your favorite article of clothing?

“I love Polo button-down shirts, but they have to be loud colors. I also love my pair of camouflage pants.”

What is an ideal outfit for you?

“My ideal outfit would have to be a pair of Jordans with some American Eagle jeans or Levi’s.”

If you had to live in one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“A Nike pullover, Nike pants, black and red Nike shoes, with red accessories.”

Move beyond the basic braid and learn how to create the trendy fishtail braid with these four simple steps.

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2

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Divide hair in half so that you have an even amount of hair in both hands.

Take a piece of hair from the outer edge of the right bunch and pull it over the right and under the left side.

Take a piece of same size from outside of the and pull it over left and under

the the left the the

right side.

Photos by April King

Do you have a style icon?

“Yes, [singing group] the Black Eyed Peas.”

When do you feel the most stylish?

“When I put on something that I know someone else won’t pull off until they see me with it. For example, after I wore my Ugg boots, that’s when everyone decided they wanted some.”

What is an ideal outfit for you?

“The weirdest outfit, like a white blazer, all black Trues, the boy kind of Gucci boots, black and silver Ray Bans, plain V-neck shirt, with all-white hair!”

If you had to live in one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

“Christian Louboutin shoes, white Trues with gold trimming, white Ray-Bans, and a halfsleeve cream button shirt that has three buttons on it.”

Where are your favorite places to shop?

“H&M, True Religion, and Lenox Mall.”

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Fishing for a ponytail

Mecca Cooper and Antoine Jones

Photos by Tamara Mason

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Style Profiles:

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Continue the pattern alternating between right and left until you’ve completed the braid.

Remember: The tighter you pull the strands of hair the tighter the braid will be.

-April King

-Tamara Mason