JagWire | Volume 14 | Issue 7 | May 6, 2014 by JagWire

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Emerald Ridge High School 12405 184TH ST E PUYALLUP, WA 98374 MAY 06, 2014 VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII

A LIMITED FORUM FOR STUDENT EXPRESSION

2{ News

VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 06, 2014

News in brief JEA/NSPA NATIONALS JagWire had five students attend the Journalism Education Association (JEA) and National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) nationals in San Diego from April 10 through 13 along with yearbook (Facets), JagTV, and video productions. The JagWire staff had two students place at nationals and Facets had one student place. The competition was named “Making Waves” and was mostly held at the San Diego Hilton Bayfront hotel in downtown San Diego. While at the convention students were able to do some sightseeing and take a variety of classes and seminars dealing with journalism and yearbook. The point of attending these classes was to bring back notes and ideas to help improve JagWire, Facets and JagTV News in the coming school year. In addition to taking these classes, students participated in national writeoff competitions against students from schools across the country in a variety of journalism and design categories. ER had a few students win awards in the competitions. * Anna Palmer - Excellent in Review Writing * Chase Charaba - Honorable Mention in Newswriting * Stephanie Choi - Honorable Mention in Yearbook Theme Layout { Melina Stone - Reporter }

DECA ATTENDS NATIONALS Emerald Ridge’s DECA chapter has three students attending nationals in Atlanta May 5-7. These students are seniors Marissa Modestowicz, Brenna Labriola and junior Jordan Koch. In order to qualify for DECA nationals students had to attend state and place well enough to meet the standards required. This included a variety of business related role play, where students had to put themselves in the position of business and marketing professionals and try to convince the judges that their product was the best. There were five students who went to the state competition Mar. 6-8 following DECA regionals at the Tacoma Convention Center Jan. 9. { Melina Stone - Reporter }

ASB OFFICER ELECTIONS Emerald Ridge will be electing Associated Student Body officers for the 2014-2015 school year in May. Class officers will also be chosen for next year’s junior and senior class. Application packets can be found in the main office and in room E212 for those who are interested in running for office. There will also be a mandatory meeting May 8 during Advisory in room E212 for those who are running. ASB is in charge of managing many of the school events and controlling much of the flow of funds to school clubs, classes and organizations. { Chase Charaba - News Editor }

Disabled kids show off their talents Annual Celebration of Our Stars featured disabled children from Good Samaritan’s Children Therapy Unit

elebration of our Stars, was held Apr. 26 at two p.m. Several renditions of “Let it Go,” were sang by various in the Emerald Ridge auditorium. Sponsored by kids and dances were performed to “What Does the Grannie’s Attic Thrift Store, this event showcased Fox Say.” Traditional talents like these were displayed many talents from socially, mentally or physically disabled but also very unique talents such as a mute child who kids receiving treatment at communicated...details Good Samaritan’s Children about his life by a machine “I first volunteered last year because controlled with his eyes. Therapy Unit. “It’s their talent show, their my brother and sister have special “This is no exaggeration, musical, their choir concert, it’s my favorite time in the their night game. All those needs so I wanted to learn more about year,” said Tavern. “I get to things that you know other it.” -Junior Kalee Mayhan do a lot of cool things but students get the opportunity [Celebration of our Stars] is to be involved in. This is kind of their gig,” said the my favorite and it’s the coolest thing I do in the whole Technical Director for the show, Chris Tavern. year.” Good Sam CTU has all different kinds of therapy for Third grader Adrian Jones, participated in a dance children ranging from occupational therapy, physical called “What does the Hawk Say?” a play off of “What therapy to social groups. Does the Fox Say?” The group had practiced with their Celebration of our Stars is a channel for these patients teachers each with individual skills they had been to show the progress they have made since they began working on. therapy in the unit. “I had a lot of fun dancing with all my friends,” said “It’s a way to celebrate what they’ve done over the Jones. year, the growth that they’ve experienced. Whatever that Celebration of our Stars focuses on bringing attention is to them as an individual to these kids who may not because it looks different for receive recognition for their “I just walk away thinking how cool crucial improvements. It each kid,” said Tavern. While kids performed their is it that I got to share in celebrating demonstrates the steps they act on stage, the rest were in have taken to improvement the upper gym, making crafts, with them in what they can do.” -Show with whatever disability they watching movies and chatting Technical Director Chris Tavern struggle with. with the volunteers. “While the shows going Many volunteers were on I smile so much that often involved, several of them from Emerald Ridge. Their times it makes me cry,” said Tavern. “I don’t know the duties included hanging out with the kids, helping with kids from CTU but I’m so proud of them when it’s over. I changing the stage, and decoration. just walk away thinking how cool is it that I got to share “I first volunteered last year because my brother and in celebrating with them in what they can do. ” sister have special needs so I wanted to learn more about it,” said junior Kalee Mayhan. “I met these cool kids, { Anna Palmer - Features Editor} they’re actually all just really cool.”

Basketball tournament to benefit homeless Freezing Nights to host a basketball game at ER May 28

igh Pointe Community along with members of High Pointe washer and I take a lot of pride in Church is holding a Community Church. that.” fundraiser May 28 to benefit Funding the program is very Barnes tries to get as many the Freezing Nights Ministry. The important to those who volunteer students involved as he can because fundraiser will be a three on three countless hours to serving the he tries to get as many people basketball tournament held in the homeless and making their day a involved as possible. He has found Emerald Ridge gym to help raise little brighter. the Freezing Nights program to be money for the upcoming winter. “You really get to see the direct a very rewarding but also crucial Freezing Nights is a program impact you give to people when you because it allows him and other based in Puyallup that helps find come help,” said Horton. “I really like student members to get involved. shelters for the homeless during to make and bring seasonal holiday “We try to show the homeless the winter. The program community we care. We give rotates between a variety them a warm place to be and of participating churches “We try to show the homeless we feed them, but we also try to throughout the area. The community we care. We give them a encourage them to live a new program’s primary objective lifestyle and to get a housing is to provide a warm and safe warm place to be and we feed them, situation,” said Barnes. “We place for the homeless to eat but we also try to encourage them to cook food, service it and set and sleep. There is a Freezing up cots, but also with all the Night every second Friday live a new lifestyle and to get a housing kids around we set a positive from November to March. and safe environment that situation.” -Senior Jordan Barnes “I think freezing nights is a fosters appreciation.” really great program because Since ER tries to get as the youth is there to improve other cookies whenever I go to Freezing many students involved in the people’s lives” said Megan Horton, Nights.” community as possible, Freezing one of the volunteers for Freezing Senior Jordan Barnes is also one of Nights is one of the many fundraisers Nights and President of Key/Interact the Presidents of Key/Interact club that are supported and embraced. It club. and has helped with the Freezing allows the student volunteers to help All of the fundraising from the Nights program as well as many both the community and attain real basketball game is going towards other serviced-based events since his life skills for the future. next year’s Freezing Nights for the sophomore year. purchasing and funding of food and “I go every week [and] I try and { Drew Norris - Reporter } housing during the winter season of bring a new person every week. I do operation. The basketball game will most of the dirty work though,” said allow ER students to be involved Barnes. “I’m the designated dish

News

VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 06, 2014

{ Photo courtesy of Jenni Muehlenbruch }

ER bookeeper Sandy Engelking, office manager Kellie McRill, secretary Amy Littleton and secretary Christina Grabski pose with their Team Cypher shirts.

Students pose in the lower gym with the Team Cypher shirts they purchased to support the calculus teacher in her battle against lung cancer.

Math teacher diagnosed with non-smoking lung cancer

n Mar. 14 Emerald Ridge calculus teacher Sarah Cypher was diagnosed with a nonsmoking lung cancer in her lower right lung. Subsequent tests were conducted to determine which strand of cancer it was, and a diagnosis confirmed March 31 that Cypher had ALK strand non-small cell lung cancer. Among the first to hear this news was advisee junior Emily Scharton, who is now reporting to a different advisor. “She’s like a second mom to me,” Scharton said. “ It [was] hard making the transition to a new advisor.” ALK, or anaplastic lymphoma kinase, is a genetic defect found to play a role in the development of non-small cell lung cancers. According Cypher’s oncologist Dr. Blau, about three percent of people in Cypher’s age group test positive for this gene, making it a “fairly uncommon strand”. “More prayers than you can imagine were sent up that it would be a false-positive but our worst fears were realized [March 18] when my doctor confirmed the diagnosis of lung cancer,” said Cypher in a journal post on CaringBridge. Since Cypher’s diagnosis, the ER math department

worked to ensure that all of Cypher’s students, and her advisees, have a teacher able to instruct them in her absence. Traci Shepard took over for calculus, and Jenni Muehlenbruch took over for geometry. Shepard said she is glad to help carry the burden of Cypher’s classes. “I think it’s helped us feel like we are a close team that helps each other,” Shepard said. Shepard said she was one of the first notified of Cypher’s cancer diagnosis, as the two of them are close friends. She said that while everyone hopes and prays for her swift recovery, she is sad to see her out of the classroom. “She’s my friend, and I miss her,” Shepard said. “It’s hard to see someone who’s lived to help others forced to take a break from that.” Cypher started chemotherapy Apr. 3 with the drug Xalkori, an oral pill treatment for NSCLC linked to the ALK strain taken twice a day, as well as two supplements and RX treatments prescribed by Dr. Davis Lamson. Doctors say Cypher may lose her right lung, due to the nature of her cancer, and is disqualified from any organ transplants. Teachers Cami Deveroux, Katie Aguilar, Shepard

and Muehlenbruch formed Team Cypher to show support and raise funds to help Cypher as she goes through treatment. Team Cypher made T-shirts, posters, and will host a dinner at the Ram restaurant May 14 to raise funds for Cypher’s medical bills. Calculus students also organized a Relay for Life team for Cypher, with a $1000 fundraising goal. The relay will be held June 6 in Lakewood, Wash. Cypher’s advisory took news of her diagnosis especially hard. According to advisee Austin Porter- a family friend of Cypher- their advisory is a close-knit group, and all show support for Cypher in any small way they can. “[We] took it pretty hard, she’s a friend to all of us,” Porter said. “We’re all hoping and praying for a quick recovery.” Cypher remains positive, and said she trusts in God and her doctors to heal her. { Doug Mayovskly - Copy Editor }

College credit now offered for select ER classes College in the High School program through Everett Community College allows students to earn college credit while enrolled in a full class schedule at ER

merald Ridge students now have the option to engage in the College in the High School program which started this year. It allows students to take high school classes that count for college credit. This program coordinates between the school district and Everett Community College, allowing students to take, in a sense, a college class before college. The courses at ER that currently apply for this program are Calculus I, taught by Sarah Cypher, Intro to Statistics taught by Martina Leonard, pre-calculus I and II, taught by Tracie Shepard, Craig Fredrikson and MaryJo Koch. Each of these classes receive five college credits per semester. “One nice thing is a lot of the kids will be able to go into college and if their major doesn’t require them to learn different math, they’ll be able to already have those check marks on their transcript and not have to take math in college, because they’ve already taken the content here,” Shepard said, who acted to bring this program to ER. Many students in college need precalculus I and II for their majors. So if they took that in high school and then went to college and took it there, they would find that the curriculum would be the same. “I have 24 kids in my AP stats class, and 20 of them elected to do the College in the High School rather than take the AP test, because it’s guaranteed credit,” Leonard said. “It’s guaranteed credit because if you get a D or higher in the class, you automatically get the five credits.” Each semester costs $198, and a full year costs $396; there is a payment plan. This promotes significant savings for students. An equivalent class at Everett could reach $500, disregarding the price of textbooks and transportation. “The reason I chose this program was because it gave the students an opportunity to save money by getting the credits in high school rather than taking them in college,” senior pre-calculus student Madi Davis said. “The biggest benefits to me

are one: saving money, and two: not having to worry about taking extra math in college. Might as well get the credits now than later!” This program is similar to Running Start, as they get the college credit, get to keep their Emerald Ridge teachers, but don’t have to travel to Pierce Community College. In a sense, it’s essentially the same cost between the two. The college in high school program is about the same cost Running Start, since for the college in high school program you have to pay a good chunk of money for each class, but the books are provided at school for free while at Pierce, you have to buy your own. And for AP classes, once you take the test, you only get college credit if you pass the AP test. Students signed up by going onto the Washington State Community and Technical Colleges admissions center web page and following the directions in the student/parent handbook on page four. Students had to take the compass test for math at Pierce and show the results to their math teacher to be cleared. Or, students can qualify from the grade they got in their previous year of math, in which they needed a C+ or higher. Once cleared, they could register and pay by going to the Everett Community College website. There students can add the desired class to the ‘cart’ and then pay for the program. It’s possible that in the coming school year more classes will be added to the program. Physics, German, French and Spanish language classes are looking into joining next year. As Shepard says, they are trying to get as many opportunities as possible. { Grace Amsden - Student Life Editor }

4{ Athletics

VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 06, 2014 { Chase Charaba - JagWire }

Left to right: Junior Kayla Muche and sophomores Mackenzie Hansen and Brooke Vandoren compete in a game against Curtis High School.

Sophomore pitches varsity

oftball is a sport that requires endurance, strength, and speed. One of the players, sophomore Brooke Vandoren, has shined in her overall performance and in being a team player. The positions that Vandoren plays are pitcher and left fielder. She got into the sport because of her older sibling and motivation from her dad. Vandoren started playing when she was four years old. “I started when my sister started playing. She is someone I look up to because, you know, she’s my older sister,” said Vandoren. Unlike most would think, Vandoren wasn’t born an athlete. She didn’t instantly become a pitcher. “I started pitching when I was eight. I’ve never really played left field so I decided to give it a try,” said Vandoren. Pitchers go through the most rigorous treatment throughout the game. It’s strenuous on the arm and also on the leg. “What really inspires me is myself. My teammates are also supportive, and I always look to them when I need help,” said Vandoren.

The girls continue to push hard in their play and stay focused on making this a good season. “The other week we demolished Curtis High School 17-2, and I had ten strikeouts. Everyone did so good,” said Vandoren. She also participates on teams outside of school. “I’ve played on club and select ever since I was eight; also South Hill Little League, Collect, and have been with Crushers for five years now,” said Vandoren. Sophomore Mackenzie Hansen, who plays first base and pitches for club team Crushers as well as on the ER fastpitch team, has also been playing with Vandoren since kindergarten. “Brooke is my best friend. We used to play against each other and then we went on varsity together our freshman year. We also have been playing on Crushers for five years together,” said Hansen. Like any other team, the girls also focus on team chemistry to keep the morale up and spirits high throughout the season. “Being around the girls, I love the atmosphere,”

said Vandoren. The closer you are as friends on a team, usually the better you play. Hansen claims that Vandoren has impacted the team by just bringing a lot of smiles to the field and at practice. Along with Vandoren, senior Chelsey Hayes has also shined in her overall performance. “Chelsey is really good. We’re fifth in league right now. We just beat the second team in league 7-2, and Chelsey pitched the whole game,” said Hansen. There is a lot of young talent, but there is also senior guidance and veteran presence on the team that has allowed them to win games this season. “Last game I did really well, I didn’t have as much strikeouts as I’d like but I did a good job keeping them off balance,” said Hayes. While fastpitch might be coming to an end for Hayes, Vandoren and Hansen’s time on the team is far from ending, and their teammates expect that they are going to do well in the years to come. { Hannalie Stevens - Reporter }

Athletics

VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 06, 2014

{ Doug Mayovsky - JagWire }

Senior Diego Ventura poses after playing in his first game back after a red card. ERHS lost 5-1 against the Curtis Vikings.

ER soccer team captain continues father’s legacy

hen your father was a professional soccer player for an El Salvador team, it’s likely to have an influence on one’s life. This is the case for Diego Ventura, senior and captain of ER’s soccer team. “I always kinda wanted to be like him,” Ventura said. Ventura is the middle child of three boys. His father, before he was born, played for Las Aguilas (The Eagles) in his hometown in El Salvador. He’s played soccer since he came to America at age five, about twelve years ago, when his father jumped at the chance to have their new neighbor coach Ventura. Ventura always wanted to be better than his older brother, whom Ventura admitted was better than him in their younger years. His younger brother, Mauricio, is as adamant about playing as well. Soccer, though a big part of his life, isn’t the only thing notable about it. Ventura has been a member

of Interact and Key Club and participated in many school events. He has also tried the swim team, and tried out for the tennis team, though he was cut from the latter. Outside of school, soccer dominates his life. He plays for Washington Premier, and has played for Fury and Norpoint, all upper-tier club teams. Being a part of these teams helps towards Ventura’s goal of playing professionally. He knows, however, that quite a few kids are trying to do the very same. “I think I have an okay chance,” Ventura said. “It’s my priority, and I’ve always been a leader on the field.” Ventura has been the captain of every team he has played for, a big achievement in his eyes. As senior captain of the soccer team, he believes that he needs to show an example for the rest of the team, as he has been a member for four years. “I’ve always known the morale of the team,”

Ventura said. “And it’s good to guide them to know what the team is looking for, because I know what the team wants.” When it comes to playing, Ventura believes that you must practice the way you play, that you never have an easy day. His least favorite part of a game is defending and running, even though it’s soccer and he has to. His favorite is the aftermath. “I just like having the ball and doing the moves and scoring goals and creating chances,” Ventura said. After he leaves, he thinks the team can handle itself. There is new talent coming in that will accustom a new team. The team will adjust as it needs to. Ventura will be attending Bellevue College on a scholarship he received. He then plans to transfer to a four year college through scholarships. { Catherine Mann - Opinions Editor }

Exchange student from Thailand finds her place in tennis Exchange student joins ER girls’ varsity team during her first year in tennis. { Grace Amsden - JagWire }

Junior Chompoo Yantabutr poses with her tennis racket before practice girl’s varsity tennis team practice May 1.

unior Chompoo Yantabutr tightens the laces on her shoes, picks up her racket, and approaches the court, and then gives a confident smile to her teammates watching her. Yantabutr is a proud member of the Emerald Ridge girls’ varsity tennis team. This is Yantabutr’s first season in tennis. She chose to try out for tennis because she felt she needed to do a new kind of sport, as she’s done soccer, basketball, track and badminton, which she played since she was seven. She wanted a change. “It’s a mental game. You can’t really make mistakes, and you need to control the ball. And it’s hard because I just started playing,” Yantabutr said. In August 2013, Yantabutr moved to Puyallup from Thailand where she lived all her life. It’s served as a considerable change for her. For one thing, her previous school she had about 500 students, and Emerald Ridge has nearly 1,500. She is required to go back to Thailand during the summer since her family is there, but plans on coming back to Puyallup sometime in the future. She likes Puyallup despite the differences, though she plans on the possibility of moving back to Thailand, but not living there for the rest of her life. She misses her friends and parents, who remained in Thailand to work. She was, however, very enthusiastic for a fresh start. “It’s colder here. Because we have tropical weather. So this is really cold, but I like it. It’s more calm cause I’m a city girl. I was born and raised in a city, so everyone’s really mad in the city. But this is like really nice and so quiet,” Yantabutr said. She’s quickly made friends with everyone on the team. At the tryouts, she noted that everyone was pretty quiet, but that soon changed as new friendships blossomed. “Chompoo and I are good friends. Granted I’ve only known her since the season started, but it feels like I’ve known her forever,” senior Navriti Sharma

said. Yantabutr says that the girls varsity tennis team is much more than just a team; it’s as much as her second family. “My favorite memory with Chompoo is probably when one day everyone was unsure whether we were going to have practice or not, so we decided to hang out until we found out. I got to know more about her and we were able to just have a great time together,” said junior Katie Goodin. The team is improving after some struggles. Currently, the girls are 2-2. They won 4-1, and lost 2-3 in both the losses. “We did an awesome job, actually. Although we lost some of our games against the other schools, we still have another game for a comeback with every school,” Yantabutr said. One of Yantabutr’s strengths in tennis is her backhand - a shot where someone swings the racquet around their body in the direction they want the ball to go. She has enjoyed playing doubles played with partners that switch regularly. “It’s like having a friend beside you all the time and that just makes me feel really confident and its really nice having a friend supporting you while you’re playing as well,” Yantabutr said. Some of her other strengths lie outside of the range of simply the technical aspects of the game. “She has a very positive attitude and works very hard. She is also very competitive,” coach Theresa Gotter, health and fitness teacher, said. It is in Yantabutr’s plans to continue playing tennis next year. As of right now, her goal, as well as the whole team’s, is to make it to state, which will be in the Tri-Cities May 30-31. “[Tennis] is like an addiction, and now I’m hooked and will never ever let go of it,” Yantabutr said. { Grace Amsden - Student Life Editor }

6{ Opinion

VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 6, 2014

Unfair AP test prices

Staff Editor-in-Chief/Focus Editor................................Claire Benson News Editor..........................................................Chase Charaba Sports Editor......................................................Alexander Salas Opinion Editor.................................................Cheyenne Reeves Features Editor.......................................................Anna Palmer Arts & Entertainment Editor.................................Brynn Adams Student Life & The Beat Editor............................Grace Amsden Copy Editor.........................................................Doug Mayovsky Photography & Graphics Editor..................................Ellie Luzzi Reporters....................................................Meagan Beardemphl ..................................................................................Dana Brown ........................................................................Leighanna Ingram .........................................................................Jiannaka Limonta ............................................................................Catherine Mann .............................................................................Adaire Noonan ..............................................................................Andrew Norris ..........................................................................Hannalie Stevens .................................................................................Melina Stone Adviser.....................................................................Kevin Smyth The Very Fine Print Editorial Mission As a limited forum, JagWire exercises student expression rights under the jurisdiction of the Puyallup School District. We pursue an unbiased truth while maintaining the highest journalistic integrity. Our top priority is to raise awareness while covering a wide variety of issues effecting our readership. We will publish an engaging newsmagazine which will entice, excite, and engage. Letters Policy JagWire will accept unsolicited copy from students, staff, and community members. Only signed and dated letters with address and phone number from community members, or grade level from students, will be accepted. Letters should be limited to 300 words and will be published as space is available. All letters are the sole opinion of the writers, and the staff reserves the right to edit any letter for space and/or clarity. We will not publish material that may substantially disrupt the school process. Letters to the editor may be submitted by mailing them to JagWire c/o Emerald Ridge High School or emailing them to brackets.jagwire@gmail.com. Advertising Mission JagWire publication staff accepts advertisements for most products and services available to the public. However, the staff reserves the right to reject, edit, or cancel any advertisement that the staff deems offensive in light of normal public standards. Ads identifying students as athletes by photo or text will not be accepted (WIAA 18.20.0 and 18.20.1). The staff will not accept advertising that is racist, sexist, or illegal for high school students. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views, endorsements, and/or positions of the staff of JagWire, student body, faculty, administration, or school board. Corrections JagWire staff values accuracy in every aspect of our publication. We wish to correct the errors that we do make and extend an apology for any inconvenience to our readership. If you believe that we have made an error, please contact us at brackets.jagwire@gmail.com.

Front Cover Photo The cover photograph was taken by Editor-In-Chief Claire Benson. Reporter Drew Norris poses in commons with sign.

{jagwire{ A LIMITED FORUM FOR STUDENT EXPRESSION

nce junior year arrives, the pressure to take Advance Placement (AP) classes is piled on. College becomes a major focus, and many students who are seeking a college level experience - and college credits - take AP classes. But the exam that ultimately decides if you receive college credit is not free. The price for these exams is by all means unjust and far too high. Since 1956 when the first AP exams were administered, it’s purpose has been to test the level of knowledge the student has on the subject so they can receive college credit. AP classes provide a higher level of work, and collegiate standards and knowledge for students who wish to challenge themselves in high school. However, if College Board was truly concerned with providing challenging academics, the price wouldn’t be $89 per exam. There is a problem if kids still struggle to pay for the exam, and even then many still do not receive exam reduction. At Emerald Ridge alone, 567 exams will be administered this year - which will make a total of $50,463. Emerald Ridge receives eight dollars for each fully paid exam and the rest goes to College Board, a not-forprofit organization that the Puyallup School District is partnered with for all standardized tests. They provide the materials, and they also make the price of the exams. The money that College Board takes in goes to “expanding access to opportunity for students” and “subsidies for low income students.” I find this to be quite an oxymoron. They raise the price to aid the low income students, when the reason students need fee reduction is because the price is so high. Increasing the cost of AP exams only contradicts their intentions. Even though fee reduction is provided for students, you must qualify for free or reduced lunch, or must be taking an excess of AP exams to be able to recieve

it. Other elements also help to provide reduction, but those are the main factors. Many students don’t qualify for it. This year at Emerald Ridge 156 exams have received fee reductions, but that’s only 22% of the students taking it. Low income students are not the only ones who have trouble paying for it. Often middle class students do not qualify for any fee reductions, but additional financial issues often play into the struggle; whether it’s because of medical bills, sports, or other monetary needs, some students are unable to pay the full amount, yet they cannot qualify for fee reduction. What about the fact that you only receive college credit if you get a three or better on the exams? Many colleges only accept a score of a four or five. Some highly prestigious colleges won’t even accept AP exams, period. It’s completely unfair to have students pay $89.00 an exam, and have the possibility of not even receiving college credit. Through Running Start you can receive not only college credit, but your associates degree. An entire year costs approximately $390-$400, whereas all AP provides you is a possibility of receiving college credit, which at times is the same cost as a year of Running Start. That’s not to say that everyone should do Running Start , but the comparison of costs and what each provides needs to be recognized. AP exams remain yet a n o t h e r unneeded expense in the lives of students and their families who may be financially struggling. If College Board is so concerned with our academics, then at least they could attempt to make it affordable.

“If College Board is so concerned with our academics, then at least they could attempt to make it affordable.”

{ Anna Palmer - Features Editor }

Focus

VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 6, 2014

COMPLEXITY AND CONSISTENCY lifting the label on dietary misconceptions

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Diet v. lifestyle

n today’s day and age many people are resorting to diets to lose weight or to eat healthier. In the simplest sense a diet is what someone eats, but how is this different from a lifestyle? While a diet did start out as a term to represent what someone put on their plate, today it has a more narrow definition. There are many diets available. The popularity of diets has allowed them to expand into many different types and methods. Some of the more extreme diets include the water diet, which requires those participating to drink more water and eat foods with a high water-base and the tapeworm diet, which is when someone takes a pill containing a small tapeworm. The tapeworm will eat much of the ingested food. One of the more popular diets is called a “juicing cleanse.” The one taking on the diet drinks juice made from a juicer or blender and doesn’t eat any food. While the juice is full of nutrients and does successfully allow participants to lose weight, it isn’t the fat that is being lost. As a result, many diets can prove to be costly and even dangerous. Many diets are safe and far less extreme. The benefits are there with many diets, but so are the consequences. However, there is more to weight loss than just diets and exercise. Lifestyle changes are an alternative to modern diets. Instead of changing everything and counting calories or carbs, many are beginning to just swap out their current meals for something a little healthier.

{ Chase Charabe - News Editor }

{ The information on these pages has been compiled with the efforts of Brynn Adams, Dana Brown, and Claire Benson }

*FUN FACT We can legitimately become addicted to sugar and sugary foods. Our bodies were not originally designed to consume the amount of sugar we are currently eating. Because of this, a “sugar rush” can override your body’s ability to let you know that “you’ve had enough.”

Gelatin Gelatin, which is found commonly in Jell-O but can also appear in yogurts, ice creams, etc., is made of collagen - which comes from animal tissues. According t o snopes.com, for gelatin the c o l l a g e n most commonly comes from boiling the bones, skins, and hides of pigs and cows. It goes through an intensive process of boiling, filtering, drying, and grinding in order to be made into the gelatin that will appear in food products.

*natural & artficial flavors

Vegans & vegetarians DO consume Some people believe that protein comes from only one food source; meat. Vegans and vegetarians don’t eat meat, so where do they find all of their protein? Well, it can be found in beans. One-half cup of beans is the equivalent to one ounce of steak. Protein can also be found in soy and dairy products. Not only that, but protein can be found in meal replacement bars as well. Now depending on whether a person considers fish meat or not, seafood is also a great source of the nutrient. It isn’t that difficult to find alternate sources of protein from meat.

Quinoa Quinoa, according to wholegrainscouncil. org, is a pseudocereal (like a grain) that contains a set of complete proteins, it is the highest of all grains in potassium (which helps control blood pressure) and has an unusually high protein to carb ratio. It can be eaten in almost any dish - from grinding Margarine the grains into flour and using it According to heartfoundation.org, as a flour substitute, to baking the margarine is not the evil that it has at grain and eating it like granola or times been portrayed as. Though chemically in salads, to eating it like rice made, myths that this butter-substitute is or oatmeal, just to list a few one molecule away from being plastic, and - and cooks in just about 15 killed the turkeys that it was made to fatten minutes. It comes closer than up (in reality, it wasn’t even made for turkeys - it was made for Napoleon III as a cheap substitution for butter) hold no water. Margarine looks to be better for heart health than butter, but not all margarines are the same. Something to keep in mind is that ants will swarm butter, but will barely, if at all, touch margarine that is on the same plate. The jury seems to be out.

ruit juice And now a moment of silence for our dearly loved fruit juices. When fruit is turned to juice it loses almost all nutritional value; leaving us with what is basically “sugar water.” When we consume fruit, we are in fact consuming sugar (fructose). The amount of sugar in fruit juice outweighs the vitamins and minerals almost 10 to none.

Sugar Pure, white, refined sugar has absolutely no nutritional value. If we are not burning off every gram of sugar we consume, it will immediately convert to fat and store in our fat cells. And the truth is, we really don’t need that much sugar in order to stay energized.

Corn & soy According to scientificamerican.com, only a minute fraction of corn is eaten directly as corn, but most is consumed in high-fructose corn syrup. But corn is not the only one facing the heat. Soy, despite being a “healthy” meat alternative, is not as pure as the labels may say. In fact, ninety-nine percent of all the soy produced in the US is genetically modified. It is full of phytic acid, a chemical that “blocks uptake of essential minerals,” says wrongturn.wordpress.com. Soy is actually rich in toxins and can easily cause gastric distress, chronic deficiencies and the clumping of blood cells in veins. So when eating these so-called health foods, who is really coming out on top?

Some additives you won’t find in your local grocery store--because they might not be food. You might have a little bit more luck looking in Lowes or Home Depot. Not-meant-to-be-eaten additives in your double cheese burger may also be found in sand, soap, and lowtox antifreeze. It may seem like a good deal now to get those fries from the dollar menu, but you’ll be paying with your health later, says naturalnews.com. Toxic additives often hide under general labels like natural and artificial flavors. A good tip? If you can’t pronounce it, you shouldn’t eat it.

*FUN FACT Naked Juices are worse than regular fruit juices. The “Green Machine” which claims to have “no sugar added” and to be “all natural” has 28 grams per serving, and there are TWO servings in those little bottles. That’s almost 60 grams of

*FUN FACT

Though gluten-free has recently become a hype in dieting, for those without celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity, there’s not really a benefit. Peter H.R. Green, MD, director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University, said, “Unless people are very careful, a gluten-free diet can lack vitamins, minerals, and fiber.” Gluten itself doesn’t add a particular nutritional benefit, but many of the whole grains that contain gluten do, and missing out on them means missing a significant source of many vitamins and minerals, according to webmd.com.

Seeds Chia seeds are an omega3 f a t (which can also be found in fish). Though it is recommended we not eat more of an ounce daily, because chia seeds have so much fiber (which makes you feel full faster, can help you lose weight, and helps keep your digestive tract moving). According to eatright.org, a number of nutrients and mineral can be found in the seeds, including iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. They can be eaten raw, put in cereal or yogurt, cooked with vegetables, or put in rice, just to list a few. The seeds are very absorbent and become gelatinous in liquid, and can can create an interesting drink when mixed with juice.

Coconut Milk Coconut milk is about as pointless as almond milk. It has less than a gram of protein per cup (as compared to cow’s milk’s eight grams), is low in carbs, and contains as much saturated fat as whole milk (about five grams per cup).

Almond Milk Though it comes from the proteinrich nuts, is made mostly of water and sweeteners. According to an article on nextavenue.org, one cup of almond milk only has about FOUR almonds in it, and as a result most of the nut’s nutrients are lost in consuming the milk.

Soy Milk This milk has about the same nutrition as 2% cow’s milk. It has a little less protein with seven grams per cup, but its fat content is also four grams of unsaturated fat (“good” fat), while cow’s milk has five grams of saturated fat (“bad” fat). The issue with soy milk is that it’s one of the most heavily genetically modified crops in the world. According to gmocompass.org, 59% of the world’s soy in 2007 was genetically modified - more than any other crop.

{ The information on these pages has been compiled with the efforts of Brynn Adams, Dana Brown, and Claire Benson }

*natural & artficial flavors

*FUN FACT

10{ Arts & Entertainment VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 06, 2014

{ Chase Charaba - JagWire }

Down the rabbit hole

“Alice in Wonderland” kicks off as spring play with excited cast

Early rehearsals for spring play, after school in the auditorium.

merald Ridge’s “Alice In Wonderland” spring play kicked off auditions Apr. 21 - 22, encompassing over 65 students to compete for a lead in the role of Alice. Auditions lasted two to three days from 2:30 p.m. - 5 p.m., and the cast list was posted the following Wednesday. “It was kind of like a fight to the death because there were so many people auditioning,” said sophomore Nina Brown, who was later cast as the Cheshire Cat. “And when only so many people can make it, it becomes both terrifying and exciting at the same time.” Students performed various parts and performances requested by Tavern the days the auditions were held. “You go into the auditions and you fill out your little audition sheet,” said sophomore Richard Klem, who was cast as Humpty Dumpty. “Then Tavern sits there and tells you what line and what page to read on and what character to read. You have a little bit of time to go over the scene, and then you go up and perform the scene how you think the character would be.” With only 30 parts available, theater director and drama teacher Chris Tavern had to clearly define what he was looking for in shaping the role of Alice. “The character of Alice has to be young and innocent, but also confident enough that she would continue meandering through this crazy world,” said Tavern. “So that’s kind of an unusual combination in being kind of young, naïve, and also confident, but that’s what I was looking for.” As for those who scored other roles in the production, Tavern also had specific vision in what he was looking for when creating the cast. “I mostly just was looking for people to be entertaining and bring something different,” said Tavern. “A lot of us have a

specific idea about what the roles should be like, and I was trying to steer away from that and give people an opportunity to do something different.” Being new to theater, sophomore Haley Hoff, who was cast as Alice, never expected to land such a key role. “I’ve never been in one of Tavern’s plays before,” said Hoff. “I wasn’t really nervous at first, but then as he kept calling my name and kept having me read for Alice, I got really nervous.” Tavern shared his insight on his casting choice as Haley Hoff for Alice. “I haven’t worked with Haley before, but I really liked how she’s very confident up there, but also brought a really youthful quality to it,” said Tavern. “One of the things about Alice is she’s super curious and also pretty intelligent. A lot of the jokes that are made are wordplay and puns and stuff like that and I felt that Haley did a really good job capturing that intelligent curiosity with kind of a youthful vibe.” Students gladly gave their view of how auditions played out for them and if they would ever return to audition for theater next year. “Auditions were fun,” said sophomore Richard Klem. “You got to see a bunch of other talented people up there and you got to laugh a lot because people are so talented here.” The play is expected to catch the audience’s attention with a surprise twist this year. Shows will begin May 15, 16, and 17. Tickets will be sold at the bookkeeper: $3 for kids, $4 for students with ASB, and $5 for adults and students without ASB. { Meagan Beardemphl - Reporter }

{ Doug Mayovsky - JagWire }

Left to right: Senior Bobby Fife plays his tuba, the instrument that started him on his journey with brass instruments. Fife stirs a simmering soup. Junior Carl Schuman and Fife LARP together nearly every weekend.

Senior Fife: tuba player, chef, LARPer

even years ago, an aspiring student musician Band teacher Scott Fry said that he was especially stepped into a music shop to rent a horn to grateful to pick up Fife when he did, considering the play in the school band. He looked up at the lack of a tuba player at the time, and hails Fife as a proprietor and asked him about his selection. He hero for showing up in the band’s time of need. asked, “What’s the biggest, most “Basically, the tuba sets the tuning, the pyramid volume, beat, and mood of the music,” annoying instrument you have?” The “It’s man gave him a tuba. of sound concert Fry said. “It’s great having him back Senior Robert “Bobby” Fife’s there to set the stage for us.” life is, in his words, “dominated by structure. You need a For Fife, though, music is more music and cooking”. Since toddler strong bass bottom than a hobby, or a class to be age, Fife expressed interest in music experienced in school alone. He said line to hold it up.” by constantly consuming different that music influences his mood and musical styles until taking up the responses to situations based on the - Senior Bobby Fife tuba, which he excelled with and, style, and helped him endure what he eventually, purchased one for himself. From there, called a “boring childhood”, which was spent hopping he joined his middle school band. between houses in various states due to custody “Band has been a pretty solid part of my life for the issues before settling in South Hill for his senior year. past seven years,” Fife said. “My childhood was pretty dull,” Fife said. “I read a Fife first took up brass instruments starting with lot of books-generally horror and fantasy. Music gave the tuba. However, his musical prowess eventually me something I was good at that I could do.” led him to learn trumpet, trombone, baritone, Fry said that he wished Fife was a student with and euphonium. Fife said that he loves the lower him for more than his senior year alone, due to his sounding instruments because they are essential to a exceptional playing and strong leadership role in quality sounding band performance. their class. “It’s the pyramid of sound concert structure,” Fife “I’d say I’m sad. That said, his other experiences said. “You need a strong bass bottom line to hold it made him [a great musician], but having him for up.” three years would have been great,” Fry said. Fife came to ER part way through first semester As for cooking, Fife said that he has loved it for and quickly fell into marching and concert band. as long as he can remember, and has a particular

affinity for cooking with flame, because it’s incredibly versatile. He said that he plans to attend culinary school in the coming years, though he does not know which one. As his senior year comes to a close, Fife looks forward to his future career as a chef, and the possibilities it entails. He said that one of the things he loves most about cooking is experimentation, and the discovery of new flavor combinations. “[Cooking is] a whole wide open world you are free to explore,” Fife said. “No boundaries.” Outside of school, Fife dedicates much of his time to “nerdy pursuits.” Apart from being an avid video gamer and card player, Fife loves to live-action roleplay, or LARP. He builds swords out of PVC pipe, pipe insulators and duct-tape, and pits these weapons against other roleplayers who competitively fight one other in both organized and unorganized events. “I got into LARPing when I moved to Auburn [a while back],” Fife said. “I was a part of ‘Realm of Chivalry’, and I went to a few festivals. It’s fun because I get to [fight] people in a way that doesn’t get me yelled at.” Regardless of how people view Fife and his pursuits, he does not mind being viewed as part of a particular niche. He said his friends are there for his cooking and company; that’s good enough for him. { Doug Mayovsky - Copy Editor }

{11

Arts & Entertainment VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 06, 2014

Pierce County’s Daffodil Festival: a snapshot

ach year a princess and a queen are selected to represent the Daffodil Parade. Senior Marissa Modestowicz was crowned queen this year representing Emerald Ridge High School. The Daffodil Festival was started on Apr. 6, 1926, by a couple named Mr. and Mrs. Orton who were hosts for civic leaders in 125 towns around western Washington. They opened their home for a garden, so the guests could see the daffodils in bloom. Pretty soon, this small garden party became a yearly occurrence. In 1932, this event became so popular they called it “Bulb Sunday” so the guests could view the daffodils in bloom. They had to discontinue this event because of the traffic problems happening in small towns like Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting. In 1934 the year became known as “Parade Year”. Lee Merrill who was a photographer from Tacoma and the first secretary of the founding group of the Daffodil Festival had suggested the daffodil blooms, instead of being thrown away, used as decorations.

Pretty soon cars and bikes were covered with daffodil blooms. Pretty soon this interest grew and became popular in Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting. This year is the 81st anniversary of the Daffodil Parade and Festival. There are some basic requirements to become a princess; they must be a senior, have at least a 3.2 GPA, and be enrolled in at least one class at their school. Also, they must have their 20 hours of community service completed, and must have a one minute speech prepared. After the candidates are all selected, they go through a prep-process for the Princess Selection in the fall. The selection includes a formal panel interview with the judges, a one minute speech, and an unrehearsed question. The order of each component is the same and the same criteria are used. The judges then select one girl to become the Princess. A few months later in March, all the Princesses then compete for the title of Daffodil Queen. The process is basically the

same, but has an informal judging portion where the Princesses sits four to a table and the judges rotate to each one. The coronation criteria are the same rubric used at the Emerald Ridge selections this year. “Using the same criteria has truly helped me so much. I felt so ready going into the coronation process because we were very prepared,” said Modestowicz. The night of Coronation, the points are added up and the Princess with the most amounts of points becomes Queen. This year for the first time, there were two princesses from Emerald Ridge, which was unusual. The two Princesses from Emerald Ridge were Modestowicz and senior Kiasa Sims. The Daffodil Parade is an important historical event for Pierce County, and has changed over time but the traditions are the same. { Leighanna Ingram - Reporter }

{ Chase Charaba - JagWire }

Left to right: Seniors Collyn Karvonen, Michael Overhulse, and Trey Darst dressed up as high school girls for a memorable skit. The Hypokritz thanked their audience, some of them for the last time. Seniors Brooke Johnson, Alexis Drugge, and junior Jada Calhoun dressed up as high school guys for the same skit.

Hypokritz spring show great

ypokritz, you say? The comedy group struck definitely the highlight of the show. rest of the cast prepared for the next skit. again with its insane advertising methods that There were also stand-up routines by seniors Cole A few parts of the show were also unorganized took the school by storm. Colorful posters Wagner and Overhulse. Wagner’s stand-up was about and unprofessional, such as when Calhoun had to claimed that special guests such as Macklemore “senioritis” and featured props such as a soap box play a character in which she didn’t know during the would be in attendance and that club adviser and and a towel, which went well with the skit. It was a bit dating game. Near the end of the skit she announced English teacher Rebecca Waller would have her baby awkward, yet also very funny. Later in the show came to the audience that she didn’t know the character live on stage. Overhulse’s stand-up that featured and that Waller had messed up when choosing what costumes Overhulse trying to come up with a joke characters would be available for each contestant. Although these advertisements were “The false, the Hypokritz 2014 Spring Show were hilarious yet to say, asking the audience what they “The Hypokritz are not known for professionality was held Apr. 17 in the ER auditorium wanted to hear. That included a 9/11 or preparedness,” said Overhulse. “We’re all the kids for a larger-than expected audience. disgusting at the reference, which was surprisingly well- in class that can never pay attention, so putting us all The comedy group put on a hilarious received. The reference was completely together [it gets] really tough to get us organized.” same time.” production consisting of videos, skits, unnecessary and was a bit too soon, Though this may be true and perhaps even the stand-up routines, dancing and even a member considering the timeliness with the Boston Bombings goal of Hypokritz, it sometimes came across as a bad asking someone to prom before a live audience. anniversary. This was followed by thing. Sure, being casual helps the The show started out with a well-put-together jokes directed towards prior review, “The show was well performer interact with the audience, music video titled “Nothin’ But A Spring Show” that which were well executed. it also caused the show to be done, for an improv but featured Hypokritz members dancing and singing The show ended with a dance where seen as a hastily put together and around the school grounds. The music video wasn’t the entire cast dressed like they were performance by a unrehearsed production. terribly long, and it worked as an effective opener. pregnant and then went out into the Despite all of this, the Hypokritz comedy group that show was well done for an improv Technical issues plagued the end of the video as the audience while Waller danced on extra credits featuring Hypokritz picking up $100 stage. The dance was choreographed doesn’t take much performance by a comedy group that from the parking lot began to roll with only audio, fairly well, although some of the cast doesn’t take much time in preparing before being cut from the show completely. It was an member’s “bellies” fell out on stage. time in preparing their shows. At least a handful of those awkward period as things seemed to screech to a halt Then the stage lights dimmed and their shows.” in attendance laughed at any given while the problem was resolved, which was annoying. the cast reunited on stage to bow and part of the show, which is exactly what Then came the skits. In one skit the stage was wave goodbye. Hypokritz wanted. transformed into a dating game show in which the A few components of the show were unnecessary. “It was fantastic,” said Karvonen. “It was probably bachelorette, senior Brooke Johnson, had to guess Senior Sam Brown hosted the show and introduced the best show I’ve seen of the Hypokritz. I loved it so who the four bachelors were pretending to be based each skit, which really introduced themselves anyway. much. It was so much fun to be a part of.” on character slips given to the audience. Another skit His main role was to just kill time so that the rest of Overall, the Hypokritz Spring Show was a four star had seniors Michael Overhulse, Trey Darst and Collyn the Hypokritz had time to prepare for the next skit, performance out of five. The show had the audience Karvonen dressed up as high school girls and junior which exceeded what was necessary at times. While laughing and participation was golden. There are Jada Calhoun, senior Alexis Drugge and Johnson Brown was definitely entertaining with his singing definitely some large shoes to fill for the fall show dressed up as high school guys. The costumes were and jokes, there could have been more done to fill next year. hilarious yet disgusting at the same time and got in these gaps. There could have been more videos or quite the positive audience reaction. The latter was small skits to keep the audience engaged while the { Chase Charaba - News Editor }

12{ Features

VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 06, 2014

Happily ever after in high school After dating for a year, senior Josh Studeman and junior Katie Hines share of their hopes to get married in the future and the ins and outs of their relationship

magine graduating with future plans to get married. Sounds too good to be true? For Emerald Ridge junior Katie Hines and senior Jacob Studeman that’s exactly where they’re headed. “We’ve had plans to get married,” said Studeman. “We were actually engaged for six months to each other but we broke up and ended up getting back together.” Despite the couple previous notions of reluctance to enter into a relationship with anybody, they immediately felt a connection after being introduced by a mutual friend. They officially began dating on Jan. 14th 2013. “ At first when we head about each other I wasn’t really interested in dating anybody,” said Studeman. “But then we started communicating over Facebook and kept talking to each other and we just decided to begin a relationship. Studeman and Hines realize the responsibility it takes to make such a huge decision become their reality and continue it on. Studeman has thought ahead for how he will provide for the two. He may wait for college and earn money during that period. “For that time I’m hopefully going to have enough time to think whether I’m just going to go to college or enlist in the military to make things financially easier for Katie and I.” The couple has received negative reactions to the news of their hopes to be married but overall much support and encouragement has been offered by their friends and family. “If they’re happy together then that’s great,” said senior Dylan Watkins, a friend of the couple.“Because they deserve one another.” When they first announced their decision it was difficult for their parents to fully support but they are excited that the two are happy with each other. However, after their first breakup, Hines’ parents wanted her to wait until after she attends college to get married. “ They don’t really understand it but they will support me no matter what,” said Studeman. Although the couple’s relationship has been full of positive things, they have faced skepticism and negativity. However, they don’t allow it to change their relationship. “ People that know me like my friends know the kind of person I am and know that that’s not what our relationship is like. The people that don’t “Studeman and k n o w and t h i n k realize the immature we’re Hines w i l l responsibility it takes just say things.” to make such a huge Like every other the decision become couple, two have had their reality continue r o c k y patches but h a v e it on.” learned from t h e s e experiences. “I think from that two week break up we learned a lot about what was wrong in the relationship and so far we’ve both held up are ends of what needs to be done...I just feel like we really have that ability to solve our issues with one another,” said Hines. Defining true love in high school is something both Hines’ and Studeman take very seriously. Their youth does not prevent them from taking it seriously. “We don’t believe in what people say like ”Oh you’re too young to know what real love is,” said Studeman. “Because that’s not true, we both feel like we show each other we love each other.” Finding that one special person is something teens are unlikely to forget and the couple shares about what it’s like to be seriously committed to one another.

“It’s really nice,” said Hines. “There’s a sense of security; you just have to make sure that’s what you want, especially at a young age, because most people might want to go to college and try to meet other people, but him and I just want to settle down. I don’t want to go out and date a bunch of other people.” Though the decision was made over the course of a year, they are confident this is what they want. For Studeman it was almost too good to be true. “Like here’s this girl whose close to my age, who likes the same things I do, “ I think that from that who wants the same things two week break up we in life that I do,” said learned a lot about Studeman. what was wrong in the Hines ...was e x c i t e d relationship.” a b o u t -Junior Katie Hines Studeman’s ......qualities also. .....She quickly .....found that she was able ........ to .....understand him in depth and realize he was the one she wanted to spend her life with. “I just got to a point where I just felt like I really really knew him,” said Hines.“I’d seen both his good and the bad sides and I knew everything about him, so you just kind of get to a point where you know. I can’t really describe it because you can’t just put a timeline on it.” Even though they have put their engagement on hold, the couple plans to get married soon and settle down around Auburn WA in a small two- room house where they can raise kids after graduating from college. “He’s really dorky and sweet,” said Hines. “Plus he’s smart and knows what he’s talking about. He’s the first person I go to talk to when I need him and that’s what I love about him.”

{ Meagan Beardemphl - Reporter }

Features

VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 06, 2014

{13

A love for building guitars With a passion for music, senior Drew Shampine excels at his unique talent

o senior Drew Shampine, a guitar is so much more than just a popular instrument that creates music by the strumming of strings. It will be two years this July since Shampine started an apprenticeship at JP Guitars. It’s a business that creates beautiful handcrafted guitars of all shapes and sizes from scratch; from a raw tree trunk - to be exact - which is then shaped to the desired size. The business has been operating since 1994. “I do a lot of sanding, and polishing, front work; I do set ups, and just basically help out with anything that needs to be helped out with,” Shampine said. Shampine works four days a week for two hours at a time. Though he’s participating in an apprenticeship not a job where he gets paid for the work he does - he is pleased that he gets the opportunity to make his own instruments. He took the apprenticeship because of his great love for music. So far, Shampine has created one guitar, with help. They can take up to seven months to build, and are expensive to build because all of the parts needed can cost over $1,200. “Its better when you make it yourself cause then you can see the whole process of it being made, and it’s like my baby,” Shampine said. Shampine even got the opportunity to make one of the guitars for the guitarist of the rock and roll band “Bad

Company.” Shampine has even been putting together a band of his own that features himself, three of his friends, and one of his friend’s brother. They are still in the process of planning it all out, but so far the band has done covers with string instruments (two guitars and bass’) of rock and metal music. “We’re trying to write our own stuff; it’s taking a little bit of time, but we try to practice once or twice a week,” Shampine said. He has not determined a name yet for the band. He does know that it will be a metal/thrash band close to the older style of Metallica. Shampine took his first year of Guitar Techniques with Kurt McKee. He learned how to play the guitar at age 8, but he got out of it and just recently started playing again. “I get to learn a lot about all different types of guitars and different parts of every guitar. I get to learn how every piece of the guitar works and how it all functions together,” Shampine said. There’s no denying that music is one of the most significant and rewarding things in Shampine’s life. “I’ve always loved music and guitars. I’m just really into that kind of stuff,” Shampine said.

{ Grace Amsden - Student Life Editor}

Teenage father works to make a life for family At age 17, senior Isaiah Stephens found out his girlfriend was pregnant and entered into a tumultuous life with their baby.

ife is a roller coaster. Filled with nothing but ups ended up being tossed from family member to family and downs and loop de loops, they are meant to member. She and Isaiah found each other when they give us a thrill while at the same time make us were 13, and they’ve been together ever since. uneasy. This is expected when we sit ourselves down The young couple had become inseparable, ready and are told to keep our hands and feet inside the cart to take on every twist and turn that came their way. at all times. Depending on which track you get on, the What they didn’t prepare themselves for though, was ride will either be smooth an unexpected corkscrew. and exhilarating or rocky Ashley was pregnant. “With everything unbalanced, Isaiah At the age of 17, neither and headache ridden. Senior Isaiah Stephens was able to steady himself with of them were ready for was on that rocky track, parenthood. Both scared but he came off with no someone who occupied the same exact and not sure what to do headache. next, the two teenagers cart. Her name was Ashley Randall.” “I have a tough made the choice to keep relationship with my the baby. Isaiah had only parents,” said Isaiah. one thought on his mind at the time. Isaiah grew up in a big family, having 5 siblings “I hope I do this right,” said Isaiah, not wanting to both older and younger than himself. He had a full become the man his dad was. cart, but sadly, it was a broken one too. When he was With his father “embarrassed” by the situation, younger, his mother was abusive to his father and Isaiah decided to have Ashley move with him into they eventually split up. When Isaiah was 9 years his mother’s house. They were later kicked out after old, his oldest sibling Eric committed suicide, leaving Isaiah stood up to his mother and her drinking the family with no explanation as to why. Later on, habits. The two of them lived with a friend for a Isaiah’s dad met a woman who would soon become little while, but were left behind in Oak Harbor his step mom. Unfortunately, they split up too. when that friend decided to move to Florida. Isaiah With everything unbalanced, Isaiah was able to and Ashley made the choice to sell everything they steady himself with someone who occupied the same had for a one way ticket to follow their roommate. exact cart. Her name was Ashley Randall. After a little while, they were tossed out again by that When Ashley was 6 years old, her father walked very same roommate, after he and Ashley got into a out on her, leaving her in the hands of a physically disagreement. abusive mother. She was later put into foster care and Desperate for a place to go, Ashley called her father

and asked for the number of any relatives that would be willing to lend a hand. He gave them the number of Ashley’s aunt, Sheryl Brown. Isaiah was in complete shock and awe when they gave Sheryl a call. “She had no problem taking us in,” said Isaiah. “She paid for all our tickets to fly us up here. I just felt so loved.” There was no hesitation for Sheryl when it came to family. So, Isaiah, Ashley, and newborn baby Skyler, born on December 4th, all flew back up to Washington to stay with their caring relatives. Now settled into a new home, with a new baby, Isaiah and Ashley had to figure out what their next step was. Isaiah wanted nothing more than to provide for his family. He decided that the only way he could provide for his family was by finishing high school. Isaiah plans to join the Navy and become an Air Rescue Swimmer. That way, he would be in no real danger and he could stay close to his new wife and baby boy. Life is tricky and the paths aren’t always clear. For now, the ride has calmed down for the Stephens. They are currently living in Isaiah’s mother’s house back in Oak Harbor. The future is still waiting for them, but they have more than enough time to map it out.

{ Dana Brown - Reporter }

14{ Advertisements VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 6, 2014

The ERHS Counseling and Career Center team is here to support you as you strive toward your goals. YOU CAN DO IT!

ATTENTION JAGS This is an important time of year, we are proud of our studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many accomplishments. As we head into this time for graduation, Senior Ball and other end of the year activities we want to make sure everyone stays safe and makes good choices. This year we focused on decreasing the number of failing students at the end of each semester, those efforts will continue through the end of the yearâ&#x20AC;Ś so seek help when you need it, reassess, stay on top of your work and finish the school year strong.

Student Life VOLUME XIV ISSUE VII MAY 6, 2014

Recap from the One Acts

{ Ellie Luzzi - photo editor }

Sophomore Amanda Lawrence portraying an actress in the one act of “Small Actors” written and directed by senior McKenzie Dent.

{ Ellie Luzzi - photo editor }

Parents, senior Doug Mayovsky and sophomore Tiffany Englehart, hugging “daughter” sophomore Amanda Lawrence in the act “Small Actors.”

{ Ellie Luzzi - photo editor }

Junior Kendra Morris closing the one act of “The Game.”

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{ Ellie Luzzi - photo editor }

Junior Gavin Maher in the act “Dog Eat Dog.”

{ Ellie Luzzi - photo editor }

The cast of “Small Actors.” First row: senior Kelsey Littleton, sophomore Harrison Wisti, senior Doug Mayovsky, junior Tanis Toms, junior Chad Stewart, sophomore Richard Clem, junior Bryce Bridgman, senior Cameron Schmidt. 2nd row: sophomore Kassidy Dent, senior Sam Brown, sophomore Kallie Sherwood, sophomore Jenna Davis, sophomore Haley Hoff, senior McKenzie Dent. 3rd row: sophomore Tiffany Englehart, sophomore Kenna Burns, sophomore Rachel Hinz, sophomore Dana Montevideo, sophomore Amanda Lawrence, sophomore Sarah Wheeler

Equity Club Week

{ Ellie Luzzi -photo editor }

May 23 - 28 fDances and cultural arts will be presented during lunches.

Senior Dana Brown directing the rehearsal of his one act “The Game.”

{{Ellie Elli Luzzi Luzzi -- photo photo editor editor }} { Ellie Luzzi - photo editor }

A rehearsal for the one act of “Small Actors.”

{ Ellie Luzzi - photo editor }

Senior Doug reading a note Actors.”

Mayovsky in “Small

May 29 The final Equity Club week presentation is scheduled in the commons from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

The Beat - May Giving you the lowdown on the South Sound

7 SAT registration deadline

8 ERHS track @ 3:00 p.m.

9 7:30 p.m. soccer @ ERHS

14 track

15 Spring Play @ 7:00 p.m.

16 AP testing ends Spring Play @ 7:00 p.m.

17 Spring Play @ 7:00 p.m.

20 Orchestra concert 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

22 A w a r d s assembly 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

ERHS meet

23 track

24 Prom @ EMP 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

28 Scholarship Tea in commons 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

29 Choir concert 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

30 Drama banquet from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

6 AP begins Tennis 3:30 p.m. @ PHS

11 Mothers Day

Nurses day

Victoria (Canada)

ERHS meet

19 Day

26 Memorial Day No school

No school

ERHS meet

31 track

Green Smoothie Ingredients: 1 orange (large, peeled and segmented) 1/2 bananas (cut into chunks) 6 strawberries (large) 2 cups spinach 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt (I use Chobani 0%) 1 cup ice Directions: Blend to desired thickness Recipe found on yummly.com