JagWire | Volume 15 | Issue 4 | March 13, 2015

A limited forum for student expression

Emerald Ridge High School 12405 184th St E Puyallup, WA 98374

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Shattering the silence on cutting See pages 06 - 10 *Trigger warning: self-harm and sensitive images erhsjagwire.com |Twitter: @GetJagWired | Instagram: @erjagwire | JagWire Newspaper on Facebook | Volume XV | Issue IV

Perspectives: see page 5

Entertainment: see page 11

Is President Obama’s free community college plan really free?

Spring musical “Bye Bye Birdie” spectacular

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Features: see page 15

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School nurse adopts children from Africa

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{Alexis Frost - JagWire}

JagWire staff JagWire Emerald Ridge High School 12405 184th Street E, Puyallup, WA 98374

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Co-Editor-in-Chief/Online Editor............................Brynn Adams Co-Editor-in-Chief/Online Editor..........................Chase Charaba Features Editor/Photo Manager/Ed Board.......Mikayla Jennings News/Copy Editor/Ed Board................................Catherine Mann Entertainment Editor.........................................Jiannaka Limonta Perspectives Editor..............................................Bryanna Putman Sports Editor...............................................................Anna Palmer Reporters: ............................................................Karina Alejandre .........................................................................Sydney Blankenship .................................................................................Jordan Bowers .......................................................................................Lucas Cook ......................................................................................Alexis Frost .................................................................................Adaire Noonan ..................................................................................Kierah Tucker ....................................................................................Melina Stone Adviser........................................................................Kevin Smyth Affiliates: JEA, NSPA, WJEA, SNO

Awards and Honors:

2002 CSPA Gold Medalist Award, New York 2002 Tenth place --- NSPA Best of Show, Dallas 2002 NSPA National Online Pacemaker Award, Phoenix 2002 Second Place --- NSPA Best of Show, Phoenix 2002 Sixth Place --- NSPA Best of Show: Special Issue, Phoenix 2002 First Place --- SPJ Western Washington Excellence in Journalism 2002 First Place --- WJEA Best of Show 2003 Sixth Place --- NSPA Best of Show: Special Issue, Portland 2003 Sixth Place --- NSPA Best of Show, Portland 2003 CSPA Silver Crown Award, New York 2003 Third Place --- CSPA Newsmagazine Overall Design 2004 Fifth Place --- NSPA Best of Show, San Diego 2004 First Place --- WJEA Best of Show 2004-2005 NSPA Newspaper Pacemaker Finalist 2005 Third Place --- NSPA Best of Show, Seattle 2005 Edward R. Murrow Symposium Award, WSU 2006 Third Place --- NSPA Best of Show, San Francisco 2006 NSPA National Newspaper Pacemaker Award, San Francisco 2006 Best Cover Design --- NSPA 2006 First Place --- WJEA Best of Show 2008 First Place --- WJEA Best of Show 2011 Best of the High School Press--- NSPA Best Special Coverage 2015 Excellence in Writing --- SNO

Editorial Mission:

As a limited forum for student expression, JagWire operates under the jurisdiction of the Puyallup School District and is subject to prior review under Puyallup School District regulation 3220. We pursue an unbiased truth in all aspects of the newsmagazine, while maintaining the highest tier of journalistic integrity. Our top priority is to raise awareness on a wide variety of issues that impact our readers and community, while providing entertainment, a glimpse into Emerald Ridge student life, and high quality information through multiple perspectives. We will ensure that out coverage is fair, accurate and written by the students, for the students of ER. JagWire shall serve as a communication link between the JagWire staff, Emerald Ridge High School, the Puyallup School District, and the surrounding community and region.

Letters to the editors policy:

JagWire will accept unsolicited copy from students, staff, parents, and community members. Only signed and dated letters with an address and phone number from community members, or grade level and adviser from students, will be accepted. Letters should be limited to no more than 400 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 submitted material that may substantially disrupt the school process or potentially harm individuals.

By mail: Letters to the editors may be submitted by mailing them to JagWire c/o Emerald Ridge High School: 12405 184th St E Puyallup, WA 98374.

By email: Letters to the editors may be submitted by emailing them to brackets.jagwire@gmail.com

Advertising Policy:

The JagWire staff will accept 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 or inappropriate. Ads identifying students as athletes by photo or text will not be accepted (in accordance with WIAA 18.20.0 and 18.20.1). The staff will not accept advertisements that are racist, sexist, or illegal for high school students. Advertisements do not necessarily reflect the views, endorsements, and/or positions of the JagWire staff, Emerald Ridge High School student body, faculty, or the Puyallup School District school board.

Corrections:

The 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 readers. If you believe that we have made an error, please contact us at brackets.jagwire@gmail.com In Issue 15.3, the Hypokritz photos were mis-attributed; they say courtesy of Rebecca Waller, when in fact they were from Jim Meyerhoff.

About the cover:

This issue is on cutting, something that many students at this school have been affected by. The cover features Perspectives Editor Bryanna Putman, who modeled for Co-Editorin-Chief Brynn Adams.

The cover was designed by Co-Editor-in-Chief Chase Charaba.

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Brianna Backus, the new Spanish I teacher, joined the staff just after the beginning of second semester.

Spanish teacher hired

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merald Ridge has a new Spanish I teacher after struggling to find a permanent replacement.

Western Washington University alumna Brianna Backus By: Alexis Frost became the Reporter newest member of Jag Nation when she was hired in late December 2014.

ER was in need of a new Spanish teacher after Kelsey Beaman moved to Everett at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. When school started this past fall there were many temporary substitutes working until a permanent teacher could be hired.

Student teacher Mandy Ryan, who worked with math teacher Traci Shepard and is now a full time algebra teacher at Kalles Junior High, told the school that she knew someone who taught Spanish.

The school decided to observe Backus in a classroom setting because Backus has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and went back to school to get certified at WWU. Principal Karey Howell approached Backus in December. Howell and Spanish I teacher Kelly Connor watched Backus teach a Spanish II class while she was substituting, which allowed the school to see if she was the right one for the job.

Backus got four emails for teaching positions after accepting the job here at ER. As there were three different Spanish

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teachers to keep the extra classes going, it didn’t work until Backus came around and fixed everything.

“Teaching a world language is in high need of teachers,” said Backus.

The very first teacher was a brand new mother, so the school was seeing how it would work. The second teacher found wasn’t working out with the job, but the students loved him as a teacher.

At the end of November the school had settled on a temporary substitute for the Spanish I classes until the end of the semester. Backus knew that the teaching job would be hard, since her mother was a teacher and Backus learned that there is a lot of responsibility with being a teacher.

Before Backus started teaching full time, she traveled to Spain and taught English while there. When she came back to the United States, she became an AVID tutor. She started teaching the first day of second semester, 0n Jan. 29. She teaches four Spanish I in portable two.

Connor and Spanish II and III teacher Mark Miller have helped Backus out with all of the technology and with whatever she needs. Connor has helped Backus most throughout the process of teaching the students and is teaching her classes of Spanish I at the same pace as Backus.

Backus says that the staff is very helpful and awesome and her students treat her just as well, but with lots of energy. She felt nervous when she first started teaching Spanish at ER. Backus is still figuring out what she is going to be teaching this semester, as she is new to teaching a full time Spanish class.

New security cameras at ER

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here were 38 brand new HD cameras installed in all hallways, the commons and outside all entrances to bathrooms and locker rooms. Emerald Ridge will be one of the first schools to receive these newly created cameras.

“Everyone thinks we want to watch them but we’re not interested,” assistant principal Mark Harris said.

There will be no cameras inside the locker rooms or bathrooms; administrators and security are not interested in seeing prepubescent humans checking their makeup or gossiping about the latest episode of “Pretty Little Liars.” They’re merely interested and seeing who is going in and out of said places due to constant vandalism...

Scan to QR code below or visit http://erhsjagwire.com/?p=1689 to read more.

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Grad requirements change T

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Sixth grade moving to junior high

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tarting next school year, the Puyallup School District will be transferring sixth graders from elementary schools to local junior highs due to growth issues.

The School Board had a meeting Feb. 23 at Glacier View Junior High to approve the planmeaning next school year Zeiger Elementary sixth graders will be the first to move.

“The reason why they are moving now is because of the overpopulation and growth the PSD has experienced in the first month of this school year,” By: Melina Stone principal Karey Howell said.

Reporter There is an estimated 22,250 students in the PSD this year, making it the second largest school district in Pierce County and the eighth largest in Washington. The district had a year’s worth of enrollment growth occur in the first month of the school year.

“We have so many kids and not enough space,” Howell said.

There are some elementary schools like Zeiger Elementary,which is built for 550 students, that are holding 830 students and Woodland Elementary, also built for 550, is holding nearly 700 students. The school district cannot build more schools without bonds and they haven’t had any granted since 2007. A bond is money that the government uses to fund schools and build new school buildings.

One of the most recent bond failures was Feb. 12, 2013, when the PSD tried to pass a $279,6 million bond to expand existing schools, such as Emerald Ridge, and to replace schools like Firgrove and Sunrise Elementaries. ER would receive a 400-student addition that could replace the portables, the library would move so that the commons could expand, the science lab would expand, the bus loop would move to a different location and there would be a courtyard connecting ER to Glacier View if the bond had passed. A homeowner with a house worth $200,000 would pay only $12 more a month in taxes. In the past eight year, four potential bonds have failed.

The first sixth graders to move will be the Zeiger sixth graders who will move to Ballou Junior High in the 2015-16 school year. Next,the Woodland sixth graders will move to Aylen Junior High in the 2016-17 school year, then Sunrise sixth graders will move to Ferrucci Junior

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DECA State results 58 ER students participated in DECA State on Mar. 6. Out of 3500 competitors from around the state, six ER students will move on to Nationals in Orlando in April.

Three made it to semi-finals.

Finalists moving on to nationals: Fashion Merchandising Promotion Project - Senior Taylor Delullo - Senior Taylor Yacobazzi Student-Based Enterprise Project - Senior Jordan Koch - Senior Alec Meyers

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The graduation The classes of 2017 and beyond will be taking requirements are the Smarter Balanced test for English. Seniors changing over the of 2016 will have the choice of taking the SBAC next few years. in lieu of the HSPE, but many students are The classes graduating irritated with the changing test formats. between the years of By 2019, students will need a total of 24 2016 and 2019 will deal credits in order to graduate. Prior to this, the with the changes, such credits required were at 22. Seniors need four as different credits and a English credits, three mathematics credits, two new standardized test. science credits and two occupational education “These changes are credits. The health and fitness requirements By: Adaire Noonan really good,” counselor remains at two credits as well, but half a credit Reporter Lindsey Hepworth said. must be a health class - such as nutrition and Starting next year, fitness, and one and a half credits must be a seniors will not only be required to have a fitness class, such as fitness walking. semester of senior social studies class in order Prior to the class of 2017, students had to to graduate, which is the same as all years meet the Washington State history requirement prior, but for 2016 and beyond seniors will be in seventh grade by taking Pacific Northwest taking civics and contemporary world problems, social studies. If students had come from which will replace social studies. They’ll need a different state, that state’s seventh grade a semester of each class. They will also need government class would take the place of PNW two credits of a physical education class, which social studies. Students graduating 2016 or later includes a half credit for a health class, such as have the option of meeting this requirement for life issues or nutrition. the PNW by using The classes of 2016 to the new senior social IT’S RIDICULOUS; WHY 2018 will be taking the studies requirement.

High School Proficiency “It’s ridiculous; SHOULD THE STUDENTS DO Exam and Smarter why should the MORE WORK THAN THEY Balanced Assessment students do more Consortium for math, work than they ALREADY HAVE? whereas seniors of 2019 already have?”

- Senior Cora Noell and beyond will only be Senior Cora Noell taking the SBAC. The said. “If the students tests are administered are on track to in 11th grade and the test is on English and graduate, then the students who aren’t should mathematics skills. get [the changes].”

“Students can demonstrate college and career readiness in mathematics/English language arts and literacy,” Puyallup School District Policy 2400 said about the SBAC assessment.

News in brief

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By the year 2019, graduation requirements will change, such as a new standardized test and additional credit requirements.

Apparel and Accessories role-play event - Senior Mackenzie Saueressig Business Management Operations - Senior Tenli Petty Students in semi-final: Apparel and Accessories role-play event - Junior Meagan Beardemphl - Junior Ashlei Markley - Senior Lucy Pruitt Hospitality Services team role-play event - Junior Ashley Molina

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By Sydney Blankenship

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High in the 2016-17 Reporter school year. Shaw Road sixth graders will move to Ferrucci Junior High in the 2016-17 school year, and Edgerton sixth graders will move to Glacier View Junior High in the 2017-18 school year. Northwood and Mt. View sixth graders will be moved to Edgemont Junior High in the 2017-18 school year.

If there is a future bond failure, the district will double shift, which will mean that some schools will have two elementary schools added to them, or they will turn the temporary placements into year round schools.

March 13, 2015 | Volume XV Issue IV | JagWire 03

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Con: closed campus constricts kids

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t’s what students think about all day. That giant, delicious, greasy burger is what their stomachs have been craving. They climb into their cars and are about to pull out of the parking lot when a golf cart blocks their path and a security guard tells them to go back.

Dreams of fast food have been crushed by the district policy requiring campuses to be closed for lunch. .....The district policy that closes campuses during lunch treats students more like By: Mikayla Jennings prisoners than the independent young adults Features/Photo Editor schools are claiming to be producing. What ever happened to the goal to prepare students for life in the real world?

Once you arrive on the school campus, you are practically locked in.

Administration at Emerald Ridge lock the two west gates in the parking lot. They only leave one gate open for the sake of oncoming traffic, however it would probably be locked as well if students, parents and volunteers were not constantly coming and going. Students come to high school thinking they will have more freedom than in junior high schools only to find that there is not much of a change aside from the fact that they no longer have to raise their hands to go to the bathroom.

Why do students even want to leave campus? Aren’t there enough food options here at Emerald Ridge? The answer is simple. Food off campus is not only cheaper, but it tastes better too. The school lunches at ER cost approximately $3.60. For that price plus a few extra cents, a student could get 60 chicken nuggets at Burger King, or three junior cheeseburgers or two chicken Caesar wraps or three small Frostys at Wendy’s, or two cheeseburgers or a Big Mac or a McChicken meal or a triple cheeseburger meal or two large fries or any two wraps at

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McDonald’s. Any of those options sound way more appetizing than mediocre salads, chicken with weird goopy stuff on the inside or cardboard pizza. Many students could even drive home for lunch to have appetizing food cooked in their own kitchen.

Those opposed to the idea of an open campus argue that students could choose to leave school and just not come back. Students could technically leave school whenever they want to simply by running to their cars and driving away. It happens every day. The students who actually value their education would choose to return. Most likely, the students who would “ditch” school would be the ones who do not value their education, students who disrupt the learning environment of those who do and students who cause frequent trouble. While every student has a right to an education, it is the choice of the student whether or not to exercise that right. If a student truly does not want to be at school, forcing them to stay will not make them any more willing to learn. Having an open campus at lunch would better the learning environment at school, although it sounds negative, by “weeding out” those students who hinder the learning of others.

It is a fact that one of the main reasons for implementing the closed campus policy is because the school district is liable for every student during all school hours. A solution to this would be to allow parents to sign a waiver allowing their child[ren] to leave campus at lunch, and to impose a merit system that would take the privileges away from students who abuse them.

High school is supposed to teach students responsibility and how to be functional human beings in life after high school. The first step in teaching that responsibility is to give students the opportunity to prove that responsibility. Emerald Ridge should have an open campus for lunch because it will be cheaper for students, better for the learning environment and will grant extra freedom to high school students.

{Bryanna Putman - Perspectives Editor}

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CAMPUS

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Gate two to the west lot is often closed during lunches and advisory/JAG due to closed-campus policy and, if not locked, is monitored by one or more security guards.

THE WIRE

What is your stance on having a closed campus?

“I hate it. I like to leave to get lunch at my house and I love to give back to the community and support local businesses.”

- Senior Ethan Stutz “Closed campus is a good thing but it’s taking away a little of our freedom.”

- Junior Auston Morgan

“I don’t agree with it. I think it’s nice that people get to leave and get what they want.”

- Sophomore Kayla Prasch

“Unfortunately, nowadays it’s something we have to have. People don’t come back and we have to account for your actions.”

- Security guard Bill Roush

Pro: safety is priority

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very day students at Emerald Ridge sneak off of campus during lunch to buy food at the Wendy’s or McDonald’s down the street, but it’s not allowed. Although it might seem unfair, or even prison-like, the closed campus By: Lucas Cook rule is here for a good Reporter reason: safety.

Many students want an open campus. The lunchroom is too crowded, the food doesn’t taste as good, they may want to meet up with friends from other schools or run home and grab an assignment they may have forgotten. ....Since there is no effective way to keep track of students while they’re gone, there is no way to warn them about an emergency.

If a lock-down, fire or a natural disaster took place while a student was away, it isn’t guaranteed a friend would warn them causing the student to be put in danger when they arrive back to the campus. The school has to know where students are at all times

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to protect them. With people coming in and out all the time, it would be harder to keep track of who belongs here and who doesn’t, making it easier for suspicious people to sneak in.

If Jag students take advantage of an open campus, there will be an increase of trouble.

Too many students will find a way to skip the rest of the day, or even be so caught up with friends they may forget to keep track of the time. Fast food restaurants would be crowded, making it easier for fights to start and it would take longer to order and receive their food. Lunch periods at ER are fairly short, which would create a hurrying mentality to get to class on time. With so many students able to drive at ER, this would most likely cause an increase of car accidents with the pressure on students to be on time.

An open campus would also make it easier for students to engage in risky behavior.

Students could plan to meet up for a fight so that the school wouldn’t be able to break it up. Students could also find a place to meet up to do drugs and drink alcohol and with the protection of the school this wouldn’t be possible. A closed campus is a safe one.

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Free college plan insufficient C By: Chase Charaba Co-Editor-in-Chief

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a proper education.

To help fight back against rising college prices, President Barack Obama announced his plan for free community college Jan. 8 through the White House website. It spread through social media and the news within minutes, coming under fire by critics because of its obscure nature: stating only that students would have to work for the free college. The truth is, free community college is a great idea and is necessary for the U.S. to move ahead in the world. However, Obama’s plan is anything but helpful and should be sent back to the drawing board immediately.

Colleges and universities hike their prices more and more every year. They pay their headmasters (or presidents) and football coaches way too much and make sure sports are a priority over the education of their students, who struggle through school and are often repaid with debt for the rest of their lives.

In his annual State of the Union address Jan. 20, Obama said that, “America thrived in the 20th century because we made high school free, sent a generation of G.I.s to college, trained the best workforce in the world. We were ahead of the curve. But other countries caught on. And in a 21st century economy that rewards knowledge like never before, we need to up our game.”

The president is spot on in his argument for

free community college. A college education as the smaller class sizes enacted by Initiative provides the knowledge required for higher 1351 following the November 2014 election. The level jobs in areas such as business, technology, program has no plan for funding and adding a science and health care. The United States has second to the state’s list of things to find money fallen behind other nations because it is slow to for will become an absolute nightmare for make the necessary changes that will allow more lawmakers and possibly even taxpayers. workers to fuel the forces of industry.

But why? Can’t the state just borrow money In Tennessee, free community college like the federal government to keep operating? is already a reality. The state passed the No. The state operates on a balanced budget, program into law in 2014 and so far it has been which is required by law. Therefore, the state successful. According to National Public Radio, has to find a way to fund all of these programs. tuition of up to two years is paid for through Social programs are great, but with the state lottery sales. federal government already so far in debt there Will this idea work on a national level? No, has to be a plan in place to pay for it, and it certainly not with the current plan proposed by can’t come from the states. The solutions to this the White House. problem are even Obama’s plan more difficult. The comes with a federal government price. Those who could raise taxes, JUST BECAUSE THE PLAN SAYS IT’S would receive which would be a free community great milestone in FREE DOESN’T MEAN IT IS ACTUALLY college would reducing national FREE. have to keep their debt. This is very grades up and unlikely to pass with graduate college on time. the current Republican Congress, a party that So, maybe that doesn’t sound so bad. This has traditionally favored lower taxes. free community college thing might really work.

Another solution would be to rework the Business leaders are behind it, many Democrats federal budget in a few years. Good luck on in Congress are behind it and a few Republicans that one; a federal budget hasn’t been passed are also behind it. since 1997. Instead, Congress passes continuing But what about the cost? Who is going to pay resolutions to keep the government running at for it? current spending levels.

Just because the plan says its free doesn’t The biggest problem with Obama’s plan is mean it is actually free. It has to be paid for by funding, which will be impossible to negotiate someone or something. The plan is going to cost with Congress. As a result, the entire plan will an estimated $60 to $80 billion over the next 10 crash and burn. years and the exact sources of the money have Free community college is a great idea, but not yet been revealed. it just falls apart when it is put into action. The As ABC News reported Feb. 6, individual entire plan proposed by the White House needs states would be required to cover 40 percent of to go back to square one. Until a proper funding the cost of the free community college plan. This plan is established, one without tax increases, is a terrible idea. States such as Washington are the program will never see the light of day. already overwhelmed with new programs, such

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Bands needed

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ollege is a financial burden necessary for many jobs in today’s society. Without a degree, it can be hard to reach the upper pay brackets or even be hired to major companies.

The atrocious price of college tuition, even at the community college level, shouldn’t prevent someone from receiving

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President Barack Obama’s free community college plan unlikely to pass Congress due to lack of funds

{Jordan Aguon - Guest Cartoonist}

for JagWire’s annual

Battle of the bands

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May 27, 2015 Emerald Ridge High School Auditorium

If interested, contact JagWire at

brackets.jagwire@gmail.com or room E157

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March 13, 2015 | Volume XV Issue IV | JagWire 05

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About our theme:

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e went into this issue with the idea of scars and telling stories of the scars that we found. As we found stories though, most of them were humorous or otherwise didn’t lend the gravity to the topic that we were looking for, which was major accidents and lifechanging stories.

Based on our results, we decided to change our FOCUS to “cutting.” We use the term “cutting” in this issue in order to differentiate between the many types of self-harm and other self-destructive and self-mutilative behaviors that exist. To be as accurate as possible, we are talking about only one of the types: cutting.

The FOCUS pages contain images of real self-inflicted wounds and articles of Emerald Ridge students that may evoke an emotional response and have the possibility of triggering. The JagWire staff apologizes for any emotional distress that may result from this issue, but has decided that this is an important topic that we want to cover.

We have taken this issue seriously and have followed journalistic guidelines in order to present an open-minded and informative resource on an issue that affects a large amount of the school population.

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68.4%

76.5%

of ERHS students know someone who has or does cut

of ERHS students know someone who has or does self-harm Based on a simple random sample survey of 98 ERHS students

Definition of cutting: JagWire will refer to cutting in this issue as a form of self-harm in which skin is intentionally lacerated, that is not necessarily suicidal in nature and is usually used as a response to some sort of stress, trauma or other needed release of emotion.

Definition of self-harm: JagWire will refer to self-harm as a wide range of behaviors including, but not limited to, burning, scratching, banging or hitting various body parts, deliberate hair-pulling and the knowing ingestion of toxic substances or objects. Most behaviors associated with drug or alcohol abuse and eating disorders are not considered self-harm because the resulting damage is ordinarily an unintentional side effect.

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understand it myself but I can see both sides of it; I don’t think it’s something they should feel like they have to do.”

There are many stereotypes for people who self-harm, and some are even typed by where and how they cut. It’s a common concept among our generation that people who cut horizontally do it for attention and vertically to severely rupture a vein or artery without a way to cure it, i.e. suicide.

There is even talk about “cutting clubs,” people who get together and help each other through their self-harm, not necessarily trying to stop it.

“Yeah, maybe,” junior Kyle Keaton said, “From what I learned in psychology, people who have similar problems will look to each other for support, and since cutting isn’t talked about very much in public, sometimes getting into small groups is necessary.”

Self-harm is prevalent among this generation, still being somewhat of a taboo subject.

This could make people feel like they have nowhere to turn to, since it is often misconstrued with the stereotypes that are roaming around it.

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ho ve ts w ed ha n e stud arm HS self-h R E of e not it d hav sidere n co

here’s a lot to say about selfharm and everyone seems to By: Bryanna Putman have a Reporter different opinion on it, especially this generation’s teenagers.

There are

dozens of inspirational quotes and pictures scattered throughout social media networks, saying things from “Self-harm isn’t just cutting” to “My scars are fading and I feel lost without them.” Depending on who’s reading them, they either scream for truth or for attention.

Cutting in particular is a popular form of release for those who self-harm. For some, there’s more to it than bursting a vein or showing it off to the world. It can be a detonation of bottledup emotions calmed by a blade and the sting of it against the skin. Some would rather lash out at themselves (specifically their bodies) rather than take it out on others and believe that the only solution is to feel pain.

“Some people do it for just the straight-up pleasure, others it’s a release for anger or frustration,” junior Tyler Rainey said. “I don’t really

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How students view cutting

Co-Editor-in-Chief Brynn Adams poses for Co-Editor-inChief Chase Charaba.

Counselors shed light on self-harm

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he ERHS counselors do not deal with many cases of self-harm, but they are aware that many students struggle with it. .....“There are many types of self-harm,” counselor Lindsey Hepworth said. “There is negative self talk, mentally hurting themselves, cutting inside the legs, over-medicating oneself [and] there are always new ways one person can self-harm.” .....HealthyPlace.com shows that one in six teens self-harm, although most stop cutting by their 20s.

The statistics show that it is worse for girls, with 60 By: Karina Alejandre percent of girls committing self-harm vs. one is seven Reporter boys that self-harm.

“In my experience, a lot of students would start it during junior high, but recent studies show that it has started in late elementary grades,” counselor Ted Fellin said.

According to Healthy Place, although most see teenagers cutting, some adults may also start to self-harm. The same situations that teens go through can still occur as an adult, causing them to potentially hurt themselves.

Adults can also have a mental breakdown where they self-harm.

“Self-harming doesn’t always involve kids,” Hepworth said. “There are adults that self-harm as well. Although elderly adults don’t show that they self-harm, the age of self-harming doesn’t just stop at teens; it can go to adulthood.”

There are multiple reasons why a teen or adult could self-harm. There could be difficulties in academic learning or difficulty with relationships in friends or partners. They could be going through sexuality changes or getting bullied. An adult could be having a hard time at work or worries about income. Both adolescents and adults could self harm because of sexual abuse or the trauma of losing a family member or someone close to them.

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“Some students have issues with their parents, or something is going on in their life,” Fellin said. “[When] some kids cut for the first time their physiological body releases chemicals to combat that pain or numb that emotion.”

According to the UK’s National Health Service, they could have emotional distress like anxiety, depression, anger issues, hopelessness, grief or numbness. These emotions could keep growing inside the teen or adult to the point where they don’t know what to do at all.

“Kids have a lot of reasons on why they do it, but I know a kid that started because all her friends did it and she got addicted to it,” Fellin said.

Many victims of self-harm hide their scars, and there are many ways to hide them. A person could wear long sleeves, multiple bracelets, wristbands, sweatshirts, hoodies, swimming shorts, leggings or even drawing around the scars is used. Make-up is also used to cover them up.

“Students usually wear long sleeves or multiple bracelets or sweatpants or anything to cover it,” Fellin said.

A person could be overwhelmed with everything going on around them, or they could struggle to express how they feel and when they feel it. Feelings like guilt, unhappiness and self hatred could be the effect of self harming.

“People [have] said that conflicting pain onto oneself takes their mind off the emotional or mental pain,” Hepworth said.

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Senior Trystenn Bartlett looks down at their arm for JagWire (left). Bartlett’s self-harm scars on their left arm (right).

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Student contends with cutting Senior Trystenn Bartlett shares high school-long struggle with self-harm

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s this student identifies forever. The scars that heal and fade now will be with them for their as genderfluid, the entire life. pronoun “they” will be “I would never say I’m proud of them, because I know it’s not used to describe them. something to be proud of. I will go into recovery at some point, because Senior Trystenn Bartlett was that’s just who I am. I know I won’t be doing this for the rest of my life, a sophomore when they cut for because I know that I’m strong enough to pull myself out of it, but I the first time. kinda wear them like battle scars,” they said. “I went through this, and By: Brynn Adams Co-Editor-in-Chief “I was alone. I was really it sucked, and it was unhealthy, but it was something I did and I’m not curious, but I had also been going to waste my time being upset or guilty about it because it’s just dealing with depression for a long time, so I was in part of who I am now.” that mindset,” they said. “It was really terrifying. It wasn’t In their fight for recovery, the withdrawals are a huge obstacle. The a fun experience by any means. You get sweaty hands, your longest they have been cut-free, or as many people title it, “clean”, is fingers turn blue and you get freezing cold, and the adrenaline about five months. rushes through your body.”

“The thought never leaves your mind,” they said. “You get flooded That first time, they sat curled up in a chair in the living room, with images and the constant urge to just go find a razor and the looking between the knife and their arm for a long time. constant urge to feel that on your skin and it just doesn’t leave, in my “I realized after I did it that I got this sense of peace and experience. I don’t know what other people have gone through. It’s accomplishment and it was like instant gratification. It was right not a lot of physical withdrawal; it’s just a lot of mental and emotional there at my fingertips,” Bartlett said. “The first time was a craving.” gateway to addiction. I’m pretty sure I was on When they relapse, the road to addiction at that point, but though, there’s not a IT WAS REALLY TERRIFYING. IT I would say after I stopped doing guilt, the renewal is it out of curiosity and after I initially a shock to their WASN’T A FUN EXPERIENCE BY ANY started doing it as a coping body.

MEANS. YOU GET SWEATY HANDS, mechanism, that’s when the “After you do it for a addiction started.” long period of time, you YOUR FINGERS TURN BLUE AND Over time, the just get used to the pain, YOU GET FREEZING COLD, AND THE location of their cuts then you take a break transitioned from from it for six months ADRENALINE RUSHES THROUGH left arm, to right or whatever and you YOUR BODY. thigh, to right go back to it and you arm, to left realize you forgot what it - Senior Trystenn Bartlett wrist, to left was like,” Bartlett said. upper arm, to left shoulder, “After that you just get used to it again.” eventually ending up covering the One of the most difficult parts of recovery is that it has to be a entire left arm. personal decision. Regardless of how people react, the decision “Your methods of doing it evolve ultimately is no one else’s. over time. You figure out how to do it “I really appreciate when people are supportive and kind and they more efficiently with less pain and more just tell me it’s okay, I’m not a terrible person for doing this, I still blood,” they said. “When I first started deserve love, I’m still worthy of everything, I don’t need to do this to doing it they were really shallow and myself,” they said. “Like I appreciate that, but nothing anybody can would barely draw blood.” say can ever get me to stop, because ultimately it’s up to me. Kind Though they sometimes will cut up reactions are appreciated, they just don’t make me want to stop doing to 40 or 50 times in one sitting, the it. Angry reactions just make me want to not tell them anything ever cuts and scars aren’t discovered very again.” often.

Bartlett is aware that those who self-harm are often not those that “I got really good at people would expect. hiding it,” they said. “I got “Depression and self-harm don’t discriminate. It can happen to really good at hiding my blades and anyone,” they said. “You need to be compassionate towards everybody, wearing long sleeves and making sure because you don’t know who is struggling with this. Even the people I was always pulling them down and who seem the happiest and most outgoing can be struggling as well.” not pulling them up to wash my hands Bartlett has compassion for those who self-harm. and being very cautious of who I’m “Be gentle with yourself. You don’t need to feel guilty or unworthy around.” because of what you’re doing. Even though you’re the one who picks up As the addiction continued, Bartlett became the blade, you’re not entirely to blame because you’re just using it as a desensitized to the pain and act. coping mechanism because you don’t know anything different,” they “I really do [wish I could break the said. “You’re loved and you’re addiction], but right now, I don’t have any understood and you’re IF THERE WAS ONE THING I reason to stop. I know logically it’s terrible definitely not alone in your and it’s not a good thing, but it’s just kinda a struggle.”

COULD SAY TO SOMEONE WHO IS thing I do now,” they said. “When I used to While struggling CONSIDERING SELF-HARM, DON’T do it, it was a big deal. It was this whole with self-harm can seem {G entire process and it was big, and now impossible, having a friend ra DO IT. I’M SERIOUS. JUST DON’T. ph it’s just kinda like you sit down, you who struggles with it and ic by FIND OTHER WAYS, OTHER COPING do it, sometimes people find out, knowing how to help them Ch as eC sometimes they don’t; it’s not can be nearly as difficult.

MECHANISMS. ha ra really a big deal anymore.”

“Just be there for ba -J Senior Trystenn Bartlett A huge part of cutting is the them,” Bartlett said. “Don’t ag W ire scars that are left behind. try to force them into } “I get kinda disappointed when they recovery, because that will just cause a lot of resentment in your guys’ fade,” they said. “Like, did I not do a relationship. If they thrive off of tough love, then do that, but just good enough job? It’s a really twisted make sure they know that you love them and support them when they psychology, because if you don’t need it and talk them through things and just be there when they need go deep enough you feel like you.” you just failed at one more Most of all, they wish that anyone who might self-harm would find a thing.” different release.

Though the “If there was one thing I could say to someone who is considering addiction is hard to self-harm, don’t do it. I’m serious. Just don’t. Find other ways, other overcome, they coping mechanisms,” they said. “Put an ice cube in your hand and refuse for it to hold it there for as long as you can. Run your hands under freezing be their life cold water, go for a jog, do something to release endorphins. Just do not make the first cut, because after that it will literally consume you, for at least a little bit, if not for a really long time, until you can pull yourself out of it.”

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in an online article on Psychology Today, “excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior often enacted through physical appearance.”

Unlike in years past, images and accounts of self-harm and cutting are readily available on many social media sites like Tumblr and Instagram.

“As this happened, self-injury left the realm of the purely psychological and became a social phenomenon, spread through social contagion,” said Dr. Peter and Patti Adler. “Once the media discovered self-injury, it spread like wildfire. People who heard about it, and learned that others had gotten relief from their emotional troubles by doing it, tried it themselves.”

It’s also become very common to find social media accounts and By: Jiannaka Limonta blogs dedicated to self-harm and depression, Entertainment Editor usually always by young adolescents. One injury.”

ONCE THE MEDIA DISCOVERED SELF- Tumblr blog, The Butterfly Project, is But why now? Are there simply more dedicated to encouraging the end of selfINJURY, IT SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE. people participating in it? Is society just harm and recovery. more open to discussing it? Self-harm is “All the posts on this blog are Dr. Peter and Patti Adler not necessarily talked about openly, but it’s submissions from followers who have out there and the information and real-life enough courage to share their lives and examples are much more available than they used their stories,” the anonymously-run blog to be. reads.

According to an article taken from The American Journal of Does society judge people harshly for injuring their own bodies? They Psychiatry, “Skin cutting appears to be the most common form of used to, and mostly they still do. Self-harm straddles the fence between deliberate self-harm, occurring in at least 70 percent of individuals who what is morally and widely accepted, and what is seen as a violation of deliberately harm themselves.” social behavior norms. But whether people do it because they think it People may self-harm for any number of reasons, from depression and makes them look cool, or because of some trauma, anxiety, or other issue, anxiety, releasing frustration, or establishing control in their lives, as a it remains a stark reality in today’s world that is becoming fed up with way to communicate feelings they can’t explain, to even because of certain being ignored. disorders and illnesses, like post-traumatic stress disorder or histrionic personality disorder, which is, according to Dr. Peter and Patti Adler

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ne hundred years ago, a person may have been carried away in a straight jacket for employing a razorblade as their stressreliever. Even fifty years ago, self-injury, the “deliberate, non-suicidal destruction of one’s own body tissue” was a taboo topic that was just too daunting to broach.

According to Patrick L. Kerr from the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, “Adolescents in general seem to be at an increased risk for self-injury, with approximately 15 percent of teens reporting some form of self-

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Co-Editor-in-Chief Brynn Adams poses for Co-Editor-in-Chief Chase Charaba.

Butterfly Project encourages self-help

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elf help hot lines and therapists are common ways to resist the urge to cut and get help, but talking to people about their problems doesn’t always work for everyone. In recent years, people By: Bryanna Putman came up with more Reporter unconventional ways to try and calm the craving, including a creative new take on self-help called The Butterfly Project (which is a separate cause from the Butterfly Project devoted to the Holocaust).

The objective is to remind the participant that there’s a reason not to cut.

“I think it’s a fantastic idea because most people do it on impulse and if they have

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something to remind them not to, then there might be less of a chance they’ll do it,” sophomore Gabi Penfield said.

The Butterfly Project has a vast following and has support pages on Tumblr and Facebook where people can share their stories with others. There are pictures of peoples’ butterflies and their scars, showing that it’s helped them and giving support to others as they make it through the journey to their recovery.

“It sounds like a great motivational tool if it works for somebody,” senior Cody Culver said. “When you have something to remind you, especially right in front of you, when you look at it, it might give you a reason not to.”

November 30 is dedicated to Self-Injury Awareness Day, which is when the most butterflies break out of their cocoons and sit upon the wrists of supporters, ex-cutters and others still walking the road to recovery.

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The Rules: 1. When you feel like you want to cut take a marker, pen, or sharpie and draw a butterfly on your arm or wherever you have the urge to cut.

2. Name the butterfly after a loved one or someone that really wants you to get better.

3. You must let the butterfly fade naturally. NO scrubbing it off.

4. If you cut before the butterfly is gone, you’ve killed it. If you don’t cut, it lives.

5. If you have more than one butterfly, cutting kills all of them.

6. Another person may draw them on you. These butterflies are extra special so take good care of them.

7. Even if you don’t cut, feel free to draw a butterfly anyways to show your support. If you do this, name it after someone you know that cuts or is suffering right now and tell them. It could help.

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{Jordan Bowers - JagWire}

(Left to right) Senior Gavin Maher playing Mr. MacAfee and senior Marissa Fowles standing in for the normal Mrs. MacAfee, senior Rhyan Cockrell. Senior Matthew Kusche was cast as the title character, Conrad Birdie.

Spring musical “Bye Bye Birdie” makes a hip-swinging, fan-girling, romantic and dynamic debut as title character Birdie chooses a lucky girl to receive one last kiss prior to going off to war

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kirts are twirling, legs are kicking and drafted into a war, which actually happened to Elvis. The character himself voices are loud and proud. Say hey, is not Elvis, but a representation of him. hey, hey to “Bye Bye Birdie,” the spring “Bye Bye Birdie” the musical has a very large cast, which could be hard musical. With a colorful set, amazing actors to work with. The stage space management was a bit of an issue, but after and a brilliant stage manager and director, ER a few rehearsals they were able to find what looked good and fit on stage. makes sure that they put on a show like no other.

Not only was it hard to get people and props in the right places, but they Shown in late February and early March, the spring had to do the same thing with the dance numbers. They had to make the musical was fantastic. With practice starting in dancing look smooth and not so crowded.

December, the cast practiced for almost three “There are good humans that are in the cast and they are getting along months to prepare for this incredible show. with everyone, and they are committed to the play which helps a lot,” Drama teacher and director of “Bye Bye Birdie”, Tavern said.

By: Jordan Bowers Chris Tavern, likes to do patterns with the plays Full of romance, humorous moments, and hysterical dance numbers, Reporter and musicals. One year he might do something “Bye Bye Birdie” had everyone laughing their hearts out. With a full house, classic, usually something from the ‘50s or ‘60s, and then the next year everyone was captivated by the cast’s wonderful singing and dancing. do something modern. Last year he decided The goofy romance between the characters Kim to do an adaptation of “Shrek” for the McAfee, played by senior Karly Absher and musical, which is more modern, and was Hugo Peabody played by junior Alex Shearer, WITH PRACTICE STARTING IN DECEMBER, a huge success. But Tavern isn’t the only and the struggle to find love with Rosie Alvarez one who has a say in what gets put on and Albert J. Petterson had everyone giddy and THE CAST PRACTICED FOR ALMOST THREE for the plays and musicals. Choir teacher hoping for a happy ending. After every musical MONTHSTOPREPAREFORTHISINCREDIBLE Kurt McKee and band teacher Scott Fry number, everyone was practically jumping out of also have as say in what gets put on. their seats for a standing ovation, which they got SHOW. “When I choose a play I don’t at the end of the performance. Everyone loved have to talk to other people, it’s just how chipper and upbeat the musical was, but me choosing,” Tavern said. “With the musical, we pick it as a trio.” everyone got chills down their spine when the musical took a dark turn as The original “Bye Bye Birdie” Broadway musical came out in 1958 and is Rosie plotted her revenge and thought of numerous ways to murder her centered around an Elvis Presley-like character. It’s about how he gets love interest, Albert J. Petterson. Everyone in the audience couldn’t stop talking about it, even after the performance was over. With Mae Petterson throwing what the audience called a “tizzy fit” over the fact that Albert Messages from the ERHS administration wanted to be with Rosie and close down the business, everyone applauded senior Jenna Davis. Even though the whole crowd was amazed by the amazing performance of the entire cast, every girl was head over heals for Conrad Birdie’s, played by senior Matthew Kushe, beautiful voice and Seniors: If you haven’t met your evaluator, amazing dancing that had them all smitten, taking everything they had to do so. stay in their seats.

Even though the musical was phenomenal, there have been some mishaps and difficulties getting ready, which is expected for any production. For other musicals they always had a track that they would Senior boards qualifying speeches will take rehearse to. “Bye Bye Birdie” did not have that. They had to tweak some place in Advisory April 8 and 9. You must pass music on the internet and compiled what they needed. Other than the small difficulties, there weren’t any technical issues. these to move on to senior boards.

It turns out that there were more than a few interesting moments during rehearsals. Senior Rhyan Cockrell, who played the supporting role of Mrs. Doris MacAfee, commented that there is a lot of screaming and falling down involved, and that Kusche, as Conrad, had to College Planning Day swing his hips a lot, and he went around smacking people’s butts.

“Being in the musical is a lot like lying, but instead of getting in trouble March 26 for it, people laugh at you,” senior Ethan Widerspan said, who played the role of Albert J. Petterson.

University of Junior Richard Klem, who played the role of a reporter, also added that Washington Tacoma it is a great way to meet people and everyone loves what they are doing.

“We all get along great, but sometimes it’s hard to focus,” junior Dana Sign up in the career-counseling Montevideo said, who played the role of a reporter. “We still get stuff done center though.”

Tavern has commented on what it’s like to work with the students for the play, but the students have a few words to say about Tavern as well.

“He’s really dedicated to what he does,” Cockrell said.

“He doesn’t go for good, he goes for the best.” basketball game Tavern also believes that people know the kind of stuff ER does, and that it’s top quality. Even if they aren’t familiar with the story “Bye Bye Birdie”, he believed people would still come and see it.

March 25 at 6:00 p.m.

May 14 Beautiful romance, lovely voices reaching far and wide, amazing dance Ferrucci Junior High School, numbers, and diabolical revenge plotting, the audience absolutely adored Puyallup, Washington Sign up in the career“Bye Bye Birdie”, and it is sure to be a performance that will have students and parents alike talking about this for a very long time. counseling center Donations accepted at door

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Portfolios are due March 20.

Cops vs. Teachers

Clover Park Tech College Field Trip

All proceeds benefit the family of Corey Evans

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March 13, 2015 | Volume XV Issue IV | JagWire 11

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Diaz practices Krav Maga As Krav Maga rises in popularity, junior Juliana Diaz participates in classes to learn the martial art {Bryanna Putman - JagWire}

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(Top to bottom) Junior Juliana Diaz elbows assistant instructor.

Diaz kicks a punching bag. Diaz breaks a choke hold against her Krav Maga instructor in her week night classes.

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he year was 1948 and a conflict known as the ArabIsraeli War had just commenced.

An addition to the newly founded Israeli army that year went by the name of Imi Lichtenfeld, who By: Bryanna Putman combined his prior Perspectives Editor knowledge of boxing, wrestling, gymnastics and military training to create a new fighting style called Krav Maga (or contact combat).

Krav Maga, however, is not just for military purposes. People all over the world take classes to learn how to defend themselves with this fighting technique, including junior Juliana Diaz.

“I like it because they teach you how to handle real life situations,” Diaz said. “So, if [an attack] ever happens to me I’ll be prepared.”

For the last five months Diaz has been participating in Krav Maga classes at the Elite Training Center in South Hill. Normally, she would attend Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings but they now only occupy her Saturday mornings due to her busy schedule with the spring musical, “Bye Bye Birdie.”

“My mom made me go at first,” Diaz said. “ She drove past it and thought it would be something I’d like so she signed me up along with my sister [Maria Diaz]. I ended up really liking it so I kept going to the classes.”

Krav Maga came fairly naturally to Diaz

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after taking several Martial Arts classes as a kid. She said some of the moves are still hard to get down and remember how to do; it’s mainly just a lot of repetition until you get the hang of it.

According to Diaz, self defense is an important skill to have, especially for females who may not be able to defend themselves without training. Sometimes it’s not how strong you are, just what you do with what you have. Diaz places a lot of emphasis on the importance and seriousness of Krav Maga in her life.

“It’s fun but it’s also serious because it’s like street self defense, so you need it in your life,” Diaz said.

The culture of Krav Maga is less focused on the sports aspect of it and more so on selfdefense. Practitioners of the martial art are taught to attack vulnerable parts of the body such as the groin, neck, eyes and fingers.

They are highly encouraged to turn any available objects into weapons. Perseverance is also a trait strongly encouraged in the sport; they are taught never to give up.

“They teach us real life situations, like if you’re walking down the street and this guy comes at you or if you get mugged,” Diaz said.

Krav Maga helps it’s practitioners expect the unexpected and always be prepared for things they might not think could happen to them.

“I would definitely recommend this for everyone,” Diaz said. “It’s a great thing to have in your life.”

Junior displays leadership on court Jiavonni Hayes excels at the sport of basketball and continues to grow as a leader among her team

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Junior Jiavonni Hayes poses with basketball in ER gym.

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air tied back, ball in hand and head held high, playing on the basketball court comes naturally to junior Jiavonni Hayes.

She continually demonstrates leadership qualities on the court amongst her teammates and

in her personal game.

“She’s the girl who can bring the ball to the floor and kind of sets up the offence,” girl’s basketball coach Bob Frey said.

Junior Kayla Mattes is Hayes’s teammate and she has witnessed Hayes’s team leadership.

“She’s nice, supportive of other teammates and good at sharing the role,” Mattes said Frey says that Hayes is a good team leader and sets an example for other team members. He also sees an intense dedicated to her sport and the game.

“She’s a very dedicated team player, and she knows how to have fun in each game,” Frey said. “She makes it fun for everyone else.”

Hayes has contributed towards winning a number of games for her team.

“Being varsity point guard, I think I am a great team player and leader to the team,” Hayes said.

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Hayes always enjoys winning a game, though she believes it’s not all about winning. Her ultimate goal is to have fun and enjoy it. Hayes, however, treasures the thrill of winning.

“It’s a great feeling to know you’ve won a game. It’s an accomplishment,” Hayes said.

Hayes gives her best effort to make sure that the team ends up on top.

“One time we were down by two, and someone threw the ball to Jiavonni, and we had like two seconds left, and she made the winning shot,” Mattes said.

Hayes also works to make the team better by encouraging players to do their best and by setting a positive example.

“I think she helps make the team better with her hustle and her energy,” Frey said.

“She brings a lot of positive energy [and] I think she really sets an example at times.”

Frey recognizes Haye’s effort to work on even the little details to improve as a player.

Frey doesn’t view Hayes as much of a vocal leader, but rather, leading by example in her actions.

“She played an excellent junior year and I hope next year she does exactly the same,” Frey said “I don’t think it will be a hard transition for her.”

Hayes hopes to continue playing and improving at basketball.

“I plan on going to a community college for two years and play basketball before going to a four year college and deciding what I really want to be then,” Hayes said.

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Gymnastics takes second at state {Courtesy of Jim Meyerhoff}

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flip over the pommel horse.”

Armstrong participated in the all around competition at state, meaning that she competed in every category: vault, beam, bars and floor. Despite the pressure of participating in every event, she believes that it may actually be easier.

“But, on all four events, you have everything and you can mess up on one but still do great on the other three. It kinda depends on how you look at it,” Armstrong said.

The Emerald Ridge Girls’ Gymnastics team qualified for the state competition following a second place placement at the West Central District III meet Feb. 14.

The team came out on top in the South Puget Sound League 4A subdistrict meet Feb. 7 as the SPSL champion, beating Puyallup High School and Mount Rainier High School by a sizable five point margin.

To qualify as a team for state, the Lady Jags needed to place within the top three at the West Central District III meet, which they successfully did with a team total score of 166.025. They scored 41.05 on vault, 37.1 on the bars, 42.45 on beam and 45.425 on floor.

The team placed behind Mead High School and ahead of Mount Rainier in the district competition, beating out other top schools such as Olympia High School, Kentlake High School, University High School, Puyallup and Federal Way High School.

This success is part of a three-year streak from the Lady Jags. The team placed first at the 4A state competition in 2013 after an undefeated season. The team hoped to have a repeat last year, but lost the final qualifying spot to Mead. Still, five ERHS girls went on to compete at the state tournament as individuals.

The team has held the title of SPSL champion since 2012.

With hopes of doing well again next year, the younger members of the gymnastics teams already have plans to keep practicing and strengthening their skills.

“Well, I’m going to be doing classes at the YMCA so [that] I can keep all of my skills and improve, and then basically just stay in shape,” Herbert said.

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t was nearing the end of their day of competition.

They were just behind the team that had beat them the week before and they had just finished their last event: vault.

They stuck their landings, and they hoped the scores would reflect that effort. Otherwise, they would risk placing below the top three teams.

By: Chase Charaba The Emerald Ridge Gymnastics Co-Editor-in-Chief team ended up placing second at the Washington 4A state competition at the Tacoma Dome Feb. 20, their second time placing at the state competition in the past three years.

“There was a lot more [pressure] than the regular meets,” senior Alyssa Armstrong said. “I think state was different because we were all super pumped about it and we were like, ‘Yeah, we actually made it as a team this year,’ so it was a lot more exciting to actually be there.”

The Lady Jags struggled early in the meet, initially taking third place. Their total score rebounded at the end, just enough to take the second place claim by beating Mead High School’s score.

“Vault was our last event and one of the girls, Kirsten Smith, did her sook vault and that’s when you do a roundoff, back tuck-off on the vault, and she ended up sticking it,” sophomore Brinlyn Herbert said.

“It was kind of exciting for all of us, because we kind of knew that if she were to really do that vault well it would help our score a lot.”

In addition to scoring well at vault, the Lady Jags decided to start having fun and just do what they love.

“We were going to have fun. Once we got beam out of the way the nerves went away, so then at floor we were like, ‘Okay, we’re gonna go out and do our best,” senior Mandi Hovde said.

Most of the team members participated in multiple events during state.

“I competed on vault and floor,” Herbert said. “Floor [involves] a lot of tumbling and dance, leaps and jumps, and the in vault you basically just sprint and

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Lady Jags beat Mead High school to claim second place for a title at the Tacoma Dome

Senior Alyssa Armstrong jumps on the bar.

Bowling season wraps up for varsity players at state {Courtesy of Jim Meyerhoff}

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he varsity bowling team got up early and headed down to Narrows Plaza Bowling Alley to compete in the state tournament Feb. 6 and 7. The team played enthusiastically and with much effort and they received a trophy for fourth place at the state competition.

By: Jordan Bowers Guided by their coach, Reporter Alan McCormick, they are proud to have gone to state and bowl one of their best seasons.

“We bowled really well,” junior Kenzie Forgery said. “The girls came together better than they did last year.”

Being on the bowling team has been a great experience for everyone this year. Forgery also said that not only did the girls improve in their skills, they came closer as a family.

A few people have been on the bowling team before, but this year was senior Kimi Phan’s first year of bowling.

“One of my friends got me into it,” Phan said. “Kate Lane said I should come and try out and that it was a lot of fun.”

It has been fun for the bowling team to be together, but everyone also enjoyed spending time with McCormick. .....“He was never really harsh on us,” sophomore Lauren Irey said. “But he really helped us pursue bowling. He explained how to do all the bowling steps.”

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Senior Elisa Couch prepares to bowl at state.

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Although junior varsity didn’t bowl at state, they attended the match to support them. It was a great experience for them to be able to cheer them on and be able to see what they will be facing in the future.

Although they have thoroughly enjoyed their season, there have been a few times where things did not go as planned.

“One of my friends was bowling and she went back to toss the ball but it went backwards,” Phan said.

Lauren also added that there were a few times where people had accidentally “flung the bowling ball into the gutter” during practice.

Despite these mishaps, they had a blast with it as well. It didn’t really feel like practice to the girls. It felt more like hanging out with friends, just bowling for fun. McCormick would help them out and teach them what they needed to do, but otherwise it was just having fun and doing what everyone loved.

The practice would start right after school. They would divide into two lanes and play up to three game. They were taught on how to throw the ball properly, so they weren’t just throwing the ball and hoping for the best.

“I actually learned how to bowl the right way,” Irey said.

Irey also plans on joining the bowling team her junior and her senior year. .....“McCormick was a great coach and great to talk to and hang out with,” Phan said. “He really helped the girls with the bowling techniques.”

With a season full of ups and downs, the bowling team is proud of themselves for going to state.

March 13, 2014 | Volume XV Issue IV | JagWire 13

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Senior shines as suburban Cinderella

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very school isn’t an option, either. weekend “I typically work on weekends,” Rhyan Cockrell said. “I don’t usually work Cockrell during the weekdays. I mostly work becomes an on Sundays, and during the summer entirely new we do certain events so it may be more person. After frequent, like on weekdays, but during donning a the average school year, it’s mostly blue dress and on weekends.” white gloves, Cockrell takes about fifteen putting her hair minutes to get ready and into By: Sydney Blankenship Reporter up in a bun, character. It’s a process, and it takes and adjusting more than one person to do it. Since her makeup, those who go into her she cannot put the corset style dress workplace see her as Cinderella. on herself, someone else has to be In downtown Puyallup there is there to tighten up the ribbons. a yellow building inside which the After that, she does her makeup. The company A Simple Wish operates. princess makeup is more special than They hold teas, dances, parties, and her normal makeup, has different other magical events for people of all colors, and takes more time to do. ages. The little girls who attend like to Her hair has to be up in Cinderella’s dress up in their own princess attire, signature bun, and there are gloves and have a great time. and jewelry to complete the classic “[The] target audience is primarily Disney princess’ look. younger girls, usually aging from three “With Cinderella, beforehand I to about ten years old, but most of our spend time doing my hair to get it in a customers are around the age of five certain fashion, the way that she does or six.” Cockrell said. “We also have it. I put a little bit more extra effort quite a few [parents] who seem pretty into what makeup I wear, then once enthralled with it as well.”

I get there we have the process of me Cockrell said. putting on the dress and getting ready, Each of the princesses wears and just getting everything together.” intricate costumes, and after getting Cockrell said. “The dress is kind of into character, they interact with hard because I’m short, and it’s really the girls. During the summers, they long, so I have to wear a really big hold a princess camp to teach young hoop underneath it, so I have to put girls manners and other princess-like the hoop on, and put the dress on over characteristics. Weekends, especially the top of me, and get someone to Sundays, they host parties, often many lace me into the corset back, so that’s each day. The business also holds probably the most involved part.” dances for the Even with the girls and their effort needed, parents, legal I LIKE DOING Cockrell loves guardians, or her job, and THIS BECAUSE I working with other adult figures.

LIKE MAKING THE the children.

“We do As an actor in CHILDREN HAPPY. birthday parties. school, this We have royal - Senior Rhyan Cockrell uses her ball parties, we talents well, have glamor parties, and brings we have spa parties that we do. We smiles to faces every day. also offer additional princesses that “I like doing can be added onto a package there.” this because I Cockrell said. “We also do some like making the children charity or volunteer events with happy,” Cockrell hospitals and with said. “It’s nice to military families.” be able to know that Because she is still in school, whatever they’re Cockrell only uses her weekends and other days off to work at A Simple Wish. Most of the parties she hosts are on Sundays, and she does several of them per weekend. She also participates in theater and other extracurricular activities, so after

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going through in their home life, they have this one point of about two hours where they’re content and they feel happy, and they get to do things that they normally wouldn’t be able to do. That’s a pretty reassuring thing as an employee there.”

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{14 JagWire | Volume XV Issue IV | March 13, 2015

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School nurse adopts children from Africa

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merald Ridge waiting list for adoption, they went to a local the two met it was too late in the legal process school nurse Emily hospital to visit a pregnant woman who worked to adopt Justin as well. The family will be Powell traveled at the school they were helping at. returning in June 2015 to go through the whole to Thailand at 16 for “She ended up passing away from court process with Justin so he can join their missions work and her complications in the pregnancy, and she had the family in the U.S. world was transformed little girl, and they didn’t know quite what to do “[The kids] have made me realize that the forever. After a touching, for her care,” Powell said. “So my husband and I issues that the things I’ve thought were so big yet heartbreaking offered to help the interim until they figured out in my life, the things I’ve gone through over experience with a boy at what was going to happen.” the years, really aren’t comparable to the issues the orphanage they were This is how Powell and Ohlinger met their some other people face,” Powell said. “Living in working at, Powell knew first child Evelyn. a culture where most of the culture is way below By: Anna Palmer that she wanted to adopt.

Through a series of DNA tests, the couple the poverty line, surviving off less than a dollar a Sports Editor “[A little boy] ran discovered Evelyn had a 6-year old biological day, and seeing children lose parents and family right up to me and I picked him up for a while,” brother named Aven whom they decided to members to diseases that are preventable and Powell said. “I put him down to play with the adopt as well. some curable, it’s heartbreaking, and my kids other kids and he began banging his head Since Evelyn was only 2- weeks- old when have just shown me the resilience of that, the against the ground. I ended up holding him the she entered the couple’s life, Powell feels it’s as ability to bounce back.” rest of the day and the mothers working there if they have had her since she was a newborn.

Although Evelyn is too young, Aven still had to pry him With Aven, however, remembers his birth mother, and he and Powell off me at the the process at first for have conversations about her. His birth mother end of the day the 6-year-old child and family remains a huge part of his life and IT’S BEEN REALLY COOL WATCHING and they told was confusing and Powell says it always will.

HIM LEARN TO TRUST, TO LEARN TO me he just painful with the loss of “We gained their family,” Powell said. “They wants to be his mother. have taught that there are bigger things even LOVE. held and never “It’s been really cool when I’m struggling or have something going on - School nurse Emily Powell put down.” watching him learn to and I’m stressed out, there’s the ability to see a Powell said trust, to learn to love,” light or see something more, to see a goodness her heart broke for this child and all the others Powell said. in people.” who were sharing cribs and often didn’t have a The transition Powell and Ohlinger has Powell would never change anything in caretaker to look after them. experienced with having these children in their the adoption, however, she admits it’s not a Many years later, Powell is now married to home has been radical, however Powell says glamorous process nor an easy one. and has adopted two children from Uganda and they would never change a thing.

When considering adoption, she suggests is soon to adopt a third.

Eventually, Ohlinger left for America just individuals to do extensive research and to have “Our story is kind of unique,” Powell said. four months before a passionate heart “It’s been a wild ride. It’s definitely not how we Powell, and for it. expected our life to go, but we wouldn’t from there the “Adoption is change it.” three were able beautiful but people ADOPTION IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT In 2010, Powell graduated from nursing to move into don’t realize that PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THAT IT ALSO school and traveled to Africa with her father, a larger home it also comes from where she worked in the hospitals and villages. still in Uganda heartbreak,” Powell COMES FROM HEARTBREAK. On that trip, Powell found a renewed sense of where Aven said. “There is a - Emily Powell passion for the children and her desire to adopt. had his own tremendous loss When Powell met her husband, James Ohlinger, bedroom. that leads to a child she discussed this desire.

“I didn’t understand why everything was being adopted. And that’s a side is generally “It wasn’t something he had thought about, taking so long but I think it was for Aven’s sake,” overlooked. You think ‘ohmygosh they have a but it wasn’t necessarily something he was Powell said. family, it’s wonderful,’ but you forget they lost opposed to,” Powell said.

By June, Powell had gone to court and in July their mother and they’re being pulled into a new In August 2013, Powell and Ohlinger moved they visited the village that Aven and Evelyn’s culture, a new family, and that’s hard.” to Africa, primarily to do mission work through birth mother lived in to see her grave. There, Powell looks forward to the many wonderful their church. The couple also had undergone the Powell met Justin. and challenging moments ahead with their process of being approved to adopt and hoped Justin is the 10-year-old biological brother soon-to-be three children and continuing to an adoption would coincide with their time of the two children that Powell wasn’t aware of watch them grow and adjust to their lives. spent there. until that visit to the village.

“My husband and I started the adoption “We got there and through a series of crazy “I texted my husband and just said ‘we’re process here in the U.S. in 2012 and it has been events, the orphanage we were going to adopt in trouble,’ because I knew we had to do quite a process,” Powell said. “There were tears from was a substantially longer wait than we something,” Powell said. shed and it’s hard, It’s not pretty all the time, expected,” Powell said.

After getting to know Justin better, Powell but at the end [it’s beautiful] seeing orphans The very same day Powell and Ohlinger decided that adopting him was the route to become a son and daughter and watching them were told they had been placed on a three year take. However, because it wasn’t until July that transition from total loss to that smile again.”

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(Left to right) School nurse Emily Powell, husband James Ohlinger, and their children pose for a picture taken in Nabbingo, Uganda. 6-year-old Aven holds his baby sister Evelyn.

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March 13, 2015 | Volume XV Issue IV | JagWire 15

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{Courtesy of Cynthia Russell}

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{ Emerald Ridge Career Specialist Patti McMullan smiles in front of a sunset at the beach, one of her favorite traveling destinations.

McMullan shows passion for others Emerald Ridge Career Specialist serves not only in the high school, but around her community

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Destiny is not a a position with Good Samaritan Hospital, them plan their future. [I] love that, it’s my matter of chance,” designing their first junior volunteer program passion. I love being able to be that liaison to William Jennings and began work on becoming a doula. our business community and bringing these Bryan wrote. “It is a By definition, a doula is similar to a opportunities to students,” McMullan said. matter of choice.” midwife in the sense that they are with the “I’m passionate about the medical field, and I Career Specialist mother during labor; however, a doula can wasn’t willing to go back to school to become Patti McMullan has not deliver the baby, they are only there for a nurse or doctor, but I was able to get my this quote hanging on the mother and family as emotional support. feelers in it by being a doula. Also, being the wall of her office McMullan is assisting in the delivery of a the advisor for Interact and Key Club, I’m in the Career and 2006 graduate’s child in the near future. passionate about community service. I have Counseling Center.

In the process of becoming a certified the perfect scenario.”

By: Catherine Mann With all she does for doula, a position opened up at ER. She Even with such a full plate, McMullan has News/Copy Editor the school, students became the McMullan we all know, who made some amazing impacts on students at and community, it’s no wonder. helps students in all matters - be it with their ER. Junior Alex Wicks was recently selected McMullan didn’t become the ER Career Culminating Project, with finding a job, or if as the Lieutenant Governor of District 30 for Specialist via the traditional route, a teaching clubs in our school or community need Interact and Key Club. Senior Jaskirat Kaur degree combined with business hours. She the help. is one of the many girls in the Daffodil Court started off as Director of Human Resources “I want to help [students] plan their path, guided by McMommy, and even had the in a corporate government company based plan what they want to do after high school,” opportunity to become ER’s Daffodil Princess. in Tacoma, and is in the process of finishing McMullan said.

“The best way to describe her is like her master’s degree online with Western There is a reason students call her a mom,” Kaur said. “She was there with Governors University.

McMommy; she wants each and every student chocolate when we were stressed, she was “I was in corporate for 20 years. I was to succeed, to advocate for there lacing up working for the government [and] was flying themselves and for them our dresses when to DC at least once a month,” McMullan to know she will be beside we couldn’t, said. “I was working with a company that them. She guides students THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE but she was makes Human Resource software for the through their Post also a really HER IS LIKE A MOM.” government. It was an amazing job.”

High Plan. great mentor.

McMullan, however, had children, so the Other than helping She helped - Senior Jaskirat Kaur constant traveling wasn’t working with her with portfolios, She and us develop family life. Following the events of Sept. 11, her husband own a pest professional 2001, she knew her life was changed. control business. She and skills we may not have had, and she was really “I was actually supposed to meet with the Interact and Key Club feed the homeless understanding. She made sure that each girl Forest section of the Pentagon, which is in the November through March once a month and was able to put the best ‘her’ out there.” area that was hit. organize clothing drives An unknown author once wrote that “when And everything for the homeless, and she God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust changed THE BEAUTY OF MY JOB IS organizes College on the Him fully and let go. Only one of two things 24 hours in Hill, the weekly visitation will happen: either He’ll catch you when you THAT I GET TO WORK WITH HIGH by colleges around the advance,” she fall, or He’ll teach you how to fly.” McMullan said. “We had is there to catch students when they fall. Even SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND HELP country that covering some HR issues, every subject major. if she’s not there, she’s teaching them how to THEM PLAN THEIR FUTURE.” and - as director She is also an advisor spread their wings and fly. of HR and - Career Specialist Patti McMullan in the various meanings assistant to the of the word; she has an CEOs - I stayed advisory, she advises in Tacoma.”

Interact and Key Club, and She lost many coworkers in the destruction is the Daffodil Advisor. of 9/11, and decided that she really needed “The beauty of my job is that I get to to stay home with her children. So she took work with high school students, and help

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{16 JagWire | Volume XV Issue IV | March 13, 2015

Page designed by Mikayla Jennings