RHS
Register Friday, September 11, 2015
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Richmond High School
Remembering the day that changed the world- page 3
Tips for four corners Page 4
Pointers for getting a job Page 5
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RHSRegister.com |
Being bilingual Page 7
Issue 2 Volume 107| Richmond, IN
Student teachers Page 8
2 - Register
September 11, 2015
Feature
Tips for living life with a mental condition
Jessie Vargas, Reporter register.jvargas@gmail.com
best advice I ever got was, if I was feeling terrible about myself was to go learn something or learn more about something. Find activities that you love, that you can get totally immersed in.” When somebody breaks their leg, they don’t simply walk on it thinking it’s already better. They wait until it’s healed, and depending on the amount of damage, the wait could be for a short time or a long time. Either way the leg heals, think of a mental disorder like that.
Images obtained from creative commons
One in every four adults are dealing with a mental disorder; that’s one in every 17 people living with a serious mental condition. The United States of America is the country with the highest rate of mental disorders. “Typically people who have a mental illness try to hide it,” history and Early College teacher Tre Ronne said. Why do they try to hide it? Studies show people who don’t understand something usually judge quickly. There are people who don’t even believe in mental illnesses, or think that people are faking it. “People decided to treat me like I was unable to function as a human,” An anonymous student said.
Many people don’t know how to deal with having a mental illness. Anonymous shares how they manage to get through it. “Don’t put focus on it,” anonymous said. “Pay attention to what matters to you. [My friends and family] helped me keep my mind off what’s wrong.” But what about people with depression or other mental illnesses? Those illnesses should be handled in a different way. Holding in the thoughts and feelings can make things harder for recovery. “Talk to somebody who will give you good advice,” Ronne said. “Not just one person. I see some people just focus on one person and tell them everything and that can become a problem. If that person isn’t there, who are you going to talk to? Or if you lose that relationship, who are you gonna talk to? Have people who are your own age, but also have adults who you can trust.” If someone has a mental illness, they should never keep all their focus on it. There are ways to handle the problem. Talking to a friend or family member can help you cope with it. “Shutting yourself up in the room means that other people don’t get the benefit of you,” Ronne said. “Think about a time that you laughed with people, [just] live in the moment for a while. Make yourself feel better and realize that there is possibility.” Realize that there’s a chance of recovery. Try different things, distract yourself, keep your mind off of it, listen to music, do anything you need to, just to make yourself feel better. “Try new things, even if it seems silly, so like one day just dance in your room,” Ronne said. “Exercise is really helpful...some of the
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3 - Register
September 11, 2015
Feature
Remembering the day that changed the world Bri Gardner, bussiness manager register.gardner@gmail.com
The annual Tribute Of Light, produced by the Municipal Art Society of New York.
Ground Zero on September 11, 2001.
Photo obtained through Creative Commons.
It’s 8:30 a.m. on September 11, 2001 in New York City. The city is loud and chaotic like usual. No one knew that in 16 minutes the entire nation would be turned upside down. At 8:46 a.m. American Airlines Flight 11 hit the north tower of the World Trade Center. That tragic day impacted many lives- the families of the many lives lost, the people of New York, and every single person in the United States. “I think it affected me on a personal level because of my dad being a fireman and understanding what the firemen’s families were going through,” art teacher India Cruse-Griffin said. “They’re taught to go in and I kept wanting to say while I was watching it, don’t go in, because no one knew at that time what was going to happen so I think that was the biggest impact [it had on me].” Many people who were younger don’t really remember 9/11. “I wasn’t old enough [to remember],” english teacher Jessica Brooks said. “I was like 18.” Some people had more than an impact from 9/11, they had connections. “I knew a lot of students who were from there and who had families still there,” Brooks said. While some had connections and others didn’t, everyone’s reactions were the same. “[There was] confusion at first,” english teacher Jeremy Hill said. “How does a plane fly into a building? Shortly after the second plane hit, you knew something bad was happening.” What happened that day was a shock to the nation. “I was just amazed,” business teacher Angela Witham said. “I was just truly amazed. I couldn’t fathom that something like that could happen to our world as we know it.” After the first plane had hit, the news broke in to inform everyone of the tragedy going on in New York. “I was in class watching with students, so I had to keep them calm and answer questions about an event that was happening in real time,” Hill said. Many security matters have changed drastically due to that dreadful day. “This really was a tipping point in public safety,” Hill said. For example, the camera system in RHS is a direct result of 9/11.” The impact of 9/11 is something that may never escape the memories of some people. “I think it will always be in the back of our mind,” Witham said.
4 - Register
September 11, 2015
Feature
Freshmen fears become high school history Krista Nicholson, reporter register.nicholson@gmailcom
Tips
(For Quick & Easy Passing Periods)
-Plan ahead convenient times and nearby classes to stop at your locker to swap out class materials. Don’t carry too many things at once, but don’t be unprepared. -Go with the flow in the hallways. Take wide turns and don’t crowd stairs. Don’t hold up traffic- if you stop to socialize, try to get to the side and leave an open path for people to get by. -Figure out which passing periods you have time to go to the restroom, stop at your locker, or if you have to go straight to class in order to be on time.
-Figure out the shortest routes and closest stairway to your classes.
-Carry a binder or folder to contain materials needed throughout the whole day.
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Today is the long awaited first day of high school. Anna walks into her brand new school feeling a little nervous. She’s a freshman this year and she has no idea what to expect. Will she be able to locate all of her classes? Will she make new friends? Questions are swirling in Anna’s mind as the first bell rings. Time to start high school. Every freshman is afraid of something before they start high school. It’s a fresh start and no one seems to know where they’re going. An important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. You will never be the only freshman in the school. “I thought we wouldn’t have enough time between periods and I wouldn’t have any time to see my friends,” freshman Hannah Maiden said. “I see them all the time and our passing periods are pretty big.” The cafeteria isn’t exactly a small room in the school. For the freshman, the cafeteria can be a hard place to figure out on the first day of school. “My biggest fear is trying to find a spot at lunch,” freshman Will Caspar said. “That’s hard.” Since the freshman are entering into a completely new school, they’re not going to know how the students act. High school
t n i a P
students tend to act different than middle school students and that can make for a surprising adjustment. “I expected [high school] to be a lot different,” freshman Gage Coleman said. “I expected everyone to act a lot more like teenagers. [People] actually act adult-like here.” Being the youngest students in the school, being around other teenagers can seem a little intimidating. Freshman Grace Murray admits to having a strong fear of being bullied during her first year. “There are a lot of people,” she said. “I am afraid of getting trampled or bullied a lot.” Freshman Brianna Gross shares this fear with Murray. “My biggest fear is being jumped by all the [upperclassmen],” she said. “[I’m afraid] they might attack freshman or something I guess.” Starting freshman year is always going to be a little unsettling for some students. Meeting new people, getting new teachers, and navigating through a new school is going to take some getting used to. An important thing for freshman to remember is that they’re never alone with their fears of the high school. Odds are, someone else is feeling the same way. Although the first year of high school may be scary, don’t wish it away so quickly. After all, high school won’t last forever.
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5 - Register
September 11, 2015
Feature
Teens pressured into decision making Jessica Mohler, reporter register.mohler@gmail.com A pounding in your head, ropes around your chest, stress affects everyone differently. There is no specific cause for stress, but school can be a major factor with homework, tests, and choices. According to Penn State University, an estimated 20 to 50 percent of students enter college as “undecided” and an estimated 75 percent of students change their major at least once before graduation. So, why are students pressured to decide so early? Students feel the pressure to decide what they want to after high school as soon as they walk into the door. This probably comes from the belief that the sooner you know what you want, the better. There are both negatives and positives effects to deciding early. To many the biggest downside of choosing early, is that people change. “I had no idea what I was going to do as a freshman, I didn’t
truly know until senior year,” graduate Ivy Hanson said. Students aren’t the only ones who agree. “They’re still trying to figure out who they are and we’re expecting them to make decisions based on who they want to be or want to do,” AP U.S. History teacher Marc Price said. Not everyone believes the same. To some, pressure can be viewed as a way to encourage students by emphasizing the importance of making the right decision. Students last chance to decide is fast approaching. Only four years are available to make or break the rest of a person’s career life. Some potential benefits may make it easier to choose prior school course when shaping them around a specific topic or idea. “You can immediately get on track with whatever your future holds, not just in school but also with camps and college visits,” Price said. Knowing your major might also help you decide which college will be most beneficial for you to attend. Students aren’t the only ones pressured to get things done. The school as a whole has set standards. These standards in writing,
reading, and math are watched by tests scores. School funding is determined by how well students do on these tests, while teachers have to figure out how to best prepare their students. “I do feel like I was pressured into making a decision, not just by the school, but by the standards that society has set,” Hanson said. Mr. Price knows that a struggle of teaching an AP course is getting sophomores and juniors to make the difficult leap into a college level class. “Part of my job is to build a bridge to connect those students that aren’t necessarily ready for college,” Price said. He goes on to explain about himself. “I wasn’t pressured to make a decision and that’s what worked for me.” Price said. “I waited a long time before I decided what I wanted to do, maybe too long, but I feel that all of that experience and the path that led me to teaching has only enriched what I do as a teacher. We’re all individuals and what works [for] one doesn’t always work for all.”
Tips for teens tackling employment with school Tiani Christian, reporter register.tchristian@gmail.com It might be hard to believe at first because teens are so used to being under their parents’ care, but teenagers are able to start earning their own money. Searching for the right job can be tricky and overwhelming, especially if you’ve never had one before. “My first job was McDonald’s,” senior Madi Holthouse said. “I did like it a lot. I had a lot of fun. Everybody says McDonald’s sucks but it really doesn’t.” Sometimes a first job isn’t the job to stay at forever. It might not be as easy to get the next one. “I work at Rue 21 right now. I was looking for about a month. I had a summer job and I knew when it would end, and I’ve been looking for my next one,” Holthouse said. “I’ve done interviews and not been hired. I applied at the West End Bank and they did two interviews with me, but I didn’t get hired.” According to Holthouse, it’s all about persistence. By persisting has landed her multiple jobs in her teen years. “If you want a job that’s not fast food, you have to call,” she said. “You have to go in there and talk to the hiring manager. That’s how I got [hired] at Rue 21. I was going in there for weeks before they hired me.” Before applying, always be sure to keep in mind what the job entails. “[Rue 21] is not really challenging at all,” Holthouse said. “It’s
really just folding stuff and working the cash register, which is pretty basic. McDonald’s was harder, because you had to make food, keep up with all the stuff that you’re doing, and focus on the customer and make them feel like you’re only talking to them, and thinking about them, but you’re really thinking about like ten different things. But with clothes, you ring it up [and] put it in a bag, it’s that easy. Retail is a lot easier and it’s a lot nicer.” Cathy Jordan, a manager at T.J. Maxx, suggests that the interview process is a very important step when getting hired. “You can teach people their jobs, but it’s harder to teach them to smile and be friendly,” she said. “After that, we look for experience and qualifications.” When Jordan interviews potential hirees, she looks for someone who is engaging and friendly, so remember to make eye contact and pay attention when the interviewer speaks. “We typically do two interviews,” Jordan said. Remember, if the interview is bad, it’s not the end of the world. Jordan explains that managers understand when someone’s nervous, so they’ll often do two interviews to get the opinions of two managers, and give the interviewee a chance to do better. Don’t let your age or work experience get in the way of applying. “It’s not about what you’ve done, but what you can do in the future and how you can develop,” Jordan said. Overall, the most important thing to remember when looking for your first job is to be persistent.
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“Just keep going and keep checking in on your application,” Holthouse said. When looking for your first job, always keep in mind to apply for the jobs that are right for you, and it’s important to always be positive and persistent in your job search.
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6 - Register
September 11, 2015
Opinion
Cafeteria staff works hard to keep lunch room clean a mess and not take responsibility in cleaning it? It is the same for the school, it is apart of the five “R’s:” respect. Along with respect comes safety. If there is food and drink that is spilled on the ground, how does that keep our school safe? Students and staff are in danger of slipping. “We take care and prepare the food as we would our families, and hope in return students respect our efforts and clean up after themselves,” coordinator of food service Maggie LaRue said. A good way to keep this school clean and safe is for students to take care of their food. Taking their tray to the trash cans or the conveyor belts. When in the lines for lunch, thank the staff for their hard work in lunch hour.
[Editorial Policy]
The Register is a student newspaper published by Richmond High School journalism students and operates as an open forum of student expression. Funding for the publication comes entirely from advertising revenue. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily endorsed by the staff or administration of Richmond Community Schools and are at the sole discretion of the Editor in Chief.
[Letter Policy]
Patrons are encouraged to write letters to the editor. Drop letters by room C222 or e-mail jgabbard@rcs.k12.in.us. All letters must include the writer’s name, signature and class, if a student. Letters will be verified before publishing.
Register photo by Adrianna Killion
The greatest “period” of the day: lunch. It’s the time with friends when gossip is loud and chewing is louder. Along with all of the changes that happened this new school year, lunch hour is one of those changes. To give students a decent amount of class time and passing period time, lunch hour was shortened. Because of this, lunch staff have no time between lunches to clean. Fourth period is an hour and thirty minutes long, and lunch period is thirty minutes each. So after the A and B lunch bells ring, more students are running for their seat. This gives the cafeteria staff no time to clean and prepare for the students. How does that make the cafeteria
look? Dirty. The cafeteria staff works hard everyday to make sure students have a great day, and a nice meal. However, the good deeds that they are giving to the students, is not always given back. With not being able to have time to clean, the facility is forced to stop their cleaning, and that makes the cafeteria dirtier. “It’s nice to have the help, it makes things easier on us,” cafeteria staff Jamie Altizer said. Helping the facility to keep our school clean really makes their day. As a child, parents try to teach their kids manners. Say please and thank you, be polite, and clean up after yourself. This also applies in school. What would families do if someone just walked into their house and made
STAFF
Becca Pheanis, managing editor register.pheanis@gmail.com
Editor in Chief Sydney McWhinney Managing Editor Becca Pheanis Jessica Crane Reporters Alexis Bradburn Guinn Freiberger Krista Nicholson Bri Gardner
Alexis Kahle Julia Allen Taylor Brown Tiani Christian Jarrett Focht Yuridia Lopez Amaryse Martinez Jessica Mohler Jessie Vargas Jocelyn Smith Maria VandeVord
Principal Rae Woolpy Adviser Jeff Gabbard
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7 - Register
September 11, 2015
Feature
Bilingualism creates opportunities for students and staff Guinn Freiberger, Reporter register.freiberger@gmail.com Among the many tools used to form new bonds and relationships, language is nowadays necessary for communicating with others. English is often seen as the “universal language.” According to The Washington Times, 1 in every 5 people living in the US speak a foreign language at home. Furthermore, Spanish speakers make up roughly 12 percent of our population, or 38.4 million people. Our world is becoming increasingly globalized. Students and staff share their experiences with being bilingual. “I am from the Philippines,” sophomore Renz Lajo said. “My other language is called Tagalog, and yes, it is my first language.” Lajo lived in the Philippines for about 14 years, where English is one of the main languages. “Basically, it’s required for me to take it,” Lajo said. Some of the language teachers also gave insight on their journey towards learning a second language. “English is my second language,” Chinese teacher Mia Wu said. “I’m from China so Chinese is my first language.” It’s common that foreigners do not personally choose to learn English, but rather are forced to learn it in school or may need it to move to a new place. “It’s a requirement and I didn’t have any choices,” Wu said. Some people learn multiple languages.
“I learned Spanish as a kid, growing up on a military base, and when I got to college, I decided I wanted to try something new,” French Teacher Jessica Raffelson said. “I took a French 101 class, and I liked it so much and thought it was so fun that I decided to keep going. I wanted to teach it and let everyone know how fun French can be.” English in particular has many exceptions to rules, the order of words, and pronunciation. This can apply to any language. However, some think it becomes easier as time passes. “I think at first, in the beginning, I did think English was bizarre because our language system is too different,” Wu said. “After I paid more attention learning English, I didn’t feel that it was difficult.” Lajo agrees with Wu’s opinion. “After a couple of years it’s not hard for me anymore after that,” Lajo said. This generation is well-equipped with a ton of language-learning resources, including many that are free. There is easy access to YouTube channels, smart-phone apps, blogs, and even Skype language exchange partners. Additionally, there are many options for studying a language. “When I was in middle school, I recited a lot of articles,” Wu said. Raffelson shares the advantages of speak a second language. “One of the biggest ones I think people should know about is when you learn a foreign language, it actually makes it easier for you to learn other
things,” sxhe said. Learning another language effects how the brain works. This holds especially true in young children. Bilingual people are thought to be able to manage higher cognitive processes, such as problem-solving, and are better at thinking efficiently and noticing their surroundings faster, as they grow accustomed to switching back and forth from languages at rapid speeds. Bilingualism is probably most useful in the workforce. Any job requiring interaction with customers can use languages other than English. Some of the most significant industries seeking bilingual people are Health Care, Hospitality, Education, Law Enforcement, Customer Service, Social Services, Finance, and Communication, according to CNN.com. Some feel that people can benefit from learning another language because they’re learning someone else’s culture. By taking the time to learn someones native tongue, a person is also bonding with them while grasping a deeper understanding of their homeland. “After knowing another culture you just feel you are more civilized...more like a world citizen,” Wu said. A handful of people struggle with switching between languages, but this is considered one of the only disadvantages. “Sometimes I get confused and mix up my own language and English language,” Lajo said. There are dozens of clear rewards that result
from becoming bilingual, and it is strongly recommended by scientists and teachers alike, that everyone tries to take up a new language. “I think everyone is capable of learning a second or third language, and I think that it is
“After knowing another culture you just feel you are more civilized... more like a world citizen,” -Chinese teacher Mia Wu said really important especially if people want to be competitive in the job market, both in America and if they decide to go abroad,” Raffelson said. Though becoming fluent in a foreign language is challenging, it can be helpful. “I don’t see any disadvantages,” Wu said. There is a continuous decline of the English language, with only 9 percent of the world population in the mid-20th century growing up speaking it, according to National Geographic. This number will likely be around 5 percent by 2050, and it is expected that Mandarin Chinese will be a leading language in the near future.
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8- Register
September 11, 2015
Feature
From English teacher to new administrator Maria VandeVord, reporter register.vandevord@gmail.com There have been many changes referring to new rules, policies, teachers, and so on, all in the first month of school. It’s a new year and new people have arrived. This includes an addition to the staff: our new administrator Laura Brazil. Believe it or not, Brazil originally started her career as a teacher. “I have always wanted to be a teacher and there were a couple of times in college where I changed my major and I was going to study something else, and I always ended up coming back to education,” Brazil said. “Even on the days where I’m really frustrated this is where I’m supposed to be.” When Brazil started her career, she probably had no idea she would end up working in Richmond. “I taught one year in Texas, I taught two years in Cincinnati, and then I moved to Georgia and I taught in Atlanta for six years,” Brazil said. It was in Atlanta where she started working in administration. “I was an administrator for three years in Atlanta,” Brazil said. “My husband got a job at Earlham and then we moved to
Richmond.” What would make a teacher of several years want to start working in administration? “I’ve worked in administration before and I enjoyed the challenges that come with it,” Brazil said. “I really am a person who is good at looking at systems and processes and the big picture and so the administration is a good place to do that.” She also explained the transition from working in a giant city like Atlanta, to a small town like Richmond. “Culturally, the schools are pretty different,” Brazil said. “Atlanta is a big urban area and I know that Richmond High School is the most diverse high school in Wayne County, but it is not very diverse compared to where I worked in Atlanta. Richmond definitely has a bigger sense of tradition” In many cases, students tend to attend the same schools their families did. “There are a lot of people [with] families that have went to Richmond High School and they can trace the generations back,” Brazil said. “In Atlanta, our student body was a little bit more mobile and we didn’t have that sense of pride, and the attendance at the football games wasn’t quite as big.”
Student Teachers at RHS Questions: Where are you from? What college are you attending? Who are you helping? What subject are you helping with?
Emily Webster Morristowne, IN Ball State University Mr. Gabbard Journalism, Photography, Yearbook, and Newspaper
Jason Clark Richmond, IN Earlham College Tre Ronne Social Studies
Robert Grandbois Findlay, OH Miami University Terry Bettner Band
Katie Winters Delaware Earlham College Kara Baker English 10 and AP Lit
Coach Cuy South Lake Tahoe, CA Earlham College Mrs. Stout Biology (Honors)
Baylor Nelson Arlington,VA Earlham College Mr. Austin Math (Algebra II)
Ariel Allen Eaton, OH IU East Mr. Bailey Biology
Cindy Tanzer Wilmington, Deleware Earlham College Ms. Jetmore Math
As an administrator, Brazil is responsible for different aspects and groups in the school. “I’m responsible for AP and Early College,” she said. “I’m going to be helping with curriculum and professional development for teachers. Right now I’m pitching in and helping with sort of the beginning of the year for scheduling.” Working in schools requires more than just doing things behind the scenes, getting involved with the student body and coworkers is another huge facet. “I hope to get more involved,” Brazil said. “I’m involved with Early College, AP students, and other students that I see around in the lunch area,” Brazil said. “It’s nice that I’ve taught students last year and the year before because I know all those kids that I had in my classes.” All in all, the school is happy to welcome her as she hopes to positively affect us by making our learning environment better. “I just hope that we make the school work for students and for teachers,” Brazil said. “I really just look at my job as facilitating teaching and learning for students and teachers.”
Nicholas Shank
Amaryse Martinez, reporter register.amartinez@gmail.com
As all the new students and teachers finally settle into the daily school routine we still have yet to meet all of the new students and staff. Earth Space Science teacher Nicholas Shank is new to Richmond High School this year but is not new to teaching. Shank has taught at many schools in many different states. He completed his student teaching and also had his first temporary position teaching Earth Science at Centerville High School. He then taught part time at both Ivy Tech and IU East for the next several years until he secured a position at Connersville High School teaching ICP and Biology. He was there for only one school year before he moved to Tennessee with his wife. There, he taught at Walters State Community College teaching basic math. For a short while, he also taught Chemistry in Orlando, Florida. Shank graduated from Connersville High School in 2003 and Indiana University East in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with Earth Science and Biology as his content areas. Most recently, after moving back to where his wife’s family is from in the Dayton Area, Shank taught ICP and Biology at The Excel Center here in Richmond until just before school started here this year. Shank came to RHS because there was an opening to teach Earth Science. “Which is what I went to college to teach,” Shank said. “Many schools don’t offer Earth/Space, and so this has really been an amazing opportunity. I look forward to getting to know all of the students here and finally being able to go into detail about a subject that is most near and dear to me.” Something that you probably don’t know about Shank is that he is a roller coaster enthusiast. “I am a member of ACE, which is American Coaster Enthusiasts, and belong to quite a number of other smaller clubs,” Shank said. “I have currently ridden 313 different roller coasters and visited 57 different amusement parks.” Shank is currently living in Huber Heights, Ohio. His free time is spent traveling and riding roller coasters with his wife, Kat.