The Sailors' Log, Sept. 6, 2011

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Volume 50, Edition 1 Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Ce l ebrat i n g

50 Y EARS

Mona Shores High School 1121 Seminole Road Muskegon, Michigan 49441

School year begins with new theme

Over

By Michelle Robinson Co-Editor-in-Chief

Something to celebrate. Warren Kent III begins his 15th year as adviser of The Sailors’ Log, the school’s newspaper, and his 13th as adviser of Compass Points, Points, the school’s yearbook, as both publipubli cations celebrate their 50th years. (Cole Myhre)

Publications celebrate 50th editions By Michelle Robinson

How you can help celebrate 50 years

Co-Editor-in-Chief Fifty years may seem “over the hill,” but the staffs of the school newspaper and yearbook, which are both celebrating their 50th year of existence, know the climb has only improved their work. “Some people think we just throw stuff on a page,” said Warren Kent III, who begins his 15th year as adviser of The Sailors’ Log, Log, the school’s newsnews paper, and his 13th as adviser of Compass Points, Points the school’s yearbook. “It is not a blow-off class. We work our hard to make a book that can stand the test of time and a paper that is inforinfor mative.” That hard work has includinclud ed many improvements. The yearbook has gone from an all black-and-white picture book to

Welcome Back Sailors

We would like to highlight those who have gone on to be successful after leaving Shores and to contact business owners in the area who are alumni to purchase ad space in the yearbook. Any other ideas you may have so we can make sure to cover this milestone birthday completely would be welcomed also. Please contact adviser Warren Kent III at kentw@monashores.net. a publication that is 100 percent color and has a theme that is followed each year. The newsnews paper has gone through similar changes and now includes four pages of color and an on-line edition. “A lot of the yearbooks prior to 1998 had a water theme,” Kent said. “Now, the themes have more to do with the curcur rent school year. The newspanewspa per, in my opinion, was a better publication (than the yearbook) when I got here in 1997-98. So, all I had to do was keep propro gressing.”

page 2 The new editors-inchief, seniors Michelle Robinson and Jonah Stone, discuss what they hope to accomplish this school year. Both are thirdyear staff members.

The yearbook’s 2012 theme is “Then, Now & Later,” which will explore Shores’ past, prespres ent, and future. Senior co-editor-in-chief Trinda Noren said, “When (se(se nior co-editor-in-chief) TayTay lor Smith, Kent, and I met in the summer, we discussed this theme, and Taylor and I really like it. We hope to increase our ad sales and marketing this year so we get more book sales.” Newspaper also has big ideas for its 50th anniversary. These include a story tied to the 50th year in each addition and

Orchestra director Samer Jeroudi replaces Tim Staudacher, who retired at the end of the 2011 school year.

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a “through the past 50 years” booklet that will be published over the summer and can be purchased next fall. “Kent, (senior co-editor-inchief) Michelle Robinson, and I discussed over the summer that we wanted to incorporate this big milestone in each paper,” senior co-editor-in-chief Jonah Stone said. “We also hope for more chances for the public to read our paper.” Kent said he hopes to see the yearbook and newspaper move up the hill with continued hard work and dedication for years to come. “The student body needs to realize that a lot of planning and work goes into each pubpub lication,” Kent said. “These two classes are two of a handhand ful of classes at Shores where student’s work is out there for everyone to see. Most students would not dare to do this.”

page 7 While students were riding their bikes and drinking slushies this summer, some students, like senior Kiron O’Brien, traveled to different countries like South Africa.

The start of a school year means new goals, and the administration plans to see this carried out with the theme, “Together we make a difference.” “We have 36 clubs, and every single one of them was student initiated,” principal Jennifer Bustard said. “These clubs were started because students came up to me and said, ‘I want to start a Math Club’ or ‘I want to start Amnesty International.’ Then, it dawned on me that these clubs and this school work together to make a difference.” Bustard said clubs like Amnesty International, which raised $8,000 for a school in Cambodia last year, inspired her to create the school theme. “It’s not just our school that we make a difference in,” Bustard said. “It’s worldly. Amnesty, for example, made a difference, and that’s what this theme represents, making the best environment and supporting each other in it.” Making a better environment includes the administration’s goal to minimize the school drop-out rate with the Voyager Program (see page 7). “The student drop-out rate is always front and center of the press,“ Bustard said. “What the press does not cover, though, is all the good things about this school like our new program. We are doing everything we can to make school worth coming to so students can walk down the aisle on graduation day and receive their diploma.” Bustard said she hopes the administrators can work together and continue to improve the student drop-out rate in upcoming years. “I ask the seniors every year ‘What legacy do you want to leave behind?’” Bustard said. “We challenge students with this questions so they’ll make the most of the year and strive to make this school and world better together.”

Athletic trainer Heather Harrison is recovering from colon cancer.

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Celebrate Good Times

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Volume 50, Edition 1 Tuesday, September 6, 2011 Mona Shores High School 1121 Seminole Road Muskegon, Michigan 49441

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Michelle Robinson Jonah Stone EDITORIAL EDITOR Erinn Taylor CENTER SECTION EDITOR Mikayla Day FINE ARTS EDITOR Franny Kromminga FEATURE EDITOR Kendal Brown

The Sailors’ Log • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

PROFILES EDITOR Emily Grevel SPORTS EDITORS Taylor Jones Rachel Swartz PHOTO EDITORS Cole Myhre Rachel Resterhouse ON-LINE EDITOR Jonah Stone STAFF Madi Deur Kayleigh Fongers Hailey Hrynewich Andrew Kromminga Carlin Rollenhagen Morgan Schwing Sydney Tharp Ashley Veihl Amanda Versalle Shea Wilcox ADVISER Warren Kent III The Sailors’ Log is a public forum for student expression distributed freely to students and faculty of Mona Shores High School.

The Sailors’ Log can be found at the following on-line sites: • www.thesailorslog.com (contains current stories, photos, etc.) • www.monashoressports.com (contains current Sailor sports information) • Facebook Fan Page: The Sailors’ Log (provides a means for the staff to communicate with its readers and vice versa) • Twitter: @thesailorslog (provides easiest way to get information to readers) • Email: thesailorslog@gmail. com (provides readers with a way to communicate with the staff) Our Voice is the opinion message selected by the 10person editorial board of The Sailors’ Log. Your Voice, the letters to the editor section, is the opinion of our readers. All letters to the editor must be signed. The Sailors’ Log is printed by Hi-Lites Graphics, Inc., 1212 Locust Street, Fremont, Michigan 49412.

Ce l ebrati n g

50 Y EARS

Welcome Back, from the editors-in-chief As the editors-in-chief of The Sailors’ Log, we would like to welcome students to the 50th school year. Continuing the tradition of a back-toschool paper, our editors have been working hard to bring you the same quality of paper Shores has seen over the past 50 years. In addition to the print newspaper, which will be printed six times during the school year, more up-to-date info can be found on the web site. The Sailor’s Log website (www.thesailorslog.com) will include daily stories. Also on the web site will be a multitude of extra quotes, photos, and other media updated daily. Additionally, the newspaper staff is hoping to have a new web site created by Jan. 1. This web site will be created by students from the Intro to Web class. To indicate an online element in a story, the Link into the Log logo will be present in a story on the print paper. Our reach to the student body will also be greatly improved as we will update students on the stories in which they are included via Facebook (The Sailors’ Log) and Twitter (@thesailorslog).

If you see this logo, go to thesailorslog.com for more info.

Ce l ebrat i n g

50 Y EARS

Michelle Robinson and Jonah Stone In conjunction to the newspaper website, students can visit www.monashoressports. com to get the latest news on Shores’ athletic teams. To celebrate our 50th school year, our staff will also be working on a book comPHPRUDWLQJ HYHU\ \HDU VLQFH RXU ¿UVW LQ 1962-63. This book will highlight important events, people, and stories from each of our 50 years as a school. The book will be available next fall at a yet-to-be-determined price. In each paper, we will have a story that

If you see this logo, it means it is a historical story.

relates to the 50th year joined by a logo commemorating that milestone. One other potential addition is the use of subscriptions. Students and faculty will be asked to sign up in order to receive a paper at no charge. This will ensure that only those who want The Sailors’ Log receive it. Additionally, subscriptions will be available to the public at a small fee to cover the cost of mailing the edition to homes. Contact The Sailors’ Log at thesailorslog@ gmail.com if you would like to subscribe to the newspaper.

New school year marks milestone for all students Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike begin today with new titles, new privileges, and new responsibilities. As a member of the latest senior class, I for one am amazed at how quickly my classmates and I have moved up the ranks. While I am not the overly sentimental type, sobbing over the idea of doing everything I have become accustomed to over the past three years for the last time, , VWLOO ¿QG P\VHOI UHHOLQJ LQ GLVbelief. Am I really that old? It seems like just yesterday , ZDV ÀDJJLQJ WKH LFH FUHDP man down for a Tweety Bird Popsicle. Every time I pinch myself, , FRQ¿UP WKH WUXWK , DP D year-old senior, almost an adult. For the most part, this is exciting. I am old enough to PDNH P\ RZQ GHFLVLRQV , KDYH DPD]LQJ IULHQGV , FKRVH IRU myself, and I have a minivan to drive wherever I please. In other ways, this is extremely scary. I have to decide what I want to do after high school, where to go to college, and eventually, who I am going to be in “real life.” Seventeen seemed practically ancient moments ago, but now it seems like just the beginning. Soon, I am going to be a real

person. I am going to have a career, and maybe get married, and possibly have children of my own someday. While the cycle is elementary to anyone familiar with “The Way The World Works,” my soon-to-be new role shocks me like diving into ice-cold water. Soon, I am going to be a person of my own, while not unattached to my family, cer-

tainly more independent. And it all starts with senior year. Senior year is the end of an era. We celebrate it with diplomas and senior pictures and the senior hallway. But at the end of the day, senior year is a nice way to celebrate the progress one has made so far before being thrown into the deep blue sea known as “real life.”

Or, if your plan is to move onto college, the next step before real life is becoming a freshman once again. So, freshmen, if seniors give you a hard time, just remember: They’re a small step from once again being freshmen while you can only go up from here. And now, without further ado, let the festivities of senior year begin. Enjoy it.

Newspaper encourages readers to submit letters to the editor The Sailor’s Log staff encourages our readers to send letters. However, not all letters can be published, and the editorial board reserves the right to edit letters for clarity. Guest commentaries and stories may be included if the staff feels they enhance coverage of a unique topic. No material will be

your voice printed which is libelous, advocates illegal activity, or which is deemed to be in poor taste.

$WWDFNLQJ RXU LGHDV LV ¿QH SHUVRQDOO\ attacking our writers is not. Remember, everyone has the right to his or her own opinion, including you. Please sign and submit your letters to room 501, Mona Shores High School, 1121 Seminole Road, Muskegon, MI 49441 or via thesailorslog@gmail.com.

Ir o n Man (2008)

eF s nd

ra o ise

HR e

Batman has never had such a great big screen spotlight, and that quality comes mostly from his arch nemesis. Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning performance as the Joker carries this movie past the mediocrity that is so common among summer movies and propels The Dark Knight high up the list of great movies. Christian Bale is the best Bruce Wayne of the Batman series, but his Caped Crusader pales in comparison to the acting of his enemies.

Sp i de r - Man 2 (2002) This continuation of the immensely popular SpiderMan movie far surpasses its predecessor in terms of quality. The original premise sets the story of a young Peter Parker (Toby Maguire) and his struggles with the responsibility associated with his great power, and the sequel expanded on everything the original benefited from to create a great sequel. Peter grows as a character in Spider-Man 2 in both his Average Joe persona and in his wall-crawling alter ego.

He llb o y (2004) Based on the popular series of stylized Dark Horse Hellboy comics, this movie takes a different approach to the idea of the popular hero formula by making its hero actual Hell-spawn. The imagination of director Guillermo del Toro shows in the costume design and effects included in Hellboy’s detailed and creative world. Hellboy (Ron Perlman) uses his own demonic power to take down those who pose threats to the world of humans, and the story, characters and art direction are all true to the originality of the comic book.

G hos t Ri de r (2007)

Ca t wo man (2004)

B a t man & Ro b in (1997)

Nicolas Cage may have made a few good, often great, movies, but this special effects, heavy action mess is not one of these. While the character Johnny Blaze of the comics is a complete bad-ass, Cage chose to portray him as a weakling who whines about his satanic powers every chance that he gets.

I have only one thing to say to DC Comics: “Why did you make this movie?” There was no character development in a story where character development is a primary focus. This movie suffered from terrible writing, awful acting, and is to this day considered one of the worst comic adaptations ever made.

Instead of taking a gritty crime drama mixed with heavy-action formula that graces the comics so well, Batman and Robin chose to take a family friendly approach, and what came out was terrible. Between Mr. Freeze’s groan-inducing ice puns, George Clooney’s odd portrayal of the Caped Crusader, and just weird camera shots of the costumes Batman and Robin is a messy movie.

This Month’s

Game

Fantastic 4

by Jonah Stone, Entertainment Editor

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Music

Book

TV

Two Steps From Hell

A Game of Thrones

Boardwalk Empire

Like Icarus, humanity flew too close to the sun with the growing industry of human augmentation, and players take the role of Adam Jensen who is the embodiment of human augmentation. Adam must unravel the conspiracy surrounding his augmentations and the company performing them. Players can choose to accomplish their objectives by using many battle tactics like stealth and non lethal take downs.

With music from a multitude of movie trailers released to the public, Two Steps From Hell has music that will make the mediocre work you are doing seem like the most important and epic job that you have ever done. Songs like “Heart of Courage” from Mass Effect 2 (2010) and “Moving Mountains” from movies including Twilight: New Moon and X-Men: First Class incite feelings of grandeur.

Game of Thrones, which is the first novel in the Song of Ice and Fire series, is on its way to being cemented in literary history as a modern classic. Because of its strength, HBO made it into a television show. George R.R. Martin’s character development is one that makes readers feel what characters feel and cling to the page wondering what will happen next. With five books and a wide fanbase, this series is a must read.

Steve Buscemi’s portrayal of 1920s Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, Atlantic City’s own, netted him an Emmy Nomination in the upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards, and the HBO show that helped him get it is coming back for a second season filled with prohibition era drinking, violence, and politics. Based on the quality of the first season, this may be one of the best shows of 2011.

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e n t e r t a i n m e n t The Sailors’ Log • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Stark imitates the arrogant Tony of the comic world so well that Iron Man becomes what comics often consist of and what makes them a thriving industry: humor. The combination of humor and action give Iron Man a difference that breaks up the same formula of action movies with giant Michael Bay explosions every five minutes.

T he Wo r s t

Like Superman trapped in a room full of kryptonite, original ideas in the film industry are becoming more and more vulnerable. In weakness, screenwriters often turn to works of fiction crafted by other minds; increasingly, these outside influences are from comics. Some of these adaptations are sometimes phenomenal in many ways, and they are some of the biggest money-makers for film studios, but that success comes with a price. Not all is lost, however, and great movies can come out of influences based in the realm of comics. But for every great and powerful Dark Knight, there is a weak Catwoman, and these fluctuations in quality are common in this fast growing and highly profitable genre of Superhero movies. With the rise in quantity of comic adaptation came a rise in quality. Many movies proved to be decent summer action movies, but to be the best, these movies need to fully embrace their respective source material.

all

T he D a r k Knig h t (2008)

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“Where were you when... ...the world stopped turning on that September day?” So begins the song written by country artist Alan Jackson, who penned the ballad Oct. 28, less than two months after the 9/11 attacks. Jackson’s song then goes onto ask many questions about what “you” were doing. Five days from now will mark the 10th Anniversary of the tragic Twin Towers attack, the airplane crash in a Pennsylvania field, the destruction of the Pentagon and the deaths of more than 3,000 Americans. So, where were you on that fateful day?

The Sailors’ Log • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Remembering 9/11 “During the attacks on the World Trade Center, I was in second grade and 8 years old. We were in Ms. McKinley’s class, and we saw the broadcast on TV until they came in and told all the teachers to turn it off. Sometime during the day, my mom came and picked me up early, and I remember my parents being sad, but it didn’t really seem like anything major at the time.” – Liam Huth, senior

“I was in my second grade art class when everything happened. My mom had been working at my school then, so she came and pulled my brother and me out of class to tell us. All of us kids were really confused and didn’t really know what it all meant, but we ended up going home early instead of having a full day because of it.” – Kim AlShatel, senior

“During the 9/11 attacks, I was 6 years old and in Ms. Paparella’s class. We found out by seeing it on the TV in our classroom, and I remember all the teachers being upset, but since we were little, we didn’t have a clue what was going on. Then, when I got home, my parents were in the kitchen talking about the crash, and I didn’t really understand what it all meant, but you could tell it was bad and that something serious had happened.” -Kelly McMahon, junior

“I was 8 and in Mrs. DeWeerd’s second-grade class. I remember all the teachers were crying. They made an announcement over the PA system, and they wouldn’t let us turn on the TV’s. I ended up leaving early with my mom that day for a dentist appointment, and she told me everything that happened. We never ended up going to the dentist though. We just went home and watched the news instead.” – Craig Petersen, senior

“I had just left working in a financial b Mona Shores. They advised us not t students. Toward the end of the day, to have a meeting of how we wou

“I was teaching Economics at North Mu a fellow teacher walked by and kno he asked me if I had heard the news t reaction was that it was just an accide realized that it was actually a terrorist news and saw it all

“I was working at the middle school a dents since it was such a huge tragedy tion. It really put a lot of heaviness on m with my job like nothing had happene

5 7:35-8:42: Four American Airline Flights take off with hijackers aboard.

8:46: Flight 11 crashes into the North Tower of The World Trade Center. People below the severed stairwells start to evacuate; no one above the impact zone is able to do so.

8:37-8:46: Flights 175 and 11 are hijacked.

8:50-8:50: Flight 77 is hijacked, and Flight 175 takes a turn for New York.

8:48-8:50: News of the first crash is sent out and broadcasted.

9:02: Flight 175 crashes into the South Tower of The World Trade Center.

That Fateful Day 10:03: Flight 93 is taken over by passengers and crashes into a Pennsylvania field.

10:28: The North Tower of The World Trade Center collapses.

ching Economics at North Muskegon, and during the middle of one of my classes, ow teacher walked by and knocked on my door to pull me out in the hallway, where d me if I had heard the news that a plane had crashed into the two towers. My first was that it was just an accident. Then, I turned on my TV during passing time and that it was actually a terrorist attack. When my next hour came in, we watched the news and saw it all unfold.” – Walt Gawkowski, Assistant Principal

working at the middle school at the time, and I remember they wouldn’t tell the stuce it was such a huge tragedy that they wanted to prepare how to tell the informally put a lot of heaviness on me knowing at the time because I had to continue on y job like nothing had happened and make sure I didn’t let it show to the students I was working with.” – Anne Brainard, Media Specialist

9:59: The South Tower of The World Trade Center collapses.

9:28-9:35: Flight 93 is hijacked.

s e c t i o n The Sailors’ Log • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

ust left working in a financial business in Chicago and was starting my first week at Shores. They advised us not to tell the students for fear it might be stressful for the ts. Toward the end of the day, they had the administrators go to the admin building have a meeting of how we would handle telling the kids. “ – Allen Weber, Dean of Students

9:03-9:25: News of the second crash is sent out and broadcasted.

9:37-9:39: West side of Pentagon building is crashed into by Flight 77.

c e n t e r

State Memorials Michigan State University’s Two 9/11 Plays: Michigan State will be putting on two plays about the September 11 tragedy. The plays will consist of actual reports from fire fighters, emergency personnel, and citizen bystanders who were at the scene of the incident. Two 9/11 plays will be showing in the Auditorium Arena Theatre from Sept. 20-Oct. 1, and all tickets will be $10. The Healing Field: The Healing Field 2011 will be held at Cannonsburg Ski Lodge and is put on by The Rockford Area Community Endowment. The display will have more than 3,000 flags to remember the lives lost in the tragic Twin Towers crash. People can sponsor a flag for $75 and then take the flag home at the end of the week. This memorial will take place Sept. 9-13.

Grand Rapids Remembrance Walk: Sept. 11 at 2 p.m., there will be a remembrance walk in downtown Grand Rapids, starting at Cathedral Square and ending at the Ford Museum.

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To Africa and Back Senior spends summer abroad By Emily Grevel Profiles Editor

The Sailors’ Log • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

“Welkom Tuis.â€? A person wouldn’t need Google transODWRU WR ÂżJXUH RXW WKDW LI KH KHDUV WKDW KHÂśV probably not in America anymore. For senior Kiron O’Brien, new languages, people, and experiences were not IDU DZD\ ZKHQ KH ERDUGHG D KRXU Ă€LJKW back to his hometown: Durban, South Africa. On June 18, O’Brien arrived back at his birthplace to visit friends and family. For seven weeks, he lived with his Aunt Debbie, Uncle Keith, and cousins Devin and Rogan. “My Aunt and Uncle are a lot like my family here,â€? O’Brien said. “They look and act a lot like my parents, so I felt like I was at home there.â€? On his trip, O’Brien visited many popular attractions throughout the country. Stops included Durban, Cape Town, and Drakensberg. “My favorite was Cape Town,â€? O’Brien said. “We went to the V and A waterfront, table mountain, and we did a lot of sightseeing.â€? Living in a different country meant numerous new experiences for O’Brien. “Monkeys would come into our house and steal our bread and fruit,â€? O’Brien said. “My aunt fed them everyday. It was really cool.â€? O’Brien also had another encounter with the wildlife in the country. “While we were vacationing in Drakensberg, there was a wild peacock outside of our condo,â€? O’Brien said. “I walked up to it and got to feed it.â€? Aside from the wildlife, O’Brien also noticed how different lifestyles were. “The food was better in Africa, and the people were a lot friendlier,â€? O’Brien said. “Society was really relaxed and chilled. By 5:30, everyone was done with sports, and they were just relaxing. It was a lot more

Other Travelers Senior Sarah Hunt Where: Kenya “Lying in a hot spring in the Maasai Mara with a 15-yearold widow, hearing her story of being an eighth wife and having a 4-year-old daughter while looking at the stars with her was an unforgettable experience. Now every time I look up at the sky at night, I think of her.�

African Roots. Senior Kiron O’Brien sits with cousin Devin O’Brien atop Table Mountain on his two-month trip to South Africa this summer. (Courtesy Photo)

Senior Maddy Nygren Where: Sweden “My favorite part was when we celebrated Midsommar Fest. It is the celebration of summer. All of the local residents gather together and decorate the ‘May pole’ with flowers and leaves. It was a very meaningful experience because it helped me understand how different and amazing different parts of the world can be!�

“I got my tattoo to remind me of where I came from,� O’Brien said. “It symbolizes home.� On August 4, Kiron returned to the United States. “I’ll miss the atmosphere,� O’Brien said. “People were so friendly there.� His vacation to his hometown has left him with experiences he said he will never forget. Whether one speaks Afrikaans or English, it’s clear that one may be able to take O’Brien out of Africa, but you can’t take Africa out of O’Brien. Home is where the heart is. No matter if he’s in Muskegon or thousands of miles away in Africa, he has a place surrounded by friends and family. “Welkom Tuis, Kiron. Welcome home.�

Junior Jake Bordeaux Where: Kenya “(I will never forget) reading the file of a boy named Julius and reading about the horrible way he was treated before he was in the orphanage we were at. He walked up and sat in my lap and fell asleep on me. It was a really special moment. This boy had nothing and had faced horrible hardships and didn’t even know me. Somehow, he felt comfortable enough to sleep on me. It made me feel incredible.�

laid back.� Normal everyday tasks were different too. “They drive on the left side of the road there,� O’Brien said. “The speed limits are a lot faster there too; everything is in kilometers. Experiencing Africa has brought a lot of changes to O’Brien’s life. “Seeing how different Africa was made me realize how good we have it here in America,� O’Brien said. “Their government is still corrupt. They are still a developing democracy, so they aren’t as advanced as we are yet.� Despite living in America, O’Brien said he will always have a part of Africa with him. During his stay, he got a tattoo of Africa.

What is MicroFinanza? MicroFinanza is an organization that has the mission “to improve the economic capacities of impoverished rural communities by developing and applying the most advanced procedures and technology in microfinance.� Social Studies teacher Jeremy Miller has taken a year-long sabbatical to work for MicroFinanza in Honduras.

Results in Honduras from MicroFinanza at present •Loan program is active in 21 villages in the La Unión region •Program has impacted 126 farmers with more than $12,000 in microloans being distributed •Farmers have paid back their loans at a 95% repayment rate •More than 9,000 pounds of La Unión farmers’ coffee has been shipping to the U.S. •100% of the proceeds of this coffee has been transferred back to Honduras to support program •Proceeds are distributed back into the program

Vision of MicroFinanza for future •Work with 275 farmers •Aim to increase farmers’ production by distributing 179,000 pounds of fertilizer, hundreds of agricultural tools, 5 coffee solar dryers, and 9 grain silos •Building a training and center where farmers can learn innovative agricultural methods and can improve the quality of their harvests through proper processing •Buy 40,000 pounds of coffee above Fair Trade prices, transferring proceeds back to La Unión

How you can help MicroFinanza You can donate money directly to Unión MicroFinanza or donate to a specific need, such as fertilizer, a horse, or a staff member’s plane ticket to visit their family.

Social Studies teacher leaves to help Honduran farmers By Michelle Robinson Co-Editors-in-Chief The people of the villages of La UniĂłn, Honduras have lived in extreme poverty for centuries. With little food and no place to call home, the village’s inhabitants had lost hope, that is until UniĂłn MicroFinanza and its volunteers showed up. One of those volunteers this year will be Jeremy Miller, who started by changing the lives of his students in room 311 as a social studies teacher, but will now take a year away from Shores to reside in Honduras. These changes began with a coffee bean. MicroFinanza’s webVLWH XQLyQPLFURÂżQDQ]D org explains, “We proMiller YLGH UXUDO PLFURÂżQDQFH

To see more information about MicroFinanza, please go to www.uniĂłnmicrofinanza.org

raised will go straight back to its farmers. The program grants farmers microloans in the form of supplies. Over growing season, the farmers slowly pay back those loans. The money repaid is put back into the program and community. 7KH LGHD RI D PLFUR¿QDQFH SURJUDP began with former University of Michigan graduate Andrew Boyd and his two classmates Alex and Patrick Hughes, Shores’ graduates. Previously in Miller’s class, the Hughes brothers will work closely with Miller while he lives beside and helps to poor agricultural producers of coffee, Honduran farmers. While room 311 will be missing a corn, and beans. Our program gives our FOLHQWV WKH ¿QDQFLDO UHVRXUFHV WR LPSURYH member (Kent Wiersma will be the fulltheir production, which then increases time teacher for the 2011-12 school year), WKHLU LQFRPH 0LFUR¿QDQFH LV HVVHQWLDO WR Unión MicroFinanza is grateful to gain giving our clients the opportunity to pro- one. The beacon of hope for the farmers in vide their families with a better, povertyLa Unión is slowly being restored thanks free future.� Having children of his own, Miller WR 0LOOHU DQG RWKHU YROXQWHHUœV VDFUL¿FH knows the money it takes to raise a family. Unión MicroFinanza hopes one day these This program ensures that all money VDFUL¿FHV ZLOO UHVWRUH D YLOODJH

A

irector, A New Directio D w e N n

New conductor takes over orchestra program By Franny Kromminga Fine Arts Editor

“Come to our Concerts!� Orchestra director Samer Jeroudi replaces Tim Staudacher, who retired at the end of the 2011 school year. Jeroudi said he is excited about working with “a great body of students and staff.� (Cole Myhre) who would interact with the new director, including students, teachers, parents, and administrators. “I am looking forward to collaborating

with someone new. It is always exciting to make music with people,� Lawton said. “He also has a really fun personality and is easy going.�

Voyager program offers chance to catch up on lost credits By Kendal Brown Features Editor The typical school day – Monday through Friday from 7:40 a.m. until 2:50 p.m. – does not work for everyone, MXVW DVN 6KRUHV VHQLRU .HQGULD 7KRUVHQ “I had a baby my sophomore year, and it put me behind a lot of credits,â€? Thorsen said. “Taking this class will help catch me up so I can graduate on time.â€? “This classâ€? that Thorsen refers to is the new Voyager program, which was set up to help students who needed a personalized education. Like Thorsen, senior Chelsea McArthur also needs to make up lost credits. “Freshmen year, I started to fall behind,â€? McArthur said. “Voyager is going to help me graduate on time, which is what I’m most excited about.â€? Students with circumstances like these are part of the reason Shores introduced the Voyager program. “The program is a mix of alternative education stuGHQWV VWXGHQWV ZLWK VRFLDO LVVXHV RU VRPH WKDW MXVW ZDQW WR JUDGXDWH HDUO\ ´ VDLG SURJUDP GLUHFWRU 0DWW .R]LDN ZKR EHJLQV KLV ÂżUVW \HDU DW 6KRUHV DIWHU WHDFKLQJ LQ WKH 0XVNHJRQ 6FKRRO 'LVWULFW Âł5HJXODU VFKRRO GD\V MXVW DUH not right for everyone.â€? The regular school day is hard for Thorsen to balance while also raising her daughter Adrianna, who will be 1 year old in October.

“Designing my own schedule is very helpful,â€? Thorsen said. “That way I can get school out of the way and take care of my daughter.â€? Students are admitted to the Voyager program by ÂżOOLQJ RXW DQ DSSOLFDWLRQ $Q\ VWXGHQWV ZKR DUH LQWHUested should see their counselor, principal Jennifer Bustard said. “Only two students have been disallowed because they GLG QRW PHHW FULWHULD ´ .R]LDN VDLG Âł:H WKRXJKW WKHUH would be around 19 students, but now there are 34.â€? The program consists of E2020 courses, which are basically online classes that help achieve credit in the VDPH UHTXLUHG VXEMHFWV WKH W\SLFDO 6KRUHV VWXGHQW QHHGV “The students start at level 3, which means they have WR EH DW WKH VFKRRO DW OHDVW KRXUV D ZHHN ´ .R]LDN VDLG “If they do well in this level, they can move to level 2, which is 10 hours, and eventually level 1 at 7 hours a week.â€? While E2020 is a popular choice for schools, the Voyager program has a unique twist to it. “The idea was taken from Rogers High School’s )URQWLHUV SURJUDP ´ .R]LDN VDLG Âł7KH EHDXWLIXO SDUW RI Voyager is that the kids can design their own schedule. It is not the typical school day.â€? A helpful addition to the program is that now, every FODVV SHULRG WKHUH ZLOO EH D FRUH VXEMHFW WHDFKHU LQ WKH classroom, located in room 301. “This is going to be a lot different than regular alter-

native,â€? McArthur said. “We are going to have teachers LQ WKHUH WKDW ZLOO EH DEOH WR KHOS XV LQ VSHFLÂżF VXEMHFW ´ This new addition helps to make the program seem more like a normal classroom setting. Âł7KLV ZD\ WKH VWXGHQWV FDQ KDYH VSHFLÂżF TXHVWLRQV DQVZHUHG DQG H[SODLQHG ´ .R]LDN VDLG Âł,W LV PRUH EHQHÂżFLDO WKDQ DVNLQJ VRPHRQH ZKR PLJKW QRW NQRZ DQ\WKLQJ DERXW WKH VXEMHFW ´ Students will need to maintain a 75 percent in all courses. If there is a failure to do so or problems with attendance, the student can be moved to level 4, which is 20 hours a week. “Voyager students have to abide by the same handbook as the regular student, but punishments can be PXFK VWULFWHU ´ .R]LDN VDLG Âł6D\ LI VRPHRQH VWDUWHG D ÂżJKW >D OHYHO RIIHQVH@ WKH\ ZRXOG EH GLVPLVVHG IURP the class.â€? Students also have most of the same rules in the classroom. “They are allowed to listen to music, but there is no WROHUDQFH IRU JDPHV ´ .R]LDN VDLG Âł7KH VWXGHQWV DUH expected to always work. There is no down time.â€? Thorsen said she plans to work fast so she can be ÂżQLVKHG DQG KRSHIXOO\ JR WR PHGLFDO VFKRRO DIWHU KLJK school. “I am the most excited about trying to graduate early,â€? Thorsen said. “Once I do, I can go to college and start a new life with my daughter.â€?

Staffing Changes Kent Wiersma will join the social studies team. Matt Koziak will join the staff as Voyager Coordinator. Science teacher Sarah Bronsema is on maternity leave. Cheri Demitriou will replace Daughn Majeski as the At Risk Coordinator. Judy Neiser will be the Media Secretary. Rhonda Baskin will be taking on the new responsibilities of the Test Center. Para-Professionals Lisa Clark, Bonnie Kelly and Mary Reece will be moving to other buildings. Para-Pro Gayle Decker has been displaced. Lisa Schaub and Paula Yonkman will join the high school Para-Pro team.

f e a t u r e The Sailors’ Log • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

When orchestra director Tim Staudacher retired at the end of the 2011 school year, many probably thought it would be nearly impossible to replace him. Because how do you replace a teacher who gave 27 years to a program he built? Because how do you replace a person who was named the MSBOA Michigan Orchestra Teacher of the Year? <RX ÂżQG DQRWKHU GLUHFWRU ZKR according to choir director Shawn Lawton, who was on the interviewing committee. “is a skilled violinist and will bring a level of expertise to share regarding this important instrument in the orchestra. He also brings a real work view.â€? Samer Jeroudi, who was teaching in Waterfor Public Schools on the east side of the state, said he found out about the opening from a listing on the MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) website, which was part of Shores national search. All candidates were asked to send in their resumes, and the top ones were invited to interview with a committee made up of representatives of everyone

Jeroudi has several unique aspects as well; he is half Middle Eastern and half European, and he also speaks Arabic, Russian, Ukrainian, English, and a little bit of German. “(I am excited to bring) a fresh and new perspective (to the orchestra),â€? Jeroudi said, “as well as my rich musical experience.â€? Jeroudi was an enthusiastic and excelOHQWO\ TXDOLÂżHG FDQGLGDWH IRU WKH MRE according to evaluators. He attended three colleges on his way to a teaching career, including the University of Michigan (Flint), Damascus Higher Institute of Music (Damascus, Syria), and Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio) where he received his Master in music. The students will have change in store for them, but “students are resilient and willing to learn,â€? Lawton said. “Mr. Staudacher built a wonderful program and the hope is that (Mr. Jeroudi) can maintain it and keep it going.â€? Jeroudi ists the students and everyday experiences of orchestra as the things he is most eager for. “(I am excited about) working with a great body of students and staff,â€? Jeroudi said. “Everyone has been very friendly and welcoming.â€?

7

Hopeful Heather

8

s p o r t s

By Taylor Jones Sports Editor

The Sailors’ Log • Tuesday, September 6, 2011

According to the American Cancer Society’s website, 11.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year, including 126,000 diagnosed with brain tumors, 244,000 diagnosed with leukemia, and 1.1 million diagnosed with colon cancer. On June 24, athletic trainer Heather Harrison became a statistic when she was told she had colon cancer. This was discovered after she delivered her newborn son Will and the pain she had in her side continued. After going to the ER and getting a CT scan, doctors diagnosed KHU ZLWK FROLWLV LQĂ€DPPDWLRQ RI WKH FRORQ The doctor told her colitis was odd at her age, so he ordered more tests on Harrison’s colon. Those tests revealed a large mass on the colon. “The doctors ended up removing 30 percent of my colon along with the blood vessels and lymph nodes in that region,â€? Harrison said on her Caring Bridges website. “This mass was further tested, and the pathology results indicated that the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes.â€? This is considered Stage III colon cancer, which means Harrison will have to undergo chemotherapy because the cancer cells could travel to other lymph nodes in her body. “The treatment will be every other Wednesday for 6 months and should take about 4-5 hours to complete. I will then be sent home with a ‘fanny pack’ that delivers more chemotherapy over a 46-hour period through a port

Harrison said she is anxious to get all the tests and FKHPR PRYLQJ VR VKH FDQ ÂżQLVK HYHU\WKLQJ IDVWHU “It was kinda crazy after the diagnosis,â€? Harrison said. “I just wanted to get all the tests done and have the VXUJHU\ FRPSOHWHG ,W ZDV KDUG WR DFWXDOO\ ÂżQG WLPH WR sit down and think about what was actually happening. Then after the surgery and after we found out that there was lymph nodes involved, I just wanted to start chemo and get moving on that process too.â€? The chemo treatments will keep her away from the DWKOHWLF ÂżHOG IRU DZKLOH EXW VKH LV GHWHUPLQHG WR UHWXUQ soon. “I am going to take some time off from school temporarily,â€? Harrison said. “My chemo goes until January, but I’m hoping to be back before then.â€? Athletic director Ryan Portenga said the school’s faculty will miss Harrison while she is away. “It’s going to be different without Heather on the sidelines this fall, but we are all very encouraged to know she LV LQ JRRG VSLULWV DQG ÂżJKWLQJ WKH JRRG ÂżJKW ´ 3RUWHQJD said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Heather and her family.â€? Friends, family and faith. Athletic trainer Heather HarAlong with Harrison’s school “family,â€? her husrison, who was diagnosed with colon cancer June 24, band, friends and family are all helping her through this, sits with her two children (Grace and Will) who have Harrison said. She added that she is handling what has KHOSHG KHU WKURXJK WKLV GLIÂżFXOW ÂżJKW DORQJ ZLWK WKH happened to her fairly well. rest of her family and friends. (Courtesy Photo) “It’s hard to say how I’m coping. I’d like to think that that my surgeon put in,â€? Harrison said. “On the Friday I’m doing well, but there are days that I cannot believe that follows my treatment, I will go back in to have this that this is actually happening to me,â€? Harrison said. “I ‘fanny pack’ removed. This process will repeat itself think it’s just a crazy dream, and I’m going to wake up every two weeks for the six month duration.â€? soon, but unfortunately there is no luck.â€?

e s s C i r c l e o f Sp o r l d n E e ts Th

Athletics becoming year-round activity for many By Rachel Swartz Sports Editor Nowadays, sports can appear to be almost endless. What used to be fun every once in a while is now something that is done daily and taken as seriously DV LI LW ZHUH D MRE RU D ÂżQDQFLDO QHFHVVLW\ However; if one is depending on an athletic scholarship for college, their sport and how they perform can determine a huge part of their future. Sophomore Amy Gillings knows WKLV ÂżUVW KDQG ZKHQ LW FRPHV WR VRIWEDOO whether it is the constant games and practices or the lessons and tournaments. “I give up a lot of time on the weekend, in the winter, and in the summer,â€? Gillings said. “Time that could be spent at the beach RU ZLWK P\ IULHQGV , PDNH WKHVH VDFULÂżFHV because this is a sport I love doing.â€? Gillings plays not only for a travel team in the summer and fall but also plays for the Shores varsity softball team in the spring. Gillings also takes private instruction every week from a hitting instructor in the winter. She is not the only person whose sport never ends. Junior Hailey Hrynewich also understands this concept when it comes to golf. “Even when my swing doesn’t need work, I do lots of swings at night with my GDG LQ WKH JDUDJH MXVW VR , IHHO FRQÂżGHQW with it,â€? Hrynewich said. Hrynewich is dedicated to the sport, PDNLQJ PDQ\ VDFULÂżFHV DORQJ WKH ZD\ 2QH RI WKRVH VDFULÂżFHV ZDV JLYLQJ XS another sport, soccer; she loved in order to focus on golf in the spring as well. “I always remind myself that this is my future we are talking about, and if I want to play college golf for a D-1 school on scholarship, then I have to do everyWKLQJ , FDQ DQG PDNH WKRVH VDFULÂżFHV WR get there,â€? Hrynewich said. Hrynewich

Focus. Athletes, like these football players from the seasonopening game between Shores and Muskegon Catholic Central, are preparing for sports year-round and making VDFULÂżFHV WR other parts of their lives to get ready for the season. (Rachel Resterhouse) is one of many athletes who also takes advantage of those who know more about the sport they love by taking lessons with her coaches at the country club. “I am always excited to golf because I ÂżQG VR PXFK MR\ LQ WKH VSRUW DQG , ORYH it mostly because it is all up to you,â€? Hrynewich said. “If you do bad, then it’s all on you, and of course, if you play amazing, then who else is there to congratulate but your own self for shooting that score that you worked so hard for?â€? The fact that sports can appear to be endless does not necessarily mean that it is a bad thing.

“I believe that students, regardless of age, should stay as active as they possibly can,� athletic director Ryan Portenga said. “Not only is it physically healthy for them to do so, it relaxes the mind and encourages self-discipline when it comes to family responsibilities and academics.� Portenga is one of many who believes that it is a necessity to practice in order to increase the odds of getting a college athletic scholarship. “The year-long athlete gains a deeper understanding of self and sport and increases their potential to be seen for collegiate athletics,� Portenga said.

Portenga also said he sees the down side of being an athlete 24/7. “The year-long athlete may lose RSSRUWXQLWLHV WR EH D ÂľNLGÂś DQG SOD\ ÂżYH sports for fun, have an easier social life, and become involved with things like student government, an awareness club, etc,â€? Portenga said. These days, sports are more than an afternoon pick-up game with your friends; they take more than just the desire to have fun. Sports are a passion that require complete dedication, and if someone truly wanted a future in a sport, they can appear to be endless.

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