Megan Jones Journalism Portfolio by Megan Jones

megan jones

journalism portfolio As I debated between enrolling in Journalistic Writing and Fashion Design, the reminder of my joy for writing set me on a path that lead me to a better verison of myself. I have never been so passionate about an interest before. I was just a shy little freshman, but I finally found my niche. I can remember being nervous to talk to people, and then one month later I was running down the hallways chasing after people for our sports wrap up. Four years later and I have moved from Staff Reporter to Editor-in-Chief as the newspaper expanded into many new mediums such as live-broadcasting and social media. I plan to major in News-Editorial Journalism with classes in Advertising at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. I hope this portfolio gives you an overview of my time spent in the publication’s lab while my adviser was begging to leave, and most importantly, show the person journalism has allowed me to become.

Megan Jones, senior, uses a camera to live stream Battle Bots, an event where robots fight until destruction in a district-wide competition.

in print: Publications featured: Journal & Topics Newspaper, a community newspaper located in Des Plaines that focuses on the Chicagoland area Content from: 2012 Spokesman, Wheeling High School’s newspaper Content from: 2009-2013

-Megan Jones

online:

Spokesman’s Website: <www.wheelingspokesman.com> Spokesman’s Live Streaming Website: <www.ihigh.com/whsspokesman> Spokesman’s Twitter: <www.twitter.com/ whsspokesman> Online Portfolio: < http://mogak5.wix. com/jportfolio>

megan jones resume

Spokesman, Newspaper Student Publication’s Experience

Editor-in-Chief

May 2012- May 2013 • • • •

Helped mentor staff members Handled overall editing responsibilities and deciding what ran in print and online editions Wrote editorials Checked the content and quality of articles and made necessary modifications

Contact Info Cell: (847)5413452 E-Mail: majones5@ illinois.edu

Advertising Manager

September 2011- May 2013 • • • •

Sold over $8,000 worth of advertisements Learned how to work professionally with business managers Learned how to manage finances on accounts The newspaper was in over $5,000, which I cleared in one year

Focus Editor

May 2010- May 2012 • • • •

Worked on designing a two page in-depth center spread Learned how to create in-depth pieces on one topic using heavy research Worked with graphic design elements to create infographics and help the appearance of information Studied different design tools to create more cohesive pages

Web Editor

May 2010- May 2012 • • • • •

Published breaking news content on Spokesman’s website, which can be found at <www.wheelingspokesman.com>. Added new interactive features to the website such as a calendar Became fluent with WordPress Managed social networking accounts to increase viewership Created consistent web schedules to keep updates frequent

Worked as a Yearbook copy editor for one year and a staff member of the literary magazine for two years.

Journal & Topics Newspaper June 2012- August 2012

Professional During the summer of 2012, I helped the Journal & Topics newspaper Information located in Des Plaines, Ill. I worked closely with the Managing Editor, Tom Wessell, as I was given several assignments to write for both print and website publications. I attended township board meetings every Monday night and wrote stories on issues covered. This helped me receive a real world experience of working in the journalism industry.

Prospect Hts. Fire Department: Guest Writer September 2010- November 2010

I helped the Prospect Heights Fire Department as a guest writer for their Fall 2010 newsletter, Hoseline. Besides covering articles on fire safety in the town, I added feature elements to the newsletter to give the community a sense of family within the department. Elements added to the newsletter included employee profiles and a recipe that the firemen often cook.

Prospect Hts. Fire Department: Administrative Assistant June 2010- August 2010

Working as an assistant to the Deputy Chief, I handled assigned projects for chief officers. I began cataloguing and preserving fire district history by creating an archive of reports.

Volunteer Hours

Outside of publications, I also helped raise money for cancer research as I participated in Relay For Life for four years. I have completed over 60 hours of charity work through Saint Alphonsus Liguori Parish Church in Prospect Heights, Ill. I specifically worked in the Franciscan Outreach Soup Kitchen in Chicago. My father and I participate in a “Secret Santa” project for the city of Prospect Heights every year along with the fire and police department. The project consists of selling raffle tickets to raise money for presents and meals to less fortunate families in our community during Christmas time.

Skills Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator Editing WordPress Blogger iMovie Live Streaming Advertising AP Style Social Media Press Releases

Awards Journalism Education Association:

- Honorable Mention for Feature Writing, May 2010

Northern Illinois Scholastic Press Association (NISPA):

- Blue Ribbon award for Feature Writing, April 2012 - Blue Ribbon award for team-indepth, April 2012 - Honorable Mention for Advertising Design, April 2012 - Blue Ribbon for Editorial Writing, April 2013 - Blue Ribbon for Team In-Depth, April 2013

Illinois High School Association: - Placed first in Newspaper Design at the Journalism Sectional, April 2013

Under my leadership, Spokesman received a Gold Certificate and a Golden Eagle from NISPA. Named 2013 Journalist of the Year by the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association

megan jones letter of recommendation

January 28, 2013 To whom it may concern, Megan Jones entered Wheeling High School four years ago ready to change it. I met her a few days before school started as she walked around the building finding her classes with her mother. She stopped by my classroom since she was going to be in my beginning journalism class. I don’t know who was more enthusiastic about that, me or Megan. I had the pleasure of advising her for the first two years of her career. Over the last four years, Megan has leveraged that enthusiasm to make some amazing things happen in her high school newspaper program. During the time I advised Megan, if something needed to happen, Megan made sure it did. As the staff struggled to learn how to write for and utilize the web for delivering its news, Megan jumped in and made it happen. When a school security guard suddenly passed away unexpectedly at school, Megan took on the story and had it on the web that afternoon. She didn’t rush the story just to get it on the web either. She spent all of her free periods during the day tracking down the facts and sources who would tell her what actually happened. When the newspaper’s advertising slumped, Megan took it upon herself to sell more than $7000 worth of advertising to help bring the newspaper’s finances into the black. Megan also excels as a leader. Now that Megan is the editor-in-chief of Spokesman, she has lead the paper to incorporate new news delivery elements. Her staff is the first Spokesman staff to live-stream events, and they started with the first day of school pep assembly. The staff also now live-tweets sporting events and has increased its utilization of Twitter and Facebook in order to publicize other coverage. Megan has faced the challenges of a changing media landscape headon, and she has brought her staff along with her willingly. As most people who work in the high school environment can attest, there is no shortage of drama or personal conflicts. Megan is one of the rare students who manages to rise above and remain out of this fray. I have never heard a student say, let alone intimate, a negative word about her. She has earned the respect and friendship of her staff members and classmates by being honest and true to her convictions. When a staff member she was working with on a story continually served up excuses instead of the reporting work she was supposed to contribute, Megan confronted the staffer without being accusatory and solved the issue by offering to help instead of blaming and getting angry. I can’t help but admire her character and maturity. I don’t think you could choose a person for this scholarship more dedicated to the craft and profession of journalism than Megan Jones. I also don’t think you will find a person more determined to succeed than Megan Jones. I am honored to highly recommend her for this scholarship, and I am looking forward to watching her career grow as she moves on to the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. Sincerely, Karen Barrett, MJE former Spokesman adviser

megan jones self-analytical essays

Prompt: How have your past circumstances and experiences (such as your upbringing, community, and/or activities) impacted who you are, your future goals, and your choice of major? It’s 9 p.m. and the night janitors turn the lights back on to clean. Sitting in the publication’s room with my eyes glazed, I receive paper after paper to edit. I look over my editorial once more before submitting the issue to print. Just like the Greek King Sisyphus, my boulder rolls back down the hill, but in that moment, I feel accomplishment. As I reflect back through the process, I realize my journey leading up to Editor-in-Chief has not been easy. After struggling with the change of an adviser and sometimes being left in the shadow of a STEM focused school, journalism has taught me how

to step up against challenges. Take, for instance, inheriting a $5,000 in debt paper, which brought me to the realization that sometimes in life I need to step up and accomplish tasks that others do not always want to do. Stepping up as advertising manager, I raised $7,000 in one year. Saying goodbye to a beloved adviser taught me the skills of adapting to things you cannot control. Entering Wheeling High School, I was a shy freshman who could never take control of a room and did not know my inner ability to handle leadership roles and the chaos

of advertisement. After joining the newspaper, I found myself running down the hallways after students who would not e-mail me back in order to gain interviews. Journalism has shaped my personality greatly, as I grew out of my shell. Through Spokesman, I learned that journalism can be a hard task with it’s constant deadlines and endless opportunities for work, but when I am passionate, I am willing to take on the challenge. Calmness absorbs me and like Sisyphus I start from scratch again: time for Issue 3.

Prompt: Describe a significant experience that has special or personal meaning to you and influenced your plans for the future. I sit in the local town meeting, listening to citizens express their concerns, as I map out how I could write a story the next morning. Having been my tenth board meeting of the summer, I have gotten used to the routine of role calls and agendas. It is supposed to be just another typical “cover a board meeting” assignment from my internship at the Journal & Topics newspaper. Citizens are speaking about a proposed apartment complex for residents with disabilities, and this proposal leads me to become more than just a listener but a researcher and reporter to local

government. Having grown up around local politics- my dad is Deputy Chief of our fire department and a member of the village zoning board- I have heard my fair share of firemen chats around the kitchen table. No longer an outsider, it is my job to spread the needed news. Wheeling proposed to approve an apartment complex for citizens with disabilities. Problems arose as Wheeling moved the location of the complex on a busy road, which created a threat to its residents. Emotions were heated as citizens complained that the town did not care for people with disabilities. I

have two cousins with disabilities, so I could not help but hold a personal opinion. Because of this experience, I learned that in order to be an ethical journalist I need to take a step back and cover both sides of the story. I realized that journalism with a focus on news and editorials was a proper fit for me. Being around politics made me want to become a watchdog in the field of journalism, while watching my cousins with disabilities made me want to tell stories of people who accomplish amazing things despite their struggles.

Prompt: An autobiographical essay that includes a description of career goals. Due to the new federal school lunch rules, which force students to take servings of fruit, many high schools began to see uneaten food accumulate in the garbage cans. After spending numerous days in the cafeteria collecting data pertaining to the discarded food, Spokesman published an in-depth spread that opened the eyes of the community. Journalism provides the ability to write about issues that are relevant and make a difference in the world. This added responsibility gave me an outlet for an interest I had never been so passionate about before. My career in journalism began as a hobby; I found my niche when I walked into Journalistic Writing 1. I was a shy little freshman, but I finally found the place I belonged. Soon journalism began to expand to more than a hobby, but a part of my life. I found a creative outlet within me that I did not know existed as I designed spreads and infographics. I found my inner voice as I took control of the newsroom and found the courage

to cold-call businesses and ask if they had an interest in advertising. I was suddenly running down the halls chasing people who would not answer my e-mails for interviews. Through the chaotic schedule of journalism, I found diligence within myself to always get the job done and never give up. While journalism has sparked all these traits inside me, I most importantly want to major in journalism because of the watchdog ability that comes with the title. I specifically learned the importance of this through my internship at the Journal & Topics newspaper. After attending several village board meetings and witnessing issues within the town such as proposed apartment complexes for the disabled and a clocktower park that would require spending money on aesthetics, I realized this was news people needed to know. The news allows readers to develop their own conclusions and sheds light on issues that could be deemed wrong. After seeing issues within the town,

I also saw my share of inspiration. After interviewing Kalin Koychev, a man who donated his kidney to a three-year-old stranger, and witnessing a group of girl scouts knit hats for their friend who was diagnosed with leukemia, I saw goodness within the world and knew these stories also needed to be told. Although late deadline nights and the stress of “that man who won’t call you back” are not ideal, journalism is an aspect of my life that once exposed to, I could never see myself without. Not only has it introduced me to a side of myself I did not know existed, it gave me a sense of watchfulness over the community. Being around politics made me want to become a news-editorial reporter in the field of journalism, while also telling inspiring stories. I plan on majoring in News and Editorial in the 2017 University of Illinois Urbana Champaign graduating class. I can only hope that one day I will see my byline in famous Chicago newspapers such as the Daily Herald or the Chicago Tribune.

megan jones writing: news

quick facts Publication: Spokesman Volume: 47 Issue: 3 Date: Nov. 19, 2010 Section: News

analysis This story shows my ability to add unbiased reporting by covering all sides. A big question was brought up with the addition of the Identisys program: What were parents without valid ID or illegal immigrants going to do? Would they not be able to enter the high school at all? So, I interviewed not only school officials like the Dean and security guards, but I also interviewed two parents. After all, the program was created to ensure safety for their children. One parent was for the system, while the other liked the idea of safety measures but thought a special ID should be given to parents without a Driver’s License. Covering the aspect of illegal immigration into a security story was complex. I could have improved by interviewing more parents besides sophomore students. I was proud that I found two really strong opposing quotes.

Dist. 214 implements new Identisys security program Megan Jones

focus editor

A new security system called Identisys, which checks identification cards to prevent sex offenders from entering the building, will now run in all District 214 Schools. Identisys, a visitor management system, runs through a national database system of police records. “We decided this from our district office during the summer. It’s another safety guard that we can use to help protect our students,” Ramon Williams, dean, said. The program consists of a laptop that checks through the database, a scanner to scan ID cards and a small printer to print out visitors own guest ID. N e w WHS guest ID’s are printed out for all visitors after they have passed through the national database. Visitors, including parents, who do not have a state identification card,

license or passport can not enter the building. The system does not accept work identification cards due to not being able to scan into the national database. According to Annette Ambrus, security guard, she has come across parents without ID cards before and did not allow them inside. “We are beginning to tell more people to bring them. If people are going to be impatient about signing in they will just have to wait,” Ms. Ambrus said. “Anything we can do to keep our kids safe is a good thing. I think this program is a good thing, but schools should create their own type of ID to issue to those specific parents so everyone is treated fairly,” Debbie Dale, mother of Kayla Dale, sophomore, said. According Dale there are ways to go about the security system while still including parents without IDs. “I think this (the new security program) is an easy helpful way to allow security

to be tightened up,” Gregory Delijewski, father of Claire Delijewski, sophomore, said. “The immigration problem is a different story. If you are illegal then why are you sending your kids to school that our taxes pay for? If you don’t put to the back then you shouldn’t take from it.” According to Ambrus the program has other benefits such as letting security guards know people that are not allowed in the building due to orders of protection. The system also keeps a running total of all visitors inside the building. According to Jim Gumz, security guard, the new system creates a longer time for people to sign in because they have to check through the system. “The time that we loose is what we gain in safety. It shouldn’t be an inconvenience to anyone. As a parent, you always want to know that your child is safe in the location they are in so this is a good step in that direction,” Mr. Gumz said.

Lunch prices increase next year Megan Jones

editor-in-chief

For the 2011-12 school year, Dist. 214 lunch prices will rise from $2.50 to $2.75 in the school cafeteria for lunches excluding the a-la- carte line. “It may not seem like a lot (of money) but still. That is an extra $1.25 a week, and if you add that up with all the students in the school that is a lot of cash,” Hector Juarez, sophomore, said. “I mean it is not our fault that gas costs more, so why do students have to pay more money? With the economy not at its best, I just don’t think they should raise our lunch prices.” The cost is increasing due to the escalating cost of food, milk, paper supplies, staff employment and the rise of gas to transport the food.

“Our lunch program is funded by the food prices. All the money we get goes to paying for food, supplies and equipment. It is a self supporting program because the money generated goes right back to the students,” Susan MacDonald, D214 director of food services, said. Reduced lunches will continue to cost 40 cents. Reduced priced lunches have not changed in 26 years because the Federal government sets the price of reduced lunches. On April 20, the WHS cafeteria received a 100 percent passing grade on their health inspection with zero violations. “It is a big achievement for our cafeteria, and I hang the poster on the cafe wall to show students,” Maureen Mullane, food services manager, said. WHS food services offers

new items to school lunches such as Jersey Mikes Subs, Panda Express, new types of beverages and food items to attract more students. “We recently completed a survey to see what other districts are doing in their own food services. D214 is right in the middle compared to other school districts. Some charge more while others charge less,” Ms. MacDonald said. According to Ms. Mullane she saw one school charging $1.80 for a candy bar and they had little variety, so she believes that WHS is right in the middle compared to other districts. Items like fruit, carrots with low fat ranch dressing and Dannon Light and Fit yogurt are now being sold in the vending machines located in the foyer for people who are looking for healthier choices.

“We are trying to bring more healthier choices to our cafeteria as well. We have added new things like Powerade zero and low fat whole grain muffins,” Ms. Mullane said. A new feature to vending machines is a color coding system. Selective vending machines feature a Smart Wise system that includes color coded stickers to show food that are healthy versus unhealthy choices. Foods with green stickers mean that it is a healthy item while red stickers mean that those foods should be chosen rarely. According to Ms. Mullane, WHS is trying to add more green stickers to their vending machines while keeping red stickers because they know students always want those items as well.

megan jones writing: news

First nanotech lab gives WHS advantage in science Megan Jones

editor-in-chief

Nanotechnology, a science in its infancy, will allow WHS students to be on the cutting edge and have an advantage among others as they work with equipment and technology within WHS’s nanotechnology laboratory, the first public high school research and development nanolab in the country. As part of an “Introduction to Nanotechnology,” senior science elective class, students will have the ability to participate in authentic research and use equipment similar to manufacturers in the area. “WHS is a leader in STEM education in the country, and I want our students to be the researchers, discoverers and the world’s change makers,” Dr. Lazaro Lopez, principal, said. “This lab provides another venue to set our students apart and to inspire other schools to reach beyond what they thought was possible.” Many colleges do not allow their students to work with nanotechnology equipment until they have reached a graduate level due to high equipment expenses.

“This will be the first nanotechnology high school lab in the country. I hope it will bring opportunities for students to utilize equipment and make them more marketable when looking for a manufacturing job or entering a field of science in college,” Nancy Heintz, science division head, said. Students enrolled in the nanotechnology class will have the opportunity to produce research with Lisa del Muro, nanotechnology teacher. She will have a free period specifically for students to meet with her on various competitions. “Dr. Lopez steered WHS into the nanotechnology pathway and is a great leader for doing so. It provides an opportunity for students to be the first to work within the field,” Mrs. del Muro said. Some manufacturers do not have all the nanotechnology equipment, so WHS will offer them the ability to come and use its equipment (for a fee). According to Ms. del Muro, with manufacturers already in the building, students can build a relationship and form networks before they even graduate. WHS currently looks into a dual credit with a

community college to allow students more opportunities. The laboratory will be located on the second floor of WHS in room 207. The program is currently bidding on equipment for the nanotechnology lab such as an atomic force microscope. 30 seniors are currently enrolled in the class, which will be split into two sections to ensure students receive one-on-one time with the equipment. WHS is currently reaching out to community colleges, such as Oakton Community College and universities, such as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, to build connections between programs. For instance, WHS could send students enrolled in the nanotechnology program to attend nanotechnology summer camps at U of I to build relationships. Both want to partner with WHS. “This lab will serve as an inspiration for our students, a skills development center for our community’s future scientist, transferable job skills upon graduation and a resource to our countless business partners and research institutions,” Dr. Lopez said. Construction on the lab will begin this summer.

quick facts Publication: Spokesman Volume: 49 Issue: 6 Date: March 20, 2013 Section: News

analysis With the plans of nanotechnology not cemented by administrators, it was hard to write a story with the most accurate information. This story helped me realize the importance of multiple sources and the need to go above and beyond to reach a “dream source”. It was hard to get exact details on the nanotechnology lab because a lot of the plans were being made over the summer. However, I thought I really drove the impact that the laboratory would make on WHS. The story shows my ability to write a straight-forward news story with no bias. I could have improved by interviewing a student source.

Staff hopes to change atmosphere of dances Faculty keeps original rules, but students remain divided on policies

Megan Jones

focus editor

At the Principal Advisory Council Pack, WHS discussed a plan to move forward with better dress code and dancing behavior at school dances. While no written rules have formed, changing the atmosphere of the dance will receive a greater emphasis. “In my opinion, it is good and bad. It’s good because it makes it seem like we have a little more class and that we are not as grimy. But bad as well because it takes away from the students’ freedom of choice and fun,” Anthony Garing, senior, said. In order to maintain an appropriate environment, Maine West High School has created a wristband policy. Students caught grinding will have their wristbands removed; second offenses result in

students being sent home. “We are not going to apply any official written rules or new policies like wristbands. We just want students to see this as a school dance and appropriate,” Debra Swierczek, dean of students, said. Starting at the 2012 Turnabout Dance, girls are no longer allowed to check their shoes in at the coat check. In previous years, girls were allowed to check in their shoes. Two incidents occurred where girls ended up with bloody feet which influenced this restriction. Also, WHS asks for appropriate dress lengths, for guys to keep on their dress shirts during the dance and for “simulated sexual dancing to end.” “I totally understand the dress length policy, because some girls practically wear nothing to dances, but I think the shoes policy and

the undershirt policy are a bit ridiculous,” Meghan Ausnehmer, junior, said. “Some girls have really uncomfortable shoes that they wear only to take pictures because they look good. I wouldn’t want anyone to have blisters or twist their ankle just because we have to wear shoes all night.” The DJ is told ahead of time that if he sees inappropriate dancing during the song he is playing, he has to change the music to a song with a different style. “We have previously found a pair of underwear leftover on the dance floor and that is gross,” Dean Swierczek said. “The dances have become more rampant and other students have said that they do not want to attend anymore because it’s gross.” According to Katherine Schwarz, junior, she believes the administration should host the

dances at places with more air conditioning so guys do not feel the need to take their shirts off. “I believe it is okay of the administrators to have some suggestions on what can be done,” Cecy Estrada, junior, said. Chaperones have not been given any new instructions on how to supervise the dances, according to Tricia Anderson, business education teacher and chaperone. “I don’t know why everyone is freaking out about rules changing, but if they were (changing) I would support that,” Anderson said. Rules that have existed in the past will just be reinforced.

In April 2013, I received an Honorable Mention from the Illinois Women’s Press Association.

megan jones writing: feature

Teens struggle with early motherhood duties

Dziecina raises 2-year-old child while Rivas begins early stages of pregnancy Megan Jones Rise and Fall of Pregnancy Among 15 and 17 year olds

Managing school According to a U.S. census, only one third of teenage mothers receive their high school diploma. Rivas is trying to beat those statistics by not leaving school until she has to. “School is harder for me because it is more difficult to concentrate and I get tired very easily, but I definitely do not want to leave,” Rivas said. Apart from attending school at WHS, Rivas also attends a class on how to be a good mother at Rolling Meadows. According to G. Dziecina, the hardest part about school is managing time for homework and missing her child during the day. Support systems Rivas receives support from her family and especially her dad. “It was hard at first because my mom was really mad and wouldn’t talk to me for two weeks. My dad reacted better. I am now getting more support,” Rivas said.

Information from World Commnuity Infographic created by Megan Jones

Pregnancy

60 50 Rate

focus editor

“My first reaction was that I cried,” Darlene Rivas, sophomore, said when she found out she was pregnant. She is currently five months pregnant. Rivas plans to keep her baby and gets support from Victor Estefania, graduate of Buffalo Grove High School and boyfriend. Gabriela Dziecina, senior, did not know she was pregnant until four months before the birth of her child, Jan Dziecina. J. Dziecina will turn three years old in March. “I remember watching movies with my mom and she would talk to me about how getting pregnant at a young age is bad. I didn’t know at the time that I was two months pregnant while we had those conversations,” G. Dziecina said.

Births

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Abortion

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G. Dziecina receives support from the government, who sends her money, and her parents. “My son goes to daycare while I am at school, and the government will send me money to help pay for it so I can continue with my education,” G. Dziecina said. “I do not have a job yet, so I receive a lot of help from my parents. They will help and buy me what I need for my child.” Changes after having a child According to Rivas, getting pregnant at an early age is hard. “When I have my baby, my whole life will change, like I will not be able to go out for example,” Rivas said. When J. Dziecina turned 1 year old, G. Dziecina began to attend counseling to help her “as she went through phases of depression.” “It really hit me that my life had totally

2000 2005

changed. Whatever I do I have to think about my son. I can not do things that every teenager can. I was mad about being a teen mother and I was depressed because I wanted a normal life like I had before,” G. Dziecina said. According to G. Dziecina, the counseling helped her and now “everything has changed to be easier and more happier.” Advice about abstinence “I would tell other teenagers to wait and be more smart,” Rivas said. According to Loretta Edwards, sophomore, and friend of Rivas, she also believes that people should wait until they are older. “Students should have a job and not have to rely on their parents. They should also be with someone that they think they will be with for the rest of their life before they have sex,” Edwards said.

Bumagat immigrates from Phillipines Megan Jones

staff reporter

Wanilyn Bumagat, freshman, sits in her written and oral communication class while reading the play, “Twelve Angry Men.” Her eyes scan across the page as students read their parts. The word “abstain” comes onto the page, as her forehead wrinkles and her eyes squint. On Sept. 3, 2006 Bumagat had to leave her friends behind as she embarked on a journey to America when she moved from the San Pablo Laguna City, Philippines. Bumagat’s family left to join her aunts and uncles who had already made the trip to America. When they arrived in America, they settled down in Orland Park, Ill. Bumagat attended Jerling Junior High School. “I was excited when I stepped off the airplane and saw my uncle standing there and American people. But a couple of weeks later I got homesick and couldn’t stop crying. The worst was not

understanding the language, the people talk so fast with high vocabulary,” Bumagat said. Bumagat speaks Tagalog, an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 22 million people. Although her family can speak English, she speaks Tagalog as her dominant language at home. “The language is uncommon here in America, so my friends will look at me weird when I start speaking it in front of my parents,” Bumagat said. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, out of 11,547,505 in Illinois, only 387,847 people over the age of five speak English “not well.” “I was terrified going to school, not being that good in English and having no friends made it hard and didn’t lead me up to success,” Bumagat said. It is now Bumagat’s turn to read her part in the play. She keeps a consistent pace while reading, without mispronouncing any words. When finished, she looks up to her classmates and smiles. In sixth grade, Bumagat began

English Second Language (E.S.L.) classes and made her first American friend, Angela Bithos, freshman at Carl Sandburg High School, who helped her find her classes on the first day of school. “Before I moved here I wondered what was the difference between American people and Filipino people, now I realize there is not much of a difference,” Bumagat said. Bithos said she saw a huge improvement in Bumagat’s English during her first year and was amazed at how well Bumagat adapted. “I find it awesome that even though Wanilyn is a different ethnicity than I am, we still share similar interests and have things in common, like the Jonas Brothers,” Bithos said. Bumagat had to say goodbye to more friends when her family moved from Orland Park, Ill. to Wheeling, Ill. in July 2009. Compared to the schools Bumagat attended before the move, she said WHS is “much more diverse.” “I absolutely think that having

many kids with different cultures helps our school. Experiences that people have being either well traveled or born in different countries helps them become who they are,” Eileen Hart, division head of E.L.L., said. Bumagat thinks she still has lots more to learn and would like to take another E.S.L. class at WHS. According to Bumagat, her counselor does not want her to take the class because English is high on her Explore test. “I wish I took classes about Tagalog, but I keep up with it well because I talk to my relatives in that language,” Bumagat said. Bumagat also said she tries her hardest to keep in touch with her friends from middle school. “I still miss the old friends that I’ve made and I will never forget them. I like being at Wheeling though. I think it’s a good place for me. Someday I will go back to the Philippines and share the stories I have experienced in America with them,” Bumagat said.

megan jones writing: feature

Ms. Linzmeier diagnosed with breast cancer, takes integrative chemotherapy treatments

Megan Jones

focus editor

Karen Linzmeier, chemistry teacher, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, but will not take a permanent leave of absence from school. In the middle of June, Ms. Linzmeier found out she had cancer in her right breast after several tests. Ms. Linzmeier said she does not believe in traditional chemotherapy and instead will take integrative cancer therapy to help cure herself. “I was shocked (when I found out),” Lauren Linzmeier, ‘09 graduate and daughter of Ms. Linzmeier, said. “I was the only person with my mom when she was diagnosed. Both of us suspected something was wrong when she noticed hardened breast tissue, so that possibility loomed in my mind. Of course, no one can possibly prepare themselves to hear a cancer diagnosis. I still don’t think this has fully hit me.” Ms. Linzmeier found a change in the breast tissue and scheduled a mammogram, which came back inconclusive. Doctors performed other tests, including ultrasound and biopsies, which confirmed cancer in her right breast. “My immediate reaction was all over the place. I was frustrated, surprised and scared. The chemotherapy scares me because it will affect my healthy cells just as much as it will affect my cancer cells,” Ms. Linzmeier said. Ms. Linzmeier had surgery to remove the cancerous breast tissue on July 9 at Evanston Hospital. A plastic surgeon completed breast reconstruction immediately after the mastectomy, a surgery where they remove the breast, including cancerous regions. Chemotherapy started on Sept. 8, and on the days that Ms. Linzmeier has treatment she will miss school. Pete Ogilvie, retired WHS physics teacher, will substitute for Ms. Linzmeier on

quick facts Publication: Spokesman Volume: 47 Issue: 1 Date: Sept. 24, 2010 Section: Feature

In May of 2010, I received an honorable mention from the Journalism Education Association for this story.

the days that she is gone. She will receive a total of eight treatments and finish around late December. In addition to Mr. Ogilvie, Julie Levene, science teacher, is teaching Ms. Linzmeier’s AP Chemistry class for the first semester until Ms. Linzmeier knows how she reacts to her treatments. “She is an incredible teacher and I didn’t want to take away from her treatments to be there with her AP students. I want her to be 100 percent cured and free from cancer so she can do anything she wants to do in her life,” Nancy Heintz, science division head, said. Kim Davis, student teacher for Ms. Linzmeier, has survived breast cancer. She is happy to help give support to Ms. Linzmeier during her treatments. “I could not be more happy to be (student teaching) under her. As a breast cancer survivor, I could not be happier to give her as much support as she needs,” Davis said. At one point Ms. Linzmeier considered not taking chemotherapy treaments. She will be taking intergrative cancer therapy at the Block Cancer center in Evanston, Ill. “I’m very much against conventional cancer therapy by itself because it is very toxic to all of your systems,” Ms. Linzmeier said. Instead of normal chemotherapy treatment, integrative cancer therapy includes nutrition, diet modification, exercise, supplements and mind, body and spirit connections along with chemo. Exercise, oxygenation and a low sugar diet are very important pieces to Ms. Linzmeier’s treatment. Alex Linzmeier, junior and son of Ms. Linzmeier, said that his home life has not changed much besides eating on a healthier diet and eating out less. “My mom has opted to do alternative care and had radically changed her diet. Consequently, we shop for food far more often because

analysis It is not easy to ask someone questions about cancer, let alone breast cancer. The story was a sensitive subject that I was nervous to tackle, but in the end, I’m extremely proud of the overall piece. Ms. Linzmeier is a beloved teacher within WHS, and many members of the school took the news roughly. I remember walking into the interview nervous, but after covering this piece, Ms. Linzmeier told my adviser she was proud of my professionalism

Karen Linzmeier, chemistry teacher, teaches block C. Even though she has been diagnosed with breast cancer, she will not take a leave of absence from school. “They (the students) have been so caring,” Ms. Linzmeier said. food without preservatives does not keep long. We have to more carefully plan our meals. Also, because my mom has many medical appointments, we attend those often. However, I think my mom and I have have gotten even closer,” L. Linzmeier said.

throughout the interview. Another additional challenge was the amount of research that went into the story along with having to pay specific attention to wording. Due to the sensitive subject, sentences had to be worded in a specific way. After my Grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer, I became acquainted with the procedures of chemotherapy, but when Ms. Linzmeier mentioned “integrative chemotherapy” in the middle of the interview, I was

After Ms. Linzmeier’s surgery there have been no signs of cancer returning so far. “I have a positive attitude about my health situation and know that God will see me through this. I’m strong and I have God on my side,” Ms. Linzmeier said.

thrown off my game. I was proud of the research I did to make myself conversant on the subject; however, getting a better quote from her son or interviewing an integrative chemotherapy expert could have improved this piece. The feedback gave me the courage to continue tackling sensitive subjects such as an indepth spread I wrote about teens taking on adult responsibilities including pregnancy. I became the “go-to” person on sensitive subject matters after this piece.

megan jones writing: feature

Senior varsity swimmers label pool as their ‘second home’

Megan Jones

feature editor

“The pool is like my family spot. All the girls bond together really well, and I’m always so excited to see them and get together, like having dinner with your family,” Haydee Tamayo, senior, said. Like Tamayo, the three other senior varsity swimmers also called the swim team their family and labeled the WHS pool as their second home. Each girl spends a minimum of two hours a day for six days a week in the pool. According to Leah Malsom, senior, so much sweat and tears have shed in the pool from the seniors that she finds it hard not to consider it like a home. “It takes over my life with morning practice, after school practice and meets. It makes you tired and takes you over so your life becomes basically swimming and school,” Morgan Lockwood, senior, said. Malsom jokes with the younger girls on the team about how she will cry at certain meets because the season’s ending. “It’s rewarding to know that your next race is one of your last races in your high school career and it’s a big motivational push to give it everything you have,” Malsom said. What’s left of the season includes Mid-Suburban League Conference on Oct. 29 and IHSA Sectionals and State in November. According to Lisa Hanrahan, swimming coach, she’s looking forward to the girls swimming their fastest at Sectionals and the team has “a lot of momentum

quick facts Publication: Spokesman Volume: 48 Issue: 2 Date: Oct. 21, 2011 Section: Feature

In April 2012, I received a Blue Ribbon award for feature writing from the Northern Illinois Press Association for this story.

moving into their championship portion of the season.” While none of the girls plan to swim as a sport in college, they plan to continue to swim in their free time. “It’s really sad knowing that next year I won’t be coming back to be with the girls,” Lockwood said. While all four swam before competing with WHS, Lockwood started swimming for WHS sophomore year and Malsom, Tamayo, and Heather Murphy, senior, started swimming freshman year. “Only during the winter am I not practicing for a sport in the swimming pool. It’s made me meet new people, work hard and depend on myself since it’s such an individual sport,” Murphy said. While the team bonds as a whole, the senior girls have created a special bond from being together for so long due to participating in both water polo and swimming. According to Tamayo, they have become like sisters. “I love them (the senior girls) so much. They are the life of the team. They know when to have fun at the right time and when to work hard at the right time,” Malsom said. Each girl wishes to keep in contact with each other after the season ends and to not loose touch. “For the most part the seniors bond well together due to working together so much. Swimming is more of an individual sport but they are always cheering each other on and encouraging each other as well as the other varsity girls,” Hanrahan said.

Leah Malsom, Heather Murphy and Haydee Tamayo, seniors, cheer on other swimmers during Senior Night. “I know I will not be doing this again (swim competitions) so I really cherish every moment,” Murphy said.

analysis It was easy to capture the girls passion for swimming in this story through their interviews. I entered my assignment knowing that to in order to make it unique, I needed to find out their team dynamic. I wanted to create that image of how much time they spent in the pool and how dedicated they were. I could relate to them because I feel a similar love for the publication room. The key to writing this story:

the flow. At first I was worried about how to format all of the girl’s opinions. By including personal information and meaningful transitions, I avoided having quotes jump awkwardly from girl to girl. I ran this story at a larger size so the flow was very important. Without it, the reader would have read a couple of paragraphs of it, got confused, and moved on in the paper. To me, the story was entertaining enough that the

length didn’t really matter. One thing I could have improved on was interviewing the second coach just to see if any extra information came of it. I also should have included more specific information about the Mid-Suburban League and their future competitions, but I wanted to keep it more based on their personal feelings and the aspect of working with the same team members your whole high school career.

megan jones writing: feature

Stankowicz helps perform surgeries in Honduras room, while other days she you can’t really be taught that.” checked vitals and observed According to Stankowicz, she patients in recovery rooms. spent the whole day working and The trip has confirmed had little free time. Stankowicz’s desire to go into a Despite the work load, medical career; however, she now Stankowicz says she would have hopes to look into helping third stayed even longer given the world countries more. opportunity. “Everything I learned People in Honduras do not about medications, nursing have access to clean water, and and operating will help me a the hospital Stankowicz worked lot in the future. I at gives water got an amazing to people in experience that the town. I could not have According to gotten elsewhere,” Ochoa, she Stankowicz said. thinks it was During the a high point second half of her for Stankowicz day, she spent time to be able to Someone told me helping translate that for some people, a p p r e c i a t e and control the like this is something they things crowd for youth water, which would do to cross off Bible camps. Americans their bucket list, but “I realized take for how important for others, you get hit granted. it is to be able to Dr. Rick by this bug to go help speak Spanish,” Wa t s o n , out. I have definitely Stankowicz said. counselor, read hit that bug. “I also received Stankowicz’s a culture shock diary entries to appreciate kept Joanna Stankowicz, she everything. No one during the trip. senior complained, and “It (the they (Hondurans) diary) was quite have so much to complain about.” extensive in detail,” Dr. Watson Ochoa felt glad to see said. “I was amazed at how Stankowicz receive a different much license they gave her to cultural experience. Ochoa began do procedure but they evidently helping in Honduras 12 years need the help.” ago. Ever since Stankowicz was According to Stankowicz, in third grade, she would ask if after exams, women would cry Ochoa would take her with to graciously that the volunteers Honduras. offered to get rid of their “Joanna was spectacular on problems. the trip with me,” Ochoa said. “Every woman that we “No one understands poverty operated on was incredibly strong until they see it, so she learned and more grateful than I could compassion, which is great for a have imagined,” Stankowicz said. nurse. Working with a team while “It warmed my heart to feel the having limited resources will help woman’s graciousness through her nursing career greatly because her hugs and smiles.”

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Used with permission by Joanna Stankowicz

Top: Joanna Stankowicz, senior, performs surgery next to Tracy Glass, doctor. Left: Stankowicz asks children questions to get to know them and relate to them. Right: Stankowicz poses with Saul, a Honduran doctor’s son, who she met the first day. “He was my little buddy throughout the trip,” Stankowicz said.

Megan Jones

be a part of a laparoscopic operation.” editor-in-chief Stankowicz received the opportunity to travel to “Throughout the course of Honduras with Peggy Ochoa, the week I gave shots, put in close family friend and nurse catheters, removed I.V’s and at Evanston Hospital. stapled a patient’s abdomen,” While there, Stankowicz Joanna Stankowicz, senior, performed gynecological said. “It was an incredible surgeries, such as the removal experience to be able to hold of tumors and uteruses. Some a melon-sized tumor while days, Stankowicz helped it was still in someone or to directly in the operating

analysis After getting word that Joanna Stankowicz had traveled to Honduras, I instantly knew that there was a story to be told. I was proud of myself for getting an outside school source, Peggy Ochoa, who had actually gone to Honduras with her. That additional source gave a lot of insight to Joanna’s work ethic and additional perspectives on the experience. Something I wish I had included in the story would have been to get some of her

quick facts diary entries and add them as an infographic to the story. When Dr. Watson mentions the entries in the story, it automatically sparks my interest and could have lead the reader more easily into the story. Her journey was inspirational and easy to write. Her dense quotes were hard to capture during the interview; but once typed into the computer, they were really smooth to follow and beautiful to read.

Publication: Spokesman Volume: 48 Issue: 8 Date: June 1, 2012 Section: Feature

megan jones writing: editorial

Administration deems senior prank dangerous This year’s senior prank could have caused harm to faculty and students along with unnecessary cleanup for janitors. Fortunately, the prank was stopped as administrators were put into a frenzy and increased security. WHS students sat down to attend Block A classes when a video announcement of Dr. Lazaro Lopez, principal, appeared. Dr. Lopez spoke of the consequences the planned prank would bring. Spokesman gives credit to administration at its quick attempts of stopping the prank because dealing with a group of seniors can be a daunting task. Faculty carried digital cameras to

take evidence of any events. With and other liquids. With the the threat of not being able to amount of pregnant teachers graduate, many seniors second currently walking around our guessed whether or not to even hallways along with the general try to commit a prank. population, the consequences of However, it was unnecessary someone falling could end badly. to shut down the foyer and the In addition, a Facebook main hallway, for the prank’s group titled “Senior Prank planned location took All seven 2012” was created place in the technology online. If students had hallway. Some students members of not made the prank were late to their classes the editorial such an obvious thing due to rerouting the board agree. to catch online, maybe hallways. the prank could have Despite that, the prank been kept a secret. was rightfully stopped as the Just like last year’s threat of harm outweighed the senior prank, this would have joke. Students were planning meant bad news for the janitors on creating a slip and slide set of WHS. up with a tarp and by using soap Last year’s seniors threw flour

all over the main hallway and foyer. Our janitors already work so hard to keep our school clean, so they do not need any added messes. While some may be disappointed in not participating in a prank, the planned prank was not logically safe. Spokesman feels students should be able to participate in their own unique senior prank. However, the prank should not threaten harm to anyone in the building or cause unnecessary work for the janitors. Here’s to the class that did not need to demonstrate an actual prank in order to put the school in chaos.

P.E. vocab requires retention for impact While Spokesman commends the physical education (P.E.) teachers for incorporating vocabulary into more departments of the school besides English, the terms need to be incorporated in more meaningful ways and be used more often to create a lasting impact on the students. The P.E. classes’ curriculum now incorporates learning the 100 most commonly used words on the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE). After looking through WHS’s test scores data, the idea seems genius. Only 42.4 percent of WHS students met reading standards on the PSAE. However, the idea lacks in one major area: overestimating students’ ability of memorization.

Though the vocabulary better memory retention. words on the announcements By adapting more holistic are a great idea, they only stay on learning, the students will the screen for 30 seconds before hold a better retention for the flashing to today’s lunch menu. vocabulary words. Instead of In addition, some teachers only pounding information repeat their words right before into the students’ activities. While short can brains before 7 out of 8 be deemed “sweet,” it the badminton doesn’t help in education. members of lesson, we should In 1885, Hermann the editorial focus on weaving Ebbinghaus, psychologist, the knowledge board agree. into proved that we will forget other up to 90 percent of what things we already we learn without the use of understand. repetition and the quality of The P.E. department memory representation. has started this process by Ebbinghaus calls this the hanging posters around the forgetting curve and shows that gym and printing the words it helps when people relate what on the back of fitness cards. they know to something that However, Spokesman would is important to them because like to see more of a bridged gap connecting ideas allows for into incorporating words into

conversations throughout the workout rather than just stating them. It is also highly important for students to take learning the vocab words seriously; learning these words could help their future greatly, whether it be incorporating them into cover letters, resumes, job interviews or receiving higher test scores. The process laid out by the P.E. department has been an excellent step in the right direction to help our school. We have always struggled with lower testing scores, but this gives us a higher chance to improve as we look at vocabulary all throughout our day at WHS. We have had a great start with this new program, but the terms need to be incorporated more for a lasting impact.

Custodians deserve more recognition What goes on after school once we leave? The lights are shut down, and “save” is written on the whiteboard for tomorrow’s class announcements; however, as the life of WHS shuts down, the custodians’ night begins. At approximately 7:50 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, custodians were alerted that water was flowing near the entrance to the pool. Roel Acevedo, lead maintenance, and supervisors reported to the building around 8:30 p.m. to find the water flowing across the softball field and the southeast drive. A water main broke outside the pool facility, which almost canceled the next school day. The third shift custodians worked past their typical protocol and through the night

with service technicians to fix the Dec. 11? Many students did not water main. hear about the incident. The Mr. Acevedo, Doug Dietrich, custodians work in a “behind building and grounds the scenes” fashion that many do supervisor and Ted not see and therefore shed Birren, custodians, respect to. stayed at WHS on While some 8 out of 8 their own time members of students might have to make sure the upset that their the editorial been problem was fixed in “free day off ” had not board agree. come, a timely manner. Spokesman The leak was would like to thank located around 2 a.m. the maintenance and A pipe sleeve, designed for custodial staff for their hard water main repair, was placed work. over the split in the pipe and Staying until 4 a.m. went bolted into place. above and beyond their duties. The hole was filled back in, Spokesman staff encourages the area was cleaned and about students and staff to thank the an hour later, swimmers were custodians for their hard efforts. able to use the pool again. The wrappers we leave on the Did you know that we almost floor do not magically vanish. did not have school on Tuesday, Custodians are one of the

many “unsung heroes” at WHS, and our days would not function smoothly without them. “This situation is a perfect example of how they pitch in and lead us in a way that might never be otherwise seen,” Kate Kraft, associate principal, said. “I am sure (especially in the middle of the night), it would have been a lot easier to shut off the water and close the pool for a period of time. One of the best aspects of Wheeling High School is how seriously the professionals in the building take on their responsibilities.” So while sitting at the holiday assembly today, just take a minute and think about the preparation that had to be done by custodians just for one event. In the hallways, thank them.

megan jones writing: editorial

Relay negatively interferes with AP testing Relay For Life promises in for the rest of the day. In a fun overnight event with an ideal situation, students friends while being able to should spend their time give back and raise money resting and studying over the for cancer research. For the weekend. While leading up to past four years, members of a large test, students should Spokesman have participated maintain a consistent sleep on a publication team. schedule of eight to nine However, Relay’s hours of sleep each event planning night. 7 out of 7 has a conflicting AP students problem. members of have prepared all R e l a y ’s for these tests. the editorial year planned event The ability to earn board agree. college credit in for Saturday, May 4, conflicts with high school provides the upcoming week future benefits. of Advanced Placement Missing sleep prevents (AP) testing starting on concentration, and according Monday, May 6 and brings to the American Academy forward the issue of sleep of Sleep Medicine (AASM), schedules and distractions success on exams in the with test preparations. classroom is tied to sleep. Spokesman is concerned with By looking at brain how pulling an all-nighter responses of students who the weekend before tests will do not get enough sleep, affect AP students. scientists have accurately At 6 a.m., students hazily predicted the impact sleep pack up their sleeping bags loss has on their ability to pay and stumble across the attention during the course football field as they flee the of a day. Because the College school in hopes of finding a Board purposefully chooses warm bed at home to sleep hard questions in an attempt

to trick students, a lack of sleep can negatively impact a student’s score on the multiple choice portion of the AP Test. Unfortunately, it is not possible to catch up on sleep in one long session. Last year, the event took place on Saturday, May 19, which made the overnighter with friends even more enjoyable because the stress of AP testing was behind us. Also, it is harder to spend time fundraising for Relay while also preparing for these major tests. How can we ask a student to choose between studying for AP World History or baking cupcakes to sell to raise money for cancer? There is a reason why division heads specifically tell teachers not to overwhelm their students during the AP testing week. While Spokesman will attend the event because it is something dear to our hearts and we support its efforts, we hope to not see much of a difference between test scores from previous years.

Relay For Life will take place on Saturday, May 4 and AP Testing begins Monday morning on May 6.

Why is sleep important? •

•

According to the National Health Institute, sleep helps increase attention span and stabilizes an individual’s mood, which helps them concentrate. Being well-rested enhances academic performance because we cement the information we’ve gathered during the day and create it into memories while we sleep. Data has seen a positive correlation between more sleep and higher test scores. Information from NPR

Cyberbullying sheds negative light Walking through the hallways, we encounter people from a wide array of backgrounds, but we are all linked by one factor: We attend WHS. A community has the ability and responsibility to take pride in its surroundings and hold each other accountable for their actions. Recently, Spokesman became aware of events specifically concerning two student-created Facebook pages that commit acts of cyberbullying crimes. The students at WHS have a social responsibility to govern one another. They should discourage the disgusting comments written online, for it reflects on the school badly. The pages featured pictures of girls and hatefully drew attention to several of their characteristics. The diversity at WHS is a distinct

quality among District 214 that we pride ourselves on. Any attack to an individual online is considered a hate crime and can leave long lasting effects on the victim. According to Pew Internet Research Center, one out of three teens are distressed, extremely upset or afraid of online harassment. According to the i-SAFE Foundation, more than one in three young people have experienced cyber threats online. Unfortunately, we have seen our peers from District 214 succumb to bullying and take their lives because of it. In order for a change to occur, it is vital that not only the faculty take a stance but students as well. According to Pew Internet Research Center, 95 percent of social media-using teens, who

take no action, admit to witnessing cruel behavior on sites. Of the 95 percent, 55 percent witness cyber bullying frequently. It is our social responsibility to put an end to the cyberbullying by flagging pages and informing others to report it. Spokesman commends the District for quickly shutting down the page. Whether we like it or not, pages like these reflect our school in a negative light. Further, they enhance stereotypes of WHS students, which effects everybody in the community, past and present. The capabilities of WHS are infinite, but we can not allow acts of bullying to overshadow the accomplishments.

How to report cyberbullying? “Generally speaking, what goes on online is a parent’s responsibility. When the conversation begins to involve school, such as threats about violence at school, students should bring evidence by printing out conversations or snapshots of the screen to the deans. The deans can then see the participants of the conversation and what was said. The worst thing a student can do when they are bullied is to write something back. It’s like throwing more gasoline onto the fire. You are just challenging them,” Dr. Kenneth Stiff, dean, said.

P.E. exemption waiver gives promise of options District 214 may allow more options for receiving a physical education waiver starting in the 2013-14 school year. Several extracurricular activities, such as marching band and Navy Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (NJROTC), already participate in physical activities during the day, and the waivers can help students have the opportunity to enroll in a study hall and gain more free time. Due to marching band’s long practices on the turf and NJROTC’s after-school commitments, depending on one’s division, class

or position, it can be hard to get NJROTC has its own physical home and complete a full night of component with exercises once or homework. With the new waiver, twice a week for day class students can add a study hall through mile runs, pushto their schedule, which will 6 out of 10 ups and situps, and the allow them to participate members of night class engages in these activities without the editorial in intense workouts harming their grades. twice a month. With board agree. the Marching band spends exercises they so much time completing receive during the class fundamental drills that consist periods, the need for an of marching back and forth while additional physical education being coherent of those around class does not stand as a dire need. them. They then run through their The waivers can also help ten-minute show at least five times enrollment in these specific a practice. activities. Without having to fit

P.E. into the schedule, adding an extracurricular will not seem so daunting. Spokesman feels the District 214 board should vote “yes” on this proposal, which was up for bid on Oct. 18. Results were not available by press time. Just think, with Marching Band’s undefeated season this year and NJROTC’S second place in the Freeport Invitational, they will have the opportunity to succeed at even further lengths as students participate in those activities instead of P.E.

megan jones writing: opinion

Giving rather than receiving proves meaningful

Megan Jones Rushing around Christmas Eve, most families would be cleaning their houses, preparing for guests or heading over to church. My dad, Tim Jones, and I, along with other firemen and police, are loading the ambulance filled with gifts for our Christmas project, “Secret Santa.” The saying, “to give is better than to receive,” models the purpose of our project. “Secret Santa” allows us to bond together, give back to the community and help us be thankful for the things we have. We originally both got involved in the project which grew to become an annual Christmas project for his work, the Prospect Heights Fire Association. This has expanded with the help of city leaders, residents and local business owners. My dad is the most helpful person I have met, and he knew he wanted to find a way to help out people less fortunate than us. Christmas is my favorite holiday, so knowing that I can help other families have the best

quick facts

Publication: Spokesman Volume: 48 Issue: 4 Date: Dec. 16, 2011 Section: Focus

possible Christmas is a goal we room annoyed, when we realize we had. We began by helping a single bought one of the coats in a wrong family five years ago. Since then the size. That becomes our third trip list has grown bigger and bigger to Kohl’s in one day. Then after all as we contacted the the shopping, police station to find I sit and families who were in spend hours need. wrapping This year, we gifts. A long plan on helping conference nine to ten families. table stands The police station before me informs the families filled with My heart practically of how we want gifts in rows melted when one to help them, and under every then we receive child’s name. child asked for a Christmas lists Police and present to give to his that the families f i r e m e n mother for Christmas. created. We raise occasionally money every year wrap gifts as Out of all the things through donations well. Thirtyhe could have to afford buying year- old men wanted, to him the for the families and attempt to opportunity to be able wrap footballs through selling raffle tickets. Also, and stuffed to give his mother people can drop animals with a gift proved most gifts or donations no structure important. off at the Prospect before the fire Heights Fire alarms begin Department that we buzzing and will send to the families as well. they are off on a call. Each family receives a hot On Christmas Eve, we head to dinner that includes ham, potatoes the fire station and load all the gifts and vegetables. We also give each into the ambulance. Then we head family gift certificates to grocery from house to house delivering and department stores that can be gifts. We don’t support dozens necessities for their family. of families, but the families we Once we receive the lists, it do support, we go all the way for. takes us three days of constant We once gave a mother a vacuum shopping to gather all of the items. cleaner. As she tore apart the paper We end up sitting in the conference off the long box, she looked at my

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dad with a surprised look on her face and asked what the item was. What stands out to me the most is that the families ask for practical things they actually need during the holidays. The children do not ask for the latest iPod (even though we once splurged and gave one to a very deserving kid), but they ask for coats, clothes and even school supplies. With the snowflakes coming down Christmas Eve morning, a child ran out of his apartment complex and kicked off his kick stand to the new bicycle we gave him. He tried riding his bike through the snow when his brother came outside gasping at the new bike. I could imagine the fun memories this would bring the child and his brother once the snow melted. The families we help are deserving of everything they receive. We are still in the process of selling the tickets and will soon find out how sales went to see how many families we can support. Then we begin shopping. Stores, here I come. My mom always says that after she leaves Church she always feels like a better person. On that ride home in the empty ambulance, which was once filled with toys containing gifts and hopes for these families, that’s the best I can feel about myself.

analysis I started this column knowing that I did not want to shove the importance of giving down people’s throats. Most decent humans would agree, it is very vital to give back to those in need. So, I set out on the mission that I would paint a picture of how it feels to give. This column was

the editing under David Fincher, director, who has created films like “Fight Club.” Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers, combined to create the score. The 173 minutes of music included intense thriller songs along with the fierce opening song of a cover of “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin. I don’t blame the movie adaption for lacking details because the book was almost 700 pages long. Salander was abused her whole life, so when Blomkvist asks to help solve a crime against abusers of women, she agrees. The movie has received complaints due to the graphic rape scene, but I believe it was necessary. The scene explains her character, why she agrees and how she stays determined throughout the case.

“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Book Released: 2005 Movie Released: Dec. 21, 2011 Rated: R After waking up early, I saw “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (TGWTDT)” propped against my pillow. I knew I would not take a shower just so I could have an extra ten minutes of reading the book. I did not want to put it down and would have easily stayed up all night to read it if school had not gotten in the way. Stieg Larrson wrote TGWTDT, which has expanded into a trilogy. On Dec. 21, the first book was released as a movie. Lisbeth Salander, private investigator, and Mikeal Blomkvist, journalist, team together to solve a murder mystery of a teenage girl. For the movie, I was blown away with

successful in its message because instead I talked about many personal anecdotes that drove that sentiment without having to say it. I am most proud of my “show don’t tell” language throughout the story, such as when I talk about the firemen in the conference room wrapping gifts or the image of

the empty ambulance on the way home. I typically never write columns unless I find my opinion on the subject important. Therefore, it was hard for me to come out and talk about something so personal to me. This shows my ability to cover multiple styles of writing.

While the movie contains graphic scenes, Salander’s character with Blomkvist add comical relief on how they work together. The movie lacked the ability to know character’s thoughts like one can in a book. Without reading the book, Salander’s character was seen as more of a psychopath with her piercings, dark clothing and strange behavior. The movie was first created as a Swedish film, which many preferred. Personally, I like the American version and found the Swedish one boring due to the difference in actors. Rooney Mara is flawless and added more layers to Salander’s character; while Daniel Craig, who plays Blomkvist, just looked more of the part and had more charisma. I can only pray that TGWTDT expands into a trilogy of movies and Fincher continues directing them as well. This is finally a movie that takes risks unlike the Twilight series.

megan jones writing: opinion

Kony, ‘the social movement,’ succeeds Popularity decreases as Kony 2012 moves to a ‘fad’ common name, often appearing in news feeds and media outputs. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the prosecutor of the International Criminal court, says he has “no doubt” that Kony will be arrested this year due to the spotlight that helped boost the hunt for him. Two resolutions were introduced into Congress that condemn the crimes committed by Joseph Kony and the LRA. It calls for the implementation of the policies the Kony 2012 campaign advocated. Eighty-eight members of Congress have become cosponsors of this resolution and offered support. With the breakdown of Jason Russell, Invisible Children cofounder, combined with the suspicions already against the organization, the movement has died down into more of a “fad.” Celebrities like Angelina Jolie, actress, and George Clooney, actor, support other third world

Megan Jones

With the intention of rejuvenating the movement, the Invisible Children Organization released the “Kony 2012 Part 2-Beyond Famous” video. The part 2 video had over 1 million views on the 11th day of release. The original video had over 100 million views on the sixth day of release. Despite the decreasing popularity of the movement, Kony 2012 has conquered what it set out to complete. Joseph Kony, Ugandan war criminal, is now a

countries while they are in between movies. They can do this because they are used to the criticism they receive by being in the spotlight. The average man does not take this criticism the same way, such as Russell. Russell was detained in March for vandalizing cars and masturbating in public. According to Danica Russell, J. Russell’s wife, J. Russell’s breakdown was due to malnutrition, dehydration and sleeplessness brought on by criticism of Kony 2012. Since then, no news of J. Russell has recently been obtained. According to Jedidiah Jenkins, Invisible Children Director of Ideology, J. Russell is on the road to recovery, and “it’s going to be months.” In the sequel video, J. Russell is mostly absent compared to the first video. Also, while the first video

allowed open comments on YouTube and served as a discussion forum for users, the second video has disabled comments, ending that communication. While the program continues sending e-mails and ramping up for their “Cover the Night” event, many are on the edge as to whether or not to support this organization. As Kony 2012 moves to more of a “fad” and falls off Twitter’s trending topic list, it maintains a positive impact by bringing awareness of the LRA crimes. Invisible Children set the path on what can be known as a “social media campaign,” which shows just how quickly things can go viral and how easily information can be spread. Alex Perry of Time Magazine asks after watching Russell fall, will anyone be brave enough to conquer trying to change the world like this again?

Often misused word wrongfully undermines disabled people

Megan Jones As we heard his name being called, my family members began cheering. I watched as my cousin Joey Hanson, senior at Stevenson High School, stood up and headed towards the podium. Hanson won the “Yes I Can” award from the Illinois Council for Exceptional Children of Lake County.

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Publication: Spokesman Volume: 48 Issue: 8 Date: June 1, 2012 Section: Forum

Sitting at the awards ceremony and watching students walk up the podium to receive their medals gave me inspiration like nothing else. Hanson won the award in the category of employment with his work at the Lincolnshire Fire Department and the American Hotel Register Company. Hanson’s work ethic has become an inspiration to my own work habits as Editor-inChief. His employment agency shows Hanson off as a model to other workers on good behavior in the workplace. By the way, Hanson has high functioning mental retardation. To contrast his excellence, you hear a word in the hallway, when someone thinks something

is “stupid,” or feels embarrassed over what they did. Retarded. How did the words “stupid” and “bad” become replaced with this word? The inappropriate misuse creates a world that does not filter the feelings of others with disabilities. Watching my cousin Zoe Davidson, who has down syndrome, walk across the driveway, after all the physical therapy she has gone through, inspires me. Just because Hanson and Davidson have mental disabilities does not mean that they limit themselves in any way; in fact I’m not sure if they are aware of their disabilities. My cousins have always pushed

hard to excel in the family and do not easily get discouraged. What kills me are those words I hear in the hallway that insult someone who does not even have the mental capacity to know they are being insulted. So if Hanson and Davidson can overcome their disabilities, you can watch your words. I encourage WHS students to think harder about the words they are actually saying and the meanings behind them. Let’s all take a stance to end the misuse of the word “retarded” and create a better environment. It only takes a few people to stand up and fight back. Don’t let the kid who said they were acting “retarded” get away with it next time.

analysis I have always had a close relationship with both of my cousins, Zoe and Joey. After attending his awards ceremony and feeling proud of him, I witnessed students mocking themselves and calling each other “retarded” because they could not tie their shoes. I hear it all the time throughout the hallways and the amount of disrespect it brings had to be addressed. I was proud of this column because I typically do not enjoy writing opinion pieces. I was able to not only give myself a voice, but also talk about a subject

that was very personal to me. The story excelled at setting the reader right into a specific scene and making them feel like they were there at the ceremony. The reader begins thinking about Hanson and makes judgements about him based on the award he won, only after the fact do I introduce that Hanson is mentally retarded. I felt it was clear to introduce it afterwards as if to shock the reader. I could have improved the piece by making the end less cliche with the phrase I used.