October 2 Issue

LUKE MALACE | PAGE 14

NIC WIGGINS | PAGE 16

focus

MLK JR. DAY | PAGES 18-19

BAND SHOWCASE | PAGE 21

the

Midland High School | October 2nd, 2014 | Volume 37. Issue 1

Pride runs deep This year’s cross country team has been consistently setting records and has the potential to place high in the state meet with their six top runners.

Page 12-13

SPECIAL REPORT: The ultimate intent of the IB program, testing, and AP & IB’s biggest differences Emily Fisher| Photo

Go online to MHSFocus.com or to issuu.com/mhsfocus to read every issue since May 2012!

Volume 37, Issue 1

Re-read Past Issues

Contents F E A T U R E S NIC WIGGINS

16

FOREIGN EXCHANGE: YEAR 2

17 18 -19

STUDENTS SUPPORT MLK DAY

A & E

8 -11 T H E I M PA C T O F I B IB PROGRAM PACKAGE

8

From paying for tests to incorporating IB perspectives into elementary schools, rumors are confirmed and denied about the IB program.

IB/AP: THE DIFFERENCES

9

TESTING FUNDS

10 -11

PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAM

21

ORCHESTRA JOINS BAND SHOWCASE

22

GREAT GATSBY

23

MUSIC MAESTRO: KYLE FRANSON

24

PEOPLE OF MIDLAND

S P O R T S 14 15 12-13

LUKE MALACE SPORTS CENTER CROSS COUNTRY

E D I T O R S Maddy Wheelock Editor in Chief Michelle Demo Managing Editor Aelish Shay News Editor Sarah Wontorcik Features Editor Will Hackbarth A&E Editor Emily Fisher Sports & Photo Editor Dylan Rocha Opinion Editor Natalie Schwartz Design Editor Mercedes Hussein Ad Coordinator Noah Surbrook Exchange Editor Jim Woehrle Adviser Midland Daily News Printer

O U R M I Sto SIO N away S T A Twith E M Estuff NT Dislcaimer get Focus, established in 1977, previously the Vic Tribune established in 1936, is the official school sponsored newspaper for Midland High. Focus is published monthly by the journalsim classes at Midland High and is distributed free of charge. It is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), the Michigan Inter scholastic Press Association(MIPA),andQuillandScroll.AdvisermembershipalsoincludestheJournalism Education Association (JEA). Focus is designed as a forum for student xpression and as a realistic lab experience. Focus, however, reserves the right to contest the challenge of an administrator who attempts to censor and/or remove an article or graphic element.

When IB & AP merge

WHAT DO YOU THINK? From AP advocate to Diploma Canditate, students discuss how IB has either benefited or been a detriment to them.

Freshman Cade Methner “I think that it benefits you because colleges like it so you have a better shot at going.”

Michelle Demo| Illustration

The Focus debates the effects on the district attempting to combine IB and AP classes into one hour.

S

ince the IB Diploma Program was instituted, conflict between AP and IB has continued to grow. The line distinguishing the two has only become more prominent with time. When introducing IB into the curriculum, administrators merged them with their AP “equivalent” in an effort to avoid sacrificing certain classes. Though they may have had good intentions, the two programs have proven to be incompatible. We, The Focus, believe that both AP and IB courses should be offered, but remain separate.

There are many differences between the programs, mostly because they have different learning goals. While AP focuses on broadening knowledge, IB focuses more on fostering inquisitive minds.IB courses sometimes have less information but develop a deeper understanding. Juggling both of these ideas with limited time has made it difficult for students to learn. And despite less advanced classes being offered, a jarring gap remains between course options in some subject areas; which typically have classes only at the .2 or .4 level. This forces many students to choose between something that wouldn’t

challenge them versus a class that would overextend them.

Another problem created by merging AP and IB classes is that both curriculums sacrifice material. So ultimately, students are underprepared for both tests by the end of the class. The bottom line is that there is simply not enough time in the school year to teach two entirely different curricula. This has added significant stress for students, especially for those who prefer one learning style over the other.

Albeit the fact that some of these merged classes have been converted to two years, problems continue to arise, due to changing curriculums. A specific example is the IB/AP Biology class, which used to run as a two hour block for one year, but now is a two year class that is an hour long.

Due to the fact that IB has changed its curriculum requirements in the past (seemingly every two years), some changes might occur halfway through a particular course. Therefore, some of the material learned may have become irrelevant or created an information gap in what students need to know for the IB test. The Focus questions whether or not

the school was aware of this, and if so, why the students weren’t immediately alerted of this critical issue before enrolling in the course. Either way, in the future, they should be highly cautioned before changing the way that classes run.

Despite these challenges, the presence of IB and AP classes has benefited students in many ways. If students are prepared to take both IB or AP tests in a subject, they can potentially save money on college courses in the future. They also receive additional college preparation due to the rigor of IB/AP classes.

Lastly, the merging of the two programs has allowed both to have a presence in the school district, benefiting students who learn in different ways.

However, we believe that overall, merging the two together has been detrimental to the students enrolled in classes labelled “IB/AP”. The combination of the different methods and goals of the programs, time constraints, and altering curriculum has proven them more than incompatible. Though it would be ideal to have both IB and AP classes available, the two together are disastrous. Classes should be either IB or AP. Not both. F

Sophomore Shelly St. Louis “I was going to do it, actually, but my friend went on a college tour and asked about it and they said “What’s IB?” so I feel like it’s a waste.”

Junior Kayla Psenski “It looks good on report cards and when colleges look at your transcripts.

I want to be a biochemist so hopefully [AP/IB] Biology will get me there.”

Senior Hobie Fisher “IB requires a large amount of unnecessary course work for a large amount of students”

editorial | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 03

TIDBITS

Upcoming

Random pieces of information told in less than 50 words

Noah Surbrook currently has after his patella fractured Saturday afternoon.

3 THINGS you don’t have to worry about this month

Once again failing at getting that summer body.

2 3

Buying the new U2 album on your iPhone.

If Disney doesn’t play Halloween town at least 5 times this fall, I’ll be extremely upset

Having time to watch your favorite season on netflix.

and one thing you still do...

Deleting over half your pictures and apps on your phone to make room for iOS8.

Follow THIS User

@AveryJones3

Photo OF THE Month Follow THIS User

@ashley_herman1

#SiscoStrong

4 | FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | op/ed

MHS Marching Band and Orchestra take to the football field and show off their musical talents along with other marching bands in the district.

8

OCT

9

The drama club’s show, The Great Gatsby, has its opening premiere this night, along with a dessert social afterwards.

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?I

V

Vic will be hidden anywhere throughout the paper each month. Anyone wishing to submit themselves to the tournament need only tweet to the Focus with their fifth hour teacher with a photo and throw in the location of Vic before another competitor. *the Vic on this page does not count

The Book of Life, a new Day of animated movie from 20th Century Fox, which showcases the Hispanic holiday, Day of the Dead, premieres.

OCT

Halloween falls on a Friday this year, which means it’s the perfect opportunity to show off your awesome costume at school.

31

E R E’

Alexander has had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Now, the bad luck of Alexander is passed onto his family in this movie adapted from the children’s book..

OCT

17

S

1

Tweet OF THE Month

OCT

6

OCT

C

The number of knee caps that Senior

BY THE NUMBERS

The beginning of the four day week. Get excited to sleep in Friday and not have to worry about your homework.

WH

2.5

OCT

Will Hackbarth

Maddy Wheelock

Driver’s Test from Hell

Hope

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when I embarrassed myself in front of “Grab a knife and stab him.” my baseball team with a stupid ritual. Or As I stood barefoot on the tile floor when I found myself without the time of my kitchen at midnight, the phrase or passion for the things I liked to do. sprang unbidden to my ten-year-old In those moments, I would never know mind. Immediately appalled by the what it would be like to live normally. thought, I ran crying for my mother, But eventually it would die down for a convinced that I was evil. bit, and I would hang out with a friend, or I was aware this thought had no power play a game with my little brothers, and over me, that I would never do such a realize none of those thoughts were true. thing. I knew it was just a manifestation It was all an illusion. My life did not suck, of my disorder, meant to bother me.

I loved my life. So, no matter how sad my But still I obsessed over it. Obsessed OCD made me, I never truly considered and obsessed until I was forced to giving up on my life. perform an arbitrary compulsion, to try I recognize there are cases much worse and relieve the pain, to make it all OK. than mine, when it is nearly impossible Pray to god ten times. Now five. Now to find any enjoyment in life. But there is two. Jump up six times, no, seven. I always, hope, it will always get better. So messed up. Do it again. Make a noise.

I urge any sufferers from a disorder like Louder. What’s more important, being OCD or depression, or anything else that liked or being forgiven. brings them extreme sadness, to try, if Much like viciously scratching a only for the happiness of those who love mosquito bite, it only made it worse. I you. Although one may feel justified in would never forgive myself. taking their own life, the damage it can The severe Obsessive-Compulsive do to the ones who love you never is.

Disorder I had been diagnosed with was In my case all that was necessary hell compared to the reason some people was the passage of time. As I grew and give for needing their pencils aligned became better acquainted with myself, I perfectly on their desks, or for color gradually devised a way to fight back. I coordinating the books in their bedroom. tried to be as calm as possible in my daily But it could have been worse. I still life. Once I made friends, did this, and hiding my Much like viciously scratching my hormones disorder a mosquito bite, it only made balanced as much as out, my OCD possible, it worse. I would never forgive abated. making excuses myself.

For for it when I two years could. Inside, obsessions and compulsions have hardly my brain constantly battled with the ever bothered me. All though I still have mysterious force, the one that told me to some, and will likely always have some, do things, the one that made me worry. I it almost never interferes with my life would wait it out until it died down, but or affects my emotional state. All it took it always came back. was tenacity. Fighting back when it was When my mom told me that OCD possible, sitting back and struggling was not like a disease, that I would have through when things were bad, and just would have it for the rest of my life, I felt hopeless. In despairing moments like that never giving up, because it had to get better. It always gets better. it was easy to drown in self-pity. Like when I found myself spending most of my day praying, then praying for two op/ed | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 5 straight hours before I went to bed. Or

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She was slamming her paperwork on the I had been too wrapped up in my dashboard again. worries about parking that I hadn’t even “If you don’t get your act together right practiced for the road test. I just assumed now, we’re turning around and going everything would go smoothly. I have back the parking lot!” never been more wrong.

Thank god this woman wasn’t always As if I wasn’t nervous enough, as I my driver’s instructor. Ten minutes ago, turned onto Saginaw road, she began I swear, she was friendly. But as soon as making calls to her later appointments. the speedometer passed ten MPH, she She took a break from barking into her had gone postal. phone to lean over and tell me, “See that The moment I became fourteen and a sign right there? The lane ends.” half, I had signed myself up for driver’s No, I had not seen the sign. training. I was so excited to get on the This really set me on edge. The next road. My life was Back to the Future, time she asked me to go right, I missed and I was ready for my DeLorean. The the turn lane. I had probably already lost first day of class was simple, but when it enough points to fail, but she was still was time to put my foot on the gas pedal making me go onto the highway. and drive, everything took a turn for the When I began to accelerate, I could tell worse. I spent things were two years about to go I could feel the car starting to procrastinating from bad to fishtail, and for the first time, I that test, worse. The hoping my think the evaluator was truly steering wheel mom would felt different, speechless. forget to and there was mention it no other way and I could just get through life with a to describe it. I accelerated with caution, permit. My sixteenth birthday passed, hoping to shake the feeling, but when she and I wasn’t even upset about the lack of started pounding on the dashboard again a car in my driveway with a big bow on yelling at me to “GO, GO, GO,” I buckled it. But when junior year was almost over under the pressure and pressed on the and I was still having to ask my friends gas. Big mistake. for rides to work, I finally decided it was I could feel the car starting to fishtail, time to face my fear. and for the first time, I think the evaluator Nothing terrified me more than parallel was truly speechless. Trying to be as calm parking. Every time I practiced, I hit a as I could, I told her something didn’t feel cone, and every trial was more frustrating right about the car. It had never done this than the last. When my mom was finally before, and I was going to get off at the tired of sitting with me while I struggled, next exit.

I made my friend stay in that parking lot Honestly, I think I scared all of the with me until late the night before. mean right out of her. She let me continue Finally, when the day came, I was the test, and the car was pretty quiet after ready. that, albeit her suggestion to bring the Provided I passed the test with flying car into the shop when we were done. colors as expected, we would be stopping Miraculously, when we got back to the at the Secretary of State to get my license parking lot, she passed me. Was it a after the test and immediately heading good call? Probably not. I’m an awful out of town. It was going to be a great driver. But I’m thankful she did, because day. The evaluator seemed nice, and I I don’t think I ever would have gotten in passed my parking with flying colors. the driver’s seat again if it meant taking I didn’t even tap a cone. But somehow, another road test.

Courage & Cowardice I never expected something so heroic to happen in front of the 7-11 just down the block. More accurately, I never expected it to come from my mother. She was always the quiet one, the pushover.

At only 5-3 and not even 120, the most violent that she gets is curling up on the couch and reading one of those crimefighting Jack Reacher novels.

But then one day, she did exactly what her Jack Reacher might do, and she did it better.

It began on a cloudy weekday morning at around 8 a.m. The house was a mess.

Dishes were piled in the sink. The cat box needed to be shoved out, and everyone was running late — my brother and I especially but not atypically.

We lumbered out of bed around 7:30, threw on some clothes and trudged into the kitchen.

“It’s about time you got up,” my mom hollered. “School starts in 10 minutes.”

We piled into our Ford minivan and took off toward school — but first, we needed coffee, so we decided to swing by 7-11.

We were about to pull into the lot when we noticed it. Two blurry figures: a young tattooed man; a young woman. They were shouting at each other, and then, the guy grabbed and shoved the girl into a silver P.T. Cruiser.

“Oh my God, Mom, keep going,” I thought. “We can call the police, but don’t stop, why on earth would you do that?!”

If I’d had my way, we’d have driven past the 7-11, past the school, 20 miles out of town.

It still shames me to admit that I would even think about it. I was a coward.

My 40-year-old mother — in her pink gingham button-down shirt and little blue tennis shoes — didn’t waste a second before swerving right up behind the assailant and leaping out of the minivan.

She still had mousse drying in her short brown curls.

6 | FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | op/ed

The hero had arrived.

The guy with all the tattoos should have thought about it first. A 20-something punk in a sleeveless shirt and the selfish, snide smirk of someone with nothing to lose. He should have thought about it before he shoved his girlfriend and mother of his two-year-old into the car, rather than finish an argument in public.

But luckily, my mom was there to make him think twice.

My younger brother and I cowered in the backseat of the car, and I didn’t know what to do. I certainly didn’t know what she was going to do.

I thought “Maybe she’ll try to punch him.”

But the first thing she did was walk right past him and over to the woman, “Are you OK, honey,” she asked. It didn’t take long for her to spin around on her heels to face the man.

“YOU. What do you think you are doing?! That is NOT OK.” It was the first time I had ever seen her stick her neck out and it was for someone else. It was so selfless. So her. It was so… strong. I hadn’t seen it before but part of me had always known it was there.

“Hey lady, stay out of it!” He said.

Expectedly, he also used a few choice words unfit for printing here. But in the end she handled the best way she could and ensured everyone’s safety. In her mind, she only helped one woman that day. But really, she also helped me.

If things had panned out the way that I originally wanted them too, I would have thought it was OK to leave, and she proved otherwise.

After coolly diffusing the situation, she hopped back into the car and with a sheepish grin said, “Well, I could sure use a cup of coffee, how about you two?”

Someday, I may find myself in a situation that calls for courage that I’m not sure I have yet, I only know that she can help me find it.

Michaela Carpenter

Loss for Words trip and showed them pictures that my I like words. As a matter of fact, I like team took during our time there. In fact, them a lot more than is probably normal. my friends and family have probably Writing has been a passion of mine heard much more than they would care since second grade, and call me crazy, to know about the little village of Fond but I actually enjoy public speaking Blanc, Haiti and the fifty-three kids living too. For me, words are a form of art. It’s in an orphanage nestled between the fascinating to see how people put them together to tell a story or elicit an emotion mountains. And yet, it felt like I could never do it justice. My words were failing from others. Usually, I have absolutely me. It was a strange feeling, and I wasn’t no problem whatsoever coming up so sure I liked it very much. with words to say that express what I’m This summer, what seemed like thinking or feeling at the time. Friends an impossible dream came true for could testify that when I’m excited or me: I returned to Fond Blanc and the passionate about something, the words orphanage full of beautiful children. Our only come faster and faster, and there team took at least twice as many pictures are plenty of them. I’ve discovered something, though. Sometimes words just as before, had experiences that most people never will, and saw many things can’t explain what you’ve experienced. that I hope to remember forever. But I learned this lesson last summer when guess what? It’s not any easier this time.

I went on my first mission trip to Haiti.

Before the trip, I could hardly stop talking I wish I could truly introduce you to my friend Euggens, who has become like the about it; I would constantly tell anyone younger willing to listen all brother sorts of things, like It was practically impossible to I’ve never where my team find the right words to explain had, or was going, what what happened that week. help you we would be doing, get to and how incredibly know the excited I was to serve in Haiti. When I came back, though, goofball known as Goulit. I can try, but no matter how much I say it will never things were different. People would ask quite feel like enough. me about my trip and all I could even Words are powerful and I love using think to say was “It was amazing” or them just as much as anybody, but “It was an incredible experience” or sometimes things may happen that something to that extent. Even for a selfleave you grasping for the right words proclaimed word nerd like myself, it was and coming away with your hands still practically impossible to find the right empty. If that ever happens to you, don’t words to explain what had happened worry because you’re not alone; I feel that week. How does one describe what your pain. Maybe you’re like me and it’s like to ride by a massive shantytown, worse than the ones in the pictures of our words are “your thing.” You might be that person who always has something history books? How could I make people to say, always has some witty response understand what it feels like to worship for hours with Haitians, to sing praises to or poignant answer to everything. I hate to break it to you, but someday even our God together even though we don’t you will be lost for words. My advice: speak the same language? And I couldn’t embrace it. Enjoy those moments in life even begin to tell people back home that are beyond words, because even all about the children I met there that if you can’t quite explain them to other completely stole my heart. people, they are ones you will always I tried. I told people stories about the treasure.

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Aelish Shay

Noah Surbrook

My head hurts I’ve only gotten one concussion in I wish I wouldn’t have played after I hit my life. I know what you’re thinking. my head. It was a pretty small concussion “Football? Maybe hockey?” No. Water but for the rest of that week I found basketball: the sport of warriors. myself struggling to concentrate and The water polo club was supposed constantly taking ibuprofen to combat a to meet on that fateful Thursday, but relentless headache. I don’t know how as usual not enough people showed much of a difference it would’ve made up. With only 8 swimmers present we but I know I should have sat out. decided to have a pickup game of water Concussions are pretty serious basketball instead. 4 on 4, seniors versus business. They present a huge amount non seniors. of short term health risks. The scariest Near half time we were trailing by part of concussions though, is the long three points when I went up to block term effects. There’s an incredibly high a dunk against my friend and 12th correlation between concussions and grade opponent Kyle Blackwood. I was mental disorders such as Alzheimers unfortunately, directly under the low and Parkinson syndrome, even at a very hanging metal rim, and jumped full force young age. One of the best studies on the into it. I still got the block. matter was the NFL study on the effects I went under the water so that no of repeated concussions on their players. one could see the anguish on my face.

When presented with all kinds of facts After a few seconds I emerged and knew in front of you it may seem crazy to try something was wrong. People didn’t and do anything but sleep or go to the usually look quite this appalled when doctor when you have a concussion, they saw my face. I had a pretty good but to the athlete it’s all different. In the idea of what had happened. I got out of moment, finishing the game seems like the pool but before I could make it to the the only thing in the world. Impressing mirror in the locker room I saw blood your peers, getting the points your team begin so desperately dripping off needs, and In the moment, finishing the my face and making your game seems like the only thing leaving a parents and in the world... Making [everyone] trail where I coaches proud walked. takes over and proud takes over and seems like I seems like the all you can do. managed rational thing to to split my do. I know that if forehead I was about to get and lower lip. The swelling was already in the water for a meet, that it’d be hard to very apparent but despite the mangled walk away for a little headache. state of my face I was just happy that I But it’s important to be smart about didn’t chip any teeth. your injuries. That little window of glory I made the mistake that people with may come with a big payoff somewhere concussions often make. I kept playing, down the line. Not all concussion stories because my team needed me. Without end as well as mine did. their star player we were at the mercy The takeaway from this shouldn’t be of three of our captains and quickly to take it easy in your sports or to quit/ falling behind, so as soon as the bleeding avoid them. It’s to be smart and be safe. stopped I was back in the game with Don’t be afraid to miss a few games, an open lip and egg sized bump on my there’s no shame in riding the bench. forehead. Despite our best efforts we still Your health should always come first. fell to the seniors.

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Julia Quinn

Unplugged I have a lot of respect for people who don’t need to have their phones within 10 ft. of them at all hours of the day. How can you not though? There’s always something exciting to post on instagram or that new guy at school to creep on via twitter. My phone, like for many others, is a part of my daily routine.

That all changed the moment I crossed the Canadian border-and when I say crossed boarder I don’t mean just staying in Ontario for the weekend. I mean the 6 members of my family packed into the Yukon for a 12 hour car ride to Horwood Lake, Canada for the annual fishing trip.

For the first 4 hours of the trip, I spent as much time as possible doing pointless stuff on my phone. Scrolling through twitter, stalking fellow instagramers, browsing amazon, because I knew it would be coming to an end the moment we crossed over the international bridge and I could my social life slipping away into the deep abyss of Lake Superior.

There it was, the text I was dreading.

Out of country data usage will be charged extra per minute.

As I turned my phone off I could feel my anxiety rising as my sisters pressed play on their children’s movie for the third time in the last 5 hours. The hours and hours droned on filling me with the agony of wanting the companionship of my phone. After the very last hour of trudging down to the end of the curving, winding, bumpy dirt road the family cabin that my Pap built sat calmly waiting for us. Arrival meant unpacking, hooking up the generator for electricity, and heading straight to the boat house for some fishing on Quinn’s Bay. The first day was rough; I still carried my phone with me out of habit. I don’t know why. I was in the middle of the Canadian bush with no wifi, no television, no signal, nothing. Just me and the great outdoors. Every once and awhile I would see the reflection on my screen and think I had a notification of some sort and a twinge of hope would flutter inside of me that this miracle had

happened. Nope. Trust me when I say that it was hard not knowing what my friends were up to at all times, always wondering what they were doing without me.

It was hard at first, not having that device glued to my hand, but it got easier as the week went on and by the end I realized I hardly felt like I needed it at all. Without it with me I really observed my surroundings and I found other things to do when I was bored other than playing Candy Crush. I enjoyed the scenery that surrounded me like the dark orange tinted water, the sunsets, the huge water boulders, giant islands, and read Harry Potter in my hammock for hours at a time. It was refreshing and different than any normal day in my life, not just because I was in a beautiful place but because it was as if I was freed from the norms of the technological society.

At that time, I didn’t feel the desire to post a photo or tweet a picture of delicious food because none of it really seemed to matter anymore.

But all good things must come to an end. The 6 of us squeezed back into our vehicle and off we were back to the states.

As we edged nearer to the U.S I was really getting anxious to get back on my phone, expecting there to be 100’s of missed notifications. The stuff I missed didn’t nearly add up to that number. Although a week without wifi was refreshing, it still felt like crossing over into the land of happy cell service as I entered the U.S. The guard at the border patrol asked my parents to roll down the back window. The window slowly descended revealing my nervous face as I imagined myself not being able to get back into America. He chuckled and said “So Julia, how’d ya do without your wifi for a week?” Probably wondering how a teenage girl could last a week without her phone as he looked at my license; I just laughed and thought to myself that I did a pretty good job for a week unplugged.

op/ed | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 7

The impact of IB Two Different Worlds

M

idland Public Schools has been integrating International Baccalaureate (IB) courses into the high school curriculum since 2006.

This has opened up many doors for Midland’s students, giving them the opportunity to work towards receiving internationally recognized certificates in all core classes, as well as the IB Diploma — a program that incorporates all core subjects.

Starting freshman year, students are given the opportunity to put themselves on the track to enroll in the IB program; however, some students still have questions about how IB classes can benefit them and how they are different from the Advanced Placement (AP) classes that have been offered at MHS in the past.

According to counselor and AP Coordinator Craig Hawkins, there are clear distinctions between the ultimate goals of the AP and IB programs. The AP Program is designed to give students collegelevel work in a high school environment and prepare them for the future. It puts e m p h a s i s o n ve r y specific content that students are to learn and is ultimately designed to imitate the college courses 6 Juniors that students will have in the near future. IB is also very focused on college preparation, but in Hawkins’ opinion, the AP program is much more standalone than IB. Although IB still places value on the content that students are learning, the program as a whole is much more skill oriented. Through the courses, the material builds upon itself as the classes are designed to be taken together with other IB courses. This complementary curriculum rounds out the information that IB students are learning so that they have a vast understanding of both their own society and foreign cultures.

Carol Neff, Midland High teacher and IB Coordinator, explains that the program’s ultimate goal is to create more critical thinkers.

“As well as content, [IB classes] are focused on skills, particularly writing and thinking. They emphasize that in all of their classes,” Neff said.

Neff and Hawkins agree that although there are some differences in the two programs, the

actual structure and style of the classes are often dependent on the teacher. But regardless of the teacher’s style, IB classes also include specific tasks that students must complete and send to IB for international grading.

“IB focuses in on conceptual understandings and thought processes, as well as the facts and knowledge, but AP only has the reputation of rigorous learning – missing the core element that makes IB special,” said senior Andrew Johnson, an IB Diploma Candidate.

Working towards the IB Diploma, Johnson has taken several IB classes in all six core subjects of education – language, second language, individuals and societies, experimental science, mathematics, and the arts. As well as completing the core classes, he is required to take part in a class called Theory of Knowledge (TOK), complete his Creativity Action Service (CAS) Project, and write an Extended Essay.

“I have already completed the TOK course,” Johnson said, “and it was the most fun and challenging course I had ever taken.”

Johnson is also currently working on his Extended Essay and CAS Project. He has chosen to base his CAS Project on the MHS Beautification club, and he and three others are working closely with the 10 Seniors club to help improve the outward appearance of MHS. “Not only am I gaining well over one hundred hours of community service, but I am helping my Chemic community show integrity on the outside that matches its IB courses on the inside,” Johnson said.

As well as the extra material covered in both AP and IB classes, students often take these advanced classes in order to get college credit.

Neff and Hawkins explain that the amount of credits students may receive for college after taking the AP or IB test for a class varies depending on the college and what they accept.

“The credits are fine, but [any advanced course] is really a greater preparation for the next level – it’s more about being prepared for the college level courses and doing better in college based upon what you’ve already seen here in high school,” Hawkins said, putting emphasis on the fact that the college credits are not the only benefits of the accelerated courses.

Senior Kylie Workentine has taken IB courses,

IB Diploma Candidates

8 | FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | news

IB has been offered at Midland High for eight years now, but many still wonder about what makes IB and AP different. Michaela Carpenter| Staff Writer & Christiana Haight | Staff Writer& Zach Streitmatter| Staff Writer

The International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs compete for influence in students education at Midland High. Michaela Carpenter | Illustration but while applying to colleges, only one of them recognized the IB program.

“IB is internationally recognized and some schools in the US do see it as a benefit, but in my experience with applying to colleges, AP is more universal when it comes to getting credit,” Workentine said. “For me, I would just rather take the AP courses and know that it’s what my colleges will recognize.”

For students looking to earn college credit for an AP or IB class, the crucial factor is the test at the end of the school year. Due to differences in the approaches and goals of each program, the tests are also quite different.

“The IB tests are almost exclusively writing and essay questions. The science test is the only test which has even one part of it that is multiple choice,” Neff said. “I think it is the reverse for AP, which is much more weighted on multiple choice questions.”

Hawkins agrees, pointing out that while AP tests are beginning to have more writing portions like the IB test, multiple choice questions continue to make up the majority of the AP tests. This difference in testing styles makes sense, explains Neff, due to the nature of each program. Because students enrolled in IB classes do not study as broad a range of topics as AP students, their test is more focused on a deeper understanding of the topics that they learn about.

Students have different testing experiences based on how prepared they are for the intense writing required for IB tests. Not every teacher uses the same method to prepare their students.

Workentine has only ever taken one IB test, but has described the experience as “pure chaos”.

“Trying to coordinate with the evaluators in Europe was difficult and they kept changing

the formatting requirements on us,”Workentine said. “We were never told who our evaluator was and received no feedback on our work when we received our scores. It was a very stressful experience.”

Johnson, however, has had different results.

“IB tests are similar to final exams for honors classes, except they cover two years of the course. The structure is obviously different than a normal test, because the packets you test on need to be shipped across the globe to be graded in the most efficient way possible. The tests may sound daunting, but the courses prepare and guide you to do your very best.” F

Taking a closer look.

Currently, there are AP Classes

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and

IBoffered Classes at MHS

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The impact of IB W

For the first time in MPS history, non-diploma students will have to pay for IB testing, creating concern by parents and students.

Luke White | Staff Writer & Sam Robinson | Staff Writer

Coming at a Cost

hen Midland Public Schools (MPS), students who are not attempting to receive the in partnership with Dow Chemical, diploma are looking at hundreds of dollars in decided to apply to the International total costs from testing.

Baccalaureate Organization (IB) and begin “Students who pay for these tests have a good teaching the IB Diploma Program, the district chance to not have to pay for certain classes in knew they would need significant financial college,” Neff said. backing to maintain the program. In 2006 Students who are not seeking the IB diploma Dow Chemical approved a grant worth $5 are now looking much closer into the benifits of million to MPS to implement the IB program IB and what the courses have to offer. Students for the following school year. This money went are also looking into what universities are really towards training teachers on the IB curriculum, searching for regarding the IB program . maintaining the program for several years, and A student can enroll in individual IB courses providing the students with the resources they without undertaking the full diploma program, needed to be successful in their new academic but is not eligible for credits in the same manner endeavor. as a student who attains the full IB Diploma and Paying fees to must pay for complete actual each individual “I was not eligible to recieve classes is usually exam. The IB a transaction diploma is the diploma, and with AP reserved for the given after the being acknowledged by more a ve r a g e c o l l e g e student studies student but with courses from 6 universities I decided to put funding running subjects, at least my money into AP” low, MPS has two languages -Senior Matt Bott decided to make and scores a 4 each non-diploma or above on student pay for their own exams. Now parents each exam. and students must decide whether they should Senior Matt Bott said he would not pay for choose to take these classes and pay for testing individual IB exams. out of their own pockets.

“I was not eligible to receive the diploma, “Midland Public Schools is very fortunate to and with AP being acknowledged by more have Dow Chemical behind us to fund the IB universities, I decided to put my money into program and to have been able to pay for tests AP instead”, Bott said. for so long”, IB coordinator Carol Neff said.

Since Bott was cross graded in math and was For the first time, MPS will only pay for IB not able to fit in the required language classes to exams for students seeking the IB Diploma. complete the diploma, he chose to take the AP Students seeking a certificate in individual language exams. classes will need to pay for the exams on their “The problem is the lack of flexibility for own. This has become a concern for many students like me, who are cross graded and can’t current and future IB students looking at fit the extra required class into their schedule. taking IB courses. With the current cost being Bott said.Since the IB and AP tests are now the equivalent to AP testing at $91 per exam, many same price, the AP course was more adjustable

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IB Testing: Myth vs. Fact The new price of the IB exams have come with a number of different misunderstanding, causing much concern with current and future IB students.

}

Myth: IB Curriculum will change because students are required to pay for exams.

Fact: IB class curriculum stays the same and will be the same for diploma and non diploma students as well.

Students this year have to choose if they want to spend their own money for IB testing or exclude the benefits that come with these tests. Hannah McAtamney | Photo Illustration to my schedule.”

Students who decide that they are willing to pay for the exam credit the different class style and atmosphere as one of the biggest reasons they are willing to pay the price.

“I love the international focus. We aren’t just learning what every other American student learns, which gives us a leg up on everyone else”, said senior Callie Meath. Students who want to challenge themselves in a more group based, international approach to learning who do not mind paying $91 would benefit from the IB experience.”

To be eligible to receive college credits students must score at least a 4 on the tests, but even students who do Fnot score well enough to qualify for the certificate gain valuable test taking expierence.

“At the end of the day you’re trying to score the most points and get the most college credits possible. The cost for the test definitely will be less than the thousands you could spend in

Myth: All Students will have to pay for IB tests.

Fact: Only students who are not IB diploma candidates must pay.

college courses,” Meath said. “Being an the IB class can be stressful and a lot of work but is no doubt a valuable expierence students can benifit from to prepare for college.”

Parents who have students looking into taking IB courses now have to consider the new cost of the tests, and how taking IB classes can benifit them. Whether or not the price of the IB exams will affect class sizes going forward is yet to be determined. Many students may pass up the program just to avoid an extra cost, but scholarship opportunities will be available for students who may not be able to afford the price of the exams, but want to enroll in IB courses.

With the original funds running low students are going to have many tough decisions to make regarding the IB program.

“The new cost will be a concern for some, but the IB gives high school students the opportunity to challenge themselves as a student and a person,” Meath said. “You challenge the way you think, learn and how you view the world” F

Myth: Students who cannot afford the tests lose the opportunity to take IB exams.

Fact: Scholarships will be available for students who cannot afford the exams.

Myth: IB exams will be more expensive than AP exams.

Fact: IB and AP exams are both $91

Sam Robinson & Luke White | Infographic

news | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 9

The impact of IB A new age of education

Elementary schools are using a program to introduce IB philosophies into their curriculum.

Sarah Wontorcik | Features Editor & Ashley Cline | Staff Writer & Allie Smith | Staff Writer

Midland Public Schools has recently started a program in elementary schools called the Primary Years Programme. The Primary Years Programme brings international thinking into elementary school curriculum. The PYP is based off of the International Baccalauriate learner profile, teaching young students valuable study skills. Emily Fisher | Photo Illustration

T

he International Baccalaureate program has acquired a reputation for challenging students through rigorous work and hours of studying. The skills that students acquire through taking IB classes are what they really gain from the IB program.

“It’s bigger than the rigor. That’s what IB brings versus AP. They both bring rigor, they both [give] the potential to earn college credits, but IB has this other piece that AP does not have,” Midland Public Schools Superintendent, Michael Sharrow, said.

What students gain from participating in the IB program is the ability to think on a global scale and broaden their perspective. Last year, four elementary schools in Midland began the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), teaching elementary students to follow the same learner profile that is used throughout the IB program.

“It’s good to get kids exposed to it early, but it’s important to not drown people in it. Keep

10 | FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | news

a good balance of ‘this is what it is,’ but don’t force people to do it,” Senior Keegan McGuire, an IB Diploma candidate, said.

While the PYP is an IB program, it is still similar to traditional elementary curriculum.

Elementary students are learning from the same curriculum, but through different methods. The original curriculum that the elementary schools used was very structural and straight-forward; students were given facts and information by the teacher rather than finding answers themselves. By incorporating an IB teaching technique, students’ thinking is challenged. The lessons taught using the PYP go further in-depth than traditional teaching styles.

Kelli Jolly, a preschool program director of Adams Elementary, describes the program as inquiry-based.

“If children have a burning question or they really want to learn about something, the teachers help guide them to find out the answer

through research so that they take control of their learning,” Jolly said. “Instead of getting the answers fed to them, they’re actively finding the answers to their questions.”

IB World Literature teacher Becky King is a strong supporter of the IB program being integrated into elementary schools. She believes that IB not only expands students’ thinking, but also allows students to understand their thinking.

“I want my own children to be taught in a way that fosters an inquisitive nature that challenges them to think outside of the box as opposed to just regurgitating information,” King said. “I’m excited that something I’ve embraced so much is something that my son is going to start next year. Knowing that he’s going to be in an IB school next fall is exciting.”

A common misconception when it comes to the PYP is that the curriculum will be more difficult and elementary students will be asked

to do more work than in past years. However, the actual curriculum has not changed. Instead, schools are restructuring their curriculum to fit the PYP framework.

“It’s really more of a philosophy approach to how we teach kids versus a rigor approach,” Sharrow said. “And even though IB is rigorous, like AP courses, I think that the bigger piece that all of you will get out of that is the approach that we’re taking; the ToK, the theory of thinking in class.”

After eight years of Midland High becoming an IB school, the program has only gained popularity. Each year, more and more students take on the challenge of graduating with an IB diploma.

“I think IB is going to become a bigger push as we have more and more people from out of the US coming to study here, work here, things like that, because of the fact that it is universal,” McGuire said. “That’s why they have ACT,

right? Because every school has different grade this change in elementary schools will impact point averages, different classes, different course middle school curriculum in order to adequately levels, so to truly equalize how you evaluate bridge the gap between elementary and high students, you need a test like the ACT. But if schools. everyone is doing the IB diploma, it will serve After adding the PYP into elementary schools, a similar function. All these kids are doing the the school board decided to incorporate the same things, trying the same difficult courses. IB PYP into a preschool class now offered at It’s definitely moving to become a much bigger Adams Elementary. The PYP in elementary component, in the district and on a greater had such great popularity, the board sought scale.” out an unoccupied classroom to use for the new King agrees with McGuire, and says preschool class, introduced this year. There everything the Common Core expects from are 24 four-year-olds now being taught using students is already incorporated into the IB the IB learner profile; which is similar to the requirements. elementary PYP in the way that the teachers Dr. Linda Lipsitt, Principal of Adams help the students to think for their answers, Elementary—a school running under the PYP rather than give them the answers. The program system—says that the main goal of PYP is to isn’t free, however. The parents must pay a take children from all backgrounds and give fee to have their children taught with the IB them a shared academic experience that puts a curriculum, making it a tuition-based program. global perspective on their learning.

“We think it’s a bonus for our parents and “At its heart, the PYP is student-centered students to have that. When parents are looking and works to develop personal, emotional, and for highly competitive, specialized programs social skills for students that live, learn, and for their [children] to be competitive in the work in a rapidly changing world,” Lipsitt said. world that [students are] going out into today, With the PYP this kind of coming into program is a elementary big deal,” said I want my own children schools and Superintendant the IB diploma Sharrow. to be taught in a way that i n h i g h Becky King, fosters an inquisitive nature school, many an IB World believe that a Literature that challenges them to middle school teacher, thinks think outside of the box as program will highly of the be added in the PYP preschool opposed to just regurgitating future. as well. King “That would stated she information. be a natural would send her Becky King way of moving children to the through the IB preschool if English teacher program,” Jolly t h e y we r e n ’ t said. “I believe that some of the middle schools already enrolled at the Midland Community do have aspects of the IB program in their Center. classrooms. A lot of teachers are kind of moving “I think that you will find that as they get towards that holistic way of learning.” older they will be more independent learners.

King also believes that a middle school When you start them out really young, we program would allow for a smooth transition all are speaking the same language, we’re all between the schools. However, since the teaching the same way, and we’re taking from U.S. structures schools different than how IB the children’s interests,” Jolly said. “I think structured their program, implementing the IB that whenever you can teach in a way that’s Middle Years program would be more difficult meaningful to the child, that they’re going to than it seems. take ownership of it. If it comes from the child “International schools are not set up the then the child is always going to learn better same as our American schools; so there is an than [they would by] having things fed to IB Middle Years Program, and we all think them.” middle schools, but it actually would be, for Teaching students how to be independent us, grades seven, eight, nine, and ten. So in learners and think on a global scale is the main America, the Middle Years Program is the least goal of the PYP. Following the learner profile, [common],” Sharrow said. “It’s easier for us teachers are showing students how to find their to put in the diploma program or the primary own answers, come to their own conclusions, years program; because you’re talking about and how to solve problems on their own. Lipsitt two schools integrating across the board. The says that one of the most important aspects of American system is one where we don’t give the PYP is the understanding of perspective. credits in the seventh and eighth grade, but you “In order for students to understand that do in the ninth and tenth grade, so it doesn’t set not everyone in the world shares the same up very well.” viewpoint,” Lipsitt said. “They must have a Whether or not there will be a Middle Years deep understanding of their own place in the Program brought to Midland, many agree that world.” F

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The IB learner profile Thinker

We solve problems; we make good decisions; we observe carefully; we offer and accept

Balanced

We exercise both our body and our mind; we know that home and school, family, and friends are all important in life

Principled

We value honesty; we treat everyone fairly; we accept the concequences of our own actions

...

Caring

we understand the needs and

Communicator

We speak, read, and write so that others understand; we use math symbols to share ideas; we

feelings of others; we help at home, school, and in the community.

develop skill in more than one language.

RiskTaker

We are willing to make mistakes; we

explore new ideas and roles; we stand up for what is right

Inquirer

We are curious;

we ask questions; we look for answers and information; we want to know.

Knowledgeable

We know and learn about ideas that matter to the whole world; we help with class Units of Inquiry

OpenMinded

We listen to and think about the ideas of others; we want to hear all sides of an idea.

Reflective

We think about learning, we learn form experiences; we know our own strengths and weaknesses

Sarah Wontorcik & Ashley Cline | Infographic

news | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 11

Striving for States At the Delta Two Mile Invitational, the boys’ varsity cross country team placed first, with Jake Greer placing third overall. The boys set a goal for the season to place top ten at States. Emily Fisher | Photo

This years boys varsity cross country runners have carried the team to be the first Midland High cross country team to place top fifteen in the state.

They are currently ranked twelfth. Emily Fisher | Sports & Photo Editor & Evie Wagner | Staff Writer & Ericka Reder | Staff Writer

A

t the end of a typical cross country race, the body is in total agony. The thought of slowing down and giving up clouds the brain and drives the legs to push harder, knowing the finish line is only meters away. When another runner pushes ahead, there is no other choice but to sprint to the finish, knowing that to give up now, the past three miles would have been for nothing.

“When you’re done and you’re finished, that’s probably the worst feeling because you can’t breathe. When you cross the finish line it feels so great to just know you’re done,” senior Dylan Rocha said. “You can’t feel your body, but when you’re finishing with someone, and they start sprinting [towards the finish line], you start sprinting; you don’t feel it, you just go.”

Since the end of the 2014 spring track and field season, the boys’ cross country team has been training for fall. Coach Martyn Hollenbeck breaks the team’s training plan into three segments: after track season ended in the spring, they started with long distance runs to improve cardiovascular fitness. These initial workouts helped the runners build up the endurance they would need for their long distance competitions.

Around August, the team transitioned into strength training to condition the runners’ muscles, which included hill training and three days a week in the weight room. As the end of the season approaches, the third segment of training will be implemented, which will include speed workouts that will shorten in

12| FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | sports

distance and increase in speed. team joined based off of the positive remarks Because of this training regimen, this season they heard from other runners about the sport. stands out from past teams – the varsity Becker said that he joined initially to have runners this year are all under the times that some fun with and spend time with the group Hollenbeck’s previous teams have set. of people on the team, but that now, cross A group consisting of six boys – seniors Jake country is a part of his lifestyle that he intends Greer, Jon Becker, and Dylan Rocha, along with to stick with throughout college, whether it juniors Max Pasche, Connor Legge, and Dylan be competitively or recreational. Hollenbeck Anderson – have run under the time of 17:20, shares similar goals for the boys, hoping that Hollenbeck’s their time in cross benchmark for a country instills in good team. them a lifelong “I have to love of running. admit, they are Overall, they come the best team to an agreement: that I have ever they love every had,” Hollenbeck aspect of the sport, said. “It’s easy to from the physical measure because exercise itself to we run on the the camaraderie.

-Coach Martyn Hollenbeck same courses, “I like how it’s all 5k, and we everyone is have times from connected, we’re the past nine years that I’ve been coaching.” like a family,” Anderson said. “You’re not really The boys have a wide array of background in nervous to talk to anyone, because you know cross country. While Greer started his running everyone.” career in third grade out of a Gladwin cross Knowing that this year’s team had the country organization, Anderson and Legge potential of being one of the best in school just started running last year. Pasche began history, the boys took the initiative and started his cross country career as a freshman after training of their own this past June. Greer, his eighth grade coach, Keith Seybert, pushed Becker, Pasche, Rocha, along with junior Bryce him to continue to pursue his running hobby Thomas started distance runs at Midland City in high school. Some of the boys on this year’s Forest to expand their endurance and stamina

‘‘{

}

I have to admit, they are the best team I have ever had.

levels. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Coach Hollenbeck’s wife, Laura, would bring the boys through a lifting routine.

The boys also incorporated the running of “seven at seven” runs; these are 7-mile runs at 7:00p.m. each night at City Forest. Another important way everyone on the cross country team prepares for the season is going to cross country camp at Traverse City State Park in early August. There they run the Vasa hill course, an inclined path in the park that includes various dips, steep hills, and demanding climbs to challenge the runners. The team runs this course twice throughout the week. The team first faces the course on Tuesday, when they run for 18 minutes, simply trying to run as far a distance as they can in the allotted time. The runners take on the course again on Thursday – this time for 20 minutes – in hopes of beating the distance reached in their 18-minute run.

The record for the Vasa course is one that many Midland High runners have challenged themselves with, repeatedly breaking and resetting a farther distance. Three years ago, the course record was beaten by Ben Reed, followed

by Miles Kilbreath the next summer, and then, last summer, Greer. The record set by Greer was broken by not only himself again this year, but also by the other top runners on this year’s team.

Meaning Midland High’s top six male runners this year were able to run farther in the time presented than any other runners in the camp’s 20-year history.

Meet the

top six

1 1.

2.

3.

Senior Personal Record: 15:56 Favorite Cross Memory: “Running and training with Miles Kilbreath.”

2

1. After being injured early in the season,

junior Bryce Thomas competes with the varsity team, Tuesday Oct. 23. Thomas placed 25th, and is back to full recovery, hoping to be ready to compete in track this Spring.

2. Junior Connor Legge puts all he has left into his “kick”, which is the last 100 meters of the race. Legge continued to almost beat his personal record at this race.

3. Senior Jake Greer starts out his race leading with the other top five runners in the Delta Invational. Greer comments that the kids from the competing schools push him to run faster and harder.

4. Junior D ylan Anderson goes into the second mile of the 5k race keeping pace with the runner ahead of him.

A common phrase yelled out by fans to runners is for them to “catch” the runner ahead of them, or to keep pace with a runner near by. “[My favorite memory] was at cross camp when we broke the Vasa record,” said Pasche.

“It’s pretty unusual to have six runners break the record. It was pretty cool to be a part of.”

At the start of the season, both Hollenbeck and the boys set a challenging goal for the team: to place within the top ten in the state. They have ranked as high as seventh so far this season. The boys are able to motivate and push each other with the competitiveness of the sport, and the encouragement they give one another.

“How hard they push each other, it’s not just one person, it’s all six of them,” Hollenbeck said.

“Now they are starting to bring in seven, eight, nine guys and making them work incredibly hard and they support each other.”

Not only is Greer the top runner, but he is also one of the team’s three captains and is looked at as a role model by his peers on the team.

Hollenbeck said that Greer leads by example and is never one to do workouts at half speed.

Hollenbeck said Greer attends every practice and always races his hardest.

Teammates admire Greer not only based on his statistical standing, but for his work ethic and determination. Greer intends to continue to run in college, his goal being running

3

4.

competitively for a Division I university. He has already been contacted by schools such as Oakland University, Northwood University, Eastern Michigan University, Central Michigan University, and Michigan State University. “[Jake Greer] knows the potential in me, even if I don’t see it. He knows that I can push harder.

When I think I’m [done], he knows that I’m not,” Becker said. “The first race of the season, he told me I was going to be number five on the team, even though I was number six. I ended up getting fifth because I pushed past the pain in my head and got where I needed to be.”

Although Greer shows leadership to the team as a whole, while he battles for the top spots in a race, the remaining five runners rely on each other immensely for keeping the pace and to constantly up the ante to maintain themselves at a competitive level within the team and against opponents.

Not only do the runners make each other improve, but after running together for years, they are able to make connections with boys from other schools.

“Every time I finish, it is thanks to the guys around me. We race most of the same schools every meet so I definitely have some friends and

4 rivals from other schools that help push me to the next level during a race,” Greer said.

Looking ahead, the boys look to achieve a spot as one of the top ten teams in the state and to maintain that rank throughout the season. The Regional meet is October 25, where they hope to qualify for States on November 1.

“We’re getting better each week and that’s our goal, and to continue to improve,” Hollenbeck said. “I know they’ll work hard, that’s not an issue.”

Despite the talent and merit found on the cross country team, student section turnout for the meets has been non-existent at meets so far this season. This season, the boys hope to see increased support from their fellow students as they strive to reach their personal and team goals.

“It’s like any other sport we just aren’t promoted as much,” Pasche said. “If students showed up, it would definitely make our whole team run faster. When parents cheer for us, it gets us motivated and if we had a whole student section going crazy it would inspire us to run faster and push through the pain that we are in.

If people came and watched, they would see it’s an exciting sport to watch.” F

Jake Greer

5 6

Dylan Rocha

Senior Personal Record: 16:50 Favorite Cross Memory: “The SVL Championship meet from my sophomore year when I bumped up three spots on our roster and made regionals.”

Connor Legge

Junior Personal Record: 16:51 Favorite Cross Memory: “Last year we had a spaghetti dinner and it started to rain, so we played some mud football.”

Dylan Anderson

Junior Personal Record: 16:54 Favorite Cross Memory: “When we ran at Vasa during cross camp.”

Max Pasche

Junior Personal Record: 17:03 Favorite Cross Memory “Breaking the Vasa hill record at cross camp.”

Jon Becker

Senior Personal Record: 17:16 Favorite Cross Memory: “The Holly meet my junior year.”

sports | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 13

Headed towards

RECOVERY Last year junior Luke Malace was hit directly in the head two plays in a row during his playoff football practice. This football season Luke is still suffering from the effects of the two hits. He now has a physical exertion level he was told he should not exceed. Dylan Rocha | Opinion Editor & Kayla Graham | Staff Writer & Kevin Sharpe | Staff Writer

P

ulled over on the side of the road, ground. His head bounced three times against junior Luke Malace had to rest his the turf. head on the steering wheel to help “My coach described my head as a bouncy cope with the pain. He was on his ball once it hit the ground,” Luke said. “It hurt way to junior Alex Englund’s house, driving incredibly bad. There was a ringing in my right him home after a summer workout. Luke was ear where he hit me, and I could barely hear only pulled over for about a minute, and then out of it. I lost partial vision in my left eye.” continued driving Englund home.

After that hit, Luke stopped practicing for “During the whole ride home I kept the rest of the day, but finished out the rest of suggesting that I could drive home, but he kept the football season. Luke did not tell anyone of saying he was fine,” Englund said. “When we the pain he was in, that way he could continue finally got to my playing. Luke house, his hands now realizes were shaking and the effects of not There was a ringing in my right telling anyone he said one of his ear where he hit me, and I legs were numb.” about the head After Luke trouble. He was could barely hear out of it. I lost dropped off not giving his Englund, he brain the time it partial vision in my left eye. needed to heal. managed to drive himself straight He plays in the -Junior Luke Malace to Urgent Care.

Community There, doctors Center League examined his Basketball and brain. The neurologist, Dr. Majakowki, runs track in the spring. performed a MRI and an EEG on Malace.

“When I am put under too much stress An EEG is a test to check any abnormalities or have over exaggerated myself, a sharp related to electrical activity in the brain. The throbbing pain occurs in the back of my head,” neurologist said that Luke had an external Luke said. “On a scale of 1-10, its hurts like a migraine. He was told not to play sports for an 10.” undefined amount of time.

On Sept. 15, Luke went to Henry Ford “My initial reaction was to immediately seek Hospital down in Detroit to get a second treatment for him, knowing how serious head opinion from neurologist Dr. Barkley. Barkley injuries can be,” said Heather Malace, Luke’s told Luke there is damage on the right side of his brain. This affects the vision in his left mother.

Luke had this ongoing head pain since eye, his peripheral vision in his left eye is last years football playoff season. During a now permanently damaged. Barkley told him scrimmage, Luke went to run up the middle that he should have gotten this checked out and was speared in the head by former senior immediately after the end of practice.

Luke now has to be careful that he doesn’t Mike Alexander. On the next, play Luke went to throw the football, but realized he could not reach the point of exertion where his brain see out of his left eye. At this moment another hurts. Whenever Luke feels the pain in the teammate hit Luke, which made him hit the back of his head, it means that his brain will

‘‘{

14 | FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | sports

}

Junior Luke Malace watching the football game with his teammates surrounding him. Luke is not allowed to play football this season due to a head injury suffered last season. Dylan Rocha | Photo

Luke is on the sideline supporting his team. He is only allowed to participate in non contact drills in practice. Dylan Rocha | Photo

Luke cheers on, in high hopes that he will get to play for the team next year. Dylan Rocha | Photo

take even longer to heal.

“The more that Luke rests from strenuous activities, the faster the brain will heal,” said Heather. “[The doctors] feel with proper rest, that a complete recovery could be obtained by the beginning of track season.”

Now Luke won’t be able to take part in the rest of football this season, or CCL basketball in the winter. Luke was told that he should do a follow-up examination in three months and will hopefully know if he will be able to run track then. The goal for now is that Luke will be able to enjoy a completely healthy senior season of sports.

“I am hopeful that Luke will get his medical condition resolved and he will have an opportunity to be an integral part of the football program next year,” said Football coach Eric Methner.

Even if he can’t participate in the sports, he admitted that he can still lift weights, but he

can’t condition for football.

“Due to Luke’s condition, he is not allowed to participate in any contact drills,” said Methner. “ He will continue to get reps during no-contact drills, and assist his teammates and coaches in anyway possible.”

“I hope to become faster and stronger for football,” Luke said, clarifying that his lifting and time-to-time restrictions would work in his favor in the future.

His game plan is to not only become stronger and faster, but also get there and have the dead spot healed by the time track season starts up.

While he’s still kept out of the sports he enjoys to play, he gives it his all to make sure that he can get the chance to play again, but without any more injuries down the road. It may not be certain when it’ll happen, but practicing a different way than usual as well as allowing some time to heal seems to be helping him in the right direction. F

THE SPORTS

ZONE

Sports Poll

69% 45% 50%

of Chemics said their favorite fall school sport to watch was football.

*Out of 150 Midland High Students

Fall Faces This season’s top athletes 1. Senior Christian Loosemore gets down to block a Mt. Pleasant player on September 19th. Midland lost the game 21-24.

2. Junior Ally Kiekaefer practices the hundred freestyle at the Dow High pool a couple days before a meet.

3. Junior Josiah Greiner playing in a tennis match against Dow on September 23. He won all of his matches.

Emily Fisher | Photos

Photo OF THE Month

Christian Loosemore

Upcoming Home Games Boy’s Soccer: Oct. 13 vs. Bay City Central Oct. 15 vs. To be Announced

Girl’s Volleyball:

of Chemics said their favorite college football team was Michigan State. of Chemics said they spend six or more hours a week working out/playing a sport.

It’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish.

I love all you guys like brothers so heads up #chemicsoccer4life @MistaJJ2

Necessary stats and quick facts to know about fall sports at MHS. Including some upcoming home games. Aleisha Jones | Staff Writer

Oct. 7 vs. Flint Powers Oct. 14 vs. Saginaw Heritage

Football: Oct. 17 vs. Saginaw Arthur Hill 137 likes hannahhwelter Crocs rock #xc

Ally Kiekhaefer

Oct. 24 vs. Dow

All Games are @7pm

Josiah Greiner

Grade: Senior

Grade: Junior

Grade: Junior

Sport: Varsity Football

Sport: Varsity Girls Swimming

Sport: JV Tennis

Stat: 27 layouts

Stat: 1:09:87 in the 100 butterfly

Stat: 8-0

Favorite Memory: “Running through the banner this year for the first time.”

Favorite Memory: “When my relay team went to states last year.”

Favorite Memory: “Winning the Grand Blanc tournament this year”

Key to Success: “Work hard, dedication, and staying in the weight room”

Key to Success: “Work hard and have a good attitude.”

Key to Success: “Have fun and play from your heart.”

Coach’s Take: “He’s hard working and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the team. He also brings positive energy and is fun to be around.”

Coach Eric Methner

Coach’s Take: “Ally is a very diverse swimmer and where ever I put her she can score points. As well as being a great swimmer she has a positive personality.”

Coach Carol Collins

Coach’s Take: “Josiah’s mental game has improved, he also has a strong net game because of playing with varsity.”

Coach Bill Greiner

sports | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 15

Driving towards the d r e a m Senior Nic Wiggins and his father Chris Wiggins purchased an antique truck that turned out to become a huge impact in their lives. From breaking down every 500 miles to winning best truck award, the memories and lessons made are unbeatable.

Mercedes Hussein | Ads Coordinator & Lexi Costley | Staff Writer

Senior Nic Wiggins and his father Chris Wiggins purchased a truck at an antique festival that led to many new experiences and lessons. Mercedes Hussein | Photo

O

n their way to a car show in Flint one day in May 2009, senior Nic Wiggins and his father, Chris, experienced their first car breakdown. Nic and Chris were on their way to show off the 1929 Ford Model A truck they purchased, a couple years back from an antique festival. Driving down the highway, the Wiggins’ noticed a particular sound in the motor. As the sound progressed, they decided to pull the truck over at the nearest rest stop.

“The motor was sounding like a cement mixer which progressed into sounds of metal crushing,” Nic said. “My dad and I were pretty baffled. We didn’t really know where to go from that point.”

When they took a deeper look inside the truck the next day, they found that there was a hole in the cylinder wall and metal shavings in the oil. Attempting to fix the truck, Nic and Chris drove it to a man in Grand Rapids who could fix motors. Unfortunately, after 500 miles the truck broke right back down again.

Breaking Down the Dates

A timeline consisting of the important dates and events regarding the antique truck that Nic and Chris Wiggins spend their free time working on.

Mercedes Hussein | Infographic

16 | FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | features

Over the years the breakdowns have become a reoccurrence. Nic and Chris spent as much of their free time as possible working on the project. Every time a breakdown would occur, it would go right back to the garage for some more repairing.

“My dad and I were becoming so used to the truck breaking down,” Nic said. “He even changed the insurance policy.”

Nic and Chris passed down this hobby from past generations of the Wiggins family.

Nic’s grandfather was always engaged with restoring cars; with a master’s degree in mechanical engineering, he worked for Chrysler with quite a few patents in his name.

“Growing up outside of Detroit, most of my friends families worked for the big 3 [Chrysler, GM & Ford],” Chris said. “So cars were a big part of my youth.”

Following up with the family’s hobby, Chris introduced it to Nic by building a motorcycle, a go-kart and a push car together. Chris noted that next up was a “hot rod.” The truck has Chris and Nic Wiggins bought the truck at an antique festival (motor #1.)

June 2008

April 2009

The B motor which was motor #2 was purchased for the truck.

May 2009

Went to the Billet Proof car show.

September 2009 Chris and Nic had to rebuild motor #3 for the first time.

brought along memories that Chris and Nic will not forget.

“We drove down to Detroit and entered the truck in the show. To our surprise we won best truck! On the way back, the water pump disintegrated and we ended up needing to be towed-again,” Chris said. “So if the best truck broke down on the way back, then we felt sorry for those other trucks.”

The Wiggins family noted that the car has not only brought on a project to the family, but it has also taught them valuable lessons like patience, perseverance, and to seek things with a positive attitude.

“God has a plan for our lives. While we cannot see how everything fits together now, but we can have faith that it will all work out,” Chris said.

Chris noted that he and his wife try to make sure their children are living up to the best versions of themselves while they try to engage them with as many things around the house as they can. Chris also noted that Nic has learned

Chris and Nic went to the Billet Proof car show and and spun the rod.

May 2010

June 2010

Motor #3 had to be rebuilt again in Grand Rapids.

some great skills from Midland High classes that he wishes would have been offered while he was a student. Nic not only works on his truck at home, but he also puts his talent and hobby to work at school in building trades.

With Nic leaving for college in a year, Chris will continue looking for new projects to take on as Nic will use the experiences and lessons he’s learned from the truck to help him through college.

“I may not be the smartest kid in my class but I have learned so much from my experiences with my truck that other people can’t say they have and that has proudly shaped me into the person I am now,” Nic said.

As many times as the truck has broken down or how frustrated Nic and Chris, they still pulled through and are very thankful they never gave up.

“Life is full of failures and false starts.”

Chris said. “It is not a matter of if you will fail; it is how you deal with the failure when it happens.” F

The truck spun a rod at the Billit Proof car October 2010 show that they had attended multiple times.

They had to rebuild motor #3 July 2013 May 2011 again after several breakdowns.

The truck’s babbit and new motor #4 failed.

March 2011

May 2012 Chris changed the insurance policy because of all the truck Chris and Nic sold motor #3 that they had continuously breakdowns. put work into.

August 2013

Motor #5 was purchased for the truck and is still working to this day.

Adjusting to America

Juniors Korn and Karn Supatrubutra are both spending their second year in the American school system. Despite living in Thailand they are willing to go the extra mile to attend school at Midland High Noah Surbrook | Exchange Editor & Ella Colbert | Staff Writer

A

lthough their family lives in Thailand, Both twins were responsible for finding their juniors Korn and Karn Supatrubutra own host. Korn’s host mother is his math teacher have enjoyed their experiences in from the previous year, Mary Hillman. When America, where they have stayed as foreign she heard that he needed a family to stay with exchange students for the past two years. The she was happy to help, allowing him to attend two siblings have made plans to move their Midland High again. entire family to America so they can gain “He was such a strong student and was very citizenship and possibly attend secondary enthusiastic about being a Chemic and staying school here in America. in Midland,” Hilman said. “It was easy to say “I like the community here, it’s really yes to host him.” friendly,” Korn said. “I like Midland High and Hillman says that Korn has bonded with both being part of the Chemic Tradition.” of her daughters, Isabella and Kiera, and her This year Korn returns to Midland High with husband Chad. an enhanced student visa and he brings his “Korn has become part of the family,” Hillman identical twin sister Karn with him. said. “He’s also been very accommodating. He’s “I started to become interested in coming to been doing what he’s supposed to do and being America after I heard good stories from fellow a good student. It makes me proud of him, not Thai students,” Karn said. “They talked about just as a student but as a so.” how it changed their lives and what a great Korn has developed a strong bond with year they had. I Isabella and thought it would Kiera. He cooks be awesome Thai food for to come and the family and is Korn has become part of the experience that.” teaching Hillman’s family. I’m proud of him, not Korn’s interest daughters how to just as a student, but as a son. in America began speak basic Thai. at the young age of “I didn’t expect seven. Korn came it, but my children -Math Teacher Mary Hillman to visit Florida love having a and attended a foreign exchange tour of a local high school while he was there, student. It gives them a global perspective,” beginning his interest in the American school Hillman said. “Isabella had a school project and system. at a part that had to do with siblings, she actually Ï thought it was really cool and maybe one listed Korn as her brother.” day I could have the same experience when Everyone in the Hillman family is growing I grow up, and here I am living the dream,” closer to Korn. He and his host father Chad have Korn said. bonded over a variety of shared interests.

Korn and Karn are both involved around the “We have a lot of the same interests,” Chad school. Karn is on the JV golf team and plans to said. “We both like gaming, computers, and participate in tennis, while Korn is a returning sports, so we’ve always had a lot to talk about.” member of the ping pong club.

Chad and Mary both say that home life has “I love how friendly the [ping pong] team is; changed with the addition of Korn to their Winning and losing isn’t as important in the club family, but are both happy to have him there. as friendship is,” Korn said. “To me it’s more “The house has always been pretty chaotic than just a club, it’s a hangout place. You just with two daughters in the house, so having Korn have fun and forget the rest.” around really hasn’t changed that,” Korn said.

As second year exchange students they can’t “He’s great. He’s respectful and he helps out stay under an exchange program like Education around the house and my daughters love having First (EF). Instead they switched their visas from him around. It’s actually improved the house.” exchange student to enhanced student allowing Karn is having a very similar experience at them to stay with a host family and attend home. She is living with Freshman Madison school without an exchange program.

O’Keefe and is growing close with her and her

‘‘ {

}

Korn and Karn stand by the Midland High Atom displaying their chemic pride Noah Surbrook | Photo family.

“Karn has fit into our family perfectly,” Madison’s Mother Kim said. “My daughters have really enjoyed having her around. She’s very kind, respectful, and thoughtful to us as well. She’s an excellent role model and a pleasure to have in the house.”

Korn and Karn are both very fond of midland high and agree that they prefer it over their former school in Thailand.

“The school here is great. There’s a variety of sports and clubs to join, and my friends here are great, so are the teachers,” Karn said. “I think the atmosphere at Midland High is perfect and I’d love to graduate from here if possible.”

“The school here is great. There’s a variety of sports and clubs to join, and my friends here are great, os are the teachers,” Karn said. Ï think the atmosphere at Midland High is perfect and I’d love to graduate from here if possible.”

The twins even intend to try and graduate from midland high and possibly attend college in America as well. In order to do so their parents would have to apply for work visas and move to America.

“It shows me something about them as a family,” Hillman said. “They’re willing to sacrifice anything for their children and willing to do anything for what their children would like.” F

Thailand Thailandvs vs America Population

67.01

Million

313.9

Million

Most popular sport

Golf

Football

Most popular food Tom yum goong (Spicy shrimp soup)

Hamburger

features | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 17

Fighting for greater equality Martin Luther King Jr. Day is one of the only holidays that Midland Public Schools students are scheduled to be in class. A group of Midland High students find this to be disrespectful to Dr. King. Through petitions and meetings with the calendar committee, they are hoping to challenge it.

Maddy Wheelock | Editor in Chief & Kirstyn Cotton | Staff Writer

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ive students filed into the conference Committee says that this is because the day room, dressed in their nicest attire. (January 19th) usually falls during high school Nerves were high as they shook the exams. The student group suggests that this hands of the Midland Public Schools year, exams could be given Tuesday through (MPS) Calendar Committee that was seated in Thursday instead of the usual Monday through front of them. This was the day they had been Wednesday. Students would still have Friday anxious about all week. off as a “Record Day.” This is the day at the end The committee was attentive as the students of the semester for teachers to work on record began their presentation. They had collected keeping. The Monday of Martin Luther King Jr. their research into a rough speech, which each Day would remain a PD day, so teachers would of them held in front of them. This was not still be in session, but students would be free to like the graded presentations they were used participate in community service. to. They were Though the here to discuss committee has their request: not thought t o ch a n g e t h e of this option district calendar before, Calendar in order to get Committee Martin Luther member and King Jr. Day off E a s t l a w n of school.

Elementary “If we don’t teacher Krista h a ve t h i s d a y Tate said it may -Senior Alex Jewell off, what are be possible. we saying to “We have students, parents, and other districts?” Senior always thought that it is better to have the Alex Jewell, a member of the student group, students in school learning about history asked the committee. “We’re saying we don’t through experiences in the classroom,” Tate really care about possibly the most important said. “We think the students have come up holiday for diversity.” with some points, and we will be discussing Jewell, along with four other Midland High and looking at what opportunities may work students, is determined to help make a change for everyone involved.” in the community. These students believe The students first presented their idea at this change can begin with honoring Martin a School Board Meeting to Superintendent Luther King Jr. Day by taking it off of school Michael Sharrow this summer, and again at and instead focusing on community service. this meeting with the Calendar Committee in Currently, they believe Midland is lacking in September. Here, they gave a longer speech positive attitudes towards minorities compared in an attempt to convince the committee to to surrounding communities. They hope to request a change in the calendar. Gary Verlinde, change this by offering a day for Midland to committee member and MPS Director of Human come together for this cause.

Resources, was impressed by the students’ “If we had the day off,” Jewell said, “it would arguments. show students that MPS values the work of “ [T h eir p re s e ntatio n] b ro ade ne d my Dr. King. It would also provide students that u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e i r t h o u g h t s a n d are interested in learning more about King a perspectives and will be measured against other better opportunity to do so rather than sitting perspectives,” Verlinde said. “The students in school.” were very articulate and had a cogent argument Midland Public Schools has never had which needs consideration.”

Martin Luther King Jr. Day off. The Calendar However, changing the calendar is not as easy

‘‘ {

}

[By not having the day off ] we’re saying we don’t really care about possibly the most important holiday for diversity.

18 | FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | features

Junior Jonathan Haynes asks Midland High teacher Carol Neff to sign a petition asking for Martin Luther King Jr. Day off. The group of students fighting for this have gotten signatures from many Midland High staff members. They plan to circulate the petition throughout the district for both teachers and students.

There is also a petition available online for anyone to sign. Maddy Wheelock | Photo as simply convincing the committee. Verlinde plans to discuss their request in an upcoming meeting with the Midland City Education Association. All calendar changes need to be negotiated on many levels; but ultimately, they need to be approved by the teachers’ association and the Board of Education. This is true for all changes except very specific mandates, such as the short notice in calendar changes due to the amount of snow days last year.

The students in the group believe the amount of work involved in making this change is worth the inconvenience. They all state that they have witnessed discrimination in their schooling, racially and otherwise, and feel as

though Midland is not as diverse or welcoming as surrounding communities.

“It just seemed silly to me that we are one of the few districts in the state of Michigan that has to attend school on this day,” said senior Matt Pajk, a member of the student group. “Seeing students fly confederate flags outside of Dow High School also caught my attention. Whether people choose to acknowledge it or not, Midland has the perception of being a racist town.”

Junior Jonathan Haynes, one of the first members of the student group, has been personally affected by the way minorities in Midland are often perceived.

“My siblings and I didn’t necessarily feel

ostracized,” Jonathan said, “but growing up, training could be a good option for the students we did not feel as welcome as we should have as well as the parents and teachers here.” been. In most cases, we felt like we were the So far, their family has had a very positive ‘different person.’” experience at Handley. Ayana believes that Jonathan, along with his friends, hopes to DJ will get a much more worldly education at help change the attitudes he sees as standoffish Handley. in Midland. Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. “Handley is really diverse,” Ayana said. “DJ Day with a day of service, he said, will be the is still young, but just going over there and first step in this process. seeing the environment is “He’s a man who operated, I think it will be Martin Luther King Jr. Day has done so much for a good experience for us as is this country,” Jonathan a family. We may not have said. “Not just for racial the same problems that we 1 of equality, but for equality have here. The other kids, overall, nonviolence, and looking back on it, said a peaceful way of change. they probably would have holidays where MPS has I think anything other wanted [to go to Handley].” school in session. than taking the day off Jonathan hopes to and acknowledging the help Midland become as (the others are Columbus Day and service that he’s done by welcoming as surrounding Veteran’s Day) doing more community communities. The group is service is disrespectful.” planning to start a petition Jonathan has two siblings in Midland Public to circulate both high schools. They have already Schools. When his youngest sibling, DJ, went started a petition online, and promise they into kindergarten this year, their family decided will keep fighting until they have succeeded in it would be best to send him to Saginaw Public creating a day of community service in Midland Schools instead of MPS. He is now attending for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Handley.

“Hopefully the message gets out that by “We mainly wanted a little more diversity signing the petition you are committing for DJ,” Jonathan’s mother Ayana Haynes said. yourself to service,” Jonathan said. “Not doing “That and the Gifted and Talented program is no [community service] would be worse than longer here in Midland. We have had challenges going to school on that day. We’re doing this for all of our kids in the MPS system. Diversity for a purpose, and hopefully we attract the right crowd.” F

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THE PROCESS How the MHS students are going to plan the day of service, provided it is granted to them.

PRESENTATION The students took their concerns to a School Board Meeting this summer. In September, they presented their plan to the Midland Public Schools Calendar Commitee in hopes they would take their request into consideration.

PETITION In order to be successful, the group needs all of the support they can get.

They plan to circulate the petition to students, teachers, and anybody else that is willing to support them. The petition is available online and in the school, and many Midland High School staff members have already signed it.

APPROVAL This proposal will need to be approved on many levels. Once gaining the support of the students, teachers, and parents, they will need the teachers’ association and the Board of Education to agree with their idea. The Calendar Committee cannot make changes on their own.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES Volunteer opportunities open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and all year long

Midland Humane Society works to keep abandoned animals in safety before they can be adopted. Students can sign up to participate and help take care of the animals currently in the Humane Society’s care.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters provides young children facing adversity with a support system that comes to them. High School students can sign up to help these kids once a week at elementary schools in the district.

The Midland Shelterhouse srives to “empower and educate to eliminate domestic and sexual violence.” Volunteers can help with things such as running their resale shop and providing childcare during client meetings.

The United Way of Midland County‘s mission statement is to “advance the common good by mobilizing the caring power of the community.”

Their website, GoVolunteerNow, helps mobilize and bring together student volunteers in the area.

COMMUNITY SERVICE The student group doesn’t just want to have the day off for another break; they want to dedicate the to community service. The students believe that by having the day off of school, the community will recieve an opportunity to come together and work for a cause.

MAKE IT GREAT With Martin Luther King Jr. day off from school, the student group hopes that the entire community will come together to support Martin Luther King Jr. with community service. This is what will truly make the difference and, if things go as planned, will assist in making Midland a more welcoming community.

KEEP IT SUSTAINABLE Although one day of service would be impactful, the students believe that Midland would value most from an annual experience. Though most of the group consists of seniors, they hope to plan volunteer opportunities that people of all ages can come back to year after year.

Scan this code to sign the petition Maddy Wheelock & Kirstyn Cotton | Infographics

features | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 19

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OUT ON THE TOWN

1

BreakingTradition

Two previously divided music departments join together for one performance to showcase their complementary abilities. Aelish Shay | News Editor & Megan Nylund | Staff Writer

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or the first time in Chemic history, two main music departments will come together for the annual Band Showcase. On October 8th, bands from around Michigan will file on and off the field at the MHS stadium, playing songs, twirling flags, and beating their drums; but only one will be accompanied by an orchestra.

“It’s going to be cool to have them with us,” Drum Major Elia Danielson said. “We have such a solid start on everything because we just work so hard and the band is so strong. I think adding the orchestra is going to be the icing on the cake.”

With the addition of the orchestra, the band will be able to recreate Michigan State University’s iteration of Fiddler on the Roof for this year’s showcase. Band teacher William Monroe has wanted to replicate it since he first saw it performed in the ‘70s.

“I kept hearing about this Fiddler on the Roof show and how they started the show with a violinist on the field and I kept thinking, ‘this could be really, really good,’” Monroe said. “Mrs. Peretz has been suggesting we do it for a couple years now… Fiddler on the Roof was a great show when I was in college, and I had some ideas on how we could make it work.”

However, there where some concerns on the behalf of the students.

“Honestly, when I heard we were doing Fiddler on the Roof, I was confused,” Danielson said. “I thought, ‘That’s for orchestra, how can you have the band play a fiddling piece without a fiddler?’ But it’s definitely turned out better than I expected. I trust Monroe, too.”

The show will start with Junior Andrew Kim playing the violin solo in the middle of the field, juxtaposed with the entire band waiting patiently behind him. Later on in the show, fellow orchestra members will join him on the field, but instead of playing their instruments, they will perform the dances to a few of the songs.

“You can’t really do Fiddler on the Roof unless you have a fiddler,” said Senior Orchestra Vice President Ethan Brown. “That’s the main reason why we’re doing it. If we have one person doing it, why not incorporate more and make it a huge production?”

According to Orchestra director Kathy Peretz, the orchestra will be learning the original choreography from the Broadway show, to both the “Wedding Dance” and the “Bottle Dance.”

In the ‘Wedding Dance’ a bunch of people

dance in a circle and they carry the bride in on a chair. The other dance is the “Bottle Dance”, where some of the guys have bottles on their heads. According to Brown, the Drama department already has hats that have bottles attached to the top, so they may be using some of those.

The framework of the show’s theme is centered around life; including its celebrations and its struggles. But while the Band and Orchestra are looking forward to having fun with this song selection and its underlying meaning, they have high standards to live up to.

“It’s our objective to be the best band there every year, and Dow is very, very good,” Monroe said. “But it’s always our goal to make sure we’re living up to the Midland High – Dow High standard.”

Danielson agrees there are standards, but stresses that this year especially, the showcase is not about competition, but bringing the two music departments together.

“I think it’s going to bring the orchestra and the Band closer together, because normally there is a divide,” Danielson said. “So I think as a whole, [the] music department is going to strengthen the relationships between all the musicians.” F

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3 Sarah Wontorcik, Aelish Shay, & Noah Surbrook | Photos

1. The drumline practices “To Life” on Tuesday after school. Half of the drumline has a drum-off with the other half.

2. The band rehearses a star formation for their performance. Grace Goddard has a saxaphone solo directly before.

3. Mellophones practice “Tradition” .

a&e | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 21

1

With the added pressure of performing a play for which many might have high expectations, the stage crew and cast of the drama club is working diligently to get ready for opening night of The Great Gatsby. Will Hackbarth | A&E Editor & Hannah McAtamney| Staff Writer

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2

3

4

1. Aaron Mealey (Gatsby) and Kostandi Stephenson (Daisy) search for the past 2. Gabe Smith and Kostandi Stephenson rehearse Tom and Daisy’s dance. 3. Aaron Mealey and Kostandi Stephenson practice an intimate scene between Gatsby and Daisy. 4. Sophia Bagnall drills her lines as she prepares to be her character, Jordan Baker. Hannah McAtamney | Photos

T

ucked in a far corner of Central Middle School, various drama students sprawl upon tables and chairs, reading through yellow script books and rehearsing their lines.

The white room is frequently permeated with laughter as the actors make mistakes and corrections, tweaks of dialogue and changes of character, attempting to fully immerse themselves in their roles. Though the mood is light, there is an underlying pressure to be fully prepared for Oct. 9: the opening night of The Great Gatsby.

Their show’s script is derived from the commonly-read F. Scott Fitzgerald novel of the same name, one that has been made into movies and last year’s prom theme. As a result, much of their audience may hold preconceived notions of how the play should look and sound.

For many of the cast and crew, including Junior Aaron Mealey, this adds an extra pressure to perform well.

“Everyone has seen the movie and the book is really well written,” Mealey said. “It’s going

22 | FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | a&e

to be really difficult to live up to Leonardo DiCaprio.”

Drama teacher and director Megan Applegate agrees there is an added tension, but is confident their play will not disappoint.

“That’s a danger any time you do something that’s really well known,” Applegate said.

“People have preconceived ideas of what it looks like, but I think the fact that it’s a familiar story raises interest. I hope people have their interest raised enough to come see what we do, and then walk out objectively.”

Though many people might have expectations for Mealey’s character, Jay Gatsby, he is determined to portray the character well and is excited to play him.

“He’s a really complex character,” Mealey said. “He goes from really calm and chill to really needy and angry quickly, and that’s going to be fun to do.”

Mealey says he has much in common with his character already, but he also has employed strategies to become even more alike.

“I’m going to try to make the [personality traits] polar opposites, and make that more obvious than you can in the movie,” Mealey said. “In the movie you can use music and camera angles to portray things, but I have to use just my voice and acting ability.”

Another challenge the drama members have encountered when turning Gatsby into a play is the set. Rachel Grunder, a stage crew member and drama chairperson, says sets are always challenging to construct, but The Great Gatsby’s set is particularly elaborate.

“We have to accommodate for Gatsby’s mansion, so it’s got to be big and it’s got to be really flashy,” Grunder said.

Applegate agrees the script calls for a difficult stage construction, but believes it is necessary in order to be true to the novel.

“The fluid nature of this script is a little challenging because it changes location so often,” Applegate said. “But I think this script does a particularly good job of following the novel, so it’s very true to Fitzgerald’s work.”

Despite the inherent challenges with a Great Gatsby themed play, the drama members have confidence that their source material and collective acting ability will grant them success.

“I’m very pleasantly surprised with the script,” Mealey said. “It’s incredibly true to the book.”

However, Grunder believes it is not the strongest aspect of their performance.

“Our greatest strength is the people that we have involved in this,” Grunder said. “We have so many talented actors and we also have very skilled people working behind stage.”

Both Mealey and Applegate agree with Grunder about the talent of the cast and crew.

“They are a phenomenal group of students who work really hard,” Applegate said. “I think that people are going to be very impressed with what they see, and I encourage the student body to come out and see the show because it’s going to be an evening well spent.” F

Major Musician Senior Kyle Franson has a passion for music, as well as the marching band. As he and the rest of the band prepare for upcoming concerts and football games, Franson balances his school and his drum-major duties. |Natalie Schwartz | Design Editor & Kaitlyn Stymiest| Staff Writer

D

riven by curiosity and a passion the music and perfecting the steps, leadership for music, senior Kyle Franson has is key. become a prominent leader for the “I think the fundamental thing behind being band. Even as a child, Franson has a leader is that you have a duty towards those always been particularly interested in music. around you and to the entire band.” Franson “I was a little kid with an awesome sense of said. “I wanted to become a drum major curiosity, I wanted to learn trumpet because because I wanted to be in a position where I I thought trumpets were cool,“ Franson said. could put forth all that I could towards the “But my parents said, ‘Why don’t you try band and ensure the band’s success to the best piano first?’ So I took it up. It stuck with me of my abilities. The reality is that anyone in ever since.” the band can do it, they all have the leadership As a first grader, Franson started playing aspect, but to me, becoming drum major has piano followed by clarinet at grade five and put me in the prime spot to be that.” guitar at grade eight. He continues to share Franson attempts to balance music his skills and love for responsibilities along music as a drum major with the rest of his in the marching band. courses. While being His responsibilities active in band, he There is a beauty in the way include helping out has also managed to the world works. The whole is other band members, maintain a 4.7 GPA. cleaning up the band “It gets to the point more than the sum of the parts. room after a rehearsal, where you get out and staying late after of school, do your -Senior Kyle Franson school to practice. activities, and go to Fellow drum major band and then you Jordan Ensz enjoys having Franson around for get home and think, ‘oh crap I have hours of his spirit and sense of humor. homework’.”Franson said. “You still find a “Kyle is the most energetic and the most way to get through everything.” focused(on marching band).” Ensz said. “He Although music is an important part of could be off doing something crazy, but still Franson’s life, he also has a love for physics focused on the band at the same time.” because of the way they coincide. Franson Band director William Monroe enjoys plans to continue music as a hobby, but major having Kyle in band as well. in physics. “[Franson] is an amazing musician. He is a “There is a beauty in the way the universe great leader and the entire band is better with works. Music and physics are my passions him around.” Monroe said. and I like to think that music helps me get To Franson, leadership is an important part through physics,” Franson said. “There is of being a part of band. As crucial as knowing overlap there. Isn’t it incredible that all music

‘‘{

Kyle’s

MUSICAL JOURNEY

}

Senior and drum major Kyle Franson has a great time at band practice laughing and working hard. Franson takes time off to enjoy his final year of band. Natalie Schwartz | Photo is are vibrations and sound waves? This really speaks, ‘the whole is more than the sum of the parts.’ ” Franson wishes to keep music alive in the hearts of people and hopes music will forever convey emotion in others.

2002

“I think that music is a gift that anybody can discover at any age. It is one of those gift as that keep giving. You never have to stop giving,” Franson said. “You see elderly people who still have that same love and it can kindle a fire in them. And it does the same for me.” F

2009

Kyle started playing the piano

2014

Kyle started playing the guitar

2004

Kyle started playing the clarinet

Kyle became one of the four drum majors in the band

2013

Kyle arranged the clarinet choir’s performance of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” at Rhapsody Rendezvous

a&e | mhsfocus.com | FOCUS | 23

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Michelle Demo | Managing Editor & Lydia Dornbos | Staff Writer & Maddy Pasche | Staff Writer Ever yone has their own unique stor y. R andom citizens of M idland were asked by the focus to share their tales and give words of wisdom. Follow @MHSfocus1 on Instagram for more stories from the People O f M idland.

“The most spine tingling [memory from search-and-rescue] was when a young woman went missing from the residence where she lived. This residence was in a rural area, and there was a large pond. We had asked, had the pond been searched before? And they said, yes, we’ve been all around the pond, it’s gated off - no one can get in there.

My dog and I were working around the outside of the fence, and the dog kept saying, “I want to go in, I want to go in.” So, we actually found a break in the fence, and a way in. The dog kept wanting to go in the water, and the field support person with me said, “Oh she’s a lab, she just wants to go swimming.” I said, “I don’t think so.” She had purpose, and was heading in a direction. I said, “Keep the flashlight on her, see where she’s going.” So we followed her with the flashlight to these little shrugs at the edge of the pond, and all of a sudden, a head right out of the water turned and looked at us. So we were, “Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!”

My field person ran around to help the lady while we were watching her, and she had slipped into the water, and was just holding onto the branch there - holding her from sliding under, she had been there for several hours. But she didn’t respond when people called out for her. Without the dogs, we never would have found her. She was okay, but that was probably the most exciting one.”

Suzanne Ramos and her dog Emma Dog trainer and service dog in training

24| FOCUS | 10/2/2014 | a&e

“Live your life happily. Don’t worry about what others say about you.”

Tiana Bowvee Pish Posh worker

“Big time dreams? I can't really pin-point anything right now. Just laying low, enjoying the retirement, & playing music on the side."

Ike Beehr Retired art teacher

“If I could go back and tell my 16 year old self anything, it would be to get yourself together, don’t stress, and honestly just do the best you can. For real.”

Dylan Shangle Former MHS student

“I tell my students ‘Life’s not always sunshine and rainbows, and learning to face adversity and push through is not going to always be easy, and that’s just life.’ Push through, find people that can support you, or help you, or that type of thing. You don’t have to go at it alone. You’ll get through it.”

Matt Murphy Teacher at Mt. Pleasant High School

Michelle Demo, Lydia Dornbos, & Maddy Pasche | Photos