C
Vol. 8 Issue 1
THE CHRONICLE
Fine Arts Showcase
Parking Problems
Homecoming Overview Interviews with
Varsity Football Daniel Leconte Cameron Turley
Player Profiles
Mill Creek
Chronicle August/September 2015
MastHead Editorial Staff Alyssa Casole Marisa Hernandez Kaitlyn Neher
Online Editor Gavin Childers
Staff Writers Julie Akin Ashley Baptiste Kelsey Bruce Faith Montgomery Madeliene Moody Eric O’Hara Michelle Ortiz Olivia Parks Amauri Richardson Collins Sainovich Megan Smith Camron Williams How to reach us: Email: MCHSChronicle@gmail.com Phone: 678-714-5899 Website: www.mchschronicle.com Address: 4400 Braselton Hwy 124, Hoschton, GA 30548
The Chronicle is a student publication of Mill Creek High School. It is distributed to students, faculty, staff and the Mill Creek community. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are those of individual writers and do not necessairly reflect those of the entire Chronicle staff or Mill Creek High School, its students, faculty, staff or administration. Content is edited by student editors. Photo: Lindsey Stevens Cover Design: Kaitlyn Neher
PHOTOS: Collins Sainovich
TABLE OF
Contents
6-7 Wait Listed/ Faith Montgomery 8-9 Mill Creek: Biggest Highschool in the Southeast/ Madeleine Moody 10-11 Work it, Mill Creek!/ Michelle Ortiz 12-13 Mill Creek Trades agenda Books for smartphones/ Collins Sainovich 14-15 ARTicle/ Kelsey Bruce 16-17 Our Hawks Take Flight/ Amauri Richardson 18-19 Tackling the Truth/ Camron Williams 20-21 XC Hawks Gain Recognition/ Eric O’Hara 22-25 Player Profiles 26-28 Saying Yes to the Right Dress/Megan Smith 28-29 Homecoming /Julie Akin 30-31 Fine Arts Showcase/Olivia Parks 32 Alloy Wheel Repair Ad
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By: Faith Montgomery
Parking Problems
At the beginning of the year, Mill Creek was able to use 30 of the Osborne parking spaces, but after a parking meeting on September 1st, Osborne principal, Mr. Kenney Wells, agreed to let Mill Creek use 30 more spaces. Still, after these 60 extra spaces, approximately 70 combined juniors and seniors were wait-listed for a parking pass even though the enrollment from this year does not differ drastically from last year. Additionally, the number of students in the Junior and Senior classes is relatively the same as last year, so there is not a huge difference in the number of students who should be able to drive to school. In the Hoschton community, Mill Creek has long been known for creating traffic, but this year, the traffic has reached an all-time high. In order to decrease the traffic load, many students believe that there should be a separate entrance for buses, so that
The Upper Lot at Mill Creek during school hours
all the traffic will not be in the same congested area. In fact, Dr. Hardegree feels the same way, “I agree 100% (that there should be another entrance). It is a very difficult scenario; we are the largest school in the state and we’ve got one entrance. We, as a school, have addressed that with even county leaders. It is just truly a logistical thing. There’s just no where to put another entrance.” Still, there are other solutions our parking problems. According to their websites, other high schools in the county such as Brookwood, Berkmar, and Collins Hill, add an extra step to their parking application that Mill Creek does not have. A student attending these schools must be in a club or be taking a class that required selftransportation in order to be eligible to apply for a parking pass from their high school. Additionally, Dacula only allows 5 tardies before a parking pass is taken away, and Brookwood allows 10. At Mill Creek athe magic number is 12. For Collins Hill students, it is even
PHOTO: Faith Montgomery
With approximately 4,000 students at one high school, parking is bound to be an issue, but this year parking issues at Mill Creek have risen to a whole new level. Parking decals sold out the week they went on sale, which caused the 14 temporary parking spaces to be used in the lower lot. Although there are only 725 student parking spaces at Mill Creek, 785 parking spaces are being used by students this year. The extra parking is in the Osborne parking lot, which are the 60 parking spaces to the right of the orange traffic cones.
By: Faith Montgomery
W
Wait Listed more difficult to obtain a parking pass since students must have an overall “A” average, Hawks must simply pass all six courses in the semester previous to the parking application. Being tardy isn’t the only way to lose your pass; other actions such as parking in the wrong lot or parking on campus without a pass could lead to either being booted or ticketed. All six boots are used every day on cars parked on campus without adecal. Students parking at Osborne definitely need to have a decal since the Osborne lot is most likely to get booted. “You’re more likely to get a boot at Osborne than you are at Mill Creek because Osborne isn’t even our campus. If you’re parking at Osborne without a decal, you will get booted,” Dr. Hardegree said. On the other hand, the most common way to get ticketed would be to park in a lot other than what is designated on your parking pass. For example, if a student parks in the upper lot, and their parking pass is for the lower lot, then they would be ticketed rather than booted.
car is not booted until there have been multiple parking violations. However, Dr. Hardegree said, “Typically, yes (a boot is received after multiple violations), but it is not a policy that you have to get three tickets and then you get booted.” After these policies are executed and parking spaces do open up, seniors will be the first to be offered a pass, then juniors, and if enough spaces become available, sophomores will be given the chance to receive a parking pass. One point that Dr. Hardegree wanted the seniors to know is that he would really like to see a blank senior wait-list. “Truly, from the bottom of my heart, I hate that we have seniors that did not end up with parking, and we are doing everything that we can to try to find spaces for them.” PHOTO: Kaitlyn Neher
One common misconception that students have at Mill Creek is that a
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Biggest in the
PHOTO: Madeleine Moody
South By: Madeleine Moody
Back to Back Students filling in the he atrium in between bells
With Mill Creek High School being named the most populated in the Southeast again, it is often a rush to classes because of over 4000 students sharing the hallways.
During the 2014-2015 school just hasn’t helped much over the years the recorded enrollment years. at Mill Creek high school was “Mountain View is Mill 3,788 students, but as of Aug. 24, Creek’s relief school, and in 2009 2015 there were 4,004 students when it was built Mill Creek’s enrolled here. For the first time population actually went down in nine years Mill Creek has from about 4,200 to the low once again broke the student 3,000s” said principal Jason mark of 4,000. Mill Creek is officially the largest high school in Lane, “but over the course of the Georgia, but now Mill Creek is the past nine years there has been second largest high school in the “I like going to a big southeast behind Ferguson high school like Mill Creek school in Miami, FL with 4,132 because there is a lot of students enrolled. “When Mill Creek was built the target population for the school was 4,000 students but we have now exceeded the target population size” said Mrs. Gambill. A common question that comes up when people hear the size of Mill Creek is why isn’t there a relief school for it, but the answer to that is simple: Mill Creek does have a relief school; it
diversity in the types of people so I can make a lot of different friends.”
more population growth in the north end of the county, and more houses have been built in the Mill Creek district, so the student enrollment has continued to grow.” Sophomore Bethany Gamez said More students means the need for more faculty.
Due to rise in school population, freshman and sophomores have homeroom during lunch.
PHOTO: Madeline Moody
“Last year the school had about 251 teachers, but with the school growth this year I hired 8 new teachers and am currently interviewing 2 more” said Mr. Lane. Although Mill Creek has more students, the student to teacher ratio has stayed the same. Classes currently and in past years have consisted of an average of 31 students per teacher. “Parents often say they don’t want their child to go to Mill Creek because of the classes sizes, but our school has the same class sizes as the other high schools in Gwinnett County we just have more classes” said Mr. Lane.
School Traffic With over 1,000 student and teacher drivers and 53 buses flowing into Mill Creek within a 30 minute period the Mill Creek community is greatly affected.
More students yeilds more traffic.
Senior Jay Choi said “I hate the traffic, I think that they should widen the roads or something because there is too many people trying to get into the school at one time and it is causing some students to be late.” There is about 4,200 people flowing into Mill Creek at the same time every morning which causes 45 minutes of just sitting in line before you ever even approach the school” said Principal Lane. Although the traffic has lightened up a bit, there is still a ridiculous amount of traffic that even the police cannot help. “On the first day of school this year the traffic getting into school was terrible” said freshman Victoria Richardson “ There is not just traffic outside; the school traffic inside the school is just as bad. Walking through the hallways can be like stop and go traffic.
PHOTO: Madeline Moody
hallways are ridiculous! People sometimes have no manners and can be so rude.” The heavy flow of students through the hallways and the periodic waiting to get through the hallways has caused the administration to add an additional minute to the class changes this year so that students can get to class on time. Eventually, there will need to be another relief school built because the school is getting to large, but for now “you should use the school size to your advantage and get involved as much as possible because we have something for everyone here” said Mr. Lane.
Mill Creek sophomore Tatiana Bocanegra said, “The
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Work It Mill Creek! By Michelle Ortiz
Photo: Hunter Moore.
According to the United States Department of Labor, 4.7 million teenagers have jobs this year. Among these teens are Mill Creek students working in various lines of industry. The largest industry that teens work in is leisure and hospitality. Common jobs in this industry can include but are not limited to waitress, cashiers, car washers, and lifeguards; however MC Hawks have obtained some interesting jobs within this particular field. Junior Hunter Moore is a balloon artist. “I work for a company called Balloon Distractions. I have been working there since late December and I go to different restaurants and set a little area where I walk around and meet people at tables and create balloon animals for them. I usually make anywhere between superheros such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or different mythical creatures like Pokemon, several types of objects: flowers, hats, and just animals in general” Moore said. Moore is practicing with balloons. This Pikachu was one of the first balloon If you think being a balloon artist sounds interesting, try animals he had created. learning how to play a new song every week and performing it in front of an audience like Victoria Martinez, a current sophomore, who was part of her family’s Mexican band. “For two years I worked in a band called Los Incansables de Guerrero. I played el guiro, [a Latin American percussion instrument] and the guitar. And got paid $100 a gig.” says Martinez. Soon school and work became too much for Photo: Victoria Martinez Martinez. “Since my performances were at night I wouldn’t get home until 3 am and then I would only get to sleep for one to two hours.”says Martinez. When Martinez was asked if she was interested to continue such career she said, “I was doing what I liked with the people I loved, and I hope to continue this in the future.” Mill Creek students can not only find peculiar part time jobs, but unusual summer jobs as well. Kyle Lowe, a senior,got to construct and maintain Roscoe Campground in upstate New York for his uncle, who at the time owned the campground.“So I went to New York to go work for my uncle which I have done for 10 or so summers now, and this year I was actually on the payroll. Basically what I did was build decks and poured concrete for him. At one point the electricity went out and I had to go fix it. It literally took three days.”said Lowe. Martinez and Los Incansables de Guerrero Jobs are everywhere in the Mill Creek
community. Some are unique and a lot can be found close to home. To obtain this jobs teens most meet some requirements. According to Georgia’s Department of Labor, “An Employment Certificate, commonly called a Work Permit, is required for all minors who have not reached their fifteenth birthday. Minors may obtain Work Permits from:
Photo: Kyle Lowe.
-A school Issuing Officer (at the Mill Creek front office) -The county school superintendent’s office. Minors of fifteen and fourteen also have schedules limiting how long they can work. It is federal law that they can not work for more than three hours on a school days and eight hours non-school days. If you’re interested in getting a job look for your own on the following job listing.
Lowe is digging in a trench to put electrical wires underground at the Roscoe Campground.
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Mill Creek Trades Agenda Books for Smartphones By Collins Sainovich
This year Mill Creek has switched over from Remind101.com to the Mill Creek Cluster app for sending out teacher notifications, schedules, and other messages. The switch has brought concern to the people in the Mill Creek cluster who wonder whether or not the app has worked as well as hoped. “So far I have missed three assignments sent out by my teachers through the app.” said Lucas Pence, a sophomore who is unable to get the app. Only students who have either Apple or Android phones are able to get the app. This is a problem many students have as some parents will not let their student have a smart phone, or their family cannot afford one. Also, some students have Windows phones, which do not have access to this app. These problems arise whenever technology is brought into the mix. Some students just cannot get access to the app, and the way some
teachers have handled this has been criticized. “The teachers have only been given a short crash course on how to use the app. We have not been told what to say to students who have questions.” said Ms. Donna Springer, a 10th grade language arts teacher. Along with
Remind101 not being used, agenda books were not distributed for the first time to students this year. With so many students using smartphones, it makes sense to send out notifications via tha app instead of using agenda books. Photo: Collins Sainovich
The hall pass function of the app requires the input of information after the teacher enters the pin.
However, some of the app’s functions have benefitted the school. The app is much faster at delivering messages from teacher to student. Also, not having to order thousands of agenda books has saved Mill Creek a lot of money. However, the app does not do everything better than agenda books. For instance, the bathroom pass function in the app currently does not match the convenience of an agenda book. Many teachers have expressed that it would be more convenient for them and the student to have the teacher enter in his or her passcode after the student enters the needed information instead of it being the other way around. According to Ms. Megan Cassidy, who is in charge of the app, that is how the app was originally supposed to function, and they are currently working on a solution. Along with this, they will be releasing a desktop
version soon. However, according to Ms. Cassidy this desktop version will likely be unable to receive notifications. The new version will not be able to solve the problem of accessibility. “When I asked one of my teachers what I ought to do about not being able to receive her messages, she replied, ‘Get a new phone.’” said freshman Lydia Evans. As far as Windows phones go, no plans to release the app on the Windows App Store are in place. The
people in charge of the app have decided that due to the majority of smartphones in use by students are either Android or Apple and a Windows version is not currently necessary. Changes will continue to be made to the app as the year goes on and the people responsible for the app discover what changes can be made to the app to improve it. When updates to the app are made, details on what is new or different will be released on the school’s social media accounts and online in
The Mill Creek Chronicle’s online paper. Spotty connection in the school inhibits the use of the app at times.
Photo: Collins Sainovich
WATCH OUR HAWKS SOAR
Photo: Sydney Grimes
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ARTICLE
By Kelsey Bruce Studies such as The National Endowment colorful events that gave her a new appreciation for the Arts’ article, “Arts Education in America: for the people around her. Activities such as, What the Declines Means for Arts Participation” “slam poetry nights,” let her see into the hearts of show a decline in the amount of young people various individuals that surrounded her through that visit art museums or attend traditional art these forms of expression. Latham feels that these performances such as ballet, jazz, or classical few hours of pure surrealism left her with a rekinmusic performances. The appreciation of these dled spirit due to the mutual “surreal level [they] important art forms continues to decline as other were all on together.” forms of entertain- Photo: Abby Latham The highlight of her experience “was learning ment become more who I am and accessible and more growing as a desirable. person.” Latham You can look explains that the down the hallways art and forms of of Mill Creek and expression that believe that we are a brought them school that chooses all together to focus heavily on under the same the arts, and while roof, “made it that might be true easy to make for our school as a friends.” These whole, it may not friends left a apply to many inlasting footprint dividuals, but stuon Latham, dents who continue who says that to apply themselves their personal to a beautiful form lives and stoof expression can ries, “made me still be recognized stop and assess and appreciated for myself in a very their accomplishhumbling way.” ments. Her GHP exAbby Latham, a perience was all student here at Mill around a beautiCreek High School Art student Abby Latham expresses her creativity through her most recent ful, personal way enrolled in the AP for her to get drawing featured across from the C-pod on the Cardinal level. Art and Design to know herself course, was chosen to be a part of a national through the connections and friendships of those experience we know as the Georgia Honors Proaround her that shared her love of the arts. “It gram. The best way she could think to describe made me independent, less judgmental, and an this experience was, “Unbelievable.” She goes on all-around better person. I didn’t want to leave.” to explain with, “There’s not really a good way to She demonstrates the positive influence the describe it if you haven’t lived it. It’s a four week passion for art mutually shared between groups experience where you’re just surrounded by some of young people can have in someone’s life. This of the most talented kids in the state. The diverkind of passion serves to help students not only sity of people who appreciate the same things understand what it takes to be a part of GHP, but you do in all different ways and express that also understand art, or whatever they are pasappreciation was just a very real and incredible sionate about, through a more emotional platexperience.” Her time there was filled with many form.
Photo: Marisa Hernandez Art:Morgan Fields Photo: Marisa Hernandez
Patrick Aldredge(12) and Kyle Mendoza(11) stay after school to finish up their art projects to meet the upcoming deadline.
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PHOTO: Noah Hollis
Hawks Take Flight By: Amauri Richardson
Taking a brief overview of the 2015-16 season, we are all on edge for what is to come. Our Hawks have spoken, with their actions as well as enthusiastic chatter around campus. As, fans, spectators, students, and staff, we should all be on the lookout, as our hawks continue to rise to prominence in this division. We’ve started the season with a win in the dome, lets end the season with a win In the dome. Hawks lets fly together, and SOAR through this season to a state championship!
PHOTO: Kyle Lowe
Another rising star on the football team we spoke too is Jamar Hall, junior defensive back and running back. “We kept up the tempo, dictated how we were going to play the whole game, and we made plays,” said Hall when asked about the key factors in the Corky Kell. Responding to the hype surrounding the team’s performance this year, Hall said, “We’re not going to listen to the hype, we’re just going to keep playing and doing what we have to do.” Hall believes his team’s actions will speak louder than their words.
When it comes to focus, our Hawks will be locked in this season. Senior running back, Daniel Leconte is happy about the team’s progression. “We have a connection, we play as a team, and that’s what’s going to separate us from a lot of other teams,” said Leconte. He also constructively criticizes his team’s performance. “We had a couple mistakes we could’ve fixed (vs Brookwood), to make us a great team,” says Leconte.
EDMOND GRAHAM,11, in stride after reception at the Corky Kell.
CAM TURLEY,11, hand off to senior running back, Daniel Leconte, against West forsyth. PHOTO: Kyle Lowe
We asked what would is the most intense game on schedule Hall says, “Dacula! I hate Dacula! All I want to do is beat them, I’m still mad they snuck a win in last year!” The day after the interview our Hawks defeated the Falcons, 34-7, on their home field. Our Hawks are excited and driven, ready to show the rest of our division we S.O.A.R.!
TYLER VERNON, 12, in his 3-point stance at the Dacula game. PHOTO: Lindsey Stevens
There’s lots of buzz surrounding our Mill Creek Hawks, football team, this year. Apparently, we are the team to beat. A few of our key players seem to think so too. Sparking off the season with a great 42-7 victory against Brookwood Highschool, on August 22 at the Georgia Dome, players believes it was only the beginning. “It was a big win, I felt really good about the W (win), and our team is going to very well this year,” said Edmond Graham, junior receiver, after the season opener. Graham, who was named player of the game, gave an outstanding effort in blocking a punt and blocking a field goal. Graham also had 5 receptions for 57 yards in the Corky Kell.” I feel like we can go all the way and I feel like we’re going to be THAT team! “Says Graham, who thinks this will be a great season.
PHOTO :Abbey Robertson
#Always Attack
DANIEL LECONTE, 12, runs the ball in an offensive play against West Forsyth.
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Q: How is your season progressing so far?
Q: What do you do to achieve your highest point of performance?
A: “It’s getting better. I’m connecting more
A: “I have a ritual that I have to do because I’m superstitious. I’m not gonna give all the details but there’s certain things that I have to do to make sure I do well in the game.”
with my offensive linemen.”
Q:: What do you do to improve your game? A: “I’m always watching films (of past games),
Q: What’s your game time pump up song?
and practicing plays so they can be executed on game day.”
A: “You guessed it by OG Maco, because I’m
Q: What is the hardest part of being an athlete?
dark skin.”
A: The hardest part is humbling yourself, not
Q: Who is most influential to you here at Mill Creek?
A: “Coach Jarvis, because he expects a lot from
feeding into the hype or negativity being said.”
Q: What do you think is biggest improvement on the team since last season?
us and he wants us to become a good man and doesn’t want anything less.”
A: “The defense and special teams had lots of
Q: How do the fans affect your performance?
Q: If you had one message for your teammates
Opposing fans?
to remember at all times what would it be?
Photo: Lndsey Stevnes
faster and stronger, and we are more into the game. It’s more fun when the fans are into it. I just laugh at the opposing fans.”
A:”Stay focused, and everyone should enjoy the game together.”
Photo: Sydney Radkey
A: “Our fans make us play better. We play
Jamar Hall
improvement, and we have a lot of chemistry overall.”
Daniel Leconte
By: Cameron Williams, Ashley Baptiste, and Amari Richardson
Q: How do you treat a game day differently
Q: What do you think is the key part of your
A: “I just focus more throughout the day you’re
A: “We have to play together as one team. Not
from an average practice?
more relaxed. I drink a lot of water so I don’t get dehydrated. It’s just a different day a totally different day from practice.”
Q: How is your season progressing so far? A: “It’s doing really good. I think I started out
team this year?
like individuals trying to get stats. We have to play as on team to try to get the W (win) and our defense is looking very good, they’re playing hard and well. The offense is also doing well, we can run the ball, we can pass the ball, and we’re all doing well.”
better than I did last year, and I think I’m a lot more focused. I increased my abilities during the offseason, so I started out really well.”
Q: Anything you guys think you should
Q: Which game are you looking forward to the
A: “We play fast, we play hard, we just have to
most?
A: “I’m looking forward to the North Gwinnett
game because of the competition, and we’ve never beaten them before. So this year our team is better than it has been, so we have a bigger opportunity this year.”
improve on?
make sure we practice to make fewer mistakes, and play harder.”
Q: How many touchdowns do you have this year?
A: “I only have one this year. I made one at
Q: What impact do you think the football program has on Mill Creek?
Corky Kell but it got taken back so it didn’t count, but my first real touchdown this year was at Dacula.”
A: “I think we’re sort of leaders of the school.
Q: Do you plan on playing after high school?
Tyler Vernon
A: “Oh yeah, if I can play in college, I just
want to keep playing football and go to the next level.”
Photo: Mari Bachan
Photo: Kyle Lowe
We’re leaders of the school because people follow us because they see us out there working hard, and they want to do the same. I think we positively impact the school.”
Edmond Graham 19
XC Hawks Gain Recognition Mill Creek Cross Country
PHOTO: Viviana Ojeda
PHOTO: Olivia Fuller
Mill Creek Cross Country takes a lead into the season witth five of its members ranking in the Super 6 for boys and girls.
By: Eric O’Hara
PHOTO: Eric O’Hara
PHOTO: Viviana Ojeda
Team displays record-level depth in super six selections CROSS COUNTRY- Team displays recordlevel depth in super six selections
Cross country made school history this summer when Gwinnett Daily Post released its much anticipated super six decisions, which is an annual article highlighting some of the best runners in the county. Among the selected included seniors Sam Costa, Noah Hollis, and Hannah Petit, as well as junior Sara Scales, and sophomore Camryn Petit. While teams such as Brookwood and Peachtree Ridge also had multiple athletes, Mill Creek dominated among its competitors, claiming a total of 5 of the 12 runners chosen .This huge success can be attributed to early mornings and the hard workouts the Hawks have been executing since the beginning of May. As Hollis said, “I knew that I had put in the work, and to see my work pay off was a serious confidence booster”.
To put this prestigious achievement into perspective since, 2011 there have been a total of 5 Mill Creek runners in the super six. Among the five, three have gone on to sign with a division 1 college. For example, Eric Westog and Lauren Hovis both signed to the University of Georgia, and Tyler Woodrome, the school 5k record holder, signed to Tennessee. However one athlete, Sam Costa, is still currently running for Mill Creek. This achievement is a testament to the athlete’s hard work and dedication towards improving and definitely mirrors their passion for the sport. Hannah Petit agreed, saying, “It is such an honor to be named as one of the Gwinnett Daily Post Super 6 runners because I know that being selected is a reflection
of all of the hard work that was put in last season. Last year, before I started running. I had only hoped that I could be nearly as good as the 2014 super 6, and this year, being named to the list makes me feel like I accomplished something huge.” Essential to being named super six was the athlete’s incredible success in cross country last season. For instance, Costa finished 12th in the state and bolstered a new PR (personal record) of 15:40, which he set at the Great American Invitational in Cary, North Carolina. Hollis found similar success at Great American lowering his time to 16:22 and placing 28th at the state meet. The Petit sisters and Sara Scales also saw huge success at the state meet; all of them placing well within the top 10. In addition, at the Great American Invitational, Hannah Petit beat the previous school record of 18:44 set by Lauren Hovis in 2013 by the significant margin of 14 seconds. All of this previous season success contributed to them being selected.
As the season progress those chosen hope to lead their teams and set an example that through hard work and determination you can achieve your goals.
Look out for your cross country team as they attempt to take on the Coach Wood Invitational in October against a large field of over 50 teams.
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Photo: courtesy of Costa family
Sam Costa
Sam Costa (12) is one of, if not the, best high school runners in the state. He has a large shot at breaking the school’s 5k record of 15:30 set by Woodrome in 2013. As we enter the season, Mill Creek is looking pretty strong Sam said “This is one of the best teams in Mill Creek Cross Country history, so we could be up in the running for a podium finish at state.” Mill Creek faces some intense competition this season, Sam noted that Marietta, Milton, and Brookwood will be the biggest of the team’s worries. After high school Sam plans on pursuing athletics collegiately, “I’m keeping an open mind with collegiate running, but I’m interested in Georgia, Dartmouth, William & Mary, and Oklahoma.” Sam certainly has a large shot at these schools and many more as he has shown in his previous seasons. By: Camron Williams
Since middle school, senior Lexi Froh has always loved competing against others. In high school however, running soon became her dominant sport of choice. Froh excelled at running, obtaining a PR (personal record) of 19:44 in the 5k her first year and grabbing the fifth fasted time in Mill Creek cross country history. In addition, she dominated in track and field, acquiring several new records including the 800m hitting a time of 2:21 breaking Lauren Hovis’s record of 2:24 set in 2013. Also Froh, along with Hannah Petit, Camryn Petit, and Olivia Fuller broke the school’s 4x1600 meter, which is an event where four girls run a single mile. Froh says “I find my motivation in my team mates who push me to my greatest capabilities”. Currently third on the girl’s team, she is a crucial component to the girls scoring five. Froh hopes to contribute her talents this fall when the girls compete at the dubbed “big three”, or county, region, and state. By: Eric O’hara
Photo: courtesy of Froh family
Lexi Froh
Elyse Autrey Photo: Lindsey Stevens
Elyse Autrey, the 2014 junior homecoming queen, is also a Varsity competition and Varsity spirit cheerleader. Autrey has been cheering for nearly ten years, since she was in fourth grade. Up until high school she had only done rec cheerleading, but since she has been in high school, she has not only done freshman, JV, and varsity spirit cheerleading, but also JV and varsity competition cheerleading. Although she enjoys cheerleading, Autrey does not plan to continue cheering into college.
By: Ashley Baptiste
Sydney Grimes
Photo: Courtesy of Gwinnett Daily Post
Senior Softball Player, Sydney Grimes, has been playing softball for 13 years after she was inspired to play by her older sister. Grimes is primarily a second baseman, and she also plays outfield. “I am a senior this year, so I have to step up my game and be a role model to the younger players.” One of Grimes’s accomplishments this season was her 3-3 hits and a walk at the game against Collins Hill, a huge rival for the Mill Creek Softball program. Grimes says she is looking forward to the rest her senior season, “I have been playing with my teammates since I was younger and I hope to see what all we can accomplish,” Sydney says her goal for the high school team is to win region and progress to State in Columbus, GA, and she hopes to continue playing throughout college at the school of her choice.
Photo: courtesy of Magic Moment
By: Kaitlyn Neher
Amanda Natsch (11), a Varsity softball player for the Lady Hawks, was nominated for Gwinnett Daily Post Fan’s Choice Athlete of the Week after the Shiloh game on September first. Natsch is an infielder and most often covers second base. In the bottom of the 7th inning in their game against Shiloh September 1st, Natsch doubled, getting two RBIs. As a result, The Lady Hawks beat Shiloh 4-3 in their 7th win of the season. Natsch is a consistent contributor to the team and has been a valuable asset this season. “I’m very excited for the season. So far it has gone really well and I am looking forward to seeing how far we can get.” said Natsch.
Amanda Natsch
Chloe Freeman Photo Creds: MAgic Moment
Multi-sport athlete and honor student Chloe Freeman loves competing. Since the summer of 9th grade Freeman has participated in both volleyball and track and field; volleyball soon becoming her dominant sport of choice. She hesitantly tried out for the team making it onto the 9th grade squad her first year. The following year Freeman played JV and was pulled up to varsity for 3 games finally making varsity her junior year. This was no easy task for her, Freeman played club volleyball and practiced countless hours to perfect her playing abilities. When she wasn’t playing club she was working with the team, practicing everyday till 4:45 at the school. Although it is an exhausting task Freeman finds comfort in her friends and teammates saying, “The people are awesome and super fun and that makes it easy to come to practice every day knowing each one of these girls is as dedicated as I am”.
By: Collins Sainovich
By: Eric O’hara
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Madison Romeo
Photo: courtesy of MAdison Romeo
“ I wanted to be more involved in the dance program, so I asked Kross (Muck) how I could do so,” said Madison Romeo, senior at Mill Creek who is a dancer in the dance program. Romeo takes a class called Dance Composition, which allows her to help teach along with Mrs. Muck during 5th period dance class. Romeo, though she is learning more about choreography and teaching, is not exactly aspiring to be a dance teacher in the future. “As much fun choreographing and teaching is, I hope to audition for and be on a dance team in college like the Alabama or Georgia Dance Team”, she says. Madison Romeo will have the chance to teach alongside Mrs. Muck throughout the school year as well as choreograph some dances for 5th period to be in the dance shows in winter and spring. By: Olivia Parks
Erika Padgette, 10th, a current veteran clarinet player, has been part of The Pride of Mill Creek marching band for two years. “I aspire to be a section leader in the future. I practice 10 hours a week; 8 hours with everyone and 2 hours practicing by myself. I am very dedicated but so is everyone else; basically if you’re gonna be in marching band you got to be prepared to never give anything less than 110%.” said Padgette. Padgette says marching band does have its challenges, but they can be overcome with patience and practice. “One thing I was struggling with was playing my instrument and making sure my movements were correct at the same time. There were many times I got frustrated and just thought I couldn’t do it, but I kept at it and just practiced. At some point it all became natural,” said Padgette. By: Michelle Ortiz
Photo: courtesy of Osborne
Nina Youn
Photo: courtesy of playback images
Erica Padget Nina Youn, a violinist, is the only freshman in Mill Creek’s Chamber orchestra, which may seem intimidating, but she said, “No, it’s not really intimidating because everyone in orchestra is really chill, and I already know people in there.” Additionally, she said that they often forget that she is even a freshman, which is not surprising based on all of Youn’s orchestra accomplishments. She has been playing for 3 and ½ years, and has already been in Georgia’s AllState orchestra, Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Gwinnett County Youth Symphony, Kendall, the Vega Quartet, and school orchestras including Osborne’s Honor Orchestra all 3 years of middle school and Mill Creek’s Chamber orchestra this year. She also spends time practicing for upcoming auditions and competitions or festivals such as the Georgia Music Educators Association Solo and Ensemble Competition.
By; Faith Montgomery
Brendon Darby
Photo Creds: MAri Bachan
Senior Brendon Darby from Mill Creek’s theater department, star of last year’s one act play “Tuna Fish Eulogy,” and star of the upcoming theater production “The Importance of Being Ernest” , dedicates most of his free time to the art of preforming. Darby has been doing theater all four years of high school. He started doing theater his freshman year because his four older siblings had done it before him, which interested him in trying it out for himself and led to his love for theater. Darby’s favorite role that he has ever acted as was a character in “Little Women,” and Darby says, “if I could star in any role, it would be in Batman Begins, because of the great costume.”
Photo: courtesy of Kaira Harris
By: Ashley Baptiste
Sophomore Kaira Harris has just started her first year of color guard. She joined because the previous year, a girl who sat next to her in her freshman biology class told her it was a great way to make friends and have fun. Harris says color guard has helped her make lasting friendships, and that it is really just a big sisterhood. Harris also says that color guard has helped her get a better body because the team works out often, and it has also helped her learn better time management because there are plenty of practices.
Kaira Harris
By: Ashley Baptiste
Each year, for our Mill Creek chorus program, a leader is chosen among the students to lead alongside the teacher, Mrs. Stephanie Archer. Grace Breazeale, a senior here at Mill Creek High School, was chosen for the 2015-2016 school year to conduct and teach the 7th period Women’s Vocal Ensemble. Her participation in AP Music Theory last year allowed her to qualify for the position of student teacher this year for the Intermediate Choir. Breazeale says she plans to continue on in teaching fine arts past high school. Breazeale describes teaching a class by saying, “It’s one of those things where you feel it in your chest. It’s not just an action, it’s a feeling. It’s the feeling of knowing you are passing on your knowledge to others. It’s different than just being part of a class or sitting and learning the material.”
Photo: Kyle Lowe
Grace Breazele
By: Kelsey Bruce
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Say Yes to... By Megan Smith What to wear or what not to wear? High school girls typically spend hours and hours weeding through hundreds of dresses, tens of stores, and dozens of emotions in order to find their perfect homecoming dress. This year strongly contrasts with the puffiness and nude color scheme of last year. The trends are incomparable to any other homecoming at Mill Creek yet. Kenzie O’Brien (10) states, “I’m looking for a dress that’s really classy and just simple really. Something like two-piece or cut out with interesting straps.” According to the girls at Mill Creek, the dress of this year is very general but has clear ideas about what not to wear: places where you just shouldn’t go with the style. Mill Creek’s Homecoming Attire Survey showed that fifty-four percent of girls felt that the perfect dress would have to be somewhere in between of super fancy and a toned down casual look. Meaning, the formality of the dresses from past years will not be present this year. Shoppers are looking for a more toned down feel; however, the voters still want the dress to be classy and not be completely casual. The form and specific style of the dress itself can be taken into many different directions. “I’m thinking of a two-piece for homecoming. The two separate pieces make a statement but at the same time the dress is very simple,” said freshman Phoebe Whitaker. The two piece dress is trending more than ever, after its popularity during prom. Every girl wants to stand out in her own way but still just fit in with their own twist on the trend. At the dance, the objective is to look effortless but it is very
necessary to put in an effort. They want to feel comfortable in the dress of their dreams, but be noticed. Ninth grader, Allison Smith states, “I don’t want to take too big of a risk, I mean I’m a freshman and I am not exactly sure what even to wear, but I definitely don’t want to just blend in with everyone.” Along with the two piece style trending, classic black is definitely the color of this year’s homecoming dress. In the survey, thirty percent, by far the highest, of girls said that they were looking for a black dress. Tenth grader Mikayla Ger states, “All I really am looking for is kind of short and strapless black dress. Nothing too out there. Just kind of plain.” The style this year may be straightforward; however, it still is in fact homecoming, the only time this semester to really dress up. Simple may be the style for dresses but does not limit the fact that makeup and hair must still be flawless. Shoes and jewelry must also be to the nines. Sophomore, Sarabeth Jordan, said, “The shoes make the outfit. I really like the simple nude pump heels with the strap around the ankle.” Seventy-five percent of girls surveyed said that the shoes were the most important accessory of the outfit for homecoming. Although maybe the most important piece, in actuality, how long do you even wear your shoes at the dance? The 2015 homecoming will have a different look than any other. It will be classy and simple. The extravagance will be like none other, simplicity at its finest. This homecoming, the dresses will be worth remembering.
The Right Dress
27
And The Right Date
By Julie Atkin
Ordering Online: Is it Worth the Risk? Girls may buy their dress at a local boutique, online or at a large commercial mall or many others places and ways, but ordering a dress off of the internet is not a good idea. In fact it is the worst idea, according to Mill Creek sophomore Ciara Strausser. Strausser explains, “I ordered a $150 dress off of eBay a month before homecoming last year, and it still to this day never came in.” She never got the money back or found any trace of where it might be or if it even existed to start with. Many girls order their dress online only to find it looks nothing like the picture or, like Strausser, never find it at all. According to recent survey, thirty percent of the girls stated that they plan to pay $100 to $300 on their dress. That is considered to be a lot of money to spend in the first place, and then on top of that to not even get the dress makes online seem like a really bad idea. Strausser goes on to say, “Thankfully, I had a backup dress, but I would recommend buying a dress at a store or boutique and having it in your hands.” It is important to know where the dress comes from when parents are dropping hundreds of dollars. The dress may be cheaper online, however, there are counterfeit sites out there that use the real manufacturer’s dress shots to lure girls into thinking their purchasing the same dress for a fraction of the cost, according to Dominga from Seventeen Magazine. Be aware, know the source well and all the information that goes along with it before the purchase of the dress. Most websites have a strict return policy, not allowing any returns or money back. Making sure what the return policy is, is very important. Occasionally the risk of buying online will turn out a as a reward, however, in Ciara Strausser case, that is $150 completely gone. Accessories This year with the simple dresses, the accessories are necessary. Freshman Grace Kenerly said,
“I want earrings that make a statement. I think it will contrast my dress in a good way.” The accessories are defined by the dress. They should not take away from the dress but subtly add to it. If the dress is over the top, then the accessories should be toned down, but if the dress is very simple then the accessories must make a statement. Accessories typically go unnoticed but give the sense of a completed outfit. Although the trends change over the years, accessories are always important and necessary.
Everyone is buzzing this time of year. Its Homecoming time Mill Creek! Guys are asking girls are planning; it’s an exciting time of year for students and faculty. There is a lot of work that goes into making Homecoming a special, memorable night in every student’s high school career, but how is everything decided for Homecoming? Themes Student council has a big impact on how homecoming is planned. They’re the key to creating the theme choices for not only the dance, but also homecoming week. The week of Sep 28Oct 2 is Homecoming week! This week is always a very studentinvolved week at Mill Creek. Following the theme of each day, and finding creative costumes to wear makes homecoming just that much more exciting. Walking through the halls of Mill Creek is always entertaining since there is so much to see, but Homecoming week makes the halls even more entertaining than usual. This year’s themes are Hawaiian, holiday, decades day, spirit day, and studious day. Make sure to participate!
The Big Question
This is for the guys. It’s time to ask your date to homecoming! Asking a girl to be your date for homecoming can be a nerve-racking experience, so making sure you have the perfect way to ask her can be a struggle. Ideas can vary from extravagant to simple; it all depends on the individual’s preference, and everyone has a different one. When people ask there date to homecoming, there’s always something in common for every ask; the idea is created from someone or something. Believe it or not, a lot of guys have gotten there ideas off the famous app, Pinterest. Others get their ideas from friends, or social media sites. Daniel Leconte (12) stated, “I’d much rather get my idea from Pinterest than from social media because Colby Tibbetts (11) “I it’s different, and there would like a simple way are always new creative as long as it’s creative ideas.” Surprisingly, a and cute.” lot of mill creek males have admitted to using Kenzie Painter (9) Pinterest. “if a guy brought me flowers at a football Victoria Blakeslee (12) game and asked I think “A giant teddy bear and that would be perfect.” flowers would be great.”
Morgan Ducket and Harvey Hawk: Morgan Ducket (10) experienced a surprise Homecoming proposal from Mill Creek’s own Harvey the Hawk! Harvey approached at lunch with a poster and flowers. Harvey said, “I defiantly was not nervous to ask Morgan, I was more excited. I got the idea from my wonderful sister. I’m thankful I asked my sister, because I know Morgan really enjoyed it.” Photo: Morgan Duckett
Sydney Zurita & Ben Linville: One of this year’s asks was one to remember. Ben (9) surprised Sydney (9) by writing on her driveway, “Don’t make me go solo to Hoco.” She said yes! Sydney said, “I was definitely surprised, and I loved his creativity, I knew he was planning on asking me but I had no idea he would in such a creative way.” The freshmen of this year are defiantly showing their creativity this time of year. Photo: Sydney Zurita
Ben Spellman (10) “I want a big ensemble. Maybe assemble my friends around. I just want it to be special.”
Daniel Leconte (12) “I would decorate her car, and bring her flowers.”
Jack Plummer(11) “I would ask by decorating a locker” 29
Fine Arts Showcase
By: Olivia Parks
PHOTOS: Collins Sainovich
5th period dance students running their piece for the Fine Arts Showcase once again in hurried preparation
“All of the fine arts come together to put on one show, including the dance, orchestra, band, and chorus,” says Suzanne Muck, the dance teacher at Mill Creek. On Thursday, October 1st, 2015, Mill Creek Dance program was be part of a Fine Arts Showcase at Mill Creek High School. Each group performing in the showcase showcased a different piece. Mill Creek’s dance program performed the audition scene from “A Chorus Line”, the band performed eight
completed training and choreography to “I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line. It is clear that the dance program is working hard to get ready for this performance based on their early start on choreography. “It’s not an easy dance, even though it was pre-choreographed. It’s a lot of jumping and old style jazz, which we aren’t used too,” says Joani Smith, 11. Luke Badura, 9, was granted the opportunity of specific soloist parts and played the role of the man in charge of the audition in the scene, “it’s different from the rest of the piece, I have to dance and mouth words while acting at the same time, it isn’t as easy as it looks,” says Badura.
Dance Orchestra Chorus Band pieces, the chorus performed five pieces, and the orchestra also performed three pieces.
“Of course since it’s based on a scene already in a musical it was pre-choreographed, making it easier to teach and rehears,” says Muck. The dance classes performing have
Not only is the dance program performing but as is band, orchestra, and chorus. “We’ve been rehearsing all of our pieces every day in class,” says Dawn Tumillo, 12. There will be a full band piece and a flute ensemble as well as a symphony piece. Unlike dance, band does not have solos, “but, we have separate ensembles for each instrument and the best of our members are playing in a symphony piece along with chorus and orchestra,” says Tumillo.
PHOTO: Kyle Lowe
Orchestra has prepared just as diligently as the other fine arts programs through their hours and days spent practicing their pieces, “the class usually starts as soon as the bell rings and we go straight to doing warm-ups and then we practice our pieces,” says Nina Youn, 9. While there is not a set soloist part, a few chamber students have small parts, “there are a few places in the pieces where the first chair gets to play alone, but we mostly play as a group,” says Youn. The orchestra performed three pieces in the Showcase, “we have prepared “Curtain Up!”, “Hoedown”, and “The Bach Fugue,” says Youn. Along with the other Mill Creek Fine Arts, chorus also presented a performance at the Showcase. The select group of singers performing in the Showcase showcased five songs, “we’re preparing 5 pieces of music in mastery chorus, including “No Time”, “Give My Regards to Broadway”, “Earth Song”, and “Defying gravity”,” says Megan King, 12. Much like the other departments of Fine Arts, chorus spent countless time preparing for the performance, “we’ve been working on this all month since school started, including singing and doing warm ups every day,” says King. In regards to any soloist singer, King says that, “we don’t have a soloist yet, though we should be working on getting one before the show.”
ORCHESTRA: Christina Milam (12) attentively listens to Ms.Berg, the orchestra teacher
PHOTO: Kyle Lowe
PHOTO: Kyle Lowe
The trumpet student section in band practicing one of their pieces for the Fine Arts Showcase
BAND: Saxophone players rehearse their Showcase piece
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