L August 2009
The Paw Print
reshies ...are friends not food.
A quick guide to all you need to know to start the 20092010 school year out right.
Faces & Places..2-3, Procedures..4-5, Make the Grade, Counselor, Reading..6-7, Free Lunch, Spirit Contest, Club..8-9, Discipline, Dress Code, Lockers.. 10-11, Credits, Loss of Credit, Grad. Requirements..12-13, Pay Attention, School Map..14-15, Back Page Fun..16
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Lonoke High School Office: 501-676-2476 501 W. Academy St. Lonoke, AR 72086
Welcome to the 09-10 school year. Make it good.Mr. Wilson, Principal
Faces Places and
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elcome to Lonoke High School! Our mission is to ensure that all students meet or exceed learning expectations in all academic endeavors through the collaborative efforts of parents, students, and faculty. Our staff members welcome every student into their classrooms with a friendly attitude and a helping hand. We are currently working on rebuilding our school to make a better learning environment for our students. Construction will begin in 2010. We hope that every student finds the assistance and education they need in order to succeed in all of their goals here at Lonoke High School.
LPSD Superintendent
Mr. Wilson
Assistant Principal
Mrs. Lucas & Mrs. Hunter
Dr. Tackett
Principal
Coach Hobson
Secretaries
Librarian Mrs. Hobson
Resource Officer Mrs. Stivers
Mrs. Fletcher & Mrs. Holt
Counselors
In School Suspension Mrs. Williford
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Environmental And Spacial Technologies
N BY Regan Muse
Brittany Gilbert and John May work diligently in EAST lab to help the community and learn new skills. Photo by Brandon Bryant
Writing Lab Mrs. Perryman runs the Writing Lab.
BY Rachael Adams
It is located in the English hallway, in room A12. Mrs. Perryman is in the writing lab during regular school hours. Students may come into the lab to work on English assignments. “Typically, English teachers rotate into the lab for three day assignments and it is important for students to save all of their work to their student network folder,” said Perryman. The Writing Lab is supposed to have a quiet atmosphere like the Library and no foods or drinks are allowed. Come in and try it out!
E A S T
Do you want to get a cool credit, have fun, and help the community at the same time? Well EAST is the class for you. EAST is a way for the students to get involved with their communities through technology driven projects. Students can learn to use a server, edit videos, create movies, and much more. Throughout the year, you are given products that challenge you but are fun at the same time. Some of EAST labs 08-09 accomplishments were collecting $650 for the Lonoke Animal Shelter, attending EAST National Conference, creating the Relay for Life official brochure and many more community related activities.
W BY Genni Higginbotham
As the world furthers in electronics, the schools are benefiting. The distance learning classroom has a teacher via live feed, camera, and video. Teachers can hear, see, and help students, while being at another location. Distance learning is a cost effective way to manage teaching. Different teachers call to the classroom via web conference and teach their select class. They sign off and another teacher calls in to teach another class. Mrs. Jones is our facilitator (adult) and is always located in the classroom to bridge the gap between teacher and student. Distance learning is a step in the right direction for schools everywhere. Our own distance learning center hosts journalism and oral communications. Other DL classes the state offers to schools are Astronomy, Latin, college courses and many more.
D L C S
Nova Net
Students pushing to graduate utilize the Nova Net credit recovery course to regain credits lost due to attendance or failure of a course. “Approval must be made by Mr. Wilson for anyone wishing to be enrolled in the class,”
said Mrs. Jones, Nova Net Facilitator. Classes are typically offered as a last resort. “Students need to remain in the classroom if at all possible,” said Jones. The DLC/Nova Net classroom is located in the elective hall next to the Library.
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Proceed to the Office procedures
Nurse Miller Medication is dispensed by the nurse during advisory period. Office personelle are Julie Miller is high school’s not permitted the nurse. She is at to give the school evmedication, eryday during even Tylenol. Advisory period
only. If there is an emergency, the school will call Nurse Miller and let her know. Any medication should be brought to the office. If you have an inhaler, you will need a note from your doctor saying you have permission to carry it along with you. If you have to take any medication, such as, Tylenol or Ibuprofen, it is to be brought to the office and labeled with your name. You have to have a health card filled out if you want to receive medication. The school usually schedules a BMI (Body Mass Index) test in January.
The High School Office is the administrative, business, and discipline center of the campus. The Principal, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director and the Nurse have their offices within the main office. There are two office secretaries, Mrs. Lucas and Mrs. Hunter, available to assist students, staff, parents, and visitors with their administrative needs. Academic records, documentation requests, disciplinary issues, and financial matters are some of the many responsibilities handled in the Main Office.
Like any other professional office, individuals should use appropriate manners and language, show respect and act with maturity, while visiting there. As the office is an extremely busy place, it is asked that individuals come for official business only and wait calmly and quietly until their turn. The office staff attempts to help every individual as politely, quickly and efficiently as possible; following the below listed rules and procedures ensures this.
There is a three day wait for all documentation requests. A pass from the teacher is required before a student will be assisted in the office. If you are awaiting discipline, you are to wait quietly. You are not to converse with other students or visitors. It is preferred that you read a book or work on a school assignment. The telephone is for EMERGENCY purposes only. Food, drinks, sleeping, and personal grooming are NOT permitted in the office. Students are not permitted past the secretaries’ counters without authorization from the secretaries. Admit slips are issued at the office window. You must be in line with a written excuse before the first bell at 7:55. Compliance with these and all other school rules is required when visiting the office and ensures a pleasant environment and experience for everyone.
Next Exit... Cafeteria
Officer Stivers
procedures
The lunch period is one of the best times for students during the day, if they follow the procedures correctly. Each student will receive their lunch card in a packet at open house or on the first day of school. The lunch cards will have the students name and account number on it. You need to have money on your lunch card. There is no charging in the cafeteria. You can pay daily, weekly monthly or a lump sum of money. You have to have your lunch card everyday to get in the door or you have to wait at the end of the line. It helps the line move faster when you have your lunch card, because all you do is walk through and scan your card. It also helps get the money on the right account and to have the right account charged when you have your lunch card. Not having a lunch card gives the chance of money being put on the wrong account or the account to be charged wrong. There are three different lunch costs. The regular lunch costs $1.75, reduced lunch is $.40 and free lunch is, well, $.00. The cafeteria also has extra foods such as chips, cookies, ice cream and other snacks that costs from $.50 to $1.00.
D-Hall
You must have something to work on and a PEN! procedures NO FOOD! Detention You can only NO DRINK! starts at 7:30 have 8 detentions Eat breakfast every morning. a semester. If you before you come. Students cannot get more than 8, If you don’t serve enter the DLC expect to bypass d-hall, you will classroom after D-hall and go receive ISS for 1 the door has been straight to jail... day. closed. ISS
Have you ever wondered how your school can stay drug free, safe, and kept in line? Most public schools have a resource officer, here at Lonoke our Resource Officer is Mrs. Cathy Stivers. She is here to be a law enforcer, a law related counselor, and to be a law related educator. Her office is located next to counselor’s office in the main hallway. If you feel unsafe at school, you should go see her. She can assist with most problems that students have. There is an anti bully law at Lonoke high school, so if you are being bullied, consult Officer Stivers, and she will take care of the problem. As a law enforcement officer, she has the right to search any student and seize student property.
Hall Pass
procedures
Don’t get caught walking around campus without a pass. This year teachers and administration will be cracking down on students out of class. If a teacher forgets to give you a pass, just remind him/her. Ultimately it is your neck on the line.
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Mak ing Gra The de
With age comes more responsibility. This saying couldn’t be more true in high school. In order to be responsible, it is smart to get organized. “I bought a binder and dividers for every class,” said 08-09 freshman Stephanie White. “In my math class, the rule is after three missed homeworks you are given a detention,” said freshman Olivia Brumley. Teachers have a higher expectation for high school students, and expect you to perform at your highest level of achievement. Also, it is smart to keep up with your tardy card and lunch card. If you prefer getting your food first and having a nice seat to eat, having your lunch card will insure this. People with lunch cards are usually first to get in the lunch line, because it takes less time to swipe your card. Keeping up with your tardy card can save you a detention. You are allowed to be tardy three times. After three tardies, your card will be taken up and you will receive d-hall for every subsequent tardy. Make sure to get a tardy card from your advisory teacher by the end of the first week of school. Coming to high school may BY Reagan Muse sound like a giant leap, but it is easy as long as you come prepared and organized. “It was nothing like I had expected it to be,” said 08-09 freshman Hannah Stewmon.
Counselor...... BY The Paw Print Staff
LHS has its very own scholarship adviser, therapist, test tutor, and four year planner. Don’t worry about taking advantage of the school counselors. “Counselors will help students with anything that is important to them,” said Mrs. Fletcher. The freshman and “at risk” counselor is Mrs. Fletcher. We welcome the new upperclassman
counselor this year, Mrs. Holt. “School counselors are caring, responsive people who’s main objective is to be an advocate for students. We are here to help in any way, whether individually, with your teachers, and your parents. We want students to be successful young people who will find their place in the world, both during their school years and afterwards,” said Mrs. Fletcher.
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1. If you come to the Library Media Center (LMC) during class, you must show your pass to Mrs. Hobson when entering. If you come during lunch, you don’t need a pass. Books are checked out for 2 weeks. Computers are for educational purposes. No games or e-mail. You may use them to type a paper or do research. Mrs. Hobson is the friendliest media specialist in the state, so be nice!
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“Counselors help with many different types of problems: academic, attendance issues, personal/social relationships, family issues, crisis counseling, anger and conflict management, study and learning skills,” said Mrs. Fletcher. They also help with credits, choosing classes, college and career planning, seeking out scholarships and college applications. “Counselors only have
& Read
Drop Everything...
What you need to know about the Library...
BY Paige Brown
Every Wednesday is “Drop Everything And Read” otherwise known as DEAR. This gives students a chance to catch up on reading. DEAR takes place during advisory period. It’s a nation wide program created to help improve reading skills. “This forces students to sit down, be still and read,” said Mrs. Hobson. A good way to stay interested in reading is to find an author they like and find books written by them. Reading every Wednesday in advisory can also improve your reading skills. “The more you read the faster you read,” said Mrs. Hobson. September 8 is International Literacy Day of 43% hose se w tho eracy lit re ls a e l i k s t liv . s e low verty o in p
60% all p of inm rison a tech tes ar e n ille ically tera te. y abilit e h t ging s with Adult rm challen tasks fo g to per lex readin arly e omp rage y 2003. e and c v a n a n made $50,700 i re f o 00 mobasic 0 salary , 8 2 s$ ed That i e who lack the uld thos at wo than h ? W . today e skills b e enc differ
information, we do not give out scholarships,” said former counselor, Mrs. Rudder. But, they can help you find and fill them out. They suggest doing this early in your junior year. Counselors are over all state testing including the PLAN, SAT, ACT, end of course testing and AP testing. For test preparation, “study with one friend and help each other is the best, if you study and not play,” said Mrs. Rudder. If you’re
having test preparation problems, you can go to the counselors and they will provide you with test taking tips. They won’t tell you what decision to make, but they give you advice and do their best to help you make the best decision.
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Free Pizza BY Amanda Conner
Affording school lunch every day may not be difficult to manage for some parents and students, but for others, they rely on the free and reduced lunch program to help them out. The free and reduced lunch program is a program developed and funded by the government to feed America’s children. “Anyone can sign up for free and reduced lunch,” said Sue Roedel, Cafeteria Manager. The more students covered by it, the more money and grants the school gets
from the district, so don’t just throw the forms away. Some students who are covered by this program feel embarrassed about it, but they shouldn’t be. “Everyone needs a hand up eventually,” said Roedel. Besides, the money that goes into this program is from their parents’ tax dollars, so it’s basically still their money. In order to be covered, students must have a family income that meets or falls below the limit mentioned on free and reduced
It began during World War II, when soldiers were malnourished and unable to fight because they y couldn’t eat. The government stepped in and set up a program to guarantee that every y child would be fed, even if they were living in poverty. lunch forms. Forms can be found at any school cafeteria or food service office.
Celebrate School Spirit BY Megan Palmer
Students sit in class five days a week Photo by Amanda Conner seven hours a day. During the fall, students get to spend some of that time dancing and cheering…as long as they participate. “The school spirit at Lonoke High School has decreased over the past few years,” said Word lonokepawprint@gmail.com Processing teacher, Ms. Sadjer. Pep-rallies are meant to increase the school’s spirit. It is important to have school spirit to “show your support Olivia Brumley shows her Jackrabbit Guns to scare the competition. to other students.” Some, like Ms. Sadjer, say the purpose of the pep-rallies are, “to get the students and football players pumped up about the next game.” 2009’s Who’s Who most school spirited winner, Lyndsey Taylor, said the way she showed her school spirit was by wearing her LTO shirt and spirit beads. She also went to almost every football game. Taylor said the thing that keeps most students from showing their school spirit is “they are embarrassed and…if the pep-rallies were organized and kids knew what to expect they would get involved.” So freshmen and upperclassmen, look past what others think and show your school spirit by standing up and cheering for your fellow classmates before the privilege is taken away.
What is the craziest thing you would do for school spirit? Submit ideas you are willing to try to: The winner will be featured on the next issue’s front cover.
G ET V O E I NV L ! D TOT TOT TOT (Teachers of Tomorrow) is a club for people interested in becoming a teacher. Dues are $5. Members job shadow, go on educational field trips and discuss benefits of becoming a teacher. Advisors: Mrs. Hope and Mrs. Powers
NHS NHS (National Honor Society) is offered to students who have a 3.5 GPA. Dues are $10. NHS organizes the ACE program which honors students for academic excellence. Scholarships and the prestige are two benefits of being in NHS. Advisor: Mrs. Powers
FCCLA FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) is a part of the Family and Consumer Sciences Education program. The club dues are $15. The club members attend summer retreats, cluster, district, state, and national meetings. FCCLA is a way for students to turn classroom topics into realworld excerises. Advisor: Mrs. Wesley
FBLA
FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) is open to all students who have taken or are taking a business class. The FCA (Fellowship of club dues are $10. FBLA Christian Athletes) is open participates in conferences, to all students. FCA is the service projects and fun only Christian based club events too. FBLA gives you on the LHS campus. The experience for after high dues are $3, which are school and pursuing careers collected in September. in business. FCA sponsors many fun Advisors: Mrs. McCallie, activities such as Powder Mrs. Smiddy and Puff football, 5th Quarters, and Field of Faith. Members Mrs. Sadjer also attend a Razorback ootball game and a FCA camp. FCA is a Christian way to have fun and grow. Advisor: Mrs. Hobson
FCA
NJHS NJHS (National Junior Honor Society) is a great way to get into academics at a younger age. It is open to qualifying ninth graders only. The dues are $5. The club does multiple activities such as recycling. The club also purchases t-shirts at the end of the year. Advisor: Mrs. Hope
Spanish
Spanish Club is for anyone who is interested in the Future Farmers of America is Spanish language and culture. dedicated to helping students Dues are $5. Spanish also take advantage of all farming offers t-shirts in the fall has to offer. See advisor for ranging from $7-15. The club more info. hosts two special celebrations Advisor: Mrs. Snider a year. One is in November for Dia de los Muertos and the other in May for Cinco de Mayo. These are opportunities Art Club is open to anyone for students to experience who shares a passion for the cultural foods, practices, art. The dues are $5. The traditions, etc. The Spanish Art Club gives back to the Club will also be participating community by particapting in the Foreign Language in buying Christmas Festival. It is an opportunity presents for children in for students to learn and need. The club members practice individual or group produce an annual art show. performances in Spanish and They also go on field trips compete against other schools.
FFA
Art Club
to highlight art. Advisor: Mrs. Mertsch
Advisors: Mrs. Edwards and Ms. Dell
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Discipline BY Rachael Adams
(dis-uh-plin) N. punishment to intend to enforce desired behavior
Many students find their first year at LHS filled with bumps, bruises and authority problems. Different infractions will get you into sticky situations that will cause you to wind up in detention hall (d-hall), In-School Suspension (ISS), Saturday School or suspension. Mr. Wilson and Coach Hobson are head of the disciplinary staff. The rest of the staff includes Mrs. Hunter, the former ISS director, Mrs. Jones for d-hall, and Mr. Matarazzo for Saturday School. How do you get in d-hall? There are many ways you can land in d-hall such as: “Talking, disruptive behavior, sleeping, food/drink/ gum, failure to follow directions, insubordination, no supplies, tardy, inappropriate language, minor dress code violations, and anything else the teacher feels disrupts the learning process,” said Jones. D-hall starts at 7:30 in the morning. Students arriving after 7:40 are not allowed to serve d-hall, resulting in ISS. While in d-hall, “You have to have something to do, something to work on. No talking, no food/drink, etc,” said Jones. The handbook grants one day to serve d-hall, but Mrs. Jones usually allows two days.
If you miss both days of d-hall, you will be automatically assigned to ISS. Students can serve up to eight d-hall days per semester. After that, expect to have ISS for every subsequent infraction. Mrs. Hunter is the former ISS supervisor. You will also be given ISS because of, “tobacco use, profanity, disruptive behavior, truancy, and not following the school dress code.” On your first offense, you will get two to three days. “After eight offenses of ISS days, you will get suspension,” said Hunter. While in ISS, you should bring all materials that are needed for your
regular classes. “More than likely, they will do more work in here than in class,” said Hunter. Saturday School is directed by Mr. Matarazzo. It is held on Saturdays in the Agri. building behind the school from 8-11:30. Students receive Saturday School for “first offenses, disruptive behavior or defiance,” said Hobson. “The students are supposed to bring two textbooks, paper and pencils and a library book to read. They also pick up trash sometimes.” Next year bring a box full of band-aids and a backpack full of respect and you’ll enjoy the entire ride.
Detention messes up my morning routine. - Bo Tidwell
ISS is boring and our freedom is taken away. It is like being in Jail. - Martenis Johnson
Lockers can be very helpful throughout the year. Here is our take:
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Lockers
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Saturday School takes 3 hours out of my day and I can’t watch my morning cartoons. - Patric Middleton You don’t get to see your friends when suspended. -Lacey Theroux
BY Paige Brown
Carrying 30 pounds of books daily can cause serious back pain. Keep your locker organized and it will make book exchange a snap. If you don’t have time to go to your locker a lot during the day, you can have two bags. One for morning classes and one for the afternoon classes. You can go and change them out at lunch. There are things we all don’t want seen, but we need at school.
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On the Record
What to wear?
BY Julie Pennington
No halter tops will grace the eyes of LHS students while in school. There are many dress code rules that have punishments if broken. All clothing must be worn properly, which means that jeans should not be sagging, and all belts and overall straps are to be snapped or buckled. Shoes must be worn at all times. Tank tops, sleeveless shirts, spaghetti strap tops, or low cut tops are forbidden. No midriff (stomach) should be showing. Hooded jackets may be worn outside the building only. Caps and hats may not be brought to school or worn on campus. This also includes bandanas and do-rags. When wearing shorts or dresses, do not wear any shorter than 4” above the knee when standing. Even though teens like to be comfortable, there will be no tolerance for wearing pajamas, loungewear, or house shoes. All messages on clothing must be G rated. Don’t wear shirts with tobacco advertisements or vulgar language. According to the LHS handbook, pg 65, “jewelry worn in body piercing, other than in the ear, is a disruption in the education of other students.” Anything else that is deemed disruptive to the learning atmosphere is not allowed. If any of these rules are broken a punishment should be expected. On the first offense, parents will bring another set of appropriate clothes. On the second offense, parents will bring another set of appropriate clothes and the student will be given Saturday School. On the third offense, parents will bring another set of appropriate clothes and the student will be assigned In-School Suspension for three days. The fourth offense results in suspension for three days. These rules may sound hard to follow, but they are not. They are enforced to ensure a non-distracting learning environment. So, use this advice and don’t get caught breaking the dress code at LHS.
Laci Dismuke has her own style. She knows how to express herself while following school dress code. Photo by Amanda Conner
What should you keep in your new locker? Check out these great ideas. Lockers offer privacy for those unmentionables. * Umbrella, Rain Boots * Deoderant * Personal Hygiene Items * Change of clothing (not white) * A mirror to freshen up midday
With a lock * Your phone (Don’t forget to lock it) * Valuable Items
Lockers cost $5 and can be purchased in the cafeteria before the first day of school or in the HS office after school is in session. Buy and practice using the lock before the first day of school. Photo on opposite page: Erin Shoemaker and Dontrell Richard share some downtime resting against lockers. Just one use for the metal box.
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Make it count...
Do it right...
Go the distance...
Credits Count
LOC
BY Genni Higginbotham
BY Jennifer Rubow & Genni Higginbotham
Do you aspire to work at a minimum wage job, handing out hamburgers while on roller skates til you’re 60? Slacking off in high school should never be an option. Credits and grades are a major part of graduating. Students’ freshman and sophomore years are the most important. “School is your job, and it’s hard to catch up,” said Betty Fletcher. Cumulative grade point averages (GPA) start when students enter high school as freshmen. A student needs 22.5 credits to graduate. These consist of a half a credit of health, physical education, fine arts, and oral communications. The other credits needed are four credits of English and math, three credits of science and social studies, and six elective classes. “Elective classes should be chosen based on the career field that you are thinking of going into,” said LHS Counselor Carol Rudder. Required credits usually don’t change from year to year. “The State Department changes the credits but they should stay the same for the next few years,” said Mrs. Rudder. Colleges, jobs, and scholarship awarders look favorably on students who graduate with a little extra. One of the ways to stand out is to become an honor graduate. This requires students to be a four year graduate, have a 3.5 cumulative GPA, be enrolled in LHS for the last three semesters beginning the spring semester of their junior year, and pass with at least a C average in eight honors classes. Refer to page 112 of the LHS handbook to see the honor classes available. “You don’t just have to take advanced placement classes to be an honor graduate. There are many other classes that you can take,” said Mrs. Rudder. Although being an honor graduate looks great on an application to college, simply taking eight honors classes will still benefit students. “Any student with eight honors classes are ranked above students that don’t,” said Mrs. Rudder. Another way to be noticed is to have high test scores. “ACT scores are [also] what colleges look at when considering students for scholarships,” said Mrs. Fletcher.
In the last three years, over 350 credits have been lost, in part, due to attendance. That equals
29,750 wasted hours
of students sitting in class and not receiving credit! Students work hard to get the required credits. It’s important to know what counts as excused and what counts as “see you again next year.” With loss of credit in a class students may not receive all the credits needed to graduate. Each semester in a class with a passing grade is ½ credit. Each semester, “Students will lose credit for classes when they have accumulated nine unofficial and unexcused absences,” said Mrs. Perryman, Attendance Advisor. “Some absences don’t count against you, things like: doctor/dentist note, funeral notification, and court and legal documents. Parent notes are considered unofficial and although they allow a student to make-up missed work, they still accumulate towards loss of credit,” said Mrs. Perryman. When students have accumulated four unexcused or unofficial days, they will receive a letter in the mail that reminds the parents that they are allowed to view their student’s grades and absences on the school’s website. When a student has accumulated nine unexcused or unofficial absences student’s will then receive a letter advising LOC (Loss of Credit). The letter invites the parent or guardian to an Attendance Committee Meeting. So students, make sure that absences are excused to avoid losing credit and potentially prolonging graduation day.
How do you become...
Successful Lucrative
It all starts here...
Post it
What’s your Fav. Color?
Graduate with a little extra and start planning your post high school life now.
BY Shelby Langdon
Responsibility. It’s a word synonymous with high school. You will hear it from the first day of your freshman year until the day you graduate. However, there is another word that is often overlooked and left out. Opportunity. High school is full of opportunities for students, if they know where to look and the steps they have to take. High school offers students many opportunities to succeed. It is important to remember that it is never too early to start preparing for your future, and LHS has plenty of awards for its deserving students. “A purple or gold card is a very prestigious recognition of academic ability and hard work,” said Mrs. King, 12th grade English teacher. To receive a gold card, students cannot have a C on their report card and must have a GPA (grade point average) of at least 3.5. Students who receive a purple card will not have any D’s or F’s on their report card. Many of the local businesses offer discounts to students who receive these awards, so it’s an opportunity you will not want to miss. One way to succeed at LHS is to align your class choices to finish your senior year as an honor graduate. To become an honor graduate, students must have 8 honor classes and have a cumulative GPA of no less than 3.5. This type of honor is always beneficial when you are applying for scholarships and to colleges across the country. Another thing that those who award scholarships onor Graduates, and acceptance to colleges look for is community Community service. A student who has completed 100 hours of community service will receive a special seal on Service Hours, their diploma. The 100 hours are also required Smart Core Completers, Business for smart core completers. Mrs. Smiddy, director Graduates: It all of the community service program, said that “hours can accumulate beginning in 9th grade.” Though starts now...Even hours spent helping family and friends do not count, if you are only 13 the effort can help students gain scholarships and, years old. more importantly, give them an understanding and appreciation for their communities. Students also have the chance to become a business scholar at LHS. Though all students must complete keyboarding (7th grade), Career Orientation (8th grade), and Computerized Business Applications (9th grade), a business scholar chooses to be a completer in the program. A business scholar must complete “one or more of the following programs: Accounting, Desktop Publishing, Multimedia, Web Design, or Additional Business Course.” Each program consists of three classes, and to be considered a “completer” and receive your special certificate at graduation (in addition to consideration for special scholarships on the local, state, and national levels) students must maintain an “A” or “B” in all the program of study courses. Students must also maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.00 and be a member of FBLA for no less than two years. Many of the business courses are also considered Honors courses and could be a good way for students to come out with more options as they begin looking at colleges. Freshman year is a pivotal point for all students. This is the beginning of a four year journey, and the choices you make now can help determine where you will end up in those four years. Choose wisely, and start planning for your future today.
H
Leslie Norwood, Green
Charlie Heflin, Blue
Bobby Ebert, Red
Avonlea Marteny, Blue Ideas for the next Post it... send them to lonokepawprint@gmail.com
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Pay Attention
Girls, imagine walking into the boy’s bathroom on accident. If the smell doesn’t warn you, then paying attention to signs will. BY Genni Higginbotham & Jacara Robinson
Disregarding signs can make your first week at a new school harder than it has to be. All signs are important and should be read. Signs over restroom doors are some of the most important signs. In the science building the signs are not right on the doors and it is easy to mistake the men, women, and teachers bathrooms for the one you are supposed to use. Not only should you pay attention to written signs, but to the signs that your teachers and fellow students give you and that you give them. Body language and your attitude can get you to the right places as well as using a map or reading a sign. Walk to class with someone. Make yourself approachable. Pay attention in class! It is easier to do this when you sit close to the front of the classroom. History teacher, Mr. Bowles, feels that, “When students are talking, leaning back, or not taking notes,” they are not paying attention. You should never put your head down or sleep. Bowles said that, “Students who are sitting forward are definitely paying attention.” Paying attention is easier to do when you are in the front of the class, as well as sitting away from your friends. Otherwise, you will find the urge to talk. If you’re around people you talk to a lot, you will be less likely to pay attention to the teacher. Make sure to read the announcements on the screen mounted on the wall right next to the auditorium. There are many important and relevant things that come over the screen. If you, or a club you are involved in, is doing something that the school needs to know about, you should give the information to Mrs. Elam, EAST Supervisor. Don’t be afraid to smile. Walk with your head up and arms uncrossed. This gives the impression to other people that you are confident and open. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be as nice as you can to everyone you
Emily Howell and Hope Moore learn a lesson in paying attention. Photo by Amanda Conner meet. These actions will send the people around you positive signs. Reading the signs around you, written and body language, as well as giving the correct signs can help make your freshman year go much smoother.
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