Issue 1 - 2011-12

NEW OPPORTUNITIES AT CAREER ACADEMY

ODYSSEY

Volume 9 Issue 1 Oct. 2011 $3.00

Glad Time starts ticking Thielman is in the house Georgia Theater returns

Pep Rallies:

Tradition Restored

Table of Contents

October 2011

32 Pep rallies have returned

Photos by Carlo Nasisse

Cover Story

to Clarke Central High School for the 2011-12 school year. The first was held on Aug. 26 in anticipation of the annual CCHS vs. Cedar Shoals High School varsity football game.

Left: SHOW YOUR SPIRIT: Four Clarke Central High School seniors cheer on pep rally festivities in Billy Henderson Stadium.

Viewpoints

9

Clarke Central High School’s new study and remediation period, GLAD Time, has the potential to extend learning hours and improve grades.

News

18

The Clarke County School District has opened new doors for high school students by instituting the Athens Community Career Academy. Participating students are placed in college-like settings and take a wide variety of courses.

Variety

26

After suffering serious fire damage in June 2009, the Georgia Theater, located in Downtown Athens, is back in business and offering more shows and music genres than ever before.

Sports

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30

CCHS sophomore Cameron Johnson answers questions about filling the shoes as the 2011 varsity football quarterback. Johnson opens up about humility and how he depends on the team for strength.

Cover photo by Carlo Nasisse Cover design by Mollie Sherman

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Left: DON’T BE TRASHY: Junior Tianna Wilson is sick and tired of the messes left daily in the Miller Jordan Food Court by Clarke Central High School students and has released a call to action.

Administrators and custodial staff agree.

“It’s somebody’s job (to clean up messes).

Someone has to do it, if you (CCHS students) won’t,” CCHS custodian Roman Parrish said.

Above: GAME PLANNING: Clarke Central High School special education department teacher Philip Walter discusses goals and objectives of Community Based Instruction with his class on Tuesday, Sept. 20. “(CBI is) a huge opportunity to generalize what we learn in the classroom. Just because you learn about money in the classroom doesn’t mean you will know how to (use it) in the real world,” special education department teacher Elizabeth Mooney said.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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IN FOCUS

Raider challenge: Clarke Central High School sophomore Carlos Elam practices the ropes bridge at Raiders' practice. "(JROTC Raiders) conditions their minds and their body," CCHS JROTC instructor Lorenda Harris said. "It builds character and makes them a bit more discipline and become more competitive."

Photo by Carlo Nasisse

Staff

October 2011

The ODYSSEY is published monthly. Published opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of anyone other than the staff.

The ODYSSEY is a student produced newsmagazine, published with the intent to inform, entertain and give voice to the Clarke Central High School community, as well as to educate student journalists. Each issue is an open public forum for student expression under the guidance of a faculty adviser.

Student journalists are provided with opportunities to investigate, inform, interpret and to evaluate: all traditionally accepted functions of the press in America.

The ODYSSEY staff is committed to reflect the mission statement set forth by Clarke Central High School. The goals of the staff are to provide fair, accurate news and commentaries, as well as to serve the interests of the school and Athens’ community.

Advertising must conform to the guidelines set forth for editorials. Publication of advertisements does not indicate an endorsement by CCHS or by the ODYSSEY. Students pictured in advertisements are not given monetary compensation. All advertising rates are available upon request from any ODYSSEY staff member.

The ODYSSEY is a member of the Quill and Scroll Honor Society, Georgia Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association, National Scholastic Press Association, and Southern Interscholastic Press Association.

Corrections of errors and omissions will appear in the next issue.

Editor-in-Chief: Caleb Hayes Managing Editor: Emma Kissane Senior Copy Editor: Mollie Sherman Business Manager Haley Hunt Public Relations Manager: Olivia Murphy Viewpoints Editor: Alexa Friedman News Editor: Chloe Hargrave Variety Editor: Hannah Dunn-Grandpre Sports Editor: Madison Jasiulevicius Photography Editor: Carlo Nasisse Graphics/Layout Manager: Caleb Hayes Web Master: Austin DeFoor Staff Writers: Jenny Alpaugh, Radford Brosius, Mary Winn Granum, Hannah Greenberg, Paola Hilario, Andre Mack-Robinson, Dory MacMillan, Porter McLeod, Raul Medrano, Dylan Reeves, Gabrielle Saupe, Madeliene Schmidt Adviser: David A. Ragsdale Co-Adviser: Gillian R. Miller

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE Clarke Central High School 350 S. Milledge Avenue Athens, Georgia 30605 Phone: (706) 357-5200, Ext. 17370 Fax: (706) 357-5269

D

uring the 48 years of the late journalist William “Billy” Vaughn’s life, he impacted the world around him through his writing.

Vaughn’s wife, current Clarke Central High School English department teacher Lenora Vaughn, has worked towards the compilation of his entire portfolio of journalistic work.

In a black binder full of newspaper clippings that have yellowed with age, Lenora has carefully organized the most significant era of Billy’s career. With this black binder, she tells the story of the “Billy Vaughn Act.” Billy was an editor and reporter – often both – for newspapers all over the South and collected numerous Georgia Press Association Awards throughout his 30 years in the field.

While writing for the Clayton News Daily, Billy published the article “Confessions of a Drug Dealer” in 1988. The story, focused around a local drug dealer referred to only as “Carlos,” trapped Billy in a legal complication that tested his integrity as a journalist.

By refusing to reveal the true identity of the pseudonymed dealer to a district attorney, Billy was put on trial and sentenced to 100 hours of community service.

Lenora’s black binder has every headline and chronological detail surrounding the Billy Vaughn Act that was established after her late husband’s trial caught fire in the media. In response to Billy’s trial, legislation was introduced in 1989 and passed in 1990 as the Press Shield Law in Georgia, the fifteenth state to do so at the time. This law protects all reporters and their sources’ confidentiality.

Once the incident was over and the laws were in place, Billy continued his career until 2007, two years before he passed in his sleep on April 30, 2009.

Lenora keeps the memory of Billy alive through his work. With it, she tells the story of how his article covering the mysterious death of an 18-month-old infant harshly impacted the Department of Family and Child Services system in the county, ultimately leading to the firing and re-hiring the majority of the staff because of the Photo courtesy of Lenora Vaughn negligence he revealed.

She tells the humorous stories, such as when “Carlos” sent Billy a cake in the shape of a 100 dollar bill for protecting his identity, right before he skipped town and was never Above: MULTI-TASKING REPORTER: William "Billy" Vaughn conducts and interview while taking photos of his subject. Billy was heard from put on trial for not revealing the identity of one of his sources in again.

1988, and two years later Press Shield laws were passed in Georgia Twenty-two to protect the rights of journalists and their sources. years after “Confessions of a Drug Dealer” was published, journalists in the state of Georgia are still protected. Billy did the time in order to protect future journalists and the information they need to keep secretive.

By standing up for his beliefs, Billy made a change through his actions, a change that preserves our freedoms.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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October 2011

Viewpoints

Letters to the editor

Corrections/Omissions

May 2011

Hearing the harmonies

On pg. 3, Paul Rambeau’s last name was misspelled.

On pg. 15, Ridwan Bhuyian’s last name was misspelled.

On pg. 15, Andre Mack-Robinson’s last name was misspelled.

On pg. 31, the picture of Little Italy was taken by Paola Hilario.

On pg. 41, Kevin Erickson’s last name was misspelled.

On pg. 46, Alanna Pierce’s last name was misspelled.

On pg. 46, Jeremiah Warren’s first name was misspelled.

I enjoy LyriQ very much. They’re the first singing group at our school. It seems like everybody raps these days but not too many people sing. The fact that they can sing A Capella shows their skills.

I like the quote from Dubose about the only pressure being the pressure you put on yourself. I also like what Paul’s mom says about staying humble.

-- Kwanzaa Dunbar, senior Above: Our readers critique the May 2011 issue.

The ODYSSEY staff apologizes for any errors or omissions in our content. We appreciate our readers’ support and understanding as we strive to make corrections.

Sincerely, The ODYSSEY staff

A high school transition

Law of the land

I thought the “Georgia on my mind” article was very interesting. Like Candice, I experienced some of the things she went through. When I moved here from California four years ago, I felt like I did not fit in because of the differences.

It is nice to know how other states are different and the types of experiences people go through in order to accommodate to the differences.

-- Kiara Mejia, junior

Thank you for your efforts to address difficult issues in a mature and informative way. Your recent article “Cuffed: a glimpse into the adult justice system” is just one example of a careful handling of what is a complex and provocative subject. You incorporated personal experiences with important facts in a way that provided our students with an interesting and relevant article. We have many students at CCHS who are dealing with grown-up problems and challenges. It would be easy to avoid these often controversial subjects, but I have never known the ODYSSEY staff to shy away from topics that could be tricky to handle. You represent the student body and community of Clarke Central with excellence and creativity, and we all benefit from it.

Thank you for your dedication to your work on this superb publication, and in this article in particular.

Culture shock

I read Samuel Woerz’s article about being German and I liked it. I really saw the struggle because I went through it, too. I came from my home country El Salvador when I was about 7 and nobody could understand me. I didn’t know any English and I felt like an outcast.

Samuel Woerz’s article reminded me that we all struggle no matter where you’re from.

--Charly Chavez, sophomore

Hitting home I especially liked the article, “Mama Makes Time.” I found it very interesting to read about a disease that is not commonly spoken of.

It really helps you realize how different, yet functional, each family can be.

-- Addie Downs, freshman

-- Ginger Lehmann English department

Dear readers, The ODYSSEY welcomes your feedback, input and letters. We ask that all letters be under 250 words and signed. We reserve the right to omit or edit any letters received. Insulting, unsigned or libelous statements will not be considered for publication. Mail or e-mail letters to the address below or drop off at the main office, care of the ODYSSEY. Sincerely,

Caleb Hayes, Editor-in-Chief

Learning the law I read the article, “Cuffed: a glimpse into the adult justice system.” I enjoyed the fluent language, and the descriptions of the offendee’s charges. I thoroughly enjoyed being educated about Athens’ system of jurisdiction and the processes of the law. The depth of the article, not to mention the captivating writing, has ultimately kept me wanting more. All and all, it was a marvelous piece of work.

--Tobi Brown freshman

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Clarke Central High School 350 S. Milledge Avenue Athens, GA 30605 Phone: (706) 357-5200 Fax: (706) 3575269

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Viewpoints

October 2011

Our Take

Advancing in life

I

C

larke Central High School offers 16 different Advanced Placement courses of the 34 that exist. With such a wide variety, students have the opportunity to find the course that is right for them.

As a student who has taken four AP courses, I have found that the best way to succeed in an AP course is to pick subjects that interest you, not those that will interest college admissions offices or your parents. Taking advantage of AP courses solely to get into prominent schools or to satisfy your family’s expectations is the wrong mindset to have when considering AP courses.

If you can take multiple AP courses and handle the coursework that AP classes offer, then that’s an accomplishment. However, if you feel that cramming four AP courses in one semester isn’t the right decision for you, don’t feel like you have to.

“Generally, kids who are able to do AP level work can probably handle a couple AP classes at least a semester, but sometimes people think they have to squeeze in as many as they can because they’re trying to get into Ivy League schools, and that’s not necessarily true,” CCHS counselor Heidi Nibbelink said.

After considering the possibility of getting involved in an AP course, it’s solely your decision to pursue it, even when the CCHS administrative team highly stresses that you should.

“They want to make sure Infographic by Caleb Hayes that students know the level Above: FACE THE FACTS: A student’s experience in Advanced Placement courses impacts that student's chances of being of commitadmitted into certain colleges or receiving scholarships. ment that’s required and that they have made a thoughtful and deliberate decision to be in the Advanced Placement course,” CCHS counselor Lenore Katz said. “The prerequisite that (is) sometimes required so that students don’t come out of (an AP course) once they make the commitment to be in it.”

Stop choosing multiple AP classes just to get the college credit or into prominent schools. Take AP classes in your area of interest to earn the college credit and to enjoy learning at the same time.

AP classes are just like sports. When you enjoy the sport you’re playing, you try your best to excel. When you choose the AP classes that interest you, your main intent should be to excel.

When you make a concise decision about the AP classes that are right for you and remain committed to the AP course of your interest, you’re thinking smarter rather than working harder.

t’s the middle of second block and your stomach rumbles.

You reach into your backpack and pull out a sticky, sweet honeybun while your Mello-Yello sits precariously perched on the edge of your desk. The teacher announces a pop quiz, and in a frenzy, you accidentally knock over your in-class feast.

Laughing off clumsiness is your solution to the spill, although this hardly fixes the much more prominent issue at hand: maintaining cleanliness at Clarke Central High School.

We see our loyal custodial staff working diligently on a daily basis to clean up behind us. However, classrooms often have reoccurring pest problems, including rodents, insects and other seemingly unidentifiable species.

The responsibility for the infestation of unwanted creatures falls solely on the students. Our indifference towards the messes we create invites a plethora of critters to romp every square inch of CCHS. The proof of the uninvited company is undeniable; we’re treated to droppings and gnawed apart pieces of school supplies on a daily basis. CCHS science department teacher Buddy Sims is a witness of the creatures’ activity. “(I walked into the Biology lab) and I saw a hole chewed through (a) box.

When I opened the box, somewhat apprehensively, I was scared a rat was going to jump out and attack me,” Sims said. “Although there was no rat, there was clear evidence that there had been one there before.”

When we neglect to clean our messes properly, we are left with grotesque evidence and our school becomes an unhealthy learning environment.

According to the National Insulation Company, buildings lose thermal efficiency when rodents destroy the insulation. Additionally, the interaction between humans and animals through food and airborne microorganisms can be a source of infection and disease.

Not only is student and faculty health a concern, but money becomes a factor when animals make their way into our hallways. When the creatures chew up cords, electrical repair costs are yet another result of our careless messiness.

As students, our main focus should be to learn and excel, rather than worrying about overnight invasions that may have taken place around our desks.

We spend seven hours at school each of five days a week, not to mention the time spent with clubs, sports and other activities that extend our hours on school grounds. As students, we should want this part of our day to be healthy.

The solution to this problem is simple: treat our school with the utmost respect. Think before you break into your crumbly cookie or your bag of overflowing sunflower seeds. Instead of hearing paws and squeaks, let’s earn the privilege to enjoy our snacks and strive to make CCHS squeaky clean.

Cartoon by Caleb Hayes

Above: NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING, EXCEPT FOR A MOUSE: Unless we make the effort to keep our school clean, rodents will continue to run rampant through CCHS.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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October 2011

Viewpoints

Thumbs Photos by Alexa Friedman

The ODYSSEY staff’s opinions on this month’s issues.

Keep your head up

What's so Glad about it?

Despite the discouraging losses they’ve faced, the Clarke Central High School softball team continues to give their all on the field and are there for their fellow teammates through both the good times and the bad.

Glad Time was added into the daily schedule at CCHS for the 2011-12 school year with the purpose of providing students with study time, some students would rather be texting, napping or snacking.

New and improved

CCHS students have a bad habit of leaving food and messes in the Miller Jordan Food Court. It’s past time to get our school clean, one lunch tray at a time.

After two years of rebuilding, the Georgia Theatre is open for business. The new facility is a rebirth of an Athens, Ga. landmark and is once again a familiar Downtown hang-out.

Bringing back the pep

Mary-ed to her job New associate principal Mary Thielman commutes for up to four hours a day to work with the CCHS family. Now that's what we call committement.

Dressed to impress?

While it's a cool idea fro CCHS students to dress up every now and then, it begs the question: what about the kids who cannot afford dressy clothes?

Rather than spotlighting a desire to look and act good, it'll call more attention to student differences.

Missing opportunities The new Athens Community Career Academy has several great classes to offer, but who knows about it?

I

f there’s one thing teenagers love, it’s a fad. Usually formed on a whim, trends can spread through a high school at lightning speed. People can easily be judged on who knows about the current craze and how quickly they pick up on it.

They’re fast, exciting and usually have expired by the time anyone over the age of 30 catches on.

Today, in the golden age of digital communication, most trends are based in the fastest, most responsive place: the internet. Every day, new websites are formed, and people find cooler ways to desperately share everything about themselves with half-strangers. One of these is the “exclusive” music-based networking program Spotify.

Spotify is a legal, music-sharing program in which users can listen and respond to songs without actually downloading them. They can also connect with Facebook friends to share ideas and opinions on music.

For weeks, a couple of my friends have insisted that I download the program and create an account. Their main arguments were that it was new and free, which was enough to convince me.

I went to the home page, where I was greeted by a motivating beat and a video telling me about the advantages of Spotify. Bright colors and large text decked the sides of the website. “Spotify is so good,” reads a quote from Mark Zuckerburg, who founded Facebook, the popular social networking site and internet partner of Spotify.

At first glance, Spotify appeared to be a magical version of iTunes in which I had access to every song in the world, even if they weren’t downloaded. Any song can be searched and listened to in full with no charge. Any disadvantages were made up by the program’s expansive library of free music.

However, it soon became apparent to me that the social networking aspect that defines Spotify is also its greatest downfall. As soon as I began browsing, I became anxious about my suddenly-public music library. I couldn’t decide which songs deserved a “star” ranking.

I was nervous about how I set up my playlists. And, most of all, I didn’t want my friends who use Spotify to know how much Beyonce I have. The fact that everything I enjoyed privately was now accessible to all of my friends simply defeated the purpose of any social, musiclistening program.

My experience with Spotify was much like my experience with any of my generations lightningfast trends. I conformed and joined in simply because of its popularity, and was disappointed with what I found. I predict that, despite the hype leading to its U.S. release, Spotify will go the way of MySpace, Google Buzz, Pandora, and so many other web crazes: downhill from here.

Above: YOU CAN’T STOP THE BEAT: The music social networking site Spotify is an easy way to share songs friends for free, but like all fads, it’s already on its way out of the spotlight.

-- Compiled by Viewpoints staff

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ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Photo courtesy of http://www.technobuffalo.com

CCHS held its first pep rally in three years to get the Gladiator pride pumped up before the big rivalry game with Cedar Shoals High School. The pep was a success; the Gladiators took home the gold for the fourth consecutive year.

Filth in the food court

Spotting a fad

Viewpoints

October 2011

Glad to be in Glad Time The addition of Glad Time to Clarke Central High School's daily schedule can be beneficial to students who take advantage of it.

O

ne girl in the back of the room is tex(Glad Time),” CCHS Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker said. “I think it’s a win-win ting under her desk. A boy a few rows situation for both the student as well as the teacher.” ahead has his head down, nearly Some might think that this addition to the schedule is a waste of time in the asleep against the desk. A couple of students school day or that students in need of assistance should arrange a meeting time across the room are passing a worksheet back with teachers before or after school. For the school as a whole, however, Glad and forth, trying to finish the homework due in Time has the potential to reduce the frequency of one of our school’s major their next class. academic problems: poor Unfortunately, “If (a) teacher didn’t stay afterschool, class grades. this is a common “A lot of (the time), our now (a student) can go in during (Glad scene in Glad students here are in need of

BY MARY WINN GRANUM Viewpoints Writer Time. Many Time). I think it’s a win-win situation for remediation, but, with this Clarke Central being such an active school both the student as well as the teacher.”

High School students are wasting time that has with after-school activities, been provided to help them. students who needed reme--DR. ROBBIE P. HOOKER, diation (were) not going,” For years, CCHS has seen regular schedule changes -- including alterations to school day Clarke Central High School Principal Assistant Principal Reginald length and the restriction of A/B day schedulThomas said. ing -- designed to improve the school’s overall The students of CCHS performance, all of which have been short-lived solutions. have been given a chance to make up for a lack of after-school academic The current experiment to solve CCHS’ daily woes is to include Glad Time, involvement. This new opportunity, however, can only be effective if it is used a thirty-two minute block of supplementary instructional time between second to its full advantage. and third blocks.

Glad Time should not turn into another scrapped idea in our school’s trash The goal of Glad Time is simple: to give students study time or a chance to bin. This new block of time can help CCHS students succeed in their classes, receive remediation outside of regular class time. If this goal is actually met but only if Glad Time is continuously used well. with real benefits for students, Glad Time can be a very positive thing for CCHS. The students of CCHS need to take advantage of this opportunity. We have “If (a) teacher didn’t stay after school, now (a student) can go in during half an hour a day set aside for our benefit; let’s not waste it.

Below: NOBODY PUTS POTENTIAL IN A CORNER: When Clarke Central High School students do not use Glad Time effectively, they are wasting the opportunity to improve in their classes and to get one-on-one assistance from their teachers.

Cartoon by William Kissane

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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October 2011

Viewpoints

Question of the month

Which do you like better, tricking or treating?

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“Tricking; I went Trick-orTreating once in July with my friend, and we went to an old lady’s house and she said, ‘It’s Halloween already?’”

--Audrey Spiers sophomore “Treating; we’re giving to people, and it’s making them happy.”

-- Kayla Henderson junior

“Treating (was) good when we were small, but now we’re old so it’s better to trick; it’s more fun.”

-- Eric Savedra junior

Change for the worst

N

ot a bell can be heard as nothing but empty silence signifies the class change and students pour out of classes at staggered intervals. Two girls walk out of the restroom, coughing out the second-hand smoke they just inhaled.

Policies have certainly changed at Clarke Central High School for the 2011-12 school year. Although the intention may have been to fix problems at CCHS by implementing policies for the new school year, they seem to have done more harm than good. “(The Administrative team) is trying to eliminate some of the smoking and some of the other activities that may go on outside in some of those areas out there,” Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas said.

The students certainly aren’t smoking outside anymore; you don’t have to walk farther than any bathroom in the building to know that. To be fair, students still smoked in the restrooms even when we were allowed to go outside.

However, every time I go into the bathrooms this year I fear that I’ll leave with a minor case of Black Lung and that subtle smell of smoke still stuck to me.

But at least I can text my friends and warn them about which bathrooms are smokier than a forest fire, thanks to the new policy that allows students to use cell phones during class changes and lunchtime, after so many years of strict enforcement of a no-cell-phones-in-sight policy.

While I enjoy this particular freedom – and the looks on teachers’ faces when they see students using their phones during school and cringe at their inability to stop us – it has only made the texting-in-class problem worse from what I have seen.

It works like this: students text in the halls and during lunch, but that only starts a conversation, which they will then have to continue in their classes.

There is an issue, however, of whether or not students can use phones in the classroom during a class change. The new no-bell policy adds to the confusion, leading to daily teacher-student time discrepancies.

It’s all just too much.

The cycle of testing students each year with new policies and freedoms and then changing them again every fall may keep me on my feet, but it doesn’t seem to make very much progress with the real problems.

“Tricking; one year I got egged in the face a couple of times.”

-- Jackson Fleuranvil Senior “I would love to treat, however I never get any visitors to treat. So I have resorted to tricking, and that should not bring me pleasure, but I like to scare people.”

-- Tiffani Knight CAPS department

Cartoon by William Kissane

Above: CHANGING IT UP: The new policies implemented this year at Clarke Central High School make little progress in the school and only serve to confuse students.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Viewpoints

October 2011

Messing up the Miller

Clarke Central High School’s Miller Jordan Food Court has been mistreated; students should do a better job cleaning up after themselves.

Photos by Gabrielle Saupe Graphic by Alexa Friedman

E

very day in Clarke Central High School’s Miller Jordan Food Court is “Doomsday.”

The messy monsters destroy every table and every booth. There’s hardly ever a decent place to sit. Yuck. I can’t believe people leave messes to be cleaned.

I take out one of my handy-dandy sanitary wipes and go to work. I can’t eat lunch on such a messy table. Let me see what I’m working with... A few

BY TIANNA WILSON plates are still at the table and someone must have Guest Writer spilled some honey mustard.

Analyzing the table, I spot something peculiar; there wasn’t anything green on the lunch menu today. As I wipe down the table, I feel the suspicious slime sticking to my wipe, as if it’s fighting to stay. It smells. I wonder how long it has been sitting there and how it got that color.

Please clean up your messes.

Every single day, without fail, I have to clean off a table. Third lunch is the worst; plenty of people have eaten in the food court already and mysterious foods have been left behind. Once, someone had even left spilled juice in one of the seats at the booths and I had to clean that up. My job isn’t to go around cleaning up behind high school kids.

It seems that CCHS students don’t care enough to think about other people in the school. The custodial staff here isn’t very big and “(The CCHS administrators) care having to clean up behind about the school, and we want (stu1,500 students seems like a pain. dents) to care.”

People carelessly and often times purposefully leave -- REGINALD THOMAS, disaster-like messes in the Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal food court. It’s not cool.

Please clean up your messes.

“It’s somebody’s job (to clean up messes). Someone has to do it, if you (CCHS students) won’t,” CCHS custodial staff Roman Parrish said.

Many of the CCHS students may think, “It’s the custodians’ job to clean” or, “why do I care how the custodians feel about the mess?” But students should also be aware that messes in the food court affect everyone in the school and it only makes us look bad.

Students should have the decency and respect to clean up after themselves, both outside of school and in school. It’s only respectful to the custodial staff, if you do so. Yes, it is the custodians’ job to clean; but it is not there job to pick up after you.

By now, we shouldn’t have to be reminded to pick up behind ourselves.

I’m sure parents, guardians or previous teachers have continuously drilled you about cleaning up behind yourself as you were growing up.

Please clean up your messes. “(The CCHS administrators) care about the school, and we want (students) to care,” CCHS Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas said.

Thomas is calling out to the student body. He wants this to be a clean school. It’s good to know I’m not the only one that cares. I no longer want another “Doomsday.”

CCHS is for the students and as the students we should care for our school.

We are all at CCHS for approximately four years. While we are here, we should treasure our school for ourselves and many others to enjoy.

Please clean up your messes.

School is not a landfill.

Get the picture.

Above: TAKING OUT THE TRASH: As high school students, we should be able to pick up after ourselves, instead of leaving the mess for someone else to . “(The

Clarke Central High School administrators) care about the school, and we want (students) to care,” CCHS Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas said.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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October 2011

Viewpoints

The search for success

S

uccess is immeasurable. Try as we might, we cannot put a label on what makes each of us feel proud.

But this ambiguity unfortunately leads to confusion, frustration and prejudice. As teenagers, we struggle to discover what success means to us, instead of what it means to society. And when we see those around us who achieve “success” by dishonest means, do we let that define the future we choose?

A handful of Clarke Central High School students anonymously shared with me their own definitions of success. Answers generally included something along the lines of personal fulfillment and supporting a family.

But when we graduate from CCHS and enter the real world, we will face the fact that success instead stems from money and power. It seems as if you’d better just find happiness along the way if you’re still naïve enough to care.

“It’s harder to be successful if you’re worrying about money, especially if money equals happiness… then what else do you have,” one student asked.

Although we live with and live by the definition of success being monetary, none of us want to say it out loud. We are more inclined to profess worthy desires and humble goals. We blush when we’re asked to define success; we can’t bear to think that we don’t always hold ourselves to honest standards.

But the evidence that society’s material inclinations are seeping in to our young minds is everywhere.

Maybe our “successful” next-door neighbor makes money doing something illegal. Maybe he is the successful one in our eyes, because his family is well-fed and his car has a new sound system.

So he becomes our role model, rather than our other neighbor who lives honestly but whose family lives pay check to pay check.

It’s no wonder why young men walk around with money on their minds, in their hands and in their lyrics, rather than the math required to balance a bank account.

I can’t think of a time when I’ve heard anything from one of the “successful” businessmen in our country besides essentially bickering about maximizing profits. We see success on the TV in the form of rich men, but we don’t know the story of how they got there. Is he happy?

It all comes down to the same thing -- we may be young, but we’ve already figured out it’s all just a money game, a power game.

As we confront the choices which will essentially guide the rest of our lives, I wish I could say the majority of adults were giving us more than double-standards and hypocrisy.

I am beyond tired of adults complaining that my generation is lazy, ungrateful, unskilled and bound for disaster. They ask for the least amount of effort from and

have the lowest-possible expectations for a student who intimidates them with his creativity but just needs a little help with reading.

Yet 10 years ago, when we were in elementary school, these same people refused to challenge us when the opportunity existed. They sent six-year-olds the message that they weren’t “gifted.” What we are now capable of doesn’t come close to what we could have been capable of if we had been encouraged and pushed from the beginning.

When students are told so early in their lives that they either are or are not headed in the right direction, it stands to reason that they will make the connection between socioeconomic status and future success.

So we ask ourselves the question: which dreams do we chase?

We have to choose.

We all have our own dreams, those outlandish and unrealistic dreams about which we were passionate and wanted to achieve, but never got around to working towards in between answering to everyone else.

But the choice we are expected to make is to follow the dreams we are expected to have, those which are limiting and segregating, and those which we have been prepared for and funneled towards since we were too young to know the difference.

BELOW: WEIGHING THE SCALE: For today’s teenagers, there is a constant pressure to make a decision between the messages coming from the heart versus those from the wallet -- we are led from a young age to believe that our future depends on the socioeconomic status we attain throughout our lives.

Cartoon by William Kissane

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ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Viewpoints

October 2011

Cartoon by William Kissane

Putting on the red and gold

M

y life took a 180degree turn at the start of my junior year.

I left Providence Academy Christian School, a place where I was comfortable, to go to the unknown -- Clarke Central High School.

BY Jasmine Norton Guest Writer I said goodbye to the familiarity of my small, private school and embraced the hustle and bustle of CCHS. But it was an academic and cultural change for me.

My former school, PACS, is different from most schools. It has what is called a distant learning program, which means students can choose how many and which days they come to school. Tuition is based on how many days you come to school.

I only went Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. And on days when I didn’t go to school, I worked at home, which taught me important habits such as self-motivation, perseverance and good study skills.

Above: NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Clarke Central High School senior Jasmine Norton’s life changed drastically at the start of her junior year, when she left Providence Academy Christian School and started attending CCHS.

C entral

Faith through movement

Naturally, CCHS was a very big change for me.

As soon as I stepped through the doors on Aug. 11, 2010, I was immediately aware of the differences. PACS is a predominantly white school, whereas CCHS is very diverse. The environment was so much different from what I was used to so, at first it was overwhelming and stressful for me.

Conversations that I heard shocked me and I was appalled at how casually people talked about offensive topics. For CCHS students, it was as casual as talking about the weather.

The class sizes were thee times those of my old school, which made me feel like the personal feeling of learning was gone. I didn’t know how I’d ever learn the names of people in one class, let alone four classes.

Eventually, I figured it out.

I stopped getting lost going to class, I reconnected with old friends and made new one and I learned the importance of actually doing nightly homework.

I became a part of the CCHS girls track team and developed lasting bonds and good memories, I shed some tears and lost a lot of sweat, but thankfully lost no blood.

Yes, CCHS is very different from my old school but I like them both.

However, I’m truly glad to be a Glad and proud to be in the graduating class of 2012. As you can see, I’ve proudly put on the red and gold.

SpeakS

Photo courtesy of Janeiria Dupree

I

express my love for God through miming -- bodily gestures, feelings and emotions of a song -- with what is called silent expressions ministry at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church.

In Chestnut Grove Silent, we uses miming

BY Janeiria Dupree Guest Writer to minister the gospel and worship. We use face paint on our faces, so that the audience focuses on our expressions and our movement, instead of focusing on our faces.

Every time we minister to our church or other churches, we receive a standing ovation. It touches us so much because when our miming touches so many people, we feel it changes their lives.

It feels fantastic to know that we are changing lives.

Our pastor is very proud of us because more teens are getting involved with ministering the word of God to others.

I love miming and I am glad that I am able to be in such an inspirational experience.

Above: BODY LANGUAGE: Clarke Central High School senior Janeiria Dupree (right) expresses her faith with a group of fellow mimes at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church. "It feels fantastic to know that we are changing lives," Dupree said.

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News

October 2011

Getting ID’d For the 2011-12 school year, students at Clarke Central High School will receive an identification card provided by Lifetouch photography. “(The ID policy) is for safety reasons. I know of one or two incidents (when) people have come from the community and walked right in the building early in the morning,” CCHS Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker said. “We want to be able to say to our staff that you can look at a kid’s ID and identify that child.”

Students must have the IDs visible at all times during the school day and during CCHS- related extracurricular activities after school. The ID Graphic by Austin DeFoor cards will also be used to check out library books and buy lunch.

“This is why we took pictures so early this school year,” Hooker said. “Each student will also get a lanyard to place their ID on.”

Show your PRIDE The Clarke Central High School Administration team has implemented a new initiative: Gladiator PRIDE. The acronym stands for Preparation, Respect, Integrity, Determination and Excellence,

Program of honors Every summer, approximately 700 rising juniors and seniors from throughout Georgia gather on the Valdosta State University campus for a fourweek residential program known as the Governor’s Honors Program.

“It’s hard to put (GHP) in words. It’s really a full immersion process; you’ll make a lot of friends you’ll have the rest of your life down (at VSU),” Clarke Central High School gifted coordinator Ray Clark said.

Each year in September, rising juniors and seniors throughout Georgia are nominated by a teacher for GHP. After their nomination, the student attends a statewide screening interview alongside several other nominees.

GHP provides education to students in the four core subjects of math, English, social studies and science, as well as foreign languages and various art forms.

“CCHS students have historically always attended (GHP), and (CCHS) can only send eight (students) per school,” Clark said.

Photo by Carlo Nasisse

News briefs

five traits which students are encouraged to exhibit during school. “(Gladiator PRIDE) is all about bringing a positive culture to the school; if someone corrects you in a positive manner, you’ll generally be more responsive to what the teacher is saying,” Clarke Central High School Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas said.

Gladiator PRIDE was created by the Positive Behavior Incentive Support committee, which consists of both administrators and teachers who met several times throughout the summer to assemble the program for the 2011-12 school year.

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Expressing yourself

oetic Soulz, a club based on writing, poetry and self-expression, was founded by former Clarke Central High School English department teacher Lindy Crace at the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. This year, CCHS English department teacher Ginger Lehmann has taken charge of Poetic Soulz. “(The club) gives (students) a place to share their work and to talk to each other about what they’re working on and also about what inspired their work, so it becomes a social bonding outlet,” Lehmann said.

The club currently has four members: junior Kwanzaa Dunbar and seniors Nick Chavis, Rose Murphy and Paul Rambeau. “(As a club member), you’re basically expressing how you feel about poetry; how (poetry) reacts to you and your life,” Rambeau said.

Above: POWER OF POETRY: Clarke Central High School’s Poetic Soulz club meets every Tuesday to use creative writing as students’ outlets. Left: IDENTITY CRISIS: Clarke Central High School students will be given an identification card for the 2011-12 school year. However, students will be forced to wear them throughout the day. Below: FRESH PRINCE OF CENTAL: Students must dress nicely on Wednesday of every week as a part of CCHS’ new “Dress for Success” program.

D

ress for success Wednesdays are the first initiative of the newly assembled Gladiator PRIDE committee at Clarke Central High School for the 2011-12 school year.

“The football players started (Dress for success) off and did it a week early. Sometimes if other students see something is going on, they see that it’s OK and possibly fun,” CCHS science department teacher Dr. Michael Gatlin said.

Male students were asked to wear non-blue jean bottoms and a Polo style or button-down shirt with a tie, and females were asked to wear skirts, dresses or slacks with a professional-style shirt. The Gladiator

Photo by Gabrielle Saupe

Students get suited PRIDE committee is encouraging full participation from the students each Wednesday.

The committee asked all athletic coaches, as well as advisers of clubs and organizations, to require all of their members to use this day as a normal part of their week. Some students, however, believe it will have a negative effect to the learning environment.

“I don’t think (Dress for success) is a very good idea,” CCHS sophomore Caroline Orlando said.

“When you dress up nicely, it’s more uncomfortable, so you won’t do as well in class because it’s more of a distraction.”

--Page by Austin Defoor

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October 2011

News

Clarke Central welcomes Glad Time Clarke Central High School now provides extra time for students to study or receive remediation for certain classes.

A

new class has been added to all Clarke Central High School students’ schedules for the 2011-12 school year. After second period, students attend Glad Time as opposed to going directly to third period.

“Glad Time is a (32) minute period every day that allows students to get extra help or remediation in classes they’re struggling with, or (classes that) may be difficult for them,” social studies department teacher David Cleveland said.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday students spend 32 minutes in this period. In addition to remediation and study time, advisement occurs during Glad Time. Advisement is held on Mondays and Fridays, although last year, it was on every other Thursday. “(Glad Time is) beneficial for kids that are behind, (that) maybe need a little extra tutoring or maybe make up a test that they have not done well on,” Career, Technical and Agricultural Education teacher Vera Giles said.

Students are also given the choice to attend study hall, where they can work on homework or other assignments. Teachers can request students during Glad Time whose grades are at risk or who need extra help in his or her specific class. Every two-week period, students and teachers decide where students will spend their Glad Time.

“Since the students are allowed to choose (what they do during Glad Time) they’re more willing to attend, commit and try hard,” Cleveland said.

The decision to initiate the new advisement time was originally made by the Georgia Department of

BY HANNAH GREENBERG News Writer

Infographic by Caleb Hayes

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Education due to lack of advisement hours.

“There was a new initiative brought forth by the state department where (schools) have to have so many hours of advisement,” CCHS Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas said. “The original amount of time that we were spending was not going to be enough to meet the requirements for this program.”

Glad Time makes tutoring available to students who have obligations after school.

“The (after-school) tutoring is good, but the hard thing is getting the kids to stay,” Giles said. “This way (Glad Time is) built in and it forces (students) to stay, but it’s a good thing; it’s a good force.”

Senior Andrew Fenton has spent the last two weeks in Giles’s study hall for extra remediation.

“I have a job after school so I usually use (Glad Time) as time to help me with my homework,” Fenton said.

In the future, administrators expect that Glad Time will be used for club meetings and activities, increasing the number of students participating in school functions.

“We’re hoping in January to move to where we can have clubs during (Glad Time) and enrichment activities,” CCHS Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker said. “The second semester we can bring on more stuff, so it’s exciting.”

Although Glad Time might be beneficial to some students, students in the Career Academy are unable to attend the Glad Time sessions due to the timing of transportation between the Career Academy and CCHS. “(The fact that the Career Academy students are unable to attend Glad Time) is a dilemma we

knew we were going to have to deal with,” Hooker said. “That’s something the Administration Team is working on.”

Sophomore Tiffanie Sims attends the Career Academy in the afternoons. Sims is able to attend Glad Time before leaving, but knows that the situation is different for other students.

For students who attend the Career Academy, Glad Time is rendered useless -- they arrive back at CCHS only minutes before third period, or have to leave for the Career Academy at the beginning of Glad Time.

Other students consider Glad Time to be a waste of their time.

“I think Glad Time is a good idea for some (students), but it becomes useless to me being a senior and having only one core class at Clarke Central right now,” senior Renee Johnson said. “I’m not falling behind in this core class (so the extra time is not necessary).”

Although some students may not feel they need the extra block in their schedule, Hooker is hopeful about the success it will bring to the CCHS community. “(Glad Time) is a win-win situation for both the students as well as the teachers,” Hooker said.

Left: CRAM TIME: Glad Time offers extra time during the school day for students to gain extra support in certain classes. “Usually I ask questions about anything I need help in or study on my own,” Clarke Central High School junior Ebony Fleming said.

Right: CHILL TIME: Students also have the opportunity to use Glad Time as a study hall. “I take study hall where I have time for myself to read and catch up on the gossip,” CCHS senior Renee Johnson said.

Photos by Carlo Nasisse

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

News

October 2011

Instructing independence Photo by Carlo Nasisse Above: PROVIDING INSTRUCTION: Walter prepares students for the second Community Based Instruction of the year where students traveled to the Athens Promenade Shopping center to practice skills such as parking lot safety. “Our goal is to create an independent adult. It will be different levels of independence for each student,” special education department teacher David Sells said.

Clarke Central High School’s special education department provides Community Based Instruction to students in order to build independence.

C

ommunity Based Instruction helps students in the special education department prepare for independence needed after high school. “(Students) need to be able to practice what it would be like in the real world, so they are taking the skills they learn at CCHS and taking them out into the real world,” special education department head Marie Yuran said.

In order to determine the focus of CBI, special education teacher Elizabeth Mooney refers to the Individual Education Plans for each student.

IEPs are legal documents compiled annually with input from parents and teachers. The plans are based on students’ progress during CBI and are revised regularly, outlining goals and objectives for each student. “(These skills connect to) what we are teaching them in school. So, we take where they are now and monitor their progress and we monitor the amount of times (students) correctly do things such as find the register,” Mooney said.

BY CHLOE HARGRAVE News Editor

During CBI, students travel to local stores including of Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Ingles, Earthfare and others, in order to learn skills needed for real-world situations.

“In my opinion (CBI trips are) a huge opportunity to generalize what we learn in the classroom.

Just because you learn about money in the classroom doesn’t mean you will know how to (use it) in the real world,” Mooney said.

Each time students and teachers return to school after CBI they will review the skills learned, which includes comparing prices and completing a shopping list for a specific recipe.

“You go into (a store) and you scan the whole store and you walk through the front of the store where all the perfume and make-up is, so where is the ladies’ section? You scan. We have to teach our kids how to scan,” special education teacher Philip Walter said.

Students learn about independent transportation and safety skills by using the Athens Transit system. “(Students) will hopefully be life-long users of the (Athens) Transit System so they can get to and from wherever they can as independently as pos-

sible after high school,” Yuran said.

During CBI, students are given a different opportunity to learn these skills.

“Our goal is to create an independent adult. It will be different levels of independence for each student,” special education department teacher David Sells said.

Students learn valuable information, and they do so in a ways that are enjoyable and different. CBI offers ways to learn independence within the student for their future careers as well as teach skills that are imperative for one to have.

For the second CBI of the year, students traveled to the Athens Promenade shopping center on Wednesday Sept. 21. Students practiced goals and objectives including parking lot safety.

“I think that (the students) enjoy the trips. I think it breaks up the monotony of being at school all day,” Mooney said. “We’re teaching that to these kids because when (they) get out in the real world, (independence is) what these kids need to learn most.”

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October 2011

News

New facility, new opportunities Photos by Carlo Nasisse Above: HANDS-ON TESTING: Clarke Central High School sophomore Aaron Nolan concentrates on his test in Introduction to Engineering, Drawing and Design, a course taught at the Athens Community Career Academy by Graham Jones. Not all students have been appreciative of the services offered and several have left the Career Academy, including senior Diana Ulloa. “I quit because I (didn't think) it was going to help me. I was enrolled in Economics and Introduction to Health Care. The teacher was saying you can get certified as a nurse after you finish but I wouldn't have time to finish (the credits I need) my senior year -- I have classes I need to take next semester," Ulloa said.

Through the Athens Community Career Academy, located on 44 Dearing Ext., Clarke Country School District high school students are able to focus on subjects beneficial to future careers.

H

Although many teachers were hired this year, igh school Madison County High School) over a variety of some moved from different to teach at the Career students programs,” Paul said. “That’s given me the insight Academy. Former CCHS teachers Graham Jones and might not to come in and say, ‘look at all these wonderful Sandra Blount have been reassigned as teachers to know what they wish to pursue as a career, but for programs and all the post-secondary options that the Career Academy this year. those who do, there is now the opportunity to take go along with those.’ ( We are trying) to put all the Different types of classes are offered in an alterclasses based upon those interests. pieces together and make it float for the students.” native setting, subjects The Career Academy opened on August are less broad and the 8th, offering their services to students from “I think there’s room for growth. They have teachers are directed to Clarke Central High School, Cedar Shoals High School and Classic City High School. a bio-science class there. They have a video facilitate their students’ learning by allowing them Each school provides transportation for their to find information for students during either the first two or the last class. They also have a music lab there. themselves. two blocks of every school day, for both seThere are a lot of opportunites over there “I’ve enjoyed that I’ve mesters. The Career Academy is under the adactually gotten to see what ministration of Chief Executive Officer Bridget for (students).” it’s like to be in a college Paul and Vice Principal Robert Williams.

“I have been the CTAE (Career, Techni--Dr. Robbie P. Hooker, environment,” CCHS cal and Agricultural Education) director (at Clarke Central High School Principal senior Paul Rambeau said.

BY DORY MACMILLAN News Writer

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ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

News “The Career Academy is making me become more of a man, forcing myself to grow up.”

There are many classes that students can choose from, based on their interests, which might include video production, nursing or architecture. Athens Tech will be offering classes to allow students to do joint-enrollment.

“In the future, (we will) have teachers from Athens Technical College, for students that have dual enrollment or joint enrollment or accel classes, or you could just (call them) post-secondary options,” Paul said.

Students have the opportunity to take a variety of classes, due to the partnership with Athens Technical College and the University of Georgia. Credits work the same way as they do at CCHS: a science class at the Career Academy counts for the same amount of units as it does at CCHS. Still, the Career Academy will continue to expand.

“I think there’s room for growth. They have a bio-science class there. They have a video class.

They also have a music lab there. There are a lot of opportunities over there for (students),” CCHS Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker said.

Despite opportunities offered at the Career Academy, some CCHS students have opted out of the program early. One such student, Diana Osorio, left the Career Academy, frustrated.

“It was really unorganized when I got there and they had hired a lot of teachers,” Osorio said. “It seemed like the teacher didn’t know what he was doing.”

October 2011

Above: THE PRODUCERS: Two Career Academy students work in their Video Broadcasting class to direct and produce student-filmed videos.

Osorio was part of the Career Academy for two weeks before deciding that the program was not for her. She did not feel that the Career Academy was offering her new and different opportunities. “(The classes at the Career Academy) were nothing that we couldn’t get here,” Osorio said.

However, other students have enjoyed the classes at the Career Academy, specifically the way that the classes are set up.

Instead of the classes at the Career Academy being more sought after than the classes offered at CCHS, Hooker believes that the two options balance each other well.

“I’m not (concerned about students only wanting to take classes at the Career Academy.) I think it’s a great balance between the two,” Hooker said.

“You get some (idea of a) college setting; eventually Athens Tech may be offering some courses. I think it’s great for students.”

Above: BEGINNING THE JOB HUNT: Clarke Central High School seniors (from left) Johnathon Rogel, Renee Johnson and Tianna Ward learn the proper interview etiquette in their Introduction to Law and Justice class at the Athens Community Career Academy.

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October 2011

News

Photos by Carlo Nasisse

Above: COLLEGIATE COMFORT: Clarke Central High School Associate Principal Mary Thielman discusses a computer issue and shares a laugh with CCHS Media Specialist Lindy Weaver in her office, located on the first floor. Thielman spends a part of each day interacting with her colleagues.

“As a faculty, these people work harder

and in a more dedicated capacity than any I have worked with before,” Thielman said.

A commitment worth the commute New Clarke Central High School Associate Principal Mary Thielman typically works 12-hour days, made longer by a fourhour travel time to and from her home in Douglasville, Ga.

T

here’s a new face at Clarke Central High School this year. You’ve probably seen her walking through the halls and establishing her place in our school, but you may not have talked to her yet or been down to visit her office on the first floor.

Mary Thielman, most recently employed as an administrator at South Cobb High School in Austell, Ga., has been hired as the Clarke Central High School Associate Principal for the 2011-12 school year.

Replacing Dr. Selena Blankenship, now the Principal at Hilsman Middle School, Thielman joins the ranks at CCHS with thirty-three years of experience in education.

“I honestly believe this is the right work for me, at the right place, at the right time. I have two (requirements) for any job: one,

BY EMMA KISSANE Managing Editor

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that I’m having fun and two, that what we do matters,” Thielman said. “If I can’t say yes to both of those (requirements), I’m going somewhere else or retiring.”

Thielman spent 26 years in classrooms as an Honors and Advanced Placement Chemistry teacher at schools in Nebraska, Iowa and then at three schools in Georgia. She spent the last six years of her career in her administrative position at SCHS. Before beginning his tenure as the Clarke County School District Superintendent, Dr. Philip Lanoue was the Area Superintendent in Cobb County, presiding over Thielman in her previous position. “(Dr. Lanoue and I) had a great working relationship. We continued our conversations and kept in touch. I told him, ‘I’d like to work for you again,’” Thielman said.

Thielman first became aware of the opening in CCHS’ adminis-

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

News

October 2011

“(During the interview), I could tell what the story was behind the questions – this school sees itself as a family. The warmth (of the staff) and their embracing nature – I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

--MARY THIELMAN, Clarke Central High School Associate Principal trative staff on July 26. She was primarily attracted to CCHS by the diversity of the school and both the challenges and opportunities such a school presents, as well as the chance to work with Lanoue again. Thielman applied for the position and was interviewed approximately one week later. “(During the interview), I could tell what the story was behind the questions -- this school sees itself as a family. The warmth (of the staff ) and their embracing nature -- I’ve never experienced anything like it,” Thielman said.

Another week passed until Thielman was released from her contract with SCHS and her new position at CCHS became certain. “(The CCHS community) shows responsibility and celebration of their students. I see it every day. I am consistently amazed by the tremendous number of programs (available at CCHS),” Thielman said. “It’s a challenge for me to create an image in my head for all the things that happen here.”

Thielman admits that, even with her enthusiasm, making the transition to her new position is a work in progress -- Thielman lives in Douglasville, Ga., requiring a four-hour round trip through Atlanta. During the school week, she usually resides at a local hotel located about a mile from CCHS. When she feels up to it, she makes the drive back home where she cares for her pets.

On a typical day, Thielman arrives at school to begin her daily preparations before most students are awake -- usually between 6:30 a.m. and 6:45 a.m. The first thing on her to-do list is checking her e-mail and “getting a clear sense of commitments for the day.”

Once the school day has officially begun with the bell at 8:25 a.m., Thielman also spends time regularly in halls and classrooms with students, as well as with members of the Administrative Team.

“I’m trying to make the transition (to Athens); it’s pretty difficult to come early and stay late. It’s a tremendous challenge and (my living situation) could take two months to get resolved,” Thielman said.

So far, Thielman has felt welcomed by her fellow administrators and faculty, many of whom have offered to assist her in any way they can as she adjusts.

“They ask me to eat dinner with them -- anything,” Thielman said. “As a faculty, these people work harder and in a more dedicated capacity than any I have worked with before.”

Despite Thielman’s busy schedule and conflicts associated with her transition, she has already assimilated to the daily duties associated with her position, including presiding over

test administration of annual standardized tests, such as the recent re-tests for the Georgia High School Graduation Test, the Writing Test and the regular administration of the GHSGTs. Thielman also has a prominent role in the arrangement of curriculum and schedules, as well as daily discipline of students.

In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Thielman has taken on an unexpected job -- she routinely assists the custodial staff by clearing tables in the Miller Jordan Food Court, something many students neglect to do for themselves.

“Doesn’t matter what the job is -- every person in the school has a certain role to fill,” Thielman said. “But we all collectively represent the school, so any job that needs to be done, any warm hands to do it and pick it up, that is what should be happening. I just think it’s part of who we are as a school community.”

Considering the pros, cons, encouraging incentives and daily challenges, Thielman is confident that she is in a school where she can both learn and teach successfully and contentedly.

“Is this opportunity right professionally and personally? Absolutely.

If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have made the return phone call,” Thielman said.

“It’s worth making it work. Four hours of commute. That alone should tell you my commitment.”

Right: DIFFERENT DAY, DIFFERENT DUTY: Clarke Central High School Associate Principal Mary Thielman occasionally adds lunch clean-up to her list of responsbilities. “We all collectively represent the school, so any job that needs to be done, any warm hands to do it and pick it up, that is what should be happening. I just think it’s part of who we are as a school community,” Thielman said.

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October 2011

News

Clean-up on Campus Saturdays in Athens cause clean-up Sundays on Clarke Central High School's campus after football fanatics leave their signature messes.

STORY BY PORTER MCLEOD News Writer

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PHOTOS BY CARLO NASISSE Photography Editor

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Variety

October 2011

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here are six home games in the 2011 University of Georgia Above: MESSING AROUND: Classic Community Church volunteer, Phil Ng, picks up garbage in front of Clarke Central High School on Sept. 11. The garbage was football schedule. After each left by UGA fans tailgating in the CCHS parking lots. home game, Clarke Central High School’s parking lots are filled with what tailgaters left behind.

On Sept., 10, after the UGA vs. South Carolina game, trash was strewn around the front campus of CCHS. For the past 15 years CCHS has been selling parking spots to tailgaters. Since then the amount of trash produced by tailgaters has increased.

“We pay (a part-time custodial staff ) to come in the day after the game to haul off any excess trash, so on Monday, when people return to campus, (the trash) will be gone,” Ward said.

For any trash which is missed service members of the Classic City Community Church clean before the 10:20 a.m. service, which is held weekly in the CCHS Mell Auditorium.

“We meet here on Sundays. We are cleaning up so we can have a nice environment to worship in,” Classic City Community Church intern Campbell Wallace said.

The Classic City Community Church has been using the CCHS facilities for the past year now.

“I feel like we should definitely give back to the school as a church.” Wallace said.

As a part of using the school as somewhere to worship, volunteers such as Wallace feel it is imperative to give back to the community.

“I clean because I love giving back to Athens, because I feel like it has given me so much in the past two years,” Wallace said.

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October 2011

Variety

Totally Running, 1720 Epps Bridge Parkway I used to not think twice about my feet. The first week of cross country practice, however, I was very aware of my feet; blisters the size of prunes made me painfully aware of each and every step I took while running. Now, thanks to Totally Running, located at 1720 Epps Bridge Parkway, blisters are a thing of my past.

On my first visit to this store I was looking for new running shoes. Using I-step technology and video gait analysis, an employee at Totally Running found a perfect shoe for my feet and running style. Video gait analysis is basically a fancy way of saying they took a video of my lower body while running on a treadmill to find out if I was a neutral runner, or if I pronate which means to excessively roll your ankle when landing, or if I do the opposite and don’t roll my ankle enough upon making impact with the ground which is called supination.

With the cost of each pair of shoes averaging about $100 these shoes are not cheap, but it is money well spent for a good pair of running shoes.

I would not recommend this store for those with smaller or larger feet, however, because they did not have a large selection of sizes smaller than seven or larger than 11, I would highly recommend Totally Running to any runner who wishes to run more comfortably.

Photo by Gabrielle Saupe

-- Jenny Alpaugh, Sports Writer

Food

Music

Muscle Milk, CytoSport

Polarberry, 2080 Timothy Rd.

Tha Carter IV, Lil Wayne

Chugging a bottle of Muscle Milk protein shake, one of many CytoSport products meant to refuel a tired body after a particularly strenuous workout, is always a satisfying experience.

At the moment I grasp the 14 oz. white plastic bottle, which itself feels muscular, my body instinctively prepares itself to be refueled and restored -- results claimed by the especially moving description on the back of the product.

Convenient store cashiers chuckle at what seems like my hopeless $3.89 attempt to get “swole,” but they don’t understand the exercise routine I have suffered to earn my moment of glory in the form of chocolate – my flavor of choice from five, a list also including vanilla crème, banana crème, strawberries and crème and chocolate malt.

Muscle Milk provides the perfect jolt of easy energy to my body in between sports practices, with 20 grams of protein and 25 vitamins and minerals.

Of course, all of this is only bonus to a deliciously creamy shake that tastes like you’re gulping strength and domination.

Any student-athlete who doesn’t have the time to fix an appropriate meal or to blend their own protein shake should consider an investment in Muscle Milk -- at least on the days when NesQuik just won’t cut it.

Polarberry, located at 2080 Timothy Rd., is an independently owned frozen yogurt business that attempts to support a family friendly atmosphere as well as an upscale dining experience.

However this combination ended in disaster.

On the interior, tall circular chairs are clustered around icicle white tables—a very clean, polished look, but proved to be a hassle climbing into for anyone who is less than six feet tall.

When ordering your yogurt you are given six options to choose from, although the server can only mix two flavors. I ordered a small “blueberry muffin,” a mixture of blueberry and vanilla, with knock-off M&Ms. My yogurt was a grand total of $5.52, including the 50 cents I paid for my topping.

The yogurt itself was mediocre. I could hardly taste the blueberry, the vanilla tasted closer to whip cream and the chocolate was Photo by Hannah Dunn-Grandpre too hard to chew for mouths with braces. Frozen yogurt is the way to go for an after dinner treat—just not at Polarberry.

Four-time Grammy award winner and rap icon, Lil Wayne, released his ninth studio album on Aug. 29.

I fell in love with this album and every song is my new favorite. There is no question about Lil Wayne being the best rapper in today’s music scene.

Every song insists that you dance along, and no two tracks are alike. They differ from smooth to fast-paced, and include techno beats or just natural piano.

“Mirror,” on the deluxe edition, featuring Bruno Mars is my favorite. It changes from Wayne’s rigid rap to Mars’ smooth singing voice. Hearing the two intermixing styles was interesting, but it’s one of the best on the album.

His music portrays the struggles of drugs, love, violence, sex and even heartbreak. He doesn’t do it alone though. Some songs feature fellow rappers such as Drake, T-Pain, Cory Gunz, Rick Ross, plus more. There’s no doubt that this track will be on repeat for weeks.

-- Emma Kissane, Managing Editor

24

--Madison Jasiulevicius, Sports Editor

-- Micaela Cromer, Guest Writer

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Variety

October 2011

Miscellaneous

TV Shows

Water bottle, Camelbak

FiveFingers, Vibram SpA

Suits, USA Network

No matter where you are, any direction you look you’re bound to see at least one person carrying around a Camelbak water bottle. They have quickly become an item that people have to have with them wherever they go.

These water bottles make very little sense. They are like regular water bottles but the price is significantly higher. Although a good Nalgene water bottle will work for an easy $5, people still are willing to pay the ridiculous $15 for a Camelbak.

Aside from the expensive price that should already turn people away and never look back, they just aren’t practical. To drink from a Camelbak, you actually have to bite down on a straw in order to get anything from them. Other water bottles have straws that work just as well without this extra effort.

There may be some good things about them, such as how some are insulated so that the outside of the bottle doesn’t get wet. Also, the straw, even with the ridiculous bite and suck feature, is still easier than having to remove the lid. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to pay three times the price.

I thought that they maybe had some ups and just some downs, but now I see that the downs are much more noticeable. The only thing I notice when I see a Camelbak is how unpractical and overpriced they are. These two factors are all that I need to make sure that I never want to buy one of these almost useless products.

The moment I saw the sleek 10-toed shoes, I had to have them.

Aside from the entertaining looks, whether they are disgusted or mesmerized, FiveFingers are the perfect fix for running, rock climbing, swimming and so much more.

Their low-cut style and individual toe pockets offer a unique barefoot feel.

Photo by Gabrielle Saupe These shoes were made to endure even the most rigorous challenges. Over the summer, I participated in an obstacle course consisting solely of red mud. As the other participants’ shoes kicked the bucket at the end of the course, I rinsed mine with a water hose proudly returning them to their out-of-the-box shine. Even after being doused with red mud for almost an hour, they were as good as new.

Fair warning, at some point in your ownership you will experience “FiveFinger Funk.” In other words, if you don’t wash them regularly, they will smell terrible.

Despite their utilitarian characteristics, FiveFingers aren’t the cheapest shoes. They run anywhere from $60-$125, but come in numerous styles and colors. I’d recommend them to anyone.

One cannot count on one hand the number of crime shows airing on television, filled with scenarios involving dead bodies or people testing DNA. These shows revolve around catching the criminal, but rarely show what happens afterwards.

However, this summer, Suits began its first season on USA Network. Suits follows two lawyers, although only one has a degree.

Harvey Specter (Gabriel Macht) has a degree and is a partner in a law firm. He hired Mike Ross (Patrick J. Adams) as his associate, although he never went to law school.

Brought together by a strange twist of fate, Ross was running from the cops when they met. Specter, after observing Ross’ unbelievable knowledge of the law, hired him as his associate. Verbal spars between Ross and Specter are humorous, and each character has proven to be extremely dynamic.

Suits is a show for anyone interested in law, crime and justice, without gore or corpses. It’s just as suspenseful, only its suspense arises within the courtroom.

--Radford Brosius, Variety Writer

-- Austin Defoor, Web Master

-- Dory MacMillan, News Writer

Photo by Gabrielle Saupe

The Universe in a Single Atom, The Dalai Lama In his eye-opening fourth book, The Universe in a Single Atom, His Holiness the Dalai Lama explores the unending mysteries of spirituality and science.

As the temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama holds a brilliant grasp on the Buddhist philosophy and combines that with forty years of study with famous scientific leaders throughout his life to challenge the thoughts of his readers and the boundaries of what they believe. Instead of arguing against science as most religious leaders tend to do, the Dalai Lama uses analyses to propose a convergence of the beliefs.

This groundbreaking text covers many of the most controversial and complex subjects surrounding religious and scientific views, from Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution to the basis of quantam mechanics. His level-headed stance is key to the book’s successful account of our world, and his Buddhist background offers a peaceful and worldly vision of the universe in which we live.

His writing style in this 200-page book is easy to follow and his open minded view on the topics is refreshing. This national bestseller’s audience is limitless; every part of humanity struggles with understanding the reality that surrounds us. No matter your faith, religion or beliefs, The Universe in a Single Atom will challenge your thoughts and inspire you to rethink what you believe.

-- Caleb Hayes, Editor-in-Chief

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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October 2011

Variety

Georgia Theatre rises from the ashes

Photo courtesy of Michael Lachowski

On June 19 2009, the Georgia Theatre caught on fire. After over two years of construction, it reopened this August. Along with the renovations, the Georgia Theatre has made more than just physical changes.

BY HANNAH DUNN-GRANDPRE Variety Editor

A

t 3 a.m. on June 19, 2009, the Georgia Theatre caught on fire due to an electrical short. Smoke and flames billowed out from 215 N Lumpkin St. as the owner since 2004, Wilmont Greene slept inside.

“It was the worst day of my life. It’s a lot like losing a family member in that it’s hard to express the emotions that happened that day. I was unable to panic or freak out because there was too much to do: talking to press, fire marshals, insurance people, etc.,” Greene said. “The full impact of that day didn’t hit me until several days later.”

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ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Variety

October 2011 The Georgia Theater reopened more than two years later on Aug. 1.

“I would say that Downtown was very different without the Theatre. I like to think of the Theatre as the heartbeat of Downtown. So in that respect, Downtown was on a life support system for two years,” Greene said. “The local community and music community worldwide (were) both sympathetic and supportive. It would have been very difficult to move forward without that support.”

To help the Theatre, supporters were able to donate money. Sponsorship levels generally ranged from $50 to $5,000. The incentives for these contributions included having your name on a wall of the rebuilt theatre, according to www.georgiatheatre. com.

In addition to private donations, the Georgia Theatre funded their renovations through a partnership with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. However, the majority of the money came from a bank loan.

The fire destroyed nearly everything in the Georgia Theatre. The one thing that remained intact was the walls, which were severely damaged, but salvageable.

“It’s a whole new ball game in a lot of ways, and then again it’s exactly the same. It’s difficult to explain,” Greene said. “The room still feels the same, it just is newer and more modern. I have a lot of the same people working here and a lot of the same bands. It just smells a little better now.”

Since its reopening, the Georgia Theatre has made more changes than just cosmetic changes.

They showcase a much more diverse range of genres. Bands familiar to the Georgia Theatre, such as Widespread Panic, still perform.

In the past months Of Montreal, an indie pop band, Corey Smith, a country singer, Gaelic Storm, a traditional Irish band and Childish Gambino, a hiphop artist, have performed at the Georgia Theatre along with many more. Also, University of Georgia football games will again be broadcast for those 21 and older.

Even though the reopening of the Georgia Theatre has been mostly positive, Greene still has reservations for what is coming next. With the majority of the Theatre being destroyed and having to be completely renovated, it was an expensive process.

“I feel a great sense of accomplishment. However, I also feel weary and slightly scared for the future.

We have a tremendous debt load and it will be a struggle for us to pay back that debt,” Greene said.

“Emotionally the whole process was devastating, but on the opposite side of the coin, the re-opening was rejuvenating.”

Photo by Porter McLeod Photo by Carlo Nasisse

Opposite page: PUTTING THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER: On June 19, 2009, the Georgia Theatre, located at 215 N. Lumpkin St. caught fire because of electrical problems. Everything inside was destroyed. “(The Georgia Theatre is) a great music venue in a great music town. I think a lot of people move to Athens for the music and stay in Athens for the music and the Theatre is a big part of the music scene, therefore the theatre is a big part of what makes Athens special,” owner of the Georgia Theatre since 2004, Wilmont Greene said. Upper right: GOOD AS NEW: Of Montreal performs on Sept. 2 at the Georgia Theatre. After reopening on Aug. 1, numerous bands have performed at the Theater. Bottom right: MOVING FORWARD: Now, after two yeras of being in construction for more than two years, the Georgia Theatre has reopened. “As an owner I am still floating from the excitement of our grand reopening. I’m humbled by how much appreciation people have shown for this place over the past two years,” Greene said.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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October 2011

Variety Graphic by Caleb Hayes

Go for the best

Just jammin’

Ted’s Most Best is a new and original pizza place that’s both affordable and of high quality.

What used to be 5 Points Deli is now a new sandwich shop with a unique flavor and style.

S

un shines onto the deck and laughter is everywhere. A bocce ball pit sits to the left. To the right, a DJ mixes music for the guests to enjoy.

Located at 254 West Washington St., Ted’s Most Best quickly draws attention as a recently renovated tire storage facility, especially considering the reasonably priced meals for under $8. When walking up to the restaurant, a vibrant green paint on the exterior welcomes guests to the patio seating.

Jay Totty, Ted’s owner, feels the restaurant offers something for everyone.

“We’re really excited about what we’re doing. The patio is fantastic (and) we have daily specials all the time,” Totty said.

Photo by Carlo Nasisse Not only is the patio great, but the inside is as unique and welcoming as the food.

The featured ciabatta roll is delicious. It includes artichoke pesto, provolone, sopressata salami, prosciutto ham and roasted marinated red peppers. Each ingredient was perfect.

Although the paninis are delicious, the pizzas are the point of pride for Totty.

“We think we’re serving the best pizza in town,” Totty said.

Baked in an oven visible from customer seating,there are many varieties of pizzas, including the option to build your own from a list of ingredients including egg, artichoke hearts and red peppers Additional pizzas on the menu include the arugula, the bacon Above: OVEN BAKED: Ted’s Most Best and egg, and the margherita. The chef Jeff Fox makes one of Ted’s new pizzas. bacon and egg was strange. Fried The new, local attraction offers delicious handmade pizza, and other delectable eggs and baken were on top, but it dishes for a reasonable price. was a strange combination.

The arugula pizza, however, was delicious, featuring arugula, an exotic leafy vegetable, pecorino romano cheese and mozzarella. The cheese gave it the real kick and flavor.

The margherita was covered in mozzarella and basil. The tomato sauce dripped off of the pizza with flavor. The basil was fresh and the cheese was anything but sparse.

The food isn’t the only attraction at Ted’s Most Best. It also features some great extras that make it a unique eating experience. It has outside seating, free Wi-Fi and dogs are allowed.

Ted’s Most Best has made a great start, and their prices and delicious food should keep them here in Athens for a long time.

BY RADFORD BROSIUS Variety Writer

28

T

he lights in the glass counter illuminating the desserts catches your eye as you open the doors to Athens’ new eating establishment, The Local Jam, located at 1650 South Lumpkin St. Cool air fills the atmosphere in the restaurant. Most people seemed to be there either to get a quick bite or to watch the game on the flat screen TV. The restaurant had The Beatles playing on speakers located throughout the bright eatery.

The walls have eccentric paintings on it and the small tables are adorned with handmade decorations. Everything in the restaurant looked appealing, but nothing was as good as the food.

The friendly waitress hands you a homespun menu. The selection of dishes was of both breakfast and lunch variety--the local Jam is opened from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The breakfast options include dishes such as the Jammrito, Chicken and Waffle Sammy and Corned Beef Hash.

Lunch options include dishes like the Athens Philly, the New York Rueben and the Black Friday, which are all decadent sandwiches. I chose the Athens’ Philly and the Seasonal Salad as my side dish.

The Sourdough bread of the Athens’ Philly was a bit dry. However, the shaved rib-eye and the American cheese made up for it. The Seasonal Salad was very fresh, and was even better with the additional House Ranch.

The dishes are tasty, but they can leave a dent in your wallet. Most dishes cost you from $6to $9. Pricier options, like the New York Rueben, can run you $17, because it’s a sandwich that consists of two pounds of corn beef, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and Swiss cheese on Terrapin Rye bread. There is also a much smaller version of the New York Rueben that is only $8.

Overall, the Local Jam is a nice restaurant to listen to music, eat good food and enjoy a little part of Athens.

BY RAUL MEDRANO Variety Writer

Photo by Gabrielle Saupe

Above: ATHENS’ TAKE ON A PHILLY: The Local Jam, located at 1650 S. Lumpkin St., offers the Athens Philly, a sandwich with shaved-rib eye, American cheese and grilled onions. Side options include the Jam Mac or Pasta Salad.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Variety

The Box Score Floods of freshmen

For the 2011 Clarke Central High School crosscountry season, underclassmen outnumber veteran athletes after a larger number of freshmen joined in the fall.

“We’ve been steadily getting more and more freshmen (joining the cross country team), especially from Clarke Middle School, where the program is pretty solid,” head girls crosscountry coach Emily Dowd said.

There are 12 freshmen boys and six freshmen girls who will be competing on the cross country team this year. Athletes include CCHS freshmen boys Joe Aubry, Barrett Binder, Nicholas Byrne, Jyrekis Collins, Nick Dawe, Evan Hatch, Aaron Holmes, Terrence McHugh, Joshua Williams, Tomislav Zabcic-Matic, Eliot Zapata and Guillermo Zapata and freshmen girls Perrin Aycock, Photo illustration by Caleb Hayes Brittney Butler, Cassidy Campbell, Mariah Isbell, Barbara Kipreos and Yung Kipreos.

October 2011

Hinson is back in action

After a two-year absence, CCHS social studies department teacher Stephen Hinson has stepped back into the position of head tennis coach for the 2011-12 season. ”I was the varsity tennis coach previously but I took two years off.” Hinson said. “I’m now getting back into it and unfortunately, because I only have three courts, I can not have a JV team. I hate to do it, but I’m going to have to cut players after tryouts.”

Due to the absence of a JV team, students must compete for a position on the team.

Hinson will not allow spring tryouts unless a student is newly enrolled in school, making tryouts mandatory for the athletes. Although disappointed by the lack of a JV team, Hinson continues to look forward to the upcoming season.

“I have absolutely no idea of the (athletes) that I have,” Hinson said, “It’s literally like I’m starting from scratch. I’m real excited for the upcoming year.”

Fundraisers get fishy The Clarke Central High School varsity and JV volleyball teams conducted a fish fry fundraiser on Sept. 16. It was held during the varsity football game against Habersham Central High School from 4p.m. to 7p.m. near the Billy Henderson stadium.

“We raised (money) for our banquet, senior night and more equipment,” CCHS senior volleyball player Tamara Jones said.

Close to $700 dollars was raised and the proceeds went towards the CCHS volleyball program. Each $7 plate included two pieces of fish-- catfish or tilapia--french fries, baked beans and bread. Assistant coaches and parents prepared the food while the athletes sold tickets to the event.

“Everyone (from the volleyball team) was expected to come and help make signs, advertised and hand out plates,” Jones said.

Bringing new focus

The Clarke Central High School cheerleading squad found themselves under new leadership for the 2011-12 season after math department teacher Summer Tuggle stepped up in place of Amy Parish as head cheerleading coach.

“I hoped that I could help them get better.

It was a good opportunity for growth,” Tuggle said. “I thought (coaching) would be fun.”

After coaching cheerleading at Clarke Middle School for eight years, Tuggle welcomes the change and hopes to take advantage of the opportunities that coaching older cheerleaders will yield. By introducing a new focus on stunts and discipline, Tuggle attempts to make the squad more competitive and more entertaining during football games.

“There is a big focus on stunts, which they didn’t have before.” Tuggle said. “I just want them to be proud of themselves because when they are proud of themselves they do better.”

Left: JUST RUN: Clarke Central High School crosscountry freshmen Tomislav Zabcic-Matic competed at the East Jackson High School Eagle Run on Sept.

17, finishing with a time of 20:23:47. Above: SHE GOT SPIRIT: New Clarke Central High School varsity cheerleading coach Summer Tuggle encourages her squad during a cheer in preparation for the varsity football game against Winder-Barrow High School.

Below: FILM IT: Clarke Central High School senior Darien Brown films the Gladiator Internet Television Pre-game show before the Gladiator take on the Habersham Central High School Raiders on Sept. 16 in Billy Henderson stadium.

Photos by Carlo Nasisse

Glads on the tube

T

he Clarke Central High School athletic department and Georgia High School Association have introduced a live, on-demand webcast of CCHS events called Gladiator Internet Television.

Sponsored by CCHS video broadcast teacher Kenneth Gibbs, GITV is student-based and allows all members equal participation during live events. “(GITV ) gives our kids the advantage to be seen,” Gibbs said.

Adult CCHS-affiliated members include CCHS Athletic department head Jon Ward and his spouse Holly Ward, Chuck Wegmann and University of Georgia student Randi Hildreth. Student members

include CCHS juniors Keyana Browning, Jasmine Christopher and Aaliyah Hale and seniors Darien Brown and Jodeci Gresham. “(GLAD TV ) helps keep people up-to-date if they did not see the game and find out things about the (football) players,” Hale said. “It’s pretty successful.

It’s getting lots of viewers.”

Currently, GITV broadcasts all CCHS sports events and includes pre- and post-game shows.

GITV hopes to expand their broadcast to other school events throughout the year.

--Compiled by the Sports Staff

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

29

lIGHTS, cAMERON, Action STORY BY ANDRE MACK-ROBINSON Sports Writer

PHOTOS BY CARLO NASISSE Photography Editor

Clarke Central High School sophomore Cameron Johnson has taken on the responsibility of CCHS' starting varsity football quarterback. Johnson answers questions about his new position, humility and filling the shoes of former CCHS quarterback Martay Mattox, now a freshman at the University of South Carolina.

Sports What does it take to be quarterback for Clarke Central High School head football coach Leeroy Ryals' offense?

CJ: It takes a lot. It takes guts, all-out-effort and hard work. You got to be poised; you got to know what you are doing and do it with confidence. You got to be the leader of your team, command the offense, perfect what you are doing and of course know how to throw a little bit.

What does the pressure feel to replace the 2011 season quarterback Martay Mattox?

CJ: It’s definitely a lot of pressure. Everybody’s telling me, “Oh, you are the new Martay,” “Oh, you are not going to be as good as Martay.” It’s a matter of me just playing my game, stepping up to my potential and hopefully I will be there one day. I do believe I can do it, but it’s just taking it one step at a time, one game at a time, one practice at a time. I do believe I can be better than Martay but it’s a whole lot of pressure to step up and do something as big as he has done during his two years at (CCHS).

What did you learn from the Heritage High School game that you can take with you into the rest of the season?

CJ: I got to step up and being a leader. I made a lot of mistakes; it’s a matter of practice and transferring my teachings on to the field.

How do you measure success?

CJ: The number of wins we have, of course, because if we run the play to perfection there’s no way any team can stop us. I believe in success in academics; you go out and study, you try you best, get all A’s, that’s what I’m gunning for. To be a student-athlete very important to me because student comes first, even with A’s on top of athletics, it will get you somewhere in life.

What is special about you?

CJ: I do not have the physical build but my effort makes up for my lack of size. I encourage the team to do their best. I’m a very intelligent, respectful and ambitious young man.

I care about my community and school. I have a lot of school pride so wherever I go, I try to represent myself, my family, my community

October 2011 and school in a very positive way.

Off the field, how do you represent yourself now that you are in such a powerful social position in school and the community?

CJ: I feel like I have to definitely watch what I do. I have to be more careful around little kids because I know they look up to me. I give all the credit to back to the (offensive line), back to the receivers, back to the (running backs) and to my defense, they pick us (offense) up a lot. Basically I’m just the average guy, I feel famous in the community but I stay humble and not get big-headed but off the field I have to give credit where credit is due.

How are you humble?

CJ: I give credit where credit is due.

Football is a team sport. A superstar is nobody without his supporting cast so myself being famous in the community means nothing to me because I didn’t win the game by myself. Also I thank God for allowing me to play sports. A couple of year’s back, I had a severe infection in my leg. I had to basically learn how to walk again, so it’s definitely a blessing to be able to play football.

Opposite page: EYES DOWN FIELD: Clarke Central High School sophomore quarterback Cameron Johnson drops back to pass while playing Habersham Central High School on Sept. 16. Above: FULL OF PRIDE: Clarke Central High School sophomore quarterback Cameron Johnson holds up his helmet in celebration after a 34-20 win against Habersham Central High School on Sept. 16 in Billy Henderson Stadium.

What kind of legacy do you want to leave CCHS when you graduate?

CJ: I want to be known as more of an academic than an athletic student.

I want to have a very positive influence on the school for years to come in the community. I want to be known as a person who came to Clarke Central for the better. I want to have a big influence in the community programs that affect Athens.

Photo illustration by Caleb Hayes

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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October 2011

Sports

Pep rallies make a comeback Clarke Central High School Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker has reversed the decision he made in 2009, bringing back pep rallies for 2011-2012.

A

fter two years of not having a pep rally at Clarke Central High School, one was finally held on Aug. 26. For freshmen, sophomores and juniors a high school pep rally was a new experience.

“We’re trying to show we care about the school, we’re concerned about the school. We want you to care (and) be concerned about it,” CCHS Assistant Principal Reginald Thomas said. “(Pep rallies are) one of those things that students repeatedly ask about.”

CCHS Principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker, who made the decision to remove pep rallies from the annual schedule in 2009, decided this year to bring pep rallies back to CCHS. “I think several people fainted when I’m the one that initiated ‘let’s have a pep rally,’ Hooker said.

Hooker’s two main reasons for the removal of pep rallies in 2009 were behavioral disruptions and the time taken away from academic learning. “(Pep Rallies) took away from academic time (and) we were having problems with students skipping a lot during that fourth block,” Hooker said, “In the past we would have trouble with students leaving the campus or fights breaking out during pep rallies.”

Hooker believes that the junior and senior classes have shown academic success and deserve to be rewarded.

“There has to be a balance,” Hooker said. “We work hard all day and it’s great to have an academically great school-- but you also have to have that JENNY ALPAUGH Sports Writer

32

athletics piece too, and we are reaching that balance.”

Math department teacher and cheerleading head coach Summer Tuggle thought that holding pep rallies would help to build school unity.

“I think that (pep rallies) are an important part of a high school culture,” Tuggle said. “It goes a long way in creating a culture and community and the more kids feel a part of the community, the more engaged they are on the whole.”

Although Tuggle planned the entirety of the pep rally, Hooker made the decison to hold the pep rally in the Billy Henderson Stadium.

“It’s crowded with everyone in the gym, very crowded,” Hooker said. “But this year we wanted to try something new-- (having the pep rally) outside,” Some students felt that holding the pep rally elsewhere would have made it more successful.

“I didn’t like that (the pep rally) was outside, I know the gym can’t hold everybody, but it was too much,” sophomore junior varsity cheerleader Kylie Washington said.

Since the pep rally was outside and the students were spread out across the stands, facilitators found it difficult to keep all of them engaged. “(The pep rally) was on such a big scale, it was hard to keep everybody involved. The freshmen were totally disengaged (because) there was nothing happening in front of them,” Tuggle said.

An additional kink in the pep rally was the timing. All activities planned for the pep rally were finished by 3:20 p.m. which led to early dismissal of students.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Sports

October 2011

Above right: PIE GAG: Math department teacher Eric McCullough gets a face full of pie from senior Jonathan Rogel at the Aug. 29 pep rally. Science department teacher Dale Autry also participated in the fundraiser for Relay for Life. Middle right: EVERYBODY MAKE SOME NOISE: Clarke Central High School seniors and varsity football players Alex Harris and Daylen Pope lead CCHS students in a chant in Billy Henderson Stadium.

“A good pep rally is only 30 minutes,” Hooker said. “The amazing thing is, even though it was really over at 3:15 no one went roaming through the building trashing it up. (There) wasn’t any rowdy or crazy stuff.”

No finalized plans exist for future pep rallies, but based on the behavior observed at the Aug. 26 pep rally held Hooker is open to discussing holding additional similar events later in the year.

“I was very pleased with the behavior of all the students,” Hooker said. “They did a great job.”

This pep rally was just a small component of a larger goal to bring positivity back into CCHS. “We see (the pep rally) as another incentive to help show (the students) that we want (them) to be able to have activities like this,” Thomas said.

In addition to athletic pep rallies, Hooker would also like to have events that praise academics.

“I would like to see an academic pep rally to celebrate those that have made all A’s during the first term or have had all A’s the number of years they have been here.” Hooker said.

Hooker hopes that pep rallies will achieve more than creating excitement for another football game.

“I hope it brings back the pride that we had during the ‘80s,” Hooker said.

“But I think you will see better participation-- not just for athletic events, but for academic reasons, too.”

Opposite page: PEP RALLIES ARE BACK! Clarke Central High School upperclassmen cheer while watching varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders perform acrobatic stunts. “(This pep rally is) definitely better,” freshmen Addie McNeely said. “Its more "crunk," more people, more enthusiasm; this (pep rally) is the best.” Below right: GET ON YOUR FEET: Clarke Central High School varsity cheerleaders rally excitement at the pep rally. The CCHS cheerleaders spent three weeks practicing and perfecting their cheers, chants, and stunts for the pep rally. “I think that (pep rallies) are an important part of a high school culture,” CCHS math department teacher and varsity cheerleading coach Summer Tuggle said. “It goes a long way in creating a culture and community and the more kids feel a part of the community, the more engaged they are on the whole.”

Photos by Carlo Nasisse

October 2011

Sports

softball

“We are just working to get better. We have a lot of new players this season. We focus on teaching the basics.”

--Susan Chamberlin, head coach

Cheerleading

Football

“Our goal is to develop a mental and physical toughness.”

--Leroy Ryals, head coach 34

“My goal is to continue to improve (and) continue to add stunts and cheers at high level of difficulty,” --Summer Tuggle, head coach ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Sports

October 2011

Volleyball

“We (are) focused on continuing to win in the region (and to) hopefully remain undefeated. We hope to have a good showing in the State Tournament and go much further than we went last year.”

--Ashlee Wegmann, head coach

girls

boys

cross-country

“We have a lot of freshmen (who) are really part of the leadership of the team because they are showing good work ethic and good spirit. As a whole, (the team) seems pretty focused.”

--Dale Autry, boys head coach ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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October 2011

Sports

Seminoles strike again

Photo by Gabrielle Saupe

The Clarke Central High School girls fast-pitch softball team lost to the Salem High School Seminoles by 24 runs on September 15.

T

he Clarke Central High School girls fast-pitch softball team celebrated senior night on Sept. 15 when they played the Salem High School Seminoles in the last home game of the season.

The game began with the Seminoles batting. Throughout the inning, CCHS outfield players struggled to find their footing, missing multiple balls and surrendering four runs before CCHS pitcher junior Alex Dominicali struck out a Salem batter.

Pitching low, Dominicali attempted to further block the Seminoles. However, she was walked two batters, allowing Salem to gain three more runs. Immediately following, CCHS first basemen sophomore Maggie Sproston made the final out, tagging a Salem batter before she reached first base.

Little success was seen at the turnover. Three CCHS batters made contact.

However, all were tagged out by the Seminoles' first baseman.

In the second inning, the Gladiators fought to regain their ground. Dominicali struck out one of the first batter at the top of the inning with a sinking pitch. However, immediately after she walked two Salem batters. The second out was caught by CCHS third basemen freshman Bria McIntyre who made a quick throw from the left field, halting two runners.

BY MADISON JASIULEVICIUS Sports Editor

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Gladiators batting in the third, only CCHS junior outfielder Bethany Bradley made contact however, it was quickly caught before she made it to first.

The third inning followed similar suit, beginning at 10-0, Salem. Domnicali continued pitching through the inning, striking out two batters, but surrendering four runs.

At the bottom of the fourth inning, the score was 14-0. Dominicali threw multiple ground balls, resulting in three batters walking to first. She was switched to first base, giving Sproston the mound. On the first pitch, Sproston struck out a Salem batter but quickly lost momentum. At the bottom of the inning, Salem gained ten runs, ending the game at 24-0, Salem.

Above: THREE STRIKES, YOU'RE OUT: The Clarke Central High School girls fast-pitch softball team played the Salem High School Seminoles for their final home game of the season on Sept. 15. Although the Gladiators came close to scoring multiple runs, the team struggled in the outfield and failed to halt Salem batters from scoring. The final score was 24-0, Seminoles.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Sports

October 2011

Winning isn't everything Verneesha Foster

Grade: 12 Sport: Volleyball Years experience: Five GPA: 3.0 Position: Mid-blocker Stats: 54 kills, 27 blocks in 15 games total, averaging 4 kills and 2 blocks per game Favorite game memory: “I have to say at the Cedar Shoals game (2011), when I got (set) and I spiked right in front of number eight after she just spiked on me.”

Photo by Carlo Nasisse

Photo illustrations by Caleb Hayes

ODYSSEY Star Players are selected based on their academic standing and commitment to teammates, their sports program and Clarke Central High School. Underclassmen will be reviewed for selection as a Rookie Star Player if they excel in their sport and academics.

Joe Aubry

Grade: 9 Sport: Cross country Years experience: Three Fastest 5K time: 19:24 at the Aubrae Gunderson Invitational on Sept. 24 in Conyers, Ga. Goal for the season: Run a 5K in under 19 minutes What the coach says: “Joe is a great addition to the Cross Country team this year. Even as a freshman, he has been keeping up with the upperclassmen varsity runners at practice, and has secured a spot in the top ten with his strong performances at our first two meets of the season.”

-- Head Coach Dale Autry

Photo by Gabrielle Saupe

“C

ome on, you can do it!”

The bases are bare and the scoreboard shows a score of zero for the home team, Clarke Central High School. With the next out, the fourth inning is over; the National Federation of High School Sports softball “mercy rule” will be enacted, allowing the team ahead by ten runs to end the game at the fourth quarter.

“You can do it. Come on, girls!”

Lean arms pierce the air-- a robotic gesture practiced for weeks. Surprise at getting a hit almost halts the batter’s steps before she hustles towards first base. It’s a pop fly -- an easy catch for the Cedar Shoals High School outfielders. Strike out and game.

Another loss for the CCHS girls fast-pitch softball team-- the final score 13-2.

For the last three consecutive years the team has followed a simple routine: train hard during the summer, keep up a good spirit at practice and lose every game of their season. Despite three years of losses, the team has brought on multiple newcomers to the sport with every season.

“We are just working to get better,” CCHS head softball coach Susan Chamberlin said. “Even though they haven’t won, they’ve all hung together and taken care of each other. It’s been a real positive thing.”

Batting averages and team records are not the highest priority for these athletes; their goal is overall improvement rather than perfection. During practice, Chamberlin focuses on each athlete individually, taking time to nurture their talent and to make adjustments to the players’ specific needs.

The athletes mimic this supportive leadership and find ways to lift each other up during practice as well. Each season, the team brings on many athletes that are unfamiliar to the sport. By teaching each other and pairing veteran players with rookie athletes, the girls share their knowledge while Chamberlin works on improving pre-existing talent.

During games, this community of support is also present. In the dugouts, negative comments are never heard, but rather cheers and chants of support and unity from the dugout.

“Our team loves each other,” CCHS junior Jada Haynes said.

“We stick together through all the negative energy that we get from other students at our school. But we know what we are doing, we know that we are going to win one day.”

Winning is not always about Cartoon by William Kissane bringing home the Above: NEVER GIVE UP: The Clarke Central trophy or being the High School softball team members don't quit best. Winning is putwhenever they lose a game. The team focuses on becoming better athletes, regardless of their ting forth effort and season record. never giving up. No matter the outcome, Coaches should only ask for the best of their athletes and teammates should provide a strong and consistent support system for each other.

This is true sportsmanship, and it isn’t easy to achieve. Every athlete wants to win, including the girls softball team, but their victory is improvement, change and unity.

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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October 2011

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Sports

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

Sports

October 2011

IN FOCUS DOWN AND OUT: Cedar Shoals High School sophomore running back Adrian Washington is tackled by the Clarke Central High School varsity football team defense. CCHS opened the 2011 season with an explosive win over crosstown rival CSHS in the Classic City Championship on Aug. 26 in Billy Henderson Stadium. The final score was 49-13.

Photo by Carlo Nasisse

ODYSSEY NEWSMAGAZINE

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