February 2015

Precedent

the

SADDLE UP! Beyond the traditional sports, students participate in sports as off campus hobbies.

SUPER

PERRY HIGH SCHOOL || GILBERT, AZ

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FEBRUARY 2015|| VOL. VIII ISSUE V

Student band gains interest among PHS comunity

Experience

By Mackenzie Ness the precedent

Students participate in Superbowl XLIX

By Sarah Campbell and August Bowers

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the precedent

ach year, America anxiously prepares for one of the most anticipated events in sports history: the Super Bowl. Not only is it one of the most watched televised events to ever hit our airways, it is also one of the most sought after events for celebrities and famous personalities alike. This year, Super Bowl XLIX was held in Glendale, Arizona, which led to a unique opportunity to have some of Perry’s own perform during the halftime show watched by millions.

A group of students from Perry’s band were selected along with three other schools to perform on the field during the halftime show. Out of several schools across the state, our band was chosen after sending in an audition tape. Junior Nick Maddox shared his nervesbefore performing during the Super Bowl.

“It was high pressure because [there were so many] people watching. It was pretty nerve racking but we had pretty good rehersals leading up to it.” In fact, there were approximately 120.8 million people tuning in to this year’s Super Bowl.

However, Maddox continues, “It was so crazy taking my first steps out on the field, seeing all the crowd and all the people cheering us on. It was really cool.”

photo published with permission from Anjelica Body

Sophomore Anjelica Body poses with Katy Perry. Body’s mom had special access backstage because she worked on the halftime show.

The Super Bowl is the most-watched television program worldwide, and principal Dan Serrano said it was an honor for PHS to be involved. He added: “our band was the right choice.”

“A lot of bands auditioned and they only picked [three], so I think that says a lot,” Serrano stated. The band worked very hard to perform during the show and was well deserving of it. “They work really hard, they are always here.” Serrano added.

Another student was given the once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of the main halftime performance that many look forward to. Sophomore Anjelica Body danced onstage along with world renowned pop star, Katy Perry. Body’s mother was one of those in charge of the halftime show, which allowed her to the opportunity to participate in this extraordinary event.

Body became a part of a group of backup dancers after presenting herself for the position. “...they had open volunteer spots... so I volunteered,” stated Body. She was part of the “wave cast”, and performed during Perry’s hit song “California Gurls”.

Dancing for over 10 years, Body saw this as a huge honor, “I feel like as a dancer, it’s a dream come true…” she added.

English teacher Alesandra Viera was also included in the halftime show, dancing on the field with members of the ASU and U of A dance teams. Viera was chosen to dance after her old dance teacher sent in an audition tape for her.

Viera was thrilled to be part of the halftime show and believes it is something she will never forget. “It was such an amazing opportunity but it was a lot of hard work so it was not easy,” she stated.

Some people wait a lifetime to have their dreams fulfilled; for our lucky Pumas, that time was now and it was thrilling to be a part of it, even for those watching from home.

Civics test to be required for graduation

By Paige Coakley the precedent

Which president was in office during World War I? How many constitutional amendments does the United States have?

What is the name of The National Anthem?

These questions and more can be found on United States Civics Test, also known as the American Immigration Test or the Naturalization Test.

This test is designed to initiate immigrants into our society- to quiz them on historical facts and the way our government works.

However, on Jan. 15 2015, Arizona’s 23rd and current governor, Doug Ducey, passed the American Civics Act, which states that all Arizona students graduating in the year 2017 and on must take and pass the test in

order to graduate.

The word “pass” refers to answering 60 questions right, out of a total of 100 questions.

Students will have the first chance to pass the the test in the 8th grade, and will continue to take the test as many times as it takes, throughout their senior year of high school.

Since 2013, students have been told numerous times that graduation requirements will be changing in relation to standardized testing- AIMS testing is a thing of the past, the PARCC test is the new AIMS, but the Science portion of AIMS is still required, the PARCC test is now the AZMERIT Test and now students have to take the Naturalization test.

Though it is not stated if the Arizona curriculum will be changed in order to accommodate the new test among teachers (i.e. lesson plans, textbooks, and practice tests) but the graduating class of 2017 will still be required to take and pass this test.

However, students graduating in in 2015 and 2016 are wondering “what is our testing requirement?” The 2015 graduating class is still of the era of students who took the AIMS test for graduation, and the 2016 class hasn’t officially been initiated the AzMERIT test.

With the new government system in effect as well as the residual conflicts associated with Common Core, the Arizona Educational System is undergoing some major changes and do not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

News 1-3 • Opinions 4-5 • Morp Special Feature 6-7 • A & E 8-9 • Sports 10-12

see STUDENT BAND pg. 2

Test Yourself

1) What do we call the first 10 ammendments to the Constitution?

2) How many Justices are on the Supreme Court?

3) What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

Answers: 1)The Bill of Rights 2) Nine 3) Atlantic Ocean

photo published with permission from Brandon Keisgan

(left to right) PHS band students Justin Kang, Jack Rynd, Zach Lovvorn, Taite Lipchak, and Nick Maddox prepare for the superbowl’s halftime show outside of the stadium. Students held up the lit balls during Katy Perry’s performance of “Firework.”

Bears and Airplanes: a band created from a cohesion of music ranging from jazz to rap.

The group is comprised of four members, all who play a different role in its composition. Senior Justin Tullis is the lead singer and the main songwriter for the band, while senior Garrett Bowers plays lead guitar and occasionally, the tuba. Senior Pablo Bastidas focuses on percussion- consisting of drums and a beat box; while freshman Ian Graham, the youngest of the group, plays bass and the piano.

They are even hoping to incorporate the mandolin into future performances.

Tullis and Bowers met in Jason Myers’ AP U.S. history class last year and were paired to create a rap about Teddy Roosevelt and Black Power, they soon realized their similar love for music and ability to compose, quickly forming into something more than just two kids screwing around with empty melodies.

The often challenging part is avoiding a stereotypical sound, which is something the students felt was a recurring issue in pop music.

“We wanted to do something different,” Tullis comments. “People ask us what genre of music we are in and I don’t know what to tell them. I don’t have an answer because it is not normal.

It is different, but it is good.”

For awhile the two bounced around names, finally settling with Bears and Airplanes, after Bowers’ childhood nickname Gare Bear and Tullis’ initials J.E.T. However, the formation of the group is not as odd as their diverse musical backgrounds, ranging from punk rock to classical.

“Justin has been listening to rap for forever and a half,” Bowers said, “we come from very different musical spectrums. I listen to a lot of jazz..., [Pablo] listens to punk rock, and [Ian] listens to a lot of weird stuff.”

It is one thing to be skilled in many areas, and another to attempt to entwine them in order to result in a pleasant sound.

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2|| news NEWS BRIEFS

TEACHER FEATURE

Career Center Specialist dedicated to helping students

By Molly Ogden the precedent

By Ellie Wendt, Valerie Burgess, and Erik Yates the precedent

Debate team seniors bring home first place award

Perry Debate Club received an invitation to compete in the Chandler Preparatory Academy Invitational on Jan 16. Among others, PHS was represented by seniors Quinton MacDonald and Andrew Jensen. Together, the team competed in a tournament held at ASU in order to qualify for the Public Forum Debate. By ranking in the top 16, Jensen and MacDonald were offered a bid to compete in the Tournament of Champions. This is Perry’s first bid in a national event.

Jensen and MacDonald came out victorious beating a team from Horizon High School making Perry history as the first debate team to win first place in the invitational.

For Jensen and MacDonald, they see their victory as a huge milestone for Perry’s debate club in hopes their win will spark interest among the students here at Perry.

“This is reaching new grounds,” MacDonald said. “[This] was the next step for us in making a name for our school.”

SWAT Team trains on campus

The Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team will be using the campus as a training ground on Mar. 17. They will be using actual weapons for the training session here on campus.

“The Police Department of Gilbert asked if they could come in and use our facility to train with not only Gilbert PD but the Sheriff and Chandler Police Department.”

Principal Dan Serrano said. He continued, “A lot of room is advantagous for us just because if we ever have an issue here, they’re familiar with out setup.”

The SWAT training session here will take away from practice and games of various sports, such as Baseball and Softball.

Fortunately, the training session will be taking place over Spring Break, therefore, students and teachers will not be alarmed by the use of live weapons on campus.

photo by Cassie Neal Pat Phillips spends her time meeting with seniors in the career to discuss graduation, college acceptance, and scholarships. Phillips maintains a site for students to utilize available resources to prepare for their future.

STUDENT BAND from page 1 So how were they able to mix such different musical styles and not have it sound like one giant circus theme song? Practice and communication.

“A lot of the time one person will come up with something and we then will build off of it,” Bowers explains.

“One of our songs starts with classical music, and another will start with a heavy drum beat,” a creation that happens “organically.”

Even with a swift beginning, only performing as a group for a short amount of time, Bears and Airplanes remains humble.

Instead of striving for the largest audience and a surplus of screaming fan girls, they focus on enhancing their abilities as performers and creating music that they personally enjoy.

“People who aim to be famous

Mr. PHS and Perry Idol aim to showcase student talent

By Natalie Eberhard the precedent

Every year families, students, and staff come together to cheer on and enjoy Perry’s talented students. Events such as Perry Idol and upcoming Mr. PHS, highlight talents and create enjoyable environments. This week Perry’s junior and senior boys will be competing in Perry’s male pageant, Mr. PHS on February 12th.

Several people are familiar with beauty pageants where girls showcase, their skills on stage, however, few people have seen guys perform in a talent show.

Taylor Haller, DECA co-vice president and student coordinator describes the event.

“Mr. PHS is basically [Perry’s] version of the male beauty

are not doing it for the right reasons. We just want to make good music, that’s all we want to do and that’s what we are about,” Tullis reaffirms.

In order to support Bears and Airplanes, Myers attended the band’s first live performance at SoZo Coffee House on Jan. 9.

He was overwhelmed by their talent and dedication.

“The players themselves are funloving, off the cuff, big-hearted, and wonderful. It was cool to see some talented musicians come together and [create] something that was fun, entertaining, and meaningful to them,” Myers smiled widely with pride.

The beginning of this compilation of teenagers is promising--currently working on an EP, publishing their music to YouTube, and aspiring to be on a popular mixed tape.

The band also hopes to have more gigs at either Trunk Space or SoZo Coffee House in the near future.

pageant,” Haller, a senior, said.

“It’s the funniest juniors and seniors that come out and make complete fools of themselves.”

Similar to a typical pageant, there are different categories that the male contestants compete in.

Each year there is a set theme for each show. This year, Haller has chosen “007” as a classy James Bond theme.

The boys work months in advance to practice their skills and dance routines that they will perform.

Junior and senior boys are allowed to participate. Some even take part in the event for both of the two years. Returning participant Aamir Patel has chosen to yet again put himself out there to compete.

“I’m really glad I get a second chance to try it; the first year I did it was really fun”.

Patel continues, “I did my own music and dance moves. I did something that everyone could enjoy a little part of ”.

The boys have a chance to be themselves and showcase their

Everyone has a super hero.

For many at Perry, Career Center specialist Pat Phillips is just that.

“Ultimately, my goal is to make sure that everybody has a post high school plan by the time they are ready to graduate. That could be anything. [I] help them get through what ever processes that they have to do.”

Phillips spends her days counseling with parents and students, clearing this fog that we call “the future”. Her job improves the flow of campus, and help student’s hectic lives fall into place.

Principal Dan Serrano commented that Phillips “is the expert in all of the testing.

She really works well with the counselling department. She is almost like an extra counsellor, which contributes to helping the counsellors out as well. She is very critical [to how the school runs].”

Junior counsellor Dana Steines agrees.

“Ms. Phillips is my hero. She is a critical piece of what we do.

I could not do my job like I do it without her. She is like our second half [in the counselling department].”

Steines continued that Phillips “is a wealth of knowledge and is very good at honing in on what kids are looking for and then finding schools for them.”

Phillips is devoted to helping the students here at Perry. One

such student is senior Cassidy Conley.

Conley commented, “I knew what I wanted to do after high school but I didn’t know what college to go to, so [Ms. Phillips suggested NAU]. I was kind of against the idea of going to NAU at first, but I ended up getting a full ride academic scholarship to NAU.” Conley believes that because she met with Phillips, she knew her options for her future Phillips explained, “I worry that students are not aware [of all the college information that is out there]. Even though students are here to do their academics, deciding what their post high school plans are is also very important too. My main concerns are that all the students have the opportunity to meet with me, if they choose to [in order to prevent any potential] roadblocks [in their future]”.

Along with counselling with students and parents, Phillips also organizes field trips to university campuses and guest speaker visits.

These are all daunting tasks, but Phillips manages to make everything run smoothly.

Phillips explained, “I draw my strength the fact that I have worked in a community college for 16 years. I have also worked for the California State University system, so those opportunities and experiences have helped me.”

“Making a difference” is what makes her job worth it in Phillips’ eyes.

photo published with permission from Bears and Airplanes (left to right) Seniors Garrett Bowers, Pablo Bastidas, Justin Tullis and freshman Ian Graham perform at Sozo’s Coffee House on Jan. 9.

personality to hundreds of people, a normally rare opportunity. The winner is determined by the “I’m looking forward to how the guys react to it; how the guys can just be themselves,” Haller comments.

Similar to Mr. PHS, another great family show for Perry Students is Perry Idol. On Jan. 29, a variety of students sang and presented their talents in the annual talent show.

Every year there is a great success with the variety of students who come up talents and different performances to present.

“There’s a big turnout, it’s really good” Junior Kaitlyn VanKlompenberg comments.

“Especially the last two years, you would see your friend and catcall their name. It’s cool to see the friends come and cheer them on.”

The support from students, admin, and families has brought a great experience to these events.

Hoping to see some more talent?

Make sure to attend Mr. PHS this coming Thursday, Feb 12.

PUMA DEN

Perry Deca’s

New high school to be named after superintendent New additions are coming soon to the district soon due to the Chandler Unified School District opening two new schools for the 2015-2016 school year. The first is Dr. Camille Casteel High School, named after the district superintendent in office since 1996.

To honor the superintendent’s work, the school’s mascot is the Casteel Colt.

The school will be located on the northeast corner of Power and Riggs Roads. At the new high school, grades 7-9 will be enrolled this upcoming school year and with each subsequent year another grade opening. Consequently, by 2019, all grades 7-12 will be open for enrollment.

In addition to CCHS, a new elementary school, will open on Chandler Heights Road, west of Power Road. A name has not been announced for the school, however applications can be turned into CTA Freedom to enroll for the school in the upcoming school year.

Both schools serve in relieving the growing population of students in the Chandler District.

february || 2015

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•@ SW corner of the new F-building •open 7:00-7:20 and through all lunches •now selling coffee, fresh cookies, soda, and other snacks

march || 2015

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Puma Pals participate in annual district Fun Run not do on a daily basis. “[The Fun Run helps] show the children the precedent they can do more than just sit in a On Feb. 27, the Puma Pals took classroom,” Brezinski shares.

The adults are not the only a field trip to Tumbleweed park to attend the 8th annual Fun Run. one who benefits from events like Attended by schools from all over the Fun Run. Freshman Scott the Chandler district, the run is Marcum has only attended two conducted in honor of Disability Fun Runs and already knows how Awareness Month and hosted by special it is. “Running and dancing Chandler’s Mayor Jay Tibshraeny to the music,” Marcum recalled and the City Council. The event from the last Fun Run. According to Jody Shagena, a consists of a run in Tumbleweed Park, a balloon artist, a live DJ, a Paraeducator at Perry and a coach for Unified basketball and track, face painter, and a photo booth.

But the itinerary for the “[The Fun Run] provides exposure to community event includes activities, promotes something that [The Fun Run helps] show the children they exercise and an lasts a little can do more than just opportunity to longer than a sit in a classroom. see many friends balloon or a hot from other CUSD dog. Participants schools.” are guaranteed Debra Brezinski Brzezinski also m e m o r i e s Special Education Teacher recalls seeing the that will last a many students lifetime. Special Education teacher Debra Brezinski from variety of school mingle. has been attending the event “They like that camaraderie.” for eight years, and can verify Brezinski adds.

Also on the Puma Pals’ calendar that statement. “Watching how determined they are to finish, that’s for Feb. 27. was a Unified Sports game. The Pumas were invited to the coolest part,” says Brezinski.

Events like this run, or the play in the Unified Invitational Valentine’s Dance are vital to the Tournament division 2 and 3 special education community. They playoff games. Perry’s Unified provide the opportunity to step Sports program was the only outside the classroom, and partake CUSD school to be selected for in something they normally could this honor.

By Mia Irvin

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photos by Sarah Chapple

(above)During the Chandler Unified School District Fun Run, students walk around a one mile course at Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. The event is attended not only by high schools, but elementaries and junior highs as well.

(right) Student Jaden DeSpain high-fives Big Red as he crosses the finish line. Along with the Ariz. Cardinal mascot, the event featured a deejay, balloon artists, and a photo booth.

Robotics team prepares for March competition

National Honors Society continues service; sends letters of invitation

By Natalie Eberhard the precedent

By Kacee Perry the precedent

With hard work and determination, the PHS Sonoran Storm Robotics Club is putting it all in, preparing for their upcoming competition. Going up against many other teams from around the state, the club has quite a challenge to face for the event. However, after a recent practice at Arcadia High School, in an event called the Duel in the Desert, the club showcased exceptional teamwork skill.

Vice President of Robotics Club, Milan Bhattacharya concluded, “We got some good practice in and it allowed us to fine tune our design.”

Robotics Club sponsor Andrea Strock added, “The Duel in the Desert competition went beautifully! We did so great and were actually able to help some other teams this year, which is great because we are so new.”

The design itself is based on the competitions annual theme, this year being Recycled Rush, in which the club had to build a robot that was capable of moving recycled bins and stacking them up. With that, the club is to be set up in a three team alliance, in which groups from different schools come together to form these alliances, in order to

stack the most bins by their robots.

The competition changes every year, with the theme being announced on the very first Saturday in January. After this, the teams are given six weeks to construct their robot, conduct some practices, and enter the competition on March 20th at Hamilton High School.

Based off of the past years, Strock mentioned, “It’s a very different competition than in the past because usually you’re bashing in to other robots.”

In anticipation for the upcoming event, the club members are feeling confident in the future turnout.

“I feel very prepared for the competition this is our third year as a club and we are doing far better than we ever have before,” Bhattacharya added.

Alongside the competition, the Sonoran Storm Robotics Club has additionally set a few goals to reach in the remainder of and into the next year.

Bhattacharya concluded, “Our future plans include expanding our fundraising in order to increase our budget, creating summer projects to work on and participating in more than just one first competition and gaining more members.”

You get to work with people that are like minded with a desire to serve.

Jason Myers NHS Sponsor

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leadership skills and uphold positive, mature character.

“NHS is a service and leadership organization,” Perry NHS teacher sponsor Jason Myers comments “we foster leadership traits and responsibility and we give kids an opportunity for service in their communities.”

Serving and participating in the community is also a major part of NHS. When choosing applicants,

NHS sponsor’s teachers look for students with involvement in school and their society.

“We want you to be involved in the community whether it’s through school, church, or volunteering at other organizations,” NHS sponsor Angela Gardner says.

She continues, “Grades are one part of it but being involved and being a productive citizen is the other half.

Students who receive the invitation may feel overwhelmed with the required tasks to apply, yet the benefits of being a member can be helpful for high school students.

“The activities we do are fun, you get to work with people that are like minded with a desire to serve their community and school and looks on a scholarship application” Myers comments.

As NHS students carry on through high school, with the effort of maintaining high grades and serving their community whether through clubs or outside organizations, they continue to bring excellence to Perry.

PUMA DEN

Perry Deca’s

photo published with permission from Andrea Strock Robotics students works together on their latest robot for the upcoming competition. The team will compete at Hamilton High School on March 20th.

As slips of paper are handed out, the faces of students light up, remain blank, or frown in despair.

While some smile with a feeling of accomplishment, others look over shoulders wondering “What is it?”

Some people groan while others whisper, “Why is it so important?”

The well known and considerably the most prestigious of all high school clubs is the National Honors Society. Early every year at Perry, select students are invited to join the club. Sophomores, juniors, and senior students with a minimum weighted or unweighted GPA of 3.8 or higher receive a letter. These letters are given to them in their classes inviting them to join. Most students feel privileged to receive the honor, while others feel that it is not important.

However, the invitation does not make these students automatic members. In order to become a member, willing students must complete a packet that requires

recommendations from teachers, a writing sample, and information about their extracurricular activities. The club sponsors will then go through the applications and choose members.

Perry’s NHS is looking for students that demonstrate

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4 || opinions

Media’s portrayal of women is degrading

S

unday evening, family and friends are gathered around the TV, cheering and arguing over the big football game. As the game switches to commercials, and the yelling over who’s going to win ceases, a multi-million dollar advertisement for an ordinary burger appears onscreen. However, the appealing image does not appear to be the food itself, but the scantily clad woman holding it. For quite a while now, advertising has been dancing close to the edge when it comes to commercial content, and advertisements like these seem to cross that line of what is okay, and what should be shielded from a child’s eyes.

Since the 1980’s, women’s appearance in advertising and film production has grown increasingly more provocative, whereas men’s sexual appearances have gone down drastically. Ironically, their paychecks are quite the opposite. According to Forbes, of the highest paid actors in 2013, the men made over twice as much as the ladies. While the males get paid more money for the big, strong, dominant parts in films, women are left to be the eye-pleasing damsels in distress with half the pay stub.

A simple 30 second fast-food commercial seems harmless to the viewers who quickly put it out of mind, but that is also ignoring the fact of how offensive these commercials can be. Most women do not like to be told what they need to look like by the media, but there does not seem to be a way to escape it. Women are not objects to be overglorified and sexualized onscreen, yet everywhere we look, advertising seems to completely put this out of mind.

From Carl’s Jr. to Victoria’s Secret to those weird perfume commercials, companies excessively belittle women just to sell a product.

This is not to mention the standard this type of advertising is subconsciously setting. The media slowly but surely degrades the idea of a strong woman, holding girls up to a standard that completely wrecks the dream of being strong, independent, and having their own ideas.

According to the TV, a woman should be able to eat 980 calorie burgers regularly and still be able to fit into a bikini to dance with her friends. Is this really something we want little girls to see?

The main goal of brandishing a label on a TV is to promote the product, not to advertise a person’s body. While it may be appealing to a male 20 something watching a weekend football game, not all viewers appreciate seeing what is plastered across the screen.

Objectification has the potential to offend women and men alike, which will not sell anything in the end.

Women are not a man’s plaything to tote around and throw carelessly at the media, especially when it comes to male-dominated sports advertising.

Got Malk?

By Alice Tram and Brianna Ortega

AZ students sleep less than national average

SOURCE: the Arizona Repbulic

photo illustration by Jordan Williams and Zach Testa

JORDAN WILLIAMS the precedent

A

typical daily routine for a teenager is simple: wake up to go to the bus stop, go to school, go home, do homework, go to sleep, repeat. However, time is a limited resource for students to work with, making it hard to obtain the perfect amount of sleep.

According to Arizona Republic, Arizona teens sleep less than seven hours a night on average, less than the nationally recommended eight and a half to nine and a quarter hours of sleep.

Students find themselves with a lot to do during the day, on top of running out the door in the morning to catch the bus. Some

teens have more responsibilities and time constraints than others do, and finding the optimal amount of sleep is critical.

Everyone knows that getting a good night’s rest is like playing Flappy Bird: frustrating. Finding the perfect night’s sleep knowing that there is less time to rest some nights more than others is a big problem.

Test takers know the importance of getting a good night’s rest the night before so that performance is not overshadowed by exhaustion. On top of that, teachers would prefer their students being awake during their critically important yet long lectures, because sleeping during lectures is considered disrespectful. How many times can a teacher say “pay attention, this will be on the test” without getting frustrated? This is why teens need the necessary amount of sleep-- to survive the high school jungle.

One would think that a solution to this problem is simple- go to bed earlier.

Precedent

the

Staff Editorial

february || 2015

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Pride • Progress • Purpose

The reality of this claim is that it is a major misconception that goes beyond a teenager’s busy schedule. According to USA Today, doing so will shift a teen’s biological clock and cause a delay in the release of the chemical melatonin- which is the chemical in the body that stimulates sleep. In short, the simple adjustment will only expand the problem not just for teenaged mind, but more importantly for the adolescent body -making the “easy fix” not as it sounds.

A more practical solution for a smaller part of the problem would be to simply move around the bus schedule; bus drivers tend to stay in the same area for various pick-up times, so adjusting the pick-up times for younger students does not seem to be too big of a dilemma.

Getting the best amount of sleep is important for teenagers, and learning to find the balance between activities and sleep is the best way to find the perfect amount of sleep.

staff information

Perry High School 1919 E. Queen Creek Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85297 480-224-2800 480-224-2820 fax

|| News Editor || Sarah Chapple

|| Photo Editor || Jordan Williams

|| Opinions Editor || Dayna Miller

|| Newspaper Adviser || Damien Tippett

|| A & E Editor || Nathan Tucker

|| Social Media Editors || Mackenzie Ness August Bowers

|| Editor-in-Chief || Paige Coakley

|| Features Editor || Sarah Lankford Kathryn McFaul

|| Managing Editor || Amanda Lee

|| Sports Editor || Emma Fernandez

|| Web Editor || Erik Yates || Staff Reporters || Michelle Bolden Valerie Burgess Sarah Campbell Devlin Clark Aja Diffin

Natalie Eberhard Rebecca Hoffmann Mia Irvin Madi Montoya Angielee Niblett Cassie Nielsen Molly Ogden Isaiah Patterson Kacee Perry Chay Romine Alice Tran Kaitlyn VanKlompenberg Eliauna Wendt Dequota Wilson Erik Yates Ryan Zolin

The Precedent is published by the newspaper staff at Perry High School, and is published as an open student forum eight times per school year. The Precedent welcomes comments and criticism from its readers. Please e-mail all questions, comments, guest articles, or letters to the editor to phsprecedent@gmail.com. Submissions may not be anonymous; however, requests for anonymity may be honored. Letters may also be delivered to room C-116.

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february || 2015

Healthy snack mandate: s u p m a C n O New healthy snacks are worth change point | counterpoint:

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ecently, there has been a lot of buzz about the new and improved multigrain cookies that the cafeteria serves. The Smart Snacks in Schools guidelines were recently enacted and have required that the cafeteria take a small step towards healthiness and replace items including the previous sugar-heavy cookies with ones made of a less health-damaging recipe. However, not many students are ready to jump on the health bandwagon, or have anything positive to say about the cookies for that matter.

It is evident that many are lessthan pleased with the cafeteria’s attempt to promote a better lifestyle with a small step towards healthier eating. With that in mind, it is important for everyone to remember that this decision was made in students’ best interest.

The USDA is aiming to “carefully [balance] science-based nutrition guidelines with practical and flexible solutions to promote healthier eating on campus,” and provide a more beneficial meal for students.

Another point is that this is all in moderation. It’s a cookie. It’s not like the cafeteria does not still serve other less-than-healthy items such as cheesy pizza and fried chicken.

If students are really worried about maintaining their unhealthy diets, they can still buy themselves a nice hot, steamy tray of french fries and a soda pop if they choose.

The cafeteria is not a fast food joint, and therefore should not be responsible for giving students type two diabetes. If students are still having trouble looking on the bright side, at least the new cookies cost less!

“What do you think of the school’s decision to make the food ‘healthier?’”

MICHELLE BOLDEN the precedent

Dylan Carroll freshman

NEW SNACKS BELONG IN THE TRASH

M&M cookies off their menu and replace them with a fresh batch of multi-grain cardboard replacements thanks to a new act enacted in schools titled Smart Snack.

The replacement cookies are a smaller, cheaper, and a “healthier alternative”.

The new cookies

are only $0.50, and 100 calories.

The new flavors include Double Chocolate Chip, Carnival (sort of like the M&M cookie), and Chocolate Chip.

But why, students ask, are the cookies gone? The answer is simple. The new health acts that have been enacted in schools that are now forcing cafeterias to rid their menu of everything over 200 calories. The beloved cookies however, were over the 200 calorie mark according to cafeteria workers.

Smart Snack was passed because of the rising rate of childhood obesity. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,18 percent of children aged 12-19 are obese. So to put it plainly, a minority group ruined it for the majority.

Instead of replacing the best treat on Perry’s campus with a multi-grain cracker, maybe Smart Snack could have considered a different alternative to teach us a lesson. Whatever happened to moderation? Was it impossible to make the cookies smaller? Making the cookies smaller would meet

or an explosion in the science building, who truly believes that the student body would act orderly and remember the drills? How many students would be caught running, not walking calmly like we were taught? How many students would be caught with their cell phones calling loved ones, not ignoring the texts like we were taught? How many students would be caught exiting through random doors, not the ones designated by classroom? See my point yet? Drills leech precious time attempting to teach the unteachable.

Students in the bus barn also find the fire drills silly. Students feel that leaving a building towards the “burning” one is ridiculous and makes no sense when it comes to student safety.

Do I even need to mention the fact that we are forced to stand outside in Arizona, sometimes in the heat of the late afternoon, in the parking lot? Not only does this pose a risk for heat exhaustion and dehydration, but even before fifth hour parents are lining up to pick up their children. When fire drills fall during sixth hour, students feel

unsafe, as if they are about to be run over.

Another issue is the frequence of these fruitless drills. Fire drills must be executed once a month, while lockdowns twice a semester. With lockdowns, principal Dan Serrano explains “we do, per semester, one announced and one unannounced.”

Fire drills are mandated per law, and lockdowns by district.

Lockdowns are taken very seriously: “We have anywhere from eight to ten police officers that come, and they go around the whole campus,” Principal Serrano confirms.

Now, real evacuations for fires on campus count as one of the mandatory drills. For instance, the evacuation on Feb. 5 counts as February’s fire drill, but if another evacuation were to occur again in February, the drills “points” do not roll over. When real evacuations come in the same month as the drills, but after the drill was performed, the practice drill is a waste of time If all lockdowns and fire drills were announced, however, teachers could plan for the loss of instruction. This way, students

MIA IRVIN

the precedent

O

n Jan. 9 the cafeteria introduced a new item on their menu at the “Sweets and Things” counter that left students with a disappointed pallet and starving stomach.

The cafeteria elected to burn the popular chocolate chip and

the Smart Snack in Schools policy while also keeping the people who are smart about what they eat happy as these cookies were definitely a delicacy and every “once in a while” treat to most students.

The cookies removal is not just taxing on the student population here at Perry. The new cookies “definitely have not done as good, but we are still selling.” says cafeteria manager Kim Metcalf.

While the new cookies are still selling, “sales are down 25 percent,” adds Stephanie Dobson, one of the workers at Sweets and Things bakery.

While the cafeteria does still maintain Chik-fil-A Tuesdays and Thursdays, along with French fries daily, and Gelato Thursdays, when will they too be taken away

by Smart Snack? And while it is not specifically our cafeteria’s fault, someone is telling us what we can and cannot eat based off a minority group -- not every child fits in the same mold, we are individual.

There are other solutions to this problem besides completely getting rid of something the majority enjoys.

“Some kids might like it, some kids might not. It’ll be an alright change I guess.”

Tim Pung freshman

“I guess no one can really change anything about it.”

Fire drills and lock downs need planning DAYNA MILLER

the precedent

W

hen fire alarms ring there are two kinds of people: those who rejoice, thankful for a few minutes of break, and those who moan “Not this again! We just had a fire drill last month!” I sympathize with the latter. While fire alarms and lockdowns allow for mental rejuvenation, content gets thrown on the backburner. Fire and lockdown drills take vital learning time away from students.

We all know where to exit in case of a fire, we all know to keep our mouths shut if an emergency called for invisibility on the parts of students and staff -- this is common knowledge. Not to mention most (if not all) students have practiced these drills since they were knee high to a grasshopper.

Let’s talk hypothetically for a moment, shall we? If there were to be a fire in the culinary building,

Kambrie Nickel freshman

“I don’t think they changed anything.”

Photo illustration by Jordan Williams

Source: Dan Serrano

would not fall behind in specific hours while others have extra time to practice newly acquired skills.

Unfortunately, there is no way to get these nuisances reduced let alone discarded, due to the laws and district policies, but there are ways to practice safety procedures without losing precious teaching time or jeapordizing student safety.

Payton Fry senior

“I don’t like them because I’m an unhealthy person.”

6 || features

february || 2015

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

february || 2015

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

features || 7

MORP

’S night Coachella at

What you need to know about Morp

By Kaitlyn VanKlompenberg the precedent

Food trucks, henna tattoos, and music all in one place, for one night only. Morp has finally returned after its year of absence with a new theme: Coachella.

Morp is a girls-ask-guys dance that is much more casual than any other event at school. It involves low-ticket prices and informal outfit attire. Unlike Prom, this dance allows students of all grades to attend.

With this year’s spring time dance just around the corner, students have been wondering why this event was not available last year.

StuGo Adviser Brandon Keeling shared that every year the school holds events that make it difficult to schedule a dance among the chaos.

“We have become proactive in making sure that Morp has a spot in the calendar,” Keeling stated. It is still unclear as to whether or not Morp will be returning in future years.

For the students and teachers who are wondering what this year’s theme is, Coachella is an annual music and arts festival held in Indio, California. StuGo chose this theme because it is a laid-back event that does not require any participate to have a date. The pressure to ask someone to the dance has been lifted because this event

Infographic by Sarah Lankford

is much more casual compared to Prom or Homecoming.

“A lot of the schools try to copy each other

but this year we wanted to try something different,” StuGo Senior President Olivia Capranica said. She mentioned how perfect

this “bohemian, relaxed theme” would be for Morp, resulting in a “newer version of Woodstock.”

In order to incorporate this art and music festival into a dance, StuGo has been planning Morp since the beginning of second quarter.

“This Morp is going to have more activities than the last one. We will be having food trucks and a henna artist rather than just a dance floor.” StuGo junior Sierra Meyer shared.

The schools regular DJ company, Satyr Entertainment, will also be present, playing the 2015 Coachella line-up all throughout the dance.

Meyer stressed that her and StuGo wanted students of all grades and interests to enjoy themselves. They included activities that are also present at the real Coachella festival .Unlike typical dances, Morp gives students the opportunity to venture from dancing and enjoy snacks as well as other entertainment factors.

Keeling shows an optimistic attitude while discussing Morp. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,“ Keeling stated, “so we’re hoping that since a lot of students missed it, they are willing to come back and spend the night with us.”

Chay Romine

contributed to this story

photo published with permission from Arsenio Santos

Dress to impress: Coachella style KACEE PERRY

the precedent

Under the umbrella of today’s fashion trends, coachella style suits the typical bohemian-chic appearance, with trendy looks that can help in making the upcoming dance more memorable, along with the excitement of the night. However, such an ensemble, though, stretches from Perry’s typical dress code.

“We talked to Mr. Ames; we’re hoping that people are not being promiscuous... we did get the dress code knocked away a little bit,” states StuGo member Olivia Capranica.

Keeping that in mind, students should maintain the respect of the original dress code, but it is okay to stretch it with Coachella style.

StuGo adviser Brandon Keeling explained, “We understand there are certain styles that work with Coachella, but you have to be sure your outfits are appropriate.”

With that, students are allowed to

dress in much of the Coachella attire. The boho-chic composition of clothes is a more flower child style that can relate to other past fashion trends such as the 1960-1970’s hippie-dress of Woodstock.

Woodstock was a music and art festival that marked the flowy hippie ensemble, with peace signs and bell-bottoms galore.

“So it’s kind of a new version of Woodstock. Really bohemian, really relaxed,” Capranica said.

There is an idea behind the desired fashion for the dance. Basic styles include high-waisted jeans, flowy shirts, backstrapped sandals, rompers, and any other comfy attire. Girls will also have the accessibility to wear crop-tops, high-waisted shorts and strapless tank-tops. Also, there is always the option to attend in lengthy beach or shorter summer dresses, along with the favored maxi skirts.

Guys also need to take the consideration of their outfits in order to fit with the theme.

For guys,Capranica said that cut-off shorts, skinny jeans, summer shirts, crazy printed shirts, and joggers are the desired style.

Also, v-necks and blue jeans are definitely fitting for the occasion.

Both girls and guys can work the downto-earth theme, each finding their own relaxing attire from stores such as Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Tilly’s, and anywhere that provides comfy, boho-hip clothes.

Patterns make all the difference as well, with a range of neon colors, lace or fringy extensions, and even aztec or tribal-like prints.

However, there are some no-nos if you want to avoid any fashion mishaps.

Make sure to stay away from any eccentric headdresses, like the commonly worn Native American feathered featured in the actual festival, which can be culturally insensitive and impractical. Instead, stick with flower headbands and sun hats. It is okay to wear a lot of accessories that are colorful and fun, but do not to be excessive and obnoxious on the amount.

Multiple necklaces are a must have, ranging from long chains to authentic collar pieces. The more rings the merrier, with looks of turquoise stones, stunning diamond-jeweled rings, or even the simple ring band. Do not forget bracelets for a bold cuff bracelet or a couple of strewn wristbands always work in bringing the outfit together.

In addition, the Wiz Kalifa sunglasses

and hipster shades are suitable for the event.

However, there is no need for them since the dance is in the evening, but it never hurts to wear them just for the style. Finally, for both girls and guys, if you are wearing sandals, be sure to watch where you are stepping and note that your feet may become dirty from being outside. An alternative could be a pair of old sneakers, Toms, or boots, which all work perfectly for the occasion.

As long as students keep it mellow and relaxed, they will fit right in with Coachella’s exotic style.

photos published with permission from Polyvore.

Emphasis on diversity, music, & art

By Mackenzie Ness the precedent

Draped strands of lights shine above the dense sea of people, seeping through the cracks of waving hands and dancing feet. Hundreds huddle around the multiple stages of singers and bands, chanting along as the sun twirls its fingers and the moon silently sways.

Art is strewn around the entertainment ground, recycled sculptures of colorful dogs and over-sized see-saws scatter the area. The scene: the Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival.

Being one of the largest musical festivals of the year, it is much more than a simplistic, one-act concert.

Every year since 1999, it has been held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif., located amongst the Colorado Desert for two-weekends, each lasting for three days.

Coachella is a free-spirited celebration attended primarily by young, college-age adults: attracting flower-children, gypsies, students, individualists, hipsters, feminists, and a surplus of others.

“You do see every kind of lifestyle. If you aren’t open to that, or if you aren’t ready for that, it could be eye-opening or shocking,” comments Activities Secretary Nancy Martino.

With the people attending coming from every possible background, the music featured has the challenge of catering to a diverse audience and is constantly designed to do just that.

This year’s artists consist of AC/ DC, Drake, Florence and the Machine, David Guetta, The Weeknd, Interpol, and countless others, encompassing an abundance of different genres. The variety of music creates an almost electric, thrilling vibe that pulsates throughout the day and into the star-filled night.

In addition to the wide range of music, art is sewn into the layout, adding to its individualistic atmosphere.

Each year different architects, sculptors, and artists create and display some of their best work; last year, Escape Velocity, Becoming Human, and the Cryptochrome were just a few of the major pieces shown.

Escape Velocity, a building-sized astronaut that could be seen roaming, or more so floating, around the festival ground, was another interesting piece. Created in hopes of inspiring today’s youth to pursue space exploration as a solution to many of the current issues that are surfacing.

Amongst the sculptures and stages, the two-weekend event features vendors ranging from food trucks to henna artists, sidewalkperformers to contortionists, in order to enhance its eccentric feel.

Coachella also largely emphasizes the importance of promoting environmental sustainability as well as local charities through recycled art, carpooling, and recycling in addition to donating a portion of the money raised from festival passes to Coachella Valley non-profit organizations.

The entwinement of unique, unexplored art and diverse styles of music strives to inspire the individual, fuel creativity, and catalyze change.

photo by Jordan Williams

8 || arts and entertainment

february || 2015

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

Winter guard flag flies during showcase

photo by Emily West Sophomore Emily Martoranapractices in the gym last week. Winter guard has been very busy this winter, competing in several showcases.

Sharp Skills

By Ellie Wendt the precedent

Saturday Jan. 31, schools from all over the state flocked to the Perry gyms prepared for another day of intense competition, showcasing skills, and plenty of dancing. What was taking place exactly? Winter guard, an activity that often goes unnoticed, and when it is, students still fail to recognize it in its entirety.

Unlike fall color guard, which performs alongside the marching band at football halftimes and band competitions, winter guard’s exclusive focus on dance, equipment, and staging allows them to take the show to another level.

Winter guard competes with schools across the state, judged for their choreography and allaround talent. This season, Perry has expanded into two winter guard teams Red Color Guard and Blue Color Guard. Red Color Guard competes at the varsity level and Blue competes at the JV level.

Before the first school bell rings, and long after the last bell too, guard is out perfecting each toss.

This practice is absolutely essential.

In competition the team is judged based on mastery of their equipment-everything from colorful flags to smooth rifles--and of their set choreography which must be precisely executed through movement and dancing skills.

“We have a lot more talent [this year] and so we have a lot more to bring to the competition,” senior team captain Emily West proudly shares.

The activity is unique in the sense that it includes elements of both a sport and a performing art. Guard competes against other high schools with divisions, competitions, and scores similar to a sports team. The difference lies in the performance setting, closer to a dance concert, which creates a beautiful cross between art and athletics.

“As an individual it means a lot [to be a part of the team]. Its getting to do something I love and getting to compete while I do it,” shares sophomore Kiara Delimen.

As of Jan. 31 Perry hosted the first winter guard competition of the season. Perry Red Color Guard took 3rd place in the Scholastic A class with of a total score of 52.63. Perry Blue Color Guard scored 39.63, coming in 6th place in the Regional A class. “[For] our first show we did really good,” freshmen guard member Kaila Majorek said. “It’s definitely a lot of practicing but so far its been so fun and I’m so happy I joined.”

Through hard work and dedication, winter guard has begun with a positive vibe and great expectations for the team and winter season. Guard’s next competition will be a focus show at Gilbert High School on Feb. 14.

Dine and Devour

Photo student wins full ride scholarship

SoZo coffeehouse offers more than just coffee

By Paige Coakley the precedent

photo by Sarah Sharp This photograph of a hot air balloon is one of many taken by senior Sarah Sharp. Her award-winning photography has led to a full ride from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.

By Molly Ogden

T

the precedent

rue passion is what drives your motives, makes you who you are. Often, it takes over your life, until it is all that you think about.

For senior Sarah Sharp, that passion is photography.

“I love photography because it allows you to see the simple things in a unique way.

In order to be good at photography, you have to have the mind set of always looking for pictures around you because there are pictures everywhere, you just have to be really observant.”

Sharp is constantly looking for beauty all around her; whether it is something she sees outside of her car, in photography class, or just the people at school event, she can see beauty in everything.

On her website, photography teacher Elizabeth Tompkins states that taking photography is a privilege, where one can learn

valuable photography skills such as “the development of a portfolio, lighting, people skills, meeting habitual deadlines, and advanced shooting techniques.”

Tompkins commented, “Sarah always had potential from Photo I as she walked in the door, but her shooting is more refined [now] and she has definitely gotten better and stronger.”

Recently, Sharp’s skills have qualified her to receive a large amount of scholarship money from the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design just outside Denver, Colo.

“I got $19,000 for my scholarship, and it’s renewable. That covers basically all of my schooling, except books and boarding.” This was no ordinary feat.

Tompkins shared that photography scholarships are “not super common like with an academic scholarship, where we have dozens of those every year. Sarah’s situation is [pretty] unique.”

“In order to qualify for the

scholarship,” explained Sharp, “I presented my portfolio which consisted of my top 10 photos.

The people there compared my portfolio to the others that they had seen throughout the country and then worked me into the scholarship.”

This scholarship has put Sharp one Sharp step ahead of her peers.

With much of her college education already paid for, she will be free after college to start whatever career she chooses.

“I plan on either creating my own photo business and being a mom, or becoming a photojournalist.”

Both of these options offer Sharp what many strive for, but never achieve: a chance to become exactly what you want and love every minute of it.

Sharp has found her passion, her obsession. She has let it envelop her life, and now, her future.

Located at the crossroads of Alma School and Warner the little ‘hole-in-the-wall’ coffee joint, SoZo Coffeehouse, offers a great blend between coffee, local music, and community.

Upon immediately entering the shop, the sweet smell of coffee beans is inviting and the intimate overhead lighting makes the entire place welcoming.

The word “eclectic” could be used to described the entire coffeehousefrom the artwork that covers the walls (i.e. the impressionistic abstract painting of a woman that hangs to the left of the stage area and the 5-foot long vintage world map that hangs over a few couches to the right of the stage) to the kindergarten chalkboard set up in front of the counter showcasing all the different flavors of coffee offered.

With room for about 150 people, patrons of the coffee shop can choose to sit in regular dining chairs with a four-top table, at the coffee bar, on stools at high top tables, or on one of the many black leather couches and lounge seats scattered near the stage.

SoZo advertises live music performances from local bands around the Chandler area every Friday and Saturday from 7pm-10pm, and this fact is easily confirmed when dining in.

The entire left side of the building is set up entirely for music: professional size speakers, instruments ranging from a electric keyboard to a small drum set , a few mic stands, and music stands scattered throughout the area.

Though live music is only available on Friday and Saturday

photo by Paige Coakley Coffee Bar located at SoZo Coffeehouse.

(and most Thursdays as stated on the SoZo website), SoZo kept up the pretenses of an indie-music coffee house by playing music by The String Cheese Incident, Little People, and Massive Attack- all of which are not common band names among most people.

Along with their great musical influence in the community, SoZo also helps by giving back.

With every cup of Joe, SoZo “will donate a portion of every purchase to a local or international charity seeking to make a difference in our world.”

Donation receivers include Blood: Water Mission, Kiva, World Vision, Nothing But Nets and The Water Project.

With the objective to give, SoZo gives the members of Chandler a unique venue for great coffee, live local music, and a community-wide charity effort that benefits many more across the globe.

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

february || 2015

arts and entertainment || 9

For “Wizard” lead, What to no place like theatre with

By Aja Diffin the precedent

W

photo by Sarah Sharp

Junior Noelle Soucek (and her little dog too) in rehearsals for winter musical “The Wizard of Oz”

hile she may not be in Kansas, junior Noelle Soucek has recently been whisked into a theatrical tornado to prepare for her role in the theatre department’s upcoming rendition of “The Wizard of Oz.” When the theatre department’s successful “Addams Family” musical completed its last show, plans for their next production were already in progress.

Almost immediately, they began holding auditions for their next musical: “The Wizard of Oz.” Just before the beginning of Winter Break, Soucek discovered that she had received the lead role of Dorothy in the upcoming production.

“At first I didn’t know that I wanted to be Dorothy,” Soucek says, “but halfway through the audition process I was like, ‘I think I can do this!’”

The blend of her abilities and her personality was ultimately what brought director Shawna Marquis to choose Soucek for the role.

“It was a combination of being able to sing the role, her leadership and reliability, and being able to act the role,” Marquis says. “She just had everything we were looking for.”

Soucek views performing as an excellent way to express herself.

Performing in front of a crowd has always felt comfortable and natural for her, bringing an enjoyable experience every time she does it.

“From a super young age, I’ve just loved performing and being in front of people and having that connection with music and dance,”

she shares.

Soucek’s love for performing certainly carried over into her three year involvement in the high school drama department, and the many hours spent with her peers in the program remains one of the highlights of her time in theatre.

“There’s great people in the theatre department and everyone is so welcoming and accepting and fun,” Soucek explains.

After her high school career is finished, the idea of future opportunities to continue with performing arts is enticing for Soucek. Although she may not choose performing as her primary career, she does not see it going away anytime soon.

“I really hope that after high school, performing doesn’t just leave my life,” Soucek says.

The musical’s cast is currently going through rehearsals. For two to three hours after school, their time is filled with reading lines, practicing songs, and continuing to work out all of the details for the production.

“This is a short turnaround for a show,” says Marquis, “especially a musical, only six weeks to essentially put it together.”

A challenge, to be sure, but one the cast and crew have risen to.

“The cast is working really hard and we really want it to be a successful show,” Soucek states.

With Ryan Elementary School students playing the Munchkins and cast member Lilla Brandt’s Havanese dog taking on the role of Toto, everyone involved hopes the production will see success and pull in the student body to come and watch each show, starting with their debut performance on Feb. 19

Brit band makes waves across the pond

By Madi Montoya the precedent

From quiet homes in different parts of the UK to international stardom, The Vamps can hardly be described as another cliché boyband.

Made up of vocalist Brad Simpson, guitarist James McVey, drummer Tristan Evans, and bassist Connor Ball, the four young musicians met only three years ago in 2012, over various social media sites, proving that four heads are better than one.

Simpson started working toward fame on YouTube by himself, covering songs by Ed Sheeran, Jim Morrison, Mumford & Sons, among others.

McVey had the same idea, but was inspired to work in a group, and scoured the Internet for potential band mates. Stumbling across

photo courtesy of GoMoxie

The Vamps on the cover of their debut, Meet The Vamps. The album, with its four UK top-five singles was released in America last November

Simpson’s demos, he was intrigued by the then 16 year-old’s talent.

“I think it’s very lonely being a solo artist. You don’t have the camaraderie of having your best friends with you, so I always wanted to be in a band,” Simpson says,

recalling his time working alone.

The two started recruiting other artists for the band, coming across another few lucky finds. Evans caught the others’ eyes by being among the top three drummers for his age group in the UK. Their

last missing piece was Ball, now the bassist.

“He learned to play bass for the band. That’s how good he is,” McVey states. Now a complete outfit, The Vamps started recording demos for YouTube, covering songs

by One Direction, Taylor Swift, and Bruno Mars. The Vamps caught wind with a growing, faithful fanbase, along with the attention of a few music producers. To further their experience in the music world, The Vamps recorded with multiple producers in both the UK and the US. Their first album Meet The Vamps was released mid-April in the UK, and late 2014 in the US. Meet The Vamps has both the provocative lyrics of teenage boys and the catchiness of boy-band pop, sure to provide a little something for any listener.

Wear Wilson

What to wear on a Valentine’s Day night out

By Dequota Wilson the precedent

Valentine’s Day is a great night to spend with your doting date.

Thank goodness it falls on the weekend this year, so we all have a little (or a lot) of extra time to get ready and find the perfect outfit to wear.

For the ladies wanting to impress their suitor, I recommend something cute and flirty. Perhaps a t-shirt dress, paired with an infinity scarf and Doc Martens, or a cropped sweater and high waisted skirt with chelsea or knee high boots- depending on your personal style preference.

If skirts and dresses are just not your forte, there’s nothing wrong with wearing the pants in the relationship. You can wear Palazzo pants (flowy pants), joggers, boyfriend jeans, skinny jeans--the fashionable dimensions are endless.

My advice on pairing shoes with pants: try something with a heel or a wedge; it tones your legs and adds a slight svelteness to your figure.

Once you’ve got your perfect outfit together, do not forget that it’s the little things that count: I’m talking about accessories! Michael Kors watches, Betsey Johnson earrings, necklaces, rings--these simple little touches bring the whole outfit together.

I haven’t forgotten about the guys. Want to make a lasting impression on your object of affection? No one, and I repeat, no one, can resist a cute boy in a button up and khakis. It is irresistible; I’m pretty sure science can prove it.

Windbreakers are on the comeback, but not the tacky colorful kind from the ‘90s. The windbreaker has come back with a sleek modern fit. They can be worn by both guys and girls and pair great with any type of pant.

The windbreaker offers a casual yet stylish approach, it gives off the look that you put in effort, when all you actually did was throw on a jacket.

These are just a few trendy tips on what to wear when you finally get the guts to ask them out on a date. Until next time: stay cute, fashionable, and infatuated, Puma Nation.

Why Join Newspaper?

Opporotunites to express your self

It’s a family

Donuts.

Gain important life skills 2013-2014 First Place AIPA General Exellence Winners

Realize your full potential

Have your name in print See Mr. Tippett in room C116 with questions or comments.

10 || sports

Our Take

Now people may be wondering why they trip over softball gear and golf clubs walking into their classes throughout the day, but fret not clumsy ANGIELEE students!

All NIBLETT of your bumps the precedent and bruises are going to a good cause here in the athletic locker rooms of your very own Perry High.

You see, as we have many seasonal sports teams, it is obvious to all administrators our provided eight locker rooms must be occupied by these teams year-round. I still get this question on the daily: why would seasonal sports keep their own locker room all that time? Well do I have a solution for you!

Instead of shielding teenagers’ young eyes from the compression shorts of certain parking-lotchanging baseball players, we have satisfied the necessity of a roomy location for football players’ shorts and t-shirt in the midst of February. The fact of the matter is changing areas are limited; so, to satisfy opposers, some might consider rotating seasonal sports’ locker privileges.

Now that our concerns have been resolved, students and teachers can fully support the continuation of seasonal sports occupying locker rooms yearround. Baseball and softball have made it clear they will not even need the space, while it is evident other sports need every advantage they can get.

UPCOMING EVENTS Baseball

3/7 @ Liberty 11 a.m.

Softball

3/20 @ Cesar Chavez 3:45

Tennis

3/24 V. Gilbert 3:30

Track and Field

3/6 @ Aztec Invitational 3:30

Boys’ Volleyball

3/24 @ Ironwood 5:30

SPORTS BRIEFS Unified Sports In the spring of 2012 Chandler Unified School District starting participating in what is called unified sports.

Their purpose was to create an all encompassing program where people with intellectual disabilities can partner with those without intellectual disabilities for competition and training.

Our school district participates in unified cheer, flag football, track and field and basketball. The head coach for all of Perry’s unified sports is Nora Boettcher. Perry’s unified track and field season has started and basketball will soon follow.

Its only fair that everyone, including those with disabilities, are able to participate in some healthy competition as offered as an unified sports.

march || 2015

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

Basketball places 7th in tough division

By Ryan Zolin the precedent

photo by Alex Fornek Sophomore Marcus Howard dribbles the ball down the court at a basketball game. The Pumas lost in the second round of playoffs and finished 7th overall in division-1.

Perry’s boys’ basketball has had a remarkable season. After finishing the season with a record of 22-7 and finishing in the top ten, they were heading to super sectionals in great shape. The super sectionals determine the rankings going into the playoffs.

“We’re nervous, but we think we’re capable of winning,” junior John Schlangen said.

In the first round of the super sectionals the Pumas lost a heartbreaker to Cesar Chavez by a score of 65-62. After the loss, the Pumas were still able to host one playoff game, but after that if they won they would have to go up against a tough opponent on their court.

Heading into the first round of the playoffs Corona del Sol and Mesa were named the number one and number two seed. The Pumas, who were ranked number ten, were hosting the first playoff game against the number twenty-three ranked, Desert Mountain. It wasn’t too much of a challenge for Markus Howard and the Pumas as they won 80-64.

Howard, who scored 30 points in the game, led both teams in most points scored. The second closest to him in points was senior Coby Delaveaga. The Desert Mountain Wolves weren’t prepared for what the Pumas had planned for them.

The Pumas outplayed them in all aspects of

“We gave it our best, but they were just the better team, we’ll be back next year...

Markus Howard Sophomore

”

the game and it was on to the next round for Perry.

Round two of the playoffs had tough matchups for several teams, especially the Pumas. Being in the playoffs is stressful enough, but having to play an away game makes it worse. The team traveled to Desert Vista to play in round two of the playoffs. Desert Vista was predicted to win in an easy game, however Howard disagreed.

Howard dropped forty-one points, which was the most points scored by anyone on both teams. It was not enough for the Pumas to win, however, as they fell to Desert Vista 73-66. Howard looked up at the scoreboard in disbelief as it showed the team’s season had ended.

“We gave it our best, but they were just the better team, we’ll be back next year,” Howard said.

“There are some good teams, all in our section right there, the top teams’ right there,” head coach, Joe Babinski, said.

Unfortunately for the Pumas they just got unlucky with the seeding and had to face a tough opponent.

Despite setbacks, girls’ basketball perseveres into playoffs

By Michelle Bolden the precedent

To recap, the Lady Pumas found out that they had a girl playing basketball without a clearance card, which is an AIA violation, and consequentially had to turn themselves into the AIA. They then decided to appeal the violation and the three forfeit games that the player participated in. As a result, the team was put on warning for playing an ineligible player.

Athletic director Jennifer Burks presented the team’s case over a conference call with the AIA executive board, explaining the situation. She also had to clarify what they would do in the future to ensure that this situation did not happen again. After a vote, the AIA decided that the Lady Pumas’ penalty would be a warning.

The Lady Pumas were full of anxiety waiting to find out the whether or not they would be given back their three forfeited wins, a crucial part of them getting into the playoffs. They were thrilled when the AIA granted the appeal and the forfeits were rescinded.

Coach Brock Kearsley believes that the appeal was a credit to the girls considering all the time they devoted to becoming a better team and winning games.

“The girls have worked really hard to get to the position they were and to make the playoffs,” he says. He feels it was very important for the Lady Pumas to be rewarded “for what they deserve.”

Kearsley also says there were “a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of praying” in the days leading up to the appeal, however that did not stop the team from continuing to practice as if they were already in the playoffs.

“We’re proud of the girls for continuing to work hard and not letting this situation put them down. Instead they kept working hard and kept trying to win games, which kept them in the playoffs,” Burks says.

With their newly appealed forfeits, the Lady Pumas jumped from 30th to 20th in division-1, putting them back into the action just in time for their first round in the playoffs against Boulder Creek

on February 18. Unfortunately, they lost 28-50.

Kearsley admits that he thinks the team could have played better stating, “I thought we were a little nervous, a little tight at the beginning. But, you know, they played hard.”

In any case, the team made remarkable gains and grew

immeasurably this year.

“I think we became ‘we’ instead of ‘I’ and it really benefitted the team and the commitment...really showed through,” Kearsley says.

In the future, Kearsley hopes for the team “to improve and to get more wins during the season and... hopefully get a win or two in the playoffs next year.”

a football game is not a sport.

However, what most high school students do not realize is that cheerleading is more than sideline support.

All star and school teams alike compete multiple times throughout the year by performing a choreographed routine with stunts, dances, cheers, and tumbling. This routine is judged against other squads and the most skillful team is chosen as the winner. To me, competition cheerleading qualifies as a sport, while sideline cheering does not.

In 2012 a federal court used Title IX to justify their decision that cheerleading is not a sport.

What does this mean? A whole lot of nothing. The fact that sideline cheering is not a sport

according to Merriam-Webster’s definition and a federal court does not make it any less difficult or impressive.

It does not matter what you label it, cheer is something that takes a lot of hard work and no one has the right to think less of it.

No matter how skilled someone is in their area of expertise, they have no right to criticize another activity that they know nothing about.

All competitions, sports, clubs, and activities put countless hours of hard work and dedication into pursuing their goals and none of them are better than the others.

Now I’ve given you my opinion, the federal courts decision, and Webster’s definition on what qualifies as a sport, but here’s the

thing: it really doesn’t matter.

Whether or not cheer is a sport is a trivial highschool argument.

No one should let other people’s opinions of their passion affect how they spend their time.

The ‘sport’ or ‘non-sport’ label means nothing compared to what the athlete gets out of the sport personally.

Webster says a sport is a competition and a federal court ruled sideline cheering is not a competition. I say sports are more than titles and labels.

Sports hold a different meaning in every athlete’s life and labeling another person’s passion does not make you better than them.

What qualifies as a sport is not as important as respecting other people’s passions.

photo with permission from yearbook Olivia Vernon dribbles the ball down the court and looks for a shot. Through hard work, the girls’ basketball team made it to playoffs this 2015 season.

Does cheerleading qualify as a sport?

EMMA FERNANDEZ the precedent

Spectators are left in awe of the stunts and tumbling performed by cheerleaders whether it is on the side of a football field or the blue mats at competition; however, during the continuous debate over what qualifies as a sport, cheerleading is almost always left out.

According to Merriam-Webster a sport is a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other.

Based off these standards, cheerleading on the sidelines of

sports || 11

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

february || 2015

Swedish exchange students brings passion to boys’ soccer

By Rebecca Hoffmann the precedent

Sweden, Italy, Brazil… Perry has hosted foreign exchange students for many years from several countries. Junior Martin Normell is one student amongst these who has come this school year from Stockholm, Sweden.

“It’s like a new life for a year.

You meet a lot of new friends, and I’ve done so much in the months that I’ve been here.”

Normell was motivated in his desire to follow in the footsteps of his older brother.

“My brother did this two years ago and he loved it,” says Normell “we got to know his host family, so I’m staying with that same family [now].”

His host family, just like his teammates have been very welcoming towards Normell during this experience.

“I have two host siblings who are younger [than me],” explains Normell. “It was weird at the beginning, but now it’s just like I’m one of them.”

Being an exchange student is a challenging experience, there is a long set of steps involved which demands dedication and drive.

“There is a process for foreign exchange students; we get one per every 500 students,” principal Dan Serrano says. “I think it’s a good program. Typically, the kids who come here do well and don’t cause any problems.”

The hard work has paid off, according to Normell; he is enjoying his year studying abroad, getting many opportunities to try

new things. “[My favorite part about being an exchange student] is the experience to live the American life, like everything you see in the movies.”

Normell has played soccer in his home country since the age of 6 and currently plays forward for the varsity boys soccer team at Perry.

“When you [coach] a foreign exchange student, their best sport is their culture, especially soccer. You can see their passion for the game.

It revives it for the guys here,” says boys varsity soccer coach John Roberts. “Sometimes they don’t realize soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and when people from Europe come here, it’s their favorite sport, so its good for the boys to see the passion for the sport in other countries.”

Not only has Normell been immersed in the American culture, but the boys have had the opportunity to learn about the Swedish culture.

“He’s a great team player, he brings a lot positive influence to the team and works hard,” Roberts states. “He brings culture to the team and the guys really like him.”

Normell explains his passion for the game, especially being able to play during his year abroad.

“I love my teammates and my coach and I think more people should go to the games.”

The boys played their final home game in the season victoriously, beating Red Mountain 6-0. Their next game is on Saturday, February 7, 2015 against Hamilton High School at 2 P.M for the single elimination playoff game.

photo by Rebecca Hoffmann Junior foreign exchange student, Martin Normell, dribbles the ball down the field at a game against Chaparral on Jan. 26. The Pumas won 1-0.

GET TO KNOW YOUR PERRY ATHLETE: Martin Normell Year: Junior Goals: 8 Assists: 2 Fav. American Food: Burgers Spirit Animal: Lion Secret Talent: Singing in the Shower Super Power: Flying Fav. Movie Quote: “I am your father.”

Girls’ soccer makes playoffs despite setbacks

By Cassie Nielsen the precedent

Losing seniors from the previous year on a sports team can be hard enough; adding the loss of two other players due to injuries can make the season even harder. At the beginning of the year, Coach Dunn did not let the great loss prevent Perry’s varsity girls’ soccer team from having another great season.

He found some talented soccer athletes to replace the injured players, starting mid-fielder,

Kambree Meskill and starting goalkeeper, Carly Sandstedt.

Sophomore Taryn Pallas is the team’s new starting goalie and Gina Bracamonte has taken Meskill’s place.

Bracamonte states, “through a lot of hard work and help from Peighton Gumm”, the team had no major suffering from the loss, and recently Meskill has rejoined the team after recovering from her injury.

Pallas mentions, “how supportive the senior players

on the team have been to her” on filling the shoes of Sandstedt as goalie.

It is evident that even though the team faced Bracamonte some difficult trials this year, they have come through on top with the record of 8-3-1 and will be continuing on to the state championships.

Dunn says, “Kambree’s back and it helps. We found a good

Girls’ Basketball Season Recap

Pumas turned program around in ‘14

photos by Julia Alvarado While the 2014-15 season saw the Lady Pumas fall just shy of making it back to the postseason, it did witness the revival of the once-strong basketball program.

The Pumas had one of the toughest schedules in all of division-I play (8.8167 opponent rating), and were in the top-24 heading into the final two weeks of the season.

Senior Jenna Reynolds (left), said: “This is the first time in the past five years where right now we’re ranked where we” would be in contention for a playoff spot.

As of press time, the Pumas were on the outside-looking in, but things could change as far as postseason selection is concerned. Be sure to check out our team coverage on www.phsprecedent.com.

mix, with Gina, Ashley, and Peighton. We’re all healthy and we’ve shown that we can play. We play good soccer and create a lot of opportunities. It’s disappointing we went to a lot of games in overtime against a lot of big games...and we weren’t on the right end of them, but I think that’s are growing pains.

That’s where we’re learning to come together as a team and I think we’ve grown from it.”

Every team has its struggles and ups and downs, but what

really makes a team great is having that support and encouragement from one another to do better, to be great.

Just like the seniors on the team have been encouraging Pallas in being the new goalie. Perry’s varsity girls’ soccer team has these qualities: along with talent, skill and dedication. There is no doubt that they will dominate the field when playing in the state championships.

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12 || sports

february || 2015

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

Driving a different kind of

Sophomore Sali Thompson and senior Makenna Hold making a mark with their horse competitions

Mustang

photo published with permission from the Thompson family

Sophomore Sali Thompson competes in a barrel race in Chandler last October.

By Dequota Wilson and Paige Coakey the precedent

When you think of a high school athlete, you many not consider the skill of riding, driving, steeple-chasing and vaulting over poles while riding horse.

Not the most common sport among high school athletes, however sophomore Sali Thompson and senior Makenna Hold each compete at a high level on horseback.

The competitive sports aspect of being an equestrian requires much of the same strength required in other athletes—a strong core of abdominal muscles and lower back muscles to prevent falling off the horse.

Also, strong leg muscles to help with balance and steering and the ability to memorize patterns and cues to communicate with the horse.

Hold describes being an equestrian as “being able to bond with the horse and keeping the horse between you and the ground.”

There must be a personal bond between the rider and the horse, she added.

Being an equestrian takes more than knowing how to ride a horse; it takes a passion, heart and a true love for the sport.

photo by Julie Hold

Makenna Hold shows off her ribbons after an award winning show. Awards include horse jumping and other competition sections.

“I got into it [riding] when I was really young,” Thompson said, who has been riding horses since she was five years-old.

Riding at an early age is “what helps

me be a little bit better than other people,” Thompson said, “basically you have to be comfortable with [the horses] and love to do it.”

Hold says that she got her racing

inspiration after watching the animated film Spirit. “The wild horses were calling my name,” she states. Hold competed in her first show when she was nine years old. “It was just trotting poles [but]…I was very nervous.”

Thompson competed in her first show last October. “It was very nerve racking, but I did pretty good.” In an event of more than 100 competitors, she placed in the top-25.

Both girls have been riding for years now, however they compete in different styles—Hold in hunter/jumpers, and Thompson in barrel racing.

What makes equestrians different from other athletes is that equestrians require a different type of teamwork: the rider and the horse.

“Bonding with the horses [is] very important, because you and the horse are constantly trying to figure out each other,” Hold states.

The bond between rider and horse is important, and the girls each have a strong connection to their horses.

Hold enjoys riding her horse Sombrita, stating “she’s sassy,” while Thompson’s favorite horse is Bingo. “[Horses are] not only my best friend, but my teammate as well,” Thompson states.

Wrestling prepares for the state meet

By Devlin Clark the precedent

photo by Jordan Williams

Senior Jacob Lovato takes on a member of Campo Verde’s varsity member in the 120 lb. weight class.

As the wrestling regular season is winding down, head coach Darren Johnson knows three of his wrestlers have a special opportunity to compete for state titles – something that has alluded PHS since it opened in 2007. “[Chase Cawood] has a great chance, as do Tucker Matsen and Adam Ratliff,” he said.

Cawood, the team’s heavyweight, is undefeated against Arizona opponents (34-2), with his only losses coming from out-of-state opponents. With that resume, Cawood earned the No. 1 seed going into the sectional tournament on Feb. 7. Cawood’s 23 pins (over half of his wins) contribute greatly to his record and arguably make him the most dominant heavyweight in the state.

A 120-pound freshman, Ratliff is also aiming high as he entered sectionals with an individual record of 19-18. According

to Johnson, Ratliff has been wrestling in a very tough weight class all season, however he won the Apache Junction tournament in his class.

Johnson also points out that: “our section is the toughest in the state,” and for Cawood to have the record that he does is impressive on many different levels especially considering the fact that, “forty percent of state medalists come from our section [which includes teams such as Chandler and Basha].”

If a wrestler places at the state tournament, “you are in the top six in Arizona,” which is an incredible feat for anyone. In the 2013-14 season, Johnson was ecstatic that, “we advanced two kids,” even more so that, “one placed.”

Along with these top tier wrestlers the Pumas have, “we hope to advance as many [wrestlers] as possible,” The state tournament begins Feb. 12 at the Prescott Valley Event Center.