March 2015

the

Precedent PERRY HIGH SCHOOL || GILBERT, AZ

BOYS OF SUMMER Check out season previews for Spring Sports on page 12

MARCH 2015|| VOL. VIII ISSUE VI

TEACHER FEATURE

Bernier applies life experiences to classroom setting

photo by Isaiah Patterson

TV Productions teacher Brian Bernier helps junior Bella Tassinari during class. Before his teaching career, he recieved a degree in broadcast journalism, and worked in radio and sports broadcasting.

By Mackenzie Ness the precedent

Often a life in the media industry appears like a utopia: paparazzi, a large income, celebrities, and fine dining. However this is not reality, at least not at the beginning.

Media teacher Brian Bernier has traveled this rocky trek firsthand – from pulling cable for local radio stations to traveling the nation covering the NFL – Bernier built his career from the bottom-up, gaining both experience and wisdom.

Now in his 14th year in the classroom, and currently the director of Perry Podcast and Puma Nation Live, he tells students when pursuing a career in media to be aware of the not-so-glamorous life that often precedes a desired job.

“You have to take your lumps,” he says. “You are going to be treated like dirt, going to get people coffee, but you have to work your way through all of that.”

Originally from Southern

California where he excelled in athletics in high school, Bernier attended Arizona State Univ. as well as other colleges and received a degree in broadcast journalism.

His career in Phoenix began in radio at KZZP (104.7), where he soon earned a promotion as an associate show producer and felt the intensity of a life in media.

“Once you learn the basics, you are expected to know how to finish from Point A to Point B, there are not a lot of people patting you on the back as you go.”

His career path led him astray from music and back towards his passion: football.

Bernier spents time working for the Arizona Cardinals and the Univ. of Southern California as an assistant director of video operations, filming practices and games while traveling with the team.

Throughout this adventure, he discovered what the media industry actually looked like versus the extravagant lifestyle that many assume.

Band, choir, and orchestra students participate in Southwest Regionals

By Rebecca Hoffmann and Sarah Chapple the precedent

As the applause of introduction dies down, 100 choir students from a pool of 34 schools line the walkways in the McClintock High School auditorium on Saturday Feb 21, waiting for their cue to begin the processional and take their places on stage. These choir students began the 201415 Southwest Region’s concert, followed by Orchestra and finally Band.

Student participants auditioned for, prepared for, and attended the festival in order to perform on stage that day.

Regionals is an event hosted every year by the Arizona Music Educator’s Association.

There are eight regions in Arizona, and 43 schools, and Perry had high representation this year, with 12 students in the regional band, 15 in the orchestra, and 7 in the choir. For the Southwest Regional concert, there are 100 students in choir, 123 in orchestra, and 117 in band based on factors such as a need for balance of sounds.

The audition process is highly selective, making participation in this event a highly respected accomplishment. Senior Madison Williams, 9th chair soprano, takes pride in being a part of the event.

“Whenever people come to see the performance at a regional level, I feel like they are always really impressed and moved,” William says. “It’s an experience I don’t want to miss out on because I know how much it means for me

“Working in media is crazy.”

Bernier describes, “You have to pay your dues. [You have to] start out making six bucks an hour if you want to move to the top of the pyramid.”

The way that Bernier approaches his job as a teacher is largely influenced by his past experiences.

“I am very critical,” he said, “I notice all little mistakes because that is how my work environment was.”

Because of his drive to excel, he is largely admired by his colleagues.

PROM 2015

Prom to be held at Phoenix Convention Center; theme “Starlit Garden”

By August Bowers the precedent

photo published with permission from Serena Chang

PHS orchestra students pose for a picture at McClintock High prior to the performance. Perry was represented by 15 members in the orchestra, seven in the choir, and 12 in the band.

as a musician.”

The audition process varies based on instrument, but each consists of sight reading and demonstration of prepared music. Once the student “makes” regionals, they are given the music and must have it prepared to near perfection before showing up the Friday morning before the regional performance. “[Auditions are] a neat experience in itself because you get to talk to people from different schools and they give you feedback on everything,” Williams explains.

“I’ve tried out for it three years so it gets easier as you go, but it’s fun; you learn to enjoy it.”

Senior Jacob Ginn was first cello for the orchestra, auditioning into his chair during the Friday of Regionals. In addition, he had a solo in the concert. He comments, “it was fun, [but] a lot of responsibility because [I was] in

charge of [my entire] section.”

Choir instructor Joe Little believes this experience instills a sense of leadership in the participating students,as well as several other qualities that enhance their musicianship. “[Auditioning for regionals] pushes [the students] a little bit and helps them realize that they can do a lot more than they thought,” Little states. “It affects [the students] in different ways, depending on what they’re looking for in the music. It broadens their perspective and helps them be more expressive with the music.”

Another benefit of participating in Regionals is the opportunity to audition for All State, which will be held April 16-18 at the University of Arizona. This experience involves musicians who participated in regionals and were chosen through an audition process to participate.

Sculpture teacher Sharon Biemond has worked with Bernier since PHS opened.

“He has worked in the industry, the kids respect him for that,” she explained.

Bernier stresses that his class is a mirror of the broadcast industry.

The expectations in the real world are more demanding than school, and the PHS television production programs prepare students for life after school.

“Mistakes don’t go over [well],” he said of real jobs. “You are chewed out at the top of your lungs. School is all like, ‘Hey, we will give you another chance.’ In that industry there are no chances.”

Senior Adam Farnsworth has been a student in Bernier’s classes for three years, and has earned a prominent role in “Perry Podcast.”

“He really makes us challenge ourselves, pointing out the finer details within our projects,” Farnsworth said. “He doesn’t leave any stone unturned.”

“I always wanted to teach, it is awesome seeing kids go to film school,” Bernier said. “You feel like you had a hand in that, helping them along the way. I never thought it would be satisfying just getting a paycheck and working 80 hours a week.”

Bernier continues to guide his students in gaining experience, helping them to achieve success and confidence.

The most anticipated event of the school year: prom. A multitude of young men and women prepare for this day; renting tuxes and purchasing extravagant gowns.

With prom being a little over a month away, students are curious to see how it will live up to last year’s expectations. Junior class president and head committee chair for prom, Sierra Meyer explains that the committee is under a lot of pressure to be sure that they put on the best prom that Perry has to offer. Perry has been known for their successful themes in the past such as “My Heart Will Go On” in 2013 and “Field of Dreams” last year.

The theme for Prom 2015 is “Starlit Garden” and will be held at the Phoenix Convention Center.

With a multitude of options for themes and locations, StuGo chose a more luxurious approach. “We want themes that are classic. When you think of prom, you think of elegance; enjoyable times for everybody. We wanted something that was classic and elegant,” states Keeling.

StuGo must choose the location over a year before the actual date of prom; in essence, they have already chosen the location for prom in the year 2016; with the theme still up in the air.

Prom is organized by the juniors that are in StuGo; offered as a gift to the senior class. Meyer shares her emotions behind this gift giving, “It is really personal; we’re really

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

“We definitely want to give them something that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives and really enjoy.”

”

Sierra Meyer Committee Chair

close to them and we definitely want to give them something that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives and really enjoy.”

StuGo advisor, Brandon Keeling, has high expectations for his group of students this year.

“With every event StuGo does, regardless of what it is, I always want to do it bigger and better than the last time that we did it. Prom this year is no exception to that.”

Student body vice president, Tarin Sanford, expects there to be a huge turnout for this year’s dance. Sanford, along with other members of the committee chair, are expecting over 750 students to attend. Sanford also expressed her opinion on this year’s theme by saying, “We are going more with the elegant side of it; it’s going to be more classy.”

Prom is an enjoyable time for juniors and seniors; a time to dance with friends or significant others; a time to reminisce on the memories of high school. Keeling asserts, “We want it to be a night that the juniors and seniors can look back and remember for the rest of their lives.” It is a goal to make sure that the students are entertained by giving something that will never be forgotten.

www.phsprecedent.com

2|| news

march || 2015

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

Battle of the bills

STEM starts college level maths and sciences early

Superintendant and Govenor fight over Ariz. education standards

By Dequota Wilson the precedent

By Valerie Burgess and Sarah Campbell the precedent

Since the election of Governor Doug Ducey and Arizona school chief Diane Douglas in November, proposed bills and actions have been taken with regards of education. Although both parties believe they have the best intentions for students, do they really?

When both were elected, one would see that the intentions to strengthen education was in the best interest for the students conflicted regarding educational standards and standardized testing including the new AzMERIT test.

Tensions flared when the governor and Douglas - who are both antiCommon Core - publically had it out over Douglas’ illegal firings of two members of the state school board.

They were only aggravated when on Feb. 11 Diane Douglas fired two of her ‘liberal staff members’ who openly oppressed Common Core which she believed was in her jurisdiction. However, Doug Ducey did not agree with this decision due to the lack of power she had to remove the employees.

Science teacher Gerald Degrow discusses the conflict, “Currently, Ms. Douglas is attempting to imply that Mr. Ducey’s budget cuts are wrong while simultaneously putting the money into prisons. So Ms. Douglas is actually attempting to get more money into public schools.”

Once the employees were reinstated, they have been in a constant limbo regarding whether they can work alongside Douglas again.

Ironically, Gov. Ducey has created a hashtag #ClassroomsFirst while publishing a proposal to cut five percent on non-classroom spending, called “district additional assistance.” This includes textbooks, cafeteria workers and library services, which will equate to a $113 million cut. This would ultimately mean $6 million dollars will be cut from the Chandler Unified School District.

As stated by an email sent by the district’s Superintendent Camille Casteel on Feb. 18, there will be proposed bill HB2303 which will convey extreme changes to the school calendar, “In addition, there is an Arizona House Bill that would mandate the school year could not start prior to Sept. 2 and must end before June 30.”

This proposed legislation would disrupt the schedule which over 94 percent of parents in the district enjoy; compared with the traditional schedule schools across Arizona. On Feb. 12, the HB2303 was passed with a 5 to 2 vote to progress to the state senate. “[The bill] will definitely change our calendar,” explains Principal Serrano, “we still have to have 180 school days and a minimum number of instruction minutes.

This will mean our breaks will be reduced.”

An additional bill, HB2246 issued on Jan. 22, allows parents to opt out of the statewide examAzMerit. Despite what may seem a good amendment to the wellbeing of the student in the midst of confusion regarding the content matter of the test, schools would not be able to be compared to other schools. Each individual student would not be evaluated if parents decide for their children whether or not to take the exam.

photos published with permission from Payton Kline Kline began dancing when she was three years old and currently dances six to seven days of the week. Her work is about to pay off as she attends the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive this year.

STUDENT FEATURE

Ballerina dances her way to prestigious summer program while fulfilling passion

By Aja Diffin the precedent

Junior Payton Kline has recently pirouetted her way into many different opportunities centered around her most prominent passion: ballet.

On Jan. 30, she received some personal validation as she placed significantly highly in the Las Vegas regionals of the world’s largest international student dance competition, the Youth America Grand Prix.

“I just recently competed in the biggest [student] competition worldwide; it’s about 5000 people and I got top 24 in regionals,” Kline says.

After achieving success in the competition, she set out in hopes of finding the perfect summer program to become involved in this year. Since she was 12, she has participated in programs over her summers frequently so she is familiar with the process.

She has auditioned for multiple programs recently; one of which was for a six-week-long summer intensive at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in Pennsylvania. After performing her audition for this intensive on Feb. 8, she was awarded a scholarship to go toward the price of tuition.

“Basically I [would] be dancing about eight hours a day, six days a week, and we [would] start at

Check Us Out Twitter:

@phsprecedent

Instagram:

@phsprecedent

Vine:

@phsprecedent

about eight in the morning and end pretty late,” Kline shares.

At this summer intensive, students not only learn more about ballet but they also take classes pertaining to subjects such as jazz, modern, and even choreography.

The program is designed to help them increase their dancing skills and broaden their knowledge base.

Under the scholarship, students stay in dormitories and meals are planned out.

“It’s really fun, it’s not bad; they take care of everything for you,” Kline adds.

In preparation for the auditions, she has not had to alter her usual, vigorous dancing schedule too much.

“I dance about six or seven days a week in general so it wasn’t too much extra preparation, just because the normal amount I do is

a lot,” Kline explains.

This type of lengthy, nearly daily training has become natural for her because of her substantial past involving ballet. She has been dancing since her early years, and honing her skills since her childhood.

“I started dancing when I was three but I’ve been seriously doing ballet since I was about nine years old,” Kline says.

In addition to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre summer intensive, she has also auditioned for programs at the Milwaukee Ballet School and Ballet Arizona.

Kline is awaiting the results of her auditions to see the scholarships she has been granted.

In the coming weeks, she will be examining her options to choose the best place to spend the summer.

The Most Comprehensive Driving School in Arizona.

You may begin our driving program at age 15 1/2 years. We also offer group discounts and customized programs to fit your needs.

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education.

The focus on these areas are crucial together not only because the skills and knowledge in each discipline are essential for student success, but also because these fields are deeply intertwined in the real world and how students learn most effectively.

Perry’s STEM counselor, Mr. Mann, describes the program as: “starting a major in highschool that involves math and science.”

Students usually apply to this program their freshman year. It requires rigorous math and science curriculum. The students have to take honors math and science classes.

Once in the program, students must maintain an unweighted GPA of 3.5. The program also offers summer workshops and internships in the fields that the students are interested it.

There are two types of STEM programs, the STEM Scholar and STEM diploma. The scholar program is a bit more rigorous than the other program.

The scholar program requires students to not only take honors and AP math and science courses, but honors and AP english and history courses as well. Scholar students also have to maintain a GPA of 3.8.

“Many people in our neighborhood don’t know what STEM is, but colleges know what it is,” Mann states. Currently in the United States, there is a high demand for students interested in math and sciences careers.

“There’s not enough Americans in STEM careers, so people have to come from other parts of the world to United States just to work,” Mann explains. The careers that Mr. Mann are referring to are jobs such as engineers, doctors, technicians, and so on. “Americans are being underrepresented in these areas, and this program is determined to change this,” claims Mann. The current co valedictorians for class of 2016, Jake Crabtree and Averie Scholz, are both in the scholars program.

Both Crabtree and Scholz have taken classes such as honors chemistry, AP Physics, and Honors Brief Calculus.

“I like that I have all these opportunities to take these college level classes, because I think it will help me better in college and coping with school stress,” Scholz states.

Beginner, Intermediate, and Skilled Driver Programs

Each of these programs consists of a six hour classroom session that focuses on safe driving practices, and the rules of the road.

The beginner program combinesthe classroom session with 10 hours behind the wheel. This is for those students who have little to no experience driving.

LET’S DRIVE Driving Arizona LLC 1805 E. Eliot Road, Suite 102 Tempe, AZ 85284 Ph: 480.777.7303 Fax: 480.777.7302 www.drivingarizona.net

The intermediate program combines the classroom session 8 hours of behind the wheel. This is for those who have some driving experience but want additional time driving.

The skilled program combines the classroom session with 6 hours behind the wheel. This is for those who have some driving experience.

Hourly Driving

We also work one on one with students needing driving instruction but not on entire program.

Two hour minimum.

march || 2015

news ||

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

3

Puma Pals participate in annual district Fun Run

By Mia Irvin

“[The Fun Run helps] show the children they can do more than just sit in a classroom.

the precedent

On Feb. 27, the Puma Pals took a field trip to Tumbleweed park to attend the 8th annual Fun Run. Attended by schools from all over the Chandler district, the run is conducted in honor of Disability Awareness Month and hosted by Chandler’s Mayor Jay Tibshraeny and the City Council. The event consists of a run in Tumbleweed Park, a balloon artist, a live DJ, a face painter, and a photo booth.

But the itinerary for the event includes something that lasts a little longer than a balloon or a hot dog. Participants are guaranteed memories that will last a lifetime.

Special Education teacher Debra Brezinski has been attending the event for eight years, and can verify that statement. “Watching how determined they are to finish, that’s the coolest part,” says Brezinski.

Events like this run, or the Valentine’s Dance are vital to the special education community. They provide the opportunity to step outside the classroom, and partake in something they normally could not do on a daily basis. “[The Fun Run helps] show the children they can do more than just sit in a classroom,” Brezinski shares.

The adults are not the only one who benefits from events like

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

the precedent

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.”

the Fun Run. Freshman Scott Marcum has only attended two Fun Runs and already knows how special it is. “Running and dancing to the music,” Marcum recalled from the last Fun Run. According to Jody Shagena, a Paraeducator at Perry and a coach for Unified basketball and track, “[The Fun Run] provides exposure to community activities, promotes exercise and an opportunity to see many friends from other CUSD schools.”

Brzezinski also recalls seeing the many students from variety of school mingle. “They like that camaraderie.” Brezinski adds.

Also on the Puma Pals’ calendar for Feb. 27. was a Unified Sports game. The Pumas were invited to play in the Unified Invitational Tournament division 2 and 3 playoff games. Perry’s Unified Sports program was the only CUSD school to be selected for this honor.

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

Jason Myers NHS Sponsor

”

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

By Kacee Perry

Special Education Teacher

National Honors Society continues service; sends letters of invitation

By Natalie Eberhard

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

”

Debra Brezinski

PRECEDENT SPECIAL: MENTION THIS AD AND I WILL DONATE 10 PERCENT BACK TO THE PHS JOURNALISM PROGRAM!

•@ 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

4 || opinions

march || 2015

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

Staff Editorial

Open letter to South 156th Street dirt lot owner: please let us park

Corrections

We always strive to be as factual and credible as it can be, and we acknowledge mistakes in our previous issue.

In the Feb. 2015 issue, we referred to Adam Ratliff as a freshman when he is a sophomore.

We apologize for any inconveniences that this incorrect information may have caused.

Senioritis: the student’s lame excuse to be lazy SARAH CHAPPLE the precedent

S

enior year: arguably the most anticipated achievement of childhood, is often wasted. More commonly know as Senioritis.

While USA Today describes Senioritis as “a cultural rite of passage for those at the college threshold,” it is more easily defined as laziness and anxiety to graduate that grows increasingly more intense as senior year progresses.

In either case, along with the benefits of senior year comes a sense of laziness across the board among seniors.

However, Senioritis too often receives

an unhealthy, almost unrealistic amount of attention that causes it to become more manifest, thus causing a negative effect.

Although much of Senioritis can be attributed towards having reached the finish line such as college acceptance and scholarships, perhaps an equally large portion can be attributed to a sense of entitlement to slack off because they feel as though they deserve to be lazy.

There are three years of high school building up to senior year, in which students form their expectations of said year. Among these expectations comes the right to develop Senioritis. The overabundance of attention and wide acceptance that Senioritis is real gives students an excuse towards selfdiagnosis.

A prime example of this is College Board, who has gone as far as to designate a page of

their website to addressing Senioritis, gives tips on how to stay on track; such as keeping a calendar and maintaining a challenging course load.

Additionally, College Board recommends that students remain “excited, active, and focused throughout their senior year.”

This can be done by changing the sense of entitlement as an excuse for laziness.

If we work to collectively ignore the dreaded “Senioritis,” perhaps the problems caused by it will be eliminated too.

Rather than encourage the idea of senior year as a waste of time, look it as the last opportunity you have.

Don’t let others tendencies towards laziness become contagious, because Senioritis turns into a huge excuse for doing nothing. Try to make the last year of high school count.

“Break” means a time out from school work MOLLY OGDEN

the precedent

A

s a quarter winds down, all students can think about is the two weeks of freedom from the confines of school that lies ahead of them. Whether it be fall, winter, or spring break, students are nothing but excited.

But then, once freedom is almost close enough to touch, the death knell sounds. Honors and AP English students are “awarded” with one of those “timeless classics” that they would never consider reading if they were of their own free will.

Enter the evil of over-break reading assignments.

There is definitely an advantage to assigned reading over break. If these books were assigned to be read during the quarter, they would eat up much-needed class time.

Reading over break also gives teachers a platform to teach off of starting at the very beginning of the quarter.

In theory, having a book to read over break is a fantastic idea. Students have more free time and don’t have to worry about their classes, thereby leaving more time to read.

But what looks good on paper doesn’t always turn out to be the best idea. Often, students forget to read during the break, and, in a moment of panic, spend the night before the first day back reading very late into the night. Not the best way to spend their last night of freedom.

The solution is simple. If students were given their reading assignments even a week or two before the beginning of break and were reminded of the assignment, many would have the reading done before break even started.

Another way to get students to read would be to assign a few pages every night in the weeks before break and have short pop quizzes on the reading in class every couple of days. This would cut down on late night cram sessions.

Although these solutions would take more work and effort, isn’t it worth it? Why assign a book and have some students “forget” to read it. What is really the best way to spend your break time?

Precedent

the

R

ight this second, you are losing money. Tens, twenties, hundreds--all slipping out of your fingers. See, your real estate (specifically the ecclesiastical no man’s land between the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall and the LDS Seminary) has value far beyond its meager surface of dust and shrubbery.

It’s time you considered investing in parking.

Presumably, you didn’t become the proud owner of an entire dirt lot without understanding the basic principle of capitalism: supply and demand. If you examine the high school that neighbors your property, you will see that very principle wreaking havoc.

Perry High School is the academic home of some 3,200 students– subtract about 900 freshmen and that makes roughly 2,300 who are eligible for driving licenses, or will be within the next year. Of these, approximately 1,120 are provided with on-campus parking. That is, 48 percent of student drivers have parking. Meanwhile, the other half is getting desperate.

Perhaps you saw the metallic centipede of vans and sedans that formed alongside the road, just a little south of your aforementioned property. They continued to line up, month after month–at least, until the police threatened to tow them away for trespassing on private property.

If teenagers are willing to break the law for a patch of land to plant their cars, just imagine how willing they would be to pay you for that privilege! Simply clear the few bushes that dot your property, set up rough markers to define parking spaces, and voila: money. Charge less than the annual $70 the campus parking requires and see exactly how many vehicles flock to your property (and how many bills flock to your pockets).

The truth is, those cars are going to spill over somewhere and it might as well be your dirt lot.

Your makeshift parking lot would print money for you and your investors. Already, parents are waiting for their children along its roadside edge–for free! The demand is there and it is your privilege to grant the supply.

As long as Perry continues to offer the quality programs (like STEM), it will be a target for open enrollment, no matter how many new schools the district builds.

Pride • Progress • Purpose

photo published with permission from Wikipedia The book thief is the spring break reading assignment for honors sophomores. After reading partway through the book, students will come back and discuss in-depth themes in the sections they read over break.

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.

opinions || 5

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

march || 2015

Schedule change: s u p m OnCa Maintaining original schedules provides “What scares stability for both students and faculty you?” point | counterpoint:

ERIK YATES

the precedent

W

ith every governor election that swings around, the lingering question of, “what changes are coming to the education system?” is almost always brought up. It is a substantial concern for parents because they want to know exactly what their kids are being subject to in school, specifically, what they are

being taught, being fed, and even who is going to school with them.

The current AZ state governor, Doug Ducey, has proposed a multitude of reforms, some reasonable and cost effective, while others are not so.

One of these new propositions is House Bill 2303. The most notable change in the bill is that, as

cited, “Except as may be otherwise authorized by the superintendent of the public instruction...the first day of instruction for each school year shall begin not earlier than the first Monday of September.”

While some might hear this and think either “this is a great idea, less school,” or “what,” it’s not necessarily what one might believe.

Essentially, the bill states that the overall superintendent, Diane Douglas, has the final say in whether or not schools will adopt the schedules that are similar to the eastern part of the country. A misconception is that this will give students more time away from school. This is not true at all. In fact, while summers will be longer, the two week breaks will be reduced to one week. Now does this bill sound like a good idea?

The thing about the two week breaks is that it allows students to squeeze in more job and/ or downtime for the students.

Without that, it would possibly be more difficult to get in extra work hours or have more relaxation time.

Upon inspection of the actual bill itself, one will noticed that charter schools are among the first things mentioned here, with public schools coming second. The budget cuts that seem to be swept under the rug in favor the removal of the two-week breaks, it is questionable whether this change in schedule is truly good for the students themselves, or the wallets of the politicians.

Schedules are overdue for change

I

n the Chandler School District, we have been accustomed to this modified year-round schedule for years. With this comfort comes fear of the possible new schedule change. HB2303, a bill that just passed the House with a 5-2 vote, can push back the first day of school until after Labor Day. The new schedule brings a longer summer, from late June to early Sept., and instead of two weeks after every quarter, it would be reduced down to one. Does that not sound like the perfect schedule? Not only do we get a longer summer, preventing us from being melted at school in July and August, but we still keep our minibreaks after every quarter.

Politicians are saying that this bill can save money, because the schools need to be cooled more in the hotter months. “Rep. Eddie Farnsworth said [July and Aug.] present the heaviest load on the electrical grid, meaning Arizona utilities have to import electricity from elsewhere” (tuscon.com).

But parents and students are not concerned with the cost, they

Raevin Richardson senior

“I have a fear of pregnancies. One day I saw all these like pregnant ladies and I was literally having a full-on panic attack.”

Austin Bull senior

SARAH LANKFORD

“I’m afraid of Mr. Rothery’s math exams (unless he gives me an easy one).”

the precedent

are just concerned whether or not it provides a good learning environment.

Many public schools around the nation have this schedule; they start in mid-August or early

September. They make it work, they do not have any issue taking in the knowledge to do well on their standardized tests. The main reason that people are concerned about this schedule change is because it

is different. We have only know this modified year-round schedule.

If a change to the schedule comes, yes it may be hard to adjust to, but together we will overcome this tragedy.

Brianna Rowe junior

“Swimming pools – I don’t like water.”

Music preferences changing over time brings about a new music standard MADI MONTOYA the precedent

W

hile the most prominent music changes happen over longer periods of time, in just the past four years, the top hits have ranged from Adele and LMFAO in 2011 to Pharrell Williams and Katy Perry in 2014.

Music is a huge part of teenage culture, it is almost impossible to walk the hallways at school without noticing someone with one or both earbuds in as they make their way

to class, it’s just a teen’s way of life.

With so much influence on today’s youth, there comes a point where the music industry itself starts shape our way of thinking. Are they going a bit too far?

The change in pop culture has definitely not just happened over the past four years; most people have seen the trend changes since the mid-1900’s. Compared to the 1950’s, music now is more automated and less organic, now even forming new music categories such as dubstep, techno, and dance.

Also, now there is the alarming influx of songs with here-and-there drug references. Sure, this has been

in rap for a few decades now, but referencing things like MDMA (more commonly known as Molly) is not something that should be popular in mainstream radio music, especially when a known use for the drug is to rape women while they’re unconscious.

Of course, not all artists have ill intent when it comes to their song writing, and not all artists are part of the problem...yet.

The real dilemma comes from the ever-changing society around us, partly fueled by the music industry-- meaning that the music industry, songwriters, and artists all come together to write a new

type of music that has more or less ‘edgy’ content. If the audience loves it, then they will talk about it, making the new music popular, spreading its influence throughout the country; the biggest example of this would be rock n’ roll back in the 1950’s when Elvis was thought to be risque.

I rest my case that some people will think that there is nothing wrong with the music industry, that all the music being produced is fine. Then again, maybe its saying something when music producers have to release a ‘clean’ version of a song to fit to all of their audience’s needs.

Tyra Thompson sophomore

“I’m afraid of yellow walls. because they’re too bright and they freak me out. I feel like I’m in a tight space.”

6 || features

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

march || 2015

Schools struggle with differences

By Kaitlyn VanKlompenberg the precedent

The creeping fear of failing a class is always on the shoulders of students.

People know that unpleasant feeling of getting a F on a test and thinking that their whole high school career is over. While some adolescents have the ability to go to receive extra help, others are denied necessary aid in order to succeed. Children with educational issues and gifted students are specifically ignored when there is a call for help. Teachers and schools all over the country have become unconcerned with the education of certain students. Children are our future, so why are public schools avoiding the situation?

Students with educational issues, such as a hearing impairment, ADHD, dyslexia, etc., are specifically affected by a school’s ignorance.

These students typically receive an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) in order for their teachers to truly understand the help they need, but not many of these teachers follow

“While 5.7 million students in the country have identified as having a learning disability, only 39% are getting the help they need through IEP’s or other aiding techniques.

”

National Center For Learning Disabilities

through.

According to corestandards. org: “[It is necessary for schools to provide] an IEP which includes annual goals aligned with and chosen to facilitate their attainment to grade-level academic standards.” While 5.7 million students in the country have identified as having a learning disability, only 39% are getting the help they need through IEP’s or other aiding techniques (National Center For Learning Disabilities). This means that since 2011, less than twofifths of the identified population has received any necessary help, assumingly causing them to fail.

No one wants that ugly feeling of failure to fill their mind.

As for gifted individuals, they

are categorized as students “who demonstrate outstanding levels of aptitude or competence in one or more domains” (National Association For Gifted Students). As opposed to Advanced Placement or Honors students, gifted adolescents are students who find different solutions to issues. These children work outside the box and sometimes have a difficult time learning in an average classroom. In a study conducted by aboutourkids.org, “one of the most common areas of educational mismatch for gifted students...has been in the area of math education.”

Although a gifted student is expected to exceed in most courses, classes that do not provide individual learning environments can decrease the amount of knowledge a gifted student acquires. These exceptional

students are held to the same standard as average students rather than one that challenges them. Thus, holding back the true potential of a gifted student.

Some families make efforts to provide the extra help necessary, but are met with distress. “Only affluent families are able to afford better education matches for their children,” stated aboutourkids. org, “by using Internet math programs, finding weekend or summer enrichment programs or by placing their children in suburban or independent schools.” Lower-class families are unable to receive any aid necessary and students are failing all over the country even though the solution is right in front of their eyes.

Teachers and schools need to stop ignoring the individualistic needs for each students and help all of the children accomplish educational goals.

features || 7

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

march || 2015

House tries erasing Common Core

By Kathryn McFaul the precedent

Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards have recently come under debate in Arizona; the House has just passed a bill to have Common Core removed from all Arizona’s school systems.

The Representatives want to go back to the original plan of education that was created and owned by Arizona before Common Core was implicated in 2010.

According to commoncorestandards.org, Common Core is important for students to “ ensure all students are prepared for success after graduation, the Common Core establishes a set of clear, consistent guidelines for what students should know and be able to do at each grade level in math and English language arts.”

photo by Jordan Williams Juniors Brody Vossler and Kelly Crawley work in Chemistry. The removal of Common Core will affect the way students learn in the classroom, and will allow them to learn at their own pace.

Common Core was based on the standards to educate children well enough in the “English language arts and math were the

subjects chosen for the Common Core State Standards because they are areas upon which students build skill sets that are used in

other subjects.”

Arizona College and Career Ready Standards affects only the English language arts classes and math because, “the standards specify the literacy skills and understandings required for college and career readiness in multiple disciplines. States determine how to incorporate these standards into their standards for those subjects or adopt them as content area literacy standards.”

With the bill, being passed the House has decided that “the State Board of Education may not adopt and the department of education may not implement the Common Core Standards.”

The House wants this bill to pass to ensure that parents have the right to control their child’s education. The bill will go to Senate later this week.

Real goal of student body: making the grade KACEE PERRY

the precedent

Under the harboring stress that each student faces, it all seems worth it once they receive their report card with a string of A’s and B’s.

Yet, now that those students gained their desired grade, all of the knowledge learned becomes unimportant and neglected. So what does that say about the goals of schools?

Over the years, high school has become

an atmosphere filled with anxiety towards making a decent grade. For students, it is relatively more common to ask a question about their grades, rather than a question based on pure curiosity of the subject.

Junior Tacey Hedberg adds, “All we care about is getting our score done and having the grade so that we can get through high school.”

This objective comes from the high pressures implemented on the student body, where teens are faced with keeping their dream college in view and their parents proud.

Hedberg added that there is stress from

parents, “because all they see is a report card.”

In agreement, teachers do consider that parents impose some sort of influence on their student’s grades.

Honors Geometry and Algebra 2 teacher, Keith Castillo, notes how much worry parents have over grades commenting, “My experience is that parents aren’t really interested in the material either, they are more interested in the grade.”

With this, there are some parents who completely monitor their child’s grades, while others are a little less hands-on.

AP Statistics and Precalculus teacher

Jennifer Falk explained some of her encounters with parents who are, “letting their student take the lead and are trusting them to do well.”

In doing so, this can add as much pressure than to a student who is under strict regulation of grades by their parents, because it gives the child just as much responsibility to monitor themselves.

This additionally presents why students concern over their grades in all levels of learning.

From AP, to honors, to on-level, every student is occupied over the achievement of good grades. Even with that, they are not the

LEARNING inside the

only ones who strain over scores.

Though students are filled with pressure, teachers are also preoccupied with making sure their students do well in their class and on exams.

Falk related her reason for putting pressure on herself saying, “On a personal level I want to see good grades, so that way I know my students are understanding.”

With good grades, a teacher will be better defined if their students are recognizing what they are being taught and using this knowledge to do better on tests.

However, the stress over these scores can be beneficial, but it also imposes the

unhealthy aftereffects for some, by taking the time away from actually learning genuine content, that can broaden one’s mind.

Though grades are seen to be too focused on, for the students there is little thought on what could be done to change this system.

Castillo concludes that, “There has to be some sort of external indicator of how much you learned. I don’t believe that a grade is the best way, but I don’t have another solution.”

With that, all that can be done is simply to try to keep some of the content absorbed and not to fully neglect it later in life.

LINES

8 || arts and entertainment

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

march || 2015

Jacob Morris croons country tunes on debut album

By Molly Ogden the precedent

F

ame and fortune. Those two words have sparked the imaginations and dreams of millions. But in order for one to fulfill their dreams, there must be a plan of action.

Senior Jacob Morris has just that. When he is not participating in theater here at Perry, or worrying about school work, Morris enjoys songwriting and playing his guitar.

Morris had the opportunity to record three original songs in early January of this year. Recording in a professional studio is just one more step toward his goal of becoming a professional musician. “[Being able to record] was so cool, to finally have some studio experience for something that I want to do later in life,” Morris explained. “It has given me some insight on what goes into a studio and how the whole process works. Doing it was a blast.”

Many people think you can only record music in places like Hollywood, but Morris had the opportunity to record in a local recording studio.

“I recorded with Eric Coakley. He has had the studio for [19] years and he gave me a really cool opportunity to come into his studio.” Morris continued reflected that “it was my first time going into a studio anywhere and he gave me that opportunity to come in and record. [Coakley] has really helped me out in getting [the album] released.”

Upon seeing him perform, Coakley knew that Morris had potential.

“I was able to see him perform in the various acts that perry does throughout the years. I was impressed by his wide range of talents from acting and singing. Jacob is my first country oriented artist, [and] he is the real deal.

Recording in a studio takes much time and effort, both for those that run the studio and the artists themselves.

Coakley explained that to record, “you have to come in and work in a way that once [the music] is captured and presented to the world, that people can feel what it is that you are trying to transpire in your music. That is a very tough thing to do, but Jacob seems to make that process look easy, as most talented people do.”

Morris was able to incorporate several talented Perry students into the production of his album. One such student is senior Pablo Bastidas, a drummer and member of the Perry

photo by Paige Coakley Jacob Morris records his song “The Raven” at the In the Pocket Studio in early January. His album, Reap What You Sow, was released in late February on itunes and CD format.

jazz band.

Bastidas commented, “Jacob is just a really really talented guy. He’s really charismatic and has a lot going for him. If he does it right, he has a good career ahead of himself. I’m super excited for him.”

Morris’ album, Reap What You Sow, features three original songs and was released on Thursday February 19. His songs can be purchased on music sites such as iTunes, Spotify, and SoundCloud. “[The lead single is called] ‘Southern Time’. It has a really cool back porch acoustic feel. I had some help from some Perry students with some back up vocals for [a song called ‘No Sympathy’] That’s a good ballad. [The

17-year-old star revives classic pop sound

By Madi Montoya

fulfilling his dream: playing the music he loves for the people he loves.

Reap What You Sow Tracklist: “Southern Time,” “No Sympathy,” “The Raven (Acoustic)” Length: 14:17 Sounds like: James Taylor, Sturgill Simpson, Zac Brown Band

‘The Duff’ is decent but it’s no ‘Mean Girls’

By Natalie Eberhard

the precedent

Due to such drastic music changes over the last years, a common category such as ‘pop music’ has changed entirely from what it used to be. Teenage artist Dylan Gardner has come to turn back time and bring another, sweeter side of pop back into the light.

Although living on the American west coast, Gardner’s musical influence spans all over the world, from The Beatles to Fun., among a list of other countless favorites.

Gardner’s love for music started when he was very young, and a passion for songwriting and performing have been part of his life for the last decade.

Gardner’s path to fame started on YouTube in 2014, when he recreated The Beatles’ album Abbey Road in 15-second segments. His video went viral, and the journey to pave his own way in the music industry began.

While he might only be 17, both Gardner’s appearance and style of music give him the vibe of a reincarnated Beatle. The maturity of his acoustic sound sets him apart from other teenage pop artists, reintroducing a sound that has been missing for awhile now.

Gardner’s debut album Adventures In Real Time gives listeners a good break from the repetitive Top 40 on the radio. With a folksy charm and a calm demeanor in his lyrics, Gardner has the ability to draw in his listeners while still relaying his messages across.

Beginning with catchy tunes like ‘Let’s Get Started’ and ‘Too Afraid To Love You’ in the first half of his album, Gardner gives listeners a taste of his acoustic sound, along with fun, upbeat, and teenage boyish lyrics.

The second half of his album has a more meaningful side to it, with songs like ‘The Actor’ and ‘Sing For The Stars’ that still entertain, but also set him aside from just

last song is] a fully acoustic song called ‘The Raven,’ which is kind of a country rock jam.”

Coakley commented that Morris “is the kind of person that the world would accept as a true talent. I think he still has a lot of music in that needs to come out.”

As he prepares for the future, Morris agrees with Coakley.

“I’m planning on majoring in music and minoring in business in college. I do want to stick with music and I’m hoping to continue with performing. I want to study composition and being able to write music better. Music is definitely my main goal after high school.”

Although the future is full of uncharted territory, Morris is excited for his journey in

the precedent

photo courtesy of GoMoxie Dylan Gardener strums a chord on his guitar.

The 17-year-old’s debut, Adventures in Real Time, was released on May 13, 2014.

another cookie-cutter teenage singer.

With a new wave of indie-pop music forefronting the beginning of this year, Gardner has been able to successfully infiltrate the music scene, bringing along with him a revival of organic pop that is sure to begin a new love for all things acoustic.

Recently a flood of movies have entered the box office, including a new favorite, The Duff.

It is a typical high school movie with a taste of drama dipped in comedy that teenagers can especially relate to. It definitely has the jokes and atmosphere of a normal high school.

Actress Mae Whitman was excellent at portraying her character, Bianca, a common high school girl. Whitman may be 26, but pulls off the role nicely. The character could be viewed as an inspiration in positive ways because other people have endured embarrassment and self-esteem problems.

There were, however, cheesy moments that make it difficult to actually picture certain events in a real life scenario. Although there were moments that helped girls see how their self esteem could be boosted, many of the sexual comments made it seem that girls should focus on their appearance if they want to be liked. The school’s confident Mr. Popular, Wesley, played by Amell Robbie, shows Bianca what she should wear and comments on her body. Do we really want girls to be self-conscious about what they wear because they want to be liked?

The movie was humorous, especially for teenagers who understand the modern humor. However, all the jokes and sexual references do not need to be heard or seen by a thirteen year old.

Imagine watching the opening scene where the female characters are introduced strutting down the hallway. While they do so, high school guys check them out and say “I would bang her because…”. The audience snickers at the boys’ comments and for a second it seems funny.

Then the realization dawns: there are

photo by Guy D’Alema/CBS Films/MCT Campus Robbie Amell and Mae Whitman star in The Duff. The film opened on Feb. 20.

12 year old boys and girls in the theater, sitting with their moms. Are these the sort of freshmen we want in the next couple of years?

Do we need more teenage boys objectifying women? Do we need more girls struggling with self- esteem? The way the boys view girls can make it hard for girls to like themselves, knowing that they are being judged.

Just because a movie is rated PG-13, does not mean that junior high or even high school aged teenagers should be encouraged to laugh or follow ways that movie producers portray high schools in movies.

Sure, the movie seemed funny and “is just like high school” but it does not mean we need to see it in our movies. Too much of the movie pushed for unecessary humor; some content was simply not needed.

The film was okay: not the best, not the worst. If people are concerned with foul language and crude references, then this movie is not for them. On the other hand, if one is fine with an unrealistically happy ending and ignoring the blatantly bawdy jokes, The Duff will be appealing to them.

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

march || 2015

arts and entertainment || 9

Tech a vital element of theatrical success What to

By Cassie Nielsen the precedent

The stage is transformed with a white picket fence and wheelbarrow giving off the authentic look of a home in Kansas. The scene changes, and quickly becomes a sparkling yellow brick road, lined with flowers and trees. It transitions again and now everything is green: the Emerald City. The crowd is excited to see the performance, but what they may not realize is the amount of work that goes into a Perry theater performance.

There were hours leading into days, into weeks, into months of

“Without...everyone that’s in tech, an audience...would not be able to feel...fully immersed in the world.

Rachael Sharp Tech Volunteer

”

work in preparing and making the set for the latest school play, “The Wizard of Oz.” Still, they were limited with the time they had to prepare a set compared to the one they made for “Addams Family.” In “Addams Family” they had close to nine weeks versus close to six this time around.

“We haven’t had all the tech

people show up that we need, so we’ve had some of the actors help out with tech,” says senior tech assistant Alex Duford.

“They’ve really stepped up because of ‘Addams’ and understanding now how important our job is and how stressful it can be,” states sophomore tech student Maya Whitaker.

Putting on a great show takes more than having talented actors, which Perry definitely has considering the school’s state titles in theater.

“In order to get the full effect of theater, you have to be immersed inside the world. And without the set and costumes and everyone that

Drumline beats a path to state

photo by Kimberlee Wetsel

Sophomore Trevor Shain rushes onto the stage during the Perry Classic guard and drumline show. The Perry Indoor Percussion Ensemble took first place at the show.

By Nathan Tucker the precedent

Anyone can bang a drum, crash a cymbal, or tap a triangle.

But making music out of noise-that takes skill. The Perry Indoor Percussion Ensemble possesses that fine-tuned skill and is set for a competitive season.

“The level of energy that we’re putting forward is a lot higher than we’ve put forward in the past,” section leader Pablo Bastidas says.

“We’re doing a lot of really new, interesting things.”

Winter Drumline is a focused activity that cuts the traditional

marching band down to its loudest, heaviest section. Snare, quad, and bass drums have to convey not only rhythm, but melody, aided only by a cymbal section and a keyboardbased front ensemble. It is the kind of challenge only a dedicated and determined team can succeed at.

Perry Drumline is that kind of team.

“We’re one of the top schools in the state right now,” section leader McKay Chamberlain states.

“It’s us, Casa Grande, Basha, and Millennium.”

Drumline is responding to the competition with an ambitious show. In “Going Under,” the

ensemble portray characters who escape the drudgery of everyday life through hypnosis. But subcumbing to their subconsious brings more than they bargained for, with both enlightening and startling consequences.

“The slow ballad kind of explores that weird psychedelic kind of emotion,” Bastidas explains. “Then the fast closer--[...] it’s basically just like the freak-out.”

While they may simulate a freak-out, the ensemble is always in complete control. They rehearse every zero hour, arriving at 5:45 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, plus four hour practices each Monday

is in tech, an audience member would not be able to feel themselves as if they were fully immersed in the world,” remarks sophomore tech volunteer Rachael Sharp.

There are many roles to be filled when putting on a show. There are light techies, shifters, costume and makeup artists, curtain controllers, stage managers, and many more people helping to fulfill their role in making an awe-striking show.

When going to a play it is important to remember how much work, time, and dedication the theater students put into the show. A big part of what makes a play so great is tech and that should never be overlooked. and Friday night. The schedule is a difficult commitment but it allows the group to absolutely master their material.

“Our shows are very difficult,” Chamberlain says. “It takes a lot of hard work and practice in order to even get close to playing the right music. That’s the biggest thing: if you’re not there to practice and push yourself to the next level, you’re going to have a real tough time being in [Drumline].”

“We’re getting a lot done really fast,” cymbal player Camille Herrera adds, “and that shows a lot in our shows as well.”

Their effort also shows in their scores: this is only their second year in Scholastic Open, the top division in the state, and they are more than holding their own.

“We boosted up our regular score from like the 60s into the 70s in just a week,” Herrera says.

At the first show of the season, Drumline scored 71.60; the next week they made a nine point jump to 80.05, only 0.15 points away from first place winner Millennium.

While their scores the following week took a slight fall to 77.50, they rose back to 81.20 at the Casa Grande show with the competition remaining close going into regional and state championships.

But the true winners are the members of the ensemble and the real prize is the opportunity to improve their skills and create a performance as a team. “[When I first joined Drumline] I realized that everyone was better than me and I was like, ‘Oh man, I’ve gotta step my game up,’” says snare drummer CJ Floyd. “It’s humbled me and it’s made me improve every day.”

“You perform together, you become a family,” Herrera says. “It’s not only a learning experience but it’s also a type of growing experience.”

Drumline’s next performance is at Mesquite High School for WGI Regionals on March 14.

Wear Wilson with

Spring into spring trends

By Dequota Wilson the precedent

The groundhog may have predicted six more weeks of winter, but that does not affect most of us here in Arizona. Temperatures are rising rapidly, so put away your sweaters and boots, it’s time to bust out the v necks and sandals. The key is to stay haute as it gets hotter outside.

Last year, Pali Hawaii sandals, (also known as: “Jesus sandals”), were all the rave, but this year the new craze is Birkenstocks. The sandals have a similar shoe structure, but that is where their similarities end. Birkenstocks can be worn as both classy and casual, whereas Jesus sandals are strictly for fun and games. The most fun part about Birkenstocks is that they come in so many different colors and patterns.

Thank the fashion gods, because comfortable shoes are so in this season. I would say that the Classic Slip-On Vans are making a comeback, but let’s be real here: did they ever leave? Appreciate these minimal laceless shoes because they are cute, comfy, and in style.

Although temperatures are rising, we still have little bit of time to sport jackets - denim jackets, to be exact.

Denim jackets are such a staple in wardrobe because they go with almost anything (except denimplease never ever wear denim on denim I beg of you please). Denim goes best with prints, which brings me to my next trend: stripes.

Stripes are an essential pattern this spring. It’s a simple look that should stay in rotation forever. Style it with everything from a party skirt to blue jeans.

Maxi dresses and skirts are so last year, this year it’s all about jumpsuits and rompers. To make a bold yet causal impression, throw one on.

Not to mention, they go great with Birkenstocks, and for the heck of it why not throw on a denim jacket on top of it. See what I just did there?

Until next time, stay cute, fashionable and haute, Puma Nation.

“Everything” is not a genre

Labeling our likes with vague terms betrays a lack of confidence CHAY ROMINE the precedent

“Oh, I listen to everything.”

No you don’t. Let’s be realistic and take a moment to think about this. When someone passes the aux, how often do you skip a song because it’s just crappy?

No matter how vast and changing a person’s musical taste is, they can rarely love “everything”.

People will always have absolute loves and established prejudices.

Denying that complexity in our conversations about art and culture is simply lazy.

Along the same lines, music is not simply black and white either.

What sets apart each genre of music is its characteristics. From Kenny G to WhiteChapel, every form of music has its own place in the

spectrum of emotion. Not just any type of music can cure a broken heart. When you are sitting in your room crying with the cookie dough ice cream, Eminem is not a first choice for anyone. That being said, Colbie Callait is not even an option for getting pumped up and energized. Every artist in their genre has a place. Some can fuse together and compliment each other, while others simply do not belong on the same playlist.

Similarly, listening to everything is a completely unjust generalization. Of the 494 Perry High students surveyed, 100 claimed to like everything. Upon further questioning, all but 17 of these subjects qualified that statement.

These exceptions prove that few are as open-minded as they claim.

It looks much better to have a solid opinion than to just state that its everything. People should simply be honest when asked and say what

they actually believe instead of hiding behind the safe answer.

Everything is not for everyone and that is absolutely fine, but it is absurd to over-generalize when it is not a true representation of someone’s music taste. This can lead to others having misconceived notions about one’s alleged openminded, all-loving personality.

Everyone has the right to an opinion and it should not affect anyone else what someone likes or does not like. Within our culture, individuals have lost the ability to be unique and form their own thoughts. We gravitate towards the easy way out of giving the everything answer, embracing a limiting mindset. A symptom of the disease of our society is the need to fit in and be agreeable with everyone.

Who are you if you cannot express your own opinions? No one should judge when asking what someone thinks. Don’t be a coward: own your opinion.

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

photo with permission from yearbook Sophomore point guard, Olivia Vernon dribbles the ball down the court looking for a shot. Through hard work, the team made it to playoffs this season.

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.”

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.

Cheerleading a sport? Should not matter 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

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

march || 2015

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

sports || 11

Two years since their last appearance, boys’ soccer returns to division-I playoffs

By Rebecca Hoffmann the precedent

Completing their most successful season in Perry’s history, the boys soccer team lost the quarter final game against Hamilton High School with the final score 3-1.

The boys displayed skill and teamwork, two attributes which carried them to the playoffs.

“The leadership of all the seniors and the camaraderie that they had [contributed to a successful season],” explains varsity coach John Roberts.

“Even though we had a ton of injuries, they were still able to overcome it because they were bonded so close together.”

Senior Dee Kater expresses the

importance of team bonding and friendships amongst the players.

“We have that team chemistry and we learned to play better this year,” Kater says.

Last year, the boys also had a successful season although they had less seniors to present their experience and skill.

“The past two years have been really good for this program,” Roberts comments. “Last year we missed the playoffs by 0.07 tenths of a point.”

Many players this season faced some sort of injury, preventing them from playing.

The Pumas persevered through this experience and managed to not only make it to the playoffs but to also give playing time to all team

members.

“We were without four starters almost every game of the season,” states Roberts.

“Going into the season we thought we would have a good season because we were so seniorridden. Once people started getting hurt, there was a little doubt. But people stepped up and did what it took to get us there.”

Senior Cameron Harris further explains the boys tactic for maintaining focus throughout these injuries.

“Our motto is ‘next man up’,” Harris states. “We always had someone else to fill in for whoever was injured.”

This season, the Pumas had several noteworthy moments that

carried them to the quarter finals.

“The biggest [highlight] was the Gilbert game right before winter break. We won with three seconds left, [senior] Cole Warner had a header to win the game.”

Other highlights include the header goal senior Tanner Hedger scored against Chaparral to take the boys to the playoffs.

In addition, the free kick goal sophomore Jaden Vijungco scored against Mountain View sent the game into overtime, eventually leading to a Puma victory.

Next year, Roberts plans on mainly focusing on getting the new varsity players more experience. “[Next year] there’s not going to be as many players with playoff experience” Harris comments, “but

our JV team did really well, and there’s a lot of underclassmen who will fill our spots.”

Congratulations to seniors Austin Engelby-Sabo, Zach Johnson, Dee Kater, Isaiah Lidell, Martin Normell, Cole Warner, Cam Harris, Triston Smith, Tanner Hedger, and Tristen Cooper on their final season of High School soccer, ranking the most successful year in Perry’s boys soccer history.

“Its hard to say goodbye to the seniors because they laid the foundation for the next group of guys coming in,” Roberts states.

“They did a really good job of instilling what we’re trying to do to be successful into the next [varsity team].” photo by Kaitlyn Nichol

Girls’ soccer’s ‘team bond’ key to success in 2014-2015 season

photo by Jordan Williams Senior Emily Romer battles for the ball with a Corona del Sol player at the girls’ soccer game on Dec. 11. It was a close game, ending in a 1-1 tie.

Perry girls’ soccer team has supported each other and bonded with each other more than they ever have in this 2014-2015 season.

They had many bumps in the road with injuries and building up their offense and still they made it to playoffs, did their best and had an overall great season.

Perry’s varsity girls’ soccer team was deadlocked in a game 0-0 until Desert Mountain in the last few minutes of the game got the advantage and scored winning 1-0.

It was the second game in playoffs and was a devastating loss. Despite the hard loss the first game of playoffs was against Perry’s rival the Pinnacle Pioneers. Last year the team lost the state championships due to an offside play that was not called by the officials. It was sweet revenge for this years team

to dominate the field against their rival, winning 2-1.

Leading up to the playoffs the girls’ soccer team had quite a few games that went into overtime.

Senior team captain Makenna Dunn explains, “Were a second half team and so we would always come back in the second half and tie and have to go into overtime.”

It is evident that there were some bumps in the road on their way to the state championships, and though they did not make it all the way, it should be said that they still made Perry proud with all the hard work and dedication they put into their games and for redeeming themselves in their game against Pinnacle. As the season has come to a close the team says goodbye to their senior players.

Junior Courtney Janda states, “We had a really good defense this year and now that they’re all

leaving its going to be hard next year, because we don’t have many defenders that aren’t seniors.”

However Dunn has a lot of hope for next years team, “this is probably the best hard working team that I’ve worked with my hole high school career and I’m so excited because I know their going to win state next year.”

Dunn is happy with the girls’ 2014-2015 girls’ soccer team’s performance overall this season, “We definitely could have done better but as a team really grew from the beginning of the season to the end of the season.”

Janda makes a similar comment, “the team bonded really well right from the start and I think that really helped us we would cheer each other on from the side lines and helped the team playing on the field to work harder and boosted everyone’s energy.”

wrestler to beat in the heavyweight section.

The odds were not in his favor when he fell by a decision of 7-5 to junior Storm Cawood Downing from Marana.

This automatically placed him in the losers bracket.

Following his narrow defeat,

he proceeded to pin Austin Newcombe, a junior at Willow Canyon High School, in at the 2:09 mark of the first period.

Cawood received a break when he went up into his third match of the day when junior Brain Olmedo from Brophy Prep forfeited, giving Cawood the win. Cawood lost by an extremely quick pin fall to senior Matthew Hutka from Mountain Ridge.

Cawood missed the medal

round by one match. He finished the tournament with a record of 2-2, while fighting through the struggle of having a dislocated shoulder.

One other Puma wrestler made the trip to state, junior Colton Evertson. He finished the season with a record of 22-15 including his two losses in the state meet.

His trip was cut short when he was narrowly defeated by Parker Reiser from Mountain Ridge.

Cawood’s ‘15 season (by the numbers)

By Cassie Nielsen the precedent

Cawood’s senior year one for the record books

By Devlin Clark the precedent

Forty wins; twenty-four by pin fall. That is the definition of a dominant wrestling season.

“He [Chase Cawood] had a great year, regardless on how he finished,” head coach Darren Johnson said.

With zero losses to wrestlers from Arizona going into the state competition, he was undeniably the

Class.............heavyweight Year.........................senior Wins............................40 Wins by pin fall...........24 State record.................2-2 Season record............40-4

12 || sports

march || 2015

the precedent || phsprecedent.com

By Mia Irvin the precedent

For the spring upcoming season, the boys volleyball team will unite under one common goal; keep the momentum from last season going this season. Last season, boys volleyball won their fair share of games, and ended up lending their regular schedule with the 5th in state ranking, and an overall record of 37-8. The team suffered a loss in the quarterfinals against Mountain View Mesa, but that will not stop them from a winning season. In fact, it would inspire hard work and dedication to come back even stronger and dominate this season.

“We got to quarter finals and lost to [Mountain View] Mesa,” junior Ethan Fillmore states. The team’s loss left them devastated, but looking forward to this 2015 season. “We’re going all the way this year,” said Fillmore. “Nothing but first,” he added.

And he is not alone in that goal. Junior and a two time varsity team member Jeff Tomlinson is striding towards the coveted first place trophy at the end of this season.

For Tomlinson and some teammates, this is a goal two years in the making. “Two years ago, we had an undefeated JV team,” Tomlinson states. “This year all those kids who were on the JV team are now on varsity, so I think we have a really good chance of winning a state title.”

Leading the team this year is head Coach Brian Pomerantz. “Last season went really well,” recalled the head coach. “The overall goal is to make it to the final four,” he stated.

The team’s defeat in the quarter finals is what is driving the team this season. “It was disappointing we didn’t [achieve that goal],” reiterated Pomerantz. Bright things are in the future for boys volleyball in the upcoming season and the only thing in the team’s sight is first place. photo by Abbie Peters

Volleyball’s championship aspirations are ‘two years in the making’

Softball and baseball expected to make playoff appearances in 2015

By Angielee Niblett and Ryan Zolin the precedent

photo by Sharon Cooper

Senior, Tyler Watson, pitches the ball at the game against Boulder Creek on Feb. 25. Pitching will be one of the baseball team’s strengths this season.

Perry’s varsity softball is foreseen to give the start of the season a big bang when they first step onto the field this Spring. Last year, head coach Kevin Chapin announced he would not be returning for the 2015 season.

This year, softball has welcomed coach John Roberts to replace Chapin.

The softball team has qualified for playoffs every year in Perry’s existence, so this year’s goal is no different than years past.

The team won their first game against Buckeye’s Verrado on February 25th. The team’s solid performance has visibly given confidence to all new and returning players.

Every year it is expected the group will lose some valuable players; but, undoubtedly, they have also gained teammates with promising futures. Varsity accepted three incoming freshmen to join this term while

also letting go of prized 2014 graduates like Sabrina Nieto and Malayna Gomez.

Softball’s upcoming games are highly anticipated, along with the ongoing question: will this year’s team continue their impeccable performance just as the teams before them? With the progress seen so far, it is safe to say the girls are on the right track.

Baseball’s goal: be the last man standing After suffering a first-round exit to Sunnyslope in the playoffs last year, the baseball is back with a more humble, and hungry attitude in 2015.

In the offseason, the Pumas set the tone by winning both summer tournaments (Mountain Pointe’s Kipper Classic and Hamilton’s Summer Invitational), as well as finishing fourth in Winter Nationals.

For the 2015 season, the senior-led team’s strengths are once again pitching and defense.

Senior pitcher/first baseman Tyler Watson believes team chemistry will be key this season, since the team has 12 seniors.

“I’ve known all of these guys for a decade and it’s helped us build [as a team],” he said.

In regards to his own development, Watson said: “Throughout the years I’ve realized I need to be a leader and translate on to the field.”

Another senior to watch is infielder Austin Bull, who is the second player in school history (behind Jaron Drummund) to play his entire high school career on varsity. “[Bull is] a one of a kind player,” head coach, Shane Hilstrom said.

While this team certainly has a veteran presence, it also offers youth. Sophomore Trevor Hauver will add versatility and another left-handed bat in Hilstrom’s lineup.

To begin the year, the Pumas are ranked No. 6 by the Arizona Republic. Check out phsprecedent.com for spring break updates.

Tennis and track gear up for 2015 season

By Ellie Wendt and Mia Irvin the precedent

New coaches, new players and new talent emerge as Perry boys tennis gears up for the 2015 season.

Perry introduced former girls assistant coach Tom Lennox as the boys’ new head coach. Lennox has provided the team with great potential.

Being a former tennis player himself in high school and in college, coach Lennox aspires to take his team all the way to state.

“He has a lot of experience coaching,” junior Jordan Yeager shares.

Every team sets their sights on state, but this year, boys tennis team is closer than ever to reaching that opportunity. “[This] year we all have a lot more experience,” Yeager says confidently.

Last year the team lacked experience due to the players sophomore average, but this year with all returning players being juniors the team believes their experience will translate to great potential.

The team has been working hard on their skills and their goal of making it to state since the beginning of February.

Girls’ Tennis Girls varsity tennis began with a bang.

The team will have returning coach, Keith Castillo, along with mostly sophomore and junior players.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how we work as a new team and where we go as a team,” sophomore Zoe Armbruster comments.

The team started tryouts with a set of challenge matches in order to decide the teams rankings. The girls challenged each other to fight for their positions which according to coach Castillo, they will be rearranging each week in order to produce variety in players for each match.

Although tennis is viewed as fully an individual sport because of the way matches are played, the team believes it is just as importantly a team sport as an individual one. “[The girls] are super nice and supportive,” freshmen player Kylie Goldberg shares.

This year the girls aspire to have a hardworking season, fine tuning all their skills and coming out strong at every match.

“I trained really hard and I think my hard work will show through this season,” Armbruster says.

Boys’ Track The 2014 season was a record shattering year. The boys track team set three school records and notched eight top-five times in school history.

Junior Cade Burks made his mark on the record books (as a sophomore) with the fastest time in the 800-meter and 1,600meter races that Perry has ever seen. The team took home the third place trophy at the Chandler City Invitational last spring.

The 2015 season has the potential to see more school records broken and more runners, throwers, vaulters, and jumpers qualify for state and place.

Girls’ Track Girls’ track is looking to improve their season from last year and continue to build their program. “[The girl’s team] might be good all the way around, they’re going to have some throwers, some runners, some distance girls.” boys’ Coach Louis Nightingale says.

“It’s going to be a good year.” girls’ Coach John Lowery states. “We’ve got a lot of freshmen that are pretty quick.” Lowery explains. Freshman Naja Andrews is one athlete who is going to give the team that extra push. Andrews runs long jump, triple

jump, hurdles along with the 4x4.

“My goal is to see us have eight to ten girls qualify for state this year.” Lowery says.

photo by Isaiah Patterson

Junior, Brianna Lopez, serves up the ball at tennis practice. The girls’ tennis team is hoping their hard work during the off season will payoff in 2015.