PIRATE PRESS
Pattonville High School Vol. 74 Issue:6 April 2010
varsity soccer team plays with state championship in mind
life at private school, kindergarten n driving hazards n prom preview
Staff Editorial
It is the opinion of the Pirate Press staff that the students of Pattonville High School should be exposed to all sides of the news, including topics that do not reflect well on the school. School publications are supposed to be the open news forums where students can share and discuss issues going on in their school and community that are important to them. As made legal by the Hazelwood court case in the ‘80s, school administrators have the right to censor and cut out any material they deem “inappropriate.” Administrators and principals have the right to review student publications before they are sent to print. This leaves a lot of room for censorship; however, censorship of high school publications, though legal, can hurt the student journalists and readers of the publication. Students of Timberland High School have felt the heavy hand of censorship. This school year, a story about students with tattoos was pulled by their principal. The story was pulled very close to deadline and left the students without content. The censorship has gotten so bad that the journalism adviser has decided to resign. The line between what is appropriate and what is inappropriate has been blurred by the Hazelwood court case. There is no set rule for what is proper material for a newspaper. Many school administrators feel that any news that can possibly reflect poorly on the school should be kept out of the newspaper. However, as high school journalists, we have been taught that news is news. Good or bad, student journalists have the right to report the news, because the rest of the student body has the right to knowledge. Student journalists have the right to learn and practice journalism. Students also have the right to learn the process of creating a publication. Censorship keeps students from fully exploring the field of journalism and developing these skills. If students are only allowed to cover sugar-coated, happy stories, then their journalism course is not preparing them for their careers where they will be required to cover tough, hard-hitting stories. Censorship is not only depriving the students reading the newspaper of fair and balanced news, it also limits the ability of the student journalists to learn. The first amendment gives every citizen the right to free speech and free press. Student journalists and newspapers should not be an exception.v
Have a comment, question, concern, or opinion on something you read in the Pirate Press? Have something to say about Pattonville High School? Please write to the Pirate Press by either e-mailing at pattonvillepress@gmail.com or giving a letter to Mr. Heyman in B108 or the Pirate Press staff during lunch in B108.
New Assistant Principal Hired Luke Lammers was hired as the new assistant principal at Pattonville High School. Lammers was approved by the Board of Education at the meeting on Tuesday, April 14. Lammers is currently the Dean of Freshmen at Francis Howell Central High School. Prior to working for Francis Howell Central, he taught at University City High School. Lammers will be taking over the position that Jeff Walker is leaving after the end of this school year. v
Pirate Press Pattonville High School 2497 Creve Coeur Mill Road Maryland Heights, MO 63043 Editor-in Chief+Opinions Editor
Elise Moser
Managing Editor+News Editor
Jessica Brunts Copy Editor
Julia Wurm Photo+Design Editor
Jacob Sharp
Features Editor+Sports Editor
Alexia McGhee Staff Writer
Alex Amo Geri Farrell Adviser
Brian Heyman The pirate press is the open forum news magazine of Pattonville high school. The opinions published are of the publication and are open to criticism. As the members of 2009-2010 pirate press staff, we dedicate ourselves to the accurate and objective dissemination of information to all readers of this publication. we will protect and exercise our first amendment rights, not only for our own benefits, but for the benefit of all high school journalists past, present, and future.The viewpoints of all staff members are to be regarded as being separate from those of our administration, faculty, peers, and adviser. On the cover: Tiffany Laughlin, 12, races to the ball during a soccer game against Marquette. Cover photo by Elise Moser
nes, 11, a Megan Jo , will have itic Cr ie Capp er of McClu her review h School’s North Hig of Guys production blished pu and Dolls y th Countr in the Nor Journal.
Pirate Pegboard Compiled by Jessica Brunts
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The Pattonville Women’s Chamber Choir and the Treble Choir earned the highest rating of a one at the MSHSAA Large Group Festival. The Concert Choir earned a high two.
12, aker, e c ten B Chris a 2nd pla k in r d earne for her wo de ra award th/12th g is1 1 he M t the t a ion or y categ rt Educat g A souri tion Sprin chool s ia Assoc ence high s r sa Confe w in Kan o art sh City.
Kha Vo, 11; Madis on Emerick, 11; Chris Sim, 12; and Tyran Brooks, 11, have artwork displayed at “The Next Generation” high school art exhibit at Soulard Art Marke t and Contemporary Gallery . Emerick earned a 4th place award for her self portrait in oil painting, Sim earned a 1st place award for his acr ylic pai nting and Brooks earned “Be st in Show” for his mixed media drawing.
The Pattonville Honors Orchestra earned the highest rating possible at the St. Louis Music Educators Association Festival March 10 at Hazelwood Central High School
The 2 01 Court 0 Senior P rom is Freem Brittney a Tiffan n, Kacie Ke y u Solorio Laughlin, A hn, na , Emil Kylie Zoller, y Tucker, Cody Alex A Bra m Hruby nneky, Br o, ian , Marq Jorda u n Pinto is Keys, ar y Ro a berts. nd Zach-
Entries Who Received a 1 at Solo and Ensemble
tTrumpet Quartet: Sean Hayes, Montel Moore, Alyssa Forsythe, Amanda Hornung tBaritone Sax Solo: Jacob Johnson tXylophone Solo: Sierra Hartley tTrumpet Solo: Sean Hayes tFlute Solo: Vickey Youssef tClarinet Trio: Cassie Chandler, Courtney Rolen, Danielle Toney tTrombone Solo: David Lindsay tAlto Sax Solo: Caitlyn Dunsford tTuba Trio: Dillon Dedert, Hannah Johnson, Paul Fox tFlute Trio: Megan LaFollette, Elise Moser, Casey Leek tBaritone Solo: John Sorsen tMarimba Solo: Shannon Flanakin tFlute Solo: Megan LaFollette tXylophone Solo: Zack Harnetz tBassoon Solo: Erica Ream tClarinet Trio: Rachel Fine Lora Hakanson, Matt Oelkers tTrumpet Solo: Montel Moore
Students’ parents run for office in recent election
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Several students reflect on experiences with parent politicians
lise Moser
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everal Pattonville High School students had parents on the ballot on April 6., Tami Hohenstein, mother of Megan, 12, and Jessica, 10, won a one-year term on the school board against Sophia, 12, Theresa, 12, and Julia, 9, Mullineaux’s father, Jim. Sophia said her father ran for school board because “he wanted to make Pattonville a better place.” Jessica said her mother ran for school board “because she wanted to be more involved.” Chuck Caverly, father of Isaac Caverly, 9, was elected as a City Council Member in Ward III in Maryland Heights. Caverly was already a member of the Planning and Zoning Committee in Maryland Heights before he decided to run for council member. “He was on Planning and Zoning for 14 years and he wanted to move onto the next step,” Isaac said. Shelley Welsh, elected mayor of University City, is the mother of Maddi Chilton, 9. Welsh was running for a second time, after being defeated in the last election.
“She ran last time and didn’t win and she was really unhappy about the state of the city and she wanted to change that,” Chilton said. Many of these students worked hard to help their parents get elected. Many of them helped hand out flyers to voters or put up signs.
be different once she’s mayor.” Chilton said that many of the students at her old school in University City recognize their new mayor as her mother. Julia was excited about her father running for school board. “I thought it would be kind of cool because you’d see his name all over and when they talked about the board you would know it affected him,” she said. Isaac was excited about his dad’s victory for a different reason: with the new job comes a higher salary, and perhaps a new car for him to drive. v
Election Results for April 6 Isaac walked door-to-door with his dad, trying to get him elected. Chilton helped hand out fliers at several of her mom’s rallies. On election day, many of the students stood at the polling places. Jessica said she and her three sisters were placed at many different polling places, trying to get those last minute voters. Having parents elected to office affects the students in different ways. “It’s pretty crazy,” Chilton said. “Everyone’s been asking me about it. It’s going to
Pattonville Board Member TAMI HOHENSTEIN 2,641 -57.23% Jim Mullineaux 1,974 -42.77% Council Member Ward 3 Ron Lee Watts 268 -34.10% CHUCK CAVERLY 518 -65.9% University City Mayor SHELLEY WELSCH 3,259 -45.28% Robert “Bob” Wagner 784 -10.89% Terry Crow 3,154 -43.82%
Renaissance Club Hosts Fourth Annual G Taste of Pattonville eri Farrell
Over $4,000 Raised to Benefit Student Recognition Programs
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attonville Renaissance Club hosted “It showcases our students to the comIn fact, every year for the past three years its fourth annual Taste of Pattonville munity. We get so many comments on how of the program, at least one restaurant has on Thursday, April 1. helpful and respectful they are,” Beth Moritz, offered student volunteers a job. Restaurants such as Noodles and Company, Renaissance sponsor, said. “Jimmy Johns offered jobs to Jordan Moe’s Southwest Grill and McArthur’s Bakery Prosperi and Dion Jones. I know Ponderosa made repeat appearances. was really impressed with their student workHowever, there were also many new faces ers and specifically commented on it. Dairy this year such as Dairy Queen, Buffalo Wild Queen was really impressed too,” Moritz said. Wings, Syberg’s, Reynold’s Roadhouse and Moritz was pleased with the positive feedPattonville’s Culinary Arts Class. Twentyback and the work ethic of the volunteers. seven restaurants participated in total. “It says a lot about how well the students Over 400 people attended this year and work there and how professional they are,” about $4,000 was raised. Moritz said. “The proceeds go to Renaissance to help Jake Cummings, 11, volunteered through with the student recognition programs such the NHS program this year at Tony’s Donuts as Scholar Athletes, Student Improvement and only had positive comments about the Luncheon, and everything else we do,” Renaisprogram. Photo by Geri Farrell sance club member and Taste of Pattonville “It’s great because there is a lot of good Rachel Roemmich, left, 12, and Rachel Crow, volunteer, Kaylen Iberg, 11, said. food and it’s a good promotional event, Cum12, volunteer at Taste of Pattonville by servThis year, Taste of Pattonville had about 70 mings said, “I can’t wait for it again next ing desserts for McArthur’s Bakery. student volunteers. year.” v
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acob Sharp
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Four Students Qualify for National DECA Competition after Wins at State
our students from Pattonville high school’s DECA chapter are heading to a national competition in Louisville, Kentucky April 23-April 28. Wins at DECA state in the Lake of the Ozarks ensured the students qualifications into nationals. DECA, formerly known as the Distributive Education Club of America, is an international association of students and teachers of marketing, management, and entreprenuership in business, finance, hospitality, and marketing sales. The team meets during some contact times in Mrs. Martinez’s room. Sophia and Theresa Mullineaux, 12 were competing in the category of buying and merchandising as a team down at the Lake of the Ozarks, the area where the state DECA competition was held. “DECA State went really well for us. As a team we did well, I was proud of us,” Sophia Mullineaux said. Sophia joined DECA at first because she
heard good things, so she fit it into her schedule. “I like competing and working as a team, and DECA really helps with communication skills.” Theresa joined for a different reason. “I’m really interested in marketing and I thought I’d try it out in high school before I went into it in college.” Theresa said. “For Nationals, I just want to be one of the top ten finalists. That’s one of my goals,” said Sophia. Kevin Olson, 12, who was partnered with Stephanie Haag, 12, also qualified to nationals in the Travel and Tourism category. “I’m hoping to do well in nationals, and I’m glad I have a good partner to go through it with,” Olson said. Olson joined DECA because he thought it would be a good experience. Suprisingly, this is his first year in DECA, and he already qualified to Nationals. v
DECA Team Places in State Competion at the Lake of the Ozarks Photo Courtesy of Sophia Mullineaux
From left to right: Kevin Olson, 12, Stephanie Haag, 12, Theresa Mullineaux, 12, and Sophia Mullineaux, 12, after receiving awards at State.
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ulia Wurm
DN’T TXT N DRIVE! =( The Dangers of Being Inattentive Behind the Wheel
“Seventy to 80 percent of all accidents occur because of driver inattention,” Leanna Depue, Ph.D., Director of the Highway Safety Division of Missouri Department of Transportation, said.
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riving despite many distractions is a habit that all drivers get used to. As people start coming of age to drive, they face higher responsibilities and dangers. While teens are generally more adept at texting and multitasking than many older people, statistics say that no matter who you are, distractions while driving are dangerous. Your diversion of attention while driving competes with your attention for safe driving. Distractions are not all the driver’s fault, there are external distractions all the time. The radio, pedestrians, lights, cars, and signs are a number of these distractions. Teens have a tendency to create more distractions for themselves, such as changing the radio, eating, dialing on a cell phone, and texting.
Over 50 percent of teens admit to texting while driving. “A young man in Stover, Mo., was texting and driving when he hit and killed a pedestrian,” Depue said. She explained how this can affect the boy’s entire life and the probability of the 17-year-old being charged with involuntary manslaughter. “He completely ran him over.” According to a research study performed by Virginia Tech on the analysis of various distractions, the average amount of time that it takes a peron to send a text is five seconds. “Seventy to 80 percent of all crashes nationally occur because of driver inattention,” Depue said. The normal impacts of distracted driving are problems staying in your own lane, decreasing the ability to detect hazards, speed control, and slower response times. Texting is a particular danger to drivers because it is so involving. The visual distraction of looking at a received text takes your eyes away from the road. Thinking about
what you want to text back takes your mind off of the road. Manually typing in your reply and hitting send takes your hands off of the wheel. The Missouri law against texting while driving, effective Aug. 28, 2009, prohibits drivers ages 21 and under from sending, reading, or writing an electronic message. Breaking this law classifies as an infraction that is punishable by a fine of up to $200. Depue believes that the law has made a difference in the amount of texting, either because some people don’t want to break the law, or because “$200 is a pretty steep fine.” The law originally applied to all drivers, but it lost steam in Congress. After this it was tacked on to an omnibus crime bill and passed with the restriction only for young drivers. From January when the bill took effect until March, the amount of tickets given out by Missouri police was 13. During the 2010 legislative session, five bills have been filed that propose expanding the bill to all drivers, but no action has yet been taken on these bills. v
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Photo illustration by Julia Wurm
Foreign Exchange Spotlight
Apichaya “Eye” Suakrachang: Thailand
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lise Moser
Fast Facts: Eye Suakrachang Age: 16 Birthplace and Hometown: Chiang Mai, Thailand
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A Day in the Life of Eye Suakrachang Ja
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6:30 a.m. Wake up
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ye Suakrachang flew over 8,000 miles from Chiang Mai, Thailand, to Maryland Heights, Mo., to experience life in the United States. “I wanted to get a new experience and learn a new language,” she said. Thailand, a country with a population that is less than the populations of Texas and California combined, is quite a bit different than America. When Suakrachang found out she was coming to the United States, she did some research on her new home. “I thought this was Maryland Heights, but I didn’t know what “MO” meant,” she said. “I thought I was going to Maryland [state.]” One of the major differences between Thailand and the United States is education. Like many Asian countries, there is a strong focus on education. Suakrachang attends a private school in Thailand. Students in Thailand wear uniforms at school, even at public schools. The dress code even prohibits girls from wearing their hair down. At Suakrachang’s school in Thailand, there are students ranging from seventh to 12th grade. The “high schoolers” are 10th through 12th graders, but are not housed in a separate building. In Thailand, Suakrachang attends school from 7:30 a.m. in the morning until 5 p.m. at night—when most athletes at Pattonville are getting out of sports practices. Students in Thailand are also in the same classroom with the same students every day. When they switch subjects, the teachers come to them. Suakrachang has had many new experiences in the United States. Her first shock came on the day she arrived in St. Louis. “We drive on the left side but you drive on the right side,” she said. When her host family picked her up from the airport, she went to what she thought was the passenger side on the left side of the car, but was surprised to see it was actually the driver’s seat. Suakrachang has seen many of the sites in St. Louis but was most impressed with Six Flags. “It’s awesome,” she said. “It’s better than Thailand.” She has also tried local foods. Her favorite is the St. Louis Bread Company. Suakrachang also ate at an American Thai restaurant. “It tastes like [traditional Thai food] but some of the stuff they put in may be different,” she said. She explained that American Thai restaurants may not be able to get some of the ingredients used in traditional Thai foods. Another new experience for Suakrachang was sports. In Thailand, students do not participate in school-sponsored sports. She was a member of the swim team this winter and is pole vaulting on the track team this spring. “I’ve never done anything with pole vaulting. It’s very new for me,” she said. When Suakrachang returns to Thailand, she plans to repeat her sophomore year. “I want to repeat because I want to learn the material,” she said. After high school, she hopes to come back to the United States and pursue her interest in fashion. In Thailand, there are not a lot of opportunities to learn about fashion. Suakrachang hopes to be a fashion designer some day. v
6:35 a.m. Eat breakfast. Every day Eye’s mom makes the same thing: rice and fried eggs. 7 a.m. Eye’s mom drives her to school. 7:30 a.m. School starts. Every morning, the students at the school sing a national Thai song and listen to daily announcements for a half an hour before beginning classes. 8 a.m. Students begin their classes. At Eye’s school, all of the students are in the same classroom all day and the teachers come to them. Eye’s first class of the day is chemistry. The students study chemistry for two 50-minute periods. 10:10 a.m. After chemistry, Eye has P.E. 11 a.m. Biology. Just like chemistry, Eye’s class studies biology for two periods. 12:40 p.m. Lunchtime. The students are given an hour to eat. For lunch, Eye enjoys the same meal everyday: noodles with chicken and meatballs. “It’s delicious!” she said. 1:40 p.m. Math class. Eye studies math for 50 minutes. 2:30 p.m. English 3:20 p.m. Art 5 p.m. School is finally out. Eye’s mom picks her up from school every day. 5:30 p.m. Once Eye gets home, she starts on her homework. She has two to three hours of homework each night. 8:30 p.m. Dinner time. Most nights, Eye and her family eat a rice dish with different meats and vegetables.
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lexia McGhee
Get Ready For Prom
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rom can be one of the most exciting nights for a high school student, and even though it is expected to be a fun night, it can also turn out very stressful if it is not planned out correctly. There are a number of things that have to be completed in order to make prom night a success. Prom night takes a lot of planning from picking out the right dress, to finding matching shoes, accessories, transportation, and more. Since there are so many things to do before the big night, some students may be afraid that they are going to forget something. By creating a checklist, you can make sure that you get everything you need done before prom night, and hopefully making the it the best it can possibly be. The success of the special night depends on how prepared you are. Here is a checklist for students that in need of preparation of prom night:
Prom Checklist:
Find a date that you will have fun with. Going with a group of friends is always fun. Discuss a budget and how much you plan to spend on the special night. Be prepared to start saving money, and bring a little extra in case of an emergency. Discuss your before and after prom plans with your parents. Shop for a prom dress or prom tuxedo to rent. Consider buying accessories that match your prom attire. Decide on a date and place to have your hair and nails done. Discuss maybe renting a limousine for transportation or finding other transportation. Break in your prom shoes before the actual night of the prom. Purchase tickets to your prom.
Transportation:
Corsages:
It is a prom tradition for the guy to buy a corsage for his date. It can be a pin-on type, or it can be worn around her wrist. It is a good idea to know what color dress your date is wearing so that the corsage you choose will match her attire. Some couples even like to go together and choose their flowers. How much you spend on this item varies greatly and what you want determines the cost. Most people spend $25-$50 on a corsage.
If you plan on driving on your own, riding with friends, or renting a limousine, make sure you plan your budget accordingly around your transportation expense. Limos are a popular method of transportation used for prom nights. The bigger the limo, the more they cost, but the bigger they are, the more people that they will hold. This will help out with the pricing if the cost can be split between multiple people.
Boutonnieres:
In return for their corsages, most girls buy a boutonniere for their dates. It is usually a pin-on flower or rose that is traditionally worn on the left side of the chest. Some flower shops will make a slightly cheaper package deal if you order the boutonniere and the corsage together. A single boutonniere will cost about $5-$15.
Prom Safety Tips: - Make sure there will be a safe ride to and from the prom. -Don’t pressure your friends into doing something they don’t want to do. -Try to keep in touch with your parents through out the night so they are aware of your safety.
-Don’t let your friends get into a car with someone you know has been drinking, and stop your friends from driving if they have been drinking. - If something bad is going on or something feels wrong, remove yourself from the situation.
- Be sure to wear your seat belts and be aware of crazy drivers after prom.
- If your friends are doing some-
thing that is stupid and dangerous, speak up.
- Carry your cell phone with you at
all times in case you need to call for help.
Kindergarten Student
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esscia Brunts
indergarten: the simple days when school was easy. When your day was filled with snack time, nap time, story time, recess, and of course, only half a day of school. Back then, kindergarten didn’t feel too much like school. Now, kindergarten has changed and there’s no mistaking the learning that takes place in these classrooms. For one day, I got to relive my kindergarten experience with the class of 2022. I was shocked to find how different it was from what I remembered. The most striking difference: I had to attend kindergarten all day long. For one full day, I was a Mrs. Buchek’s kindergarten class at Parkwood kindergarten student in Mrs. Buchek’s Elementary with Brunts pictured top center. class at Parkwood Elementary. Promethean board for “message center.” We Before my day had even begun, I saw a read a message from the teacher together little girl in a pretty purple dress with her dad and then looked for word parts such as “ss” at QuickTrip. She looked about the age of a “wh” and “ea” in the message. Then we did kindergartener and I wondererd if she would a morning edit where we had to find six be one of my classmates. Sure enough, when I mistakes in a sentence. Then we learned the arrived at school, I recognized her among the ladder structure of how to tell a story. many young faces of my classmates. Her name I noticed that the teacher sang a lot when was Kaili and she was excited about my seeing she was talking to her students. If she was her at QuickTrip. telling a student to sit on their bottom, she The classroom was colorful and decorated would tell them in a song such as: “Kaili, Kaili, with artwork clearly made by the hand of a plant your bottom and put your eyes up small kindergarten student. I saw a big circle here.” rug which I immediately took to be the circle Next, we continued time rug. The room was brightly colored and our constructive perfect for a kindergarten room. curriculum To keep the students busy in the time with centers. between student arrival and the start of The students school, the students had morning work were split into to do which included writing words and four groups and sentences that started with the letter “A.” The rotated to four assignment was worth 10 points. different stations Points were also awarded to the with constructive kindergarteners for good behavior. They learning activities. start the day with three sticks in an envelope The students spent 10 minutes at each labeled with their name. Each stick is worth center. one point which will translate into three We had recess next. All the kindergarten pennies to spend in the classroom store on a classes went to recess before lunch. I found certain day. They lose a stick for bad behavior it odd that recess was before lunch because I and if they lose all three they lose their snack was used to always having recess after lunch. privileges and their privilege to participate in Recess lasted for 15 minutes and afterward we an afternoon recess known as “All Star Time.” lined up to go to lunch. I was surprised by how hard these The lunch at the elementary school was kindergarten students work throughout the better than at the high school. I had chicken day. It seemed like they were constantly tenders, carrots, cookies, apples and chocolate working on something constructive. Even milk. Unlike at the high school, I got my during bathroom breaks they would do work. money’s worth of food. The students would sit against the wall and When we got back from lunch we talked work on assignments that they needed to about our class being HOT (Here On Time). complete or correct while students went to the This was a special thing for MAP testing. If bathroom two at a time. Students can earn the whole class is present and arrived on time, two points for good behavior during bathroom their names are put into a drawing to win breaks; these points are kept track by the M&Ms for snack time. Classes that are HOT teacher on her clipboard. are entered for a chance to win a pizza party. We took our first bathroom break after Next we had word part practice and poem morning work, we gathered around the
time followed by calendar time. This was another area of interest to me. I found it odd that calendar time was in the afternoon instead of the morning. When I was in kindergarten we had calendar time in the morning, so we all knew what day it was before starting class. The highlight of the day was our science time. We broke down rocks that the class had collected the day before. We broke down one rock by putting it in a jar with water and taking turns shaking it for 30 seconds. It didn’t break much. We broke down a pumas rock by rubbing it on sand paper for thirty seconds. We got a lot of broken rock from that. A lot of the kindergarteners liked to play in the white powder of the broken pumas. I made a lot of new friends at kindergarten. Shanya sat at my table. She talked to me a lot. Adair and Kayla showed me around at recess. Adair told me that he doesn’t like waking up early for Latchkey. Kayla, Angel, and Sydney played Sorry! with me during All Star Time. All Star Time is an indoor recess that we had
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after our science experiment. During this time, the students play games and if they need to make up quizzes, they use that time to do so. We had music class next. We started the class with an Easter Bunny song. We stood in a circle and sang and acted like Easter bunnies. Then, we listened to a recording of “Peter and the Wolf.” I remembered this story from when I was in elementary school. I remembered the instruments that represented the characters and I was so excited to listen to the story. Last, we had art. We drew pictures of bugs. Lady bugs, spiders, bees, butterflies, caterpillars and more. The students were going to paint over them with watercolors at the next art class but because I wouldn’t be there, I took my masterpiece home that day. I was tired after my long day at kindergarten. I hadn’t expected all the work they had to do. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t have a nap time or another outdoor recess. Kindergarten was fun, but it was more work than I expected. Best part about being a kindergartener: Waking up at 7:45 in the morning. v
Private School Student
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uring this Spring Break, while many other Pattonville students were still fast asleep in their beds, I was gathering my notebooks and pencils in preparation for school. This was because I had agreed to shadow my cousin, Meghan Farrell, 12, for a day at Incarnate Word Academy (IWA). Incarnate is a small, Catholic, all-girl’s school of about 500 students located just minutes away from the University of Missouri St. Louis. I embarked on this adventure to find out what made private schools such as IWA different from Pattonville and what aspects made them the same. I had met my cousin at her house in St. Peters so that I could get the
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experience of traveling all the way from her house to Bel-Nor, where the school is located. The 34 minute commute was startlingly different from my usual 6 minute drive to school. When I arrived at the campus, I immediately noticed key differences between the two schools. The campus comprised of three separate buildings instead of one huge one. Also, there were no school buses parked idly in the parking lot unloading students. IWA, like most private schools, has no busing system. Therefore, the students rely solley on carpooling to get to school, futher extending their already long commute. I also noticed the blue “jumpers” that every girl wore; however, even though the jumpers are the mandatory uniform, the students were not without self-expression. Pulled over their navy jumpers was usually some kind of Incarnate jacket or sweatshirt. I then followed my cousin to her home room, where attendance was taken and the announcements were read. Homeroom lasted only 10 minutes and we were back in the hallways by 8:10 a.m. Her next class was Marriage, Family, and Commitments which I found interesting because after years of teachers tip-toeing around the topic of religion, the teacher and students were talking candidly about religion and God. Toward the end of the class, the students began to collect their belongings and head out of the classroom. I looked around, bewildered as they were already heading toward their next classes before the bell had even dismissed them. My cousin explained to me that they did not
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Photo by Geri Farrell
Students enter IWA High School
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eri Farrell
have any bells during the day, they just memorized the time that each class was supposed to be finished and the times in which the next class would start. There are no bells because Incarnate has a somewhat complicated modular schedule. At IWA, there are 16 modules (“mods”) in a day. Each class is two or three “mods” long. The schedule varies from day-today and it is rare to have the same class more than two or three times a week. Because of this complicated schedule, a bell would have to ring a startlingly 32 times a day each time a “mod” finished and began. “Basically, it (the modular schedule) is a little bit like college,” Jim Johnson, Dean of Students, said. During one of my cousin’s free “mods” I received a tour of the school. What I found to be the most interesting was the testing center. “We don’t take tests in class so you sign up during open mods. So if you test better in the morning, you can test in the morning. If you test better after lunch then you can sign up then too,” Stephanie Donnelly, 12, said. IWA comes with a hefty price tag, however. The tuition for Incarnate is approximately $9,300 per year, which rivals that of many of the colleges in Missouri. Many state colleges such as Southeast Missouri State (approximately $5,900 per year), Missouri State University (approximately $7,200 per year) and University of Missouri Kansas City (approximately $6,500 per year) cost substansially less than IWA. In the last “mod” of the day, I was in a class with a religion teacher named Meghan Mueller, who commented on the similarities between public and private schools. “You hear a lot of division between private and public schools,” Mueller said. “I think both have a lot to offer. I don’t think that one should be shorted. One is not better than the other. They are just different. There are good Catholic schools and bad ones just like there are good public schools and bad ones.” v
Incarnate Word Academy’s College-Like Schedule
Incarnate Word Academy has a modular schedule. Stu A Day B Day C Day D Day dents are able to take eight classes each semester. Usually Racquet Personal Psychology Mod 1 classes are about 2-3 “mods” long. Each “mod” is about 30 Sports Finance minutes with 16 “mods” in a day. This schedule allows stuRacquet Personal Psychology Mod 2 Sports Finance dents to have more time to talk one-on-one with their teachMixed Media ers because they can seek a teacher’s help during their “free Mod 3 mods”, mods when the students do not have a class. Mixed Media Mod 4 Also, instead of just having A, B and C days, the students Personal Psychology Earth Science Mod 5 have A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H and K days. Finance In addition, students enjoy senior privileges during their Personal Psychology Earth Science second semester of their senior year, which means that they Mod 6 Finance can leave school early or come to school late if they do not Sample student schedule. Mod 7 of an abridged IWA have classes during those “mods.” “I absolutely love the schedule because I like how we have time to Mod 8 talk to teachers and get the extra help you need and its helpful for Suzanne Hunn, a student at IWA, had positive comments about Earth Science Algebra 3 the unique schedule. Mod 9 learning and time managment” Hunn said. v
E Day English
Mod 10
Earth Science
Algebra 3
English
Mod 11
Earth Science
Algebra 3
English
Marriage & Commitment
Mixed Media
Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team Looks Toward State Championship
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Team hopes to go further than last years 3rd place finish
eri Farrell and lise Moser
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he varsity girls’ soccer team aims to reach the Class III State Championships this season after finishing third in 2009. Coach Tom Iffrig said that he has “very high expectations” for the team’s
success. Eight starters return from last season’s team that finished 23-5, giving the girls an advantage in experience. “[Returning starters] are always nice,” Iffrig said. This season, the team is led by players Tiffany Laughlin, 12, Casey Vitale, 12, Sam Zoltanski, 12, Mikala McGhee, 10, and Kailey Utley, 10. Laughlin, one of the teams four captains, is also a returning All-State player. The varsity girls’ soccer team has won the Suburban North Conference for the past four years. The team has a good chance to repeat last season’s Conference and District championships, with its biggest rival being Hazelwood West.
Playing Tough
In order to prepare for this season, the athletes worked diligently, meeting every day after school and even attended mandatory practices on Saturdays. To be successful on the field, the girls must be successful in practice. The team practices dynamic flexibility training, ball skills, set plays such as free kicks and corner kicks and aerobic fitness including both distance running and sprinting. The athletes are not just working on their soccer skills during the spring season, but throughout the off-season as well. All photos by Elise Moser “Most, if not all [of the girls], play club soccer,” Iffrig said. Iffrig also attributed much of the team’s success to its off Tiffany Laughlin, 12, practices corner-kicks before a season training. game on April 5. “The fact that they are playing year-round is a big factor and why Pattonville has been so well known for its soccer,” Iffrig said. “One of our mottos is play hard, play smart, play together,” Iffrig said. The varsity girls know that playing hard during the game is one of the most important aspects of soccer. McGhee, who plays softball, basketball and soccer, says her favorite thing about soccer is “contact and getting to hit people.” In order to get into the right mind-set before a game, the girls “visualize” as part of their warm-up. “We close our eyes and then we think about what we are going to do during the game,” Vitale said.
Team Unity
With so many returning players, a strong bond has been developed amongst the girls. “The girls get along really well,” Iffrig said. Many of the girls agree that their favorite part of soccer is the friendships that they make. “You build such good friendships,” Laughlin said. “At Pattonville, we can have fun and still get things done. If I could, I would play high school soccer all year round.” Every season, the seniors get the juniors, sophomores and freshman. This year, in addition to getting tee-shirts for their Mikala McGhee, 10, goes teammates, the six senior girls did something very special— for the ball during a game they decorated the locker room by the soccer field. The locker against Marquette on April 5. room had not been used for years but the seniors cleaned it up and even painted the girls’ names and numbers on the lockers. Another common tradition among the team is the simple phrase, “I love it” which was started by its former coach Joe Halley. “When we would hate doing something he would just yell ‘I love it’ and we would have to respond ‘I love it.’ It’s the motto,” Zoltanski said. v
SOCCER SPOTLIGHT Tiffany Laughlin, 12 Position: Center Midfield Laughlin, a varsity player since her freshman year, was named 1st Team All-State last year as a junior. “It was a really big honor,” she said about being selected. “To me, [All-State] is something you do your senior year. It was one of my goals to accomplish in high school.” Laughlin signed to play soccer for Missouri State University. She said the recruitment process was “one of the most stressful things I’ve ever done.”
Miranda Davis, 12 Position: Right-wing back Davis started playing soccer at age three, on a team coached by her father. This experience inspired her to pursue the sport. She especially likes high school soccer. “I like being around my team and I just like what it offers,” she said. Davis is a defender, which she considers a challenge. “You have to be on your toes all the time because you are the last line of defense besides the goalie, so you have to be prepared,” she said.
Kailey Utley,10 Position: Midfield Utley made her varsity debut last season as a freshman. An all-around athlete, she also plays basketball and softball, but prefers soccer. “Soccer is my favorite sport because that is the sport I’m best at,” she said. “My favorite part about soccer is building new relationships and winning championships.” Utley also plays on a club team, which she considers more competitive, but said “it’s nice to have a break from them and play with my high school team.” v
Volleyball Aims for Growth Varsity Team Attempts to Build a Good Base for Next Year, acob Sharp Improve for this Season
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he varsity volleyball team is sufwho started playing freshmen year and need to get our communication together fering from a lack of growth, but advanced to varsity by sophomore year, and grow as a team,” Pinto said. is keeping up nonetheless with a says the team lacks height. “I really think that we can do this, we 3-4 record as of April 14. “Jake Gabbert and I are the tallest on the just have to work to our advantages. We The team has a lot of new faces, with team, we need more height to live up to have some good hitters and some good more sophomores on the team than usual our potential,” Pinto said. “We also have passers.” and even less seniors. Pinto said he’s looking for“We have a lot of young peoward to the game at Ritenour With a little bit better teamwork ple this year, I think we’ve got High School on April 19. we can definitely improve. four sophomores on the team,” “I’m counting down the days. Dan Johnson, 11, a setter for It’s going be a good game, I’ve - Dan Johnson the varsity team said. actually got some money on “But on the other hand we’ve it,” Pinto said jokingly. got some really good players on the team got to work on communication. In the end when Pinto leaves, he hopes like Max Browne, 11, Jake Gabbert, 12, Pinto says that teamwork and commuthe program grows more because this year and Jordan Pinto, 12. With a little bit bet- nication are probably their biggest issues, was younger than usual, but said they ter teamwork we can definitely improve.” but they are working to improve it. have a good base to build off of for next The captain of the varsity team, Pinto, “We have so much potential, we just season. v
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Boy’s Golf Aims For Conference Title A lex Amo
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fter big victories over Ritenour, Hazelwood East and Hazelwood Central, the Pirates boy’s golf team has teed off to a high note. As of April 12, the Pirates are undefeated (3-0) and winning matches by an average of 51 points, dominating the Suburban North Conference in almost every category. Despite a great start to their season, the Pirates are nowhere near satisfied with what they have accomplished. “I think we should really contend for this conference championship,” said senior David McNamee. “We have a strong team this year with both experience from the upper-level golfers and talent in sophomore/ freshmen group as well.” With four conference matches remaining, the Pirates will look to sweep the Suburban North Conference and
ultimately try to make a run in a stacked district group. Keep an eye out for seniors McNamee and Cody Branneky to make a run at districts this year. “We have all the tools to win,” said McNamee. “We just have to go out there and prove to everyone that we are the real deal in our conference.” The Pirates will hit the links in the Hazelwood Central Tournament at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course. “Keeping our concentration and composure will help us achieve our final goals for the season,” said McNamee. v
UPCOMING MATCHES
4/26 Hazelwood Central Tournament @ Spencer T. Olin 4/28 Hazelwood Central @ Old Florissant
Pirate Tennis Team in Search of Conference Title A lex Amo
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fter a slow start to the 2010 season, the Pirates tennis team turned its season around in quick fashion, defeating Hazelwood West 4-3 on April 7. Led by senior Tim Freebersyser and junior Steven Nicholson, the Pirates pulled off a major win, keeping the Suburban North title in reach. “We had to have this win. Hazelwood West is a strong contender for the Conference title and we didn’t want to be out of reach from our main team goal this year,” said Nicholson. At the beginning of the year, the Pirates lost three straight matches to Hazelwood Central, Howell Central and Howell North before ending their losing streak with a 7-0 win over Ritenour. “We’re a very young and inexperienced team this year,” said Freebersyser. “Those were tough teams we faced in the beginning, but we performed well despite all the inexperience we had.” With four conference matches remaining, the Pirates will look to capture the 2010 Suburban North Conference Championship at its conference tournament at Riverview Gardens on April 30 and May 1. “With Hazelwood West out of the way, we should still contend for the title, but we must win every match in order to do that. Hopefully Hazelwood Central loses so that there’s at
least a tie for the championship,” said Nicholson. The Pirates will play at home against Riverview Gardens on April 14. v
Photos by Jacob Sharp
Trevor Howes, 12, backhands the ball.
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Only One World Champion
n the United States, announcers, analysts and writers from all different types of sports call their best teams “World Champs.” After the Saints, Yankees, Lakers and Penguins won their league titles, the media called each team “World Champions.” This is an inaccurate statement because they only compete against teams from the United States and parts of Canada. On July 7, the true “World Champion” will be crowned in Johannesburg, South Africa. Thirty-two countries will be competing for one cup; one trophy that truly describes what it means to be a “World Champion.” Countries ranging from la Côte d’Ivoire to North Korea, the World Cup will feature a team from every continent except Antarctica. Superior athletes like Lionel Messi (Argentina), Fernando Torres (Spain), Thierry Henry (France), Lukas Podol-
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ski (Germany), Didier Drogba (la Côte d’Ivoire), Park Ji-Sung (South Korea) and Tim Cahill (Australia) will battle against each other to claim the most praised trophy in the world. In the TV ratings category, the World Cup dominated the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Fi- Italy won the World Cup nals and in 2006. World Series by a huge number. According to Sports Business Daily, the World Cup Final between France and Italy in 2006 had a TV rating of about 887 million total viewers. The 2010 Super Bowl between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints
had a total of 101 million viewers, the highest ratings of any Super Bowl. The highest TV rating in World Cup history took place during the 2002 World Cup Final between Brazil and Germany, which had a total of 2 billion total viewers. When our favorite teams from the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL win their league titles, we want to call them “World Champs” because we as Americans have such a broad view of the World and only think of sports from a U.S. perspective. This summer, on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2, watch for the battle between countries, not just teams from the United States. Soccer is not just kicking a ball like most Americans think. Slide tackles, shifty moves, finesse passes, offensive and defensive tactics and powerful shots are just some of the many skills and strategies that go on during a game that normally goes unnoticed. v
college education would be among some of the main conflict. Money has always been a source of bickering among my parents. The biggest expense of my life and their parenthood is surely no exception. When I come home from college, I’ll have to split my time at home in two so I can spend time with each of my parents. So while I’m getting older and becoming more independent, I’ll never escape my “human ping pong ball” status. I’ve gotten used to this status. I’ve had it since I was 7. I prefer it to chosing between my parents. On the occasions where my parents ask where I want to stay for a weekend, I can never decide. How can I chose one parent over another? If I’m told where to go, no one gets hurt by me. The hardest part about growing up in a divorced familly is when you become old enough to hear stories from your parents about the divorce situation. In hindsight, it sounds like a great idea, you get to know “the truth” about what has been going on for the past years of your life. The problem occurs when your parents’ stories never coincide. Being fed contradicting stories all the time causes a whirlwind of confusion and a level of distrust in the relationship with your parents. As the child, you don’t have the personal prejudices that your parents have against
each other. You want to be able to believe both parents. But when their stories contradict each other, it’s impossible for them both to be the truth. Communication is the most crucial element of living a successful, happy life in a divorce situation. Parents have to communicate efficiently. The lack of communication can have many negative effects on the children. Admittedly, I have a communication problem. I have a difficult communicating with the people I need to communicate with. I believe that this problem stems from the communication barriers in my family. Similarly, I have a difficult time being open and sticking up for myself. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by stating what I want. I believe this problem also stems from the lack of communication in my situation because I don’t want to hurt either of my parents. So, while I’ll never be able to escape my status, everything is calm right now and the human ping pong ball is beginning to bounce with more freedom. v
The Human Ping Pong Ball
s I grow older, I’m becoming more independent. And with this independence, I’ve found that the amount of parent conflicts have sharply decreased. Recently, my dad helped me get a car. It was amazing how big a difference having my own transportation made in my portable life. One of my big complaints about switching between two households in the week was dragging all of my stuff with me to various places in order to get them to the other house. Having my own car alleviates this problem. I can throw what I need in my trunk and take it with me to school, work, and to my other house. My newfound mobility makes my two houses seem closer together. The fact that my parents are divorced and the fact that I have two different houses can never be forgotten. But anything that makes it a little bit easier is very welcome. It seems like divorce-related conflicts have calmed down in my house lately. There’s no big holiday coming up soon that will mess up the schedule and potentially cause some tension. However, as I sail toward college and the expenses facing me, I can sense another wave of conflict looming over me. Discrepancies over money and funding my
The New American Revolution: Taking Back Patriotism
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merica is a superpower in transition. The industries that built our 20th century are changing, breaking, or dying. The rise of other nations coupled with the decline of our nation is creating a climate of global competition that America isn’t used to. If our generation fails in its duty to our country, we will no longer know America as the world’s greatest power. We bear the burden of the future, yet possess a great disconnect with the ideals and principles that we have to uphold. As a generation, we aren’t very patriotic, and see ourselves as independent units operating within the confines of a larger whole. During the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem played on Fridays here at PHS, our apathy is evident. Few say the Pledge and many sit during the National Anthem, two gestures that paint a picture of disrespect toward those who have served our country. We are a nation borne out of violent revolution. The idea of a democratic republic was granted to us with the blood of the first Patriots. From Crispus Attucks to the thousands killed in the Middle East, we have always fought to defend our principles. Patriotism is respect for those who have died in the name of our freedom. Our Founding Fathers created a nation unlike any other. Men like Washington, Jefferson, and Madison created a country that operates not on a monarchy, but on the will of the people. Through 230 years of existence, the ideological base represented in the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence still represents everything that politics should be. National pride is not only required to pay homage to our past, but to
show a renewed commitment to America in the future. Patriotism does not require blind faith in the government of a nation, but does require faith in the nation itself. Our nation’s greatest Patriots have stood in opposition of injustice, and have taken action against an inequitable status quo. To keep this nation great, we must fight against internal and external corruption. Guest Columnist While it is our right and our li Phillips duty to take action, this action must be performed in the name of America. Our country’s ideals give us something worth fighting for. While crusading for justice, we must still remember those who came before, and what they stood for. Saying the pledge or standing during the National Anthem seem insignificant, but they are indicative of a larger problem: diminishing national pride. To remember our past and show promise for our future, give America the respect it deserves. v
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ulia Wurm
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Bioshock 2 Doesn’t Shock
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Usher: DNOMYAR v. RAYMOND
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ioshock 2, released Feb. 9 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows had a lot to live up to in order to match the standards set by the first game, which was released in August 2007. The game did not measure up to my expectations. The second game is only a new copy of the old first-person shooter. Many changes have been made to the game; some of them good but most of them bad. In Bioshock 2, you play as subject Delta, a Big Daddy (a mechanical man) who was knocked out before the fall of Rapture by Sofia Lamb, the tyrant of the new game, who takes the place of the deceased Andrew Ryan from the first game, her old rival, the rivalry which you never hear about in the first game. For the Xbox, the B button is now a melee weapon, which is a big change from the original when the button was pressed in order to heal your character. Healing is now the right arrow on the D-Pad. This is a negative change to the game because when in battle, the D-Pad change is an unnatural hand movement, and the control options for this are unchange-able. New enemies exist in the game alongside the old ones. The main new fightable enemy is the Big Sister, who is a souped up mechanical mix between a Big Daddy and Little Sister. She appears at the end of every level, and is a formidable foe.
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acob Sharp
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sher blasted in at the end of March with his sixth and latest album, Raymond v. Raymond, complete with his token slow and tight R&B tracks, as well as some captivating and innovative club bangers that won’t be leaving the dance floor for a long while. That, compounded with the added flair of Ludacris, T.I., will.i.am, and Nikki Minaj, makes Usher’s new release a worthwhile listen, if not slightly uninspired and unoriginal. The album as a whole isn’t particularly fantastic or jaw breaking, but the majority of the tracks are bound to be hits, and some are a pure genius mixture of a solid beat and creative lyrics. This might stem from the albums hit list of producers, ranging from the recognizable beats of Polow tha Don to the slower tracks by Jermaine Dupri. The album’s opening track, “Monstar” is rather enthralling, starting with Usher saying: “There are three sides to every story; one side, the other, and the truth.” A creepy computerized voice follows up next, followed by Usher’s identifiable voice jumping in over violins and an uplifting beat.
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A Big Sister is going to show up every time your Big Daddy character harvests or rescues the last Little Sister on a level. Another new enemy in the game is is the debut of a new type of Splicer, the Brute Splicer, who is basically a super buff man who can throw TV’s and other large trash items at you. While his ‘Brute’ name steals from the popular Halo series, the character is highly comparable to a Tank from Left 4 Dead. The only difference between the Tank and a Brute Splicer is that the Splicer is wearing a shirt. Their angry mannerisms are the same, their hulking running styles are similar, and they both attack you with masculine war screams. The Little Sisters have been changed as well. The graphics on the girls have been improved, and their voices have been changed. They don’t sound so distinctive Walking into a room to find corpses hanging from the ceiling or speared to a wall is not as gory as the exploding blood of the enemis as you cut into them. This game is not for the weak-kneed, as there is a lot more blood and guts than the first one. Bioshock was a game to creep you out, but the second one takes on the quality of a horror-film, and is not very creepy. Some parts of the game have been considered annoying. During one level, annoying music that sounds like the Wicked
Witch of the West is coming for you plays incessantly, and when your character walks under a stream of water, an annoying clunking sounds from the The cover art for speakers. While most Bioshock 2 shows of the changes subject Delta with a to the game are little sister perched negative, there on his shoulder. are a few changes that put a positive spin on the game. A new move, the Drill-Dash, is so much fun to use. Using the drill attached to your arm, you press the melee buton and your character shoots forward and bashes your enemy, killing many splicers immediately. Having been a huge fan of the original game, I’d have to say that Bioshock 2 is great for only the biggest fans that want to delve deeper into the game and the history of Rapture. However, with a $60 pricetag, this game is not a good investment for many gamers to buy. I suggest that if you are interested in the game, rent it. v
This is by far the most interesting and creative track on the album, though not the best. “OMG” featuring will.i.am is one of the more well put together tracks on the album, with an inclined infectious beat and intoxicating lyrics. will.i.am’s Usher’s sixth album electronic tone was released on immediately reminds one of March 30 entitled the latest Black Raymond v. Eyed Peas alRaymond. bum, The E.N.D., specifically the song “I Gotta Feeling.” It’s got that kind of beat that just marches the listener through the track, and surprisingly, Usher’s voice ends up delivering lyrics that both keep up and entertain. Usher doesn’t stop there with the catchy beats though, as he teams up with Ludacris on
the track “She Don’t Know.” But, as is normal with Usher, he’s always got his slow, invigorating R&B hits. With Raymond v. Raymond, he does not disappoint. “Foolin’ Around” is basically like Confessions III, with Usher saying how much he loves his girl, but then apologizes because he’s always fooling around with other girls. Its got the same idea, but the piano in the background is a bit more up-tempo and less depressing than in the previous two Confessions. Raymond V. Raymond is an album that lacks focus. The tone of the album is constantly shifting, rolling from upbeat songs talking about how much swag Usher has to slower R&B tunes that show his soft side. It’s like he can’t decide whether he’s happy being a player or he’s sorry for cheating all the time, which, consequently, the title represents. This makes the album seem more like a compilation of songs rather than a cohesive album with an underlying theme. However, even though it lacks unification, it doesn’t take away from the high quality of the bulk of the tracks themselves. v
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A Variety Of Memories A
lexia McGhee
The dads take after their Varsity Drill Team daughters on the stage as they show off their dance skills. Melynda Lamb leads her choir on the piano
all of mimic n. s m o mm easo rill Tea es of the s D y it nc ars The V ughters’ da a d ir e th
The H Sch olman ool’s Mid dle brea Step Team ks it on s down tage .
Jazz E direc nsemble p tion o f Den lays unde r nis M cFarla the nd.
Joey Hakanson, 10, and Clayton Stillman, 10, play along with the Jazz Band.
Brittany Freeman, 12, challenges the senior boys to a dance-off.
aders heerle front), C y it s Var alsh ( an W asek, 10, g a e M M udrey 12, A lor ay and T t, 11, s spirit. r e k o J ir team e h t show
Tyler Elder, 11, strums his guitar strings in sync with his band.