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Pattonville High School 2497 Creve Coeur Mill Road Maryland Heights MO 63043 l Vol. 75 Issue: 4 December 2010
What defines a sport? >>> See story on page 5
Photo illustration by Jacob Sharp
In a tough economy, Pattonville looks for ways to save money By Geri Farrell and Ben Trochtenberg
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ith the suffering economy and the recent passage of Proposition K, Pattonville School District has been working to find ways to be more fiscally responsible. Proposition K was the $41 million no-tax increase bond that was passed this November in order to help improve the school’s aging facilities. “Prop K helps the school in ways even the students don’t see,” David Winslow from the Facilities Department said. The new proposition brings the school $41 million for new heating, cooling and asbestos cleanup as well as upgrades to the school’s facilities. Besides the bond, the district receives money from various locations. “Eighty-seven percent of the school’s income comes from local taxes. Nine percent comes from the state, and 4 percent comes federally,” Ron Orr, Pattonville’s Chief Financial Officer, said. The money the school receives from taxes then travels through the financial office until a finalized budget has been created. After approval, the budget is passed on to the Pattonville schools and used accordingly. Pattonville receives the money in allocations. Unknown to students, the high school undergoes changes based upon its building level within the budget. Computers, such as the 26 laptop carts, are maintained by the computer technicians, which monitor the school’s 1,975 technological devices.
These technicians, just like the other hundreds of staff at the high school, use around 80 percent of the budget just to fund their salaries and employee benefits. This leaves about 20 percent to spend on the other needs for the school. The remaining money is then used for students first and the other necessities afterward. “Each student costs about $12,000 [annually] each,” Sara Keene, principal, said, “and with the economy the way it is, the budget has tightened up.” The economy has affected not only the school’s spending, but also the money Pattonville receives.
Injuries, other complications affect varsity cheerleaders performance at State
“Property values have declined and the taxes we pay on investments have gone up,” Orr said. “Our school receives a set amount of money from the state and we cannot ask for more.” Every penny that goes into the budget has to be wisely spent and Pattonville’s CFO makes sure that happens. “As of right now, we are working on the same course as usual,” Orr said. Another problem that the economy has caused is greatly decreased interest rates on investments. “We receive our money in one lump sum [each year] and we don’t spend it all at the same time,” Orr said. Instead, the
>>> See Economy, page 2 Capital1.1%
44.6%
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attonville High School varsity cheerleaders competed at the Missouri State Championships on Nov. 20 after qualifying for the competition at Regionals in August. “We were all excited when we found out that we qualified to go to State,” Audrey Masek, 11, who is in her third year as a cheerleader, said. “I was super pumped.” “I’m just glad that my first year on varsity I got to compete at State,” Masek added. The cheerleaders not only acquired a spot to compete at State while at Regionals, but also gained informa-
>>> See Cheerleaders, page 6
Girls’ field hockey, lacrosse, coed water polo to be added By Hannah Johnson
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5.5%
20.6%
By Jacqueline Neil
tion about their opponents. “The thing I liked most about Regionals was that we could scope out our competition. It made us feel more confident in ourselves,” Bitsy Foster, 12, said. From there, they strived to work hard for a state title. Located behind the F-wing, the activities center was full of these hard working cheerleaders every night. The girls compete under Class 5A. There are several divisions that squads compete under which include small group, large group and coed. The Pattonville cheerleaders competed under the small group division. This year was the third time the cheerleaders qualified to compete at state since 2005. In 2005, they competed but did not place. In 2009, the
New sports coming to Pattonville
2.3% Supplies
7.1% 18.8%
Squad works to make up for big losses right before state competition
Benefits
n the 2012-2013 school year, Pattonville is scheduled to add new sports to the current line-up. A coed water polo team will be added and girls’ lacrosse and field hockey teams will also be introduced. There will be an initial start-up cost for equipment as well as an annual cost of roughly $49,000 to pay coaches and entry fees for tournaments. The cost is projected to be covered by administrative cost reductions at the Learning Center. Field hockey will compete during the fall season while water polo and lacrosse will take place during the
spring. The addition of these sports may complicate other sports’ practice locations depending upon the new facility plans according to Bob Hebrank, athletics and activities director. The new sports are being added to “give more opportunities to students and to match what other schools are doing,” Hebrank said. He asserts that there have been studies showing that “the more involved students are, the better their academic performance.” It is why the new sports were suggested by administrators.
>>> See New sports, page 3
DECEMBER 2010 l PIRATE PRESS l
News
Debate team runs successful tournament Tournament held at the high school is biggest fundraiser for team By Jacob Sharp
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attonville High School hosted a Speech and Debate Competition on Dec. 10-11. It is the 35th annual tournament at the high school and is run almost entirely by the debate team. “It’s intriguing, but it can be a hassle,” varsity debater Taylor Jackson, 10, said. “We have to make sure every single thing runs smoothly and
that all the competitions are going on like they should.” A few hours after school let out on Friday, Dec. 10, over 600 students from 23 schools came to Pattonville High School for two days, bringing all their debate resources and case boxes with them. The school was filled with the hustle and bustle of the tournament, with students crowding into the cafeteria and throughout the hallways. With entry fees for each contestant, the debate team raises enough funds in order to send Pattonville debate students to other competi-
Samantha Twyman and Nik Fischer, 12, organize judging assignments for the debate tournament hosted by Pattonville. Photo by Jacob Sharp
Economy Continued from page 1 district invests much of this revenue. However, in January 2008, the interest rates on investments dropped literally overnight. “[The dropped interest rates] impacted us immediately,” Orr said. Luckily, the district has been preparing for an economic lull since 2007. Pattonville did this by reducing expenditures and placing increased revenue from property tax into investments. By July 1, 2009, the school had successfully saved $5.5 million. Decreased student population, as well as preparation for economic
tions during the school year. Pattonville students do not compete at the tournament it hosts but instead makes sure everything is running as smooth as possible. The front desk where a police officer usually sits during normal school hours was commandeered by the hosting debate team to hand out judging positions. Nik Fischer, 12, and Samantha Twyman, 12, started preparing for the tournament a few days before. On the night before the debate competition, the two stayed after school until 6:30 p.m. “It’s not too stressful, you just have to be dedicated,” Twyman said. v
Debaters from all over Missouri claim territory in the cafeteria over the weekend of Dec. 10-11. Photo by Jacob Sharp
downturn, has caused a reduction of staff members throughout the district though none have been fired. This means that when a teacher retires or leaves the district, his or her position may not be replaced. “Since the year 2000, we have been gradually reducing,” Orr said. The district has reduced a little more than 150 positions, saving the district about $20 million. Orr said that taking advantage of situations such as these have helped the district survive in the current economy. In addition to staff reduction, Pattonville has saved money by cutting back on travel and by frequently using credit cards. “We started out with five district
credit cards two years ago, and now we have close to 200 and we use them to pay large bills, but then there are many teachers that have them as well,” Pattonville Purchasing Agent Mary Ann Brann said. These credit cards are used for purchases such as the groceries for the nutritional food classes at Pattonville. “We receive a rebate [from the credit cards] anywhere between $3,000 and $4,000 per month,” Brann said. Much of this extra revenue goes to benefit student activities and programs. Because of money-savvy practices such as this, Pattonville is one of the few schools that has not had to make serious changes in the financial downturn. v
Pattonville Briefs
Compiled by Jessica Brunts The Pattonville Chess Team took 4th place in its first competition Sat. Dec. 4. Team member Isaiah Gadson, 10, claimed the 1st place trophy in the top round of competition.
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The Driver Education Students recently concluded its yearly “Battle of the Belt.” Pattonville increased seatbelt usage by 31 percent from the beginning to the end of the five-week program. During the first surprise seat belt check Oct. 14, students scored 62 percent for overall seat belt usage. On the final surprise seat belt check Nov. 11, students scored 93 percent.
Alex Dalton, 12, was elected vice president of DECA’s Missouri District 7, which includes 15 high schools in the St. Louis area. DECA is an international association of students who are interested in marketing, finance, hospitality and management.
John Sorsen and David Lindsay, 11, were selected for the All-Suburban Honors Jazz Band, both for trombone. Soresen also made 1st chair baritone in the All-State band, and he was selected for All-State Band and All-State Jazz Band on Trombone. Lindsay also made All-State band for Trombone.
The girls’ varsity tennis team was named Suburban North Conference Champions and Conference Tournament Champions. The team also placed second at Districts. Members of the team include Hope Benefield, 12, Melissa Bradford, 12, Darlene Bequette, 10, Alexis Farrar, 11, Theresa Ford, 12, Jacqueline Neil, 11, Kerry Schneider, 12, Valerie Schneider, 12, Arden Toney, 11, Danielle Toney, 11, Savannah Sneed, 12, and Courtney Wildberger, 12. Farrar and Wildberger were selected to the First All-Conference Team for Doubles. Sneed was selected for the Second All-Conference Team. Ford was named to the First All-Conference Team and was a conference and district champion and a state qualifier.
03 l PIRATE PRESS l DECEMBER 2010 Members of the Pattonville girls’ golf team competed to become the Suburban North Conference Champions. Members of the team include Brittanie Ferguson, 12, Sydney Finn, 11, Emily Gilmer, 10, Kirsten Gindler, 12, Kelly Gould, 12 and Janna White, 12. Gould also placed 1st in the tournament, as well as 3rd in the district tournament. Gould was also named to the First Team All-Conference and was a state qualifier.
Chrish Johnson, 11, was named the Missouri Future Educators Association’s state president. This is the third consecutive year a Pattonville student has been named Missouri’s FEA president.
The Pattonville Bowling team won 2nd place and $150 of scholarship money at the Olivette Lanes Scholarship Tournament Dec.4-5.
Stacey Leonard, a counselor at Pattonville High School, is one of five counselors in the St. Louis area to be named a finalist in Southeast Missouri State’s Salute to Excellence Counselor of the Year Award. The honor recognizes St. Louis counselors who make a commitment to their school community by nurturing first-generation and underrepresented students in post-secondary education.
Missouri cuts writing portions of end-of-course exams Educators disagree about the impacts of the new changes By Andrew Tyahla
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ue to state budget cuts, the end-of-course exams no longer have writing portions. This change has led to opposing viewpoints among the staff. This semester, students in Government and Algebra I have had to take the end-of-course test. However, only the Algebra I EOCs had a writing portion in the past. “It was a performance based question,” Miranda Gossett, math department, said. “It tested how students
go through the steps.” There was no writing portion on the Government EOC in the past; therefore, according to Ryan Brueckmann of the social studies department, it will not affect the scores of the test that much. English and biology EOCs in the Spring will also omit the writing portion of the test. However, teachers administering the tests feel the omission of the writing portion will have positive effects overall. “Scores will probably go up,” Brueckmann said. “Not only because it is one less factor in the grade, but students will probably feel more relaxed without an essay to worry about. This would allow them to focus more on the multiple choice.”
Another good thing about leaving out the writing portion is scores will be able to be returned faster, Gossett said. “I do feel we can get a good idea of how the students are doing without the performance question.” On the other end of the spectrum, Sara Keene, principal, does not see much good coming out of the move. “We teach writing as an important part of our curriculum,” Keene said. “Removing that portion of the EOCs takes away an opportunity for students to express themselves.” In addition, Keene feels that the writing portion was an opportunity for students who are not good at multiple choice to excel. “Therefore, I’m not a fan of the move.” v
Student Climate Surveys help administrators improve the school State mandated survey provides students’ view on school issues
district-to-district. “It is a state survey, but at the district level it’s tweaked to have more personalized questions,” Keene said. Students are not the only ones who have to take a survey. “There is a teacher survey and it is geared around the same context as the student survey,” Keene said. The teacher survey is used to gather teacher’s opinions and their thoughts on working conditions. Keene also said “the biggest question is what we do with the data.” According to Keene, the data “is used for a quick glimpse of students’ feelings. If there is a problem, we meet with BSAAC [Board Student Administration Action Committee] and evaluate the data to see if there needs to be any changes.”
By Courtney McNeese
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ll students at Pattonville High School should have taken the district-wide Student Climate Survey during 2nd hour, yet several do not know what the survey actually is and what it is used for. The survey is state mandated and according to Sara Keene, principal, is “a series of questions the school uses to get a better understanding of how students feel about the services provided.” Even though the survey is state mandated, the surveys vary from
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Christina Carver, 12, said BSAAC has not been informed about the student survey. “I don’t know,” Carver said. “Nobody has told us about it.” Keene added the teacher survey data is used the same way as the student data. Since there has not been a discussion in BSAAC, it is not clear what changes the data is used for or the overall purpose of the survey. With future BSAAC meetings ahead, and the results from the surveys coming in, there could be some changes for the high school. The Pirate Press tried to contact the Missouri Government Office for more information but did not receive a response. v
Julie Kampschroeder, college counselor at Pattonville High School, was awarded the Emerson Excellence in Teaching honor for 2010. Last year, Kampschroeder was selected as Pattonville’s Teacher of the Year and was nominated for the Emerson award because of her determination and enthusiasm for working with students. The Emerson Excellence in Teaching award recognizes teachers who exhibit outstanding educational excellence.
The Pattonville girls’ cross country team won the Suburban North Conference Championship title for the second year in a row. The team achieved a perfect score of 15 points and finished with the top six runners. Geri Farrell, 12, finished in first place, Hannah Johnson, 12, in second place, Kirby McClain, 9, in third place, Elise Amo, 11, in fourth place, Melissa Fulton, 12, in fifth place, Laura Fulton, 9, in sixth place, and Riley Ayers, 9, in 18th place.
New sports Continued from page 1 With the addition of lacrosse, field hockey and water polo, it will even out the number of sports offered for boys and girls with 12 sports each and one coed team. Gymnastics will remain as the only MSHSAA-sponsored sport not offered at Pattonville. Swimming coach Brooke Michel does not plan to coach water polo, but she is excited about reaping the benefits of a fitter swimming team. “The swimmers will have more endurance and strength, especially in their legs. You have to tread water a lot in water polo so they will come back with a stronger kick and more
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endurance,” Michel said. Freshman Laura Fulton plans to participate in water polo. Fulton is excited since “it’s nice to try something new.” She hopes that water polo will make her stronger for her other sports. However, she also realizes that new sports could take players away from other sports. Brandon VanBuren, 10, might also do water polo once it is available. He said the swim team plays water polo in some practices and it is “fun, but intense.” VanBuren would be unable to play golf if he chose water polo. It is difficult to predict players or coaches for the girls’ lacrosse and field hockey teams since the sports are so different from those already offered at Pattonville. v
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DECEMBER 2010 l PIRATE PRESS l
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College-bound students under more pressure than ever to compete for the top spots in their class By Elise Moser and Geri Farrell
As the number of college-bound students rises each year, the pressure is on for students to earn straight “As” in the most challenging classes offered at their school. Eli Phillips, 12, is ranked first in the Class of 2011. For four years, Phillips has worked hard to maintain his 4.77 weighted GPA, something he very proudly shares with others. To him, his grades are the only way to get into his top-choice school, Harvard University. “I feel like my grades are directly correlated with the type of [university] I go to,” Phillips said. It is not uncommon for high school students to pull all-nighters to finish all their homework. Phillips is no exception. “I’d get home and start studying, maybe take a couple breaks, and keep going until 11,” when Phillips said he would go to bed. At 3 a.m., he would wake up and start working again. Phillips is not the only one. Junior Marie Clark, another top student, reports spending six to seven hours on homework every day. “My grades are very important… that’s my future to me,” she said. Kirsten Gindler, 12, is ranked within the top 10 of the senior class and also receives a lot of homework. She commented that she usually completes about five or six hours worth per night. “I enjoy challenging myself and feeling like I am doing something that
is not a waste of my time,” Gindler said. College-bound students know the importance of taking the most challenging classes offered, especially those interested in Ivy League schools and other top universities. “If you are trying for the hardest schools in the country you’ve got to take the hardest classes,” Julie Kampschroeder, college counselor, said. Because of this, students have to make tough decisions about the courses they take. David Lindsay, 11, is interested in Harvard University as well as Washington University in St. Louis. The All-State trombone member is currently enrolled in two unweighted band classes, which affects his weighted GPA and class rank. “I almost dropped Jazz Ensemble to take AP Chemistry,” he said. However, Lindsay decided to enroll because he plans to pursue music in college. “I’m not just going to take a class to help my GPA,” he explained. “I’d rather take stuff that I want to do.” Sofia Gonzalez,12, also chose to enroll in classes she was interested in as opposed to forgoing them for weighted courses. “My plan for high school was taking honors classes and required classes and for senior year taking classes that I enjoy,” Gonzalez said. Kampshroeder recommends students take classes that interest them,
especially those that could be associated with a possible career. “[College admissions offices] want to be able to look at your transcript and be able to see your chosen field,” she said. As far as students forgoing unweighted classes to specifically boost their GPA, she believes it will not help in the long run. “I think they do themselves a disservice,” she said. Most courses in business, visual arts, music, family and consumer sciences, and journalism are all unweighted at Pattonville, and students often avoid these potential career paths in favor of honors and Advanced Placement classes. However, Kampshroeder recommends taking courses that interest students, regardless of whether or not it is weighted. Eliminating a career path in high school makes college a lot easier and potentially cheaper. Changing a major can require extra classes in college, which can add up. Outside of school, extra-curricular activities are also important to the college acceptance process. Kampschroeder cautioned that while working toward good grades is important, forgoing extra-curriculars in pursuit of a high GPA or class rank could actually be detrimental. “They are looking for well-rounded students and students with special skills,” Kampschroeder said. In addition to achieving a high
‘Tis the season for holidays Christmas, Hanukkah traditions endure for thousands of years By Andrew Tyahla
Once again, we find ourselves in the month of December. The month plays host to various holy days to various religions. Despite all of them being around the same time, each of them has various traditions.
Christmas is probably the most well-known of the winter holidays. Christians celebrate it in honor of the birth of Jesus Christ. Unlike other holidays that fall on different dates every year, Christmas is always on Dec. 25. It has been celebrated on this date as early as 273 AD. To go along with this, church services are held the night before. “My family goes to a midnight mass,” Spencer Feltmann, 9, said. “It is about an hour longer than usual as there is a live Nativity scene to go along with it.” Many people celebrate by decorating a large fir tree with various ornaments and lights. This custom is regarded as a Christianization of a Pagan tradition celebrating the winter solstice. The first modern Christmas tree likely began in 18th century Germany, but some claim that Martin Luther, the monk whose ideas sparked the Reformation, started the idea in the 16th century. Other decorations
include the poinsettia, mistletoe and evergreen garlands. Christmas is also well known for the concept of Santa Claus. The character is based upon St. Nicholas of Turkey. All records describe Nicholas as a very generous man who loved children. As a result, many believed he could perform miracles. The idea of presents being delivered to good children began in Holland, where the name was translated to Sinterklaas. It was believed that Sinterklaas would fill the shoes of good children with treats. When the Dutch immigrated over to America in the 17th century, they brought the tradition over with them and the name became Santa Claus. The image of Santa as a plump bearded man clad in red was established in the poem “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore in 1822. The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is also a major celebration during the season. This year, it began at sundown Dec. 1 and lasted until Dec. 9. The festival celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian rulers of Jerusalem in 164 BCE. When redecorating the temple, however, they only had enough oil to light the lamps for one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted eight days. The Torah did not actually institute this celebration. The main tradition is lighting of the menorah, a candelabra that holds
nine candles. The one in the center is used to light the others. Every night, one candle is lit for every evening elapsed. The menorah is displayed in the window and must burn for half an hour. The light of the candles may only be used for ceremonial purposes. Some may also have variations on this tradition. “My family has a bunch of menorahs,” Maddie Perel, 12, said. “We choose one to light the first night and then we light the others on each night.” The game of dreidel is also a tradition practiced during this time. The game begins with all players having an equal amount of pieces. Every turn, each player puts one piece in the pot. A four-sided top known as a dreidel is spun and the action taken depends on the Hebrew letter on the side that lands face up. The letters are nun (get nothing), gimel (get the whole pot), hay (take half the pot) and shin (put one piece in the pot). It is believed the tradition started because the Jews would hastily take the dreidels out and pretend to be gambling to avoid being caught studying the Torah. In recent years, people have started giving small gifts each night of Hanukkah. This started due to the holiday’s proximity to Christmas, in order to keep children from being left out. “My parents hide the presents,” Perel said. “And then we play a hot and cold game to find them.” v
GPA, colleges want to know what else students have done throughout their high school careers. “Schools want people who are going to be active,” Kampschroeder said. Each year, Georgetown University publishes the number of valedictorians it rejects, proving that grades are not all colleges are looking for. “If you put all of your effort into grades and not extracurriculars… you’re not going to get in either,” Kampschroeder explained. Many top students are also extremely involved. Marc Prather, 11, is a member of the swim team in the fall and the golf team in the spring. He also is very involved in his church. Prather is ranked 7th in the Class of 2012 with a weighted GPA of 4.85. Other top students are focused on their school work more than their activities. Clark, who is a member of Student Council, Renaissance, debate, National Honors Society, and Spanish National Honors Society, may spend up to four hours a week with extracurricular activities, compared to Prather’s daily sports practices. Phillips himself would rather not talk about extra-curriculars, focusing instead on his pristine academic record. He has only received one “B” in high school. Alyssa Mars, 11, has been aspiring to graduate first in her class since sixth grade. However, this year, to pursue her goal, she has had to opt
out of many of her after-school activities. “I had to cut back this year because my course load got really heavy,” Mars said. While Mars is still an active member in student council and her church youth group, she has had to quit the Spanish National Honor Society and the girls’ golf team. What college-bound students need to understand is that most universities, even the top ones, are looking for balanced, successful students. According to the CollegeData Web site, the most important factor to college acceptance is the courses students choose. According to CollegeData, “Most colleges will consider your performance in college prep, honors or Advanced Placement (AP) courses one of the strongest signs of your ability.” One of the most surprising revelations is the importance of class rank—or lack of importance. Class rank is low on the list of college acceptance factors. According to CollegeData, “Fewer than half of high schools now track class rank.” Colleges would rather see students challenging themselves with difficult courses relevant to them while participating in extra-curricular activities. It seems that the message college admission offices are sending is clear: well-rounded students get accepted.v
Hannah’s Health
Alcohol presents unanticipated risks to high school students By Hannah Johnson Binge drinking can have major health implications, especially while the brain is still developing. I believe that students should be aware of both the medical and legal risks associated with drinking. According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 80 percent of high school students have tried alcohol. If you are among that 80 percent, perhaps you should read on. Alcohol works by blocking messages in the nervous system. That means that it tampers with any signals your brain or spinal cord may be trying to send. It alters perception, emotion, movement, vision, and hearing. This tends to make people more relaxed, but that also means it slows one’s reaction time. The phenomenon of thought is simply a firing of neurons, so alcohol also affects your thoughts on a fundamental level. When it comes to decision-making, teenagers are already handicapped due to underdeveloped frontal cortexes. Alcohol can permanently affect the development of the prefrontal cortex as well as inhibit teens’ current faculties. That is what makes drunken teens especially dangerous to themselves as well as those around them. Alcohol can cause teens to do things which they never would while sober. Under the influence of alcohol, teens are more likely to get an STD or become pregnant. Sexual assault is more likely if either the victim or aggressor have been drinking. Binge drinking can also lead to alcohol poisoning. Symptoms include vomiting, unconsciousness, low blood sugar, seizures, and even death.
Long term heavy drinking can damage the liver, heart, and brain. It has also been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. According to About.com, people who drink throughout adolescence are four times as likely to be overweight. Heavy drinkers are also 20 percent more likely to commit suicide. If the health risks related to alcohol don’t worry you, the legal risks should. It may not seem like a big deal to go to a party with alcohol, but local police have “a zero tolerance policy,” according to Mike Mooney, school resource officer. You will be summoned if you are in possession of alcohol or at a party with alcohol. Parents that allow parties will be prosecuted as well. If you are under 17, you will be sent to a juvenile court. If you are 17 or older, you will be sent to a local court. There is a fine for underage drinking. Limits or restrictions can also be put on your driving, even before you have a license. Getting caught drinking is a big deal and a big risk. Mooney believes that teens mostly drink because of the social aspect. It seems like the “cool thing to do.” He has never met a kid who likes the taste or after-effects of alcohol. He suggests finding something you are good at and enjoy along with a group of friends to use as a “foundation” instead. Underage drinking is serious business. Restrictions on the drinking age are not simply arbitrary- they were put in place to protect your health. If you spoil your health now, you may regret it when you are 50 years old and dying of cirrhosis of the liver. v
05 l PIRATE PRESS l DECEMBER 2010 Pattonville athletes answer the question:
WHAT DEFINES A SPORT?
Above, Paris Williams, 12, passes the ball during a varsity girls’ basketball game against Kirkwood High School on Dec. 13. Photo by Jacob Sharp
By Elise Moser and Jacob Sharp
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eather Sprengel is one of the captains of the varsity cheerleading squad. For four years, Sprengel and her teammates have fought to be respected as a sport. “We really do work hard and I don’t think some people see that,” Sprengel said, “so they just blow it off.” She believes the cheerleading squad can sometimes be viewed as a sport. “In my opinion, it can be [a sport] when we’re at competition.” The question of what defines a sport has long been unanswered. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a sport is a “physical activity
engaged in for pleasure.” The question of what is or is not a sport is so unclear that even Pattonville High School Activities Director Bob Hebrank has trouble with the definition. He has a broad definition of sports at Pattonville. “The definition of a sport is hard to come up with. I view cheerleading and drill team as a sport. Marching band is in a huge grey area. It could be called a sport because they do put a lot of effort into it,” Hebrank said. Hebrank further explained a sport at Pattonville is anything defined by the Missouri State High School Athletic Association (MSHSAA) as such. Although Hebrank says Pattonville
defines sports as MSHSAA does, he believes that sideline cheerleading and drill team, which are listed as activities on MSHSAA’s Web site, are also sports. “I view cheerleading and drill team as a sport,” Hebrank said. “They practice more than our other athletic teams do.” Mikala McGhee, 11, thinks sports are anything that pushes you to your limits. “Dancing, cheerleading, they all involve skill. I would call those sports. If you have a group working toward a common goal, that counts as a sport,” she said. McGhee herself is a three-sport athlete, a member of the softball, basketball and soccer teams. Senior Sean Zambruski, the top runner on the boys’ cross country team, believes a sport is something that requires conditioning and hard work. Cross country, defined by MSHSAA as a sport, has often been questioned because it “does not require the use of a ball.” Zambruski refutes this argument. “Our sport requires more dedication because it’s other sports’ punishment,” he said. Cross country is a sport that requires year-round conditioning for one season, he explained. “I think that anything’s a sport if you have to put in time to practice,” he said. Zambruski even believes marching band is a sport. “You’re still sweating while you do it,” he said. Zambruski does not think intellectual competitions should be considered sports. According to him, a sport is something you cannot stop practicing and still be successful. Although Zambruski considers marching band to be a sport, head
band director Denny McFarland disagrees. “I don’t know that you can classify it one way or another,” he said. “It’s kind of a hybrid. There is a level of physicality required.” So much so, in fact, that McFarland said head football coach Steve Smith has come up to him on several occasions in awe of what the marching band members accomplish in about eight minutes. There are many factors that would allow McFarland to claim that marching band is a sport. Similar to an athletic team, marching band has “the teamwork and the focus on a goal.” Physically, members of the marching band work throughout the summer and fall to complete a show that can reach speeds of 160 to 180 beats per minute - or 160 to 180 steps per minute. That equates to about three to four steps a second, certainly a physical feat. But McFarland explains that marching band is more than just a physical activity. “The biggest part for me really is the artistry involved, It requires a high level of musicianship,” he said. Some schools compete in eight or nine competitions throughout September and October, but Pattonville goes to a lot less. “I think those programs would view marching band more as a sport,” he said. But at Pattonville, McFarland tries to give students “a more holistic view of marching band.” He views competitions like a reward for working hard. “Here at Pattonville, we just don’t do enough of that to warrant calling it a sport.” Activities, as defined by MSHSAA, may have an advantage to their
Jordan Hall, 12, practices chess at a Chess Club meeting after school. The members of the team agree that chess is not a sport. Photo by Jacob Sharp sport counterparts. Activities are not limited by a maximum number of competitions and are not bound by seasons the way sports are. Cheerleading, like marching band, is an activity that may be viewed as a sport by others. Although Sprengel believes cheerleading is a sport during competition, she also says cheering at sporting events, or sideline cheering, is an activity. Even so, Sprengel still thinks cheerleading should be taken seriously. “People don’t understand. We do practice. People don’t know where or when but we do practice,” she said. “However you view it, it’s just like other sports and activities. It takes hard work and it’s important to [the squad].” v
Pirate Press Cookie Contest By Jessica Brunts and Courtney McNeese
Freshmen Kaitlin Gant and Lizzi Fincher pulled their efforts together to create this year’s Pirate Press Cookie Contest recipe winner. The contest took place Dec. 8 after school in the Pirate Press room. The cookies were judged by staff members Ryan Brueckmann, Christian Dornhoefer, Emily Werner, Beth Moritz and Jason Boehm “The recipe was my great-grandmother’s,” Gant said. Gant’s mom bakes these cookies every year as a tradition. Gant and Fincher decided to join the cookie contest after seeing a sign hanging up. They said that they were originally going to enter separately, but later decided they would rather do it together. “Decorating the cookies was the best part,” Fincher said. “It was fun.” According to Werner, Gant and Fincher’s cookies “looked awesome, beautiful and professional.” v Photo by Courtney McNeese
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06 Sports
DECEMBER 2010 l PIRATE PRESS l
Cheerleaders Continued from page 1 V-Rahs finished in 12th place. Eight of the senior girls returned from last year which include Mallory Arens, Bitsy Foster, Heather Sprengel, Kristin Wayman, Kristen Moore, Rashima Manning, Taylor Jokerst and Kaylen Iberg. Although eight girls returned to the squad from last year’s finish at State, music and injury complications hindered the success of the team in 2010. Unfortunately for the cheerleaders, a few weeks before the state competition the routine switched at the last minute. One month prior to State, assistant coaches Kallie McCann and Haley Ferguson, both National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) cheerleaders at Lindenwood University, had finally received their music from a DJ. This resulted in some minor adjustments to their routine. Not only was this a small issue, but the team faced several injuries in preparation to State. Blood, sweat, and tears were all part of their downfalls, literally. On Oct. 22, captain Mallory Arens, 12, was elbowed in the face. It took Arens several weeks to recover. Two weeks before State, she was allowed to stunt. One week before State, she was able to begin doing spinning stunts. Another small injury that the cheerleading team suffered from was Jessica Hohenstein, 11. “I couldn’t fly during competition. I felt really bad because we don’t really have a lot of flyers,” Hohenstein said. With just a week before heading to State, one of the girls was sent to the hospital. While dismounting, Jerica Macon, 12, got nudged in the shoulder when a flyer was coming down. Unfortunately for the squad, Macon could not return until the week after the state competition because of her bruised shoulder.
Another senior, Rashima Manning, had an incident where she too got elbowed in the face by a flyer. Manning was sent home from practice with a gash along her eyebrow. Because her injury was another loss of the season, the girls hoped for the best. Manning was allowed to compete. “By this point, I was very nervous about competing,” Natalie Beck, 11, said. “Aside from Regionals, this was my first time at a real cheerleading competition. After our official routine, I found it very nerve-racking.” Preparing for the State competition was just as hard as the day of competing for the cheerleaders. The V-Rahs got a 25-point penalty because one of the base girls took her eyes off of a flyer during a stunt. This is equivalent to someone falling while stunting. Some of the girls found the judging unfair. “I thought it was foolish. The team that placed third had a girl leave the mat on a stretcher and they got to redo their routine,” Foster said. “But I’m over it now. In the future, I want the team to just have fun while cheering and continue performing to the best of their ability.” All the injuries and the inequitable judging brought stress upon the cheerleaders. “I’m just glad we got to pull through during that last week. We walked onto the mat sophisticated and left it with confidence,” Sprengel, cheer captain, said. After performing at State, problems still continued to interfere with the team. On Dec. 4, exactly two weeks after competing, the V-Rahs received unfortunate news concerning their head coach. Nicole Rimmel, a fifth grade teacher at Bridgeway Elementary, resigned as the leading coach for personal reasons. The girls were informed during their practice. Afterward, Arens and Sprengel met with activities director Bob Hebrank to discuss the remaining winter season. “We were actually all appalled.
No one really saw it coming, but we left that night excited for our new coach,” Foster said. By Dec. 6, the team already knew that Carrie Brown, freshmen program teacher, would be their new coach.
Varsity cheerleaders Bitsy Foster and Kristin Wayman, 12, hold up flyer Heather Sprengel, 12, at a soccer game. Photo courtesy of Heather Sprengel In addition to a new coach, the cheerleading team held winter tryouts where Taylor McGhee, 10, Acacia Grimes, 12, and Courtney Wildberger, 12, made the team. McGhee is a competitive cheerleader outside of school and excels at tumbling. “It’s a higher skill level, but I wanted to expand on my extra-curricular activities,” McGhee said. On the other hand, Wildberger is still adjusting from being an aggressive tennis player to a jovial cheerleader. “Tennis is a lady sport, but cheerleading is more girly. I’m not used to being dependent on my teammates, whereas in tennis, only I could be blamed for a loss,” Wildberger said. With the new coach, and new teammates, Pattonville cheerleaders will be performing their routines with a different mindset. “I hope I can continue the cheerleaders’ legacy here at Pattonville,” Brown said. v
Pirates shoot for success with new players By Jeremiah Williams Pirates shoot for success with new players
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he girl’s basketball team makes for an incomparable combination of teamwork and a perfect start for a great season. The girls’ team (4-1) continues to grow and become more successful with the coming of each new season. Practicing everyday, and playing a game almost every week, the girls have much to show for their hard work alongside their coach, Craig Gregory. “The team has gained depth this year in gaining a lot of new girls,” Gregory said. “This year the new players and attitudes of the girls make for growth and we continue to grow with every season.” New players this year mean even more potential and an increase in talent for the girl’s team. “The personalities this season are the most benefiting because the girls get along and that always makes for a good team and great group of players,” Gregory said. “We are looking for improvement because we didn’t make it to the championships last year.”v
College Bowl Game Preview By Zach Bailey Tostitos BCS National Championship Game (Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m.): Oregon vs. Auburn A battle between two Heisman contenders featuring Auburn quarterback Cam Newton and Oregon running back LaMichael James. The Ducks’ impressive offense has more than one feature unlike Auburn’s offense. If the the Ducks are able to limit Cam Newton, this game could easily turn into a rout for Oregon. This game will feature two high-powered offenses but I predict Oregon gets the victory by a score of 34-27.
Rose Bowl (Jan. 1 at 4:10 p.m.): TCU vs. Wisconsin In what has to be considered a disappointment for non-BCS team TCU, the Horned Frogs will look to continue to impress the NCAA and win by a large margin. By not playing in the National Championship Game, TCU is again snubbed a chance to play in the Big Game. TCU will look to continue their dominance of the Mountain West, and any other opponent for that matter, and will dominate the game winning by the score of 49-14.
Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m.): Arkansas vs. Ohio State As a dark horse bowl game, the Razorbacks and the Buckeyes are sure to impress the viewing audience. Both teams feature dual offensive attacks in their passing and rushing game. Despite Terrelle Pryor’s ability to run and pass, Arkansas should be on their way to a Sugar Bowl victory behind the high flying passing attack led by Ryan Mallett. Arkansas wins 28-24. AT&T Cotton Bowl (Jan. 7 at 7 p.m.): LSU vs. Texas A&M In what will most likely be a throwaway game for LSU, their offensive attack and somewhat stingy defense should be able to hold back a surprising A&M team. LSU dominates 42-21 Insight Bowl (Dec. 28 at 9 p.m.): Missouri vs. Iowa In what is sure to be one of the most entertaining bowl games of the season, the Tigers look to blow past the Iowa defense which only gave up an average of about 17 points a game this season. The team who has the ball last will most likely win. However, with Blaine Gabbert leading the charge I think the Tigers roll through the Hawkeyes in a close game 28-21.
Maaco Bowl (Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.): Boise State vs. Utah In what was quite possibly the biggest disappointment of the 2010 NCAA football year, the Broncos of Boise State lost the one game that could have thrusted them into the National Title game for the first time in school history. This game should be a cakewalk for the Broncos despite their end-of-season disappointment. Boise State rolls 56-14. Capital One Bowl (Jan. 1 at noon): Alabama vs. Michigan State Both teams had great seasons but were obviously disappointed with their performances compared to last year. Bama’s quarterback Greg McElroy will obviously be trying to restore Alabama’s storied bowl history by getting a win this year. He also has the chance to enter the draft and possibly be selected in the late first or early second round, which would mean this is his last chance at the dance. Bama squeaks by 21-17.
Restaurant and Catering Lunch Monday thru Friday Dinner Nightly Cassie Nesbit (right), 12, passes the ball to Kristen Hanna, 11, during a game on Dec. 13 against Kirkwood. The Lady Pirates lost by 2 points on a shot made by the Pioneers at the buzzer. Photo by Jeremiah Williams.
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Rams fight for a playoff spot while Blues fight injuries
Much improved Rams have a shot at division title, Blues fall after strong season opening By Zach Bailey
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he NFC West is perhaps the least exhilarating race for the playoffs in the NFL. At this point it is going to come down to which team is good at not being bad. For now, those two teams are the Rams and the Seahawks. The Rams (6-7 through 14 weeks) high-powered offense is led by rookie sensation Sam Bradford, who despite many criticisms has become quite the field general for the once struggling Rams. Bradford has thrown for 17 touchdowns and could possibly surpass 3,000 passing yards in his rookie season, which would be quite the accomplishment.
Bradford’s presence has also taken a lot of pressure off of Steven Jackson and the run game. However, Jackson has not underperformed as many thought he would with a lesser focus on the ground production. Jackson has already rushed for over 1,000 yards for the sixth consecutive season. Another key offensive producer this season has been Danny Amendola. He is currently leading the team’s receivers in catches, touchdowns, and yards gained. For a young player, Amendola has at times put this offense in his hands and carried them to the end zone. On the other side of the ball, a
hard-nosed Rams defense is led by James Laurinaitis. Lauranaitis leads the team in tackles and is the driving force behind the sometimes stingy D who have only given up 268 points which leads the NFC West standings. The Rams are still serious contenders for a playoff spot, which would be quite the surprise considering their “worst to first” run since last year. Speaking of worst to first, the Blues are trying to overcome their playoff drought as well. The St. Louis Blues began their season on a tear winning nine of their first 13 games, the best start to a season since the franchise began playing in 1967.
However, the Blues figurative leader, T.J. Oshie, went down with an ankle injury and will miss up to 3 months. Since his injury, the Blues have struggled quite a bit but have kept pace in the Western Conference and still remain deep in the playoff hunt. The Blues have also lost Andy McDonald who is now out indefinitely with a concussion. As long as the Blues can hold on until his return, they might be able to make an actual playoff run. In Oshie’s and McDonald’s place, David Backes has stepped up and leads all Blues in points (20) with 5 goals and 8 assists through Dec. 15. If the Blues merely survive without
Oshie’s and McDonald’s presence and continue to get great offensive production from Backes and others, they are going to be a serious dark horse for the playoffs. However, if the goaltending continues to suffer, the Blues are in for some trouble in an offensive-heavy Central Division. Both the Blues and Rams have made immaculate turnarounds considering how both teams were the laughing stocks of their divisions last season. With both teams performing well this season and a successful draft for each team next year it is reasonable to expect both teams to become powerhouses in their respective sports. v
07 l PIRATE PRESS l DECEMBER 2010
Opinion
Illustration by Chris Babb
The day of the calculus final...
No one appreciates me.
Imagination power!
Jeremiah’s Bird’s Eye View
The Real Neil
18, for adults only
By Jaqueline Neil
By Jeremiah Williams
oys R Us is a child’s ultimate dream castle. Jovial children would enter the massive doors and disperse themselves amongst the plastic toys. For some girls, their best friends consisted of Barbie dolls. For some boys, their lives were centered on their Hot Wheels and Transformers. For some of us, our favorite childhood memory was just stealing our siblings’ toys and making our own massive Toyville. Whatever was occurring, toys were the highlight of making memories as a child. As we grow, we become accustomed to newer toys. Sooner than later, our newest priority transitioned to a social life. We stopped counting the number of Pokémon cards we had and started counting the number of friends we had on MySpace. Nerfguns, Ferbies and Polly Pockets all relocated to the basement. Cell phones, iPods, and computers started becoming our new favorite toys. Society became more dependent on technology, and the want for electronics increased. Our childish lifestyles transformed into something new we weren’t aware of. Heelys became Nikes. The socks with the fuzz-balls at the end became Nike socks. Razor
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hroughout the years teenagers have never been in such a hurry to grow up and become adults. The word “adult” in itself is often misinterpreted. In the U.S. today, the 18th birthday is the transition from being a teen to a young adult. Is 18 really the age teenagers become adults? This issue of adulthood has been the continuous topic of debate and much concern. The three underlying viewpoints on the topic lie with the parents, the government and the teenagers themselves. From the parent’s perspective, when a teen should be considered an adult is typically based on the maturity and emotional growth of their child. However, the government identifies a person of the age of 18 as old enough to be responsible to legally vote under the U.S. Constitution. Government also supports additional perks toward the coming of age 18 such as the ability to purchase a house and car and to legally marry. Almost every state considers the 18th birthday as becoming an adult. As for teenagers, they tend to view their adulthood in one specific way: “I do what I want, when I want, and
Toys over the years
make my own decisions.” And this theoretically means, “Since I’m old enough to make my own decisions, this makes me an adult.” Of course teenager and parent views on adulthood will more than likely always clash. However, through the chaos, there must be some common ground. The transition from childhood to being an adult is based on how much we grow and mature. Of all the lessons parents teach their children, one of the most important is how to carry themselves in life and become a successful adult. So, yes, parents have been right the entire time, and being 18 is simply another year of life that is composed of more growth and development. Becoming an adult is not something people easily pick up. It is a lifelong job, and does not require someone to be 18 or older to purchase.v
Staff Editorial
scooters became cars. Easy Bake Ovens became Cooking Mama: Cook Off for the Wii. Gameboys became an iTouch. Our toys become an influence on the younger kids. Today, some of the top selling toys for little kids have the same concept as the toys for older people. Cuponk is Hasbro’s newest game. The object of the game is to get a ping-pong ball into a plastic cup and receive the most points. It’s like paying $10 for accessories to a game that I could collect out of my kitchen! Even Crayola is more than what it should be. Coloring today is not just taking a page with outlines on it and filling in the space with crayons and markers. Coloring has gone virtual. There are coloring studio pads where you could take a marker and click on the object that you want filled and it will magically turn into that color and make animal sounds. Clearly, our interests impact the interests of little kids. Toys today are not what they should be. As we grow older we think toys that little kids play with should be child appropriate, even though as
Information should be shared with the masses With rumors flying, we wish the administration would make an official statement instead of ignoring the issues.
It is the opinion of the Pirate Press that it is most beneficial for school learning environments to provide open, honest information to the students. n the United States, citizens are granted rights to a free press and information from the government. Since the Constitution was enacted, journalists all over the United States have relished our open system for the press. However, step inside a public school and it is clear that the rules change. A public school district operates a lot like a private business. Most districts have a public relations correspondent who keeps negative press about the district from getting out. Students certainly do not have access to the truth in a public school, and often times neither do teachers.
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A school administration is under no legal obligation to share anything with students, teachers or parents. Anyone who is or has ever been a high school student knows that rumors and gossip run rampant. When something happens among the student body, good or bad, everyone is going to know about it. Although school districts are obligated to share some information with parents and students, there is a gray area between what is public knowledge. But is there any merit in sharing the truth with students to squash the rumors? At Pattonville, recent rumors were not dealt with so nicely. Instead of clearing up gossip for students, staff and parents by explaining the truth, a sort of “gag order” was placed on students for
discussing certain events. Unfortunately, rumors will still be spread, no matter what the administration does. False information is still consid-
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Rumors will be spread, no matter what the administration does.
ered true by many students and no one has any plans to change that. For a school to function, it is important that there is a clear line of communication between students, teachers and administrators. Sharing the truth with students is the best way to squash gossip among them. Negative press is unfortunate, but dealing with it behind closed doors instead of being clear about an issue makes students question their school
teenagers we too have toys that older generations discourage for us. A toy is any kind of object that can bring the smallest form of entertainment to a person. Growing up, we let go of what we had when we were adolescents. Fisher-Price and Hasbro is a child’s best friend. So what does a Tomagotchi, Buzz Lightyear, Legoman, and SpongeBob all have in common? They all hang from my backpack because I have yet to end this chapter of my childhood.v
Want your opinion in the pirate press? Write a letter to the editor! We would love to showcase your opinion. Just drop your letter off in Room B108 or e-mail it to the Pirate Press at pattonvillepress@gmail.com. If you want to be heard, consider us your soapbox.
PIRATE PRESS PATTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
district. It would be much more ad2497 CREVE COEUR MILL ROAD MARYLAND HEIGHTS , MO 63043 mirable to see an administration say to students, “This is what happened. Editor-in-Chief Staff Writers It was not good. We do not plan to Elise Moser Chris Babb discuss it any further.” Managing Editor Zach Bailey Jessica Brunts Armand Hayes When something negative involvCopy Editor Hannah Johnson ing other students occurs, students Geri Farrell Lexi Kendall do not have the right to any informaDesign Editor Jacqueline Neil tion. In fact, administrators have to Jacob Sharp Courtney McNeese be careful when sharing information Andrew Tyahla about minors. Legally, it is a difficult Ben Trochtenberg line to draw. Jeremiah Williams But giving students just enough Adviser Brian Heyman information to stop gossip from spreading around the student body The Pirate Press is the open forum newswould be beneficial to all involved. paper of the Pattonville High School. The opinions published are of the Painful rumors could stop being publication and are open to criticism. As spread and gossip could stop interthe members of the 2010-2011 staff, we rupting the classroom environment. dedicate ourselves to the accurate and Students could go back to doing what objective dissemination of information to all readers. We will protect and needs to be done at school: learning. exercise our First Amendment rights. Tough issues need to be discussed The viewpoints of all staff members are in schools, no matter how taboo. It is to be regarded as being seperate from those of our administration, faculty, much worse for a school environment peers and adviser. to have rumors be swirling around than for administrators to not address negative happenings openly. v
DECEMBER 2010 l PIRATE PRESS l
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“The Walking Dead” makes Happy China Buffet leaves customers successful transition from happy, full while comic book to television inexpensive Show delivers a thrill a minute, faithful to comic By Jeremiah Williams and Lexi Kendall
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ome think they have to travel across the world to enjoy the authentic taste of a Chinese meal. However if food is the source of your happiness, Chinese cuisine from Happy China would keep up your mood. With a chain of restaurants spreading across Missouri, Happy China has a number of locations with its closest located in Olive Arcade Plaza on Fee Fee Road. Before entering into an aroma of freshly cooked fried rice and steamed vegetables, you pass through the custom, hand-carved red wooden door, and see a display of a beautiful fish aquarium, which overlooks the front of the restaurant. The buffet area is in the same section as the aquarium and offers foods ranging from endless sushi, chicken teriyaki, boneless ribs or mixed vegetables. The food itself gives its own addition to the impressive features that Happy China offers. The sushi is always fresh and kept refrigerated until the proper time it reaches your plate. Guests also have the choice of having their sushi grilled which brings a more unique crisp taste to the number of sushi choices in the buffet line. Visitors will have to work to save room for the wide variety of desserts available at the buffet. One of the
best desserts to choose are the fried donuts which are glazed with honey right before they are cooked. If not a fan of Chinese cuisine, the restaurant also serves American dishes. Happy China carries a number of other food selections such as chicken tenders on its delicious buffet. Variety is what Happy China does best. Nevertheless, this is primarily a Chinese food hot spot. The entire restaurant environment resembles a lounge-like atmosphere, with a large dining area split with the front buffet section. It is encouraged to dine-in and participate in the buffet which will cost just $6.89 or $4.99 for the lunch special. Prices for the entrees will differ if diners decide to come for take-out. Prices will vary at each location of the restaurant. The buffet line went above and beyond standards and literally keeps you coming back for more. Happy China is the perfect addition to your list of new and enticing restaurants. From the experience and 5-star quality of the food that is offered, the overall meal was flawless. You won’t view your upcoming decision of where to have dinner as lightly now that you know what your next alternative could be. v
Happy China Buffet is located in Olive Arcade Plaza on Fee Fee Road. Photo by Jeremiah Williams
By Chris Babb
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ost people don’t exactly find themselves excited for the destined Zombie Apocalypse. Foraging for food, stock piling weapons, and the constant stress of the daily drive to survive is enough to break any man. Any man but this man. With the release of Frank Darabont’s hit AMC original show “The Walking Dead,” my Zombie Apocalypse paranoia rate has gone through the roof. This cutting edge new show is but another take on the idea that humanity will eventually be overrun by the plague of flesh-craving cadavers, but “The Walking Dead” is not just another zombie show, but truly a work of art. Adapted from Robert Kirman’s series of graphic novels, the show is centered around a town sheriff named Rick Grimes from Cynthia, Ky., played by Andrew Lincoln, who finds himself in a hospital room after a shooting he dealt with days before. He walks down the hall and is greeted by the end of the world. With his wife and
Students, first introduced to “Harry Potter” in 1999, grew up with Harry, Ron and Hermione By Armand Hayes
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neck-deep in the wrong neighborhood. Andrew Lincoln, a British actor, comes off as the perfect Kentucky sheriff, not breaking accent once. Usually with comic book adaptations, production usually hits a pretty rough path on actually getting the movie or show out with all quality in tact. But with help from the graphic novel’s creator, it was nothing but smooth sailing. Fans of the novel find the end result faithful to the original series, and nothing short of expectations. In fact, I’d say it surpassed my expectations by far. All in all, I would have to give AMC’s “The Walking Dead” the most honorable of all numeric awards, with a flawless 10 out of 10. With every nail-biting second perfectly blended action, drama, and plot, “The Walking Dead” isn’t another show to just glance over and never follow. It truly is an epic of our times. So, until the next season pokes its undead head around the corner, this guy will be waiting ever so patiently, with bat in hand and a grin to end all grins. v
Rick (Andrew Lincoln) and Glenn (Steven Yeun) flee from swarms of zombies in the streets of Atlanta in AMC’s hit new series “The Walking Dead.” Season 1 will be available on DVD and Blu-ray in March.
“Harry Potter” casts spell on readers, viewers
n June 1997 J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” was released in the U.K. Roughly one year later, the book was published by Scholastic in America as “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” The novel became an instant hit, topping the No. 1 spot on the New York Times Best Seller
son’s whereabouts unknown, Grimes finds himself lost in a man-eat-man world of cannibalism at its cinematic finest. With the first season’s climactic ending, some of us wait patiently by the window for the first signs of Walkers, and we can all rest assured knowing Season 2 starts next October. That may seem like an endless horde of time, but the DVD and Blu-ray is set to drop in March with an apocalyptic amount of extras and hours of zombie footage to really get your uninfected blood flowing. I consider myself a full-blown dead-head, constantly mapping my surroundings and making plans for that what-if situation of streams of zombie wrath that could strike at that very second, and I have only one thing to say about AMC’s “The Walking Dead”: MORE. With every commercial I found myself on the edge of my seat, literally begging for the commercials to be done. The actors are nothing less than perfect, conveying the right emotion and really flat out convincing me they were submerged
List and staying near the top for most of 1999 to 2000. In fact, the “Harry Potter” book series has sold more than 400 million copies worldwide making it the most profitable book series. In 2001, the first book became a blockbuster movie and was directed by Chris Columbus. Playing the parts of the main characters in “Harry Potter” are British actors Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, which fans of the series have come to know as Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Ten years later, the series finally comes to an end on the big screen with its two-part movie of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Radcliffe, now 21, Grint, 22, and Watson, 20, all prepare to end their long-lived movie series. The movie series has grossed more than $2 billion at the box office just expanding the popularity of the series worldwide. Alexandria Nicole, 12, said the series is popular with teenagers because the “movies are well-based off the book series unlike a lot of movies [based off of books] and is extremely entertaining.” Brian Gibson, 12, said “Harry Potter” is popular among high schoolers because students were reading “Harry Potter” since 3rd or 4th grade. “Harry Potter just seems to be a more in-depth story line and since there’s not really a strong love story, it makes it easier for males to read,”
Gibson said. The second part of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” is due out in theaters in 2011 but “Harry Potter” and the faces of its characters will not fade away after its last movie. With Watson’s new clothing line designed for teenagers coming out in early 2011 and EA’s final game installment, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” being released in July 2011 to coincide with the movie’s release, “Harry Potter” will be relevant for years to come. The franchise is running strong and will continue to do so. If people are to talk about any book from today years from now, “Harry Potter” will be one of them. With people still being introduced to the books and movies, the series will still catch the attention of young children and adults alike for years to come. v