ramparts HOLT HIGH SCHOOL
VOLUME 19 ISSUE 4
Solid Strike
Holt Senior High School 5885 West Holt Rd. Holt, MI 48842
JANUARY 2011 NEWS:
New Federal school food regulations will soon change the food that can be sold in the cafeteria and vending machines. PAGE 2
Photo by Alyssa Stepter
NEWS:
Voting for Winterfest court electronically has removed the hassle of counting each ballet by hand. PAGE 3
Bowling team scores new coach page 14
Photo by Amy Clark
FEATURE:
Practicing with his team, junior Zach Bailey works on his form for matches to come. Following up a state championship season, the bowling teams acquire new head coach Jennie Hill and assistant coach Cliff McClumpha. Photo by Mariah Massa
The ACT/MME tests are around the corner. Find ways to prepare without any worries. PAGE 8
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News
January 2011
F.Y.I.
‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’
The musical “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”, incorporating singing, dancing and acting, will be performed Thursday, February 10 through Sunday, February 13 in the Margaret Livensparger Theater. Thursday through Saturday, the show begins at 7 p.m. Sunday’s show is at 2 p.m.
Prom Committee
The prom committee meets every Tuesday after school. Anyone who would like to join can attend meetings. See advisor Patty Pisano for details. The theme for prom is Arabian Nights at the “Taj Maholt” (Holt High School). The prom takes place Saturday, May 21. This year there will be a check-in system using student I.D.’s to allow for quicker entrance.
National Honor Society
NHS will host a spaghetti dinner on Thursday, February 10 from 5-6:30 p.m. at in the center commons. The cost is $6 per meal, and will consist of spaghetti and breadsticks. Tickets will be sold during both lunches in the center commons.
TATU
TATU training took place on January 5. The program involves talking to elementary and middle school students about tobacco use and the negative effects it has. It deals with teaching kids how to resist tobacco products. Those who are interested in joining can contact advisor Elizabeth Graf in the attendance office.
Weight Lifting
Weightlifting begins this winter. Coach Al Slamer is looking for anyone willing to work. Weightlifting is a good way to build up strength and endurance, as well as a good way to stay fit during the off season for many students.
ACT/MME
Juniors will be taking the ACT/ MME exam March 1-3. ACT iMarch 1 followed by Workkeys and the Michigan Merit Exam (MME). Free test prep is available online at www.ACTstudent.org. Students can also register for other tests online at www.IVtests.com.
Holt High School Ramparts
Obama aims for hunger-free kids Obesity issues a factor in new school nutrition law Alyssa Stepter staff writer The new Hunger-Free Kids Act will take much of the choice and power out of students’ hands regarding foods that may be sold in school, and place it in the hands of the government. As of January 4, 2011 the government became the ones to decide what kinds of food may be sold throughout schools in the lunchrooms, in the vending machines and even at fundraisers. President Obama believes the law will help alleviate the many health problems the generation faces related to obesity. The law also encourages more locally grown foods to be used by schools, as well as promote healthier snacks and drinks in vending machines, encouraging healthier lifestyles all around. If we are what we eat, it can be said that many students would be worthless based on their diets. Some prefer pizza, while others go for subs, and an even smaller select few go for salads. Many people chose what they eat unknowingly, and unaware of the foods nutritional value to their bodies such as the number of calories, amount of sodium, sugar and protein. “I like eating healthy, but the school
Photo by Alyssa Stepter
AT A GLANCE Photo by Alyssa Stepter
Students stand in the snack line during lunch, which has become a popular favorite. The Hunger-Free Kids Act will have an impact on the items students can buy. doesn’t offer many healthy choices, so I’m forced to eat the other stuff,” senior Marshall Bettis said. Popular items such as pizza, nachos, hamburgers and chicken nuggets will still all be served, just with healthier ingredients. Because lean meat is typically more expensive than the fattier cuts of meat served in schools, as well as the fresh fruits and vegetables costing more than canned; the law is estimated to cost 4.5 billion dollars. It will add approximately 115,000 children to free and reduced price meal programs for lunch as well as after school. The Hunger-Free Kids Act will also require schools to make information about the nutritional quality of meals more readily available to parents as well as students. Lawmakers hope that they will have the support of parents to teach kids
about eating healthier both in and out of school. “I bring my lunch to school from home every day. Because I’m an athlete, it’s important I eat things that won’t affect my playing ability later on during practice and games,” sophomore Sherye Bradley said. She added that if healthier options were available, even at a higher price, she would begin to buy. In the October issue, food service director Aurora Anstett told “Ramparts” that Holt Public Schools served an average of 3-4,000 meals a day. With the addition of 6 cents per meal that the law will cost, that’s an increased cost of $180-240 per day for the district. To put it more into perspective, that $180-240 a day adds up to $5,580-7,440 a month and $66,960-89,280 a year. Although the government will provide additional
Baked chips are a healthy alternative to regular chips, usually containing less fat and calories.
Frito Lay Nacho Cheese Doritos Calories: 170 Total Fat: 9 g Saturated Fat: 2 g Sodium: 200 mg Total Carbs: 19 g Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Frito Lay Nacho Cheese Baked Doritos Calories: 90 Total Fat: 3 g Saturated Fat: 1 g Sodium: 170 mg Total Carbs: 16 mg Dietary Fiber: 1 g
reimbursement, it won’t be readily available to school districts until next school year.
Club participation from students dwindling SADD Membership declining as well as activities Iman Ben-Hamza staff writer Joining a club is a commitment: attendance at regular meetings and completing duties is required to keep it going. However, some clubs have been experiencing some attendance issues this year, which inhibits their ability to achieve their goals. At the beginning of this year, nearly 80 students signed up for Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), but now only three to four members
show up to the regular meetings. SADD is a service club dedicated to making students aware of how destructive decisions like underage drinking and tobacco use can affect students’ lives. The SADD president, senior Joey Myers, said he feels the club would be a lot more productive if more members would attend the meetings. “It’s hard because nobody shows up and when people do, nobody can make a decision,” Myers said. “Some of our goals we have would be to put up posters and make simple reminders to students that their bad decisions can not only hurt them, but can hurt others as well.” Club advisor Kellie Sweitzer said she feels that SADD can benefit students. “I wanted to keep SADD running because I feel that there is a lot of
power in positive peer pressure,” Sweitzer said. Sweitzer said she feels like it may be hard for members to get to the meetings held on Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. With the new schedule there is no activity period this year which gave clubs like SADD a dedicated time to meet during to the school day. Junior Haley Powers is one of SADD’s members who has attended the meetings. “With more people there I feel like it would be easier to get things done, and spread the word on what we’re trying to do,” Powers said. Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) is experiencing a similar problem with attendance. “TATU is focused primarily on informing students about the harmful
effects of tobacco use, which is one of SADD’s destructive decisions; there is a possibility the two clubs may join next year,” Sweitzer said. SADDandTATUhavesimilarfocuses on influencing students of all ages to make positive decisions. TATU uses hands-on activities combined with videos and presentations to model everyday situations that younger students might face tobacco use and other situations where peer pressure may occur and how to deal with them. “I’m always looking for people who are passionate about what they believe in and want to practice what they believe in,” TATU advisor Elizabeth Graf said.
News
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Holt High School Ramparts
Electronic ballots simplify voting New online voting produces low turnout Stephanie Le
staff writer When the end of January rolls around, students can count on one event to focus on: Winterfest. But this year this annual winter dance and the accompanying student court had a new twist— electronic online voting. In the past, voting for Winterfest court was conducted during a certain class period and hand counted by members of Student Council. This year, however, Student Council took a new approach. During lunch, students could vote electronically on a set of computers set up in the center commons. The voting was held on January 3 and January 4 during both lunches. Students needed school ID’s with them in order to vote. “They had to check in to make sure that every student was only voting once,” media specialist Teresa Asch
Photo by Stephanie Le
Students make their decision for the Winterfest court by voting online in the center commons on January 10 and 11 during A and B lunch. Voting online was proposed by Student Council as an easier and more effective way to vote.
said. “Then it was as simple as filling out a survey.” The online voting was an idea that eliminated the need for hand counting votes “I was looking for it, a way to make the whole process easier and Mrs. Asch just presented the idea to me one day,” Student Council advisor Grant Melville said. Melville also said that online voting eliminated all accusations of “ballot
stuffing” by students and that it took a more realistic approach. “The online voting is definitely more like real life. No one’s forcing you to vote in life. The students who care to vote will,” Asch said. Asch said that most who tried the online voting liked it, but the turnout was extremely low this year. “Some people just can’t be bothered and don’t really care,” sophomore Colin McCarthy said.
Among the few who voted was senior Emily Lerew. She said that voting was convenient, but she preferred voting in class. “It was way easier to write a name on a piece of paper and hand it in,” Lerew said. “I think more people would be inclined to vote with the paper in front of them.” Similarly, junior Casey Harkema thought that in-class voting would have produced a better turnout. “I think more people would have voted if it had been during class because then there wouldn’t have been anything better to do,” Harkema said. Even though Harkema thought turnout would have been better, she still enjoyed the voting. “I liked the online voting. It was quick and easy,” Harkema said. “I definitely think it would be more efficient to vote online from now on.” Despite the low turnout, it seems that online voting will become the norm for the coming years. “We are definitely going to do the online voting next year. We are probably going to edit the process, but we are definitely going to use it,” Melville said.
Students take part in poetry contest
Annual Poetry Out Loud competition returns Hannan Gedeon
staff writer Poetry Out Loud competitors for the HHS contest took over the Margaret Livensparger Theater on January 21 to recite the poems they had chosen. Poetry Out Loud is a competition where students get selected to recite a poems they have memorized. The purpose is to perform the poem, reflecting different aspects such as the theme, narrative and meaning. More than two dozen students from all grades performed in this year’s contest in front of an audience of their peers. There were two rounds ; for each round competitors recited different poems. Each participant had to recite one poem that was 25 lines or fewer and one that was written before 1900. Competitors are judged on criteria such as physical performance, vocal performance, memorization and accuracy. “I was pretty nervous first round, and second round the nerves went away,” sophomore Brian Marinez-Vargas said.
The contestants were selected from a variety of English classes such as English 10 and 11, Honors English, British Literature, Introduction to Poetry, and more. Some of the contestants from last year also participated this year. Senior Cindy Mendez was a contestant. She said she was nervous and excited, and that she was going to do what she could to win. “I prepared for it by reciting it over and over again in front of my friends, to get feedback from them.” Mendez said. For each contestant to have a chance of winning, they must put forth a great amount of effort and time in memorizing, analyzing, practicing, and performing their poems. “I took my poems everywhere, and Mrs. Jones even let me perform in front of my English class for more practice,” junior Sarah Sump said. Only one student will go on from the high school competition to compete at the state finals. Sophomore Janelle Jones won at the competition and will receive a number of resources from Poetry Out Loud such as poem collections, CDs, and DVDs. The state competition is scheduled for March 12 in Lansing, and the National Finals will take place in Washington, D.C. in April. If Jones wins the state contest, she will receive a prize of $500, and at finals can win up to $20,000 in scholarship money. HHS has had two previous state champions who went on to perform in the national finals.
January 2011
In Brief Forensics Team
The Forensics team is looking for people who would like to have a little more drama in their lives. Forensics is a club for competitive public speaking and dramatic performance. The team practices every Monday and Wednesday from 2:45 to 4 p.m. in the East MIC room. Optional practices are held on Fridays. Students who participate in forensics get a chance to travel to competitions around the state. Those who excel may earn college scholarships. The first tournament is on February 5. Any interested students are welcome to attend a practice and speak to coach Erin Umpstead for more information.
Winterfest
The Winterfest dance will be on January 29 at 8-11 p.m. Tickets will be on sale at the door for $5 each. Student I.D.’s will be required to enter the dance.
DECA Results
After competing in Distributive Education Clubs of American (DECA) at Eastern Michigan University on January 9., several students placed at the event. DECA, a business competition for students in high school, put the participants in real life business situations where they come up with a decisive plan to present to a judge. Madison Hayes, Brendan Richards, Jacob Bulkowski, Cole Caron, Brandon Lovely and Joseph Myers finished in first place in their respective events at the Regional conference. Also, seniors Taylor Bird, Eric Rapier, Colleen Lierman and Jordan Rakas and junior Dakota Brown qualified to participate in the State Conference.
Fine Arts Festival
Photo by Hannan Gedeon
Sophomore Janelle Jones recites her poem at Poetry Out Loud on January 21. Other Poetry Out Loud participants wait to take the stage, and get the last look at their poems before performing.
The Fine Arts Festival will take place at the high school on Wednesday, February 16. The choir and band will both be performing. Every student who has taken or is currently taking an art class this year will have his or her artwork displayed. Advanced art students will each get a space to display the pieces they have already created. The Fine Arts Department is planning a wheel-throwing demonstration as well as other ways for the attendees to get involved.
News
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January 2011
Holt High School Ramparts
Hero walks the hallways Senior recognized by mayor and neighborhood association for volunteer work in Lansing park Jordan Rakas staff writer Not all heroes wear tights and capes or fly in the sky slinging webs from their wrists. A hero is defined as a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength. By that definition, heroes walk these very hallways every day, undetected. One such hero is senior Trent Spear. On December 13, he was recognized by the Vice-President of Lansing City Council, Kathy Dunbar, for his hard work at cleaning up his neighborhood park. Spear re ceive d the Lansing Mayor’s Hometown Hero award. He has spent over 75 hours helping to clean up Cavanaugh Park in Lansing since February 2010. Those volunteer hours are equal to $1,350 worth of labor in the park. Spear said he didn’t always work alone. “My neighbors were at the park
with me most days and sometimes my dad and niece would help out as well,” Spear said. Cavanaugh Park is located in Lansing directly across from Everett High School. Toni Teachout, neighbor and member of Friends of Cavanaugh Park, said Trent deser ved this recognition from a larger perspective. “On several occasions, Trent has put in time on his own or after school and weekends when no one else was working. When working with our group, Trent is the first one out and the last to leave—at times not wanting to quit for the day,” Teachout said. The Hometown Hero award is given out once or twice a year to outstanding citizens who demonstrate dedication to their community. Recipients are committed members of their town and can be any age.
Neighbor Jessica Leese said Spear is like no other teenager she has ever known. “ T r e n t ’s d e d i c a t i o n t o h i s community is absolutely amazing. He is an incredible young man that perseveres in all that he does, and I am so very proud of all that he has accomplished,” Leese said. Spear was nicknamed “The Hulk” by neighbors because they say he is who they go to whenever they need help with anything. “Trent is an amazing teenager. Since day one, Trent has been out early on Saturdays to help us clean,” neighbor Jennifer Jones said. “Most teenagers would rather sleep in on a Saturday morning, but not Trent. He is out working hard. He is very respectful to everyone.” During his 75 hours of community involvement, Spear said he cleaned up trash, cleared brush, hauled out dead trees, cut down branches and made trails. Along with that, he said he helped to make his neighborhood sledding hill, Bunker Hill, safe for the kids to use this winter. “Cavanaugh Park is special to me because I grew up there. I used to play with other neighborhood kids
Photo by Jessica Leese
Senior Trent Spear shakes hands with Executive Assistant to the Mayor Jerry Ambrose while accepting the Mayor’s Hometown Hero award on December 13. He received the award for cleaning up his community park. in the park almost every day,” Spear said. “I help to clean it up because I want the elementary kids to be able to safely enjoy it as much as I did.” Neighbors of Spear and those b e l o n g i n g t o t h e C av a n a u g h Park Neighborhood Association recognized his character and efforts and nominated him for the
Hometown Hero award. “Trent is an incredible young man who always has a positive attitude and motivates others to get things done,” Leese said. “He is a true leader, and we are certain he will succeed in anything he chooses to do.”
News
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Holt High School Ramparts
January 2011
Photo by Chloe Henley
Sophomore driver Isaac Rapier demonstrates driving with multiple passengers. After March 29, this will no longer be legal for new teen drivers with graduated licenses. A curfew of 10 p.m. will also be enforced to ensure safety.
State passes driving law
New law adds restrictions on teen drivers Chloe Henley staff writer
Excitement in teenage drivers is drowning as a new law recently passed throughout the state due to the increase in fatal accidents. Michigan is taking steps to keep teenagers safe and off of the road. New restrictions are being put in effect for 16-year-old drivers. For the first year of young drivers, only one passenger is allowed in the car at a time unless the driver is accompanied by an adult. In addition, the former midnight curfew is now moved two hours earlier. No 16-year-old drivers can be on the road from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., unless traveling to or from a place of employment. “The new law is unreasonable because they can’t just change it on us all of a sudden,” sophomore Isaac Rapier said. “Officials picked the age for a reason, and if we aren’t responsible enough to be driving then that should be up to the parents’ discretion to let their child drive.” Although, the new law may seem unreasonable to some young drivers, it is intended to protect them from many dangers. A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study showed that 9,644 young drivers were involved in fatal accidents, causing 11,000 deaths. By passing the law, Michigan reduced two dangerous components that are often a problem for many young drivers: inexperience at night driving and dealing with distractions
from passengers. “It definitely puts a buzz kill on my excitement to drive because I don’t have as much freedom as I thought I would, and all of my older friends were able to have a curfew at midnight,” sophomore Shane Chandler said. Ac c o rd i ng t o t h e Mi c h iga n Department of State, most teenage fatal crashes occur between 9 p.m. to midnight. Even if a driver isn’t doing anything wrong, they can be easily encouraged to take risks late at night. Ingham county police officer Brian Sweet said that the law is intended to keep children out of trouble. He has noticed that within the last three years, the number of officers on patrol went from 15 down to 5. “Because of the police reduction, drivers could take advantage of the laws we have enforced, but that also goes with a lot of people thinking that they can get away with anything,” Sweet said. A question people often ask is whether or not teenagers will follow the new restrictions if they know that fewer officers are on patrol at a time. “Drivers aren’t going to follow the laws because they know that there is less of a chance to get caught with fewer officers,” sophomore Sarah Gray said. B e f o re t he law pa ss e d, th e Automobile Association of America reported that Michigan was one of eight states with no restrictions on 16-year-old drivers. Some students say that the crackdown on Michigan’s laws are too strict and will not be followed. “The law is pointless and nobody is going to follow it because they know that all of the upperclassmen had it a lot easier with a delayed curfew,” sophomore Marisa DuMond said.
A Little About the Law The law takes effect on
March 29. Curfew is now 10 p.m.
unless traveling to or from a place of employment. Only one passenger is
permitted in a car, unless the driver is accompanied by an adult aged 21 and over. Fewer officers will be on
patrol at a time.
To drivers, this law does not seem necessary. In 2008, a Michigan Department of State study showed that 14 percent of all drivers were aged 16 - 24. Yet, the 14 percent of young drivers also led to 36.3 percent of all crashes and 31.6 percent of fatal crashes. “Because of the increase in fatal accidents, the laws are necessary to ensure the safety of yourself and passengers,” Rapier said. Teen passengers are a risky distraction. As the number of passengers increase, so does the risk of a crash. Young drivers are about three times more likely to crash with a passenger in the car. The law will take effect on March 29.
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January 2011
Our View New federal rules for school lunch
T
he commons during lunch is typically filled with students eating unhealthy food like french fries, hamburgers, pizza, and chips. Students’ lunch choices usually revolve around what’s available and what tastes good, and it’s no secret that students’ diets are unhealthy to say the least. The new Hunger-Free Kids Act, which became effective January 4, however, will promote healthier eating for students at school. The Ramparts editorial staff agrees that it will promote smarter food choices, and therefore, healthier students. Junk food tastes good, we understand. But the effect that it has on the body in large quantities is a more important and larger picture than what tastes good. While the government controls when we have to be at school, when we can use hall passes, and when we are allowed to eat, it simply makes sense that they monitor the food students eat every day. With childhood obesity on the rise, and healthy food awareness rising along with it, its logical that as a school, students should be guided toward making healthier food choices, which is where the Hunger-Free Kids Act comes in. Many students who bring their lunches to school do so to have a healthier lunch than the school lunch, and by providing more nutritious lunches the school would bring in more money from students who want to eat things that are better for them than french fries. The school would also on the other end, lose sales from the people who would rather eat food that tastes good than food that is healthy. However, the Hunger-Free Kids Act will promote and provide more healthy choices; therefore students would have more options. While it can be argued that it is unfair for the government to cut students’ favorite junk foods out of the daily meal plans at lunch, the Ramparts editorial staff agrees that it’s more unfair to students who have to buy lunch to be forced to stick to the same unhealthy options every day. By offering healthier food at school, students on reduced or free lunch programs will have the option to eat healthy food even though it isn’t from home. Overall, the government can’t really control what students eat. If a student wants to have Mountain Dew and Doritos for lunch every day, they will find a way to do so by bringing it from home. However, for students who have the desire to eat a nutritious lunch, there should be options rather than the same salads every day.
ramparts Editors in Chief:
Managing Editors: News: Features: Opinion: Sports: The Hot Spot: Photos and art: Design: PR Rep: Exchange Manager: Staff Writers:
Adviser:
Holt Senior High School
Lindsey Hamlin Kelsey Manas Brian Proctor Kailey Kraushaar Karina Drachman Mariah Massa Jacqui Marpa Chloe Henley Meg McKay Ben Gates Jordan Rakas Joey Myers Iman Ben-Hamza, Ryan Carrier, Hannan Gedeon, Stephanie Le, Collin Mohr, Anna Pavlik, Cody Shattuck, Alyssa Stepter, Will Thurston Amy Clark
Editorial Policy: Ramparts is published by the Journalism class of Holt High School. The newspaper serves the students and staff of Holt High School and as a connection to the Holt-Dimondale community. The objective of Ramparts is to publish a factual, informative and entertaining newspaper, and to provide a forum for the expression of diverse viewpoints. The opinions and views expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, the adviser, or all Ramparts staff members. The editors reserve the right to reject any material that is libelous, obscene, or poses an immediate and material disruption to the educational environment. Ramparts prints letters to the editor and guest editorials as space allows. Letters must be typed, less than 100 words in length and signed. The editorial staff reserves the right to edit for length. Ramparts will not print letters that are obscene, libelous or that target an individual. Advertisements that are obscene, misleading, or illegal to minors will not be printed. Ramparts reserves the right to reject any advertisement. To place an ad, contact the adviser or the Ramparts staff at (517) 694-2162. Some material courtesy of American Society of Newspaper Editors/MCT Campus High School Newspaper Service.
Viewpoints Holt High School Ramparts
Pep rallies: fun or boring?
Pro: The assemblies are a fun way to show Ram spirit
Anna Pavlik
I
’m not sure what’s better; the games played or the excitement from them. Either way, pep assemblies have that giddy atmosphere that fills the entire gym. It seems everyone can find some sort of enjoyment out of them, even if it is just the joy of taking a little break from the normal school day. For me, a pep assembly means one thing: a dance team performance. The love of getting to perform in front of the school with my team is an adrenaline rush I always look forward to. Some students on dance team or on the cheerleading squad get the opportunity to raise the spirit of the school by performing their acts and talents. In addition to those high energy performances, students get to watch or participate in many different kinds of activities. Ranging from relay races, to the annual tug-of-war game, how can anyone rather be sitting in a desk? Of course the other occasion pep
assemblies bring is the introduction of court members. The school’s representatives take a walk across the gym floor or football field as their friends holler for them. Nominated by teachers, and chosen by students, members of the court are important because they are a model for their classes and strive for the excellence of a student’s ability. This shows an outstanding, hardworking group of people who set and raise the bar at our school. In a recent Ramparts survey of 150 students, over half of respondents said that they like pep assemblies and our school should continue to have them. Many of them wrote down that it was fun, they enjoyed the break from class work, and it is a good, positive way to keep our school spirit up. Some students complain that pep assemblies are boring because they have to watch the same people do the same games every time. However, that is not the organizers’ fault. There are always opportunities for new people to sign up for every game; it just always seems to be the same people who volunteer. Whether a student gets involved is up to him or her. Some people prefer and enjoy sitting back and watching, and some people like to be in the action. Then there are
Pep Rallies
Ramparts surveyed students, on how they feel about pep rallies. Do you like the pep assemblies? Yes 79%
No 21%
Do you think we should continue having the pep assemblies? Yes 88%
No 12%
Source: Ramparts survey of 150 students. the people who complain about how it’s the same people every time, but never take the time to discover that everyone has an equal opportunity to be involved. Which one are you? Teachers are laid back, everyone is having a good time, and students are free to sit with their friends and take a break from the desk work. However, the biggest purpose of the pep assemblies is to raise the spirit of our school and prove that we are in fact, very proud Rams.
Con: No one cares for school spirit or the pep rallies
Will Thurston
P
ep assemblies are meant to bring the whole school together and create Holt Ram spirit and excitement among students. They usually start off with the cheerleaders performing routines to get everyone energized, which is followed by competing to see what class can scream the loudest, or be the most obnoxious, based on how you see it. Then a dance group puts on a little show. After that, selected students play games to provide entertainment. Once the games are done usually it is time to go. Most of time, students leave with as much Ram pride as they came in with: not much. Pep assemblies are for a good purpose,
however, to a lot of students they are boring and a waste of time. In a recent Ramparts survey only 21 percent of the 150 respondents said that they do not like the pep assemblies. However, their reasons for disliking them were very similar. Most listed that the assemblies are boring, the same every year and are not fun if you are not a senior or popular. The only plus these people listed about the assemblies is that classes are shorter. For me, the pep rallies are not too much fun. For an hour, students are to sit in a packed gym on very uncomfortable bleachers and watch performances that they really couldn’t care less about. For students who are not participating in the assembly or are not seniors, there is really no point in going to the assemblies. To be honest, the only reason I look forward to the pep rallies is so that my classes are shorter, and I get a nice break from the usually boring and
uneventful school day. The purpose for the assemblies isn’t for students to take a break, though, but that is what is being taken away from having these pep assemblies. The students uniting in school spirit? Not so much. Not many students care too much about school spirit. Some people scream and cheer, but many don’t and would rather sit there and text or just socialize and not pay attention to what is going on. That is why people always sneak out of the school during the rally. If the school wants to do something that will spark enthusiasm, they need to get rid of the pep rallies and do something else because the rallies are not getting their job done. The organizers should try creating something that will get the whole school involved, like having everyone take part in games or contests. This would entertain more people rather than having the majority of the students just sitting in the bleachers.
Viewpoints Holt High School Ramparts
Buzz kill for teen drivers
What this now means for teen drivers
Cody Shattuck
W
ith the new teen driving laws going into effect as of March 29 in Michigan, there have been some questions regarding the changes: why it is going into effect, and will it really help with the safety regulation that it is trying to be conveyed by supporters and the legislative branch? These changes are applied to every teenager 16 to 17 years old under the Michigan graduated license system. The main change is the time frame of which they may not drive. The time is moved from midnight through 5 a.m. to a new 10 p.m. through 5 in the morning. If the driver has a job, the same regulations stand, however, the driver must be heading home from work. Another factor is the driver is not to have more than one non-family member in the car with them at a time due to distractions for the driver. The driver may have more than one
passenger in the car if a parent or anyone over 21 years of age in the vehicle. It seems as if we are not as trustworthy as our brothers and sisters were as well as older friends. The claim is that it will help to save lives of us teens, making us safer. In Michigan during 2010, 110 deaths were related to teenage drivers. Nationwide during the 5-year-span from 2004 to 2008, a total of 11,000 deaths occurred that involved teenage drivers. When looking at these statistics, this doesn’t necessarily mean the new law is going to help take down the accident toll. The change means, we will have to rush home before the curfew or pay a fee for the offense. When looking at the grand scheme of it or really think about it, this time constraint forces us to go indoors earlier, limits the social life and also confines us to a lower standard of trust. Other laws that have been passed as sensible were the no texting while driving and ‘Click It or Ticket’, involving the wearing of a seat belt. A regulation that was proposed by the House of Representatives was banning all cell phone use while driving in a car, yet it was dropped and not approved by the Senate. These added regulations or laws passed and put into effect are deemed necessary. To put no driving after
ten for under the age of 18 is being discriminatory and stereotypical against teenagers. Few other states have followed suit and allowed the time change to only be affected by one hour. They take it down from the previous 12 a.m., to a reasonable time of 11 p.m. It seems to be that Michigan is being a little too strict on what they are trying to come across with in this act. Yes, applying safety is necessary, but to take it to extreme measures and make this law is ridiculous. Supporters of the law change would say that it is logical to make this due to the fact that teenagers are not experienced drivers, they don’t know what they are doing when faced with certain driving conditions and teen drivers tend to get distracted easily. However, this is only partly true. Young drivers are partly inexperienced, but that does not mean they all get distracted. Accidents occur like everything else does. The question we have to pose to the supporters is: Can this really help to provide more safety for teenage drivers? There is only a broad and general description of the fatalities, instead of breaking it into categories so it is easier to see how deaths compare to seasons, months and year. There is no evidence that provides a clear reason for the changes regarding safety.
Hot or not? Car Retreat:
Being able to roll down the window of your car in January because of the 50 degree weather.
7
January 2011 Car Defeat:
Being late to school because it took you 10 minutes to scrape off your car.
Speak up
If you had a million dollars what would you do with it?
“I would go shopping first, save some, then vacation to Jamaica.” Erin Boone, senior
“1. New car, real sweet. 2. College, paid for. 3. House, fully paid for. 4. Invest in some stock.” Chris Seyka, junior
“I would go to Hawaii, buy an American bull dog, go on a shopping spree, get a new camera, and save the rest.” Kylie Hoose, senior
“I would buy as many Nicki Minaj shirts as I could and I would buy as much pick hair dye as I could, and since I’m such a good person I’d donate to charity.” Molly Gray, senior
“80 percent in the bank, 20 percent in the pocket, to spend. I would spend it on one thing: Polo. Polo everything.” Dimitri Shelton, senior
Corrections Photo Illustration Cartoon by Chloe Henley by Nikki Allegretto
The boys swimming story in the December issue of Ramparts incorrectly stated in the caption that at the Waverly Relays they came in third. They won first place at the relays. If you are aware of any errors of fact in our reporting please contact us in room E221 or send an e-mail to ramparts@hpsk12.net.
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Features
January 2011
Holt High School Ramparts
ACT/MME tests more than just knowledge Are students prepared for upcoming tests?
Brian Proctor news editor Juniors are in for a treat ; the American College Test (ACT), and the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) are right around the corner. All grade 11 students are required to take the ACT and MME tests from March 1 to March 3 at 7:30 a.m. each day. The first day of testing is a day off for sophomores and seniors, while the next two are late days, normal classes starting for all at 10:30 a.m. Th e AC T i s a st a n d a rd i ze d te st t hat c ove r s f ou r g e n e ra l a re a s : Eng l i s h, mat h e mat i c s, reading, and science reasoning. The MME covers mathematics, social studies, science and includes the WorkKeys test. The WorkKeys test covers the common knowledge of scheduling, reading letters, and extracting information from different directions and forms. Tests range over all years of schooling, but generally ask above the junior high school level. Some questions stretch into junior and senior level classes like Economics
Photo by Brian Proctor
A medley of instructional documents and study guides help students achieve a score that will grant them qualification for college. and Algebra 2. ACT scores range from 1-36, with the higher the score the better. The score given at the end is a composite score, also known as a mean score. Talking to students who have taken the tests, as well as parents, guardians and teachers will broaden the understanding of the test structure and difficulty. Around the end of January is the best time to prepare for the tests. Websites are available for practice, many of which provide tests, quizzes, study guides and live video help. Guides such as “The ACT for Dummies”, available at bookstores
and libraries, and even simple tests written by teachers are supplemental material vital to success. Senior Kion Gibbs said that he took the electronic study route. “I went to the ACT website. I did some reviews, mainly the stuff I wasn’t sure about,” Gibbs said. Study groups are also a choice for those stressed for time, or who need help from others. Meeting at places like coffee shops and libraries, or even before school ensures quiet yet relaxed study zones. Each day brings new test portions. Tests begin, and are broken into segments with small breaks between each. There is usually enough time to
take a few deep breaths and listen to the next set of directions. An important tip to remember is that the ACT is not a competition, nor a race. The first person to finish doesn’t get a prize, and the last one isn’t laughed at. Everyone is different, which means the scores and testing length will be different for all. Separate thought from everything but the test. “Try and calm down. The test is much more intuition based,” senior Thomas Mckee said. Many of the questions can be figured out through logic. “ It ’s m o re i mp o r t a nt t o b e hydrated, well fed, and to have slept well than to have cram in study hours,” Mckee said. Hours of studying are beneficial until it comes to the night before. Thinking about the question and keeping a clear thought process helps to eliminate wrong answers. On certain segments, a consistent speed is key to finishing. For slow readers, the “reading for comprehension” tends to be higher on the difficulty scale. “I had to read a lot faster than I’m used to. I learned very quickly how to skim for answers, not read,” Gibbs said. Once the reading test is over, there is no need to remember the information. Don’t memorize the
reading, aim for the main ideas while skimming the reading. “The reading was horrible. I never finished it, and it dragged my score down,” senior Cody Thon said. “Skimming and writing notes in the side worked best for me,” said Thon. Keeping a steady pace as well as not spending a greater amount of time on one particular question will ensure test completion with time to check over answers. If a question proves to be too difficult, skip it and come back when the rest are complete. When national and statewide tests come along, so do a set of rules that are fairly simple to follow. As testing draws near, a common rumor goes around about having a cell phone in the testing room. If any test taker is caught with one, the entire room fails the test. As far as that goes, it has not been confirmed nor denied, but then again, who would want to test it? Remember that the ACT and the MME are just like any other tests. Take time to prepare for them, and the outcome will be what is deserved. Follow the rules, eat a good breakfast each day, and don’t show up late.
Dirty rotten scandal comes to theater Cleaned up lyrics still comical
Kelsey Manas editor-in-chief Many students have sat through a buzzer beater at a basketball game, a head-rattling hit in a football game or a game winning goal at a hockey game during their time at HHS. But the court, field and rink aren’t the only places students display their talents. Every fall and spring, the students involved in the theater program put on a performance. This year, students will be presenting a winter musical called “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” is about two con-men, one older and more experienced, Lawrence and one younger, with less experience, Freddy.
Freddy (played by senior Chris Yu) wants to learn from Lawrence (played by senior Nick Kreider). After the duo both fall for a new beautiful girl in town, they make a bet that whoever can win her over may stay in town and the other has to leave. The audience shouldn’t be fooled by the seemingly harmless plot, however. The plot of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” has interested cast members. The musical is said to be more risqué than other performances in the past. “I had to rewrite a lot of it. I’ve really cleaned it up,” director Monty Bishop said. “But even clean, there are still scenes that push the edge.” Junior Erin Biel plays Muriel in the play, an older woman who falls for the lead man and becomes obsessive over him. Biel was also interested in the plot and the rawness of the script. “We actually had to clean up the show a lot because before it was too dirty. There was too much swearing and sexual innuendo,” junior Erin
Biel said. “Some things just weren’t school appropriate.” The musical script comes from Broadway, where nothing is held back. To be performed in a high school, however a separate script is available that is much cleaner. Although Bishop used the high school version of the musical, there was still a lot of editing and rewriting to be done. “The story is about scandal. It pushes the edge of what’s appropriate for high school,” Bishop said. Although the plot is different from others in the past, one thing that hasn’t changed is the level of talent in the cast. The play is one of the best that HHS has performed, says Bishop. “Two of our lead males are AllState singers,” Bishop said. “It’s going to be worth coming to. It’ll be the best show we’ve had in a long, long time.” The audience should not only look forward to the level of talent in the musical, but also the large range in talent. According to junior Alison
Sluiter, there is a different range in experience, from people who haven’t ever done a musical to people who have performed in many. “There’s a lot of good singers and dancers that the audience will enjoy,” Sluiter said. “There’s a lot of different scenes, not exactly ‘normal’ like before.” Along with the audience, the cast is also excited to perform such a fun number. The musical is comedy, and according to Nick Krieder, the audience should expect to laugh. “The vulgar-ness and how funny it is relates to students well, and I think they’ll enjoy it,” senior Chris Yu said. Bishop is proud of his cast members and appreciates their hard work. They are working hard to assure their hard work will pay off in February when the play is performed. “I don’t want to give away the secret, but Christine is not who she appears to be,” Bishop said. “The play is filled with fun music, and
Photo by Jaqui Marpa
Rehearsing for the musical, juniors Allison Sluiter and Erin Biel await direction alongside senior Nick Kreider and sophomore Colin McCarthy. it’s just naughty enough to work in high school.” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” will be performed February 10-13 in the Margaret Livensparger Theater. Tickets will be $8 at the door for adults, $6 for students and seniors. Opening night will feature a dinnertheater option in conjunction with the National Honor Society for $12.
Features
9
Holt High School Ramparts
Fighting
January 2011
Phobias
Students share fears ranging from diving into water to being alone in the dark Karina Drachman Photo courtesy of www.istock.com
opinion editor
Emilee Zimmerman senior
Meghan Wheeler junior
Juan Madrid sophomore
Greg Lewis senior
What is your biggest fear?
“My biggest fear is losing a loved one. That would just tear me apart.”
“Other than irrational fears, dying without l e t t i n g my f r i e n d s and family know just how much I love and appreciate having them in my life.”
“My deepest fear is definitely losing a close loved one such as a family member or a best friend. I can’t imagine the pain and anguish of losing somebody close to me.”
“I’m deathly afraid of the dark because I don’t have control, and I can’t influence what happens to me in the dark.”
What is the scariest thing you’ve ever done?
“As silly as it sounds it would have to be trying out for the musical this year. Getting up in front of people who could shoot you down is tough.”
“I’m not too much of a chance-taker, but in Chicago, in the Sears Tower, they have these glass rooms that are built off of the building 1,353 feet in the air. You can go in and look at Chicago below you.”
“Once me and a friend “Going down a slide walked through the at Hurricane Harbor in woods at one in the New Jersey.” morning and it was super scary.”
What’s your most embarrassing fear?
“Spiders, especially in class when one is on the floor and crawling at you. It’s hard not to freak out and cause a scene.”
“When I was younger, I saw a story on the news about black widow spider in bags of grapes. Every time I eat grapes, now, I always check them. It’s kind of turned into a bad habit.”
“My most embarrassing “Farting in class.” fear is the fact that I’m terrified of swimming in lake water. I hate the idea of fish swimming around me that I can’t see and seaweed touching my feet.”
What’s your most irrational fear?
“Diving into a lake “ I a b s o l u t e l y h a t e or pool and then not spiders.” being able to get back up to the surface. It’s like I’m afraid that glass will cover the top and I’ll be trapped.”
“My most irrational fear would have to be not growing up to be what I dreamed of. In other words, not meeting all of the standards that I have already set for myself in life. Failure is my biggest irrational fear.”
“The dark because I know nothing’s there. It’s just the feeling that something could be there.”
What’s a childhood fear you had?
“ H e i g ht s. I wo u l d “I was always scared scream when my dad of clowns. I still hate would pick me up and them.” t h row m e over h i s shoulder. It felt like I was miles off of the ground back then.”
“As a child I was deathly a f r a i d o f m a s c o t s, specifically the ones from Caesar Land and Chuck-E-Cheese. I remember having constant nightmares about them.”
“Diving and going into the deep end of the pool. It was horrifying to me.”
What’s the scariest movie you’ve seen?
“‘ The Collec tor ’ I t “‘ T h e B l a i r Wi t c h freaked me out so Project’ freaked me out much. Just the concept when I watched it.” threw me through a loop. Now at night I always look behind me when I’m alone.”
“The scariest movie I’ve ever seen is probably ‘It.’ I hate clowns. I haven’t watched it since I was a little kid, but from what I remember, it was super creepy. The idea of a clown coming out through the drain in your bathtub is just messed up. Baths were never the same after that.”
“‘The Exorcist’ because I could never finish it. That’s a little too much for me.”
Photos by Karina Drachman
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Features
January 2011
Connecting the Dots
Jacqui Marpa
I heart Pee Wee
Holt High School Ramparts
Lansing: The capital of fun
Get off the couch to explore the numerous activities and hot spots in the Mid-Michigan area that provide for an exciting time
S
ecret words, marry it jokes, and talking toys: they all come back as Paul Reubens brings his Pee Wee Herman groove on again. It was in the 80’s when his prominent character gained popularity all over America. The character had a Saturday morning show called Pee Wee’s Playhouse. A m o n g t h e s h o w ’s f a m o u s characters were Chairry, a green furry chair with two eyes and long eyelashes, and Conky, a robot who often revealed the secret word to Pee Wee in the beginning of the show. Pee Wee Herman is a cultural phenomenon. No one has influenced America like Pee Wee did, not even Justin Bieber or the Jonas Brothers. Even up to this day, no one has ever become as influential as Pee Wee. He disappeared from the media due to Paul Reuben’s 1991 arrest in an adult theater in Florida. After his arrest, his show was pulled off the air and he hasn’t used the character since. Pee Wee has been out and about again since last year. His first appearance after the scandal that I was able to watch was during Conan O’Brien’s last week as host of “The Tonight Show.” Pee Wee made an appearance, explaining to the fans what the situation was through the use of toys. It was an amazing skit. Recently, Pee Wee was featured in Andy Samberg’s SNL Digital Short. In the short, the two were doing shots and did pranks that resulted to them having an intervention from their friends. The short was my favorite part of the episode and Pee Wee’s appearance in it definitely upstaged the host for that night, Gwyneth Paltrow. One of the live shows of Pee Wee’s Playhouse in New York will be aired on HBO sometime in March. I am so happy that Pee Wee is back on the airwaves. My friend Emilee is so freaked out by the guy that whenever I tell her that I heart Pee Wee she just thinks I’m weird. And then I tell her, “I know you are, but what am I?”
Photos by Collin Mohr
Collin Mohr staff writer The times when students find themselves stuck inside at home, bored, and not knowing what to do, raises the question, “What is there to do in the greater Mid-Michigan area?” Students find many opportunities in the greater Mid-Michigan area to occupy their ‘bored’ time. Many of these consist of very creative activities, while others are simply common activities you find teenagers participating in.
Edru Skate-A-Rama The local skating arena, Edru-Skate-A-Rama, also known as ‘Edru’, for short, is a family entertainment center. Edru offers a large skating surface, with a full snack bar and laser tag arena. Edru has been open for over 40 years. Junior Shaquaille Rhymes enjoys her time at Edru. “I like to go to Edrus because it’s a lot of fun to skate around with all my friends,” Rhymes said. Edru costs $5 for admission (on weekends) and $2 for skate rental. Laser tag is only $6. That gives the players 12 long minutes in a state-of-the-art arena.
Celebration Cinema Movie theaters are also a hot hang out spot for teens. Celebration Cinema is an 18 theater cinema along with an IMAX screen. An IMAX screen is 50’ X 70’, that really makes viewers feel like they are in the movie. If the weather is ever too rainy or snowy, the cinema is a hot spot for fun and cheap entertainment. Tuesdays are the hot day, when tickets before 5 p.m. are only $4, and after 5 p.m., tickets are only $5.
“I think Celebration is the best movie theater around, but I hate how expensive all the food is there,” senior Jamie Hulteen said.
Deadman’s Hill Another spot in Holt is Deadman’s Hill. Deadman’s Hill is local park off of Cedar Street, where students in the winter time spend the majority of their time sledding down the steep hill. On snow days, this is where most school students will be. The park also has picnic tables for the fall and spring time, which offer a spot to eat outside with friends and enjoy the wildlife scenery. “I like going to Deadman’s Hill to sled with all my friends and my Grandma Loomis, especially on snow days,” sophomore Lauren Holden said.
Funtyme
Funtyme in Okemos is another entertainment center. Funtyme offers batting cages, go-carts, putt -putt golf and a full arcade. Go-karts cost $5.50 for a single and $6.00 for a double. Funtyme offers one of the least expensive go-carting experiences in Michigan. Despite the price, it still offers quite an exciting ride. “Funtyme is my favorite place to go because there is a lot to do there, and it is hard to be bored there,” junior Jasmin Bird said.
Soccerzone
The next stop on this tour around the MidMichigan area is Soccerzone. Soccerzone is an indoor soccer building where people of all ages can play five players versus five players indoors. Soccerzone offers leagues for all ages and as well has lacrosse and flag football available. Not only
do they offer sports, they also have a kid zone with blow up slides. Senior Patrick Mercer enjoys his time at Soccerzone because it allows him to do what he loves during the winter. “Playing soccer is my favorite thing to do and Soccerzone allows me to play 24/7,” Mercer said.
Zap Zone Another fun spot in the Mid-Michigan area is Zap Zone. Zap Zone is a fun-packed entertainment center. They offer laser tag, glo-golf, bumper cars, jump zone and an arcade. Zap Zone has a state of the art laser tag arena that costs $7 for one game, $13 for two games, or $16 for three games. Zap Zone not only has a building in Lansing, but also has locations in Ann Arbor, Farmington Hills, Taylor, Canton, Utica and Waterford. “Zap Zone is my favorite place to go because you get to run around in the dark with all your friends and play laser tag,” junior Matt Zajac said.
Valhalla Park The last stop on the tour brings us to Valhalla Park. Valhalla Park is a large area of land with many activities. Valhalla offers fields for baseball, courts for basketball, trails for running, and two ponds for fishing. Junior Andrew Bonner finds fishing, among his favorite activities in the Mid-Michigan area. Bonner said he enjoys catching fish because he finds it difficult, but once he catches a fish, it makes it all worth the wait. “When I get a big fish on the line, it really makes me get into it, and makes me get excited and nervous because I really want to catch the fish, and if it breaks the line, then I get mad,” Bonner said.
Features
11
Holt High School Ramparts
January 2010 Senior Annie Boyd has a pet peeve rooted in something that a family member of hers does frequently. “My cousin chomps her gum really loud like she’s a cow,” Boyd said, “I’m not sure how she can even put up with the noise herself.” Boyd’s pet peeve doesn’t just involve chomping gum; she can’t stand when people make any noises with their mouths. “I try not to say anything in order Chewing her gum loudly, to not be rude, but the irritation senior Annie Boyd’s pet peeve builds up until I usually yell at them,” originated from her cousin’s Boyd said. annoying habit.
Pet Peeves
What are the staff writer little things that bother you?
Ryan Carrier
W
hether it occurs at school, while driving, or at home, everybody has at least one thing they gets on their nerves. These pet peeves claw away at the patience of whoever they’re annoying, often for no justifiable reason. Students recently shared some of their pet peeves with Ramparts.
Junior Mike Ramer plugs his nose to symbolize his annoyance with people who have bad personal hygiene.
Junior Shannon Kraemer is annoyed by people she interacts with on the roads. Kraemer said she hates when she wants to turn right from the right lane at a stoplight but has to wait for the light to turn green so the person ahead of her can go straight. “This pet peeve might have derived from the fact that it’s not uncommon for me to be running late,” Kraemer said, “so I always get annoyed when I have to sit through those lights and be running even later.” Junior Shannon Kraemer pretends to yell at Because she’s in a car, Kraemer’s options to the surrounding cars. Kraemer said that her react to her pet peeve are limited. constant tardiness causes her annoyance. “I start to feel frustrated and try to channel thoughts of ‘turning’ into the other driver’s head,” Kraemer said. “It doesn’t work.”
A pet peeve is defined by Webster’s dictionary as a frequent subject of complaint. It is an annoyance that irritates an individual beyond belief that may not bother another person. They are often linked to people’s behavior: manners, personal hygiene, bad habits, use of the English language, as well as many others.
The development
How to handle them
Junior Mike Ramer is annoyed with bad personal hygiene. “I really don’t like being around people that don’t shower,” Ramer said. With no specific experience or person supporting his pet peeve, Ramer said that he thinks it comes from the general American public. He said that he becomes very irritated when he is in area or has to interact with someone who hasn’t showered. “It just makes me feel extremely uncomfortable,” Ramer said. Trying to avoid being rude, Ramer will keep silent and bottle up his irritation when around people with bad hygiene.
Senior Skylar Hunt can be confronted by her biggest pet peeve every single school day. Hunt said that her pet peeve comes from the repetition of her peers zoning out in class. “I hate when people in school ask a question that was already answered because they weren’t paying attention,” Hunt said. She said it irritates her so much that she can’t help but react. “In a very rude tone, something like ‘that question has already been asked,’” Hunt said.
What is a pet peeve?
Pet peeves often develop from certain behaviors of someone close to the individual, such as a boyfriend or girlfriend, a family member, or a good friend. These actions are usually repeated over and over again, building up an extreme irritation. The pet peeve can be the result of an individual person’s tendencies. For example, if someone is very passionate about a sport, they will most likely find jokesters on their sports team very annoying.
Senior Nick Ferguson’s top pet peeve comes from a saying he heard in his childhood. “I can’t stand it when somebody says, ‘Yeah you’re book smart, but I’m street smart,’” Ferguson said. The pet peeve started when Ferguson was in elementary school and his friend would always say something like that when he would do better in his school work. He said nobody has said it to him in a while, but he still hears it sometimes and becomes very annoyed. “I think they just say it to feel better about themselves,” Ferguson said. He doesn’t ever respond to the person when he hears it, instead Senior Nick Ferguson strangles he just attempts to ignore the rising senior Brendan Finnerty with a book. irritation.
Sophomore Darien Holden can find her biggest pet peeve in a casual restaurant. “I hate when couples are together at a restaurant and they sit together on the same side of the booth,” Holden said. She said she doesn’t understand why couples would do that, that it doesn’t make sense for them to turn around to talk to each other. Holden Sophomore Darien Holden and junior said she doesn’t do anything when she sees couples sitting on the same Ken Kruger act out couples sitting next side of the booth or table, but that to each other in a booth. The act bothers it really annoys her for a reason she Holden for reasons she doesn’t know. could not exactly put her finger on.
Learn the facts
When people become annoyed by their pet peeve they can either keep it all inside and roll their eyes or shake their head, or the annoyance can build up to the point where they confront the behavior that’s making them irritated.
Some common pet peeves
•Screaming children (especially on airplanes) •Overuse of the word “actually” when talking •Clicking pens or tapping pencils •The sound of nail files or a scratching on a chalkboard •People who don’t use turn signals •Bad customer service at a store
Ac ting out her irritation with sophomore Carson Polakowski (right), senior Skylar Hunt (left) hates it when students don’t pay attention. All photos by Ryan Carrier
12
The Hot Spot
January 2011
Photo from istock.com
Holt High School Ramparts
Lindsey Hamlin editor-in-chief
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” vs. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” made in 1971 and based on the book, is the story of candy maker Willy Wonka (Gene Wilder), who allows five lucky children, one being Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum), to take a tour of his unusual candy factory. Willy Wonka is in search of the child who has a generous, loving heart to hand over his factory to. The storyline of this movie is heartwarming. This film takes on the qualities of a family-oriented movie with a good lesson. The setting in the chocolate factory is magical. This will always be a classic in my eyes. I really enjoy how the Oompa-Loompas have similar characteristics but are different actors. The actors work very well together and it seems natural for them to interact. The 2005 remake “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” features Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka. Though he is a good actor, I find him creepy in this movie. I was saddened by the fact that the Oompa-Loompas were all the same actor and didn’t have the orange skin and green hair like they did in the classic film. But the setting is lifelike and beautiful. It makes the viewers feel like they are in the candy factory. The depth of this version is phenomenal and really gives the viewers the background story; but I still find the classic to be the best.
Winner: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”
“Rear Window”vs. “Disturbia” The 2007 movie “Disturbia” is an adaption of the 1954 movie “Rear Window.” They both follow the same story line of a peeping Tom and a murderer. In “Rear Wi n d ow ,” L . B . ‘ Je f f ’ Je f f e r i e s (James Stewart) is a photographer with a broken leg bound to his wheelchair. Out of boredom, Jeff passes the hours by looking out the window spying on his neighbors. He begins to notice one of his neighbors participating in strange behavior and his wife is never in sight. He slowly comes to a conclusion, with the help of his girlfriend, Lisa Carol Fremont (Grace Kelly). The movie moves slowly for about the first half, but I did enjoy the story line as a whole. Since it is an older movie,the setting is quite poor and is not realistic or lifelike, but the acting is very natural and seems conversational rather than scripted. “Disturbia” follows the same storyline of a peeping tom. On house arrest for punching his Spanish teacher, Kale (Shia LeBeouf ), fills his time by spying on his neighbors daily lives. He finds out that one of his neighbors is a murderer. He begins to investigate the suspicious behavior with the help of his best friend Ronnie (Aaron Yoo) and his love interest Ashley (Sara Roemer). This remake is better than the original. I never felt bored through the movie and it moves along nicely. The storyline is more interesting in this movie because the suspense factor of the movie is high, and I even found myself nervous for the actors. The actors work well together and they make the storyline flow. The setting is done well because even though he is on house arrest, it does not stay in one room like “Rear Window” did, causing it to be boring.
Winner: “Disturbia”
“Alice in Wonderland” ( 1 9 5 1 ) v s . “A l i c e i n Wonderland” (1999) vs. “Alice in Wonderland” (2010) The all-time Disney cartoon classic “Alice in Wonderland” is a tale of a girl who falls into her own dream world. Alice stumbles upon a bunch of ‘nonsense,’ such as the Mad Hatter, Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum, and many others, as she travels through Wonderland. She has to get away from the Queen of Hearts in order to find her way home. Though this is an animation and there isn’t real “acting,” the interactions are interesting. The graphics are nowhere equal to the animations made nowadays, but it is still done well enough to not be distracting. The remake of this animation, made with real actors is “Alice in Wonderland” made in 1999. This movie follows a similar story line as the animation, but there are a few new friends made along the way. The acting is horrifyingly cheesy and completely unbelievable and is not realistic. The costuming for some of the ‘animals’ is not impressing and done horribly, though some costumes for other characters are thorough and beautifully made. Some of the setting is realistic and fit ‘Wonderland,’ but the setting in other parts of the movie is disappointing and seems almost unfinished. Alice (Tina Majorino) seems to be quite rude, which doesn’t seem like Alice at all. Another remake of this tale, made in 2010, tells the story of 19-year-old Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returning to Wonderland, where she encounters her old friends. She then must defeat the Queen of Hearts (Helena Bonham Carter) once and for all in order to end her reign of terror over Wonderland, with the help of the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). The acting, costuming and setting is very lifelike. Sometimes the accents are so thick it was difficult for me to understand in some parts on the movie. The Mad Hatter is quite creepy. This film is my second favorite.
Winner: “Alice in Wonderland” (1951)
A second glance at some of your favorite remade movies
The Hot Spot
13
Holt High School Ramparts
January 2011
My Tunes Judge an e-book by its cover New technology takes over the bookshelf Kailey Kraushaar
We’ve selected two people to interview and find out what music they love this month.
What’s stuck in senior Angela Lucas’s head?
feature editor Reading is something everyone has to do, whether it’s required for school or for pleasure. Since elementary school, the way students read has been consistent: page by page. However, silent reading time has been transformed for those who own e-readers, a new form of technology which allows users to read books on a screen rather than out of a book. E-readers come in different brands. The most popular ones are the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes and Noble Nook. While prices for e-readers vary depending on the device or brand, most are within the $100-$200 range, not including the price of actual books. The Kindle has three different versions. The least expensive and most basic version starts at $139.99 for the Kindle 3. The next highest priced Kindle is called the Kindle 3G and is sold for $189.99. The most advanced and expensive Kindle costs $329.99, and is called the Kindle DX. Overall, the performance of Kindles is similar depending on models. While price increases, more memory and 3G functions are added. “My mom has a Kindle and I have used it. I liked it, especially the fact that it has WIFI, 3G and I can sit outside and don’t have a glare on the screen,” junior Evan Robertson said. “The only real downsides are electronic glitches sometimes when you turn the page. I would consider getting one for myself because they’re cheaper in the long run.” On the other side of the e-reader market is the Barnes and Noble Nook. The Nook starts at $149 for the basic model, and the price rises to $249 for the Nook color. While most e-readers seem expensive, when put in perspective, the price of the e-reader will pay for itself over time after saving money on e-books, which cost around $10. Robertson said another benefit to saving money is saving space, which e-readers help readers do. “With e-books I wouldn’t have 1,000 books just sitting in my house,” Robertson said. While some students are fond of e-books, others prefer traditional books to the new, moreadvanced alternatives. “I’m a major book person, when I’m done reading a book I put it on a bookshelf, and with e-books, I can’t show people what I’ve read,” senior Samantha Kodeski said. “You can’t smell how the book smells, which I like. When I get a book, whether it’s old or new, I like to see how it smells when I turn the pages. It’s a pleasing smell to me.” For those who prefer traditional print books, Media Specialist Teresa Asch said that e-books and print copies will make a great mixture, and that both should stay available in the future. “E-books are great for research,” Asch said. “They’re user-friendly like computer researching is, and I think students in this time like that more than print copies. However, after reading on e-readers for a long time, it’s good for us to read print books as well.”
Photo by Mariah Massa
Style of music: “Country” “Better Than Revenge” by Taylor Swift “It reminds me of past experiences.” “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry “I just think it’s a really pretty song.” “Just a Dream” by Nelly “ I love Nelly, and I’m glad he’s back.” “Mean” by Taylor Swift “I’m obsessed with Taylor Swift, and it’s my favorite song off her new album.” “Always” by Saliva “It’s an old song, but it brings me back to a happy time.”
What’s stuck in English teacher Anne Russo’s head?
Style of music: “I’m listening to a lot of classical right now.” “Linger” by The Cranberries “I was 16 and had the best summer of my life; this song forever reminds me of that awesome time.” “Don’t Tell a Soul” by The Replacements “My first love turned me on to “The ‘Mats,” and of all their songs. This one made me want to dance or smash things depending on my mood.” “(Tchaikovsky’s) Melodie in E Flat” by violinist Jascha Heifetz “A song I could never master, but one that tells a beautiful story without words.” “On, Wisconsin” by the Reading High School Marching Band “My alma mater’s fight song that I can still play in my mind. French Horns unite!” “Blitzkreig Bop” by the Ramones “My three-year-old son knows the whole song, and my two-year-old daughter is learning it. I hated it until I saw how happy it made them.” If you’d like to tell us what songs are stuck in your head, e-mail a list of five songs and your comments to ramparts@hpsk12.net
14
January 2011
The Press Box BOYS BASKETBALL
record: 3-4 league standing: N/A season highlight:“It was a little hard at the beginning of the season, but now the team chemistry is a lot better, and the family like atmosphere is here,” junior Ben Steward said. in their words: “We seem to be gelling as a team and we work well together. At practice we encourage and cheer for each other instead of criticizing,” junior Justin Alleman said.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
record: 5-4 league standing: N/A season highlight: “We get along really well, and it shows on the court,” senior captain Emily Klauka said. in their words: “We have fun while working really hard at practice and that’s where our success comes from,” junior Haley McFarland said.
BOYS BOWLING
record: 3-1 season highlight: “Against Grand Ledge would be in my opinion the biggest highlight because it means so much for both teams,” senior Jordan Sober said. in their words: “The season is going really good so far. We’ve had some good games,” junior Zach Ammerman said.
GIRLS BOWLING
record: 1-2 season highlight: “The best part of being on the bowling team is being able to count on my teammates in and out of matches,” junior Lauren Strong said. in their words: “Every practice our goal is to improve and continue to get better,” junior Tori Frailey said.
CHEERLEADING
record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “Working really hard on new stunts for Winterfest. We learned a double-high thigh stand,” junior Cara Darbor said. in their words:“We are all fun and loud, we all joke around and have a lot of inside jokes,” junior Kali Schlee said.
Sports
Holt High School Ramparts
Clearing the lanes with a new coach
New coach helps bowling teams knock down pins Mariah Massa
sports editor In the winter months preceding the bowling season, the hunt for a new head coach and new assistant coach got under way. Replacing former coach Brian Vessel as the new head coach is physical education teacher Jennie Hill, while the assistant coaching spot was filled by Cliff McClumpha, a previous member of the bowling team. Last year with Vessel as their coach, both the boys and girls team won the Regional title. The girls team went on to win the State Championship. Hill said she decided to interview for the girls and boys head coaching job because she had coaching experience and thought it would broaden her horizons in the sports arena. “Everyone has been really supportive [of me taking the job]. The assistant coach is very helpful, and everybody is really positive,” Hill said. Hill has a positive outlook for the remainder of the season. “I think we are going to do really well. We have a lot of leaders and returners. We also have a lot of freshmen who can learn a lot, which is beneficial to us now and later on,” Hill said. Hill took a “teach me” approach while coaching this team. She said she isn’t afraid to have outside help, which is where McClumpha comes into play. McClumpha said he is more of the “go to guy” if someone on the team needs help with technique, but most of the organization and mental game is taken care of by Hill. In order to do as well as last year, the teams have set goals for themselves. “I would like to see us finish off our season with no losses and be a strong competitor at regionals this year,” McClumpha said. Coaches aren’t the only ones who have goals in mind, though. Senior Taylor Roe, a returning member, expresses what she wants to accomplish this season. “My goals for the season are to help everyone onthe
Photo by Mariah Massa
Practicing for her next match, senior Taylor Roe along with the team practice at the Mason Bowling Lanes. They recently acquired a new assistant and head coach to guide them to a striking season. team become a better athlete and bowler, to have everyone become a team player and just win as many as we can and not back down,” Roe said. The dynamic of the bowling team has changed since last year because many seniors graduated from the team. “Last year four seniors graduated [from the girls team]. The biggest difference without them is our attitudes. We cheer a lot less and aren’t as close as last year,” senior Shelly Teague said. Though the seniors from last year are gone, senior Chris Lander said he believes the team is going to be alright. “The seniors carried the team, so it’s harder this year, but I think the current seniors are doing fine with everything,” Lander said. Even without the seniors from last year, the coaches still believe they have many talented bowlers. “They already know their skills, but I’m here to encourage them to believe in themselves,” Hill said. Every Tuesday and Thursday the teams bowl in matches. Home matches take place at Mason Bowling Lanes. Their next home match is February 1 against Jackson.
Bowling Schedule Girls and boys bowling take place on the same schedule. Date
Day Time
Feb. 1
Tues.
Feb. 3 Feb. 8
3:30
Opponent
Place
Jackson
Home
Thurs. 3:30
Sexton
Home
Tues.
Everett
Home
3:30
Feb. 10 Thurs. 3:30
Grand Ledge Home
Feb. 15 Tues.
East Lansing Away
3:30
Feb. 17 Thurs. 3:30
Waverly
Away
Feb. 19 Sat.
TBA
Owosso Invite Away
Feb. 22 Tues.
3:30
Eastern
15
Sports
Holt High School Ramparts
Leadership makes a difference Qualities in quantities for team captains Joey Myers staff writer What makes a captain a captain? The ability to right a wronged ship upon a frugel sea? Be be t h e r e in your teammates’ darkest hour? To be the difference maker in the big game? Winter sport team captains speak out about leadership and how they influence their team in the toughest times. Caleb Haddad, senior: wrestling “I feel the team is satisfied with me as a captain. I am a motivational and dependable leader to my team and myself. It’s early in the season, a n d i t ’s time for me to step up and take the lead for the whole program.”
Jackie Zussman, senior: gymnastics “Gymnastics can be a very mental sport at times; the best thing to do is to power through the adversity and keep your cool. To be a good captain, you have to keep your cool and show confidence, so your teammates don’t panic when times are rough.” Max Poole, senior: hockey “Lifting spirits and b o o s t i ng m o ra l is what I do. I just try and do my best on and off the ice to set an example for the boys who look up to me. We have a small team compared to other sports, and it’s an honor to be a captain of this small group of guys.” Antonio Alvarez, senior: boys basketball “I’m a knowledgeable leader for this team; I know the game inside and out. Being vocal is also important when being a good captain, and I believe I do that pretty good.”
Katie O’Rourke, senior: cheerleading “We’re a tight-knit group, and it’s good to know everybody so problems can be solved quickly. Being a captain also comes with a lot of responsibility, and I feel like I do a good job of that.” Emily Klauka, senior: girls basketball “Coach Harkema would hopefully say good things about me, that I’m a great leader that leads by example and communicates well.” S h e l l y Te a g u e , senior: girls bowling “I love to have a positive attitude, and I really do think that translates to the person I am today. Being supportive to my teammates and coaches are other qualities that make me a good captain.” Alyssa Robinson, junior: dance “Understanding, fun and fair is, I guess, the best ways to describe my leadership qualities. I’m also that person who is going to be the hardest
worker on the team and is going to get stuff done quickly, but I’ll have a lot of fun doing it.” Tyler Snow, senior: boys bowling “I just try and be one of the guys, not to be too much. I also try and be the guy that everyone looks at when they need a boost or a pick-meup. Just keep it short and sweet, bowl good and focus on what you can control. That’s what makes a good captain.” Katrina Majeske, senior: swimming and diving ”A good leader is the person who does what needs to get done, without taking credit and recognition for it. I feel that I am that person, that I am willing to do anything for the team, to go the extra mile.”
IM basketball benched for season Long awaited season comes to abrupt halt, both sides angry Jacqui Marpa staff writer A f t e r a n n o u n c i n g t h e c a n c e l l at i o n o f intramural basketball, students who registered to play for the season went to the athletics office to collect their refund. Having the league called off this year, however, did not surprise the league’s organizer, social studies teacher Corey Martin. “There were only two teams who are ready to play. The first game was supposed to be the day after the students get back from MLK day,” Martin said. Int ra mu ra l b a s ke t b a l l , a l s o ca l l e d I M basketball, is a league where students and staff members are allowed to form teams with their friends and play each other for the sake of having fun. There are no faculty managing
the teams. Registration and fees apply in order to participate in this program. Participants individually pay $45. The referees hired for the league are often affiliated to with HHS. The games take place in Washington Woods every Thursday night and the program consists of about 10 to 12 games. Former organizer of the league, social studies teacher James Keckeisen said he thinks there are reasons as to why there weren’t enough students who registered to play for this season. “My best guesses for this behavior are based on inkling, experience and cynicism. Either kids can’t afford the fee or they prefer video games, TV, etc.,” Keckeisen said. On the other hand, senior Grant Taylor said that the advertisement and information for the program wasn’t helpful to spread the word. “I didn’t even know that we were supposed to turn in our registration forms and fees after we get back from winter break,” Taylor said. But Taylor was one of the students who still turned in his registration and fee even after the deadline. “Kids don’t know that they can still turn in the registration and the money even past the
deadline,” Taylor said. Before HHS handled intramural basketball, the league was handled by Delhi Township recreation. Not only students from the senior high school building can participate in the program, but students from Holt Central, the ninth grade campus and also the junior high are encouraged to take part in the annual program. Some students were upset with how the league ended up this year. One of them is senior Blake Vinson. “I’m disappointed. I was looking forward to playing this season, but I’m glad that I got my money back. Though I could’ve spent that money on something else if this is how it’s going to end up anyway,” Vinson said. Vinson said he thinks that the $45 fee was too much to ask from participants. “I can see $45 for each team, but not for each member,” Vinson said. Vinson said that not only they have to pay a $45 fee, they also have to extend their budget for team equipment so they can perform well. “We get jerseys, usually the price is around $30 to have it custom made. We need uniforms to represent our teams,” Vinson said.
January 2011
The Press Box DANCE
record: N/A league standing: N/A season highlight: “We have a competition at the Palace of Auburn Hills. There are usually over 100 teams,” coach Molly Noss said. in their words: “We have a young team. No seniors, four juniors, six sophomores, two freshmen,” Noss said.
GYMNASTICS
record: 4-1 league standing: N/A season highlight: “Winning the meet against East Lansing and getting my fly-away on the bar,” sophomore Sammi Loomis said. in their words: “At the Christmas Party we all talked and got to know each other,” junior Christie Lueder said.
HOCKEY
record: 4-6 league standing: N/A season highlight: “We played Lumen Christi in Jackson and won for the first time in the school’s history,” sophomore Erick Sundstrom said. in their words: “We have had a lot of injuries, but we’ve been able to overcome them,” Sundstrom said.
BOYS SWIMMING AND DIVING
record: 4-2 league standing: tied for first season highlight: “I’d have to say our season highlight so far would be winning the Waverly relays because we beat Okemos,” junior Mike Ramer said. in their words: “Right now we are where we need to be. We still have a lot of work to do before the conference meet physically and mentally,” junior Trent Tuttle said.
WRESTLING
record: 16-1 league standing: first place season highlight: “When we went to Indiana and took first, there was two ranked teams, and we beat both of them,” senior Cole Johnson said. in their words: “I like wrestling because it’s a challenge. You have to push yourself, that’s the only way to get good at it,” junior A.J. Argenta said.
Sports
Holt High School Ramparts
The water cooler Will Thurston
Pro Bowl still not popular
A
s of last year, the NFL has moved the annual Pro Bowl game that features the best players in the NFL as voted on by the fans from after the Super Bowl to a week before the Super Bowl. This was a terrible decision. The reason the Pro Bowl was moved was because fan interest and ratings were low. There were no games played that week between the conference championships and the Super Bowl, so NFL commissioner Roger Goodell thought if it was moved to that week people would be more interested in the game. However, the move does not make the Pro Bowl more appealing at all. It makes the game much weaker. The game is pointless to begin with because the players don’t go hard, to prevent injuries from a game that means nothing. The players don’t really care for playing in the game. To be recognized as a top player in the league and a reason to go to Hawaii is all they care about. Fans don’t want to watch players mess around. Also, the players playing in the Super Bowl can’t participate in the game because they have to rest and prepare for their game next week. How does taking the best players on the best teams out of the Pro Bowl help increase fan interest? It doesn’t. It makes me want to watch it even less. The only reason I watched it in the past was because that is the last football game until the next year. Now, with the Super Bowl as the last game, I don’t feel like I need to watch the Pro Bowl. The Pro Bowl will never be what the NFL wants it to be. It will never have as much appeal as the NBA or MLB allstar games. The players will never go all out because that would be dumb to risk getting injured for a game that has no purpose. The NFL needs to accept that and stop trying to make changes to try and improve it because there is nothing that can be done to improve the game.
16
January 2011
Preparation goes farther than practice Athletes provide tips to stay in shape and train Meg McKay staff writer The team has their game faces on and is ready to bring home a win. Athletes prepare for every battle of the season by more than just practice. Athletes and coaches prepare long and hard to secure a good season. The start of this preparation period may be
Photo by Meg McKay
Plate weights can be used with any barbell. Barbells are used while bench pressing and doing squats.
referred to as conditioning. In some cases conditioning has to be done on a player’s own personal time. Their goal is to improve for the benefit of the team as a whole. Senior hockey player, Andrew Counseller knows just how hard this can be. Counseller says he knows he has to stay committed, not take too many breaks to talk, and stay focused. “It’s better for the team,” Counseller said. “I’m trying to get bigger so I’m eating calories and carbohydrates.” Counseller is dedicated to being the best he can be. He says working out and staying in good shape is important him. “On certain days I do back and [biceps], then chest and [triceps], last legs and [abdominals],” Counseller said. “At most I go [to the gym] five days a week, at least three days a week, and at least once on the weekends when I don’t have a game.” Junior Matt Zajac, a football player, has helpful motivation. Three days a week after school, Zajac and fellow teammates have the opportunity to work out together. In addition, Zajac says he does a little more on the weekends. “We run and do agility after school, then go to the weight room and lift,” Zajac said. Zajac and the team focus on working out their full bodies. Zajac recommends strength training after a cardio workout. For some athletes, staying in shape is just the way they live their lives. For junior Autumn Baker running cross
Don’t Miss This: Winter Rivalry
The next two weeks bring a series of key match-ups in the winter season as Holt faces Grand Ledge in most sports. With the exception of girls basketball, all games will be held on Holt’s home courts.
Boys and Girls Basketball: February 1
All the basketball teams will be playing Tuesday night to start off a week of games against rivals Grand Ledge.
Wrestling: February 2
Following Tuesday’s games, the wrestling team will challenge the Grand Ledge and Waverly teams.
Swimming and Diving, Bowling: February 10
The bowling team and boys varsity swimming and diving team will conclude the week during Thursday night’s games
Photo by Meg McKay
Free weights are a great way to train arm and shoulder muscles to provide strength and definition. Many athletes also use these when running. country is just a hobby. By running and maintaining her health, Baker’s schedule isn’t altered too much when trying to fit in good practice time. “If you care a lot about your health [staying in shape] doesn’t [get in the way of my schedule],” Baker said. “For me I still always have time for friends, family and church.” Sometimes the key to a good workout is having a friend join in the fun. “I work out with a friend on the team,” Baker said. She said working out with a friend is a good choice because they push each other to do their best. To Baker, the key to a productive workout comes from whatever makes an athlete proud at the end of the day. Athletes are weighed down by their heavy schedules, but their diets can be a large part of conditioning. Junior
girls soccer player, Skylen Powell understands this challenge. “I never eat anything unhealthy before [practicing] so that I don’t get a stomachache, specifically no junk food,” she said. Powell acknowledges she doesn’t change her diet to fit with good workouts. “Just like I love soccer, I love food,” Powell said. For sophomore Hailee Butler, being on the dance team is enough to keep her fitness under control. Because she dances all year she maintains an active healthy lifestyle. Butler has a couple tips to staying fit. “Don’t eat junk food. Eat healthier,” Butler said. In the end, working out and staying in shape helps achieve a productive season.