Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
Spring musical prepares to open
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Abstinence vs. protection
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theTalisman a student newspaper
Sheldon High School 2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, Or 97401
Mr. Irish Crowned
{vol. 45 Issue 5
March 12, 2010}
Patrick Bryant takes it all after a night of talent Lauren Scott assistant editor It all began in November. All the senior girls were rounded into the auditorium to vote on who they think would be best qualified, and deserving, of the title of “Mr. Irish” for the 2009-10 year. The ten young men that were chosen have become recognizable icons around the Sheldon hallways. On top of their schoolwork, the contestants have tirelessly hustled spare change from students to raise funds for the Neonatal center at Sacred Heart Hospital (totaling approximately $21,000). They’ve sold bracelets, played basketball against South’s Mr. Axeman contestants and later Sheldon faculty, and served ice cream at Coldstone as a fundraiser. All of this led up to the final event: the talent show. The talent show is arguably the most anticipated, and traditionally enjoyed, event of the Mr. Irish Pageant. The ten contestants—Joel Chapman, Caleb Patrick, Joseph Houck, Todd Moore, Nathan Hanson, Justin Sawyer, Patrick Bryant, Blake Elliott, Nick Stringfield, and Nick Thomas—dazzled the audience with their unique talents. There was a healthy dose of competition between the contestants, but Bryant assured, “It never felt like a competition. Winning wasn’t really that important; it was unbelievable for all of us.” A group dance kicked off this year’s pageant’s talent show, followed by the talent portion, a second group dance, a Q&A session, and a final group dance. Performance acts included: singing, and a surprise dance, by Thomas; singing and guitar playing by Patrick and Moore; a song with piano accompaniment by Chapman; an amusing “bee” dance by Houck, and a traditional German dance by Hanson. However, in the end it was Bryant who took the title of “Mr. Irish,” with the help of his senior coordinator Kayla Olson, with a creative performance of a song accompanied by bass (which he learned to play in just two months). “It’s weird,” Bryant said of his victory. “I’m still pretty sure it never actually happened.”
Chasity Barnes photos
(L-R) Joseph Houck, Blake Elliott, Justin Sawyer, and Patrick Bryant do one last run-through of their group dance. (Inset) Bryant is crowned Mr. Irish.
Music in Our Schools Month hits home at Sheldon Sheldon celebrates through its variety of extracurricular programs Max Ebert staff writer Music has a big impact on people’s lives. It influences emotions, decisions, and sometimes, futures. No wonder there’s a month dedicated to it! This month is Music in Our Schools Month (MIOSM). It’s the time of year where music education becomes
the focus of schools all across the nation, including Sheldon. Sheldon not only has a concert band, but also a wind ensemble, two jazz bands, an orchestra, a choir, and even a marching band during first term. Some schools don’t have a band at all, so this is impressive. Students at Sheldon who participate in such music studies seem to agree most with the idea that music plays an important role in school, and people’s lives in general. “It is inspirational, and can act as a gateway,” says freshman Taylor Eisele, who is in the Sheldon Symphonic Band. And it’s true, music is a passion of many people because of the meaning that it holds. It inspires creativity and allows people to express themselves openly. It also opens many opportunities in colleges and music
schools for students who want to pursue their passion. “Music is a good thing because it gives students the skills they need to get into performing arts,” said freshman Justice Nunley, who participates in choir, orchestra, and theater. Even students that aren’t in any of the extracurricular musical activities are influenced by music. If somebody walks down the halls, they’re bound to see earbuds in the ears of a majority of the students. During some classes, there’s usually at least one kid who keeps the one earbud in his or her ear despite what the teachers say. Sheldon is a school of many different forms of creativity and learning, including music. Perhaps that’s why Sheldon is involved, without even trying, in March’s Music in Our Schools Month.
Sheldon’s Theatre Department endures loss before big show Director leaves post due to cancer Chasity Barnes photo editor Sheldon High School’s Theatre Department is currently going through some major changes, the biggest of which is the loss of one of their own, Director Lynda Czajkowska-Thomson. She is leaving the theatre after producing and directing for sixteen years. Now that Sheldon Theatre is starting on their hardest play of the year, the musical, the resignation of CzajkowskaThomson has left the students wondering how they’ll make it through. They are pulling together to make it
past the hard times. Senior Hollis Gehrett said, “Theatre is everything I do. It’s my life and it’s what I want to do as I get older. Even though Lynda’s gone, we’ll keep running the great show we know we can do.” They’ll be trying their hardest to make a great performance to show that they are still strong and can overcome the tragedy of Czajkowska-Thomson’s breast cancer, just as she can. The theatre holds a meeting once a week called “Tuesday Notes.” It’s a place where the theatre department can come together and talk about anything that is important. On Tuesday, January 26, CzajkowskaThomson began the meeting by saying how much she loved the theatre and how much she enjoyed watching all of the friendships unfold there. Czajkowska-Thomson continued on this part of her speech for some time, before laying the bomb on them. She had told all of the crew managers of her illness a few months prior. “I thought it
was sad when she told us,” said senior Garrett Caffee. Although she told the crew managers earlier, this was the first time she openly told the entire theatre department. When senior Megan Leckington was told of CzajkowskaThomson’s cancer in the summer time, she said that she was shocked and sad, and when Czajkowska-Thomson told everyone that she was leaving, one thought was running through her mind: “She’s been here longer than I have. It’ll take some time to adjust to her being gone.” Czajkowska-Thomson told everyone not to worry and that the theatre will now be in the hands of their new director, Jerry Ferraccio of the Eugene Shakespeare Ensemble. Leckington said, “It’ll be different now…I think that it’ll still be a great program.” Czajkowska-Thomson also said that she will be there every opening night to cheer on each and every person in the Sheldon Theatre Department.