Spectrum Accolade Volume 1 issue 1

Volume 1. Issue 1. March 2016

Spectrum High School

Arts & Entertainment

Sculpting Success

Happiness is Homemade

Marie Miller has been baking cakes for as long as she can remember. When she was in eighth grade, she decided to take it up a notch. Marie makes very extravagant cakes. She makes them for special events like cast parties for the plays she’s in or even some for class parties. She’s always loved cakes and that’s what inspired her to make them so special. She’s made about twenty special cakes like this and a countless amount of normal ones. Her favorite one is a purple castle made for a class party with a Romeo and Juliet theme. She spent countless hours time on it. In order to keep the towers standing up, she had to cut holes in them. She used little Prince Charming action figures to represent Romeo and Juliet. When asked what her favorite type of cake was, she said, “Vanilla, wait. Vanilla with almond frosting to be specific.” She’s been baking cakes her entire life, and will continue to bake them for years to come.

This semester Mrs. Katrina’s sculpture class is working on making paper maché animals. They have worked hard for three weeks drawing, gluing, and painting their projects. Each student picked out an unique animal that they wanted to construct. Examples include a panda, kangaroo, fox, chameleon, and an alligator. They have put in an extensive amount of effort into their animals. They are on display in the senior hallway.

Q: What is your favorite part of the project?

Desmond: “Putting the gluey paper on top of the dry paper.”

Q: What was the process of this project?

Desmond: “We made drawings, then we crumpled up paper, and then we wrapped glue paper around the non-glue paper, and now we are going to paint the dried glue paper.”

Q: Were you satisfied with how it turned out?

Desmond: “We are still in the process, so it looks fine now, the painting process is going to be hard because I’m not Van Gogh.”

“Cakes are like books,

There are new ones you want to read and old ones you want to reread.”

-Ellen Rose

Q: What was hard about the project?

Desmond: “Most definitely the painting.”

Marie’s cakes (Right and Left)

2

Photos by: Kayla Averbeck Writing by: MaKayla Morrell Interview with: Desmond Orton

Photos by: Marie Miller and Carter Allard Writing by: Carter Allard

3

Feature

Feature A Teacher

We recently interviewed Mrs. Katrina who is a new Are you a cat person or a dog person? teacher at Spectrum.

I am a cat person. I recently had to let go of my pet cat because it was 22 years old.

What made you want to come to Spectrum?

I wanted to get back to teaching high school. I also What is your favorite part about Spectrum, and wanted to invest in the art departments at Spectrum what is the hardest part? and help them grow.

My favorite part about teaching at Spectrum is all the awesome students I get to interact with. The hardest What advice would you give to someone just part for me as a teacher is not having higher level art starting high school? classes such as a painting 2 or a painting 3.

I would advise them to not stress themselves as much as students often do.

What is your dream vacation spot?

I would love to travel to Fi ji and stay in my own island hut. I love being outside and I love being on the beach.

We recently interviewed Lucas Garcia Silva who is a new teacher at Spectrum.

What made you want to come to Spectrum?

It seemed like a small school with great values and an environment that I would want to teach in. Which are true. I love working at Spectrum. I feels like a tight knit family.

What advice would you give to someone just starting high school?

Take your first year of High School serious. It takes a lot of work to get back to where you want to be if you don’t.

Geneva, WI Did you participate in any extra curricular activities after school?

I mostly played Football and Baseball in High School, but I also played a little Basketball and Hockey in High School as well.

Are you a cat person or a dog person?

I am a cat person What is your favorite part about Spectrum, and what is the hardest part?

My favorite part of teaching is building relationships with the students and being able to positively impact their lives. The hardest part is leaving my wife and boys in the morning.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Visiting my Dad in Spain, Sweden and the Florida Keys.

Photo by; Lucas Garcia Silva

Photo by Mrs. Katrina

How many kids do you have?

I have three boys and one on the way. Truit the oldest turns 6 in March, El jay turned 4 in November, Paxen turned 2 in September and boy number 4 is due in late May.

How many kids do you have?

I have two kids, Charlie is in tenth grade, and Lucy, who is seven.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time I enjoy being in the outdoors and taking in the fresh atmosphere around me.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time I spend time with my wife, play with my boys and play and watch sports when I get a chance.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Saulk Rapids, Minnesota. I attended Saulk Rapids Rice High School.

4

Did you participate in any extra curricular activities after school?

During high school I was involved in drumline, marching band, swimming, basketball, cross country skiing, and golf.

Photo by Holly M.

Where did you grow up?

Well I was born in Sweden and lived there until I was 4.

Then I lived in New Jersey for a couple of years. Then I lived in the Chicago area until 8th grade. Then I lived in Lake Geneva, WI during High School. So guess I grew up in a lot of places but my best memories are from living in the Chicago area.

Photo by Holly M.

Where did you go to high school?

I went to high school at Badger High School in Lake

5

Centerspread

10 Years with Peers

Photo by: J. Jakubiec Edited by: J. Cralley

Debra Hoyt

Written by: J. Jakubiec

“The trailers were actually way more fun. If you asked the students who were in both places, every single one of them would have gone back there in a heartbeat because there you were like a small family unit.

I like the interaction with the students. I proposed that we had student centered in our mission because I do think that we do a pretty good job of putting kids first.

Here I’ll just join in on their conversations, and I don’t think that you would get the opportunity to do that at a bigger school. I am very, very proud of what senior project looked like at the end and how much the kids benefited from that huge challenge. The other thing is that we have had quite a few students that have taken their senior projects and actually turned them into their career.”

Written by: J. Cralley

Vanessta Spark 6

“We started out with one sports team, and now we have 17. We started out with 5 classrooms, and now we have 40. Over $49,500 has been raised by senior projects. We started out with 3 college-in-school classes, and now we have 17.

It’s rewarding. The school has been blessed through the 10 years. I just want to thank all of the staff and students for the contributions in making this a great school. I also think that at this school, there’s high expectations for both staff and students, and everybody rises to high expectations. I think that’s what’s made the school so great.

I think I am leaving the school with it rising to the top both culturally and academically, and I think it’s a good time for someone else to come in and to take it to the next steps. Our 6th grade educational program is very strong, and I’d like to see the 7th and 8th graders have that same opportunity so that those good college readiness skills are ingrained at the middle school level, before they start with the high school level.”

Written by: J. Cralley

Spectrum High School began with 66 students, a small building, and a plan for better education.

Beginning its journey at the Boys and Girls Club, the school was able to maintain the small school setting that its creators wished for it to have. The following year, administration wanted to expand the school. They realized that the expansion of facilities was a must if they were going to include more students.

Packing up everything, they loaded the school into a semi-trailer and drove around, looking for a place to stay. A small patch of property was found on the border of Elk River, allowing the school to settle there and to continue for the upcoming year.

Portable trailers were shipped from a company in Ohio and were connected together to form a cohesive unit. 115 high-schoolers were able to move to this temporary building and to continue learning in a cozy environment.

September 5, 2006

August 18, 2007

Written by: J. Jakubiec

Spectrum felt that it was time to include more students in their school and to grow as a family.

Their plan was to make an environment that was safe and big enough for more students. They began construction on a permanent building that was not finished until the end of August. They were able to finish the building in the nick of time, opening it to more students and staff.

Spectrum wanted to have a separate space for the 6th graders because they wanted them to get used to becoming more independent before they transferred to the high school. Since the 6th graders are separate from the high school, they need to see how high schoolers have many responsibilities and how they interact with others.

Many substitute teachers that used to work at the high school moved to teach at the 6th grade center.

Page designed by: H. Skistad

May 20, 2011

March 27, 2014

7

Academics

Set the Standard

Standardized testing is defined as any test that is scored using a ‘standard.’ The MCA test, which stands for the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment, is used to show how much progress the students are making at different schools. The MCA tests are statewide. Contradictory to the MCA, the ACT is a nationwide test that students in 11th grade take, usually, as an entrance test looked at by colleges. On April 6th, Freshmen and Seniors get late arrival because they do not have to take the MCA tests.

The juniors are starting to prepare for the ACT, which is coming up on April 19th. Teachers with students in middle school, 10th grade, and 11th grade are helping their students to prepare for the MCA tests.

Q: Do you approve of standardized testing? Why or why not?

1. A car averages 27 miles per gallon. If gas costs $4.04 per gallon, which of the following is closest to how much the gas would cost for this car to travel 2,727 typical miles?

A. $44.44 B. $109.08 C. $118.80 D. $408.04 E. $444.40

Mr. Brunt replied “I do approve of standardized testing.

Question From: http://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/theThere is lots of data to measure: where you are and act/test-preparation.html where you ought to be against your peers and can help target what kind of help that an individual needs. We’ve Q: Do you approve of standardized testing? Why or been doing it for hundreds of years and it’s incredibly why not? useful.”

Nic replied, “no, because not everybody is at the same Q: Do you do anything in your classes to help students level. Standardized testing gives everyone all the same tests which makes it harder to see what level the prepare for Standardized testing or the ACT? students are actually at.”

Mrs. Pinz said “I do practice for the tests, quite frequently actually, every other day maybe, sometimes once a Q: Is standardized testing necessary in your opinion? day.”

Nic said, “yes, it’s necessary but the way we are doing it right now isn’t necessary.”

Q: What testing tips would you give to students?

“Make sure you get at least eight hours of sleep the night Q: Do your regular HS classes help you prepare and before, eat breakfast and not all sugar, drink plenty of get an idea for these tests? water, and try not to stress because stress is only going Nic told the interviewer, “yes and no, I wish we did a lot to reduce your capabilities.” Mr. Hyde advised. more stuff that was like the standardized tests.”

Earn College Credit for Free CaSH stands for College at Spectrum High. There are many CaSH classes for almost all subjects, including literature, math, science, history, and electives. CaSH classes give students credit for both high school and college. CaSH classes are only one semester long but end up giving students one high school credit for that one semester. By taking these classes, students can earn an associate degree and go to college for their freshman year as a junior. This saves a lot of money as well as getting students their bachelor’s degree sooner. Although the associate’s degree is still a whole lot of work, at least students will be getting two years of college done for free. Students will always be at Spectrum and will still be involved with Spectrum’s sports and activities.

Q: In what ways do you feel like your students have more of an advantage over other high school students when applying to colleges? If any at all?

Ms. Kinney told the interviewer, “I feel like the students have a lot more experience than other kids do, they get tricks of the trade so to speak, learning about things that most kids aren’t going to know about like bring a stapler, don’t hang around after class because your professor’s not going to have time for you, go to office hours etc.”

Q: In what ways do you feel like you have more of an advantage over other high school students when applying to colleges? If any at all?

Noelle said, “I feel like I know more about deeper level, deconstructing of meanings. Such as in my literature classes with Kinney. I’ve been prepared to take better, more thorough notes and how to read certain passages better.”

Q: What is the average amount of hours of homework you have a week?

Anna replied, “Honestly it is hard to say because it varies a lot, sometimes I won’t have any homework but if I’m doing a big project, depending on how much I procrastinate, it’s never been more than a couple hours for all my cash classes I have more homework in my normal classes than my CaSH classes.”

Q: Do you think CaSH classes are significantly more difficult and have significantly more homework?

Anna told the interviewer, “I don’t think they have more homework, they are more difficult in that they have a deeper meaning. A lot of things are more detail oriented but not more work.”

Q; What testing tips do you have for younger students?

Answer: D. $408.04

8

“Try hard, don’t do drugs, and stay in school,” Nic advised.

Credits: Photo McKenzie Johnson Interviewer: Alec Starika Writer: Morgan Schelske Page Layout: Morgan Schelske and McKenzie Johnson

9

News

We also interviewed Mr. Brunt about Black History month

Q: Why is Black History Month important to you?

Q: Why is important that we have a Black History Month?

Q: What event caused them to make Black History Month?

A: It was more during the Civil Rights Movement and equality and just the general final understanding that history is not just a one person perspective its not just the majority class it isn’t the only history that’s out there, everybody has a history. And its important to explore all types of history.

10

Black History Month

We interviewed Mr. Gangl about Black History month.

A: Why is it important to me? Black History Month is important to me because we have Black History Month so that we can understand all sides of history. It’s not just the majority that has a history the minority also has a history and we should teach as many types of viewpoints as we can come up with.

Photo Journalism

Heely’s On a Roll

A: It is important to have Black History Month because often times in history you do end up with a grand narrative that you see in textbooks and on television. It is important to highlight various aspects of narratives that are often times overlooked in society. It is important to focus on black history. It’s part of our history, though. Black history is American history. There is a cultural need to have it in the first place, otherwise it wouldn’t have as much prominence as it does.

I think it is important for Americans to focus on our shared history.

Q: How do you think African Americans feel if we didn’t have a Black History Month?

A: Well, I think a better question perhaps would be to how do African Americans feel about having a Black History Month. I think a better question would be is it a time for all Americans of all races, not just the African American History?

I would suggest that they are proud of Black History Month and I suggest that Americans are proud of Black History Month because it is our history. One of the things that I think we could collectively do a better job of during Black History Month is stressing that it is actually our shared history and past.

Photo by I. Riley

The bell rings. Students pour into the hallways and the sound of rolling can be heard around the school. Three boys glide through the hallways on their new kicks. The looks on their faces display their pride in their shoe choices. Lately at Spectrum High School, Heelys have started to roll back around. When Junior, Joel Zimmerman, was asked why he got Heelys again, he said, “why not?” Two other students, Junior, Ben Kopp, and Sophomore, Parker Stockwell, have also been spotted wearing their new Heelys proudly. This is just one of the many fashion trends that can be seen around Spectrum that is making a comeback. No one knows how long it will last and how many people will join the Heelys crew, but one thing is for sure; Heelys have rolled right back into fashion.

Story by M.McCarty Page design by C. Mahanna

11

Opinion

Trending @ SHS

The Choice Review

By Madeline Hayes and Taylor Johnson

Nicholas Sparks is an inspired writer who has brought his romantic books to life in his famous movies like The Notebook, Safe Haven, and his most recent film, The Choice. Girls filled the theaters over the weekend and dragged their boyfriends along to see it.

The Choice was a movie we were not expecting to enjoy as much as we did. Travis’ character was the classic boy who’s a smooth talker and very good with his words. We noticed a trend in Nicholas Sparks’ lead male roles where he makes them vulnerable, so that girls enjoy their soft sides. Gabby, on the other hand, was a very sassy character who played hard to get with Travis. We didn’t completely understand her humor or her attitude throughout the movie, and it was sometimes bothersome to us. We’ve enjoyed most of Nicholas Sparks’ main female leads, so this was surprising to us.

The end of the movie ended differently than I imagined since Nicholas Sparks enjoys adding surprises. Sparks did gain inspiration from The Notebook. He says “I wanted to write a novel with a structure and tone that harked back to The Notebook, the story of a man who loves a woman unconditionally.” We would suggest to go see this movie because overall it was exceptional.

Photo credit: lionsgate.com and page design by Hayley Balmanno

PROM: With a date, or with friends?

EMOJIS: Which one is Spectrum’s favorite?

SPECTRUM SAYS:

SPECTRUM SAYS:

53.4% of Spectrum students think that going with a date is better, but 46.6% think going with friends is better.

Above is Spectrum’s most used emoji. Other favorites include: the kiss face, the thumbs up, the sunglasses, the smiley face, and various colored hearts.

What do YOU think?

Which one is YOUR favorite?

CELLPHONES: Android or iPhone?

SPECTRUM SAYS:

12

Photo by Taylor Johnson

Photo by Madeline Hayes

71.7% of Spectrum’s students prefer iPhones over Androids, but 28.3% prefer Androids.

What do YOU think?

Photo by Taylor Johnson