Tamaqua Blue and White - Issue 1, Volume 1

Tamaqua Blue and White Issue 1

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All this and MORE!

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20TH, 2011 – DRIVER’S ED PROPOSAL – TAMS LGI

PLEAD FOR

Kayla Hope, class president of the senior class, invited the student body of Tamaqua High School to join her class officers and the underclass officers to the board meeting which took place on Tuesday, December 20th. The meeting did not have a specific topic, but the students were going to propose a driver’s education class for the high school.

Once the meeting started, Mr. Wittig explained that there were two time slots that the students would be able to speak, but the slots were not until the end of the meeting. Thus, he gave the students permission to speak at the start of the meeting. Kayla began by telling the board of the different ways the class could be conducted. The class could either be the traditional type driver’s ED class, in which the students would meet with the teacher who would instruct them with no on the road training, or the district could purchase a simulator.

A simulator is a device that allows the student to sit in a car-like structure and be put through real life situations with no actual danger. The students would be put in situations including black ice and animals running out in front of them. This is a huge benefit for the students since they would be able to experience the situations they could not be able to in a traditional instruction-based class class. Also, that they would be able to experience driving in a safe, hazardless manner.

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Ms. Makuta said that the students needed to choose the direction in which they would like to go, as they were speaking about both options but did not have a clear statement of which they were leaning toward. Kayla quickly responded saying that they were giving the board all the options they had in hopes that they would be able to give them the support to guide them in the correct direction. Although the simulator is an estimated $20,000, the students would rather the exciting experience it would provide.

DRIVERS ED

YOUR Opinion Honestly, I think that drivers ED should be available to each and every student at Tamaqua. Teenagers think they’re invincible, and are careless behind the Yes, if it was offered I wheel and drive too would have definitely fast. I think it would really chosen to take the make a difference. class.

-Dani Beers, senior I think our school getting the driving simulator is exactly what our school needs to possibly reduce the risk of fatalities and save classes to come from facing a tragedy themselves or loss of a classmate.

-Lance Williams, senior I think people will take it seriously if they are shown real facts about what could happen if they are not careful.�

-Shane Baddick, junior

Along with the cost of the simulator, a certified instructor would have to be appointed to oversee the students and give them the exams or materials they would need. Ms. Makuta stated that there are currently drivers ED certified faculty members in the district.

tor’s advantages were far more important than the small discount the insurance had to offer.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the board decided they needed to look further into the simulator and points the students made throughout the meeting, and The classes and board also disdecisions would be made at a cussed the insurance discounts that later time. In closing, Mr. Wittig also the students would be able to take stated that he was very impressed advantage of if they were in an that all the classes were representactual car with a traditional class. ed at the meeting.

They later decided that the simula-

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HIDDEN

Colin Mashack - Singer Q: When did you start singing?

A: Well, I sang ever since I was little, but I got seriously into it at about 13.

Q: Is singing a hobby, or do you plan on making something out of it?

A: Right now, it’s just a hobby, but I’d like to go somewhere with it like study music production in college or something like that. I like it because it’s very peaceful, and you can show any type of emotion through a song.

Q: What’s your favorite type of music?

A: I don’t really have a favorite type; I like mostly everything, and I try to learn a variety of songs to keep it interesting. It feels good when you learn a song on an instrument and can sing it at the same time; for example, I play piano or guitar as I sing.

Q: How long have you been playing guitar and piano?

A: Guitar I’ve been playing since I was 9, I want to say. I just recently started learning piano after Christmas because I got a keyboard.

Q: Do you plan to produce new music videos?

A: Yes, as soon as I get free time after wrestling is over.

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Amber Carroll - Karate Q: When did you start karate?

A: I started it in the 7th grade and had class once a week, so it took me about 5 years to actually become a black belt.

Q: How do you become a black belt?

A: There are charts with a certain number of techniques you have to memorize and correctly demonstrate in order to move onto the next color belt. Along with about 50 or more techniques that you exhibit with your bare hands in order to be a black belt, you also have to learn gun, knife, and baton techniques. You face a series of reaction drills where you are attacked with numerous types of weapons, punches, kicks, and grabs all at once, and you must successfully manipulate the attacker with the use of all the things you have learned. You must complete 100 jumping jacks, sit-ups, and push-ups for the duration of a song (around 3-4 min).

Q: How do you think karate has helped you?

A: Overall, karate requires focus and discipline because it prepares you for a very serious situation that can occur; however, even though most of the time seriousness is key, you still have laughs with the friends you made around you which makes it, from my point of view, an extremely fun and worthwhile experience.

TALENTS!

Mrs. Drum - Snowboarding Q: How long have you been snowboarding?

A: This is only my second year snowboarding. I still have a lot to learn, and I am still on the beginner slopes.

Q: What’s your favorite part about it?

A: I like the rush of flying down the mountain (when I am not falling). And, of course, I like the cool, yet strange, clothing that I get to wear. It is the only place you can wear such bright colors and still fit in perfectly!

Nicki Mateyak & Nikki Slivka - Cake Decorating Q: When did you start making cakes?

A: Nikki- My passion started a few years ago while watching Cake Boss and the Ace of Cakes.

Nicki - I just started helping Nikki last year one day when I was over her house.

Q: Do you have any plans for a super-awesome trip?

A: I am going on my first trip to Vermont in February!

Q: What’s your favorite part?

A: Nikki - I like when I get to hand paint flowers or make silly cakes.

Nicki - I like making the different things to put on the cakes.

Q: What motivated you to start snowboarding?

A: My husband really liked it, and he kept insisting that I would go with him.

Q: How did you come up with your name?

A: We combined our two names to come up with the name Nickki Squared Cakes.

Q: What is your biggest fear?

A: Keeping my head safe! Breaking an arm or two wouldn’t affect me that much, but I need my brain for my job!

Q: What are your favorite cakes you’ve made?

A: Nikki - My favorite was the Kung Fu Panda birthday cake.

Nicki - Mine was the island cake.

Written By: Jacqueline McMullen Photos: Kyle Weaver

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Facebook Love

Emailing, texting, video chatting, bbming, social networking, and other fabulous, new

communication technologies are transforming our lives. Even our love lives cannot escape the buzzing influence of the new technology. Face to face interaction is being replaced with Facetime video chatting, and meeting new people can be as painless as clicking “Send Friend Request.” With the new online playing fields, the rules of the love game have changed. This Valentine’s Day, we are providing you with a couple of tips and explanations to help get you off the computer and into the dating scene!

Stage 1- Flirting Poking- Think of poking someone on Facebook as being reminiscent of hair pulling in your elementary days. It’s slightly annoying but gets your presence and interest known. Watch out though; poking someone too often or poking back too fast will make you end up looking creepy. Eek! Changed Relationship Statuses- Break ups are tough, but Facebook is the perfect place to advertise your new single swagger.

Liking someone’s changed relationship status can mean you either have sympathy for them or are ready to replace the ex and be the next!

143- It’s the new way to say “I Love You.” It shows that you can count up to four and are totally hip with all the new slang. Also, it provides a buffer for that awkward moment when you don’t want to say I love you. “I like pie” and “I hate you” is the same amount of letters, so 143 away!

Truth is-Here it is, your chance to get your foot in the door! Like your crush’s “truth is” status, and hopefully they will tell you one of these Facebook compliments: “You’re chill,” “We don’t talk, but we should,” “You’re cute,” “Let’s hang out sometime,” or “I don’t really know you, but that should change.” Be sure to respond with something really deep and romantic like, “Yeah deff haha.”

Stage 2- Relationship You snagged your crush, good job! Now, here are a couple hints on how to keep your relationship cyber-proof and happy.

Facebook Official- It is always a good idea to keep your relationship to yourself at first, just in case something happens. However, if you’ve been dating for 3 months and your other half won’t make if Facebook official, watch out. They might be hiding you!

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with Danielle Fox It’s complicated- Never let the world peer too much into your private life. If you and your boo are having problems, changing your relationship status to the forbearing “It’s Complicated” is not going to help! Sit them down, and try to make things less complicated instead. Real Talk.

Stage 3- How Not to be Annoyingly in Love Facebook Hacking- “I love you so much Michael! Hacked by his Girlfriend ;)” Hacking Facebook accounts? How Mr. and Mrs. Smith of you. But not really. Cut it out, and stop the invasion of privacy.

Making Out Pictures- Kissing someone you love can be beautiful, but the photo you took of it isn’t.

Tags at the end of statuses/ I love you posts- Do they not have texting?!

FACEBOOK STATUS OF THE MONTH!

Written By: Danielle Fox

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JORDAN’S If you were to buy a vacation home, where would you choose? I would assume that for most, the first place that would come to mind is probably a house along the coast. Somewhere you can look out your window and see the vast blue ocean span further than you could ever fathom—the waves rhythmically stretching out along the soft white sand, tickling your toes as you listen contently to the caw of the seagulls and feel the warmth of the sun on your face. Somewhere you can lie on a hammock, dozing off with the sweet sea breeze against your skin.

Sounds ideal, right? On that note, I guess it’s pretty safe to say that my parents are far from conventional. Imagine my bewilderment as they broke the news to me that they had purchased a home in Etna, Wyoming—population 200.

For months, I stubbornly insisted that it would not kill me to live my life without seeing this house, but before I knew it, my mother and I were boarding a plane to Salt Lake City, Utah, luggage full of warm layers in hand.

Seated next to me is a 20-something-year-old guy from Syracuse with an iPad and a MacBook (why did he need both?) wearing an orange sweater. The fact that he’s all decked out in electronics makes me want to ask for a donation to my college tuition. After five hours, my legs are tingling, my butt is completely numb, my ears are ringing and my eyes are crossed from reading 215 pages of the Hunger Games, so I look out my window to see a sight so unreal. Orange sweater guy must be judging the fact that I can’t peel myself away from the window. Below us stand the Rocky Mountains—jagged, snow capped, and sprinkled with evergreen trees. They are absolutely glorious. During the four hour drive from Salt Lake City to Etna, the view from below is just as astonishing. I could not help but to stare wide-eyed at the landscape that stretched before us, snapping my camera at any chance I can. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear that it was just a really big mural. I am awestruck, to say the least.

Once we hit Wyoming, snow is falling at a decent pace around us, and the road lines are becoming invisible, but we make it. However, we’re not-so-graciously welcomed by my step dad and my boyfriend, Matt, who made the cross-country drive in two days. I tour the house filled with boxes, mattresses, appliances, and furniture that have yet to be set up. It’s actually nice and cozy. I approve.

During the next three days, I am culture shocked. Let me begin by attempting to describe the layout. A town consists of a main road; two lanes that are widely spanned for snow plow purposes, I assume. There exists one cop, so passing a car that insists on driving 5 miles per hour as they gawk at the elk reserve off to the side (ahem, us…) would not be a rare occurrence. There exists one gas station, one church, an Elementary school, one post office, and a few diners, saloons, and taverns, but they all have two things in common: they’re extremely tiny, and they close early. (IF you’re picturing the movie Cars, you’re not far off.) Beyond the road on both sides sits those beautiful mountains, so tall that the peaks have become invisible behind an ominous fog. Houses are dispersed everywhere, whether they’re right off the road or randomly placed beyond the evergreens along the steep side of the mountain. Most are log cabins, and they’re enormous.

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JOURNAL

The day we arrived, it snowed continuously into the next, and I was taken aback by the fact that school was still in session. This wasn’t just a couple flurries. There was about a foot on the ground. I was entertained by the thought of Tamaqua’s reaction to such weather.

One of the most obvious differences from the coal region is the people. Wyoming natives are actually nice, and they’re equally interesting. Friendliness is ubiquitous here, whether they’re your neighbors or the waitresses at the diner. “Hi! Where are you from? What brings you all the way out here?” And they continue to fill you in on what is practically their life story.

Thinking back, it was pretty closed-minded of me to refuse to want to come here. Sure, it was pretty much what I expected—cold, quiet, dry—but even after I lost feeling in my fingers, woke up with a bloody nose, took a cold shower, got stuck in the snow, and fell asleep at 9 due to jet lag, I still found myself content. I may not have that beach house view, but here I sit, looking out the window at the vast white landscape, dotted with pine trees and cozy log cabins. Our neighbor’s horses whinny inside their wooden fences, flicking their tails at the snowflakes as they fall. My backyard consists of a mountain range, both intimidating yet welcoming. “It’s like a whole other world out here,” said one of our waitresses. She couldn’t have said it any better. I can see now that it truly is a getaway. Just

You!

To: Tamaqua High School Blue and White ATTN: Miss Schmauch RM 105A 500 Penn Street Tamaqua, PA 18252

HEY YOU! Let us know your dream vacation home! Submit your name, homeroom, and answer to Miss Schmauch in Room 105A by February 20th for your chance to win a $15 Dimaggio’s gift certificate!

Written & Photographed by: Jordan Reabold

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New Kids!

Being the new kid at school has its advantages and its disadvantages. For some, a fresh start, new friends, and a different atmosphere can be an adventure, but a a struggle for others. Finding your place in high school is hard enough when you’ve been attending school with the same people in your class. For those who transfer, finding their place could be very easy or nearly impossible. Derrian Gulden and Alyssa Beil are two fresh faces in THS this year. Let’s hear what they have to say about being the new kid!

Q: What school did you come from?

A: Panther Valley

Q: What school did you come from?

A: Shenandoah Valley

Q: What is the hardest part about transferring schools?

A: The hardest part would be coming into a school where you barely know anyone, and you have to find the right place to fit into. People separate themselves into groups, and you just have to find the right group that you fit into; it’s normal at any high school.

Q: What is the hardest part about transferring schools?

A: The hardest part of transferring schools for me was leaving my friends that I’ve been around my whole life and being surrounded by people I didn’t know.

Q: What is the biggest difference between Tam aqua and Panther Valley?

A: I’d have to say the academics are much more advanced.

Q: How do you feel about THS? A: I feel that our school is a great school, its just the drama.

Written By: Brianna Bittner

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Q: What is the biggest difference between Tamaqua and Shenandoah Valley?

A: The biggest difference is the schedule. At S.V., we only had seven periods and didn’t start until 8:05 A.M. Q: How do you feel about THS? A: I’ve come to enjoy attending THS. I have had the opportunity to meet some incredible people, and I believe that the challenging curriculum will benefit me in my future.

ART At Tamaqua High, there are a variety of art classes that are offered to students. Each art elective is worth one credit and is a year long course. THS offers Intro to Art, Drawing/Painting, 3D Design/ Ceramics, and Advanced Drawing and Painting. Each class is instructed

by Mrs. Chromiak. Here is one of her start students, Nikki, has to say about her art elective:

Nikki Klatka

Q: What course are you currently taking?

A: Intro. to Art. Q: Do you look forward to art class?

A: Yes, I enjoy it very much!

Q: What is your favorite part of art class?

A: Mrs. Chromiak is so nice and we do lots of fun projects!

Dear Eli, Greetings readers! As the above title suggests, I am indeed a senior in Tamaqua, and thus have survived three and a half years of the daily grind we call high school. Through my experiences, I have learned a certain number of lessons that have made life easier and will hopefully aid me in the real world after graduation. While this section will usually be reserved for questions that you, the students, may have for me, I have decided that with the current lack of questions I will instead impart unto you four tips, hints and lessons that have helped me up to this point in my life. Enjoy…

TIP 1: DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Take it from me, procrastination is bad. It’s the reason why people stress out. It’s the reason why they lose sleep the day before a project is due. It’s the reason why I’m sitting at my computer at 12:30 in the morning the day this is due in to my editor. And don’t tell me that you work better under pressure, it’s a lie. No one ever wrote their best paper the day it was due. No one ever got a 100 on a test that they studied for the period before it was given. When you stop procrastinating, life becomes easier. You lose stress. You get things done, plain and simple.

-Good Luck 11

SPORTS By: Caroline Kanaski

Every February, the regular winter sports’ seasons come to a close, and the championship excitement starts to build up. Each team is practicing its hardest as we approach various league and district championship events.

Make sure you cheer on the swimming, basketball, and wrestling teams at the few final contests of the season!

Our dedicated teams appreciate all the support!

Sunday

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February

Monday

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Tuesday

Thursday

Minersville 6:00

Boys & Girl’s Swimming @ Blue Mountain 4:30

1 Girl’s BB vs. 2

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Wednesday

Wrestling @ Martz Hall 7:00

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Boys’ BB vs PV Girls’ BB & @ PV Wrestling vs. Tri- Boys’ BB @ Jim 6:00 6:00 Valley 7:00 Thorpe 6:00

Friday

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Saturday Girls and Boys’ BB vs Leighton GJV 3:30 BJV after GV 6:30 BV 7:15

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League Swimming @ Martz Hall

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Valentine’s Day Wrestling @ Blue Mountain 7:00

Wrestling vs.

Coughlin 7:00

Wrestling: Individual Districts @ Freedom with finals @ Liberty

THON

Wrestling: Individual Districts @ Freedom with Finals @ Liberty

Coming Next Month: A spotlight of winter athletes!

Aquarius Jan 20-Feb 1 8: Break out that classic warm (and cute!) sw eater around V-D ay. You’ll be sure to get some compli ments ;)

Pisces 11 will Feb 19-Mar 20: February write be your time to shine! So winthat theme paper, score the al eci sp t tha ning basket or ask Aries Mar 21-Apr 19: All the stress from m id-terms made you fo rget about yo ur

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Taurus Apr 20-May 20: Everyone is asking for your help around th e 21st.

Learn how to say no! You’l l need a weekend to yourself after all that work.

Gemini e’s May 21-Jun 20: You don’t take Valentin ude Day seriously, but don’t let your attit the ist Res ! ruin your friends’ flirty fun urge to prank-call around V-day...

VIRGO hitting the Aug 23-Sep 22: You’ll be rgo. Your books hard this month, Vi ll burn you craving for perfection wi the 23rd! out if you don’t ease up on LIBRA playing match-maker Sep 23-Oct 22: You’ll be rd work will pay off this February! All your ha t an unexpected text! on the 10th when you ge

Sagittarius Nov 22-Dec 21: On the 7th, you hea r some not -sogoo d new s.

Inv e esti gate m befo o re you ’ll find s 27th, you n freak out! Smooth sailing for the rest of the LEO e o ll th a n it O : w g 22 on’t blo month, Sag :) Jul 23-Au r wallet. D you’ll be suru o y in h s a d c n a a p tr ex ave u Capricorn t lunch! S cookies a Dec 22-Jan 19: Dream on, CapCancer Scorpio prised. rico ruin rn! Be ready for the 18th and ex r you let ’t May 21-Jun 20: Don Oct 23-Nov 21: Get ready e 28th for hav , because your lucky stars will so nds me rough your V-Day! Luckily, your frie water...you’ll be question ing ut be some relation- lined up so you can achieve the perfect plan to help you forget abo ships in your life after the 12 th.

Times like your goals! Best of luck! s! ship your past relation these call for a heart-toheart!

Love: Tamaqua’s Favorite Extracurricular

love is deemed as such a girly subject.

the surrounding negativity of some of our

us stir-crazed school kids devote our adora-

Others were on the fence about the sub-

classmates, Cady O’Malley was unable to

tion to something other than the cookies at

ject. Sarah “Sass” Lesisko sassily wrote that

answer this part of the survey because she

lunch. It’s Valentine’s Day, and while we might

love does exist but “…clearly if you’re in a

is so happy in

not still have the cutely decorated Valentine

relationship for 2 weeks, you don’t love the

her relationship.

card boxes, we haven’t forgotten the holiday.

person yet”. Many participants agreed on

She is truly in

Couples parade around the school doused

just that, and reiterated the statement in their

the love-themed

in new colognes, sporting new jewelry, and

own answers. Alan Duffy-Guy (AKA Walter,

holiday spirit. On

bearing the weight of one too many fine

Gage, and ADG) poetically questioned not

another happy note,

chocolates. Yet, is it all for show? Are we

the existence of love in high school, but its

Senior and fellow newspa-

simply trying to act older than we are by pre-

strength. Some couldn’t answer the question

editor Jordan Reabold writes that she loves

tending to be in love? Twenty-two Tamaqua

because they didn’t know for themselves; only

“…knowing that someone accepts you no

high school students and even a couple

12 students reported that they had been in

matter how weird you are and being able to

alumni completed surveys answering this very

love at one point in their lives. However, one

be comfortable around them”. Obviously, she

question along with a few other that help to

person that was quite confident that they

has forgiven her boyfriend Matt Delborrello

shed some light on what love means to the

had been in love was Swedish exchange

for calling her “meaty” the week before. Oth-

awkward but blossoming youth of our school.

student Hilda Thalin, who gave her trademark

er participants love always having someone

“Oh yeah!” when asked! While not everyone

there for them, how comfortable they feel,

couples in high school and have coined the

had been in love in a typical situation, all

going out on dates, and just having some-

term “puppy love.” Most

the

students could still describe

one to talk to. Awhhhhhhhh, how precious.

adults, and even some

their platonic love for things

students, believe that high

like food, country boys, Tyler

erybody has to enjoy/suffer through February

February in high school: a time when

Adults often look down upon

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schoolers are too young to know what love is. Tamaqua senior Cady O’Malley believes differently and argues, “It doesn’t matter what age you are, where it takes place, love is

Groner, Tim Tebow, and Mrs. Kotch.

Not everyone in high school has been in love, but a good number have still been in a relationship. When ques-

per

Whether you are in love or not, ev-

14. If you are single, you might find yourself on the side of 9 of our participants who vote that the holiday is “Single’s Awareness Day.” I’ll admit to not exactly knowing what they are aware of. Regardless of your current love

love.” Thirteen other participants agree just

tioned about what they love and hate in a

situation or belief, have a happy February!

that; love is love at any age. Juniors Emily

relationship, the participants came up with

XOXO.

Bumbulsky and Maria Streisel both imparted

some pretty clever answers. Senior Zack

that their parents were high school sweet-

Zancofsky hates when his girl nags and

hearts. Things like that give hope to high

goes through his phone, while Brazilian

school couples everywhere and show that

exchange student Victor Lima confusingly

this can truly be the real thing. The other 8

answered that he hates computers. Others

participants are either unsure of this or don’t

hate the trust issues, jealousy, ditching

believe in love’s existence in high school.

friends, fighting, and jerk boyfriends. Even

Senior Zack Ruba thinks that love is just a lie

cuddling was brought up as a downside

made up by guys; this is surprising because

of being in a relationship. Regardless of

Written By: Danielle Fox

-Jacob Gursky

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“Look honey, a shooting star! Make a wish!

Pieracini’s Market Discount!

Receive $0.50 off any hot or cold subs when you present this coupon at the counter!

107 Hunter Street Tamaqua, PA 18252 (570)-668-5347