Novdec2016Fullissue

Volume 51, Issue 3

November/December 2016

Hop over to Page 7 to see more about Hayden Hopper.

FInd out more about your president-elect on Page 2

See Jamie Shaw like you’ve never seen him before on Page 6.

Commodore THE

@COMMODOREMEDIAGROUP @DORESCRUISER

CRUISER

Champions

by La’Keirra Owens and MaryKate Newman

The Commodores finished the season out undefeated and won North Half. Over the weekend of December 3, the Dores anchored down against the Poplarville Hornets at Scott Field Davis-Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss.

Lafayette began the playoffs strong with the score of 44-0 against Shannon on Nov. 4.

The next week the Dores defeated Louisville 24-7. On Nov. 18 the dominated Amory with a score of 51-13.

Just two weeks ago the Dores played their biggest opponent, Pontotoc.

This game was very close throughout the whole game. The Dores played hard and managed to win with a score of 21-14.

On Dec. 2, at William Buford Stadium, the entire Lafayette County School District celebrated the Dores with a pep rally, congratulating them on their North Half Championship and making it to State.

Remembering Caitlin

by Hannah Vanderwall. Katie Shonffer, Maddy Muleky, Elaina Dickerson

Caitlin Rose Williams died on November 12, 2016, while at a church activity. Williams was a junior at Lafayette High School who was known throughout the school for her dazzling smile and her eager acceptance of others.

She touched the lives of many during her years at LHS and impacted students greatly. Though she may not have been close to every student, almost every single one of them felt her loss in one way or another.

Williams was a member of the LHS annual staff, advised by Loidha Bautista. Bautista said though she “doesn’t have just one favorite memory” of Williams, one stuck out more than the others.

“The day after they adopted Addie, her little sister, she came in and I asked her where she had been and she just said ‘Well let me show you why.’ She pulled out her phone and showed me a picture of the family in front of the county offices,” Bautista said. “That was the proudest I’ve seen her.”

Bautista was impacted by Williams in many ways, but more so in the way of writing and reporting. Williams was always doing something different than everyone else and thinking outside of the box, a quality many remember her for.

“She challenged me,” Bautista said. “She wasn’t afraid to go get stories that other people wouldn’t have.”

A student who was close to Williams is junior, Cora Lawrence, who has many fond memories with her.

She has been impacted most in the way of Williams’ loving heart.

“Caitlin impacted my life by caring for and loving others,” Lawrence said. “She would never judge a book by its cover.”

Lawrence and Williams often attended church-related activities together, and this is the reason they came to be so close. Though Lawrence holds many memories with Williams close to her heart, there is one she has to choose as her favorite.

“My favorite memory with Caitlin is when we did a Bible Study before school,” Lawrence said. “She was so eager to help spread the love of Christ to others.”

Many students can be seen wearing yellow ribbons, either tied around their wrists or in their hair, as yellow was Williams’ favorite color. On top of that, throughout Instagram and Snapchat, students are using the #CarelikeCaitlin and #LovelikeCaitlin hashtags to remember Williams.

Leslie Traylor, one of Williams’ close friends, thought of the hashtags for Williams to “get out who she was and what she believed in.” The hashtags now help keep her soul and beliefs alive.

“She was and accepting person and she wanted the world to share that,” Traylor said. “She left her mark,

her legacy, on this world. I hoped to brand it farther, to make the world a place love, compassion, and acceptance. It’s how she would’ve wanted it.”

According to Lawrence, it is to “keep Caitlin’s sweet and caring spirit alive.” The hashtags are all over social media, mostly originating from those who knew and loved her. It is a testament to how many people she managed to reach, befriend, and change within her time at LHS. Williams might not have known it, but she affected people in a lot of ways. Mrs. Tamekia Helm, her Family Dynamics teacher, definitely had a great impact that Williams made on her.

“In all my years of teaching, I have never encountered a student like Caitlin,” Helm said. “She was so inquisitive and well rounded in so many areas that I found myself learning so much from her in the many discussions that we had in Family Dynamics.”

Many students may not have known Williams, but whether students knew her or not she had some sort of impact on students. Some say that “she made girls feel beautiful” and “she made people safe in who they were and she made them feel comfortable.”

Williams’s presence in LHS will never cease to exist.

“Caitlin is a student that will never be forgotten. Her presence in my 5th period class is really missed, but her voice, opinions, and her views on life will be things that I will always remember,” Helm said.

Student News The Commodore Cruiser 2

Students spill about studying

The Commodore Cruiser Lafayette High School 160 Commodore Dr. Oxford, MS 38655 (662) 234-3614 Staff Natalie Boone Elaina Dickerson Javieus Lyons Destiny Mooneyham Madeline Mulkey Mary Kate Newman La’Keirra Owens Samantha Rayburn Brook Savage Ella Rose Scott Katie Shoffner Katie Sicks Hannah Vanderwall Dontavius Webb Adviser: Marisa Atkinson Principal: Dr. Glenn Kitchens

Editorial Policy

by Kaitie Shoffner With the exam season in December looming on the horizon, many students can be seen worrying extensively and stressing out. The prospect of studying is considered a daunting one for students, as it takes a lot of work and organization. It seems kids in this day and age have many other things they would much rather be doing other than studying, like playing video games or going out. However, 50% of students surveyed in a New York University study complete at least three hours of homework a night. This could be argued as quite a heavy workload for high school students.

Alexis Mclarty, a sophomore, is a student who has no grade “less than a 97” and holds the belief that studying is an important part of learning. She is not someone who spends all of her time studying though, as she has many other things to do, like dancing or volunteering

for the clubs she’s in.

“I study for about an hour the night before I have a test,” Mclarty said.

“Mostly I pay attention in class.”

Mclarty says she “lays out her notes in class” and then reads over them when she gets home, usually around 10:30 at night.

The most important thing, according to her, is to just listen to your teachers and pay attention in class.

Though she studies for all of her classes, one she devotes a bit more time to than others.

“I study the most for world history,” she said. “Anderson’s a little tough.”

A freshman who is always making sure she is prepared is Julie Ann Moore. She is known throughout the ninth grade class as a responsible and mature student. Moore, like Mclarty, studies before her tests, but instead of the night before, it’s the week before. She tries to be as organized as possible, which is not always

an easy task.

“I make flashcards in class,” she said, “and I study them at night for about 30 minutes.”

Moore says she studies the most for her Mississippi Studies class. She keeps a planner to make sure she gets everything she needs to do done on time.

Moore has several tips that make studying easier, but most of them she considers common sense.

Her grades are also high, showing these tips are effective.

“One tip is to find key things to match with answers to help you remember them,” she said.

Many universities offer tips for studying that are applicable to students of any age. The American Institute of Business offers an online list of the ten most useful study tips, which includes determining your learning style and planning for spending more time than you need.

It also encourages students to take breaks and seek new resources.

Quong has the Song

The views and opinions expressed in this paper are of Mrs. Quong’s Friday Walk an editorial narture and do by Elaina Dickerson not necessarily represent the views of the Cruiser staff, advisors, school faculty, or administrators of the Lafayette County School District. Guest editorials may be submitted to the Cruiser and will be publishned to according to available space and relevnce. Annonymous submissions will not be considered.

Out Song

Mrs. Sally Quong is getting ready to turn on the disco ball.

Every high school student dreads going to school on Friday as they are looking forward to the upcoming weekend.

Sally Quong, a history

teacher at Lafayette High School, gives her students a positive boost at the end of every week.

“Okay everybody, it’s Friday. It’s time for Mrs.

Quong’s Friday ‘Walk Out Song’. Be safe, be smart, wear your seatbelt, you’re important to me and I’ll see you Monday,” Quong says every Friday as a part

Studying habits depend on the person for the most part, but with exams coming up soon hopefully

these broad tips from LHS students can help ease some anxiety.

of her “Walk Out Song” tradition.

Every Friday, Quong plays a song and turns on the colorful disco ball in her room. Although, Quong doesn’t play any modern songs that every high school student listens to.

“It exposes them to music that they maybe haven’t heard,” Quong said.

Quong plays music of her own unique taste.

“Sometimes, I’ll pick a song based on what we’re studying,” Quong said.

The “Walk Out Song” tradition is a way for Quong to motivate her students. Because of her thoughtful words, happy personality, and clever choice of songs, Quong’s students walk out of the classroom inspired.

“It’s really a chance for me to tell my students to

be safe over the weekend,” Quong said, “It lets them know that I care about them and that they’re important to me.”

For the students, the Friday tradition helps pump them up for the rest of the school day.

“I enjoy it because it helps the whole classroom has a positive vibe and it starts our weekend good,” Cora Lawrence, junior at LHS, said.

Some students have become so accustomed to the tradition that they look forward to it. Sometimes, Quongs students remind her that it’s Friday as they are anticipating the “Walk Out Song”.

“It makes me happy that they like it,” Quong said.

“It’s usually upbeat,” Lawrence said, “It makes me feel joyful.”

New President in office

by MaryKate Newman

Donald Trump was elected president on November eighth. Current president, Barack Obama, met with Trump on November 10 at the White House in the Oval Office.

He is scheduled to be inaugurated in January 2017.

Trump was born in 1946 in Queens, New York being the fourth of five children. He later went onto Fordham University and two years later moved to Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1968 with a degree in economics.

Trump joined his family business while in college. In this business he followed renting of middle-class apartments. He also became interested in realty. After several successful buys he opened the Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City in 1990.

Trump announced his exploration of presidency in 1999. Before he wanted to run in ‘98 as a republican but decided not to. In

2000 he began his candidacy in the Reform Party. In the Reform Party, Trump focused his campaign on issues of fair trade, eliminating the national debt, and achieving universal health care. Soon a book was released by Trump called “The America We Deserve” on January 15, 2000. This book showed Trump’s view on how America could be changed and what needs to happen. At this time, his now wife, Melania Trump was only his girlfriend yet he said he would marry her if he won. It was speculated that his candidacy was a joke but he claimed it was a serious endeavor and that he had a chance at winning.

Though his campaign never left the exploratory stage, Trump had candidate events in Florida, california, and Minnesota.

He also qualified for two presidential primaries. In february of 2000, one of the main vocal proponent of the Reform

Party for Trump had left.

He later ended his campaign officially on Feb. 14, 2000, airing of the “Today Show”. Trump still thought he could have won, but thought the party was too dysfunctional to support him and enable a general election. In 2003 he joined as a joint partner with NBC where he became executive producer of “the Apprentice”.

He later became most known for his role as the host on “The Apprentice” for 14 seasons from 2005 to 2014. He also returned to real estate business.

Trump wanted to run again in the 2012 election as a Republican, but decided against it again.

Years later after running in the 2016 election with the campaign slogan “Make America Great Again” with his vice being Mike Pence. Pence currently serves as the 50th governor of Indiana. he won as a republican against Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton.

SStudent News

The Commodore Cruiser

LHS Band lands on a final note

by Javieus Lyons

3

New members elected to School Board

by Hannah Vanderwall

LHS School Board Members Mr. Bill McGregor, President Mrs. Kimberly Harwell East, Secretary Mr. Brent Larson, Member Dr. Judith Thompson, Member Mr. Ken Hewlett, Member

Ayo Willliams (left) and Ransom Whitehorn show what it looks like to be part of the band.

Lafayette High School Band practices four times out of every week during marching season in preparation for their band competition.

This school year the band has gone to three competitions the first being at Northeast, which they scored an overall 2.

After this they had the MHSHA State Marching Evaluations where they scored an overall 1. Then they finish at the Crossroads Classic, where they received all 1’s and 1st in guard out of their division, which included 12 bands and 3rd in percussion out of their division.

Last year the LHS band

won the sweepstakes award. The band is scored on a scale from 1 to 4, 1 being the highest and 4 being the lowest score.

“It gives us validation that all of our hard work payed off,” said Lauren Duncan, LHS Band director. For several months they practice hard and all of the high school band contributes. The band uses almost every last instrument in their performance.

The band directors, Mr. and Mrs.Duncan and Mr. Freelon, pick out what performance piece they're going to use by first talking to other band directors. Which they also allow LHS band

=members to vote on the piece and from there they talk to their music and drill writers who are Mr. Ryan Todd and Mr. Gary Gold.

When picking out what they perform the Duncans try to pick something the students will enjoy performing not just something that they wish to hear.

This year’s performance is called “American Heroes a Soldier's Journey”.

“I like it a lot. It's different from what we usually play, more patriotic, it's kind of nice to be able to honor our veterans,” said Tyler Weaver, LHS drum major.

Students Pocket them Points

by Elaina Dickerson

Destiny Slate, sophomore, introduced students to the idea of pocket points when she purchased a free burger and slushie with points that she earned and posted it on her snapchat story with the caption “I’m never getting on my phone at school again”.

Pocket Points is an app in which students and teachers can lock their phone while on the app and gain points. These points contribute to discounts at local stores or free food.

The app is also helpful for teachers as students have a reason to stay off of their phone in class now.

So, this is how it works: a person will automatically earn 15 points when downloading the app and 1 point for every 20 minutes that their phone is locked on the app. Plus, the more people that are using the app, the more points that each person will get.

Filling boxes for those in need

The Lafayette County School board consists of five members, one for each of the five districts of Lafayette. Some students may not know it, but the school board does much more than just figure out the policies and how much money the schools get.

“The school board is a representative of the district in which they live,” said Dr. Jeremy Stinson at the Central Office.

A term lasts for 6 years after that the school board hold elections for people to run for the school board.

Much like the Presidential Election, “the school board is like the governing body,” said Dr. Stinson.

Those who would wish to run for the school board have to go the courthouse and fill out paperwork and get a certain amount of signatures to qualify to be on the ballot.

The Lafayette County School Board meets the first Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the district Board Room. The meetings are open to the public, so they encourage all of the Lafayette communi-

ty members to attend. The Central Office will post the meeting notice and agenda a few days before each meeting on the bulletin board There will be instances throughout the school year when there will be a need to meet for a special meeting. They will also post a notice and agenda for these meetings as well, so please call or stop by the central office to check.

Oxford expanding its horizon

by Dontavious Webb Recently in Oxford new stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marshalls, Shoe Carnival, and many more have been opened. These stores were opened recently and announced to be built in 2015 which were built by the Trezevant Reveals constructuction company. Within these openings the LHS marching percussion was asked to play the grand opening of Marshalls on November 10th and played the grand opening.

The opening of these stores allowed for a new feel in Oxford but it has also created a possible traffic problem and a possible need for new stop lights to further slow down the commute through Oxford.

On the brighter side of the story these stores are boosting the economy of Oxford and allowing for more variety in shopping within the town especially for when large Ole Miss games happen and people

come to buy clothing.

These stores are also providing jobs for the youth and allowing for more shopping to be done without having to go out of the city and waste gas and time. A store in particular which is helping a lot is Dick’s Sporting Goods.

It is allowing for an ease of buying sporting goods such as cleats, basketballs shoes and many more items important to the success of our sports teams.

On the downside of these stores many businesses could possibly lose customers causing them to shut down putting many people out of jobs necessary obtain a living within the town of Oxford. Stores like University Sporting Goods could lose business due to the recent opening of Dick’s Sporting goods.

Sales associate at Marshalls Lamonika Kill spoke her opinion of these stores. ¨I think that its expanding Oxford and

giving people a place to shop,¨ Kill said.

These stores are even giving tourist of Oxford more places to visit and buy clothes. “When I heard about Marshalls I was really excited but the other stores are here and inexpensive and it gives people who lived here have a place to shop without having to go out of town to shop,” Kill said.

The availability of jobs in this town went up when these stores were implemented and has allowed for our economy to shoot up and flourish more than it did before.

by Destiny Mooneyham

Operation Christmas Child, a Christmas project that uses shoeboxes filled with gifts to give to children in need.

All over the world there are kids who don’t get presents for christmas or even a Christmas tree.

These shoeboxes filled with goods are sent to children everywhere to give them something for their Christmas.

Gail Caldwell, a teacher at Lafayette High School, is in charge of running the Operation for Lafayette.

“We packed 269 boxes this year. Our goal is to increase our total each year.

We started in 2010 with 205 boxes, the students gave over 1,100 items this year. The freshman class won this year, giving 542 items,” Caldwell said.

At Lafayette a wide

range of teenagers participate in this project. Tyshionna Benson, a senior at LHS, admits that she loves doing it.

“It makes me so happy, and makes my heart full because i’m helping out someone who is less fortunate than me,” Benson said while putting tags on boxes and singing along to Christmas songs. Benson has been in student council for two years, so this is her second year of OCC. “The best present packed into a box is probably the teddy bears. It’s something small to us but so big to them,” she said.

The shoeboxes are packed with many things that the kids will love and cherish.

Benson tells that if someone gets the chance to pack boxes or do anything for OCC that they should

embrace the opportunity, because it makes them grateful for all of thing they have.

OCC has given more than 113 million gift boxes, since 1993. According to Samaritan’s Purse, this operation works through a church network to teach children who receive shoeboxes to know and follow Jesus Christ.

Cora Lawerence helps pack shoe boxes for children in need.

OPINION

The Commodore Cruiser

4

Christmas before Christmas

by Dontavious Webb

There are two types of people in the world, the first would say something like this: “Ok, so it’s October first and they already have Christmas stuff out what is wrong with Walmart.”

The second person would most likely say something similar to this: “OMG, it’s October first and they already have Christmas stuff out this is great. I love it.”

The first person would be Allie Hartfield, freshman at LHS, a Christmas lover with a little bit more restraint. “ I love Christmas so much because the

music makes me happy and the food is so good, but I don’t think that we should start putting out decorations in Walmart out as early as they do,” Hartfield said.

The second person would be Cole Fortner, a very enthusiastic Christmas lover. He spoke about how Christmas is his favorite holiday.

“I wish Christmas was everyday,” said Fortner.

I personally believe that having Christmas items out on the first of October is a great idea. It allows for the store such as Walmart

to make more money and allows families to get there Christmas needs before everyone else buys the items out.

Not only does putting Christmas paraphernalia out early allow people to get the items they need and be prepared for when the Christmas holiday rolls around. It also allows people like Fortner to be able to walk around and enjoy the holiday which is most beloved to them.

Businesses like Walmart benefit from the release of holiday items early because it entices more

customers to go and look at what is new for the holiday season.

For some the first of October marks the time to prepare and celebrate the upcoming Christmas season. Even television channels take into the thought of celebrating Christmas early with holiday specials like Hallmark’s annual “Countdown to Christmas” special which begun on the 28th of October.

Many people like Jim Meals will even comment saying “It’s not even Thanksgiving yet. You completely skipped over

Thanksgiving.”

The holidays are a special time for families to get together and celebrate but some people have the thought that the celebration of Christmas should be started on the first of December while others find it to be completely ok to start on the first of October.

These differences in opinions are just how things go and how people feel about the holidays.

Whichever side you are on it is completely okay because it is your opinion so let the holidays be

a merry time for you and your family know what it means to you.

Now don’t get me wrong, we need to celebrate Thanksgiving because it is a time to be thankful.

It is completely feasible to partake in the celebration and buying of Christmas paraphernalia early because it’s something you choose to do and something you might need to do.

Stereotype on White Girls

By Samantha Rayburn

In today’s world, “white girl” is a term used quite often used to stereotype white females. Though some of the things people say such as “only white girls drink Starbucks” or “only white girls wear Uggs”. These things have nothing to do with a girl being white. It just has everything to do with what she is interested in and what she likes. Many different races can enjoy these things. What a girl wears or how she acts should not be defined as her skin color, nor should anyone’s.

OPINION

The Commodore Cruiser

5

Conquering negative thoughts How one person overcame suicidial thoughts with religion

by Samantha Rayburn

I can’t really explain the feeling of wanting to die. It’s a mix of many negative emotions such as complete and utter misery, knowing that you have to wake up every morning and live life.

I wanted to die at one point in my life. I felt as if life just wasn’t worth the struggle to pick myself up everyday and go through a normal routine. I would tell myself that if I just ended it right now, I wouldn’t have to worry about my problems.

If I killed myself, my parents would have one less kid to worry about. My friends wouldn’t have to act like they liked me anymore. I used to blame myself for every little thing and it slowly started to kill me on the inside.

The dictionary definition of suicide is the act of taking one’s own life voluntarily and intentionally. Nearly 30,000 Americans commit suicide a year according to

Do Something.org. That means, on average, one person kills themselves every 16.2 minutes. Think about that. 16.2 minutes is not a lot of time. People need to wake up a realize this isn’t a joke. People are actually killing themselves because they think it’s the only way to stop the pain.

I struggled with cutting and burning myself because I thought I was absolutely worthless. I would starve myself for days and the second I ate something I would make myself throw up. I thought I deserved to be in pain and starving. I didn’t think I was worthy of any love at all nor kindness. I believed what people told me. I believed people when they told me I wasn’t smart enough. I believed them when they said I would never make it to the top. I believed them when they

said they wouldn’t miss me if I died. And what’s wrong with this situation isn’t just them, it’s me too.

I allowed myself to be vulnerable to what they said to me and it ruined me.

This generation is so fixated on how we appear to society and what people think of us. Only caring about worldly things is useless. God is the only way out of pain and sorrow and that’s why you have to reach out to him and give him your life.

I haven’t self-harmed in over one hundred days.

It may not seem like a lot but it’s an eternity to someone going through this. Your one outlet is gone. I found another outlet, though. I found Christ.

Romans 5:8 says,”but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Hearing this gives me so much hope and love

for myself. God’s saying that even though we sin and break rules, He loves us. God loves everyone regardless of what you do or believe. All it takes is love and loyalty from the world in return in order to place the last piece in the puzzle.

God loves the human being no matter how much they hate what He created. That being themselves. The only true way of escaping the world of depression, suicide, and anxiety is God. The empty feeling you have in your heart when you want to just end it all should be where Christ is, not sorrow. So please, think about it the next time you call someone a name or laugh at them for something stupid. It may mean nothing to you but it could mean their whole self-worth to them.

The effects of keeping secrets

by Brook Savage

LHS student uncovers what’s it like to keep a secret.

Whenever you turn your head it seems like someone is always telling a secret. Keeping a secret held inside could affect your mental stability or health.

Secrets can divide people, deter new relationships, and freeze development on individuals according to

Psychology Today.

Keeping secrets could make one feel temporarily uncomfortable or disloyal.

Small secrets, like surprise birthday parties or what is in a present will usually not cause any harm. However if the secret is dangerous, or traumatic it can

affect a person’s physical or mental health according to Psychology Today, along with other sources.

Young adults may keep secrets involving: Secrets involving drug and alcohol abuse Secrets involving gender identity Secrets being kept for someone else People may keep secrets because they do not want to disappoint loved ones, they feel shame or guilt, along with many other reasons. Keeping a secret may feel like the best choice at the time, but doing so may lead to depression, stress, and anxiety.

If one is being affected by keeping a secret, then here are a few ways to start the way to recovery: Distinguish which feelings you have.

Know the difference between guilt and shame.

Have a psychiatrist to share these secrets with.

Read books on how to get better.

Many people can feel this way around you, including students attending your own school Lafayette High. Gossip flies fast through this student body, from one person to the next. The worst part is, the word is still shared even if the secret is not true.

Best friends share secrets to each other when

they are alone. People tell secrets to someone they think is their best friend.

When someone tells a secret it is expected to be kept, under no circumstances. If the promise is broken, then so is the trust.

Which can lead to broken friendships, relationships, and family relationships like mentioned earlier.

Paige Yancey, a sophomore, met in the library to speak about what secrets mean to her. Sometimes it scares Yancey knowing that she is holding in a secret. However, she wants others to know, “Sometimes secrets are good.

Sometimes secrets are bad. But it’s just a matter of you holding the secret.”

Sports

The Commodore Cruiser

Twirling into Winter

by Jayvious Lyons

The chief goal for this season is to continue the team’s growth as a guard program by consistently advancing their technique and excellence skills.

LHS Winter Guard provides training in dance, equipment and performance that encompasses a wide scope and allows everyone a chance to reach their highest possible level of excellence. During the months of November through April, the group will travel and compete in events through local competitive circuits. The

season will end with an indoor showcase concert highlighting all of their indoor groups both percussion and guard the beginning of April, 2017 the date as of right now is to be determined.

Winter guard has been in existence since the early 70’s. Winter Guard is known as the “Sports of the Arts,” because it is indoor activity. Winter guard is made up of two physical elements ( equipment and dance), and is carefully choreographed to a recorded soundtrack.

Then the winterguard in-

corporate the costume and individual expression to reflect the music.

Winter Guard competitions take place on thursdays through Saturdays throughout their season which starts january through April Competitions are hosted by various schools in the circuit and take place in gymnasiums.

Competing groups are divided by skill level classification.

Shaw shines the spotlight on others

by Katie Sicks In today’s world random acts of kindness are rare, however in the halls of Lafayette High walks a student who shows his kindness to others quite often. Sophomore student, Jamie Shaw, runningback and linebacker, does not only play a part on the football field, but also plays a part in making students’ days better.

Shaw started these acts at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year for the special needs.

“I seen that they was just always by themselves sometimes and I didn’t like it so I started making friends with them and I got other people to join along and they made a lot of friends,” Shaw said.

Shaw also said that he got others such as Jason Sawyer, Garrett Chance, Jamarcus Quarles, William Ard, Atarius Owen and “basically the whole football team” in on these acts of kindness. This helped the special needs students to gain more friends.

Two acts that came to the attention of many was when Shaw bought Sara Coaten a birthday pres-

Jamie Shaw shows kindness to Sam Lock. ent and when he let Sam Lock wear his jersey for the ‘Pink Out’ football game. Coaten’s birthday surprise was posted on instagram and Lock wearing the jersey was uploaded to twitter by student Madison Sharp.

“I really just bought them gifts and I just tried to bring them to the center of attention,” said Shaw.

Attention is the complete opposite of why Shaw does what he does. He does it for the benefit of others.

“The best part about me is that I don’t do it for attention, I do it because it is something I really like to

do and I enjoy doing it for them. The best part about it is just seeing the smile on their face,” said Shaw.

Doing all these acts just really makes Shaw feel like he has impacted their lives.

“It makes me feel good just to know I am putting an impact on somebody else’s life that all I really want to do is just impact their lives,” said Shaw.

Shaw said he plans on doing more acts for them and reflecting the attention on them instead of back on himself.

Rehearsal and Competition dates : Since November 8th: Regular practices are on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm.

Choreography camp: January 7th-8th: These will be full days, exact time will be determined closer to the date.

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FEATURES

The Commodore Cruiser

7

Read about Roberts

by Katie Shonffer

Ann Roberts, librarian at Lafayette High School, can be found between the many bookshelves in the media center at almost any time during the school day. She is often talking with students, recommending books and offering assistance in finding certain titles.

“I enjoy my job,” she said. “I love to help reluc-

tant readers find a book that they like.”

She does a number of different things throughout the day, so much so that it’s “never boring.”

Roberts is always busy, whether she’s checking out books to eager readers or cataloging them. Her job may seem easy and simple to some people, but in fact the contrary is true.

“I research new books and purchase other materials for the library,” Roberts said. “In general, I make sure students and teachers find what they need.”

She is not only busy when she is at work, as life after school “consists of working around the house.” Her husband is officer Roberts, the resource

officer at the middle school. She has two sons, one who is a junior at the Military Academy in West Point, New York, and another who is a junior at LHS. Roberts is also tasked with the care of the two family dogs, Pupdog and Dayzee.

“I love to keep a project going at the house,” she said. “Since we recently moved, I have done a lot of reorganizing.”

Roberts is always up for something new and exciting, whether it be a book that is not historical fiction, her favorite genre, or solving a problem that she’s never faced. Roberts has always enjoyed doing new things, even when she herself was in school.

“When I was in college,” she said, “I was picked to be a magician's

assistant and he actually cut me in half!”

Roberts is grateful for those experiences, but enjoys the adventure she is currently on at LHS. She says that the “staff is great” and has established quite a number of personal relationships within the school. Students and staff alike come to her for solutions to their problems.

“Lafayette has always felt like family,” she said.

“The personalities within our staff create such a dynamic place to work!”

One of the many students Roberts has gotten to know well is Anja Diercks, a senior, who helps her during fourth period. They got to know one another through book club and time spent in the library. Diercks puts books away and does any-

thing else she needs to.

She and Roberts spend a lot of time talking and laughing. Diercks is very fond of Roberts and says that they “have a lot fun.”

“I love her,” Diercks said. “She’s awesome.”

Roberts loves her job and everyone she has grown to close to in the time she’s been at the school. It might seem as if she does about the same thing everyday, but this is not at all true. The activities of her day alternate from hour to hour, day to day.

“It is never boring at school,” she said. “There is always someone to help and there are always books to be shelved!”

A view into the life of Hopper

by Samatha Rayburn

Baseball, a bat-and-ball game that includes nine players on each team who take turns batting and fielding, is a sport immensely loved by sophomore, Hayden Hopper. Having started playing close to when he just started to walk, Hopper has made his way up to the Lafayette High School baseball team.

“I just started hitting a wiffle ball in my backyard. My first competitive team was when I was seven years old and I’ve just been playing ever since,” Hopper said.

The athlete stated that his

reason for starting baseball stemmed from his brother having been a baseball player and growing up watching him engage in the sport. He was always around the environment of baseball. However, Hopper is out most of this season and all of last season due to an injury caused by throwing too many curve balls. In the summer of 2015, he was pitching when one pitch caused pain in his elbow. Having fought through the injury for over a year, Hopper is still intent on getting bet-

ter to keep pursuing in his baseball career.

“He comes out with a smile on his face and he’s going to do what he can do at that time,” Greg Lewis, LHS head baseball coach, said.

This setback doesn’t stop Hopper from being a great teammate, according to his coach. Lewis also went on to state that being a great teammate is his strongest quality and how great of a kid he is. Being a good teammate included being up and with everybody as well as doing the things

you need to.

“He’s just a good kid and young man,” Lewis said.

Hopper even went on to explain what he believes a young athlete aspiring to play baseball should do. This includes working hard, always staying healthy, and to never trying to play more advanced than you are capable of doing.

“Strive. Play like a lion on the field because God is the lion of Judah and I just try to play and be like him.

Live for the glory of God,” Hopper said.

A & E

The Commodore Cruiser

Couch tricks all

Dylan Couch (right) showing Tyler Allen magic tricks.

That’s how I meet strangers,” Couch said. He tells that he likes to meet new and different people.

He has been interested in magic ever since his uncle showed him one simple magic trick, which was when he was thirteen.

Ever since he was shown a magic trick, he has been watching youtube videos about it to teach himself.

He does mainly card tricks and admits that he would try to get into different kinds of tricks if it weren’t

for video games.

He gets many different reactions from the students in the morning. For instance, some students are really excited and awed, while others don’t think it’s that cool. Couch has even stood up in front of his class and performed a magic trick.

“Magic is fun for me. I make friends out of it all the time,” Couch said. He takes pride in his magic and doesn’t care if someone finds it boring.

He tells that he loves seeing the many mixed reactions from everyone. Many students find Couch’s, who moved to Oxford over the summer from Illinois, magic tricks very interesting.

Dores get hype for Commodore Sports

Photo: Elaina Dickerson

numerous hype videos for Commodore football, as well as Commodore volleyball.

However, the Commodore Cruiser staff isn’t the only group of people to provide hype videos.

by Madeline Mulkey On Social Media the Mannequin Challenge has been increasing in hashtags and videos. The new trend has sparked interest in young teens and adults.

The Mannequin Challenge is where a group of people or students interacting with each other and someone yells out “Mannequin Challenge!” and everyone must stop what they’re doing and must stay in the same form they are in a perfectly still position like a Mannequin.

Various videos have become popular on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube “It’s lit! Me and my friend Justice Booker stay doing the challenge,” said Briana McCoy a 10th grader.

Some videos are about six seconds to a few minutes. Many of the videos have the song “Black

Beatles” by Rae Sremmurd making it the un-official theme song for the challenge.

“It’s just a trend that I find very fun to do at random moments like in the hallway or in the middle of drama class,” said McCoy. “It’s just innocent fun,” said McCoy. “Ooohh, I really like it,” said Makyah Harris.

“I always yell out ‘Mannequin Challenge’ in class sometimes just to see if people will do the challenge and to see what the teacher does,” said Harris.

“Lol, it’s just so funny,” she added.

The trend is very popular, so popular that the University of Mississippi football team did the challenge after a football game victory, but trends become unpopular and people are making sure they do the trend before it becomes unpopular.

Commodore Football:

by Elaina Dickerson

The Commodore Cruiser staff now has a Youtube Channel, Commodore Media Group. On the channel, the staff posts hype videos of the sports teams of Lafayette High School.

So far, the staff has created

The LHS Yearbook Staff has begun to make them as well. The hype videos created by The LHS Yearbook Staff can be found on their youtube channel, WLHS11.

Commodore Volleyball:

Debate over flight of Confederate flag

M

8

Dores stand still for Mannequin Challenge

by Destiny Mooneyham

It all started with an uncle showing his nephew a magic trick.

Dylan Couch, a sophomore at Lafayette High School, goes up to random people in the morning showing them magic tricks. It’s his way of “making friends.” In the morning when the students are packed into the commons, Couch likes to find a few people and do magic for them.

“I did magic to a guy right at a gas station.

by Ella Rose Scott

any students at Lafayette

High School are outraged by the fact that the Confederate Emblem is still on the state of Mississippi’s Flag.

symbol of racism. Many believe this since the flag was used as a symbol of when white people wanted to keep slavery while participating in the American belief that all men are created equal. Back then this

the first official flag. There have been many flags before and after the fact of adding an official flag, such as The Bonnie Blue Flag and The Magnolia Flag. In January of 2001 a new flag was proposed

Many believe that the Confederate Flag is a symbol of the South’s history, while others believe that the Confederate Flag is a

statement really meant all WHITE men are created equal.

The Confederate Flag was adopted in 1894 as

to Ronnie Musgrove, governor of Mississippi from 1996 to 2001, to replace the confederate emblem.

The decision was put up to

the Mississippi voters, late in April this new flag design was denied with vote of 64% to 36%.

Campuses, such as University of Mississippi and Mississippi State, have stopped flying the Mississippi State flag because of the Confederate Emblem present on the flag.

The most recent university to lower the state flag was Delta State University as it was lowered on November 3, 2016. Delta State will replace the state flag with a banner created by the Mississippi Economic Council.

“I wish to make it clear that this university is making an institutional decision on this issue because the state government have declined to change the flag,” said William N. LaForge, Delta State’s University President.

On November 1, 2016, a poll was sent out to all students of Lafayette High School asking “Should the Confederate Emblem

be removed for the State of Mississippi Flag?” The responses from this poll were 82.4% no and 17.7% yes. Many students took advantage of the write in option on both sides of the argument.

“We need a new flag all together,” said an anonymous LHS student on the side of removing the emblem. While others say, “It doesn’t offend me, but it should be removed.”

While most of the population of Lafayette High School saying no, the Confederate flag should not be removed. Even one passionate student saying “Heck No!” As of now, the Confederate Emblem remains on The State of Mississippi’s Flag. But many Southerners are determined for a future of change.

MISC.

The Commodore Cruiser

War on Christmas

by Natalie Boone

At the beginning of December, usually without fail, a group of Americans engage in a rhetorical ritual that recycles arguments about whether people should say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” This ritual typically ends up becoming a political, cultural, and religious battle that has been deemed by onlookers and news sites as America’s “War on Christmas.”

When entering the holiday season, this group of people will not hesitate to attack businesses for putting “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” and vice-versa in their merchandise, the design of Starbucks cups being a frequent conversation starter as an example.

that take place throughout the month of December, many belonging to other religions.

Many celebrities have stated their opinion on the so-called “War on Christmas,” one being president-elect Donald Trump.

On September 25, 2015, at one of his rallies in Iowa, Trump declared he wanted to see more “Merry Christmas” and less “Happy Holidays.”

He said that he loved Christmas and didn’t want to spend money on businesses that say “Happy Holidays” and promised that once he officially took over the position of president of the United States, everyone will say “Merry Christmas.” It is unclear if he still carries these beliefs.

source from Dailybeast.com Unsurprisingly, the Bible Belt states are the ones who are courageously fighting for Christmas. Bible Belt states— the southeastern and south-central United States in which socially conservative evangelical Protestantism plays a strong role in society and politics— over-

whelmingly prefer “Merry Christmas” every poll taken regarding such a topic, while highly populated coastal states prefer to say “Happy Holidays.”

In a poll taken by The Daily Beast, Georgia leads the “Merry Christmas” pack with 65.5% of individuals preferring the

traditional phrase. Conversely, California leads the “holidays” crowd with a 68.9% preference. Interestingly enough, Texas also leans toward the “holidays” crowd with 51%.

This lean appears to originate largely from the city of Austin.

Using data taken from

9

several polls, it can be concluded that approximately 43% of Christians believe that saying “Happy Holidays” is a way of erasing Christian faith.

Likewise, the other side of the ‘War on Christmas’ claims that saying “Merry Christmas” erases the multiple other celebrations

The Anchor Teacher

The Commodore Cruiser

TheAnchor Freshman

Sophomore

Junior

10 Senior

Mr. Williams What’s your favorite holiday?

Kylan Folson What’s your favorite holiday?

Shawanda Brassell What’s your favorite holiday?

Emily Caldwell What’s your favorite holiday?

Devon Tyson What’s your favorite holiday?

Halloween

Christmas because of the gifts and the time I spend with my family.

Thanksgiving

Fourth of July

Christmas

Peppermint or butterscotch?

Peppermint or butterscotch?

Peppermint or butterscotch?

Butterscotch

Peppermint

Peppermint

Any New Year’s resolutions?

Any New Year's resolutions?

Any New Year’s resolutions?

To be a better person and have a better attitude

I don't make New Year’s Resolutions.

I’m just going to do the same thing

Do you have any family traditions for Christmas?

Do you have any family traditions for Christmas?

Do you have any family traditions for Christmas?

Go to my grandparents house, eat, and open presents.

We go out and travel. We went to Florida, Washington, and California

Favorite Christmas movie?

Favorite Christmas movie?

Favorite Christmas movie?

Grandma got run over by a raindeer

Elf

Grinch Stole Christmas

Peppermint or butterscotch?

Peppermint Any New Year’s resolutions?

Make 2017 better than 2016 Do you have any family traditions for Christmas?

Being home with the kids to get their Santa presents Favorite Christmas movie?

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Home Alone

Peppermint or butterscotch?

Peppermint Any New Year’s resolutions?

Talk less about people Do you have any family traditions for Christmas?

Duck, Duck, Goose with the family. The winner gets a gift card.

Favorite Christmas movie?

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Stay up all night, eat hot chocolate, watch movies until 6:00 the next morning to open gifts