Micro-pig
networks page 12
Food drive gives aid
The Northridge
Reporter
November 19, 2010 • Volume 8, Issue 3
page 5
Violent games popular page 9
Northridge High School • 2901 Northridge Road • Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35406
Final exam replaces graduation exam renu pandit copy editor The class of 2014 will be the last class required to take the Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE). Andrew Maxey, vice principal, said that they are replacing the AHSGE with end of course exams which will be administered at the end of each semester. “I think it will definitely make a difference,” Maxey said. “Right now, a lot of students have trouble passing the graduation exam because the test is given much later than the course is taken.” Maxey said that they are replacing the AHSGE because the school is spending a lot of time administering them again, and from a school’s perspective it’s not time well spent. “The format of the tests will be very similar,” Maxey said. “But the scope of the tests will be different. For instance, the science section of the AHSGE only covers biology, but with the course exams you have to take an exam for each core class you take.” Robert Coates, Director of Secondary Education, said that the EOC (end of course) Assessments are presently under development by the Alabama Department of Education. “End of Course Exams will be administered upon completion of the course and will count as a percentage of the final
grade for the course completed,” Coates said. Coates said the exams are based on the Alabama Course of Study Standards and Objectives for Algebra, Biology, U.S. History and Language/Reading. CheQuita Burrell, freshman, said that it’s a good thing that they’re getting rid of the graduation exam. “Students have a higher tendency to forget what they’ve been taught over the years, so by taking the course exams they have a higher chance to pass,” Burrell said. Maxey said the test will be given just like a final; you’ll take it in your classroom with your teacher. “The content of the tests will be decided by the state, but teachers will be given input through representatives,” Maxey said. Burrell said that some upcoming freshman will like this change because they won’t have to strain to remember what they’ve been taught. “But for others it just means extra tests,” Burrell said. Scott Johnson, geometry teacher, said he has seen some of the end of course exams from other states in the south. “Tennessee also takes EOC exams,” Johnson said. Johnson said that the EOC exam is harder than the AHSGE. “They cover a lot more, and they’re more thorough,” Johnson said.
Do
you
prefer graduation exams over end of course exams?
yes no
46 4
designed by anu pandit compiled by ellie cauthen 50 students polled
University courses challenge, provide higher curriculum “I have actual classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,” Oneal said. “And I have virtual classes on Tuesdays and For some students, high school just isn’t Thursdays.” Cook and Banerjee have classes on tough enough. That’s when they start taking Monday through Thursday. classes at the University of Alabama (UA) “[I] don’t just take the class to get Fridays during third period. off,” Banerjee said. “It’s a pain to apply, and Seniors Anondo Banerjee, Hamilton Cook it’s expensive.” and Owen Oneal do this. Hudgins said that students who take these “Hamilton and I take Calculus 2, and classes have to pay tuition just like every Owen takes Spanish 103,” Banerjee other student. said. Banerjee said he paid $1,590 for the class Jackie Hudgins, guidance counselor, said and $150 for textbooks. that it’s a good thing for students who want “I had to apply to UA to get started on college as a non-degree seeking courses. freshman and get a letter “[This is true] from my parents and especially if the the principal saying I student has maxed out was up for it,” Banerjee on the classes we have said. available here, like if He said that if you ~Anondo Banerjee, senior they’ve finished all want to take challenging the math courses and classes, have a car and want to go one more step ahead,” Hudgins enough money, then you should take a said. class at the university. Oneal said that the classes are 50 minutes “They’re quite fun, and you get a taste of long and that he and Cook ride to UA with college life,” Banerjee said. Banerjee. renu pandit copy editor
“
photo by anu pandit Anondo Banerjee, senior, walks into school after returning from his Calculus II class at the University of Alabama.
They’re fun, and you get a taste of college life.
”
in brief Yearbook layout changes ellie cauthen staff writer The yearbook is changing. Andrew Lattner, yearbook co-editor, said the main difference is the layout. “The other books have been organized by section. This yearbook is chronological, starting in the summer and going through the rest of year by month,” he said. “Each month has a section, and each week gets a double page spread,” he said. Amanda Burns, sophomore, said she felt like the new layout could be confusing. “I’m used to the sections they used in the past. But if it looks good, that’s all that matters,” she said.
FIN assists needy families renu pandit copy editor F.I.N., or Families in Need, assists families of students who are in need. Beth Holliman, special education teacher, is in charge of it. “F.I.N. started because we had families who were in need of assistance, but there was no fund for us to draw from to help them,” she said. “You can donate whatever you’re comfortable with. We ask the faculty to donate at least $10,” Holliman said. Elizabeth Tiley, counselor, said donations are tax deductible. The money goes in a school account. Tiley said anyone can donate money. “When a student’s family can’t afford something, they can come to either Ms. Holliman or a counselor and tell us,” she said. Tiley said the money isn’t distributed to students, it goes to their families. Holliman said F.I.N. is in its third year. “We have a lot of students here who are well off, but we also have students who aren’t,” Tiley said.
Overpopulation affects grades craig first infographics editor The freshman class has 344 students, according to class records. Math teacher, Craig Johnson’s fourth period Unified Geometry class has 37 students, mainly freshmen. “I don’t mind having such large classes. However, I feel it is a disadvantage to the students,” Johnson said. Johnson said studies have shown that students in smaller classes tend to do better in overall class averages. Angela Shaw, zoology teacher, had 42 students signed up for the course. She had to turn all juniors away. Beth Lindly, senior, is taking Shaw’s zoology class. “It is really loud, and it is hard to concentrate,” she said.