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Lugoff-Elgin High School Volume 1 Edition 2
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Art LIFE pgs 8 & 9 is a way of
art by Kelsey Baker
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Erika
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Update
Read about Erika’s first weeks of being a mom and also a doctor’s point of view on teen pregnancy on page 5
Centerspread
Features
One teacher’s son relies on blood donations for life. Read their story on pages 6-7
Students express themselves through their talents. Take a look at their talents on pages 8-9
Sports
Entertainment Prom
Forrest Koumas gets offers from major league organizations to go pro. Check it out on page 13
What songs should you be listening to during Spring Break?
Check out our top tracks on
page 14
Preview
Going to prom? Take a look at our tips and trends for prom 2010 on the back page
Online
Mr. Glenn Price obtains 105 year old piano for the music department. Read the story about this ‘grand’ piano.
www.lehsnews.com Scholastic journalism organization names Mr. Tommy Gladden administrator of the year. photo by mitch millsaps
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photo by alex hall
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An ‘Inconvenient Truth’
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Needs to be middleway for laptop crisis
AJ Harris, Co-Editor-in-Chief Travis Horne, Co-Editor-in-Chief Blake Brettelle, Copy Editor & Feature Edtior Kali Jackson, Photography Editor Lydia Royals, News Editor Caressa Samuel, Entertainment & Opinion Editor Justin Stevens, Sports Editor Sydney Lively, Graphic Artist Layla Ferjani, Staff Writer Hannah Freeman, Staff Writer & Ad Manager Katie Miles, Staff Writer Mitch Millsaps, Photographer & Staff Writer Jake Peebles, Staff Writer Frankie Vidal, Staff Writer
The Pitchfork exists as a forum for student expression at LEHS. The purpose of The Pitchfork is to inform the student body of events affecting LEHS through the publishing of news stories and responsible, researched editorials. The publication also strives to entertain the student body with feature stories and personal columns. Editorials are the general opinion of the individual writers. All funding for The Pitchfork is obtained through advertising from privately owned businesses. The Editorial Board reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement. Advertising is available at $6 per column inch. Patron ads and subscriptions from private citizens are welcomed as a source of income. Please call the journalism room at 438-8015 for more information. The Pitchfork is an active member of SCSPA, SIPA and Quill & Scroll. 1284 Highway 1 South Lugoff,SC 29078
by travis horne co-editor-in-chief Computers are a necessity for student’s education in the 21 century. However, I believe that keeping good educators and essential programs are just as important as having technology in the classroom. As a senior at LEHS, I have seen the full effect of the laptop program. There is no doubt that computers have helped students with research papers, essays, labs and everything else imaginable. Internet has become so easy to access and I can find any answer I want in a matter of seconds. From a student’s perspective, the best alternative to saving money in the i-Can program during this tough economic time would be to keep laptops in the classroom and not eliminate the program all together. A major component discussed in 2004 when the i-Can program was being initiated was that laptops were leveling the playing field for students (kcsdschool.com). Although this statement may be true in numerous ways, the fact that some students have internet access and others do not is still evident and poses some problems. Many students do not have internet access at their homes and teachers already cannot mandate that a student complete an online assignment for homework, so I believe taking laptops out of the hands of students when they walk out the door is the best path. There would need to be a class set of laptops in the classroom. Keeping laptops in the room would reduce the amount of computers that
would need to be fixed and would give more responsibility to those who are caring for the laptops. If a student needed to use a laptop at home for research papers or homework, they would need to sign out the laptop at the library or through the teacher. An ‘inconvenient truth’ that we all seem to deny is that students and teachers use laptops for the sole purpose of education. Throughout my four years in high school, it has been hard for me to find someone in the classroom who is not on a game site or listening to music on Limewire. Outside of the classroom, it is a well known fact that students use their laptops for Facebook, games, music and other non-school related purposes. Simply keeping laptops in the classroom would rid the problem of students doing non-school related things on their laptop and would in turn relieve administrator’s stress of having to track down students who have done something bad, and they could spend their time more effectively. Although I believe the best way to save money in the i-Can program would be to keep the laptops in the classroom, I do not think the district should ever consider getting rid of the laptops as a whole or depriving certain grades from receiving them. We have a very innovative program here in Kershaw County and it is a shining thing that sets us apart from other districts. To cut the laptop program as a whole or to deny a certain grade laptops would be doing students in Kershaw County a disservice. There has to be a middle point and I think keeping laptops in the classroom will solve economic problems and the issue of students doing non-school related things outside of school.
Speak UP, Speak OUT, Be HEARD “Seniors would get laptops from North Central and Camden. I do not know for sure if seniors will be able to buy laptops or not. There has been no decision by the school board. 10th, 11th, and 12th graders I hope will get their laptops next year and freshmen will have laptops on carts.” - Tommy Gladden, principal
“I am very upset, because I have paid all this money and I was depending very heavily on getting [my school] laptop.”
Kristen Russell, senior
“I hate how [the school] promised us that we could buy [the laptops] our freshman year and now [the policy] has changed, and I have to buy my own.”
Shareka Jones, senior
“I did not know that seniors could not buy [their] laptop as a senior. That makes me mad because I have taken care of my laptop. I thought seniors could buy new ones. I think it is totally unfair.”
Ibrea Massey, senior
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[LIFE] Interrupted by caressa samuel staff writer High school. A place where most teens spend a majority of their time and effort---scrambling to get to class on time, cramming for finals, or sitting on the edge of their seats---eyes intent on the clock Fridays in last block. It is safe to say that high schoolers find school, jobs and a social life to be a pretty tough juggling act. That is why it is hard to imagine how any teen can throw into the equation a baby; yet teen moms can be seen in just about any high school across America. What is going on with teen sexuality? Today, why are babies having babies? And most importantly, is there a solution? Seeming to increase by the minute, numbers concerning teen pregnancies in the US can be startling. According to Dosomething.org, the US has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the industrialized world; and proof is easily found in the classrooms of American high schools. But with sex education in schools and foundations such as The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, one would think that the issue of teen pregnancy has been addressed, right? For the most part, teens seem to know about contraception, STDs and the basics about sex. But what do teens know about the consequences of getting pregnant health-wise, and what could happen in the delivery room and after? The health risks involving pregnancy often go under the radar, yet the number of teens who enter the room and leave forever changed is tremendous. “[Most teens seem to understand the magnitude of their pregnancy]; that is probably why [my patients] are so petrified and scared. The majority of them are taking it very seriously,” said Doctor Todd Kraemer, certified OBGYN/gynecologist at Kershaw County Medical Center. Erika Hare, a high school student who recently gave birth, realizes how having her son Landon has impacted every aspect of her life. With a baby on board, the teenage life she once had now must be left behind. “I have to do everything for him first---I live on his schedule now,” said Hare. Carrying a child at an early age not only affects the lifestyles of teens, but the body as well. Things such as the swelling of feet, fatigue and weight gain are all common in pregnancy. “[Normal changes during pregnancy occur] in the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system and [expecting women’s] blood volume goes up by about 40 percent,” said Kraemer. “[When a woman is pregnant, her] circulatory system also changes where [her] blood supply is indirectly connected to the baby via the placenta. And obviously [when pregnant, women] gain weight.”
Teens who trade math formulas for
baby formula learn the consequences of childbearing at an early age Giving birth is not an easy process. The pain of labor and delivery makes no exception for age--all women who are pregnant experience the test of childbearing. “Because I had gone over my due date, they had to induce me; I went [to the hospital] on Friday but I wasn’t dilating,” Hare said. “Saturday afternoon they gave me Pitocin, which forces your body into labor and that is when my contractions started getting really bad. [Around] 3 a.m. on Sunday morning while I was sleeping I felt my stomach jump and then I realized my water just broke. Then the doctor came in and I was ready for delivery. After an hour, Landon was finally born,” said Hare. In addition to the normal pain that is associated with having a child, some mothers suffer from devastating side effects. These side effects are not just physical, but may be mental as well. “[Some negative side effects] for a [pregnant] young woman is a big psychological effect because in our society there is a stigma with that,” Kraemer said. “It is a strain financially and to pursue a higher education. [Also,] pre-eclampsia, which is a temporary state of high blood pressure and reversible kidney disease; there is a high rate of postpartum depression** as well in teens.” Yet with all these hazards, children still continue to have children. An estimated 750,000 teens will become pregnant this year (stayteen.org). And even with organizations trying to make adolescents aware of the consequences of sex, three out of ten teenage girls in the US will get pregnant at least once before the age of 20 (stayteen.org). “[I have served] a lot of teen moms; national teen pregnancy rates have decreased, but I can say here in Kershaw County it is pretty high; last year I delivered about 120 [babies], at least 50 percent of them were teen pregnancies,” said Kraemer. As reported from
thenationalcampaign.org, South Carolina ranks 34th in the nation in teen pregnancy ratings. Every 58 minutes a teen in South Carolina gets pregnant (KCTeenHealth.org). Not only that, Kershaw County ranks 25th out of 46 counties in South Carolina in teen pregnancy rates (Teenpregnancysc. org). The solution for the increasing rate in teen pregnancy is not clear---but there are steps that can be taken to help the situation. Communication and understanding about sex and childbirth is one way to get a foot in the door of teen pregnancy. “Have an open communication with your parents, [which is] the easiest thing to say, the hardest thing to do. If you cannot communicate with them, try a family doctor, pediatrician, health department or gynecologist if you do not feel like you can talk to your parents. For many doctors, your parents can give consent and you can talk to your doctor without your parents there,” said Kraemer. Teen sexuality and pregnancy has been a major issue here in the US, and like most controversial problems, cannot just dissipate in the blink of an eye. Statistics may show the number of teenagers who get pregnant, but numbers do not always show the affect it has had on a teenager’s life. “I cannot even describe [the feeling when I first held Landon]; you just want to cry and laugh and smile; you just feel every emotion at the same time,” said Hare. *postpartum depression: a serious illness that can occur in the first few months after childbirth; can make a person feel very sad, hopeless, and worthless; can cause a person to have trouble caring for and bonding with their baby (webmd.com).
Erika Hare, senior, gave birth to Landon Conley Hare on Jan.17. Photo courtesy of Erika Hare
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A Life In Your 1.
Hands
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Jake Mathis, 8, has to receive intravenous immunoglobulin treatments four times a month. It takes 200 people to fill one bottle of his treatment. photo courtesy of misty mathis
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As her son faces a great trial, a mother expresses how important it is to donate blood
by katie miles staff writer
I hear excuses as to why you cannot do it. “I do not have time,” or “I get queasy.” You have the opportunity to save a life. Put a face to that life. Your generosity is what keeps that person’s heart beating, lungs breathing and mind living. I hear excuses as to why you cannot do it, but I need you to. I need you to do it to save my son. For the past eight years Misty Mathis, teaching assistant, has been helping her son battle a rare disorder. He relies on the help of others for his survival. “Jake was really sick as a baby,” Mathis said. “By the time he was three he was hospitalized twelve times. He was born a healthy baby, or what we thought was healthy, at 9 lbs. 2 oz, but two weeks after he was born is when he began being put in the hospital. It took two years to find a doctor in Charleston who could tell us what was exactly wrong with him.” Jake was diagnosed with Primary Immune Deficiency where he has to receive intravenous immunoglobulin, also known as IVIG. He does not have a functioning immune system. Therefore he does not have the ability to fight off even the common cold. “They drew an immune panel blood test,” Mathis said. “What we found out was not what [my husband or I] expected. I never heard of the disorder before and it scared me to death. We could not take him out and all I could think about was him being the boy in the bubble. I was scared about what his life was going to be like. I was fearful. All I could do was cry.” Jake did not end up being the ‘bubble boy’ and is now eight. He is the typical young boy with a unique personality. He is a little comedian who loves all sports. He did not see any differences between himself and others around him when he was younger but as he grows older things are changing. He is starting to realize he is different. “At the cancer treatment center where Jake would go to get his infusions, he made a
friend,” Mathis said. “His friend was a high school student who had cancer and passed away. Jake did not understand that his friend had cancer so he thought the same thing was going to happen to him. It was so scary for him. That was when we started getting his treatments at home. He is private and does not want others to know; he does not like being different.” Treatments for Jake come four times a month, on every Friday. When he gets his infusions done, no friends are allowed over because he is embarrassed. During an infusion his mom numbs his stomach, hooks up two little needles into the fatty layers of Jake’s stomach and waits two and a half hours for the process of inserting antibodies into his body to be complete. “Jake will get sick if he does not get his medicine,” Mathis said. “He receives antibodies that come from blood. The blood is taken and antibodies are pulled out of the blood. By the time we get the medicine it is a clear liquid, not red.” The medicine Jake receives comes in a bottle that is about the same size as an insulin bottle. It takes about two-hundred people to fill up one bottle for one infusion. For a whole month it takes eight-hundred people. “Everyone has a reason for not giving blood but I want them to realize that I have an eight year old boy who depends on it,” Mathis said. “It is a selfless thing to do.” The immune system is fully formed at the age of five. Jake is now eight and there is not much hope that he is going to grow out of his disorder. His immune system has been tested before and the doctor is giving him one more chance. If nothing has changed, Jake will have to bear with it as a life-long condition. If that happens, it will take about 9600 donors a year to keep Jake healthy. “If I had to change [his disorder], I would not,” Mathis said. “It makes Jake Jake and he is my child. I see great things in him. He is a smart, unique little boy and he does not let this hold him back. I believe that God does not give you more than you can handle and he has given Jake to me for a reason. I have never doubted that I could handle it.”
Blood Drive www.lehsnews.com
1.
by jake peebles staff writer
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The Red Cross needs as much blood as possible to help those in need. Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. Since there is no substitution for human blood, those who are healthy need to give to help the people in need of blood. On Mar. 25 Student Council hosted a blood drive for the American Red Cross. In order to donate blood, people had to meet a few requirements. They had to be at least 17 to donate. However, 16-year-olds could still donate with parental permission. People who weighed under 110 pounds could not donate and people had to have a certain amount of iron in their blood to donate. There are several different types of blood donations. People can donate whole blood which is just a pint of blood. They can also give platelets or double red blood cells as well as plasma. Whole donations are what people typically give. Giving blood is a simple process. “First they give you a book on giving blood. Then they test your blood and ask you some questions. When it is your turn, they take your blood and give you any drink you want to get your blood to flow. Then they check your information and that is it,” Billy Losco, junior, said. Losco has given blood five times. Alex Campbell, sophomore, is giving blood for the first time. “[I am donating] to help people in need,” Campbell said. Tyler Roark, sophomore, is also giving blood for the first time. She decided to give blood because her friend could not. “I wanted to when I heard that Bobbie could not give blood,” Roark said. Roark, like a lot of people, is nervous about giving blood. She is scared of needles. Despite this fear, she is donating blood because she wants to save someone’s life. Giving blood is not painful. The pain is equivalent to the pain of pinching skin lightly. It takes about twenty minutes and afterwards the Red Cross gives you free food to help recover from losing blood. People need blood every minute of every day; however, only 3% of America’s eligible population actually donates (redcross.org).
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1. At the previous blood drive, Heather Boatwright, senior, looks away as she gives blood. photo by mitch millsaps 2. Shelby Kelly, senior, sits and waits as she gives blood at the blood drive held in October. photo by mitch millsaps 3. As the nurse draws his blood, Max Maree, senior, sits and watches. photo by celia duggan
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A T
Expressive Tendencies
Daniel Rowell, junior
‘ its a way of
by layla ferjani staff writer
That first line on the paper from a freshly sharpened pencil or that first performance in front of a live audience is always a rush. For Tyler Berthelette, senior, and Daniel Rowell, junior, music is a way for them to express themselves. Performing and writing about different aspects of their lives is one of the greatest experiences music has to offer. For Kate Saville, sophomore, and Gabe Crawford, senior, art is their passion. Drawing and painting has been in their lives since they were born. Getting Into It Berthelette: “[I got into music] around a year and a half ago. I was interested in doing something out of the box. Something no one thought I would do. [Rapping] is a way I can connect with music [since] I [cannot] sing.” Crawford: “[Drawing] has been in my life since I was born; I came out with a pencil. I [did not] start getting seriously into it until freshman year of high school. But, when you have a talent, you have to show it.” Importance Rowell: “Why would [music] not be important? It makes my darkest days bright.” Saville: “Art is important to me because it is something I can do when I am angry, sad, confused, inspired or really any other emotion. It
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is a great way for me to express my emotions and a lot times, that is the easiest way for me to express myself.” Crawford: “It is important to me because it is important to my family. It gets passed down; art is a family thing. My step dad does design, my mom went to school for Fine Art, and my sister draws.” Inspiration Saville: “I get my inspiration from almost everywhere; from my best friends, other people around me, music, situations I am in or that I see other people in, other art work, pretty much everyday life.” Berthelette: “I like to write about things that [are not] talked about. Things that are fun and not so serious; odd topics like a shirt or purple drank.” Crawford: “I study modern artists; Alex Pardee is my favorite. I look at graffiti, listen to music and read manuals and books on art. I see art in a lot of different things; you have to do what you love.” Rowell: “Mainly life, situations I get in, and [other] artists and their songs I hear. But God is mainly what I write about.” Showcases Rowell: “[I have performed] three or four times. Mostly I play at birthday parties for my friends and at church. [I have also] played at The New Brookland Tavern.” Saville: “One time my elementary school teacher sent one of my paintings to the town hall and this past month Mr. Riches submitted an oil pastel drawing from me into the 2010 Youth Arts Month
Exhibit Reception at the Basset Gallery Fine Arts Center of Kershaw County.” Album Rowell: “A couple of my friends told me I was going to be famous [after listening to my album]; they liked it. I felt like all my hard work was completed. But, this album this year is a work in progress, but I feel that it is going to be better. It has a new sound to it, I like it.” Berthelette: “I try to be original in how I come off and how I rap. [I am] working on a mix tape with some friends, but people do not understand how hard making music is. [I have received] a lot of positive [feedback since I have been rapping] which is surprising.” Career Goals Berthelette: “It is how I have fun; it is a hobby [not a career choice]. I am not going to pretend to be the next Lil Wayne.” Saville: “I want to be an architect and I will be doing art all of my life. But even if I do not end up doing that I will always be doing something involving art because I love it and would not be able to survive without it.” Crawford: “My mom does not want me to go to school for Fine Art because she knows that for a month’s time you could have no work. But, I am still going to pursue art; it might not be my main job, but it is going to be my side job.” Rowell: “Oh yeah, I plan on getting signed [by a record company] soon. I love music and I definitely want a career in it. Music is awesome.”
Tyler Berthelette, senior
Kate Saville, sophomore
Gabe Crawford, senior
www.lehsnews.com
photos by kali jackson and mitch millsaps
Showcase
Your skI\ ll
“The story of the phoenix and where it came from [inspired me].”
Chelsea Dunn, senior
Information compiled by and pictures by Kali Jackson
“A blanket my grandma gave me when I was a child inspired me to make this sun face.”
Rebecca Gainey, junior
“I find the seven sins interesting and the different aspects people see them in.”
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The rugby team wins its first game in its four year history
Rugby 101
Ruck
Maul
The coach holds up the number one signaling the play. Wesley Scruggs, sophomore and Rugby team captain, recognizes the sign and passes signals the man beside him who passes it down the line. The team prepares for what they hope is a successful play to move the ball up the pitch. Rugby is a combination of football and soccer. It has similar rules to both sports. Like soccer, the game is continuous and does not stop just because someone gets tackled. Like football, players need to move the ball to the opposite end of the pitch to score. However, the way it gets there is completely different. American football evolved out of rugby. Like American football, in rugby players try to tackle whoever is carrying the ball. However, in rugby, when a person is tackled the play is not over. Athletes can pass the ball to someone beside or behind them, but they can’t pass the ball forwards. Unlike football and soccer, in rugby, the field is not dominated by a few good players. “[My] favorite part is everyone plays together, there is not one person making the play,” Travis Worley, junior, said. For several years, the Rugby team has worked
At least one player from each team is bound together and competing for the ball off the ground. information compiled by justin stevens photos by blake brettelle
Scrum
by jake peebles staff writer
commitment so my friend told me to join on and off the pitch, unsuccessfully trying, like [rugby] and I did,” Maree said. all sports teams do, to win. On Saturday, Feb. 6, Worley joined after hearing about the the Rugby team beat Aiken 15-7 on a team on MySpace and hearing his friends muddy field in Lugoff. talk about it. Scruggs joined to condition for “[When we won] it felt good football. because it was the first time [ever],” “I quit wrestling and originally it was Worley said. something to do to condition in the winter The biggest for football but then I decided to make it problem the my only sport because I fell in love with it,” Rugby team Scruggs said. has had in Scruggs started playing rugby last year past seasons was and is now one of the team’s captains. getting enough players. “[As captain] I am the only one on the However, this year, that was not a pitch who can talk to the referee and I problem; the team had almost have to take care of all 15 players on the twice as many people as they pitch,” Scruggs said. have had in years past. Scruggs and his teammates started “[This year] we have enough practicing in early December and players that we can conduct continue to practice 2-3 days good practices,” Coach Chris a week. Since their first Knotts said. match, the team has won People join rugby for a several more games. They variety of reasons. Coach beat Greer and Aiken, Knotts joined because he photo by blake brettelle and they tied Irmo got bored with football. and Greenville. Worley joined after hearing about the team on “[Rugby is] a sport [team members] can a social networking site. Max Maree, senior, take with them after they graduate high joined after playing soccer. school and college. [Then] they become part “I was originally a soccer player but the coach of a worldwide community,” Coach Knotts quit and came back and lectured us about said.
When a player gets tackled, both teams try to drive the other team over the ball enabling them to pick it up.
After a penalty, both teams bind on and push the other team while trying to get the ball out with their feet.
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Decision
Forrest Koumas has a choice to make with both college and major league teams scouting him by blake brettelle copy editor The dream of every little league player is to grow up to be a star. To be like one of the greatest, such as Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, or Barry Bonds. To go down in history both in the books and in the hearts of millions of fans. The dream of becoming a professional baseball player. For Forrest Koumas, senior, this dream may soon become a reality. Since the age of five, Koumas has been playing baseball every chance he could. Through the years he was pushed on by his dad to keep on playing. “[My dad] always pushed me to go out in the yard and play,” Koumas said. I really wanted to be a pro baseball player so that drove me to stick with it.” Koumas played in little league, for the school team, went to training camps and played travel ball all across the country. “Baseball is my life,” Koumas said. “Everything I do I relates to baseball. It is a great way to have fun.” During all of this playing time was when his potential was discovered by scouts. Last
year, he signed a contract with the University of South Carolina. But this year, he began to receive offers from many major league teams: the Braves, Brewers, Rangers, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Athletics, Tigers, Rays, Royals, Cardinals, Blue Jays and Mets. “I was at my house watching TV when they first called,” Koumas said. “It felt pretty good. I was pretty shocked they wanted to get a lot of info and wanted to meet my family.” Koumas is now faced with a decision; Should he play in college or go straight to the pros? “[My plans] haven’t really changed,” Koumas said. “I am still going to go to USC unless I get offered a lot of money.” Koumas is waiting the final offers from the pros to make a decision. The MLB draft is not until June, so he is waiting until then to make his final decision. His parents want him to attend college, but if the right opportunity is offered, they want him to take it. “[My decision] all comes down to how much money they are going to offer me,” Koumas said. “There are no repercussions. I just try to be the best player on the field, in every aspect of the game.”
Forrest’s
Top Picks
Choice #1
Braves - “They are close to home.”
Choice #2 Rangers - “My favorite player, Josh Hamilton, plays for them.”
Forrest Koumas, senior, steps up to the plate for his next bat. Koumas leads the team in home-runs at the moment. photo by lifetouch
Choice #3
Brewers - “I’m not really sure why. It’s just a team I have always wanted to play for.”
Other Options Marlins, Diamondbacks, Athletics, Tigers, Rays, Royals, Cardinals, Blue Jays and Mets
Information compiled by Blake Brettelle
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Alice in... Underland? persons, while her sister, the
by aj harris co-editor-in chief white queen (played by Anne
graphics by Sydney Lively
Tim Burton’s recreation of the popular Disney film, “Alice in Wonderland”, after much advertising, is a flop. Not only was the movie long and filled with awkward silences and pauses between characters, but it is seemingly a sequel or re-write, rather than just a remake of the 1951animated edition. Alice Kingsleigh, in this version of the movie, has a developed background as a girl who is all but ordinary and is often caught day dreaming and has trouble focusing for more than a few moments. While at a formal gathering of her peers, Alice spots a rabbit and, traditionally, falls down a rabbit hole and ends up in Underland, yes… it is called ‘Underland’ in this version. The scene where Alice is falling endlessly down the rabbit hole was possibly the most entertaining and interactive as far as 3-D affects go throughout the film. The extra two or three dollars was not worth the overloaded 3-D effects, which added nothing to the film experience. Though the movie was slow and extremely odd, there was a moral to the story. Alice eventually realizes that she has to start making decisions for herself and stop letting other people make decisions for her. One more factor that caused the movie to move in a downward spiral were the personalities of the many, many characters. On the Queen of hearts side of the spectrum there were many absurdly disfigured
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Hathaway) was extremely dainty and annoyingly pleasant, which made me want to stop watching. Also the Mad Hatter (played by Johnny Depp) plays a much larger role than in the original film and is developed through flashbacks and his odd lingo, which cannot be understood at times. Though I particularly did not enjoy the movie, some of the classic details from the original movie were kept the same, such as the strange, smiling disappearing cat and the general tea party scene. However, the plot of the film was much more extensive and developed, which actually proved to better the story. The film is rated PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar according to mpaa.org. The movie is geared more towards the preteen population rather than adult or children. Eventually Alice inevitably fulfills the prophecy and defeats the red queen’s “champion” making the movie extremely predictable. Out of five stars, I would give this rendition of Alice in Wonderland two stars because I did laugh a few times, but overall it was a boring experience and I would only suggest it to established Tim Burton fans.
NOW
March 31
April 2
Co m in g So on
March 26
April 9
Spring Break Playlist 1. Ain’t Back Yet by Kenny Chesney 2. Do You Remember by Jay Sean 3. Break even by The Script 4. History in the Making by Darius Rucker 5. Heartbreak Warfare by John Mayer 6. Live Like We’re Dying by Kris Allen 7. Chelsea by The Summer Set 8. Today Was a Fairytale by Taylor Swift 9. Why Don’t We Just Dance by Josh Turner
10. Vanilla Twilight by Owl City
THEN
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graphics by Sydney Lively
information compiled by AJHarris and Caressa Samuel
www.lehsnews.com
From the Moment I Laid Eyes on Him...
by francesca vidal staff writer
I never realized something was missing from my life until this one guy, no different from any other, wandered into my life and somehow seeped inside me. It was 1:39 on a Monday afternoon; the moment I first laid eyes on him. I swear the world disappeared. Only he remained. His eyes attached to mine and mine were to his for seconds. He spoke only one word to me; that word was hello and that is all it took for me to fall for him. I never knew infatuation could be so powerful. I never knew it could consume me so entirely.
someone else? These questions that I am setting myself up for Every other thought I have remain in my mind. I cannot disappointment. I realize that I is about him. I have this blame him for his disinterest. I feeling that he is a lot more than really should give up on the idea have tried my best to make him that we would ever be together. what people see. And something see me differently, as someone inside of me wants to know what I realize that I am hoping for a who could make him feel the lost cause. I can feel every measly it is. I want to know his story. way I feel for him. shred of self-confidence I have I want to ask questions but I I cannot give up on him. There shedding. I think of all the ways am too quiet for my own good, is just something telling me I failed. never getting close enough. that I have to make him mine. I pick myself apart until there Every sight my eager eyes I am so desperate for his love. I is nothing left to pick at, and capture of him, I file away as have nothing left to do but wait then I am consumed completely a precious for that fateful day keepsake. There All of these feelings begin to explode when he loves me in are so many things about inside of me: frustration, sadness, anger. return. You know, a girl him that I find dreams her whole irresistible. I love how Why him? Why not someone else? life of going to his hands are always in prom and having that with misery. I let myself hope, his pockets and how he tries his perfect dance with that and nothing has come of it. hardest to be the “good guy”. I one special guy. I flash forward, love his charisma, the warmth of There is a distance between us imagining the two of us together that could never be filled. his voice and the intensity of his at the prom. We are both On the outside my pain may eyes. I love adorable half-grin, smiling. His arms are wrapped never show. I have hidden my his coffee-colored skin and his around my waist and we are slow scars of my first crush well. But short dark brown hair. dancing together on the dance inside, I feel all alone. All of There is just something about floor and I am holding him as these feelings begin to explode him. He has some kind of inside of me: frustration, sadness, close as I possibly can, never hold on me. I let myself fall wanting to let go. anger. Why him? Why not for him so easily and I realize
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“The Last Song” - Read it before you watch it movie by Miley Cyrus. Ronnie is seventeen when she and her bother Jonah leave from home in Manhattan, NY with their mom to spend the summer with their dad in Wrightsville Beach, NC. With her rebellious personality, Ronnie threatens to leave many times while trying to push her dad away, as he reaches out to her. Steve Miller is Ronnie’s father Coming from the big city who is a former concert pianist of Manhattan to the small town and a former Julliard instructor. of Wrightsville Beach, The Ronnie’s parents had gotten Last Song is a novel written by divorced after he decided to go Nicholas Sparks that was made on tour to play the piano, which into a movie and will be coming eventually pushed them apart out in theaters soon. Other because he was only home a few books Sparks has written that weeks out of the year. Over the have been made into movies are summer, they go through many Dear John, The Notebook and A ups and downs and deal with Walk to Remember. things that Ronnie never thought The main character in this novel she would ever experience. is Ronnie Miller played in the Ronnie meets a lot of new
by hannah freeman staff writer
people when she gets to North was reading this book, I did Carolina and she finds out who is not want to put it down. You good to be hanging around with would definitely enjoy reading and who is not. this novel if you love romantic, One of the people Ronnie meets heartwarming, realistic novels. is Will (Liam Hemsworth), The Last Song opens in theaters who is considered to be a typical on March 31. popular guy to whom she thinks she could never be attracted. But, Ronnie gets feelings that she never thought she would have; Falling in love ends up bringing her joy and pain. This novel is very relatable to teenagers because the characters go through family problems, friend problems and relationship problems that many teenagers have. This is a really amazing book that everyone should read. The chemistry between the characters is brought out very well. The novel is well-written and makes you feel like you are there when you are reading it. When I the pitchfork march
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BIGGEST PROM DRESS TRENDS Citrus
2010
“I picked [orange] because my boyfriend, Brandon, likes Miami and he wanted [me to wear] an either orange or green dress. As I tried on the orange dress, I thought it looked good on me. It made me look slim and the jewels on it were pretty. I thought it brought out my eyes,” Katie Kelly, sophomore, said.
Ruffles Photos and Information compiled by Francesca Vidal
I knew I wanted a strapless dress. [I found one] with ruffles on the bottom and I thought they were cute. It was a really pretty dress and I fell in love with it when I saw it,” Samantha Tabro, sophomore, said.
CREATIVE WAYS TO ASK YOUR DATE TO PROM The Win dshield Information compiled by Francesca Vidal
Approach
Try writing your invitation on your car's rear windshield with white shoe polish. Offer to give them a ride home from school, but ask them to bring their bookbag around to the trunk so they see your clever invitation. If they do not immediately decide to take the bus instead, mission accomplished.
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On e Shoulder Pin k
“I got my dress from David’s Bridal. It is candy pink, strapless and full length. It had a sequin detail on top and I chose it because it looked good on me and it was only 80 dollars,” Celia Duggan, junior, said.
Good Fortun e
Slip the invitation into a fortune cookie. Get a small takeout box from a nearby Chinese restaurant and deliver it.
Ra isin g The Stakes
Make a bet, take them out for a game of bowling. If you win, they have to take you to prom.
Photo by Blake Bretelle