A Look Inside This Edition... Students reflect on recent changes to grades and schedules
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A young Patriot fan battles leukemia with support from the Pike Road community
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Should students take the vaccine? What are their thoughts?
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Student shares his opinion on the changes to mentoring
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Students Speak Out Controversial Changes to PRHS Grades, Schedule Jack Trew & Abbie Roach Last year, many students thought that the ‘Death of Summit’ was a rumor. But they were wrong. This school year has undeniably seen the largest changes since the introduction of Summit Learning four years ago. And it has left many students more confused than ever. Why is mentoring only twice a week now? Why did the school get rid of Summit for math and science classes specifically? Why can students only reassess on focus areas twice? And, most importantly, why was this necessary in the first place? (continued on next page)
"This school year has undeniably seen the largest changes since the introduction of Summit Learning four years ago. And it has left many students more confused than ever."
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"One thing is clear: these changes are by no means popular. When asked to rate their thoughts on the new grading system, nearly 50% of the students polled rated it as a 3 out of 10 or below. "
One thing is clear: these changes are by no means popular. When asked to rate their thoughts on the new grading system, nearly 50% of the students polled rated it as a 3 out of 10 or below. It seems that many of them miss Summit. “I loved it,” one student writes. “It was very easy to understand and all of your grades were in one place. I was able to see everything clearly when we were only on Summit. I was able to see what tests I needed to study and I could get a head start on writing notes. I learned best that way and I am now struggling.” In fact, this sentiment was shared by many. (continued on next page)
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Summit’s strength was its simplicity, its ability to keep even the most unorganized students organized. It only took one look at the student’s timeline to see what projects or tests they were behind on. And with the exception of Google Classroom, it was all on Summit. Ironically, Schoology aims to do the same thing. Students can use it to see their assignments, grades, and messages from their teachers all in the same place. Alas, it has turned out to be less of an educational epicenter and more of a liability to learning. Students have to use so many websites in conjunction with Schoology that it’s been rendered ineffective. One student writes that their issue with the new system is just that: “Two of my classes use Summit and Schoology, while other classes only use Schoology and sometimes Google Classroom so it can be hard to keep up with.” However, they also acknowledge that it’s hard to learn a new system, implying that maybe it will get easier as time goes on. But what if that’s not the case? If these changes still prove ineffective in a few months, what can be done? Principal Greg Foster says that, if needed, they might be changed. “Administration will evaluate the changes,” Mr. Foster said, “and revise or make decisions accordingly to what is best for our learners using the data obtained.” With this knowledge, students can rest easier about their grades. If the data shows that students cannot succeed in this new environment, the system will be modified until they can. (continued on next page)
"Alas, it has turned out to be less of an educational epicenter and more of a liability to learning. Students have to use so many websites in conjunction with Schoology that it’s been rendered ineffective."
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But that’s only half of it. What’s the deal with the new schedule changes? “The lead learners evaluated last year and proposed we go back to an eight period schedule change,” Mr. Foster writes. “The administration discussed with the lead learners the pros and cons and decided the pros outweigh the cons.” So what are these pros? One of them is that an even/odd schedule gives teachers more time to give presentations and gives students more time to test. Another one is that each student’s time with each class is more balanced when they miss a day. Back when the schedule was full even/odd missing a Friday or Monday due to a holiday meant that teachers had to help those classes catch up to their other classes. Otherwise, some of them would be behind. The most notable change has been from mentoring to Patriot Time. The classes themselves have not changed, but rather the time spent in them. Now the class is about 10 minutes longer, but students only go to it on Wednesdays and Thursdays. This means that overall students spend less time in Patriot Time than they did in mentoring.
All in all, this year’s changes have proved controversial, but maybe there’s a method to the madness. And if it turns out to be a flop, there’s always the chance that the administration will go back to more effective ways of learning. Some might still be unsure of whether or not these changes were needed. Regardless, Pike Road students have lived through several different administrations and several different visions of how the school should operate. After all this, many believe that they can take on any new challenge thrown at them.
Continue reading for more student and administration opinions on the new grading system
For some this is helpful, as it allows them to spend more time with their core teachers. But others might miss the daily break they had with the old mentoring schedule.
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New Grading Policies Shift the ‘Pike Road Way’ Sydney Rhodes & Osezele Ebadan Students no longer have an unlimited amount of attempts to take on their assessments and their freedom to work at their own pace throughout the year is restricted. After five years of using the Summit Learning platform, Pike Road High School for this academic year no longer uses it as a primary source of teaching and learning. Why was this change established and how do Pike Road’s students feel? (continued on next page)
"After five years of using the Summit Learning platform, Pike Road High School for this academic year no longer uses it as a primary source of teaching and learning."
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“We wanted to ensure that lead learners could use any resource in conjunction with Summit to best teach and instruct our PRHS learners,” said Vice Principal Brittney Duncan, adding that other sources with Summit can provide the best learning experience. “This is where Schoology helps facilitate this.” Dr. Duncan added that the state's Department of Education endorsed Powerschool, a new student information system, and Schoology, a new learning management system. PRHS sophomore Lauren Doty believes that Summit did have its benefits--and that it wasn’t the best--but Schoology does have its flaws.
"With any change, there will always be unforeseen challenges. However, we appreciate everyone's patience and optimism as everything is worked out."
“I think that Summit has its benefits, but it wasn’t a good platform if we were looking to retain information,” Lauren said. “I like how organized it all is … they [Schoology and other sites] never work like they are supposed to.” Dr. Duncan said that school leaders want students to be sufficiently trained in managing their time and adjusting to the changes in taking assessments. For instance, all projects assigned during a grading period have to be done by the end of that grading period. Also, students only have three tries to pass their assessments -- a major difference from the past of having unlimited attempts. “We also wanted to ensure that learners were turning in assignments in a timely manner all while still providing opportunities for reassessment on skills not mastered,” the assistant principal said. “With any change, there will always be unforeseen challenges. However, we appreciate everyone's patience and optimism as everything is worked out.”
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The Pike Road Community is
#KaidenStrong Tom Walker At the beginning of the year, Angela Martin discovered that her four-year-old son, Kaiden, had been diagnosed with Leukemia and would be facing three years of expensive and exhausting chemotherapy.
After weeks of working alone to help her son, Angela’s therapist recommended that she reach out to her community for help. The Pike Road community has shown tremendous support, helping to raise more $6,700 for Kaiden’s treatment. The community also organized a parade for Kaiden that included community members, firefighters and police officers. (continued on next page)
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They also decorated their mailboxes with ribbons, in Kaiden’s favorite color: red. Kaiden, a huge fan of the Patriots, attended almost every Pike Road football game. After hearing about his condition, the team decided to do something to help. The Patriots began advertising a new fundraiser for Kaiden’s treatment; #KaidenStrong bracelets. “We wanted to find a way to help the family with the severe amount of expenses they have had to endure because of his medical care,” Head Football Coach Patrick Browning said. “We are glad to help him.” For those unaware, most children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, the specific cancer Kaiden endures, experience aching bones, high fever, extreme fatigue and measurable weight loss.
"After hearing about his condition, the team decided to do something to help. The Patriots began advertising a new fundraiser for Kaiden’s treatment; #KaidenStrong bracelets."
“Any donations would be greatly appreciated by Kaiden and our family as we continue our fight against Leukemia,” Angela said. Donations will help offset the costs of medical bills, she said, and treatments for Kaiden.
Contribute to the #KaidenStrong fund by donating HERE
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Pike Road May Advance to a 6A School Sierra Weitherspoon Pike Road now has the potential to advance to a 6A school next year with the continuous rapid growth. Last year, Pike Road Junior and High School just advanced from a 3A school to a 5A school. As it is, the Patriots are already meeting larger high schools on the gridiron. Greg Foster, Pike Road High School principal, said that while being classified as a 6A school that plays of the same size or larger, the Alabama High School Athletic Association determines if the school moves up or not every two years. The AHSAA, which is an organization to system sports, controls and promotes the athletic programs within Alabama. Mr. Foster adds that we currently have 552 students this school year. Next year is when the AHSAA will decide if we meet the classifications to advance to a 6A school. (continued on next page)
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Coach Joi Washington, Athletic Director/Volleyball Coach, states that Pike Road High’s enrollment numbers, or the Average Daily Membership (ADM), are how the AHSAA determines a school’s classification range from 1A-7A. “From the last classification period in 2019-2020, we had 457 students to advance us to be a 5A school,” Coach Washington said. “For us to be a 6A school, we would have to have at least 570 students.” For the players, Coach Anthony “Amp” Davis, a football and PE coach, said that it is a great opportunity to get exposure because 5A-plus schools gain more recognition. He also believes that it calls for more money as well. According to Coach Washington, the volleyball and football players are already playing 6A teams this year. “Those 6A matchups proved to be a good barometer for potential region and area matchups that could be on the horizon.” Coach Washington said.
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Parking Pandemonium: Is Our School Parking Lot Unsafe? Tom Walker & Zeph Key Shattered Windshield. Trapped. Hit and Run. In recent weeks, the gravel parking lots at Pike Road High School have raised multiple concerns among students as they continue to suffer damages related to the lot. For example, a football kicked from the stadium broke the windshield of Pike Road senior Liam Sawicki’s car. “The whole thing sucked, I had soccer practice so I wasn't there to see what happened," Liam said. "But, neither the police nor the administration got back to us and nobody had the balls to actually claim responsibility, even after my family had already paid for the repair.” Over time, Liam has stopped believing any resolution will come. But hope is not entirely stalled for students who want the parking situation improved. In an interview with the Revere Todd McConnell, Director of Transportation & Maintenance at Pike Road, said the preliminary work has begun.
"In recent weeks, the gravel parking lots at Pike Road High School have raised multiple concerns among students as they continue to suffer damages related to the lot."
“We just got approval from the State Department of Construction Management (DCM) and we are about to send out bids to start paving and striping the parking lot, with spaces.” The new, paved lot is expected to start construction in the next week. (continued on next page)
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However, the new construction doesn’t address all of the issues students are worried about. For instance, Sydney Baker, another student driver, was “trapped” in her parking spot by a stranger and was forced to confront them before she could go home. “He was sitting and talking with some students and he blocked me into my spot, so I was trapped,” Sydney said. “I had never seen him before, but I had to go up to him to ask him to move.
“If it were another girl in my position, they may have felt scared confronting a strange man,” she said. “It could be unsafe for students.”
“If it were another girl in my position, they may have felt scared confronting a strange man,” she said. “It could be unsafe for students.” Sydney never found out the name of the man who “trapped” her in the lot, so a full resolution is unlikely. However, this may not be the case for students in the future. According to Mr. McConnell, “Once the parking lot is paved, new light poles with cameras will be added.” While there are currently cameras monitoring the lot, they are not entirely sufficient for covering all events that occur, like the football that broke Liam’s windshield. With more cameras, both the quality and quantity of footage will increase, this will allow for more situations to be resolved with the clear evidence provided by cameras. (continued on next page)
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Another problem that many students are dealing with is their vehicles getting struck without any evidence of who hit them. This was the case with Pike Road Junior Preston Macrory. “On September 3rd, 2021, my car got swiped in the back. I didn’t realize until I moved my car from the gravel parking lot to the senior parking lot. My mom came and looked at it and got a referral from an officer. However, after that, nothing was done and they couldn't find anything on the cameras.” After weeks of waiting, Preston was forced to repair his vehicle with his own money, because it is still unknown who hit his car. He believes he will never know who damaged his vehicle. While the new changes will prevent parking incidents like those that affected Liam, Sydney, and Preston, it is unclear if there is any plan to provide reparation to students whose property was damaged because of the lot.
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New Day for SGA Naomi Valentine Despite the strong start of the Student Government Association (SGA) during the founding of our school, it has dwindled out in recent years. Many students rejoiced with the announcement of the return of the SGA. Pike Road has had a SGA in the past, but with limited meetings and involvement. The program was completely absent during the 2020-2021 school year. This fresh start for the SGA has been organized by lead learners Pamela Kangelos and Leala Bunn. An interest meeting was held in early September, with a promising turnout. Students were able to run for the following positions:
"Many students rejoiced with the announcement of the return of the SGA. Pike Road has had a SGA in the past, but with limited meetings and involvement. The program was completely absent during the 20202021 school year. "
Senior Officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentary, Reporter 10th and 11th representatives: Two senators from each grade (continued on next page)
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Campaign week ran from Tuesday, September 7th through Friday, September 10th. There was a zoom call during mentoring on Thursday the 9th for candidates to introduce themselves. The election was held that Friday. This revamped version of SGA appears promising, as Ms. Kaneglos described several new activities that officers will participate in. These include service projects and attending town board meetings. These additions have the potential to make the SGA much more involved so that students can have more of an impact within the school system.
Despite the promise of this program, concerns remain. For the past few years, SGA officers have had little to no input in school policy and the meetings rarely lasted for the entire school year. It will take commitment from teachers and officers to keep this current momentum going. Ms. Kangelos acknowledges that this will be a challenging learning experience, but remains “excited about the prospect of working with students while they actively engage in facilitating change.”
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2021-22 SGA Officers President Shelby Johnson
Secretary Alexis Flennory Treasurer Jaidyn Biggs Reporter Tom Walker Parliamentarian Emily Klinger
Vice President Ben DeBoer
Junior Class Senators Emma Franks Kasey Reybitz Sophomore Class Senators Kylon Garrett-Townsend Andy Tadjuidje
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Seventy Percent of PRHS Students Polled Braved the COVID-19 Shot,
Have You? Zoe Jean-Charles
Seven out of 10 Pike Road students polled about COVID vaccinations say they have been vaccinated or received the first dose.
Another one-third reported they were strongly against or hesitant about taking the shot. While the majority of the 100 students polled were vaccinated or planned to be vaccinated, the 28 percent of the respondents gave their reasoning behind their stance. They include: “It came out too quickly”; “It doesn't prevent you from contacting COVID”; “I'm worried about the side effects''; “What exactly is in it?” Or even simply “I don't want it”. (continued on next page)
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These concerns are valid and understandable. After all, the flu shots students get each fall have been tested and perfected for years. Long-term side effects have been studied and reported. So why should anyone trust the vaccine? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people over the age of 12 should get the vaccine. Not only because it lowers the risk of spreading COVID, but also because it significantly reduces the number of long-term effects and prevents deaths caused by the virus. For those who do contract COVID -- another concern by anti or vaccine-hesitant students -the vaccine reduces symptoms for those who are vaccinated prior to catching COVID19. They are known to be sick for less time and have milder and shorter illnesses. Even with all these documented facts, many people are hesitant to get the vaccine because they just don’t want to, with popular reasoning being “I’m not a sheep” or even “COVID is just the flu”, and “I don’t want it.” Others argue that mandating a vaccine is an infringement of their rights as American citizens. Most of the argument for these reasons for not getting vaccines is not scientific, but political. The largest rebuttal from those who do wish to mandate the vaccine being “It’s about more than you.” Many argue that COVID is not about a single person but our community and even our world as a whole. (continued on next page)
"Even with all these documented facts, many people are hesitant to get the vaccine because they just don’t want to, with popular reasoning being 'I’m not a sheep' or even 'COVID is just the flu', and 'I don’t want it.'"
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Popular arguments also consist of “The Flu vaccine is already required for your child to attend school, so why do you draw the line at COVID?”
"Nevertheless it’s important to remember, while students are not mandated to get vaccinated, it is important to stay informed. "
When students at Pike Road were asked if they would feel safer if the COVID vaccine was required like the flu shot: 70% reported they would feel safer in school, 19% responded they would not, and 11% had mixed responses Throughout the mixed responses, a handful stood out, one of them being “I see no reason not to require it since we're required to get vaccinated for other diseases anyway. Especially considering that the Pfizer vaccination was recently FDA approved.” Students are required to get shots like chickenpox and polio, both of which heavily affected school populations much like COVID today. Vaccinations then not only saved lives but stopped the risk of deadly infection and lifelong suffering due to the effects of the diseases. So many who are asking, why should we stop at the COVID shot? Especially when it’s something so once in a lifetime like a global pandemic. Nevertheless it’s important to remember, while students are not mandated to get vaccinated, it is important to stay informed. Do research, stay up to date on local COVID statistics, and don’t rush into decisions. As one student so elegantly put it “I am indifferent on the subject. I would be okay with getting it especially with the new Delta variant affecting children, no matter how healthy they were, to begin with. Although I see why some younger (and physically smaller) people aren't as comfortable with getting the vaccine, since it’s the same dose for full-grown men as it is for a 12-year-old. The reason I haven't gotten it is because my parents aren't in complete agreement about the vaccine now that there is a new variant of Covid.” Many share the same sentiment, but no matter your stance, stay healthy, and stay safe.
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Masks Now Preferred on All PRS Campuses Caden Bishop Masking is now “preferred” on all Pike Road campuses. Superintendent Charles Ledbetter recommended to the school board that masking move from required to preferred in a recent school board meeting, this proposition passed and masks are no longer required on the campuses. “I still believe that wearing masks is one of many effective tools we have in our toolbox to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as well as other communicable diseases, such as the flu,” Dr. Ledbetter said. “Further, It continues to be a top priority to keep our students, faculty, and staff healthy and in school. Therefore, in addition to making masks preferred on all campuses, we have also put in place a 3% threshold that we will use to guide our decision about masking going forward. (continued on next page)
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“If 3% of the student population on any campus is positive or suspected positive, we will require masking on that campus,” he added. “Masks will remain mandatory until the percentage of positive and suspected positive cases drops below 3%.” The first two weeks were pretty tame, having only 27 and 34 cases respectively, but the numbers spiked in week three totaling 68 cases of Covid19. The numbers weaned from week three to four, and they continued to fall. The numbers have been released for weeks five and six, being Pike Road School’s second and first lowest case weeks respectively.
Photo Credit: Taylor Jean-Charles
It has been nearly a year since masking began and many still refuse to mask up. Initially, Pike Road Schools had a mask mandate which ran from the start of school to mid-September. After the number of Covid-19 Cases was released the mandate was extended for two weeks. The board met again on September 27th and decided to make masking recommended.
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Masks Now Preferred: Student Responses Compiled by Jennifer Blanchard “I'm going to wear a mask. It is your choice and your opinion. However, it is going to affect those around you. Choose to be smart.” - Arica Haywood, 11th Grade
“I think that we should not wear masks, because it is difficult to breathe and [the number of] cases are decreasing” - Railen James, 9th Grade
"The masks protect you and they are proven to help us with COVID-19. And even though people don't like it, we should listen and it will help us reduce the spread of COVID-19”. - James Trew, 8th Grade
“If students are vaccinated, it is not mandatory to wear a mask and students should have a choice to wear a mask.” - Abby Wilson, 11th Grade
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Ask
Paul Q: What are some tips for juggling school, after school activities, extracurriculars, etc? A: Stay as organized as possible. Have set times and days to accomplish what goals while also making sure to carve out time for yourself so you don’t get overwhelmed.
Q: What should I do if I feel like school is too easy? A: The school offers dual enrollment and AP classes if you’re looking to challenge yourself. If you already do that go for some extracurriculars to participate in or even take it upon yourself to look up topics to educate yourself in.
See more on next page
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Ask Paul (cont.) Q: How do you keep breathing when you really want to die? A: Don’t hesitate to ask for help and call (800) 273-8255 Suicide Hotline.
Q: What do you do when you like multiple people at once and can’t decide who to go after/don't know how to confess your feelings? A: Sometimes pros and cons list really do work. Think through what each person has to offer for you and you for them. If you can’t decide between one person you need to make everyone aware and never lead anyone on the truth can suck to tell but helps you from worse circumstances later.
Q: How do you get a date to homecoming or girls in general? A: Be genuine. Show you care, be true to yourself and take a chance because you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
Q: What do you do if you give your all to a boy, but it doesn't seem to be enough? A: At some point you need to learn what is best for you and move on no matter how hard it may be if your all is never reciprocated. You deserve the world and don’t forget it.
Q: How can I stop feeling like I’m worthless? A: Think about the people who care about you and make a list of your good qualities. It can be hard to get out of a rut when depressive episodes hit, but recognizing that your negative thoughts are not reality Is very important to overcoming them.
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Ask Paul (cont.) Q: What to do if I base my self worth on my grades and breakdown every time I get something less than perfect? A: The first step is realizing grades aren’t everything. Grades right now are to help you get into college to get the job you want. If you have your goals lined up then that job you’re pushing for is one that would make you happy but what’s the point of you’re torturing yourself living unhappily to get there? Do your best every single day, yes but know that one bad grade doesn’t define your present and future happiness.
Q: I have no answer for my future. Like college and major. I was asked many people for major or college, they always said "it's OK, just wait. you will get an answer." I don't understand it. Help me. A: Firstly, you don’t have to go to college to be successful if you don’t want to. Secondly, you don’t have to go to college the second you graduate like most people if you need time then get a temporary job for financial stability testing the waters as you figure out your life path.
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Ask Paul (cont.) Q: What do I do if I'm stuck not just in school, friend relationships, ETC, but in life in general. A: The best way to reinvigorate yourself is to try something new. Try a new hobby. Even if you find out it’s not for you, the experience of doing something different can be surprisingly therapeutic.
Q: I tend to ruin a lot of my relationships because I struggle controlling my anger. I let my anger get the best of me and I overreact. Even if my loved ones didn’t deserve it, I still go off on them. I’ve tried to control it, but in the moment it is very hard. And afterwards I feel so awful about it. What do I do? A: Stop and think before you speak/act and consider other people’s perspectives
Q: What should you do if you try out for a team and don’t make it? How do you handle it when people ask about it because they know you tried out? It can be kind of embarrassing. A: Don’t think too hard about it. If you don’t make a team, it’s nothing against you as a person. It simply means that you have to keep working hard for when you get another chance. And if someone asks about it, own it! Be optimistic and confident about your chances next year.
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THE REVERE
Viewpoints Student opinion, because our thoughts matter.
The views reflected in the following columns do not necessarily represent the views of The Revere or Pike Road High School
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Viewpoints
A Love Letter to Mentoring Caden Bishop I love mentoring. It’s my favorite part of the system we use – or at least, it was. Mentoring has always been shaky. But at its best, it was the single greatest part of our school. At its worst, mentoring was nothing but a waste of time. Mentoring has fundamentally changed with the latest revisions to the schedule. Mentoring takes place on our two-block days. Historically it occurred every day. Therein lies the problems I have, but in order to address my problems, I have to explain what mentoring is. Each student has a mentoring class, which is a permanent fixture on your schedule. Your classmates stay the same (most of the time), as does your teacher, referred to as your mentor. Your mentor is just that, a mentor. You have check-ins every week, during which you can discuss anything that you want, but they are primarily to keep you on track with your work. I often saw my friends use them as mini-therapy sessions, where they would talk about their woes and get advice. (continued on next page)
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"No matter what you had someplace where you belonged."
Viewpoints This constant presence was really assuring in a school system whose motto may as well be, “this oughta shake things up a bit.” Every year in spite of the constant schedule changes, mentoring weathered the storm and remained a daily occurrence. This created a sort of safe space where you knew what you had in store. The same people with the same mentor every year, so no matter what you had someplace where you belonged. All school competitions were based on mentoring, be it homecoming, field day, or even best grades. This created a real sense of unity and familiarity among your mentoring peers. You always had a group of people you knew and a teacher you could confide in. Of course, it was all luck. Many mentors did not actually “mentor.” So while some students had a great mentoring experience, just as many essentially had a free period in place of a mentoring class. This is where the “shakiness” that I referred to came from. While people like myself got to experience all the benefits of mentoring, so many didn’t get that opportunity. I’m not the only one who feels strongly about the importance of mentoring. I interviewed a few teachers who asked to remain anonymous. The first staff member had a powerful statement that included this: (continued on next page)
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THE REVERE “It also eliminates mentoring every day, which is often what learners and lead learners say are the best part of our school. We are checking in daily to ensure the social and emotional health of our kids. By eliminating mentoring, we no longer provide a safe place for kids to go daily. We also eliminate opportunities to build and develop relationships.” So my problems with what changed lie in the amount of time you have. You only have 70 minutes total of mentoring, which is drastically lower than previous years. This really upsets me, mentoring always acted as that safe space that I’ve been talking about. It made me feel very happy and I know many of my mentoring peers feel the same way. I will never be okay with the drastic changes to what has been a fundamental part of my educational journey here at Pike Road.
Viewpoints
"I will never be okay with the drastic changes to what has been a fundamental part of my educational journey here at Pike Road."
The purpose of this piece isn’t to lash out at the admin team for changing mentoring, rather it’s an appreciation for what mentoring meant to me, as well as a farewell to my favorite part of our school. I cannot say with any certainty what will happen in the coming years, but I hope mentoring remains and is able to thrive for future classes here at PRHS. Above all else, this is a thank you to all the mentors, especially mine, who tried their hardest to create a safe environment. Go Patriots!
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Viewpoints
Is it Wise to Not Enforce Masks at Football Games? Kevin Ramos Have you ever been uncomfortable in a public setting as we struggle to battle this pandemic? With the rise of the new Delta COVID-19 variant, Alabama cases have risen rapidly. Seeing this, our community as a whole should be working harder against COVID-19. Nonetheless, masks are still not required, but encouraged, at football games. As a member of the marching band, attending football games is obligatory. This is due to it being a major part of my grade in taking the band elective. Recently, the band had the privilege to move to the stands near the end zone rather than the ones near the sideline. This is greatly appreciated because our music is heard by all who attend the games. Yet, it also exposes us to the maskless student section, and some band members are almost shoulder-to-shoulder with these students. When these students cheer on the football team, it puts the band at risk of contracting COVID-19. As this happens, I can only think about how harmful it is to our community in the long run. (continued on next page)
"As this happens, I can only think about how harmful it is to our community in the long run."
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"Considering how many students attend the games, a simple decision, like this one could impact our community in irreversible ways."
Viewpoints Considering how many students attend the games, a simple decision, like this one could impact our community in irreversible ways. Someone might argue that I should simply not participate in the band program anymore to avoid this. However, I truly enjoy being a part of our school system’s marching band. I believe that if students were to wear their masks at football games, even just for a few weeks, then our COVID-19 cases would begin to decrease significantly.
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Viewpoints
Mask Up, Pike Road Alex Hieber As the number of COVID cases in America peaks at 42.3 million cases, Alabama reaching 772k, and Pike Road reaching 223 so far since the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year, masks are becoming a choice rather than a forced rule. For some, this is cause for celebration. But for others going out isn’t as safe as it used to be anymore. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that the schools with the most COVID outbreaks aren’t following mask or vaccine guidelines. But how does this relate to PRHS? Well, many students complain of others not wearing masks or socially distancing from each other. While teachers are given a pass from this rule whilst teaching, students are not. Considering how close everybody is to each other, is it really safe to make masks an option? Well, according to the CDC, no. Even if somebody without COVID wears a mask, if a COVID carrier comes in contact with them there’s a 70% probability of contagion. If somebody with COVID wears one and comes in contact with a person who does not wear a mask, there’s only a 5% chance. But if they both wore a mask, they would both be 100% protected from catching or spreading COVID-19. (continued on next page)
"While teachers are given a pass from this rule whilst teaching, students are not. "
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THE REVERE Many students refuse to wear masks because they are uncomfortable, hot, or tight. But as a result, students are falling sick and spreading the virus to others. Some students have claimed that people who’ve caught the virus continue to come to school, refusing to wear a mask and spreading it to others. Even at football games, especially in the student section, the majority do not wear masks. Going to a PRHS-sponsored event seems to be a death wish for some at this point, making it hard for everyone to be able to enjoy the football games. Whether or not masks are preferred, COVID-19 isn’t any less deadly.
Viewpoints
"Whether or not masks are preferred, COVID-19 isn’t any less deadly. "
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THE REVERE dedicates this edition to Gregory Foster, our principal for 2020-2021.
k n k a n h a T Th ! u o u y yo !
THE REVERE The Staff Mansur Ali Ameria Anderson Sydney Baker Jacob Berry Laci Bise Caden Bishop Jennifer Blanchard Maxim Boukouch Freddie Brooks Zoey Brown Osezele Ebadan LaCedric Foster Bri Freeman Patricia Goodson Spencer Guy Lauren Harry Alex Hieber Travis Horne Kailyn Jarrett Taylor Jean-Charles
Zeph Key Kaitlyn King Gabriel Krause Allison Lewis Bridget Mortag Akira Murray AnnaClaire Nolen Kristiannia Perry Kevin Ramos Kaitlyn Reedy Sydney Rhodes Abbie Roach Kelis Robinson James Scott Jack Trew Alejandro Vazquez Naomi Valentine Thomas Walker Aniah Ware Sierra Weitherspoon Rebekah Wilson
THE REVERE Leadership Team Editor In Chief Caden Bishop Managing Editor Abbie Roach Copy Editors Osezele Ebadan & Kevin Ramos News Editors Thomas Walker & Taylor Jean-Charles Opinion Editor Sierra Weitherspoon Features Editors Rebekah Wilson & Alex Hieber Sports Editor TBA Photo/Graphics Editor Naomi Valentine Layout & Design Editor Jack Trew Promotions & Advertising Jacob Berry & Sydney Baker y
THE REVERE The Revere is a student-run online newsletter that uses the power of journalism to keep Pike Road students, parents, and teachers informed about issues and trends in our school and community. If you enjoyed this edition, please consider following us on social media, where you can view other content from One Nation Media and stay up to date between editions. You can also reach us at TheRevere@pikeroadschools.org The Revere staff thanks you for reading and hopes you'll stay tuned for more relevant, recent, and riveting content.
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Cover Photo Credit to Jack Martin @jackxmartiin