Squall, March 2010

We a r e h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s . R e a d e r d i s c r e t i o n a d v i s e d .

Dexter High School 2200 N. Parker Road Dexter, MI 48130

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World language changes proposed

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mid the plethora of proposed changes being considered by the district, a plan to revamp the world language department has emerged.

The district is hoping to increase the scope of cultural awareness among students in the district.

According to French teacher Kim Lund, the proposal came recently at a special committee meeting.

“The K-12 World Language Committee made a recommendation to the board of education on March 1 that we begin language at the

kindergarten level,” Lund, co-chair of the committee comprised of administrators, language instructors and teachers, said. “Students would continue their language through sixth grade.”

Lund said under the proposal the three languages offered at the high school would be offered starting in kindergarten Then, as students entered seventh grade, they would be given the choice to continue their current language or begin a new one.

At this point, according to Lund, Arabic and Mandarin would also be offered.

World Language Committee co-chair and Cornerstone Principal Craig McCalla said under this plan, students would be taught in an environment in which many would achieve proficiency by the end of grades six to eight, which would be judged by a proficiency test.

Max Berry

news editor

This proposition is part of the district-wide reimagining, Lund said, and is also being weighted with the current bid for Dexter to become an International Baccalaureate district.

“The IB program likes students to have four years of foreign language experience before their junior year,” Lund said. “We want our students to have more of a global perspective.”

This comes as a result of the new graduation requirements for the class of 2016 which call for two world language credits.

According to McCalla, the district is wholly behind the idea.

“Dexter families and staff feel that it is important to build a strong language program,” McCalla said.

For now, though, McCalla said the committee’s original plan requires substantial increases in funds for additional staff and educational materials.

However, the money required for such a plan is not at hand with the current budget struggles, according to Principal Kit Moran.

“It is the right thing to do,” Moran said. “But right now we don’t have a lot of dollars to put behind it.”

As an alternative, Superintendent Rob Glass has recommended a plan that he says is more economically feasible and will still improve the world language program in Dexter.

Glass has proposed the establishment of a scaled-back version of a FLEX program, which is an abbreviated term referring to a foreign language exploration program.

“The FLEX program is not really a language program,” Lund said. “It is more of a cultural exploration program.”

Lund added that the Flex class would meet for half-hour classes twice a week and thus would not be expected to be any more than provide a brief education to elementary students about the culture behind a language.

“We need to add five teachers for the full FLEX program,” Glass said, adding that while funds are not currently available to allow such an increase the staff, the program would likely continue to grow until it can be fully implemented, when the budget allows for such a change.

Beyond the FLEX program for the elementary schools, the extent of proposed language changes is not yet clear, however.

April 1, 2010 Volume XV Issue 7

An e-mail from McCalla said Glass’ recommendation included adding more language exposure in grades 5-6 and still offering the language programs 7-12, based on student need.

McCalla also said the district is looking at an immersion program in either a new language or one that is currently taught in the district.

Glass said that, should the district adopt an immersion program, cooperative efforts with the Confucius Institute would be a cost-effective solution. The Confucius Institute is an affiliate of Michigan State University which offers on-line coursework in Chinese language study for middle school and high school-aged students.

Glass said, in theory, working with the Confucius Institute would decrease the number of new staff members needed to implement a Mandarin immersion program with the foreign language expansion, thereby saving the district significant funding.

Regardless, Glass said he hopes to see, at the very least, the FLEX program in place next year.

In light of Glass’ recent announcement to seek a superintendent position in another district, however, Lund said the future of the proposal has been clouded.

“We’re not certain when the plan will be implemented,” Lund said. “Right now we have no plan for logical progression of the plan.”

Despite the uncertainties in the future of both the proposal and his own position within the Dexter district, Glass is optimistic.

He said the district is surveying parents to see what languages they want and to what extent parents wish to see foreign language programs expand.

The district will be able to better envision its plans when it gets the survey results by the end of April. Glass said, “I think that, K through 12, every grade will have a language program next year.”

Glass also commended the World Language Committee on its research and planning and said that the committee’s work will benefit the district’s language program when funds are more readily available.

“The World Language Committee did great work,” Glass said. “Their model shows what a language program should look like when all the resources are there.”

Students get National Budgetary concerns may cause high school layoffs Merit recognition earn modest scholarships from PSAT/NMQT, Sarah AKBARIFARD staff writer and can receive offers from individual colleges and universities for partial to full scholarship After dealing with the immense after-school opportunities,” LeBlanc said.

But according to Warden, he has yet to receive traffic, senior Nico Warden finally makes it back to his house and gets the mail as he does every any scholarship money from the PSAT/NMQT. day. But something caught his eye on this brisk “I should find out if I get the $2500 in sometime February afternoon: a letter from the National in March or April,” he said. Unfortunately for Merit Scholarship. Warden scurries back into Warden he said that none of the schools that his car and drove up his driveway and makes his he applied to offer individual scholarships for way into his kitchen where he opens the letter to becoming a National Merit Finalist.

Luckily for senior Dillon Kipke he has the find out he is a National Merit Finalist.

According to counselor Larry LeBlanc, opportunity to receive a full ride scholarship from becoming a National Merit Finalist is quite the University of Arizona, “I haven’t received any scholarship money from a rigorous process. them yet,” said Kipke. “But “Students qualify by Being selected as a final- through the research I’ve taking the PSAT in October of their junior ist is a big distinction. done, other National Merit year and posting a I appreciate the honor Finalists have received full ride scholarships, so I am Index Score in the 99th and want to live up to the hoping that I will get one percentile,” he said. standard of a National too,” he said.

“Students then become Merit Finalist.”

Scholarship money a National Merit Semi aside, both Warden Finalist are invited to take the SAT and

Nico Warden and Kipke are proud of their accomplishments. complete a application According to LeBlanc, with additional they should be because of the over 1.5 million information supplied by their counselor.”

And based upon the applicants SAT score and juniors who took the PSAT/NMSQT last year, their application he or she can be recognized as a only 15,000 applicants (1 percent) are selected as finalists.

National Merit Finalist.

“Being selected as a finalist is a big “I was happy and excited when I found out I qualified,” Warden said. “After I found out that I distinction,” Warden said. “I appreciate the was a finalist, I called my parents, and they were honor and want to live up to the standard of a National Merit Finalist. Receiving such a award excited as well.”

And LeBlanc said becoming a finalist has its motivates me to succeed and to go through all benefits. “Finalist receive national recognition, the endeavours I will face in the future.”

“

12 Missed the senior food auction? Check out the photostory to see all the best shots.

The Rostrum Teen pregnancy. It’s on MTV. Now it’s in The Squall’s Rostrum spread.

“There’s a lot of trickiness that has to do with certification,” Romeo said. “We have to find the emily van dusen copy editor person with the least seniority, but we also have to think about what they’re certified to teach.”

That said, Moran does not plan to simply make As a young teacher struggling to find his niche in the education system, Principal Kit Moran was on any and all possible cuts in the elective classes like the receiving end of many a pink slip. But instead music, art and graphic arts, since he sees these of throwing them away, he brought each one home, classes as being opportunities for enriching the high where they remain a reminder of the importance of school experience.

“We’re working on building a schedule that perseverance in the face of adversity.

Now, as a high school principal, Moran is faced develops the classes we need and also the classes that with a role reversal. He will have to be the one make school fun,” Moran said. “If we only taught the announcing layoffs of teachers he’s come to know and core classes, this would be a pretty dull place to be. respect. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory; in It’s not a science there’s not a formula where you can such uncertain economic times, the education sector just plug numbers in; it’s not that easy.”

Another dynamic comes in to play when in particular must often sacrifice funds. For many districts, just as with businesses and manufacturers, considering the possibility of teachers retiring. this points to the difficult but often unavoidable The week of March 8, Michigan legislation was introduced which creates an incentive for Michigan practice of downsizing.

As it stands, each teacher at the high school teaches teachers to retire, and a large penalty, including 12 sections, or four classes for three trimesters. In increased insurance costs for eligible teachers who order to accommodate budget cuts, Moran and his choose not to retire.

“If you retire now, nothing is going to get better, administration are charged with cutting 60 sections, which equates to five teaching positions, also referred but if you don’t it’ll be worse,” Moran said. If passed in its final form, the legislation is due to take effect to as five FTEs, or “full-time equivalents.”

“We have to figure out how, with fewer teachers, on April 1.

“If that happened, there might be some people we can keep class sizes low and deliver schedules on time,” Moran said. “Basically, we have to figure out here who choose to take advantage of that,” Moran said. “There are a number who are eligible, and they how to do more with less.”

Advising the administration is the Dexter might be able to come back as a quarter of a teacher, Education Association, headed by president Joe meaning they can teach one class.”

For its part, the union is considering the current Romeo. “Our goal is to have as many people with full time jobs as possible,” Romeo said. “We also want situation while developing their latest contract, due teachers to be able to teach what they want to teach. to be negotiated this spring.

“We are working on writing clear contract That’s a common value with the district because it language that reflects the values of the teachers and makes better teachers.”

In order to determine how to go about cutting the community,” Romeo said. “We write the contract positions, Moran said he and his administrative team to make sure the rules are consistent with what have to consider such factors as seniority, curriculum teachers want and that the district wants.”

Amid the daunting task of cutting funds via requirements and the demand for elective courses.

“Seniority is definitely a big factor,” Moran said. teacher layoffs, Moran is careful not to overlook the Seniority refers to the number of years a teacher delicate nature of performing such a task.

“It’s important not to get caught up in the has spent in the district, not necessarily just the high school. “In conjunction with the rest of the scheduling,” Moran said. “I’m most concerned about principals, there might be some moving around in being sensitive and compassionate to the teachers, and any way that I can help these folks, I will.” the district,” Moran said.

The situation is certainly not one that is desired This means that if a teacher at one of the elementary or middle schools is qualified to teach a by any educators, but it can serve as a test for how high school course and has been in the district longer effectively districts can allocate their resources, and than someone at the high school, they would likely how they are able to sensitively handle the tough decisions ushered in by a tough economic climate. replace the high school teacher.

“It’s five FTE’s on paper,” Moran said. “But it’s However, the administration must also make sure that all of the classes the high school is required people. People who have gone to college, who love to offer by the state are available and adequately Dexter schools, who care about their students. Most staffed. So if a younger teacher is certified to teach people teach because they like kids, not because a required algebra course, for example, their job they’re concerned about money. So it’s hard on a may be more secure than a more senior member of human level.” another department where there are fewer required courses.

2

News

Thursday, April 1, 2010

News

Briefs

New $2.1 million construction continues outside DHS The excavation and pipe outside the front of the school as well as the pushed-over rock is part of the Village of Dexter’s upgrade to its water system. The building under construction adjoining the high school is the new pump house for these water improvements. According to Village Manager Donna Dettling, this fifth well for the village was necessary because the village was at its water capacity according to the State. The work will cost nearly $2,100,000 and will be paid for through a combination of the State’s Drinking Water Revolving Fund, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and water fees according to Principal Kit Moran and Dettling.

Dexter High School will realize a significant improvement in water quality with these improvements and minimize water issues, such as the one that occurred a few years ago at the high school according to Principal Kit Moran.

’ e u s s I n a t o N Prom Budget: ‘ Elizabeth O’Keefe

staff writer

There have been many rumors about prom being cancelled this year due to not having enough money in the budget.

These rumors are not true according to prom chair Stephanie Surfus who said the budget for prom is no longer an issue the prom committee is worried about. “There were some early concerns that there might not be money available to start planning prom,” Surfus said. “Prom is self-supporting. Ticket money comes in and ticket money goes out to fund the prom.”

According to Surfus, the prom committee has already been meeting to prepare for the prom. “The prom committee has already met four times as a large group. Individual committees, like the food committee, for example, have had separate meetings as well,” Surfus said.

Surfus said the committees have been working hard to prepare for prom. “Much design work and planning has already gone in to

making this a phenomenal prom. I know that most of the groups have been busy watching the Harry Potter movies to get ideas for design elements,” she said.

Surfus said the commitment and creativity of the volunteers continues to be very impressive. “I can’t begin to measure the commitment. Most volunteers have already spent hours working on prom plans. I continue to be impressed with the creativity coming from the parent volunteers,” she said. “It’s a real expression of respect and fondness from the Dexter community for the Dexter High School students.”

There are still a few concerns the prom committee has though.

One concern the prom committee has is how they are going to be able to get it all done in time for prom. “We need more parent volunteers,” Surfus said. “Dexter High School prom is a community event and a much-loved tradition, prom design and plans are well underway. A dedicated, enthusiastic and creative group of parent and community volunteers have come together to create a magical prom. The volunteers are excited and having a lot of fun.”

Ann Arbor may soon have a cell phone ban The Ann Arbor City Council has made a proposal to ban all use of mobile devices while driving within city limits. If passed, authorities could pull drivers over solely for using a handheld object. The ban would apply to any handheld device that isn’t mounted on the dashboard such as a GPS. Exceptions to the rule include hand-free devices such as bluetooth headsets and emergency-only phone calls. “We’re trying to approve two-way radio use for school buses as well,” council member Stephen Rapundalo said.

The punishment for being caught using such devices would be a $125 fine. This jumps to $300 if the device was found to cause an accident. The violation, however, would not cause any points to be put onto a driver’s licenses, because it is not a statewide law.

“It’s a public safety issue that Ann Arbor is not unique in banning,” Rapundalo said. “The state is considering a texting ban, and other cities like Detroit already have bans such as this one.”

Obama to give commencement address at U of M President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address to the graduating senior class from the University of Michigan this spring.

Obama will address nearly 3,500 undergraduates at Michigan Stadium on May 1. University of Michigan officials anticipate over 40,000 family and friends of the graduating class will be present to hear President Obama’s speech.

President Obama will also receive an honorary Doctor of Law degree during the commencement ceremony.

Molly Brewster, a member of this year’s University of Michigan’s senior class and a former Dexter High School student said, “I have to admit I would have gone whether or not Obama was speaking. I do hope that it remains a commencement ceremony with the majority of those in attendance being friends and family of those graduating and not people who have simply come to hear the president speak.”

Drug dogs make another appearance DHS went into lockdown on Jan. 18 as drug-sniffing dogs came to the school. According to School liaison Deputy Jeremy Hilobuk, there were five dogs searching for odors of drugs for 30-40 minutes.

The dogs come from a combination of county police stations, including Washtenaw, Livingson and Monroe.

All the dogs train together and are brought in based on availability.

This time, the outdoor search was limited due to the cold and windy weather according to Hilobuk. “The dogs hold up pretty well in the weather, but it can cause them to tire just as a human would,” he said. “My goal is to have them in twice a year, but it depends on (the dog’s) availability.”

In his time at DHS, Hilobuk said the dogs have always found something, mostly marijuana. Because of this he said, the dogs help manage drug use/possession on site. He said, “It helps keep people on their toes and lets them know that drugs are not tolerated at Dexter High School.”

Squall file photos

Hollywood scene: The photos above were taken of the prom set-ups last year. Rumors of the costs of previous proms affecting this year’s prom are untrue, according to prom chair Stephanie Surfus.

Sons remember Julie Koch KATIE McDONALD

staff writer

W

hile many Dexter students frantically worried and eagerly studied for their exams, studying was the last thing on the Koch brothers’ minds.

For brothers Kaylyn, Nathon and Keoni, the time to study for exams was replaced by the grieving and remembrance of one of the most important woman in their lives. Tuesday, February 23 was the day their mother, Julie Marie Koch, died from ovarian cancer which she had been fighting for over six months.

“She was a beautiful mother. Nice, funny and she could scream really loud,” laughed her son, Keoni Koch, looking back at his mother’s life.

A Dexter High School graduate herself, Julie Koch went on to take courses at both Eastern Michigan University and Arizona State University. At both, she studied theatrical makeup while being a single mother.

Keoni said one of his favorite memories with his mother was the move to Arizona.

Being an energetic third grader, the 29 hour car ride from Michigan to Arizona was going to be a challenge. Making a scary move and a long car ride fun, his mother took him and his two brothers on a detoured route.

Stopping in major cities to find entertainment and taking breaks at unique restaurants to try new foods, Julie Koch kept the boys smiling .

“We got to spend lots of time together.

Just me, my mom and my brothers. We spent a lot of the time talking, joking and just having fun being with each other,” Keoni said.

Mrs. Koch enjoyed making other people happy, no matter who the person, and has

The Koch brothers pose mother Julie who passed away on Feb. 23.

taught her sons to do the same. Family friend, Shawn Chamberlain, agreed Julie Koch was a lovable person.

“She was good friends with my mom and even though she was the single mom, she never asked for help. She only gave it,” Chamberlain said. “She raised her kids well too. She did it all.”

“She’s taught me manners, to be a man ... everything.” Keoni said.

Julie Koch was a loving and caring woman according to her friends and family.

She was involved in the community and in

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Photo courtesy of the Koch family

her religion. Koch also spent a great deal of time enjoying her work as a receptionist and make up artist at Monica’s Salon.

Julie Koch will be remembered by her coworkers for her skills as an artist. Her sons will remember her from the cherished memories they will never forget.

Her friends will remember her through the faces of her children and what she’s left behind.

Chamberlain smiled, “She had the same great and outgoing smile that Keoni has.

Every time he smiles, I’ll remember his mom and what a nice person she was.”

3

Feature

Thursday, April 1, 2010

New counseling secretary excited to fill position Marnie Little

After e editor x managing

counseling secretary Francis Bastion took the position of Principal Kit Moran’s secretary, the counseling secretary position was filled by multiple short-term substitutes, but the counselors soon realized the position needed to be filled by someone more permanent.

This is when Dorothy Tarnowski was hired. Tarnowski started working in the counseling office on Feb. 11.

Tarnowski has a master’s degree in education leadership in business. “I had the job of head accountant in Adrian Public Schools, then in 2003 I got very sick and took a leave of absence,” Tarnowski said. “When I was able to come back to work there was no longer a job for me, so I started subbing and fell in love with that. Once I saw the job in the business office posted online, I went for it.

“I worked in the business office all summer as an accountant,” Tarnowski said.

“I applied and started right away because they needed someone who could use the software, and I do. I worked full time until November. Then I went back to being a substitute teacher at Dexter and a few other schools for a while.”

Superintendent Rob Glass’s secretary, Mona Auerbach, originally asked Tarnowski to work in the counseling office because she was the most qualified and had the most availability to take the position

permanently. “I place the subs in the district for any position, and from what I’ve heard I think she’s doing very well,” Auerbach said. “(Auerbach) contacted me to be full time and I said yes,” Tarnowski said. “They called me knowing I could do it so I’m here until the end of the school year.”

The counseling staff was not involved in selecting their secretary, however. “Because it’s a sub job and a union position, they got stuck with me,” Tarnowski said. “I’m very well trained for this position though.”

Although the counseling staff was not involved with making the decision of who filled the position, Principal Kit Moran was. “We were looking for competent and consistent, and she’s more than that,” Moran said.

According to Counselor Gerry Holmes, Tarnowski is competent, coachable, pleasant and overqualified for the job. “After all she has a masters degree in education,” Holmes said. “I like her really much. She has a very sunny disposition. We don’t want to work with someone too serious.”

Holmes said the counselors have had secretaries in the past who haven’t been as reliable as Tarnowski. “I don’t want to have to worry about the secretary following through on tasks,” she said. “In the past, we’ve had secretaries who were incapable and weren’t doing the job correctly.”

As the counseling secretary, Tarnowski does more than just answer the phone. “I schedule counseling appointments with students and college visits,” she said. “I copy transcripts to help with college applications.

I sort mail from colleges and contact local businesses for scholarship opportunities, and I register incoming students for next year .”

Tarnowski and Holmes said they work closely to help give the best support to the students. “We work closely, but more closely because she’s new and unfamiliar with procedures and tasks,” Holmes said.

“We rely on her quite a bit; we can’t run the office without her. The counseling secretary reflects how we run the office.”

Tarnowski said she and the counselors interact all day long and help her out a lot.

“Every once in a while we have time to get to know each other,” she said. “There’s not a lot of time for chit chat, but I like telling stories about my family. Every week I post a story or episode of pictures of my family’s. My husband and I have been together since we were sophomores, and we’ve been married for 31 and a half years. We’re a close family, and I like to share with everyone to get to know me and show how important it is to me.”

Holmes said the counseling staff enjoys hearing stories about Tarnowski’s sons and their families, and hearing stories about her continued relationships with her former students. “It helps us to get to know her better,” Holmes said.

Although the job of a counseling secretary is busy, Tarnowski said she enjoys doing her job and hopes to be able to stay. “It’s a good environment,” she said. “I love working with the students and the counseling staff. It’s very busy, but I’m learning new things every

Photo by Nicole Santistevan

Counseling secretary Dorothy Tarnowski schedules senior Johannes Kroehnert for a counseling appointment.

Tech department can monitor student work Kaitlyn Shephard

features editor

Frantically unplugging his computer, junior Matt Breitag sits anxiously awaiting what comes next. His mind races with questions: Did they see what I was doing? Do they know it was me? Are they going to come into the room? Will they call my parents?

“I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing,” Breitag said.

“My screen went black and said I had been locked out. That’s when I unplugged my computer so (the technology department) wouldn’t know it was me.”

Although Breitag said he doesn’t remember specifically what he was doing when his computer was taken over the first time by the technology department, he said he was most likely using Chatroulette.

And Breitag is one of the many student’s who have seen what the technology department’s new software “LANrev” and “Apple Remote Desktop” can do.

Director of Technology Matt Maciag said this software allows administrators to see what students are using the computers for.

“It’s the equivalent of a teacher walking around the room to see what students are doing,” Maciag said. “I don’t sit at the computer all day looking at what students are doing. I check the labs once or twice a day, but that’s it.”

The district, does not use the software to specifically “spy” on students, Maciag said. He said the goal of the software is to help with network issues, such as helping to fix a slow network, as well as to ensure the safety of students.

“If a lab is having trouble with a slow network, we can look and see what might be slowing the network down so we can fix it,” he said.

Maciag said this is the same software used by the Lower Merion School District in Philadelphia (that started a lawsuit against the

district) after school officials used the software to spy on a student through the built-in web cam on the student’s school-issued MacBook.

According to an article on philly.com, a photo was taken through computer’s built-in camera that caught a student engaged in improper behavior in his home. When the student was confronted with the photo by his assistant principal, his parents claimed the school had violated wiretap laws by using the camera for home surveillance, even if it was an attempt to catch a thief.

Once the lawsuit was formally filed against the school district, the district issued this statement to the users of the laptops: “(Users) should not expect that files stored on district resources will be private,” and said the network administrator may review files and communication to ... ensure that students are using the system responsibly.”

Maciag said he doesn’t think any student’s privacy rights are being violated in Dexter because of how the school uses the software, as well as the fact the students are still using school property. “(Students) still have privacy to their work,” Maciag said. “However it is on district-owned computers and servers. (We) still have the right to look and see what (students) are doing.”

Breitag, however, who has had his computer taken over on two different occasions, said the district is abusing the software by using it to see what students are doing.

“I think they should be able to look at our history,” he said. “But using it to see what we are doing as we’re doing it is too much.”

Although Breitag does not agree with how the district is using the software, he said he has learned his lesson.

“Now whenever I use a computer, I at least keep another tab open so it looks like I am doing work,” he said.

According to Maciag, the major aspect that separates Dexter from the Lower Merion School District is that students don’t take computers home. He also said if students are ever allowed to take district computers home, the privacy policy would change.

The Overlords: Members of the high school technology staff, Vicki Allie and Roger Johnson have the ability to monitor student and staff computers from their office.

Photos by Alex Papin

“The big difference is that we don’t send the technology home,” he said. “If we do go down that road in the future, it would be a whole different privacy aspect.”

Maciag added that the district only uses the software to actively view students through the web-cam on their computer when student safety is in jeopardy or when theft may be involved.

While students don’t have the opportunities to take district-owned computers home, teachers, on the other hand, do. These computers, like the ones the students use, are accessible by the technology staff.

Maciag said.

“Teacher’s computers are also accessible, for support reasons,” he said. “There was information that was communicated to the staff, and they are aware of what software we use, when we appropriately use it and the reasons for having it on their computers.”

Maciag said also said that unlike the situation in the Lower Merion School, teachers computers cannot be accessed when they are taken home. However, the technology department can activate the tracking devices on the laptops in case the computers are stolen.

According to Maciag, the new software provides an opportunity to improve the use of technology and to save the district money that can be better used for better things.

“If a teacher or student is having trouble with their computer, we don’t even have to leave our office to fix it,” he said. “We save the time of having to go all the way down to the lab and fix the computer, which in turn saves money.”

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4

Feature

Senior Survivor

Thursday, April 1, 2010

This new fundraising idea will not only be fun for the seniors, but also benefit the Laurence Carolin charity.

lauren Gagneau

staff writer

Living in the school for an entire week and giving up car keys, cell phones and any other electronic devices, is the adventure Alex Beattie and Lauren Dreffs along with 10 other seniors will embark on when they play Senior Survivor in April.

The student council and adviser Al Snider are responsible for this fundraiser. Snider said the idea for Senior Survivor came from his wife. “My wife teaches in Howell, and one night she was telling us about it at dinner,” Snider said. “So I got the contact information for the student council adviser in Howell.

My wife (Gabby) provided me with a DVD and other information I thought we would need to get the ball rolling here.”

This competition will serve as a fundraiser for Nothing But Nets in memory of freshman Laurence Carolin, who passed away in January. To raise funds, students will be collecting money from fellow students throughout the day. The team that raises the most amount of money will, in the end, be the winners of Senior Survivor. “I hope we can raise $2-3 thousand,” Snider said.

Unlike the T V show “Survivor,” seniors will not participate in water challenges or be forced to eat foul things. Snider

said, “The challenges will range from building a tower out of and probably get my homework done a lot quicker.”

Getting her homework done faster is not the only advantage marshmallows and toothpicks to capture the f lag to an obstacle to doing the competition. Beattie said the money was going to course.”

Beattie said, “I wanted to do Senior Survivor because I love a good charity. She said, “It is a great way of raising money for the T V show, and it sounds like a fun way to be competitive the organization in memory of Laurence Carolin. It is a fun way to do it, yet the money is going towards and get involved. Plus, it’s senior year, so might a good cause, so I feel really good about as well.” getting involved in this competition.”

There will be many challenges having to stay Senior Lauren Dreffs will also be a on school grounds all week, and Beattie thinks competitor. She said she is excited and that will be the hardest part. “Every day after thinks this will be a good way to end senior school the last thing I want to do is stay at school year. “I am excited to see what the different longer, so that will not be fun,” Beattie said. “Also, types of challenges there are and who will having to work with a partner could potentially be form alliances,” Dreffs said.

However, problematic if we don’t get along very well, but sleeping in the school for a week in a I’m not too worried about that.” downfall to Dreffs.

Beattie also said she will have a hard time Regardless, Dreffs is not too worried going a week without technology. “It will be very about raising money to keep herself in the challenging for me to have my phone taken away competition. “I will just beg my friends to for a whole week,” she said. “I always have my bring money,” she said. “Hopefully that will phone with me, and I love texting, so not having Senior Alex Beattie looks be enough to keep me in the competition.” that way of communication will make me feel like forward to participating in Beattie said, “I love the show and can’t I am missing a part of myself. But not having it Senior Survivor. wait for the competition to begin.” will be good to because I will be less distracted

Symphonic Band visits Chicago Justin Wike

A

Rover: Senior Matt Logan diligently drives a remote controlled Mars Rover on a simulated landscape of Mars during the band’s trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.

Photos by Justin Wike and Austin Sellivan

In the audience: Seniors Lucas Fauser and Alan Everdeen watch the Mars Rover driven by Matt Logan.

staff writer

f ter getting up early in the mor n i ng of Feb 13 , ju n ior Mag g ie Grundler had no idea what the Sy mphonic band trip to Chicago would be like. “But it was wor th it know ing w h a t l a y a h e a d ,” G r u n d l e r s a i d . “ F i v e in t he mor ning isn’t too bit ter when you k n o w y o u ’r e l e a v i n g f o r C h i c a g o .”

A f ter attendance was taken, the wear yeyed travelers boarded the buses.

A fter a nearly five-hour bus ride, the ba nd a r r ived at t he Mu seu m of Scienc e and Industr y in Chicago.

While they were at the MSI, the band had a chance to see an IMA X mov ie about t h e To u r d e F r a n c e .

A f ter the museum, the band stopped at Nav y Pier on the shore of Lake Michigan.

Some of the more adventurous students took a ride on t he fer r is wheel. “It was beautif ul, since we could look out straight across Lake Michigan, and at t h e s a m e t i m e s e e t h e e n t i r e s k y l i n e ,” Gr und ler said. “It was cold but wor t h i t .”

A f ter lunch, the group headed to the hotel. When they arrived, the band, according to director Ken Moore, “Had problems check ing into the hotel because s o m e o f t h e r o o m s w e r e n ’ t r e a d y. B u t t h e students handled it w ith maturit y and p a t i e n c e .”

The band enjoyed a n aut hent ic Ita lia nst yle dinner at Buppa De Beppo. “Dinner w a s g r e a t ,” M o o r e s a i d , “ I t ’s n i c e t o b e a b l e t o s i t d o w n w i t h s t u d e n t s .”

A f ter dinner the band went to see the w o r l d - f a m o u s C h i c a g o S y m p h o n y. “ I t w a s f un getting all dressed up and walking through the cit y at night, not to mention t h e f o o d a n d m u s i c w a s w o n d e r f u l ,” Grundler said.

The band attended a pre-concer t session that was f un and interesting, a c c o r d i n g t o G r u n d l e r.

The concert consisted of three dif ferent pieces w ith the centerpiece b e i n g B r a h m’s P i a n o C o n c e r t o n o . 3 . “ T h e c o n c e r t w a s r e a l l y i m p r e s s i v e ,” G r u n d l e r s a i d . “ T h e m u s i c w a s g r e a t .” “ To b e a b l e t o h e a r t h e C h i c a g o Sy mphony live, which is one of the best sy mphonies in the world, was something w o r t h w h i l e ,” M o o r e s a i d .

For t he f i na l d ay of t hei r t r ip to t h e w i n d y c i t y, t h e b a n d w a s u p a t a r e s p e c t a bl e h o u r. A f t e r b e i n g f e d at t h e hotel, the band moved off to its first stop o f t h e d a y t h e W i l l i s To w e r , f o r m e r l y t h e S e a r s To w e r .

A f t e r p a s s i n g t h r o u g h s e c u r i t y, t h e band experienced the Sky Deck at the top o f t h e W i l l i s To w e r . “ T h a t w a s s w e e t , b u t a l i t t l e s c a r y,” G r u n d l e r s a i d .

“Def initely a new thing to stand up thousands of feet up and stare dow n at ever y thing w ith nothing between your feet but g lass bet ween your feet. It was u n s e t t l i n g i n a c o o l w a y. ” The band ended the trip in a traditional w ay b y s hoppi ng on M ic h ig a n Ave . a l s o know n as the magnif icent mile. Grundler sa id, “It was f un to be able to ex plore the city by yourself but we were rushed b e c a u s e w e d i d n’ t h a v e a l o t o f t i m e .”

M r. Mo o r e h a d a d i f f e r e nt e x p e r i e n c e .

“I got lost in the Apple Store ... but I also managed to f ind a Starbucks. Band trips have all been rewarding experiences.

Dexter is so well represented when we go p l a c e s , t h e s t u d e n t s w e r e w e l l b e h a v e d ,” he said.

Un li ke ot her t r ips t he ba nd d id not m i s s a n y s c h o o l . “ We ’ l l c o nt i nu e t o go t o F l o r i d a l i k e w e h a v e ,” M o o r e s a i d . “ We p l a n f o r t h e F l o r i d a t r i p e v e r y f o u r years, and ever y two years we w ill take the Sy mphonic Band to a musical, to see a s y m p h o n y o r p e r f o r m s o m e p l a c e .”

The band arrived home in the early e v e n i n g h o u r s S u n d a y. “ W e d i d n ’ t g e t t o s p e n d m u c h t i m e i n t h e c i t y,” G r u n d l e r s a i d “ It w a s a n a m a z i n g l y f u n t i m e . We m a d e t h e m o s t o f t h e t i m e w e h a d .”

5

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Feature

Local plays big

National Football League player, Pierre Woods chooses Dexter to raise a family as well as play sports

Photos from Pierre Woods

next best place.

“It is everything I dreamed of,” Woods said of playing in the NFL. “Although my career at Michigan wasn’t everything I wanted in terms of impressing the NFL community, I yearned Nic Miller News Editor to play at the next level. I knew there was an opportunity out there somewhere for me at the next level.”

That opportunity found Woods in 2006. After Everyday he wakes up, showers and brushes his teeth just like everybody else. But that’s where going undrafted, Woods was signed by the Patriots in 2006. “I know a lot of players that had better the normal ends.

He eats a strict breakfast and begins an even college careers than me and just didn’t make it,” stricter regiment preparing for his job, which Woods said. “I know I was very fortunate. It is blessing I am continually thankful for I try to just officially begins at the end of July.

Although his job is not year round, his take it one day at a time and be grateful I have profession is all but seasonal. Pierre Woods is made it this far.”

Although Wood is thankful, this does not stop a professional football player in the National him from continually improving. Although each Football League who lives in Dexter.

Woods moved his mother from Cleveland to day is a different workout for him, they are all Ann Arbor after graduating college where he and one in the same. “We have different workouts his wife Doris started a family and have four kids; depending on the day,” he said, “We like to mix it up, but I’m always working towards the same PJ, Parris, Daylee and Demi.

“Ann Arbor was sort of a safe haven,” Woods goals.”

“I thought I was a basketball player.” Woods said, “I really liked the area. I saw a house in Dexter I really liked; I thought why not stay in the said, “My coach told me, ‘you’re not a basketball

player, you’re a football player.’ He thought I could be really good, so I tried it out I got knocked on my butt a few times, but I fell in love with the sport.”

Turns out he was a little of both. Woods was a two-year letterman at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio under the guidance of coach Ted Ginn, Sr., and his most notable teammates at the time were Troy Smith, Donte Whitner and Ted Ginn, Jr.. He played in the first-ever U.S. Army All-American Bowl game on Dec. 30, 2000, alongside fellow Michigan Wolverine Marlin Jackson.

He recorded 173 tackles and 42 sacks, caused seven fumbles and intercepted one pass during prep career. Woods also tallied 34 career receptions for 581 yards and 13 touchdowns as a tight end.

He registered 92 tackles, 26 sacks, five forced fumbles and one interception during senior campaign and was Second-team USA Today High School All America. He was also a four-year letterman and three-year starter on the varsity basketball team.

Woods doesn’t know what his future holds in the NFL, so he keeps working. “There could be a lockout, who knows,” Woods said “I get kind of weary thinking about it that’s why I try to make sure I enjoy every moment avoid taking anything for granted.”

Woods said his goals for the 2010 season are to start and be voted into the Pro-Bowl and he has increased in nearly every statistical category in each of his four seasons with the Patriots.

In his rookie season, Woods saw action in eight games and finished fourth on the team with 11 special teams tackles. In 2007 he played in all 16 regular-season games for the first time in his career and led the team in special teams tackles with 21. In 2008 he led the team in special teams tackles in three games and made his first career start on Nov. 13, 2008, against the New York Jets and made nine tackles in the game.

However, Woods suffered an arm injury weeks later and was placed on injured reserve on December 13. Woods returned in 2009 to play in all 16 games for the Patriots, starting five. He finished the season with 36 tackles, 18 of which came on special teams.

Factbox •Woods played in the first U.S. Army All-American Bowl in 2000.

•At 6’ 5” Woods runs a 4.75 seconds 40-yard dash • There has never been a Superbowl without a Big 33 alumni; in 2008 Woods helped carry on the tradition when the Patriots went to the Superbowl. Woods described the Big 33 game as, “The Superbowl of high school football, showcasing Pennsylvania and Ohio’s outstanding high school athletes.”

• Woods received the lowest restricted free agent tender. The Patriots retain the right of first refusal for Woods, which means they receive no compensation if he leaves.

Department chairs insure smooth running school Matt Sarver

ment.”

staff writer

Kim Lund WORLD LANGUAGE

When a teacher has a problem that needs to be

When an issue or problem occurs in the school, brought to the administration one avenue is through those who lead the forefronts of a resolution are the department meetings which occur once per month to Department Chairs – the heads of the math, science, discuss internal issues. social studies and multiple others. But their exact Department chairs are also selected through these function is vague to many, including what duties they meetings. actually have.

However, the jobs of the department chairs are The department chairs usually assist in organi-

Shirley Bitters HEALTH & WELLNESS

often ambiguous, often times they never do those zation of their respective departments, insuring the things often attributed to them. department can run smoothly throughout the year.

“What’s more important is what we don’t do,” According to current math department chair BriBaird said. “We don’t decide curriculum, we don’t

Cheryl Wells SCIENCE

an Baird, “We fill out teacher schedules and commuevaluate teachers, we don’t do student placement.” nicate between the administration and math depart-

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6

Health

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Teachers run to the scene as First Responders Steven Miller

staff writer

When secretary Joan Whitehead comes over the PA system to announce the need for the First Responders, PE teacher and First Responder Angie Scott’s heart starts pounding.

“When you get called, you heart starts racing a little bit,” P.E teacher Angie Scott said. “You don’t know what you are going to see when you get down there.”

The first responder program is set up so teachers in the individual buildings in the district can give medical assistance until school nurse Aileen Kernohan can arrive.

Kernohan said, “It could take me five minutes to get there, and those are precious minutes,” Kernohan said.

And while schools around the state have been integrating a first response team, Dexter was one of the first.

“We were on the forefront of the First Responder program being in schools,” math teacher Dewey Scott said. In fact, former student Rick Weaver came in to film Dexter’s first responder team doing drills and training so that other schools could use it as a training resource according to Dewey.

First Responders are volunteer teachers, and when they are called on, they have to drop anything they are doing and run to the scene of the incident.

“They have to be willing to do it and pass the training,” Kernohan said. Every Responder is trained in CPR and use of an

AED according to Kernohan.

Automated External Defibrillators are in every school and are kept in red boxes in some of the hallways.

Dewey said when teachers arrive at the scene of a medical emergency, “We start checking for vital signs, such as heart rate and if they are breathing.”

It is common procedure for First Responders to call the police or paramedics if the injured person is not showing negative vital signs or is unconscious.

When an incident takes place, it is the first responders job take care of the person until Kernohan can reach them.

Since Kernohan has a weekly schedule that she follows, every day she is in a different school. This means that if there is an emergency at the elementary school and she is in the high school, she will have to get over to the elementary school as fast as possible.

But she said the first responders are all trained with all the techniques to give them all the tools they need to keep someone alive or in a stable condition.

“We have CPR and general first aid training every year about a week before school starts,” Dewey said. “We’ll come in for about a half a day and just train for first responders. If I was out in public and someone needed help, then I would know what to do. I also have two kids at home.”

For Scott, all of this training helps make the school a better place. He said, “I think the students overall, feel safer knowing that the staff is trained.”

Photo by Rachel Lomax

To the rescue: Health and wellness teacher Shirley Bitters runs to the scene of a first response call. When a first response is called, teachers who are First Responders must drop what they are doing to attended to the call immediately

Students learn to manage daily reality of diabetes Jessica eljevic

staff writer

S en ior C a it ly n Sm it h, a te ena ge d iab e t ic , say s she r ememb er s when she w a s f i r st d ia g no se d w it h t he d i se a se.

“I c a n r ememb er my ha nd s b ei ng r e a l ly d r y a nd fe el i ng t h i r s t y a l l t he t i me,” Sm it h sa id.

“I w a s a lw ay s lay i ng on t he c ouch a nd b ei ng a n ac t ive 9 -ye a r old , it w a s not nor ma l for me. W hen I w a s i n se vent h g r ade, my suga r w a s a lw ay s r e a l ly low, a nd it w a s f r u st r at i ng b e c au se I hate d fe el i ng sick . A nd I w a s on a f i xe d a mou nt of i n su l i n t hat d ic t ate d how much I ate a nd when I to ok it.

“I playe d vol le y ba l l, so some t i me s I d id n’t fe el up to e at i ng what I had to, to fe el b e t ter.

My suga r wou ld ge t r e a l ly low, a nd I wou ld fe el sha k y a nd d i sor iente d. I felt l i ke I w a s lo si ng

c ont rol.”

A nd w it h a l l of t he se d a i ly adju st ment s, scho ol nu r se A i le en K er noha n sa id i n add iton t here a re c om mon m i sc onc ept ion s ab out Ty p e 1 d iab e te s wh ich she sa id i s d i f ferent f rom Ty p e 2 . Ma ny p e ople ma ke t he m i st a ke of c ategor i z i ng t hem a s t he sa me d i se a se.

Ty p e 1 i s a gene t ic d i sp o sit ion t hat i s t r ig gere d by a v i r a l i n fe c t ion t hat c au se s a n auto i m mu ne d i sorder. Th i s me a n s t hat a ny l it t le sick ne s s c a n t r ig ger t he bre a k dow n of t he v ic t i m’s i m mu ne s y stem, wh i le de st roy i ng t he i n su l i n-pro duc i ng c el l s of t he pa ncre a s.

The pa ncre a s bre a k s dow n t he suga r s i n a p er son’s b o dy, a nd w it hout it , t he suga r le vel s i n t he b o dy a re t h row n of f.

K er noha n a l so sa id e ver y st udent w it h d iab e te s de a sl w it h it d i f ferent ly.

“It dep end s on t he st udent ,” she sa id. “I n h ig h scho ol t he y m ig ht b e ne wly d ia g no se d.

S ome k id s c atch on qu icker t ha n ot her s, but it i s a t r ue l i fe st yle cha nge.

S ome k id s ge t emot iona l when t he y a re d i a g n o s e d t houg h.

It is ha rd for t hem to ac c ept t he fac t t hat t he y w i l l b e de a l i ng w it h t h i s sick ne s s t hei r whole l i fe.”

Ju n ior Pat r ick Roger s was d ia g no se d as d iab e t ic ab out a ye a r a go a nd i s adju st i ng wel l,

he sa id , to t he dema nd s a nd cha nge s it br i ng s toh i s e ver yd ay l i fe.

“It ’s not ha rd for me to rememb er to t a ke my shot , b e c au se it ’s ju st some t h i ng I have to do,” he sa id. “I don’t re a l ly lo ok at it a s a huge bu rden. It ’s e a s y to t a ke c a re of, a nd I some t i me s e ven for ge t I’m d iab e t ic . It ’s not t hat bad.”

Photos by Kristie Duve

Asthma attacks make can make school difficult where people have it more than a year. Intermittent is on and off asthma. They don’t have it come back health editor again until they are sick with a cold.”

Henry has chronic asthma and said her attacks Senior Camille Henry was sitting in class trying have happened ever since she was little. to enjoy taking notes when a boy sat down in front of “An attack is like trying to breath through a coffee her with the aroma of A xe making its way throughout straw while running around in a gym,” Henry said. the room. Then the wheezing started.

Dickey said people with asthma airways are Henry has had asthma ever since she was a young thicker than people without asthma. girl and though it has become less severe, her asthma “When an attack hits, it closes their airways even is still a big deal. more,” Dickey said, “No one’s ears or eyes are the “My asthma attacks are set off by things in the same, so its the same with their airways. Everyone’s environment,” Henry said. “It’s really exercise and are different.” seasonally induced.”

When Henry was about 4, her asthma so severe Julie Dickey, a staff nurse at Dexter Family she was hospitalized at times for it.

Medicine, said asthma is a chronic condition of the “When I was little, I had pneumonia, which can pulmonary system (airways). She said there can be be fatal for a person with asthma,” Henry said. “The symptoms of wheezing or coughing associated with pneumonia set off my asthma, and I had to be taken it. to the hospital.”

“People can either have chronic or intermittent Henry said any chest disease can be very bad for asthma,” Dickey said. “Chronic asthma is a condition a person with asthma and asthmatics have to keep

Coleen Hill

their health up to fight any disease they might get.

Dickey said most people are born with asthma, but it can develop throughout the years.

“It takes an entire year for someone to be diagnosed,” Dickey said.

“Most children aren’t diagnosed until 2.”

Another time when Henry was about 4 she had an asthma attack that was so severe she had to be sent to the E.R. “I stopped breathing, and by the time I got to the E.R. my skin was blue,” Henry said. “One time they had to strap an oxygen mask on my face. When I hit puberty, mine started to tone down a bit,” Henry said. “It can be any chemical change in the body.”

Henry said the longest she has ever gone without having an asthma attack was about one year. She said this was because she didn’t put stress on herself during that time.

She said, “Asthma sucks, but it’s pretty easy to deal with if you know what to do. I wouldn’t say I missed out on anything because of it.”

7

Jobs

Community

Everything

Thursday, April 1, 2010

you ever wanted to know about

Some jobs are Dexter all the way Sara Douglass

Staff Writer

One spring day, senior Caroline Buckley was making one of her frequent Dairy Queen stops.

Peering through the window, Buckley noticed many of her friends working. She thought to herself, “What if I worked here?”

Application in hand, Buckley left optimistic about landing the job.

Now happily employed, Buckley said, “I may love my job just a little too much. I saw that it was always busy, and I had a lot of friends that worked there, so it seemed like a really fun place to work.

It’s basically a high schooler’s dream job,” she said.

But can just anyone work at Dairy Queen? Shelly Stricklen, employed by Dairy Queen for 10 years and head manager of the Dexter location for three years, said a potential employee must jump off the page. To be considered, an application must stick out from all the rest.

According to Stricklen, a job at the Dexter Dairy Queen demands someone who is energetic, hardworking, not a gossiper, likeable and someone who can keep self-motivated. Each season, Dairy Queen typically hires five new staff who stand out and impress the managers.

The ice cream shop employs 11 Dexter High School students, creating a close-knit staff. “The kids are my second family. It’s a protective thing – a motherly thing, I guess,” Stricklen said.

Working alongside her fellow classmates, Buckley said, “It’s always a really good time. People that aren’t in the same friend groups at school are all still friends at DQ. It’s just a happy place.”

Stricklen said, “Dexter’s great; people are nice.”

Senior Chelsea Brauning, an employee of A&W, said the best thing about having a job in the Dexter community is working close to home and seeing people she knows as customers.

Brauning has been working at A&W for two seasons and was inclined to work at the fast food restaurant for the money. “Definitely the good pay, especially tips with car hopping,” she said.

“There’s two different job areas,” Brauning said.

Those who work in the kitchen earn minimum wage, while those who car hop earn the minimum waiting pay as well as tips.

“It’s fifty-fifty. I work in the kitchen half the time and car hop the other half,” she said.

Brauning said, “The people I work with and the community I work in are the things that make me love my job.”

Photos by Austin Sullivan

An old-town icon: The Dexter Cider Mill has been a staple in town since the 1800s. It was built by a Civil War veteran.

Make sure your hair isn’t a hot mess and, guys, make sure your facial hair is shaved or at least under control.

Wear a nice shirt. You don’t have to whip out your “Sunday’s best,” but you don’t want to look like a complete bum either.

Cooling off: Senior Kristi Hughes serves customers at another town hot spot, Dexter Dairy Queen.

Tips for landing a job Sirah Camara

assistant trends editor

Sophomore Jenna Choszcyk has had a job since she was 14. “I wanted to have my own money,” Choszcyk said.

One day her mom went into Classic Pizza to pick up her order and told the manager that she had a teenager at home who was looking for a job. The manager told her to fill out an application and Choszcyk got the job.“I do everything but slicing. You have to be 18 years old to do that.”

For Junior Mollie Liskiewicz, getting a job at

Classic was a quick process also.

Choszcyk gave Liskiewicz an application and all she did was fill it out and within the next few days she had an interview. “It went well,” Liskiewicz said.

On a daily basis Liskiewicz makes pizzas, bakes them, puts toppings on them and cuts them. She also handles deliveries. “You’re in a different postions every night,” Liskiewicz said.

But not everyone can find a job as easily as these two. Here are some tips from Stucchi’s manager and owner Sarah Seta, Dairy Queen manager Shelly Spricklem and Classic Pizza manager Wesley Shinault.

When it comes to jeans, wear a nice fitted pair. Guys, don’t sag. Your potential boss won’t be impressed.

Tips to get a job:

Ways to lose points:

1) Maintain good eye contact during the interview. “I want you to look at me,”Seta said.

2.) When there is free time, don’t: • talk on the phone • text 3) Be outgoing and talkative towards customers.

4) Get rid of all nerves before getting into the interview. The worst thing to do during an interview is to have a nervous habit that is socially unacceptable.

5) Have a good personality and be outgoing 6) If looking for a summer job, don’t wait until the week before schools out. Fill out an application around March or May.

1) Have your phone on high volume during the interview. The worst thing is for your phone to ring during the interview.

2) Don’t underdress. First impressions are everything.

3) Don’t act bored during interview. Answer questions thoroughly but don’t say too much.

“I cannot stand when people talk over me,” Spricklem said.

4) Don’t be late for your interview, and if you will be late for the interview, call ahead and let the interviewer know.

Students work for parents Steve Ferguson

Staff Writer

Senior Jason Yam wakes up in the morning and gets ready for work, just like any student with a job. But unlike most students Yam works for his parents at The Dexter Bakery in Pinckney.

The bakery is owned and run by Yam’s family with no outside help.

Because of the bakery’s small size, Yam said his family don’t need to hire anyone else.

Students might think people who work for their family are treated a little differently, but Yam knows differently. “It’s OK working for my family. They don’t really treat me any differently from when I am at home,” he said.

Working at the bakery has always been something his family has done, but it is not a tradition to

have it be a family-only business.

“When my family and I worked at the bakery in Dexter, we hired other people because it was too big to just run with our family. My brother, sister and I have always worked at the bakery to help our parents, but they don’t expect us to continue working there. It is up to my brother because he is the only one who might want to continue working at the bakery,” Yam said.

Since the bakery in Pinckney is run just by Yam’s family, he is expected to work hard. “ I don’t have a lot of free time which is a downside,” he said. “When I worked at the bakery in Dexter, I got to see all of my friends which was fun. Since I work for my parents and they pay for everything such as my car, I don’t get paid or receive tips. But whenever I want to go out with friends or do something they will

give me the money for it, which is nice.”

Like Yam, senior Ryan Steinbach works for his dad, but not as an employee. “My dad owns his own company so I am always helping him with projects when he needs it,” Steinbach said.

Steinbach has a different view than Yam about how his dad treats him when he works however. “My dad is a lot harder on me, and he has to explain how to do things more because I don’t know how to do a lot of the things his employees know how to,” he said.

Although student may think if they work for their parents they get a break, Steinbach said he doesn’t. He said, “I can’t get fired so I always have to work, and I don’t get to pick my work schedule. Also I get grounded if I don’t work.”

Jobs are available Ray Carpenter

Staff Writer

With the economy the way it is, many kids are looking for ways to make cash fast.

While the job market is over saturated, there are still some out there. Pilot Travel Centers is hiring cashiers, housekeeping services and “sandwich artists” for its chain of truck stops. They’re located at 195 Baker Road in Dexter.

Their phone number is (734) 426-0065. While salaries vary, the average for cashier is $8-9 an hour.

Thomson-Reuters, an information company, is looking for sales interns for the fall of 2010. It’s a full-time job that will give people the necessary skills for a career

in the sales industry. Their phone number is (734) 9133712 and their building is at 777 E. Eisenhower Parkway in Ann Arbor.

If that sounds too technical, Busch’s is always looking for workers. They need sales, stocking and production workers, along with cashiers and baggers. They’re at 7080 Dexter-Ann Arbor Road, near Movie Planet. Contact them at (734) 426-9600.

If none of these jobs appeal to people and they like the thought of working on their own hours, babysitting might be right for them. For a relatively short amount of time, there’s a large amount of money to be made at $8 an hour.

It’s not as reliable as some of the other jobs, however,

as work can be few and far between.

Since there’s so much competition, petsitting is a viable alternative. The average rate for petsitters is around $10 an hour, but as with babysitting, it’s not a consistent job. As well as all these “normal” jobs, there’s plenty to do around the neighborhood, like mowing people’s lawns. Not only is the pay good, it helps the people in your neighborhood.

If there are no jobs that sound good, always look for “Jobs Wanted” signs. Even though it is getting harder to find work, it’s not impossible.

It helps a lot if there is transportation available to Ann Arbor, as it greatly expands the amount of jobs available.

8

Sports

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Spring spor ts preview

Jeanine Reny

staff writer

Spring sports are the last on the agenda for this year’s sporting events, and members of the various teams couldn’t be more prepared.

Senior Sarah Brueninger is ecstatic for her track and field season, “I’m excited because it’s my senior year, and with everyone that’s on the team, I know it will be a really fun season,” she said. Their first meet is March 30.

“I hope everyone can come out to our meets. It’s great to get a big audience to support us,” Brueninger said. Track and field runs the Creekside track, senior Chelsea Brauning and the varsity softball team will be practicing with their Coach Kathy Day and their Assistant Coach Darrel Lund, just down the road at DHS. “Being a senior I’m really looking forward to this season. We have a really good group of girls this year, so I’m excited to see how far we go as a team,” while the girls’ first home game will be March 31.

Not only softball games will be happening at the baseball diamonds, however, varsity baseball team will be home against the Pinckney March 31. “We didn’t have the best season last year, but the improvements that we have made with our team will bring us to a better season, and hopefully we do great,” senior Nick Strieter said.

Senior Jordan Jack can’t wait for his season either. “I’m excited for our golf season,” Jack said. “Golf is a great sport and it’s a ton of fun. The team is great, and the more the merrier! Try out. You will love it.” The team’s first golf meet the Adrian Invitational at Adrian on

Monday, April 12.

As other sports move on in their season, lacrosse has more than just playing games on its mind. Coach Brian Callanan has several expectations regarding the program. “I believe in establishing a lacrosse culture, one that is based on several principles, ” Callanan said. Some of the principles are tenacity, commitment, and dedication.

The team starts its season on March 24 against Salem High School.

The girls’ on the varsity soccer team put their shin guards and tie their laces for their first game on March 24 versus Pinckney. “This year will be quite exciting for the team,” senior Jordan Hopkins said.

“In having trained and played together for a couple of years now, the chemistry will be to our advantage in the upcoming season.”

Another team that has been practicing together for more than a couple of years is the girls tennis team. The captains for this season are Lauren Gardner, Lindsey Franson, and Katie Frauhammer. Leading them is Coach Claude Wilcox, and as their first game approaches on April 15, the team is more than ready to start their season.

The mixture of soccer and football creates an incredible game to play, and with seniors Alex Frost and John Chiado leading the team as captains, their season looks unstoppable according to senior Dillion Kipke. “We’re looking good for the season, and hopefully we go farther in states then we did last year,” Kipke said.

Every team looks forward to their own success, but don’t think that they won’t be attending the other sporting events either.

Brueninger said, “All the teams are great. When I’m not busy with track, I’ll definitely be supporting everybody else. Go maroon and gold. ”

B A S E B A L L WATER POLO L A C R O S S E Photo by Rachel Marks

Photo courtesy of yearbook staff

Photos courtesy of Bach Studios

S O C C E R TRACK & FIELD T E N N I S Photos curtesy of Al Brewster

Factbox • The Dexter all star game has been going on for 28 years •The high scorer for the U of M team was Lesley Rockey with 14 points •This year Dexter lost by 33, a much smaller deficit than in previous years

Photo by Lee Copley

Photo courtesy of yearbook staff

Dex ter All-Stars lose for charit y Brent Kellenberger

staff writer

Every year for the last eight years, Dexter teachers and staff have battled it out with University of Michigan athletes on the basketball court in the Dexter vs. U of M AllStar game. This year the game was on Saturday, March 6.

Football Coach Tom Barbieri organized the event with the help of a few other teachers. “Dexter has held events similar to the All-Star game for about 28 years now,” Barbieri said. “This year is the eighth year that the All-Star game has been held against U of M.” The University of Michigan players who played in the All-Star game were a combination of former baseball, football and basketball players, both men and women.

The event was held as a fundraiser to help raise money for the Dexter foot-

ball team to buy two cameras to film their practices and games.

A couple of the variations of the game over the last 28 years include wheelchair basketball and playing members of the Detroit Lions. Barbieri said the teachers and staff have played the U of M athletes in the game for the past eight years because it was the most popular and easiest choice.

The outcome of the game was the University of Michigan players winning 87-54.

The top scorers of U of M’s team were Leslie Rockymore, with 14 points, Marcus Ray, with 13 points, and Antoine Joubert and Jennifer Smith both with 10 points. The only top scorer for who didn’t play basketball for Michigan was Marcus Ray, who instead played football.

Top scorers for the Dexter staff were JV womens basketball coach Lauren Thompson with 14 points, m a t h teacher Jason Miller with seven points, and math teacher

Dewey Scott with six points.

Barbieri said, “The score was actually better compared to other years. We usually lose by more than we did this year.”

Math teacher Kathryn Day felt the same way about the game. “I think the best moment of the game for our team was when we started off the third quarter with more points than the U of M alumni,” Day said “My personal best was probably my post move that got me two points.”

A notable moment of the game was in the fourth quarter when P.E. teacher Angie Scott shot a three-pointer and made it. It was one of three, three-pointers made by the Dexter teachers and staff during the game. It was the only three-pointer made in the fourth quarter by Dexter’s team.

“Marcus Ray made every kid in the place feel like they were someone special, and he made everyone laugh,” Day said. “I thought the game was a lot of fun. The Michigan players were enjoyable to play against and there was a great turnout.”

9

Sports

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Kevin Yarows Sports Editor

Olympic games unite world For two weeks in the middle of February, people stopped being quantified as being from Dexter or Chelsea, Ann Arbor or East Lansing, and even Michigan or Ohio.

For those two weeks, we all were simply Americans.

The event that brought this to be was the Winter Olympics. The Olympics are quite possibly the greatest sporting event in the entire world, and Vancouver’s version of the Winter Olympics was no exception.

The early tragedy in the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, the lack of snow in the weeks leading up to the games and the trouble lifting the final pillar at the opening ceremony led to early speculation by a British newspaper that these may be the worst Olympic Games ever. Despite these early struggles, the games are still widely considered to be a great success.

This is because for the for the 17 days the games were going on our country, and the world, all put aside our differences and competed on an even playing field.

Whether you are from China with a population of over a billion or San Marino with a population of less than 35,000, each competitor has the exact same chance at winning.

But even the culture of the Olympics is vastly different than the sports we have become accustomed to watching.

After scoring a touchdown, a football player, more often than not, will do a little celebration, run up to the camera and say something to it. After an Olympian wins an event, they’ll generally wrap themselves with a f lag from the country they represent and celebrate with their family.

Considering football players are paid millions of dollars to play for their team while many Olympic athletes are often forced to work full time jobs on top of their training, you would think this would be the opposite.

After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, Lebron James was criticized for leaving the court without shaking his opponents’ hands. More recently in this year’s Super Bowl, the sport’s biggest stage, Peyton Manning was criticized for doing the same thing.

When an Olympian doesn’t win the event they’re competing in, their reaction is generally the opposite.

While they are disappointed with not winning, they congratulate the winner and leave the competition area with a smile on their face.

When top American speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno was disqualified from the 500 meter race on a controversial call, he didn’t throw up his arms in complaint to the officials. Rather he throw up his arms and smiled as if to say “Oh well. What-can-I-do now?”

The main reason the Olympics are so much better than mainstream American sports are the athletes. While famous professional athletes are seen as almost immortal figures, Olympic athletes are the opposite.

If we were going to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, we would likely bring with us a camera.

Olympic athletes can be seen throughout the Olympic ceremony with video cameras, acting just as the average citizen.

For every Olympic athlete displaying emotions similar to figure skater Evan Lysacek’s tears of joy after acing his short program, there’s a mainstream athlete similar to Tiger Woods who can be seen slamming golf clubs and cursing on the golf course in front of cameras (among other moral issues).

The Olympics seem to bring the best out in people.

For 17 days last month, the stories on the news weren’t which athlete got caught cheating on his wife, drinking, smoking, pulling guns on teammates in the locker room or shooting themselves in the leg. Instead, the stories were of athletes overcoming a family tragedy to perform well, setting Olympic medal records or competing through pain to enjoy their moment of Olympic glory.

Conter to continue soccer at NIU

a sophomore. She thought she was dealing with a senior, who was ready Tucker Whitley to play college soccer. “I went to the Assistant Sports Editor camp the summer before my junior year,” Conter said. “I wasn’t even It was vacation time for the Conter really looking to go there.”

According to Conter, since Coach family, and they were in their home state of Illinois. Taylor, a senior soccer Barker was unaware, she continually player, was on vacation where she contacted Conter. Conter said, “We would be missing a week of school talked throughout the summer and soccer practice. “I was missing a week eventually she offered me a spot on the of practice, so I thought it would be a team and a 30 percent scholarship. good idea to go to a camp,” she said. When she offered me this, I thought it “The camp was where my dad went was a little weird, and I informed her to college, at Northern Illinois, so I that I was only a sophomore. When she heard me decided to go.” say that, she Little did Conter to know, the more the I have went back every explained me that it camp progressed, the year since.” all had been more Northern’s head illegal.” womens soccer coach, Though Carrie Barker liked

Taylor Conter, Conter had to her. At the end of the

senior wait out the camp, Coach Barker next couple finally broke the ice. of years, Taylor said, “She asked she is now me if I was interested in playing MAC soccer, and I said yes. ready to actually attend the college of I thought the MAC would be really Northern Illinois.

“Feb. 3 was our signing day, and good for me, considering we would be playing a lot of Michigan teams, so I’ve already signed my letter of intent,” I would be able to visit home pretty Conter said. “In fact, one of the players that will be playing for the Huskies, often.”

There was only one problem that lives in Michigan, and that’s who I will Coach Barker was unaware of. Conter be rooming with.”

Conter did have some incentive to was not old enough to be contacted as go to the camp in the first place. “Like I often as she was by Barker.

Conter said, “There are certain strict said before, my dad attended Northern rules, that coaches of college sports Illinois on a wrestling scholarship, and need follow that involve contacting he was actually really good,” Conter people at certain ages, and I wasn’t old said And Conter has attended the camp. enough for her to be talking to me that ever since that sophomore year trip. much.”

The thing was, Conter said Coach She said, “I have went back every year Barker had no idea that she was only since.”

“

Other college athletes Dan Flowers • Will be wrestling at Brown University • Three-time South Eastern Conference champ • Three-time state qualifier and state runner up •Finished with a total Of 173 wins •Two-year team captain

Kristen Yarows • Will run at The University Of Wisconsin • Won regionals and finished fifth at states in cross country her senior year.

• Missed the all-time Dexter High School record by less than three seconds.

Opinion

Introducing the

new

10

Thursday, April 1, 2010

collaboration column h t i w

Erin McAweeney & Candice Wiesner The Buried Graduation

Every once in a while there comes along a great pair of people.

Louis and Clark, Batman and Robin... Candice Wiesner and Erin McAweeney?

We are about to join the ranks among the top duos in history. Alone these individuals are normal people, but together they have changed the world.

We would like to introduce you to the first-ever collaboration column in The Squall and possibly in history.

It’s the final trimester of senior year, finally. We’re receiving our letters from colleges, senioritis is kicking in, and the inconceivable idea of life without Dexter Community Schools is becoming increasingly realistic.

The “new chapter is beginning” the “pen is in our hand; now we just have to write our story.” All those stupid cliches take on a whole new meaning.

Senior year seems to be all about what we plan to do next year, and it’s hard not to get swept away in the worry and excitement of our future.

Recently we had an epiphany of monumental proportions: what ever happened to living in the moment? We’re about to be leaving the place and people that we’ve spent the last twelve years with, why the hurry? So, by using our collaboration column powers, we decided to change this pattern. We want us and you to feel like your leaving

Candice Wiesner & Erin McAweeney Head designer & Blog editor

behind a legacy at DHS, and your last 12 years meant something.

As seniors embarking on the final trimester, we look back and wonder, what mark has the class of 2010 left on DHS? And more importantly, what have you accomplished your four long years here?

Being inspired by the MTV series the “Buried Life,” we now ask ourselves, “What do we want to do before we graduate?” After taking much care and time to think it over we came up with the following list: Awesome senior prank- Everyone wants to be as memorable as the seniors who put Connie’s Gator in the pond.

Bring the tech people down- Imagine just one day with more Facebook, Halo and Chat Roulette than you can handle.

Make a friend with someone we’ve never met before-

Dexter High School is not that big, and it’s sad that we’ve gone 12years without talking to everyone in our class at least once.

Real life impromptu high school musical- Imagine the class of ‘10 running through the hallways, dancing and sing together, with confetti and balloons and possibly the marching band playing ... Yeah, we get the chills thinking about it too.

Create a DHS fight club- There are a couple of great fights in our grade that we’ve all been waiting 12 years to see. And,of course, anything to lure Brad Pitt to the high school.

Convince Food and Nutrition to let us add our secret ingredients to the school cookies- No questions, please.

And just like the Buried Life guys we asked five seniors what they would like to do before they graduate. We plan to help someone on their list with everything that we do on ours.

Amanda Praznik- Dream prom date asks me.

Kelsey Mitchell- Be able to park in visitor’s for a day.

John Oliver- Get on the roof and have a choir concert.

Sam Beck- Be able to walk at graduation.

Ryan Steinbach- Place in top three at Battle of the Bands.

So go out there and do what you’ve been afraid to do for the last four years before you regret wasting your time. Take a deep breath, relax and remember our new favorite cliche: “Make every moment of senior year count, because you only get to do it once.”

‘How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live’ Alex Everard Alex McMurray staff writer

‘Alice” a pretty trip but a twisted plot If you see a white rabbit, follow it. If the white rabbit takes you down a rabbit hole, go down it.

And if there’s a flask with “drink me” on it, drink it.

This is exactly what I would do after seeing Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland”. Though the movie lacked an intriguing plot and the comedy was corny, the movie was money well spent.

This movie has visual effects that can be compared to those of “Avatar”. The visual effects do not make up for the silly plot.

Though I enjoyed “Alice in Wonderland”, I had expectations of an Oscar-sweeping movie, but this movie fell short. I was hoping for something to help me forget about “Avatar”, but “Alice in Wonderland” wasn’t close.

The movie did not disappoint me, but did not make me proud. In fact, it compares to a family of five sons, four of whom go on to play division one college football on full ride scholarships and the youngest goes to RIS-D (Rhode Island School of Design). “Alice in Wonderland” is the youngest son.

“Alice in Wonderland” is a good example of what’s wrong with Hollywood. These movies with 3D and IMAX effects have one attraction, well, two actually. The first is 3D and the second, IMAX. These are two appealing technological advances in movie history. But this is also the reason we need to make movie plots more interesting, more in-depth, more twisted and more creative.

Take “Avatar” for example. It had a wonderful plot and magical effects. Though “Avatar’s” plot was essentially “Pocahontas” with aliens as the Native Americans, it still kept millions of people interested.

Hopefully the newest IMAX/3D combination “Clash of the Titans” will prove me wrong about effects being the main concern in movies. This movie looks like it covers all of the essentials a movie needs for it to be a decent film. Good versus bad, revolution, love, hate, etc. I am excited to see what this movie has to offer besides the effects.

I have a hard time believing that “How to Train Your Dragon”, which is offered in 3D, will be appealing to an age group such as mine or older.

But it’s not supposed to. Which makes it OK. I’m sure if my 5-year-old cousin were to tell me if he liked it or not, he’d say he loved it. And I’m sure he’d probably say the same thing about “Alice in Wonderland”.

But “Alice” is too much of a classic to appeal to just one age group, which is why I’m requiring a much more intriguing plot.

Long story short, movies need to impress with their plots. Obviously the visual effects are going to be attractive because of the technology. But this is no excuse to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to produce a movie and not focus on having an impressive storyline.

Editor-in-Chief

This is not a funny column. If humor is what you seek, I suggest reading any of the other three works on this page. If you seek meaning, however, I can say for the first time that what I’m writing has a great deal of meaning.

First and foremost, I would like to apologize to those who I have offended. As a teenager with a knack for comedic writing, I fell under the impression that everyone would subscribe to the tone and type of humor I’ve written for the past three years.

Some of you got it. Some of you didn’t. It doesn’t matter to me, because ultimately I didn’t write it for any of you.

That may sound harsh, but think about it. Do you write papers for your teachers or for the grades your teachers award? I’m confident that virtually no one in this school has ever poured their heart into a term paper.

I tried to pour my heart into this paper. But I quickly learned that people don’t like that. Moreover, they simply don’t care. Thoughts on life, love and happiness have no place in a printed publication because they are dangerous, or so they say.

Life is dangerous. So is love. In each case you are putting yourself at risk and doing so every day.

When you drive to school in the morning, you are trusting the hundreds of drivers you pass not to kill you. When you tell someone you love them, you are

trusting them not to hurt you.

However, people die in car crashes every day. And people get their hearts broken every day. Now, you can chose to live the safest life possible, that of a hermit, and follow all the rules that “they” tell you to follow.

You can be a model citizen, one whose brain is occupied more with rational thought than emotion, and this will undoubtedly earn you “respect” from your parents, your teachers, your girlfriends’ parents and the police officer who sees you pump the brakes.

But when analyzed, this respect is nothing more than a feeling of hollow safety.

If you always do your homework, Mr. Moran will feel safe giving you a diploma. He won’t hand you the certificate with a feeling of uncertainty as he ponders whether or not you will go on to become the next OctoMom or “Jersey Shore” cast member.

If you avoid close friendships, you will feel safe.

No one will have your trust, and therefore no one will posses the ability to wrong you. You will enter the school every day knowing that your deepest secrets are safe within the exclusive confines of your mind.

If you never love, you will feel safe. You won’t have to worry about heartbreak or commitment or any of those annoying, oftentimes overwhelming, feelings.

The parents of your love interest would not have to worry about you, because let’s face it, if they had to chose you would be roughly the 23rd person they would select for their child, and that may be a generous ranking. They would feel safe.

But if I’ve learned anything in my four years here, it is this: safety is overrated. I understand the importance of responsibility. But I have made countless mistakes in high school, all of which I have learned from, all of which have helped me feel good about the person I am

becoming.

I almost made another one when I was contemplating what I would write for this column. I almost opened up to everyone about my life, my love, my journey thus far, but this was a foolish thought.

Because no matter what I write, there will be people who don’t get it far before they ever read it, if they even chose to do so. I could say 800 words of sarcastic arrogance and get a positive response from some, while others would scoff at my blatant narcissism.

The message is this: no matter how elaborate your public facade may be, few people truly know you. To make the most of one’s time is to choose who these people are and not regret anything said or done to them. It is to invest ones self in others and hope they accept and love what you have given, and in doing so, you become a part of who they are.

In the end I am indescribably happy to have lived with a full range of emotions, from electrifying happiness to utter despair, and I am happy with myself. I am happy I was not always safe but always open. People might walk all over you. They might abuse your trust, but the marks they leave will shape the person you become.

I cherish every single one of those marks. I look at my soul and see the initials of friends, lovers, mentors and enemies alike. And I’m happy about every one of them.

What is one’s life but a canvas on which we allow others to paint? We like to think we hold the brush, but who has ever seen a painting with one color? To bring light to one’s painting, one needs the essential contrast of darkness.

Get it? If not, it’s OK, sometimes I don’t even know what I’m saying.

Most ignorant of water polo Connor Thompson Staff Writer

Every year, dozens of high school students watch an athletic event. And more often than not, they’re watching football or basketball. Who wouldn’t want to?

You get to stand a few hours without sitting.

There’s toga night (unfortunately, the players are left out). And you can always tell whether a referee’s call was good or not by the intonation of the student section’s incoherent yelling. (“Aaaah ...” is good, “Ooooh ...” is bad and “Heeeeeey, hey baby ...” is either really good, or means that we’ve been doing so badly that we don’t have anything else to cheer about).

But I think that the world’s best student section must branch out. There’s a lot more games we could be watching. However, few people understand how the point system in equestrian works or even what equestrian is.

So to help readers whose sports knowledge is limited to: “golden snitch = 150 points,” here is a crash course on what goes on during competition for my own sport: swimming.

I’ve had people ask me more than once whether swimming is a cult. Do I think a group that spends four hours a day together doing the same thing,

wearing the same clothes and requires members to bleach and then shave their hair is a cult? No. I’m just in it for French toast and bacon every Friday. But weird or not, our meets (not games) are actually pretty exciting to watch if you know what’s happening.

First, before every meet, there are pregame rituals. We have six. Banging on lockers in the locker room, incoherent yelling in the locker room, rhythmic clapping/ door frame slapping on the way out of the locker room, two separate group chants on the pool deck and shouting “brave” at the end of the national anthem.

This is to show our opponents that we are more awesome than they are because they do not have six pregame rituals. Thus, our opponents feel inferior and are more willing to submit to our indomitable, awe-inspiring swimming ability. In short, we shout things. We shout them loudly. Therefore, we will swim faster.

While I am eager to explain to you every event of a swim meet, I understand you are busy procrastinating during a research session and can find other things to occupy your time. I also understand some people may automatically organize swim races into two categories: “Events that Michael Phelps swims,” and “other.” However, there are many more races than that.

There are three relays and eight individual events in a swim meet. They include distances of 50, 100, 200, and 500 yards freestyle (front crawl), as well

as 100 of each of the other strokes (backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly) as well as the 200 Individual medley, where a swimmer swims swim 50 yards of each stroke.

The relays involve four swimmers swimming the two shortest distances freestyle, as well as a medley where each swimmer does a different stroke.

In each event, points are awarded to the fastest times in descending order. So despite the fact that the score is never displayed, you can generally tell that Dexter is doing well because (it’s not bragging if it’s true) we usually win races.

Maybe not against Division 1 schools like Pioneer, but we still managed to get more points at SEC division championships than the second and third place teams’ point totals combined. (OK, that may have been bragging).

So, does swimming really not seem interesting?

I’m sure that some of the average 27.7 million people nightly who watched the Beijing Olympics were watching something other than basketball and track.

(Women’s beach volleyball was also on). At least look in on swimming during the 2012 Olympics in London- Phelps should be back, and the US should add to its already-respectable collection of medals.

But if you would like to see yours truly make a fool of himself in the water in front of a loving audience (Mom and Dad), and Dexter go for SEC white division championship number 13, the season starts sometime next November. Now excuse me, I have to enjoy my offseason while I can.

11

Editorial

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Squall

Prom should stay at the school

The

EDITORS IN CHIEF: Alex Everard, Brittany Martini

MANAGING EDITOR: Marne Little

EDITORS DESIGN: Candice Wiesner FEATURES: Kaitlyn Shepard ENTERTAINMENT: Dan Flowers OPINIONS: Kristi Hughes, David LaMore PHOTO: JoJo Parin, Lauren Daugherty SPORTS: Kevin Yarows HEALTH: Ashley Burleson, Colleen Hill TRENDS: Caitlyn Rize uPAGE: Ian McCarthy, Marshall Kellenberger

GET INVOLVED: Alex Dobbs COPY: Emily Van Dusen

NEWS: Max Berry, Nic Miller COMMUNITY: Gabe Altomare DEXTER LEADER: Emily Darrow BLOGS: Erin McAweeney

DESIGNERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Claire Berger, Ross Chamberlain, Kristie Duve, Lindsey Gagneau, Luke Hattie, Jacob Jones, Joseph King, Rachel Lomax, Kayla Samuels, Alex Papin, Austin Sullivan

ADVERTISING: Lisa Crompton, Murphy

Brown.

TWEETER: Thomas Griffith FUNDRAISING: Nicole Minzey

STAFF WRITERS Nick Baron, Sara Bayer, Sophia Benedetto, Alison Bowman, Raymond Carpenter, Brennan Conter, Jessica Deljevic, Sara Douglass, Bay Edwards, Derek Fead, Catherine Ferguson, Steven Ferguson, Alexander Friedman, Lauren Gagneau, Taylor Garcia, Aaron Gilman, Murphy Hansen, Brent Kellenberger, Margaret Kim, Charlotte Knoerl-Morrill, Alison Krips, Julie Lindemann, Kathryn McDonald, Alex McMurray, Lynn Metz, Steven Miller, Sarah Molnar, Kevin Mors, John Nixon IV, Elizabeth O’Keefe, Morgan Quist, Jeanine Reny, Matthew Sarver, Kevin Skiver, Conner Thompson, Justin Wike

CARTOONIST Gabe Altomare

Adviser Rod Satterthwaite

TALK BACK:

The Squall is an open forum for student expression.

[Corrections] An article on student teachers in the last issue of The Squall misreported the ages of Jenny Tucker and Janine Hill. Tucker 32 and Hill is 25.

An article on wrestling in the last issue of The Squall should have included the following information: While wrestling can have serious health risks, the Michigan High School Athletic Association and the wrestling team take measures to prevent athletes from having health problems.

The MHSAA requires that each school that sponsors wrestling must provide a one-hour program of Nutrition Education for all wrestlers. They also say that parents should be included in the presentation because they are the ones who buy the food. There is also a nutrition power point available on the MHSAA website for anyone who would like to access it.

There is also information on how to properly disinfect mats and the right way to sterilize things. Athletes must also must get a form signed from a physician stating that they do not have any skin diseases. According to wrestling coach Shane Rodriquez, the mats are cleaned and sanitized every day. “I want my wrestlers to be very healthy so that they can perform their best and beat the competition,” Rodriquez said.

PRO CON PROM Prom has traditionally been held at the high school; however, what if DHS moved the prom to a banquet hall or hotel? Several other schools have their prom at a different location, so it is not a revolutionary idea.

Just think of the endless possibilities our school could do with an open banquet room. Not only does it give the school a new and exciting location to host prom, but also a way to see prom in a different perspective. Instead of the same look and feel of DHS, a new location could give a new layout, allowing more imaginative ideas.

There are only a finite number of things the builders of the prom can do with the high school, but there are endless possibilities at a banquet hall. At the high school, parents must fit their decorations according to the school’s design, whereas at another location decoration possibilities are endless.

With a big open room such as a banquet hall, parents would be free to design whatever they wanted and not have to worry about the design of the school.

As a student, it is annoying to return, on the weekend, to the same place where I take exams, sit through lectures and eat cafeteria food.

Changing the location can bring new memories

While some may argue that Dexter’s prom is too elaborate and over the top, it is one of the things from high school I will be able to brag to my kids about.

I wasn’t one of the first kids to have an iTouch and still don’t. I use a flip phone. I’m not a National Merit Scholar. I didn’t find my first love in high school. But my high school’s prom was kick-ass, and that I can brag about. I don’t want that to fade.

If our prom was just like any other prom, I’d be less likely to go. Downgrading from a movieset worthy prom to a few balloons and fake plants is depressing. What am I supposed to do at a banquet hall? Dance? I literally am the definition of a white girl trying to dance so I would end up sitting at a table playing with confetti by myself.

The games at our prom, like Hollywood Squares, the Nearly Wed game and mini golf are much more entertaining, and much less uncomfortable for underclassmen parents (and me) to watch than dancing anyway. Winning the Nearly Wed game last year with Alex Watson was the proudest moment of my life.

And even though I went to prom with my best friend my sophomore year after last-minute complications and will never live it down for

Move prom from the school for the students, rather than blending in the dreaded thoughts of school with an exciting event like prom.

Moving the prom to a new location will cost money to rent out the building, but the overall cost will go down because there will be a need for far few decorations and preparation that costs a lot of money.

Principal Kit Moran said that he can see prom being held at a different location sometime in the future, only because parents and the school may not always have the funds to create and build a prom for the school. That being said, there have been no serious talks at all discussing whether prom should migrate to a new location. However, if the school and parents cannot fund the prom and create the decorations because of the economy, the school will seem to have no choice but relocate.

The prom needs to be spiced up. Staying in the same place with the same obstacles is beginning to get boring. Let’s have a prom at a new location, allowing students to have a new experience and the school to save money in a rough economic time. If the prom at a new location isn’t successful, then we can always move it back.

Squall the all

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Globalization is world interconnectedness. As transportation, technology and countries become more advanced and efficient, interaction between countries becomes more advanced and increases as well. Through trade, diplomatic relations and even simple tourism, countries on earth are more closely related now than anytime before.

The world language department at Dexter Community Schools recognized this trend and was in the process of attempting to change the school’s language program to allow for students to have a greater chance of succeeding in a more globally-connected working world once students leave the district.

A new proposal was set into action that would attempt to change the present system of how language classes are offered throughout the district. Currently, French, Spanish and German are the language courses available to be taken at the high school level and two years ago, the Middle School also extended its language program by offering eighth grade students the opportunity to take introductory courses in these three languages.

The new language proposal would alter the current system to make language classes available all the way from Kindergarten through 12th grade. The proposal would also add the languages of Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language and Arabic as potential language choices once a student reached the high school level.

The thought process behind the proposal comes from studies that show a new language is easier learned at a younger age and also to offer a larger variety of languages that would appeal to a larger variety of students. The overall idea behind the proposal is to increase a child’s proficiency and potential interest in the language.

Programs like this need implementation.

However, after this language proposal was reviewed by the Superintendent Rob Glass, the proposal was declined.

Citing reasons of cost, the current proposal did not pass. However, Glass did say that the proposal

going with a girl when I was only trying to be a good friend, it was a blast. Getting dressed up and taking pictures may be something every prom does, but the variety at Dexter prom is unmatched.

The theme was Willy Wonka that year, and the school looked exactly like the Wonka factory.

People who I assume were school employees were dressed up like oompa loompas. Can students from other schools say they’ve seen their teachers dressed up like oompa loompas?

I’ve had friends who have attended Chelsea’s prom, who said the games were boring and the decorations were unoriginal (no surprise there).

Dexter parents work so hard and are so creative when it comes to the prom, it gets everyone involved and gives parents a reason to get out of the house to socialize with other adults. At other proms, I assume the parents’ role would be to hang out by the punch bowl, checking out students. And that’s just not how we do things at Dexter.

I would rather spend the extra money on a prom ticket for a unique and elaborate prom, complete with a wide selection of activities, than to spend a few bucks to drink cheap punch, play with confetti by myself, and pretend I know how to dance in a poorly-lit banquet hall.

District should adopt language program as originally proposed

did lay down good guidelines for a future change in the district’s language program.

United States students stay far behind the rest of the world in language proficiency and understanding. Many students in other countries are required to not only speak their native language well, but also are often required to learn one or even two foreign languages, one of these languages often being English.

Due to poor schooling set-up, or just a lack of overall respect for the rest of the world, United States foreign language programs and requirements in public schools are often unsuccessful.

Requiring a student to take a language course for two years at the high school level will not teach a child a language or give a child any ability to speak the language fluently.

The majority of students in America at this level are not interested in a foreign language and see it as a hassle to try to understand a language that they think they will never use.

The approach that American public schools currently take towards educating students in a foreign language is almost laughable.

To understand and to truly learn a language, years of speech, repetition and practice must first be undertaken.

And not only must the language be taught over a span of several years, but the importance of learning another language must be stressed to the students to increase their interest in studying and becoming competent at speaking another language.

The fact that the administration shot down this

new proposal is a disappointing one. Although the future may be brighter for a change in the world language department, it is obvious the district does not fully understand the importance of students having the ability to speak multiple languages or of being worldly cultured.

By not allowing students the opportunity to undergo this new language program, the district not only limits students ability in speaking another language at a higher level, but more importantly it also hurts students future success in a globally-connected world.

12

Senior Food Auction ‘10

Photostory

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Going once, going twice ... : Seniors Jono Jebson, Kevin Yarows, Mike Kedroske and Waleed Mansour call out bids for food.

“I’ll trade you:” Seniors Jeff Dinser and Evan Bruetsch swap the sweets they purchased. The food auction is exclusively limited to the graduating class and run by NHS members.

NHS event raises money for muscular dystrophy Charlotte Morill

Watching the auction action : Senior Matt Sarver looks on as his classmates place their bids on food.

staff writer

Every day, tired students wait for lunch, with their stomachs grumbling and their brain craving something to energize it. Every year, the senior food auction is an opportunity for them to skip some time and have an early snack, with the added bonus of doing something good for others.

The National Honors Society arranged the Senior Food Auction, which took place in the commons during third hour on March 19.

Senior Catherine Cook, who attended the event, explained it as “an opportunity for seniors to hang out, eat great food and help two great causes.”

Tickets cost $1 and were sold at lunch to seniors prepared to come home with some tasty baked goods and an excuse to eat them, seeing as all the money raised went toward researching and curing Muscular Dystrophy and Cystic Fibrosis.

Muscular Dystrophy mainly occurs in males, and 500-600 males are diagnosed with it each year nationwide.

Some symptoms of it are muscle weakness and mental

retardation.

Cystic fibrosis is a chronic, noncontagious disease that affects over 30,000 Americans, and it is the number one genetic killer of children and young adults in the United States. Neither of these medical problems have fool-proof cures, but with donated money from the auction, cures become more plausible.

“In my group of eight girls, we pooled our money together and bought a ton of food. There was a chocolate pie, around 20 cans of pop, an ice cream cake, and a lot more,” said Cook. “All together we spent about $150. We all threw in as much money as we could spare.”

While the sweets and pastries weren’t all necessarily brain food, they did get the students to participate in an event for charity.

Cook pops a few goldfish into her mouth, chuckling about how much food she still has to eat from the auction. She said, “It was an effective way to raise a lot of money for great causes in a short amount of time.”

“Sold!”: Flowers calls out a winning bid on pita bread and hummus, one of the healthier options offered in the variety of foods.

Ice cream for a cure: Senior Cora McHugh helps scoop ice cream at the ice cream bar. NHS organized the entire event, with help from the club’s adivser, Cheryl Wells.

Photos by Candice Wiesner

The spread: The senior NHS auctioneers, Flowers, Mansour, Kedroske, Yarows and Jebson, help organize the spread of food for their prospective buyers. Included in the feast were Subway sandwiches and Classic Pizza. The majority of the supplies came from local businesses and grocery stores.