Volume XI Issue 6
theRoyalNews Dodgeball Hits Home Prince George H.S. - 7801 Laurel Spring Rd. Prince George, VA 23875 - www.trnwired.org - March 15, 2013
p. 15
Senior John Clements positions to throw the ball and strike his opponent. The Dodgeball Tournament will be held on Mar. 22 at 5:30 PM and the cost for attendance is $3 per person. Photo by Ridhi Patel.
Visit trnwired.org to see the latest photo galleries.
Sophomore Class Faces Students Travel to New Requirement For New York For Model UN Conference p. 8 Graduation p. 7
Substitutes Share Teaching Experiences, Knowledge p. 12-13
In order to graduate, current sophomores will need to complete a finance class during their junior or senior year. This change was initiated Mar. 26th, 2005.
Substitute teachers are a key factor in maintaining class safety and composure when a teacher is absent. Lately, the school has been struggling to find enough substitutes.
Recently, Model UN members traveled to New York City for the National High School Model United Nations conference. Model UN is a club that simulates solving world problems.
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op/ed
Spotlight Goes Out On Fine Arts In Education
the RoyalNews
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ur mission as the school newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible. We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A4, or e-mail them to cwaugaman@pgs.k12.va.us We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maximum. Thank you for the support this year. Please continue to communicate on trnwired.org.
Section Editors Front page: Quetasia Faulcon-Op/Ed: Nathan Britt-News: Casey Overton-Features: Faven ButlerDouble Truck: Danielle Marshall-A&E : Deborah Gardner-Sports: Kristen Schwalm-Ampersand: Tiana Kelly-Photo Editor/Distribution and Events: Ridhi Patel-Business & Ad Editor: Chloe Alexander-Online Editor-in-Chief: Korrina Smith Online Sports Editor: Courtney Taylor-Social Media Manager: Christina Buckles
Illustration by Anthony Sudol.
Students Lack Respect for Pledge of Allegiance
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Writers Debra Thomas-Genevieve Perez-Kolade OlanrewajuBlier Smith-Sarah Daniel-JoJo Taylor-Lindsay Pugh-Devan Fishburne-Angelica Martinez-Mallory Cox-Roxy Sherrick-John Shumar-Samantha Barton
Editor-in-Chief Amanda Majewski Chloe Alexander
Managing Editor Quetasia Faulcon
Adviser
Chris Waugaman
Professional affiliations & awards Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2008-2011 Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Silver Crown Winner 2011 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2006-2011 Col. Charles Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence 2010 SIPA All Southern 2008-2011 SIPA Scroggins Award for Online Media 2013
The Royal News, PGHS trnwired.org & trnsports.org
7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875 804-733-2720 The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia
Editorial
Business Manager
n the year 1892, the United States of America was known around the world as “The Land of Opportunity.” Thousands of immigrants flocked to our shores that year. The country was continuing to recover from the effects of the Civil War. The 400th Anniversary of Columbus’s discovery of America was being planned and anticipated. A man interested in education and Columbus Day celebrations, Francis Bellamy, wrote a short 21 word pledge to the flag. It was published in a popular magazine, The Youth’s Companion, on Sept. 8, 1892. The National Education Association (NEA) was a sponsor of The Youth’s Companion. The editors of the magazine promoted, to the NEA, the idea of having a flag in public school classrooms and saying the pledge for the Columbus Day celebration. The “Pledge of Allegiance” is a promise to promote liberty, equality, and justice for all who live in America. Over the years, a few more words have
been added to the pledge and now it is 31 words long. Every morning the students and staff of PGHS continue the tradition, starting their day off by saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance is a quick and easy way to show patriotism. Now, some students are not participating in the pledge. Students are talking, sitting down, not paying attention, or even changing the words to the Pledge of Allegiance. They are disrespecting the pledge, but even more, disrespecting the meaning of the pledge and what this country stands for. When saying the Pledge of Allegiance we should not disrespect it, but stand up and say it with pride. We need to think of all that has been sacrificed for us to be free. Thank the people who are fighting for us, and honor them by standing up and saying the Pledge of Allegiance; showing everyone around us we are proud to live in this country and all that it stands for.
hen people think of budget and extra curricular activities their immediate thoughts go to sports: football, basketball, soccer, the list goes on. Seldom do people think about the arts in budget planning, and if it is thought of, it is normally an after thought. The arts instill ideas and Danielle imagination and Marshall creativity amongst the students in schools. It is a release for many students and should always be an included part of a student’s education. According to edutopia.org, 16% of elementary schools in Washington D.C. have reduced the amount of time elementary school students spend immersed in music and arts classes. In high school, it is understandable for some students to not want to continue on in arts, but for the opportunity to be taken away from elementary school children is just unnecessary. No matter what age, the arts should be important. This issue would not be as prevalent today if the arts were kept as integral parts of school curriculum. There are many schools such as the Columbus Academy, an arts school in New York City, that have upheld the value of the arts and presented evidence around campus. The New York Times reported on this academy inserting sculpture blocks into the side of their building to allow art to be present all throughout their building. Public schools should make a better effort to present arts in this way. Following in the footsteps of Columbus Academy, the rest of America’s public schools should take note and apply such ideas and inspirations. Art is here to stay. It brings relief from stress and joy to many. With the arts holding a long-term appeal, and being a form of expression to many students, there are no questions that the arts in public schools is a need that must be continued to be met.
FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 3
op/ED
Does Tenure Protect Inadequate Teachers?
Once a teacher reaches tenure, a form of job protection, it becomes very difficult to remove them for poor performance. The purpose of tenure is to protect teachers from unlawful firing. What do you think?
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ould it be fair for a public school system to fire a more experienced teacher, and replace them with a rookie teacher who they can pay less? What about if an experienced, competent teacher of a minority race was mysteriously replaced with a white teacher with less qualifications? These situations are not ethical by any means. There needs to be some sort of protection in place for teachers in order to prevent these and other similar occurrences. This protection does exist and is called tenure. With tenure in place, after a teacher has worked for a certain number of years set by the state, their job becomes protected. A very thorough legal process must take place before the teacher can be fired. This prevents teachers from being fired for inappropriate reasons such as political views, gender, race, etc. One of the most rewarding benefits is that tenure helps schools have better teachers. School systems usually are sure to hire better teachers knowing that tenure will eventually make an incompetent teacher slightly more difficult to get rid of. Also, teachers with tenure can often prove to be better teachers because they can teach freely without the fear of losing their jobs. Students of teachers without tenure are at risk of being restricted in what they are taught because of the teacher’s fear of losing their job. Many tenure opponents argue that ineffective teachers are too difficult to remove. While it is true that tenure makes the termination of all teachers more difficult, this in not necessarily a disadvantage when it comes to incompetence. The elimination process usually allows teachers time to learn from their mistakes and get their performance up to standards. The teacher will have learned and grown from the experience and will not have to lose their job. Ultimately, tenure is necessary for teachers’ protection. There are not many significant disadvantages and it gives teachers the security they deserve. Undesirable teachers can still be removed from the schools if needed. Students also end up with better, more experienced instructors. School systems must do whatever is best for their staff and students and assuring tenure to teachers is just one of the many ways this can happen.
PRO CON Casey Overton
John Shumar
85% Of teachers at Prince George High School have reached their three year tenure.
urrently, 2.3 million school teachers in the United States are protected by tenure. New Jersey gave fairdismissal rights to college professors in 1910, becoming the first state to pass tenure. This prevented such practices as firing a teacher because of their personal or political beliefs. Teacher’s tenure was a good idea at the time. However, it has outlived its usefulness. Tenure can be achieved in as little as two years, and serves only to protect those teachers who are incompetent. First, tenure prohibits school districts from firing experienced teachers to hire less experienced and less expensive teachers. However, this makes seniority the main factor in deciding who will lose their job. Usually, this leads to the unwritten rule of the “lasthired, first-fired” policy; completely ignoring performance and quality. Tenure has also allowed teachers to teach controversial curriculum without the fear of being fired or punished. Some critics say that removing tenure would reduce innovation and a sense of security when teaching. Yet, recent court rulings, collective bargaining and state and federal laws have rendered tenure obsolete and has already insured job security. In fact, school board presidents claim that tenure makes it more difficult to improve education. In an Oct. 1, 2006 survey, 91% of school board presidents either agreed or strongly agreed that tenure “impedes the dismissal of underperforming teachers.” 60% also believed that tenure “does not promote fair evaluations.” This is due to the fact that tenure creates a long and complicated course to fire an incompetent teacher. The procedure involves months of legal processes by the principal, school board, union and the courts. In Michigan, it can take up to 335 days to remove a tenured teacher. A June 1, 2009 study by the New Teacher Project found that 86% of administrators said they did not try to dismiss a poor teacher due to the costly and time consuming process. Tenure makes the cost of firing a teacher in New York City an average of $250,000. Teacher’s tenure is negatively effecting the quality and fiscal flexibility of schools nationwide. With legal protection covering the positive attributes of tenure, it is only sensible to remove a practice that does nothing but protect poor teaching.
Making the Grade Making the Grade is the staff’s report card for student interest topics.
A+
Prince George Alumnus Jackie Bradley, Jr. making his spring training debut with the Red Sox earlier this month.
A
Spring Break is quickly approaching. Spring Break is Apr. 1-5.
B
The Dodgeball Tournament on Mar. 22nd to raise funds for the Senior Class.
C
The juniors are currently in the midst of their writing SOL’s, displacing some business and technology classes.
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Peerage
Congratulations to the rising juniors and seniors who have been selected for the upcoming 2013-2014 Yearbook Staff
Laquasia Cooper Ashley Crabtree T’Lia Green Luke Johnson Cindy King Chaelin Magruder Corrine Marshall Karla Ramos Jerron Ramsey Maggie Wallace Rising Sophomores will find out soon...
FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 5
NEWS BRIEFS
Tournament Takes Place >> Dodgeball Students can create a team of eight people for the
>>
tournament. Forty dollars needs to be turned into John Pelter for a team to participate. The tournament will be held Mar. 22 at 5:30 PM in the gym. UN Traveled To New York >> Model Model UN traveled to New York Mar. 5 till Mar 10. They were representing the country of Georgia at the student based mock UN conference along with thousands of students from across the world.
Briefly >>St. Patrick’s Day This holiday is celebrated on Mar. 17. The Irish in particular have been upholding this holiday religiously for over a thousand years. St. Patrick’s Day falls into the Lent season, which steers the Irish to attend church, then later in the day they celebrate. Traditional food include Irish bacon and cabbage.
>> Daylight Savings Daylight savings was on Sun., Mar. 10. It started at 2:00 AM and time went forward an hour. A way to remember Daylight Savings is to “spring forward, and fall backward.” Daylight Savings is usually on the second Sun. of Mar. and then on the first Sun. in Nov. Benjamin Franklin was the first to propose this idea in America. The idea behind Daylight Savings is to conserve more energy by having nighttime come faster and dawn come later.
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FCA Performs the Easter Assembly On Mar. 29, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes will be holding an assembly during seventh period honoring Easter. Permission slips are needed to attend to be excused from class. DECA Postpones Fashion Show The fashion show has been postponed until Apr. 12 due to weather, insufficient amount of practices, and SOL conflicts.
>> Easter This Christian holiday is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter will be on Mar. 31, the last Sun. of the month. This holiday always falls after the Spring Equinox. The forty days of Lent lead up to Easter as well. Despite the religious roots of this holiday, Easter has been commercialized with Easter egg hunts, Easter baskets, and bunny related themes. Easter also marks the beginning of Spring Break for students.
>> Spring Equinox The season of Spring will soon arrive on Wed., Mar. 20. On this day, the number of daylight hours an nighttime hours are almost equal.
>>Teacher of the Year Rhodes presents award to Darby.
The teacher of the 2012-2013 school year is Buddy Darby. He is the chairman of the Math Department and teaches calculus classes. As lead teacher, Karen Rhodes honored Darby with the award.
6 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.15.13
The PG Players are excited to announce their next play.
HOUSE OF DRACULA MAY 2nd, 3rd, 4th - 7:30 PM Saturday Matinee @ 2 PM
Congratulations to the new members of the 2013-2014 TRN MEDIA STAFF.
PGTV NEWS KiAsia Towns Mandi Cummings Jacqueline Thomas Christopher McKay Re’Kaiya McBride Ashton Allen Neftali Rosado Caitlin Brockwell Angelina Smith Trevor Bembry Jessica Honaker Ashli Moseley Briona Evans Corey Bridgman Jordan Vick
Sierra Stanley Donald Shipp, II Virginia Kendall Sarah Diaz Jessie Chiasson Alexandra Woods Jessica Rogers Jordan Nase Pooja Panchal Leon Johnson Kadera Brown JaQuon Moore Isiah Truell Brenton Vaughan
TRN Carolina Bae Kadera Brown Samantha Daniel Ronald Dayvault Erica Harris Serena Triscari Abigail Faircloth Quadirah Monroe Nathan Williamson Daniel Puryear Ryan Albright Austin Britt Travis Temple Alexis Stewart April Buckles Madison Strang Hannah Zuloaga Hydeia Nutt Ebony Gilchrist
FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 7
News
Senior Maurice McCoy manages his finances at the Bank of Southside Virginia. Beginning with the class of 2015, students must pass a class in financial management in order to graduate. Photo by Faven Butler.
BY THE NUMBERS
8
The average number of credit cards owned by the average American.
State Pushes for
Fiscal Literacy Virginia government creates law to help students manage their money Faven Butler features editor
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he graduating class of 2015 and their successors are facing a new requirement in order to receive their high school diplomas. An Economics and Personal Finance class must be taken as a mandatory course during either their junior or senior year. This will go into effect during the 2013-14 school year. The requirement was initiated on March 26, 2005, after the General Assembly approved a bill directing the Virginia Board of Education to “establish objectives for economic education and financial literacy”. According to the Dept. of Education, the goal of the class is to help students interpret the daily news, understand how our everyday lives depend on the current economy, and anticipate how economic crises can impact us both socially and personally. The intent is for the students to gain knowledge and skills that will improve the likelihood of their future economic success. As a result of these requirements from the VA Dept. of Education, the Prince George
Board of Education directly addressed these initiatives. “The Board of Education was asked to develop and approve objectives for economics education and financial literacy at the middle and high school levels,” Superintendent Bobby Browder said. “Effective with the entering of the 9th grade class of 2011-12, Economics and Personal Finance is a required course.” There are obstacles that pose as a challenge to so many students having to take a mandatory class that is not a main core class. “The challenge arrives when trying to implement a General Assembly legislative mandate without funding [unfunded mandate],” Browder said. “The difficulty for the Prince George County School Board and throughout the Commonwealth is having to fund the course without appropriation of State revenue.” The sophomores this year express mixed feelings regarding the class they will be required to take. Some students feel that this class will better aid them with their future in regards to financial situations. “I know it is aimed to teach us about budgeting, paying bills, and keeping track of our money. It’s not a bad idea for a class considering the economic state the country is in,” sophomore Jessie Chiasson said. “The only thing I don’t like is the inconvenience of
not having a choice for another exploratory class.” However, others believe this should not be considered a mandatory class, and instead be a choice to the students themselves. Skepticism about whether these lessons will actually benefit them hang over the students. “I personally don’t think we should be forced to take a class that’s not one of the main core classes. I feel like my own parents will be able to give me financial advice more effectively than a teacher,” sophomore Shataya Titus said. “How we handle money should be our own individual preference.” It is unclear why exactly the Dept. of Education has decided to make this class a requirement, but both students and faculty have a feeling that it is due to the overwhelming amount of Americans in debt in modern times. There are currently existing Standards of Learning such as Social Studies and Mathematics that reference to economics and personal finance, but the Dept. of Education believes a class more specific on those particular subjects will aid students in the long run. “The Dept. of Education has been responsive in developing online modules, which will be used by the district along with other resources, to teach the new course beginning in Sept. 2013,” Browder said.
55
Only 55 million out of 144 million Americans completely pay their general - purpose credit card bill each month.
35 There are 35 million Americans who pay only the minimum amount that is required.
8,000 The average amount of creditcard debt per American family is $8,000.
15
Credit card companies are required to give customers at least 15 days notice before making any changes to the cardholder contract.
50
A cardholder whose card or card number is stolen in only required to pay $50 to the issuer. Special gratitude to Superintendent Bobby Browder and Director of Secondary Instruction Larry Eminhizer.
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Features
Model UN In Action
BY THE
NUMBERS
1
Woodrow Wilson proposed the League of Nations(predecessor to United Nations) during the first World War.
1945
The year the United Nations officially came into existence .
Model UN members travel to New York city for a conference with students around the world. Lindsay Pugh trn writer
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rom the League of Nations to Model United Nations chapters in high schools and colleges across the world, the United Nations has a strong past and a definite influence on the future. Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States from 1913 to 1921, first proposed the League of Nations, the precursor to the modern United Nations, during World War 1. The United Nation’s history continues to grow. Model United Nations, more commonly referred to as Model UN, has been a presence in Prince George High School since 1984. That same year, government teacher Louise Thornton became the sponsor and has remained so every year since. “I love working with the students, I really do,” Thornton said. “They are very dedicated to fundraising, and they really seem to want to know more about the world from other perspectives. They have put in more effort than in previous years.” Model United Nations is exactly what the
name says: an academic role-play of the United Nations. The United Nations (UN) was formed in 1945, and exists as a diplomatic union between the majority of the countries of the world. 193 of the 196 countries in the world are represented in the United Nations, who meet to discuss world problems and brainstorm cooperative solutions to them. The club began in the Advanced Government class in which every student participated. It wasn’t until several years later that Model UN became a club accessible to all grades. Like in the true United Nations, the Model UN strives to promote diplomacy and openmindedness in relations between countries. They do meet more often than the UN, usually twice a month. “We re-enact UN meetings with potential problems for our country, specifically, and our relationships with other countries,” senior Caleb Johnson said. “I joined Model UN to expand my cultural awareness.” The Model UN will get a chance to put their ideals into practice March 5th, when they go to New York City for a Model United Nations conference. Model UN has been going to this conference since its creation in 1984. “This is a valuable experience because students get to look at problems from another perspective,” Thornton said. “When they go to New York, they meet students not only from the East Coast, but from other countries. That interaction broadens their perspective.” Junior Madison Pham joined the club for its learning experiences and is currently on the Economic and Finance committee.
Model UN members pose for a group picture at the General Assembly building in New York. The Model UN member toured this building while participating in a conference. Photo contributed by Carolina Bae. “The group divided into United Nation committees and did extensive research on Georgia, the country we were assigned,” Pham said. “I enjoy learning about a new country different from the United States. I’m really excited about the conference.” The club fundraised for their trip by selling Turkey Teacher feathers back in November at twenty-five cents a piece. To raise additional funds, Johnson, his father Chris Johnson, and his grandfather Liege Johnson made Brunswick stew for the members to sell. The fundraiser brought in $1500. “Our goal is an open-minded attitude and a progressive way of thinking,” Johnson said. Senior Nelson Leary is on the National Security committee with Johnson. In preparation for the conference, both Leary and Johnson have begun to pay more attention to currents events. Leary conducted research on governmental sites as well. “I really want to see the United Nations building in New York,” senior Nelson Leary said. While Pham and Leary will not be able to continue with Model United Nations, Johnson may join the Model UN at his future college. “If I’m able to continue, I most likely will,” Johnson said. “This club has been entertaining and insightful to me from the very beginning.”
14
Number of students that are members of the club Model UN.
192
Number of member states that are a part of the United Nations, including the United States.
51
Number of countries that initiated the UN after WWII as an attempt to restore international security and peace.
63
Number of UN information centers across the world, the closest one being Washington D.C. Source: History of United Nations.
FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 9
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10 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.15.13
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FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 11
Features
PG Promise Supports Youth Organization makes five distinct “promises” to students in promotion to a safe educational environment
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Chloe Alexander ads manager
n 1997, Secretary of State Colin Powell challenged communities in America to commit to helping maintain five distinct promises: mentoring, a healthy start, safe places, education, and volunteering. Fourteen years later, Prince George (PG) Promise was created to help provide funds for Prince George County and central Virginia in order to fulfill these promises. The not-for-profit organization has over fifty stakeholders, but wants to keep growing to be able to adapt to the needs in the area. Jay “C” Paul, Commonwealth Attorney and President of PG Promise, has a past of volunteering with a Big Brother Big Sister program and rallying for change as a Veteran in college. He became involved with PG Promise because he wants the youth to have more opportunities to make a difference around them. “I would rather work to keep kids from coming in [my office] and getting in trouble than having to take care of them once they get here,” Paul said. “I believe some of the difficulties are because some kids don’t have anything to do or a sense of direction.” All of the five promises are intended to create a better learning environment where children and teens can find their niche and grow into productive, community-conscious individuals. Different promises speak to different people, but there is a promise for everyone. “Really all [the promises] are important,” Paul said. “You can probably equate each and every one of them to your situation.
That’s one of the reasons we have so many stakeholders.” Every organization requires cooperation from the community and its citizens in order to be truly successful. PG Promise makes use of the resources and connections it has in order to get the job done efficiently or at least spark a movement. “Everyone uses a little bit of their resources instead of duplicating efforts,” Paul said. “It’s sort of a synergetic way of making things better and that’s a big part of what the PG promise needs to be.” Part of the cooperation factor required in an organization that benefits an entire community stems from being open to new initiatives and projects. Currently, PG Promise is promoting the Prom Dress Day that the Prince George Department of Social Services is sponsoring while also working with the YMCA gym and elementary schools to spark a swimming safety movement due to the tragic drowning of a middle school student in October of 2012. “We’re willing to work with any organization,” Paul said. “One organization doesn’t have to do bad for another to do good. The
idea is to help raise every organization that does things for kids up in a positive, productive, meaningful way.” With every ongoing initiative comes progress and a want for improvement. PG Promise will be discussing new marketing styles and determining which ways will most efficiently get the word out about the organization at the meeting on Mar. 15. “We need more student participation, more visibility in the community, more understanding in the community about what we do, and people who are going to show up to the meetings and not ask ‘What’s in it for me or my organization?’, but ‘How are we going to help all the kids?’,” Paul said. One of the ways PG Promise finds opportunities for students that want to volunteer, take advantage of making a difference in their community, or just gain experience is through making opportunities accessible for everyone. “This is about life in Prince George, making it better, and opportunities. It’s a great thing to go out and volunteer and do what you need to do, but we need to make [opportunities] accessible,” Paul said. “We
Volunteers at the PG Promise Bowling Fund Raisers help sign people in to the event. PG Promise holds several community events each year to help raise money. Photo courtesy by pgpromise.org need to make them free and we need to have some way to measure what difference you’re making.” A two-year-old organization, PG Promise has helped maintain the five promises that sparked the movement in 1997. PG Promise helps initiatives take flight by providing funds for community projects without being concerned about who gets the credit. The main focus of the organization is the youth of today and how to help them build a foundation for the future. “No one at PG Promise is saying, ‘this is how we need to do one of the five things’. We’re saying, ‘let’s come together to do the five things’. Let’s look at that and see what best for our kids,” Paul said. “Our kids need to come first and PG Promise is promising our kids that we are putting them first in five meaningful ways.”
12 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.15.13
Substit
Substitute teachers share their Mallory Cox trn writer
W
hat happens when a teacher ge What about when they go on v have a meeting? Are their class hind, alone and teacherless? If i for substitute teachers, they wou Substitute teachers are th heroes of schools. When a teac sick or has a meeting, teachers on a substitute to swoop in and save the day. One of the subst ers that has been around the longest is Nancy Williams. “I started here at the high school as a substitute back in 19 taught art class until 1987, then went back to being a substitute said. When a teacher is unable to come to school, a substitute notified by the office, to see if they are available to step in and for that class. “Usually Ms. Bell in the office will call and tell me a teacher be out, and ask if I would like to substitute for them,” Williams s
Substitute Nancy Williams has subbed for 40 years.
FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 13
tute Teachers Step In
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Substituting is a great experience for Williams. She sees the experience as entertaining and rewarding. “I miss teaching art, but I love substituting,” Williams said. “I get to meet so many new students and watch them mature and grow up.” Lindsay Steele, a newer substitute, who has been substituting classes here since October 2012, shares a similar view. “It’s fun to get to know the students, and the hours are great,” Steele said. “It’s never dull!” Substitute teaching has influenced Steele in more ways than one. She has begun to look at teaching as her future career. “I’m planning on going back to school to get my Masters degree and become a [full-time] teacher,” Steele said. A problem substitutes have to deal with often is students trying to take advantage of the substitute. Some students think it will be easy to manipulate a substitute because they are not in charge of that class often. A common occurrence in a class with a substitute is students trying to get the substitute to let them watch a movie, change seats, and other things their normal teacher never lets them do. “Often I walk into classes and the first thing the children will say is ‘Our teacher lets us do this,’” said Joseph Nash, a substitute teacher who has taught as a substitute in Prince George, Petersburg, and Hopewell.
Substitute Lindsay Steele was a student of PGHS before becoming a sub.
“But if I don’t think it’s productive, I’ll say no, in order to get them to learn the proper way.” A priority of Williams is to never stray from the lesson plan. “You always have kids that will try and get you off track and say, ‘Oh, no, we don’t really need to learn that, we’re supposed to see a movie today,” Williams said. “I always tell them that whatever the teacher leaves in their lesson plans, I will follow. I don’t get sidetracked.” Under these circumstances, Steele advocates being firm but understanding. She believes that a sympathetic but unyielding approach will subdue out of control students better than being too stern. “It wasn’t that long ago that I was in school,” Steele said. “I get it.” For people who have to deal with unruly students as often as they do, these substitutes still find their jobs rewarding. “What I enjoy most about teaching is being able to influence and motivate young people to become better students, so they can pursue a good, quality education.” Nash said. “Society recognizes what is proper. I try to get them to have productive habits [in school] so they can get a proper education.” Steele finds substituting as educational as it is entertaining. “It keeps you sharp and on your toes. You always have a chance to learn,” Steele said.
Substitute Joseph Nash subs for
3 different
school districts. Photos By: Ridhi Patel
14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.15.13
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FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 15
Features
Dodgeball Tradition Continues
Tournament raises money for senior class Samantha Barton trn writer
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h e n people mention dodgeball they may think back to w h e n they were younger and played in P.E. class. This is not the case for the students at PGHS. The high school is holding their own annual dodgeball tournament. The annual dodgeball tournament will be held on Fri. Mar. 22 at 5:30 p.m. It usually lasts about 3 hours due to the fact that it is based on double elimination. Check-in is from 4:30-5:15 so teams have time to sign in and see when they play. All of the money that is made from the dodgeball tournament will go to support the senior class with scholarships, gifts, and the senior bash at the end of the school year.
“The teams are made up of students,” sponsor John Pelter said. “Students do have to attend school here in Prince George to make a team and we also have one staff team that will compete with the students.” Junior Mandi Cummings is one of the few students that played in the dodgeball tournament last year as one of the players on the team “All Dodge No Balls.” There team had a very different strategy while playing. “Our strategy was don’t get out until they absolutely make you, play till the bitter end,” Cummings said. Some of the students did not read the rules or did not think about looking at them, but there are things students will miss out on if the rules are not read. “We did not realize that if you got hit in the face with a dodgeball you were not out,” Cummings said. Many of the students are returning back to the courts to play again. They say that there going to be bigger, buffer and better. “Watch out for Don’t Feed The Cats,” Cummings said. A few seniors want to get involved because it is their last year to compete. “It is my last year of high school and I want to be a part of it,” senior John Clements said.
Some of the teachers have participated in past dodgeball tournaments. They have seen what it was all about and want to keep playing as much as they can. “I like to play to take out my frustration with all the students in the school,” Biology and Ecology teacher Jonathon Brooks said. Teachers are also playing as a motive to support the seniors. “I wanted to play to help my teacher colleagues support the senior class, and I thought it would be fun,” French teacher Marcia Edmundson said. Even if students do not want to participate they can still come out and support the senior class. “There will be an audience and the admission is three dollars to come and watch even if you’re not part of one of the teams,” Pelter said. The gym will be divided into different sections in which separate games will be held. “There will be two courts in the gymnasium playing at one time,” Pelter said. Many of the students from past dodgeball tournaments have made their own style while playing. The students use this style to show who they are and what their team is all about. There is no specific gear required, but students do have to dress school appropriate.
All Dodge No Balls played in last years dodgeball tournament. The team was composed of junior and senior athletes. Photo by Unique Larry. “The attire has to be school appropriate,” Pelter said. “A lot of teams in the past have chosen to dress up on their own. They make their own T-shirt or wear certain kinds of socks.” During school events or sports everybody wants to beat the other team. Teachers stress the importance of having fun and not becoming too competitive. “Every year it is a fun event, but when you play games people get competitive; they want to win,” Pelter said. “I have at times had to address certain individuals or certain teams, reminding them that this is a fun event.” Many of the students are getting out on the courts to have fun, but students can come out and support their favorite team too. The dodgeball tournament continues to be a popular tradition throughout the student body.
16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.15.13
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ampersand
Happy St. Patrick’s Day The Four Leaf Clover has been used in many a legends, and has been mostly known for bringing luck to its finders. Each leaf of the clover has a different meaning. The first is faith, the second hope, the third love, and of course the fourth being luck. The Shamrock, which is a three leaf clover, is the clover that is associated with St. Patrick’s Day, and is also a symbol of Irish pride and Christianity.
The History of St. Patrick’s Day: St. Patrick’s Day began in the seventeenth century as a religious holiday honoring St. Patrick, who was a founding patron saint of Ireland. Patron saints intercede on behalf of the Irish people to the gods. This day is traditionally celebrated with a feast and parades. Now it is a most famously known as the day to celebrate Irish pride and be merry with friends.
Man On the Street What Is Your Favorite Green Thing?
“My favorite green thing is mint chocolate chip ice cream because it’s good,”Sophomore Hannah Collins:
Other Fun Green Facts The legend of a leprechaun begins in Ireland. They are a type of faerie folk who have hidden a pot of gold, and if one should be so lucky as to find a leprechaun, the leprechaun would be compelled to give said person their pot. However, Leprechauns have a set of magical powers that they use to fool their captors and escape.
The Grinch is most famous for being the resident recluse in Whoville, whose heart grew three sizes, in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Now the term Grinch is used globally to describe anyone who lacks Christmas spirit. The Grinch is one of the most famous characters that represent the Christmas season. Shrek, the not so ordinary hero, is most famously known from the movie Shrek where the green ogre goes on a mission for Lord Farquaad to rescue Princess Fiona from the tower and the evil dragon. Shrek the movie was based off of the children’s book Shrek! By William Steig.
“Green apples are my favorite green thing because they are better than red apples, “said Junior Zac Hale.
“Dill Pickles are my favorite green thing because they taste delicious and are better than any other food,”Senior Harley Perkinson.
Design by Tiana Kelly
18 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.15.13
Container First Services www.containerfirst.com (804)748-8324 866-587-HAUL 333-B Industrial Drive Petersburg, Va 23803
A&E Gamer's Corner Sony’s precap for Playstation4
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he PlayStation 4 is literally the world's worst kept secret, yet the official reveal just seemed to make things more vague than they already were. One of my biggest concerns is with the controller, which was leaked earlier in 2012. It was rumored to have Alex Crowder a touch screen, which everyone thought was fake. Not even Sony would attempt to copy the currently struggling WiiU, right? Well, apparently we were all wrong. Though it might not sound that bad - I mean everyone uses iPods and smart phones and everything, so we're used to small touch screens. You're being ridiculously paranoid/being a Nintendo fangirl/just not coordinated enough to play with buttons and a touch screen! Now, I would like to propose a game to everyone reading along at home or wherever you are works too, I guess. Grab your nearest video game controller or something vaguely controller sized and grasp it as you would while playing your favorite video game. Make sure it's something that actually looks like a traditional controller, such as a PS2/PS3 or GameCube one. A Wii or WiiU controller will, unfortunately, not cut it for this. Now position your fingers over the buttons, like you usually would. Imagine playing your favorite game in a casual position when suddenly it starts rumbling and colors start flashing and all of a sudden you are prompted to quickly tap something in the middle of the touch screen. Considering that the touch screen is literally positioned in the middle of the controller (as it, not where the buttons are but honest to goodness in the center of the controller), you have to remove a hand or have really long fingers in order to even reach it. Try to reach the touch screen without moving your hand so much that you either drop the controller or fumble the buttons, probably sending your character into a pit
or an enemy's blade or anything like that. They haven't really revealed how they want the touch screen to be used, but considering the amount of games they have planned to be on both the Vita (buy a Vita) and the PS4, I'm going to hazard a guess and say a few companies are going to try to do something with it before completely dropping the poor thing. The controller also has a share button, in case you weren't feeling social enough. In fact, the PS4 is really trying to compete with Nintendo in making gamers "actually socialize" with strangers. You can allow people to spectate your games, and with Cloud gaming you can have people shouting orders at you (or you can shout orders at them) without them leaving the comfort of their home. While this may be great for some people, most strangers I meet on the internet (at least while gaming) usually like shouting at others or are in general extremely rude. Otherwise, all I got out of the conference was that: - Quantic Dreams made an old man face that was kind of pretty I guess (I was actually really disappointed by this; I was hoping for more details about their upcoming game since Heavy Rain is one of my favorites). - The PlayStation Move is just as useless in the future as it is today. - You should really buy a Vita. - EXPLOSIONS! CARS! GUNS! MORE EXPLOSIONS! Pretty colors? OH WAIT NO BACK TO GUNS! SCREAMING AND SHOUTING! BLOOD AND EXPLOSIONS! GUNS GUNS GUNS! DRAGONS! CARS! - Blizzard came out, announced
that Diablo III - a game that's been out for about a year or so now - is coming to the PlayStation 4. They then walked out, leaving everyone in the room pretty underwhelmed. - The controller has a power button! And you can pause and unpause your game! - Buy a Vita. Now. Sony commands you. You can even be a dragon. - Bungie made... something called Destiny. It looks a little like Halo except with less space marines - sort of. By that I mean you can customize the character you will never actually see since it's a first-person shooter. It's kind of pretty and most of it is blue tinged, if that strikes your fancy. Also there are aliens. No but seriously I really don't honestly know anything other than that about it, because they didn't really reveal any story details. They also didn't actually reveal the console, so I'm just going to assume it looks just like all the other PlayStations, which is a big black box. A tip for Sony though: next time take a picture of the actual system before having a reveal. That's what gets people really hyped. That's how Nintendo hyped the WiiU. All in all, I was actually disappointed by the reveal. It felt kind of vague and the controller just seems clunky and unintuitive. Maybe in the future they'll reveal more features, but this was their chance to get the community hyped up and ready to go, and they kind of botched it. Also, Sony really wants you to buy a Vita.
FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 19
Father Fights for Son’s Justice In New Film
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nitch”, starring Dwayne Johnson, is based on real events in which a son, Jason Collins, is accused of drug trafficking and sentenced 20 years in prison. However, he was not really the dealer, but was being used as a middleman for the drugs that were sent from his Roxy Sherrick best friend. This friend, however, was arrested prior to Collins and “snitched” on him. In order to reduce his sentence, Collins was offered a deal to tell the police other users of drugs that he knew, but upon his refusal to snitch out his friends, he is sentenced to the full jail time for his offense. Johnson, playing his worried father, promises to do anything in order to reduce his son’s jail sentence. Because he is the boss of a strong construction organization, his connections in high places allows him to make a deal with the state attorney to let his son free if he brings down a major drug lord by going undercover. The movie, in theory, was quite fantastic. However, the way that it had been carried out, I feel, could have been much better. The way it was presented as in the trailers was that it was a high-action movie with extreme suspense. However, there was about a minute total in the whole movie of the large, exciting fight scenes. They were towards the end, so the anticipation for them built to the point where they were a major let down when the scenes actually happened. The lighting was great, and the emotion that was shown from Johnson playing the concerned father was amazing. However, the movie had trouble grasping one’s attention until another worried parent was added to the end to help out Johnson. This movie had the potential to be great. I believe it fell short of the expectations simply because the way it was presented set a high standard that the actual movie could not meet. This was one of the many scenarios when the best scenes of the movie are shown in the previews.
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20 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.15.13
PhotoGallery >>RIGHT: Seventh grader Courtney Smith, and the cast of Godspell performs a preview of their upcoming spring show at J.E.J. Moore Middle School.
>>BELOW: Viewers walking through the halls could look at the artwork displayed in glass cases.
>>ABOVE: Senior baritone saxophone player JonRyan Campbell performs the piece called “Aces of the Air.” The band also performed “By the Rivers of Babylon,” and “Into the Storm.” >>LEFT: Students and children of all ages use potters wheels to make clay pots, available for the first time in Spring Fling history.
Spring Fling Showcases Fine Arts
FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 21
“Good luck Girls Soccer!”
The Daughters of Penelope Agave Chapter #224 Sc
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For more information, call 804.712.8616 or email DOP.Agave224@gmail.com Or visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Agave224
Green:
Abria Humphries Dianne Overstreet Lillie Bohatec Taylor Cowan Jeffrey Witt Roy York Art Club Sue Bell Monica Curtis Philip Jones Chris Romig Brittney Weidman Rebecca Thomas Clarisa Wilson Brian Burton Donald Newbold Melissa Face Kevin Moore Mr. Owens Megan Thomas Karen Miller Kandie Bradshaw Jordan Everett Brandon Howard Tiffany, Samantha, and Susan Howard Cameron Schwalm Kingsmen Softball Amber and Clint Pate
Best Wishes, JAAAT
Thank You Patrons!
The Dunn Family Lindsey Comer Anh Tran Joe Keeney Pooja Panchal Western Heights Baptist Kathy Alexander Teresa Clary ClaiborneRhodes
Patron: Mark Dailey Bryan Griffin Lynn Cummings Will Ricks Emily Gitchell Karen Webb Chrystal Barnwell Debbie Semien C. Brown Thomas Carwile Lynn Bland Carolina Bae Sue Keefe Dee Cristobal Kay Warren Shirley Ryder Iris Hardy Ronna Lackey K. McDaniel Justin Tyson Kristi Franchok Taylor Stevenson
Super:
William Havard Tracey Smallwood John Jones Sue Seay Stephanie Bishop Albin and Jeanine Majewski CrimeSolvers Patrick Dunford Robert Shumar Rock Church of Petersburg Jesse MacLelland Joyce Marshall Master’s & Sons Plumbing Quality First Carpet Cleaning Childress Family
Gold:
Roscoe Jones Kim Carneal Louise Thornton John Pelter Stream Team Tim and Janet Schwalm Deran Smith and Angela Pollard John Seay Sr. Harold Pugh The Wettstein’s Vickie Cosgrove S.B. Jones The McCoy Family Pamela Alley Daryl Phillips Marcia Edmundson Mrs. Simmons Cathy Dancy Wilda and Bill Sherrick The McCann Family Lisa Carrier Brian Taylor Lisa Taylor WHBC Barbara Shumar Julie Pugh Brenda and Johnny Smith Stephanie Poe The Nerds of C-Lunch Sarah Diaz Called to Worship & Praise Center Paula Pugh Jeff Darby Mararet Adams
22 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.15.13
Be sure to visit us before Prom!
Be sure to visit us before Prom!
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FRIDAY 3.15.13 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 23
Springsports
Seeds Contend for Ranks
Top tennis seeds compete to keep their rankings JoJo Taylor trn writer
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he match is tied, the Royals have advantage point. The server throws the ball into the air and the ball goes over the net with speed. Tennis is a game that has two opposing players on a court. The object of the game is to hit the ball over the net so the other opponent is not able to hit it back. There are also seeds in tennis, depending on the ability of the player. Tennis can also be played with partners. Tennis has evolved all the way from the twelfth century from the French game known as paume. Paume means palm and which is what the French used to play tennis with, their hands. The Royals have a top six for the boys and girls. On the girls’ side, the number one player is Melissa Tomlin. Elijah Golden is the top seed for the boys’ team. “It is a good honor to be the top ranked player,” Golden said. “I have played tennis for five years and have been on the team for three.” A player can lose or gain a ranking by
challenging someone above them. If the player beats the person above them, then they are ranked higher. “My biggest competitor on the team is Melissa,” sixth ranked sophomore Jessica Honaker said. “She works really hard to be the best.” The top six girls starting from number one are Melissa Tomlin, Olivia Willoughby, Jordan Thompson, Jasmine Lackey, Leah Johnson, and Jessica Honaker. On the boys side the top seeds are Elijah Golden, William Bonnell, Tyler Thompson, Ian Douglas, Devan Fishburne, and Tyler Thompson. They all earned this seeding after the seeding match held on February 22nd. Even though they play individually, tennis is still a team sport. Each of the top six players play against one another from the opposing team. After all the matches are over, the scores are adding up to determine the winner. “Dinwiddie and Thomas Dale are the toughest teams in the district because they are stacked,” senior Tomlin said. From Golden’s point of view Prince George is the toughest team in the district because they have really good work ethic. Tennis is a competitive sport that can get intense during practice. One always has to be on their toes during practice in case someone wants to challenge them. Especially being number one people are
Senior Eli Golden hits a backhand during a warm-up. Golden is ranked number one on the boys tennis team. Photo by Devan Fishburne. always trying their hardest to beat them so they can be on top. “It is exciting that I am the number one seed,” Tomlin said. “Olivia would be my biggest competitor on the team because she is the number two seed.” Sophomore Tanner Thompson feels good about being the sixth ranked player because it is only his first year on the team. Other players have been on the team before and have played tennis since their eighth grade year. Paul Cash is the head coach for the Royals. He has recently retired from teaching in the Prince George School District but was still given the opportunity to coach the tennis team. One is only allowed to challenge a player above them if the player has lost in a match. To keep their rank, they have to work hard and beat their opponents. If they drop a rank, then they have to work that much harder to earn and gain the rank back. “It makes me feel good being in the top six because I have worked really hard and have played for three years on the team,” Honaker said.
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT Jennefer Woodlief Softball
How long have you been playing softball? “Since I was four years old and I have been playing on varsity since sophomore year. I also started travel ball when I was eight.” Who inspired you to play softball? “My dad and my grandfather. My dad played baseball and my grandfather got recruited by the Yankees but did not play because he messed up his shoulder.” What have you learned in softball that will help you in life? “I have been on many teams throughout my career, and at each one I have learned the true meaning of teamwork. Everyone contributes to the game and no one person wins or loses it.” What do you do before a game to prepare? “I prepare mentally and do visual drills. I imagine myself on the pitch. Do you plan on playing in college? Where? “Yes, I am committed to North Carolina Wesleyan.”
Sports
Spring Calendar
Varsity Girls Soccer Schedule
Varsity Boys Soccer Schedule
Varsity Girls Softball Schedule
Thurs., Mar. 21 @ Hopewell - 6:30 PM Tues., Mar. 26 @ Dinwiddie - 5:00 PM Thurs., Mar. 28 @ Manchester - 7:00 PM Tues., Apr. 9 @ Meadowbrook - 5:00 PM Thurs., Apr. 11 vs. Thomas Dale - 6:30 PM
Tues., Mar. 19 vs. Henrico - 6:30 PM Thurs., Mar. 21 vs. Hopewell - 6:30 PM Tues. Mar. 26 @ Dinwiddie - 7:00 PM Thurs., Mar. 28 vs. Petersburg - 5:00 PM Tues., Apr., 9 vs. Meadowbrook - 6:30 PM
Tues., Mar. 19 vs. Maggie Walker - 5:00 PM Thurs., Mar. 21 vs. Hopewell - 6:00 PM Tues. Mar. 26 @ Dinwiddie - 5:00 PM Thurs., Mar. 28 @ Manchester - 4:30 PM Mon., Apr. 8 @ Clover Hill - 5:00 PM
Coach Roberts Hits Milestone Kristen Schwalm sports editor
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tanding in the third base line’s coaching box, head coach Mickey Roberts gives the signal for the runner on second to steal third. The throw is late and over the third baseman’s head. The ball ends up in the outfield and the runner safely makes it to third and goes on to score a run. Head coach M. Roberts has been coaching baseball in Prince George for 29 years. Roberts also coached football, but he got out of that seven or eight years ago to concentrate on a sport he has a passion for, baseball. “I’m glad I decided to only do one sport now because it is easy to concentrate on only one thing,” M. Roberts said. “I like baseball because it is something that I have always played. It has always been a natural for me.” M. Roberts has always had a passion for baseball and he believes that practice is an important part to improving. “I enjoy the practice part of the sport,” M. Roberts said. “It helps you get ready for the game. I like for my players to practice hard and hopefully it shows in their performance on the field.” Dedication plays a major role in coaching. Since this is Roberts’ 30th year of coaching, the dedication is present. “I’m dedicated and I put a lot into the baseball program at Prince George High School,” M. Roberts said. “I think it shows through all the baseball players that have come out of Prince George. We have a lot of guys that have been able to go on and play in college or professionally and even if they did not continue to play they still went to college.” M. Roberts reveals the worst part of coaching any sport is having to make cuts. “The worst thing about coaching is having to make cuts,” M. Roberts said. “It stinks having to tell someone they cannot play.”
With coaching a sport, the coach’s family time decreases during the season. However, Roberts’ wife, computer teacher Ann Roberts, is dedicated and supportive and is willing to help wherever needed. “She is very supportive and she does a lot to help with the program,” M. Roberts said. “She does anything from paperwork to helping with the different tournaments. She also helps with field maintenance. She is very locked into the program.” Roberts and his wife first met when he was playing baseball in college. There are many things A. Roberts likes about her husband and his coaching strategies. “I like his competitiveness and his aggressiveness with different plays,” A. Roberts said. “He’s fair and he does not want to embarrass another team is they are weaker than they are.” A. Roberts is extremely supportive of her husband and of high school sports in general. “I go to all the games and I like to support him and the sports teams,” A. Roberts said. “I love baseball. Sports are a big part of education.” M. Roberts players are proud and honored to have him as their coach. He advises his players to do well in the game and in practice, but he also gives them life advice. “He tells me to try my hardest and that I am only hurting myself if I do not do my best,” junior Brody Rotzoll said. M. Roberts has been coaching for 29 years and he is living his dream. “It’s just something I have always wanted to do,” M. Roberts said. “I played sports in high school and college. It was a natural progression.”
Varsity baseball head coach Mickey Roberts instructs one of his players on how to improve his play during practice. This is Roberts’ 30th year of coaching. Photo by Christina Buckles.