The Hi-Times November/December 2013

TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL

VOLUME 71 ISSUE 3

4125 Golden Wave Dr., Tupelo, Mississippi 38801

THE

HI-TIMES NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Bring on the blue AD proposes blue turf football field, gold track. PG10

#REDONE Tigers can swim for a while, but eventually they drown. PG10

INSIDE

50 PERCENT RULE HURTS SOCCER

From fat to fit

Bailie White @bailiew2016 Staff Writer

Teacher’s weight loss inspires school. PG4

THS SPOTLIGHT:

Mikky Ekko

2002 alum has a song on the new Hunger Games movie soundtrack.

PG2 Ekko

Be proud.

The best is yet to come.

Retweet!

Teachers, coaches use technology to stay ahead of the game.

PG9

KATHERINE GRACE

Kneeling with his head bowed, senior defensive back Antonio Clifton comes to terms with Tupelo’s 14-7 loss to Oak Grove at the 6A state championship game in Jackson on Dec. 6.

Golden Wave’s storied season comes to an end COURTESY

Student dance group races to ‘AGT’ Freshmen Preston Hooper, Cameron Jones and Carlos Campbell popped and locked their way to an audition in Atlanta. PG6

FOLLOW US @tupelohitimes VISIT OUR WEBSITE

Katherine Grace @katiegrace_14 Business Manager

A fake field goal denied a fairytale ending for Tupelo’s storied season.

“We didn’t see anything, and that’s why we didn’t cover it,” coach Trent Hammond said about the trick move that gave Oak Grove the lead in the MHSAA Class 6A state football championship game, which the Warriors won 14-7.

Still, the 13-2 Golden Wave has nothing to be ashamed of.

“It’s been a heckuva ride,” said Hammond, who in his first year at THS turned the team around from last year’s 4-7 season.

What started off as a season of maybes turned in to a season of definitelys. After defeating Lafayette County (36-21), Center Hill (27-3), Shannon (47-0) and Saltillo (29-10), students

KATHERINE GRACE

Senior running back Quinn Tiggs scores Tupelo’s only touchdown against Oak Grove.

See State PG6

High school soccer players across the state are being affected by the 50 percent rule.

Created by the Mississippi High School Athletic Association, the rule says that every sports team cannot have more than 50 percent of the number it takes to field the high school team on the same independent team during the same season of the high school sport. These Halbert independent teams include church teams, recreational teams and select teams.

Until this year, the MHSAA has had an exception for soccer. This exception was that they could not have more than five starters on the same independent team.

“The reason that exception was there was because, unlike the other sports, independent soccer plays during the school year,” Mark Halbert, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, said. “A lot of these other sports like AAU basketball, legion baseball, and some of these other things play in the summer where there are no restrictions.”

Last year, the MHSAA voted to remove the exception for soccer.

“Effective this year, soccer is like the other sports,” Halbert said. “The 50 percent rule applies to any players that are on the soccer team; more than five cannot be on the See Lawsuit PG10

thscurrent.com Scan here with a QR reader.

INDEX • NEWS.................................2 • FEATURES.........................3 • OPINIONS..........................7 • SPORTS.............................9 • ART&ENTERTAINMENT.....11

WHAT DO YOU THINK? How old were you when you stopped believing in Santa Claus?

67%

13%

Ages 13-18

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20%

SU RV EYED

Ages 7-12

Ages 1-6

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Students learn daily living skills LeShay Dixon @leshaydixon18 Staff Writer

Members of the Tupelo High School Daily Living Skills class are learning skills to help them in everyday life.

Teacher Genia Thomas has made it her goal to teach the students what they will need to know after they’re out of high school and on their own.

During Daily Living Skills, the students learn the basics of laundry and kitchen tasks, Thomas said, from sorting and folding clothes to making and baking their own food.

“This class not only teaches the basics of living, but goes beyond by also preparing them for the work force and jobs and how to apply them-

selves in the community,” Thomas said.

“We learn cursive and math,” student Samantha Curle said. “They show you how to cook and clean. I like Mrs. Thomas and everything about it.”

Heaven Walker agreed.

“We learn how to clean and cook, wash dishes, fix our food, and in our free time we draw pictures,” Walker said.

The students are separated into two different groups, based on learning objective.

“Skills we take for granted these students are learning and taking advantage of, because they will need to know this when they’re out on their own,” Thomas said.

BRETT ASHLEIGH BROOKS

From left, Sarah Grace Poole, Nicholas Gunter, Spencer Kirkpatrick and Dia Isby work together to make cupcakes in the Daily Living Skills class.

2NEWS

{

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013NOVEM

{ Band attempts run at state

WHAT’S COMIN’ UP

• Public Ice Skating @ BancorpSouth Arena Nov. 15 - Jan. 20

IN THE HALLS What did you think about the teacher flash mob at the THS-Warren Central pep rally on Nov. 15?

“It was really awesome!”

• Toys for Tots Drive @ Oren Dunn Museum Nov. 30 - Dec. 21

Mo Khalled Freshman

“The flash mob was interesting and very creative.”

• Madrigals Singe Feaste Dec. 11-13 • THS Basketball vs.

West Point Away JV boys 5 pm, V girls 6 pm, V boys 7:30 pm Dec. 13 • THS Soccer vs.

Hernando Home girls 5 pm, boys 7 pm Dec. 13 • Flea Market Dec. 13-15 • Second Quarter Assessments Dec. 13-18 • Varsity Basketball Tupelo Sports. net Challenge @ BancorpSouth Arena Dec. 14 • Crosstown Challenge @ BancorpSouth Dec. 14 • Christmas with the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra featuring The Nutcracker and Duke Ellington @ Tupelo Civic Auditorium Dec. 14 • Reindeer Romp @ Ballard Park Dec. 14 • 2nd Quarter Exams Dec. 17-18 • Christmas Break Dec. 19-Jan. 6 • Mac Mcanally & Paul Thorn @ BancorpSouth Arena Dec. 20 • National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Quote-along @ Link Centre Dec. 20 • Disney Live @ BancorpSouth Arena Dec. 22 • TPSD Parent Night: Understanding Your Child’s Test Data Dec. 31 • Formal Dec. 31 • Staff Day Jan. 6 • Classes Begin Jan. 7 • Second Quarter Report Cards Jan. 9 • Improvaoke @ THS Small Auditorium Jan. 10 • Martin Luther King Jr. School Holiday Jan. 20

Asia Hernandez Harris Senior

Members of the varsity band perform during halftime at a recent football game.

Meaghan Killian @MeaghanE96 Staff Writer

The varsity band marched its way to the top this season, but after dominating competitions in Tupelo, Booneville and Alabama, the band fell short of the state championship.

“We didn’t win this one, but it was a good performance,” band director Tim Matlock said. “The competition was very tough.”

The band started its journey at the annual Matlock Tupelo band festival Oct. 12, and ended at the state championships in Clinton on Nov. 2.

The band’s score at the Tupelo festival qualified it for the championships, Matlock said.

“The highest rating is one, and the (bands) will get a number and a rating and the highest number is a 100,” he ex-

Celebrating

100 YEARS OF Excellence

plained. “We placed ninth overall, but the percussion placed fourth and the color guard placed seventh.”

In this festival, 32 bands from around Northeast Mississippi competed. Tupelo competes in class 6A. The band could not place at is own competition, but they did receive all ones.

“I thought we did somewhat good,” freshman Anthony McGee said. “Our biggest rival would probably be Pontotoc.”

Band members said this year’s show was better than the previous one.

“More people understood the concept,” senior drum major Marquan McCoy said. “I think our biggest rival would be Olive Branch, and I think we did amazing.”

The THS band was also rated all superior.

“The show was good today and the kids were more focused, but they were also tired,” assistant band director Darius Fant said. “Every year

“It was funny seeing my teachers and making fun of them.”

KATHERINE GRACE

the show gets better and better. We are our own rivals and we have to be able to beat ourselves.”

“I think we did a solid run through,” sophomore percussionist Josh Blackmon said.

“Our biggest rival would probably be DeSoto Central. This year was way better than last year.”

The weekend after the festival, the band traveled to Northeast Mississippi Community College for the next competition.

“Booneville went really well as far as winning everything, but we could have had a better performance,” Matlock said. “We placed first in our class and first overall in band and drumline.”

Matlock hoped for a better performance in Phil Campbell, Ala. The band received all superiors at the Bobcat Classic on Oct. 26, winning Best in Class and Grand Champion.

The state contest, at Clinton High School, was the band’s last marching competition before concert season.

Paige Cox Junior

“It was so funny. Some didn’t know the dances!”

Tasia Glover Sophomore

“They could’ve done better.”

Taz Sanders Junior

“It was pretty cool, very unexpected.”

Sukhdeep Kaur Junior

“It was off the chain.”

Cole Magers Sophomore

DIDN’T SEE THE FLASH MOB? Watch it at

thscurrent.com

TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT:

Mikky Ekko

While in high school, Ekko began to grow and nurture his passion for music by his Katherine Grace involvement in Wave Con@katiegrace_14 nection. Anna Hill, now Anna Business Manager Sloan and the girls cross country coach, was Ekko’s partner e is going to be in Wave Connection. famous one day!” “ “He always had a beautiful April Jones, voice,” Sloan said. a former Wave Ekko not only participated Connection cho- in fine arts, but athletics as reographer, had no idea that well. A member of the 2001show choir member Steve 2002 THS Varsity Soccer Sudduth would go on to re- team, Ekko recalls that wincord music and perform at the ning the state soccer champi2013 iTunes Festival. Sudduth, onship taught him dedication. who graduated from THS in “I wasn’t always on the field, 2002, now records under the but we were all close name of Mikky Ekko. like brothers and we Although Tupelo is all worked incredibly famous for nurturing hard to get to state,” and producing popuEkko said. “Coach Porlar musical artist Elter, Coach White and vis Presley, Ekko also Coach Enis will always identifies with the be legends in my mind.

Northeast Mississippi Steve Sudduth, I learned a ton about 2002 town as a part of his dedication and hard roots and basis for his work from them and the guys music. “Mississippi taught me on that team.” perseverance and respect for After graduating from THS, my roots,” Ekko said, “I live in Ekko attended Middle Tennesthe city now, but I’ll always be see State University in Mura country boy at heart.” freesboro, a suburb of NashThe son of a United Method- ville. ist pastor, the Rev. John SudWhile in Nashville, Ekko duth, Ekko frequently moved began making himself known around the state. By 2000 to producers and artists. HowEkko’s father was assigned ever, through his determinaas an associate pastor at First tion, commitment and perseUnited Methodist Church- verance, Ekko has been able Tupelo, where Ekko’s family to “make it” in the music inremained until the late 2000s. dustry.

According to Ekko’s mother, “I think he took the difficulKaren Sudduth, Ekko showed ties that he encountered and a musical talent very early on let them make him stronger,” in his life. his mother said.

“I knew he had a musical Ekko’s first full-length algift,” Sudduth said. “He was bum will be coming out so good at manipulating vo- soon, adding to the four EPs, cals and improvising percus- or extended plays, and four sive and melodic surprises.”

H

Steve Sudduth was a member of Wave Connection at THS. Now he records music as Mikky Ekko.

singles that Ekko has previously released. His breakout single, “Stay,” which Ekko wrote, produced and sang with Rihanna, put Ekko on the map. The new Hunger Games movie soundtrack, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack,” features Ekko’s musical writing in “We Remain,” sung by Christina Aguilera, as well as his vocal abilities in “Place for Us.” Ekko remembers Mississippi culture as an important part of his life that shows in his music.

“I think it’s the respect I have for my roots that’s

COURTESY

pushed me to find a similar balance in my music,” Ekko said.

“I’m not writing country music, but I hope people who listen closely will feel that connection.”

Although Ekko is on a very packed schedule, he has no shortage of advice about the music industry, his experiences growing up and fame.

When asked for advice to give to seniors and those pursuing a career in the music industry, Ekko said, “Be yourself, and never forget your roots. Find yourself. Take risks. Never stop growing.”

3

FEATURES

R 2013NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

k about mob at Central 15?

Homecoming Queens

Tutors lead students return to reign to excellence over THS

Bailie White @bailiew2016 Staff Writer

T

upelo High School welcomed back former homecoming queens before the football team took on Grenada on Oct. 11. There were homecoming queens in attendance from 1953 to 2008.

The purpose of the event was to welcome former queens back to THS and to help reunite them with other queens and share their experiences of those exciting nights.

A recption was held in their honor in the gym before the game. Student Council sponsored this event by using the funds raised from selling THS 100 T-shirts and homecoming Tshirts. Student Council was also responsible for the parade and field presentation.

Barbara Reedy Prude was crowned as the homecoming queen on Robins Field in 1953.

Prude described her experience as homecoming queen as surprising and exciting.

“We had a parade, and we rode in convertibles around Robins Field, which was our stadium,” Prude said. “It was just real exciting. We had long antebellum dresses, which was the style at that time, and we had our chauffeurs.”

Prude’s escort that night was Jim Westbrook, who was the football king. He was wearing his

COURTESY

Homecoming queen Barbara Reedy Prude wore an antebellum dress during the 1953 Homecoming Parade.

football uniform as he escorted her.

The atmosphere and the excitement of football was what Prude was looking forward to most about this year’s homecoming.

Kim Roberts Huggins was the 1978 homecoming queen. This was her first time back on a Tupelo campus in 20 years.

“My favorite memory probably was the parade,” Huggins said.

“I loved the parade and the ballgame. It rained, but all in all, it was a great experience.”

Huggins’ experience of finding out she was the homecoming queen is one she will never forget.

“I almost fainted,” Huggins said. “That was probably the most exciting part of homecoming.”

Leslie Gibens Burks was

BAILIE WHITE

From left, Kimberly Jeffares and Nikki Williams, who both were selected as the 2003 homecoming queens, visit at the homecoming reception. From the 1970s until 2009, THS students chose a white and a black homecoming queen.

TEST

RUNDOWN OF COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS

BY DELANEY NORTON, @delaneycnorton

The PSAT is the preliminary SAT test, also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying test. It’s given the third Wednesday of October.

Although freshmen and sophomores are typically required to take it free of charge, only juniors are eligible to qualify for the National Merit scholarship.

crowned the 1983 homecoming queen.

“The whole experience was great,” Burks said.

She hasn’t been on campus since 2007 when her last child graduated from THS. Brandi Holliman Long was the 1990 homecoming queen.

“It’s a big honor to be chosen by your peers for anything,” Long said. “I just felt very honored and flattered.”

Long is the aunt of sophomore maids Katherine, Sarah and senior escort Kyle Holliman. She was Miss THS and Miss Tupelo.

She also made it to the Top 10 in the Miss Mississippi Pageant.

While Long was a student, she was a part of Wave Connection, Anchor Club and all of the music programs.

“My high school years were a wonderful experience, and really some of the best years of my life,” Long said.

As a THS alumni, she tells current students, “Don’t rush through high school. Enjoy every day and get to know as many people as you can.”

The 2003 homecoming queen was Elizabeth Livingston Johnson, whose favorite part was the “shock of it. I didn’t expect it at all.”

Johnson hasn’t been on campus since her mom retired from working here.

“There are a lot of new parts,” she said. “It’s almost high-tech.”

Arguably the most important standardized tests students will take in high school are the college readiness assessments, known as the ACT, SAT and PSAT. We all know the gist of them, but taking advantage of their consistent formats can bridge the gap between a decent score and a scholarship-winning one.

Senior Jimmy Stone has been named a Commended Student in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Commended students score among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the 2012 PSAT.

In September, THS senior Cemone Smith was named a 2014 National Achievement Scholarship Semi-Finalist.

More than 160,000 high school juniors from around the U.S. requested consideration.

Semi-finalists are the highestscoring program entrants in their region.

SAT Sections: Math, Critical Reading, Writing • Duration: 3 hours, 45 minutes • Scoring: Each section is scored on a 200- to 800- point scale • Highest Possible Score: 2400 • Upcoming Test Dates: 2013 - Dec. 7; 2014 - Jan. 25, March 8, May 3, June 7 • Cost: $50

PSAT Sections: Math, Critical Reading, Writing • Duration: 2 hours • Scoring: Each section is scored on a 20- to 80-point scale • Highest Possible Score: 240 • Upcoming Test Date: Oct. 15, 2014 • Cost: $14 (junior year)

The ACT and SAT are both used in the college application process to determine acceptance and scholarships, but the tests are slightly different in their content and scoring.

ACT Sections: English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (optional) • Duration: 3 hours or 3 hours, 30 minutes with essay section • Scoring: Each section is scored on a 1- to 36-point scale • Highest Possible Score: Composite score of 36 • Upcoming Test Dates: 2013 - Dec. 14; 2014 - Feb. 8, April 12, June 14 • Cost: $34

Although the SAT is more prevalent out-of-state, many colleges are now accepting the equivalent ACT score. When in doubt, check the prospective college’s requirements.

Although most students take either the ACT or SAT during their junior year and again during their senior year, retesting can always help raise scores. The limit to taking the ACT is 12 times, and there is no limit to how many times one can take the SAT.

Bailie White @bailiew2016 Staff Writer

Whether Tupelo High School students realize it or not, there are adults who are here to help them in their studies where they are struggling. These tutors are located in J building.

Retired English teacher and former HiTimes adviser Sherry McKenzie is now an English II tutor. She tutors 10th- through 12th-grade students who have not passed the English II state test.

After 10 years of teaching English here at THS, McKenzie came back to be a tutor for the school’s benefit.

“I feel a very strong commitment to helping Tupelo High School maintain that excellent score we have,” McKenzie said. “I just like being a part of knowing I can keep that score up and raise scores.”

McKenzie tutors on Monday and Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Her room is group study room four.

“I have just been retired for a year, and I missed students, so it really gives me the best of the retired world, because I only work two days a week,” McKenzie said. “It still lets me have that touch with students and lets me feel like I am still a part of THS without all of the meetings and lesson preps.”

McKenzie’s advice for students is to “take seriously the opportunities that are “I feel a provided by the very strong school” and not to commitment to “waste these four helping Tupelo years but instead High School use them to pre- maintain that pare for the real excellent score world.” we have.”

Anita Llewellyn, - Sherry McKenzie Algebra I tutor and English II Tutor part-time Village Frame Shop employee, taught at THS for 31 years. After taking a year off, she was asked by former principal Lee Stratton to come back and help students graduate. Her first year as a tutor, she only tutored seniors. Now, she tutors 10th- through 12th-graders who have not passed the Algebra I state test. This is Llewellyn’s fourth year as an Algebra I tutor.

Llewellyn loved math in high school so much that she majored in mathematics on a secondary level. She enjoys teaching students how to solve problems.

Llewellyn tutors these students on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. in group study room two. She has seven 45-minute sessions with five or six students in each session. The math sessions are held to five or six students because of the use of graphing calculators.

“There is more one-on-one that I have to give them,” Llewellyn said.

Since Llewellyn has been teaching and tutoring here for a total of 35 years, she knows a lot about high school students and what goes on at THS. “Enjoy every day that you are in high school, because I believe that these are some of the best years of students’ lives,” she said.

Llewellyn believes that THS students have the best support system offered by any high school across the nation.

“Students have teachers and coaches that love them and that want them to be successful,” Llewellyn said.

U.S. History tutors Bob Monroe and Jo Mark, along with Biology I tutors Debbie Kimbrough and Andi Hildenbrand, also tutor in J building.

Kathy Begnaud is also located in J building.

When students need to make up tests, Begnaud is the lady to go to. Her room is directly to the right as you walk into J building.

Going to Begnaud “helped me because there was nobody in there, and I didn’t have to be worried about being distracted by other people,” Sophomore Alaina Callens said.

The THS student body is very thankful for its tutors and the time each one contributes to raising test scores and ranking.

COREY KALISH

Kathy Begnaud helps junior Paige Cox with her school work.

4FEATURES

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013NOVEM

FROM FATTO FIT Jeramy Turner’s shrinking waistline inspires school Katherine Grace @katiegrace_14 Business Manager

W

hat started for AP U.S. Government teacher Jeramy Turner as simply eating right and exercising daily has turned into a story of motivation and perseverance.

It is hard to deny the amazing weight loss transformation that Turner has made over the past year.

Jimmy Stone, a senior in Turner’s second block class, said he is impressed with his teacher’s 190-pound reduction.

“He so enthusiastically embraces his new healthy lifestyle,” Stone said. “He gets excited about eating right and exercising. It’s hard to believe that he was ever overweight.”

Dramatic weight loss is becoming more and more common in popular media. People are shedding weight using a variety of methods. Weight loss surgery, nutrition programs, an increase in fitness and fast fad diets are the main four. Turner is proud that he did not have surgery, but lost his weight by eating healthily, exercising daily and making small lifestyle changes including baking homestyle fries instead of frying them and waking early in the morning to exercise at the gym.

Positive reactions from his family are what kept him going.

Turner remembers a time when his 7-year-old son, Nate, said, “Daddy your big belly is not in the way anymore. You’re losing your big belly.”

The main test for Turner though, will be maintaining his new lifestyle. As someone who has attempted lifelong weight loss many times before, Turner keeps to his routine daily, never taking a “cheat day.” But he has been faced with interesting obstacles and exciting situations.

“Maintenance has been rough,” said Turner, who continued to lose weight on maintenance and often endured jokes about him looking sick or ill. Although the jokes that Turner tells about himself are funny, they are also serious.

There are some major complications and drastic changes that the body goes through after one has lost a large amount of weight. Turner has not escaped these complications. His blood pressure has

dropped considerably since losing his weight, and he’s also experiencing trouble maintaining his blood sugar at a regular level – sometimes to the point where he feels like fainting when rising too quickly from a chair. Other times, his pulse reaches below 50 and is difficult to detect.

Through it all, Turner has also had many reasons to celebrate. In October, The Huffington Post published an article on Turner and his dramatic weight loss, which sparked a series of mostly positive comments.

His story continues to resonate with students and faculty alike.

“It’s inspiring to see him lose all that weight,” said senior Shelby Price, who exercises at the North Mississippi Medical Center Wellness Center in Tupelo where Turner works out. “It encourages me to stay in shape and eat healthily.”

Chemistry teacher Monica Rowe, Biology teacher Theresa Ware, Superintendent Dr. Loden and Human Resources Director Jim Turner have all begun exercising regularly at the Wellness Center in an effort to become healthier.

“I’m thrilled that our school is offering this benefit now,” Rowe said, referring to the free Wellness Center membership offered to Tupelo Public School District employees who have district insurance.

“Watching Mr. Turner’s transformation has also been an encouragement for me to get healthy.”

KATHERINE GRACE

U.S. Government teacher Jeramy Turner went from 367 to 177 pounds in one year.

SRI testing gauges students’ reading levels Delaney Norton @delaneycnorton Staff Writer

This past September, all THS students were required to take the online SRI reading comprehension test during their first block class. This test is one of the first steps Tupelo is taking to align with nationwide Common Core State Standards.

The SRI, or Scholastic Reading Inventory, is a research-based assessment built to benchmark the progress of students. Students receive results in a reading measurement called a Lexile measure, the highest possible being 2000L. The test is set up online and is accessible through students’ Haiku portals at set test dates. Students may choose what book genres most interest them before beginning testing, by the end of which a list of recommended books based on the student’s determined reading level becomes available.

In addition, more books on given Lexile reading levels can be reached at Book Expert Online (www.scholastic.com/bookexpert) or Find-A-Book

(www.lexile.com/fab). the online SRI assessHolly Gray, media spement is a computerGRADE LEXILE cialist, also assists stuadaptive test, where MEASUREMENT dents in finding books the questions are 800L-849L on their level in the THS dynamically presented media center. based on performance.

850L-899L “Right now we have For instance, when a an online catalog that student answers ques900L-999L will search your Lextions correctly, the test ile level for a range will increase in dif1000L-1024L of books,” Gray said. ficulty. Likewise, for “If you’re looking for every wrong answer, 1025L-1049L a specific book like the next question will ‘My Dog Skip’ or ‘The decrease in difficulty.

1050L-1300L Hunger Games,’ it will For example, the first tell the level in the card incorrect answer may College 1301L+ catalog. Also, we have drop the difficulty by a labels on the backs of hundred Lexile points. the books if you’re just browsing the This item selection process continues shelves. Almost all of them have the until the system establishes a strong level labeled already. We’re slowly level of certainty in the test taker’s transitioning to putting all the stickers ability. After a number of incorrect on there.” answers, typically around four out of The test itself is comprised of short 20, the test ends. Although the time excepts from a variety of texts. Pasneeded to take the test varies with sages include both fiction and nonficeach student, finishing the test typition texts. For each item, a new pascally takes around 20-40 minutes. sage must be read to determine main Although the SRI is sometimes used ideas in order to answer a multiple to determine instructional placement, choice vocabulary question. it has not been decided whether stuAccording to the scholastic website, dents’ scores will determine eligibility

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for certain classes as of now. Regardless, students will continue taking the test periodically to document their improvement.

As the SRI test focuses on individual improvement, student results were sent home Oct. 16 along with a proficiency target range for the end-of-year retake. The letter has suggestions to improve scores, one of which is to become more familiar with informational texts such as newspapers, informational websites and other materials with technical words and formats.

This focus goes hand-in-hand with Common Core, and will serve useful as teachers incorporate more close reading articles in their lesson plans.

SRI testing encourages students to challenge themselves with reading on their level. This serves useful for both students less experienced with information text and advanced students unsure of where to go from there. SRI tests properly expose students to the text complexity common in various occupations and academic disciplines, preparing them to smoothly transition out of high school.

R 2013NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

RINE GRACE

urner e year.

THE

5

FEATURES

Ex-education secretary to parents: ‘Do your job’ from Staff Reports @tupelohitimes

BOYS

KATHERINE GRACE

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Heart, energy of student section rides the Wave Corey Kalish @cdk1624 Staff Writer

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rock band), that is kind of what we sounded like,” Holliman said.

Along with the crowd and The Tupelo Boys cheering them on, the Golden Wave paved its way to a 41-7 victory.

Being a Tupelo Boy is not as easy of a task as one might think. To become a Tupelo Boy, one must be creative, weird, athletic, able to get the crowd involved, and most importantly able to have fun.

This year, seven skilled juniors began their journey in hopes of becoming Tupelo Boys next year. Carson Roberts, Reese Hester, Hunter Johnson, William Ikerd, Woody Goss, Garrett Hill and Mickey Sesin all painted their chests with a letter and represented for their school and the class of 2015 during Tupelo’s home games, a symbolic act that all wouldbe Tupelo Boys partake in before being awarded the prestigious role.

“All those guys are krunk,” Holliman said. “They are definitely a force to be reckoned with.”

upelo High School is renowned for its athletics and winning traditions, but a different element has risen to fame over the past decade. We are living in the age of The Tupelo Boys, and currently the 2013-2014 chapter.

The squad is made up of Kyle Holliman (the leader and the letter “T”), Matthew Miley (“U”), Hayden Buckley (“P”), Andrew White (“E”), Tay Walton (“L”), Jack Nance (“O”), and Daniel Purnell (“!”).

In case a Tupelo Boy is no longer able to retain his role or cannot attend a game or pep rally, there are also backup Tupelo Boys, including Luke Weeden (“O”), Jarrett Estess (“E”), Monte Warren (“P”), and Chase Cerniglario (“P”).

This year’s squad, rumored to be the best group of Tupelo Boys in THS history, remain the main hype and most anticipated performers at Tupelo pep rallies. Routines consists of acrobatics and hilarious skits performed with preBRETT ASHLEIGH BROOKS cision that can really The Tupelo Boys, dressed as elves, entertain at the Christmas-themed pep rally on Nov. 15. get the crowd going.

“The Tupelo Boys are the heart and energy of the stuAs the end of the football season is dent section,” Buckley said. approaching, THS will miss and reThe group is often mistaken as member the 2014 Tupelo Boys. cheerleaders, but its members con“This year’s Tupelo Boys were by sider themselves to be an individual far my favorite, and in my opingroup that works with the cheerlead- ion, the best squad THS has had in ers. many years,” senior Joel Baldwin “Our job wouldn’t be nearly as fun said. “They will probably be one of and exciting without the cheerlead- the many awesome things I rememers,” Holliman said. ber about attending Tupelo High On Sept. 27, The Tupelo Boys School.” made a surprise appearance at the It’s easy for a group of guys to Hernando game, taking the place of dress up and wave a flag around and the varsity band and bringing instru- act like maniacs, but the 2014 squad ments of their own. used their many talents and diverse The Tupelo student section went attributes to break the barrier for hog wild, and the guys were even in- this Tupeloan stereotype. These guys vited onto the field and introduced took their responsibilities to a whole as the varsity band during halftime. new level, and, as Baldwin said, their “If the average high school band spark and liveliness will leave a mark had a baby with Def Leppard (‘80s on Tupelo High School forever.

Parents should take a more active role in their children’s education, former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett told a group of educators last month in Tupelo.

“The schools cannot do everything,” Bennett said during the keynote address at the Mississippi Education Symposium. “Schools need to let parents know they are the adjunct faculty.

We’ve got to get that degree of en- BENNETT gagement.”

To parents specifically, “do your job,” he added.

Bennett, an education consultant who served as education secretary under Ronald Reagan, has long been a leading conservative writer and commentator on American education, culture and politics. He now works with Beanstalk Innovation, which merges technology with innovative teaching techniques in the classroom.

Today’s students are tech savvy and schools need to keep up. “These children are digital,” he said.

Bennett also spoke about college and career readiness, one of the tenets of the Common Core State Standards, “with emphasis on career.”

Bennett also said that good teachers can make a difference in students’ lives.

“That’s what we need to focus on,” he said, adding that something must be done to remove bad teachers.

The Mississippi Education Symposium, held at the BancorpSouth Conference Center, was co-sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Education and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves.

State Sen. Nancy Collins, RTupelo, also helped organize the event.

“I know we have to raise our standards in Mississippi,” said Collins, who serves as vice chair of the Senate Education Committee. “Where we are is not good enough.”

Collins, a graduate of Tupelo High School, also invited members of The Hi-Times staff to attend the symposium’s luncheon and a news conference with Bennett.

Student journalists who attended, along with newspaper adviser Ginny Miller and Principal Jason Harris, were Editor-in-Chief Ryan Murphy, Managing Editor Jordan Jones, Business Manager Katherine Grace, Assistant Editor Delaney Norton, and Assistant/Online Editor Ben Davis.

Want to be on The Hi-Times staff next semester? Pick up an application in Ms. Miller’s room in A131. Hi-Times meets 3rd block.

Looking for students with: • A good attitude.

• Unique personality • Good writing, photography and/or design skills.

6FEATURES

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013NOVEM

IN THE HALLS

Speed Limit dances to

‘America’s Got Talent’

What do you think about “No Shave November”?

“Yes, I am participating, and it’s cool.”

Nick Coggins Senior

“It’s a good thing just to see how long people would go without shaving. I would not participate though.”

Willie Ware Security Officer

“I think it is the nastiest thing that exists. Guys look better when they are clean shaven.”

Christian Henderson Sophomore

“Yes, I am participating. I feel like every guy in the school should if they have facial hair.”

Mickey Sesin Junior

“I think it’s nasty. And it makes guys look older than what they are.”

Valencia Wilson Senior

“For guys it’s OK. Girls need to shave.”

Tucker Sheffield Junior

“I don’t really got any facial hair to shave.”

D.J. Miller Senior

COURTESY

The members of Speed Limit popped and locked their way to an audition for “America’s Got Talent.”

Brett Ashleigh Brooks IG: @babrooks22 Staff Writer

The dance group Speed Limit, consisting of freshmen Preston Hooper, Cameron Jones and Carlos Campbell, popped and locked their way to an audition for “America’s Got Talent.” On Nov. 2, these students traveled to Atlanta to show a producer the talent that makes each of them unique.

“The show has awesome competitors,” Jones said. “I love to see what they all bring to the table.”

The students enjoy dancing to different genres such as hip-hop, pop and dubstep, as well as showing their stylistic innovation with edgy combinations and break dancing.

“We all have a certain dance we like best, but we all love the sport equally,” Hooper said.

The name Speed Limit was created to describe the rhythm and movement of the dances. Some of their moves are quick and jerky, while others are slow and more fluent. It takes extreme amounts of

KATHERINE GRACE

Carlos Campbell dances in the courtyard during lunch.

practice, as well as much dedication to be able to dance at this level. The students practiced every day for about two weeks to prepare for this audition. Though the boys know the footwork like the back of their hands, they are constantly working to improve their dancing.

“I came to love the sport,” Hooper said.

“This opportunity gave me a chance to

better my dancing, to grow and to learn from others as well.”

The students are working their way to the top little by little, beginning with the America’s Got Talent audition.

“The hardest part about the audition was I was scared we were going to slip up or something,” Campbell said.

The show gives members of all ages a chance to show their talent, and to take it to the next level. For this group, being a part of something as prestigious as this opportunity has been a dream come true for them.

“It was amazing, nerve racking and intimidating being in the waiting room with all those acts,” Jones said.

The students admire previous dancers on the show, and hope to be able to dance as well as they have. The students plan to pursue dancing as long as they can, and hope to extend the group to more members and new dance moves.

In and out of school, the teens not only focus on dancing, but have fun doing it.

They are dedicated to this sport and have their friends and family behind them, cheering them on.

Tidal Tech places third in BEST contest from Staff Reports @tupelohitimes

Tupelo Career Technical Center’s robotics team, Tupelo Tidal Tech, received the third BEST Award in the annual Mississippi Boosting Engineering Science and Technology Robotics competition held Oct. 18-19 in Starkville.

“The competition was exciting,” junior Austin Richey said. “We learned a lot. It is really good for you because you get good experience and meet new people and make new friends.”

The robotics team, competing for the first time, is composed of 41 Career Pathway Experience, Digital Media and Engineering students.

On the first day of the competition, the team competed in a marketing presentation. On day two, the team competed in the robotics competition,

trade show booth and marketing interviews.

Among a field of 22 teams, Tupelo Tidal Tech finished third overall for robotics as well as their notebook, presentation and marketing booth. Tupelo was seventh in the robotics category.

Tupelo Tidal Tech is mentored by Hunter Douglas, Cooper Tire and Career Technical Center instructors Amanda Gamble-Wood, Christy Jordan, Virginia Mathis and Justin Connolly.

The competition was held at Starkville High School in conjunction with Mississippi State University’s Bagley College of Engineering.

Richey said the robot took six weeks to build, with students working during class, after school and on weekends to complete their work.

“It had to pick up dowels, hang up hangers and do a puzzle,” he said.

COURTESY

From left, Mehul Patel, mentor Ted Chatham, Jonathan Clark and Austin Richey work with the Tidal Tech robot.

State Continued from PG1 and community members took notice of this year’s team. As the season progressed, and Tupelo kept winning, talk began of returning to the playoffs, and maybe even to the state championships for the first time since 1992.

Tupelo was tested by South Panola on Oct. 18, with the Golden Wave falling 14-8 to the Tigers in Batesville.

As the regular season ended (10-1), Tupelo entered the playoffs, defeating Warren Central in the first round (2017) and Madison Central in the second round (27-15).

Then talk of a rematch against South Panola at home began to surface among students.

Tupelo ultimately

KATHERINE GRACE

Played in frigid temperatures, the 6A state championship game was well attended by Tupelo’s formidable fans who filled the student section at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium.

played South Panola again, this time at home, for the North Half Championship game. The Wave trounced the Tigers 12-3.

That win propelled Tupelo’s return to the 6A State Championships in Jackson, its first

in 21 years.

Played in frigid temperatures, the game was well attended by Tupelo’s formidable fans who filled the student section at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. Also in attendance were the coaches

and players from the ’92 football team.

Tupelo effectively shut down Oak Grove’s offense, run by former Southern Miss quarterback and NFL star Brett Favre, holding the score to 0-0 during the entire first half.

As the game continued into the second half, Oak Grove scored a touchdown, which Tupelo promptly answered with its own TD. However, in the end it was not enough. Oak Grove resorted to the trick play in the third quarter. They lined up for what appeared to be a field goal attempt, but Oak Grove holder/quarterback Kirk McCarty instead passed the ball to an undefended Warrior for a touchdown with six seconds left in the third quarter.

Despite the loss, Tupelo’s defense held Oak Grove to a season low 14 points.

The Warriors also were held soreless for the first time this season in the first half by Tupelo’s defense, of which Favre said is “very good at what they do.”

R 2013NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

THE TEA PARTY A reason for government falter?

The debt ceiling crisis from a Republican

Tea Party ideals inherently flawed

Noel Morgan

Ben Davis

@THECaptMorg Guest Writer

@bsdavis4296 Assistant Editor

T

he Tea Party Movement is an organization with close ties to the Republican Party. I am not an ardent Tea Party supporter, but I do agree with many of its ideas and principles.

The Tea Party’s goal is to “bring awareness to any issue which challenges the security, sovereignty or domestic tranquility” of the United States. Its goals are clearly defined and, in my opinion, should be shared by all Americans.

Currently, the topics of the recent government shutdown and debt ceiling crisis are getting quite a bit of attention. They are closely tied to each other and must be addressed together. Both are potentially hazardous to the United States. If the president and Congress do not come to an agreement on the debt ceiling, then the government will default and the country will be at risk of attack.

All of this came about because of a government program and law commonly known as Obamacare. Obamacare, in my opinion, is an overreaching and job killing law that will not be good for the American people.

The Tea Party’s goal of fiscal responsibility and a return to more traditional values sheds much light on these two issues. The Tea Party draws from past leaders for inspiration, such as Ronald Reagan, who once said, “As government expands, liberty contracts.”

The Tea Party supports a small, limited government that is fiscally and morally responsible. Looking back further, founding father Thomas Jefferson said that, “Government is best which governs least, because its people discipline themselves.”

Members of both parties from both houses of Congress have made attempts at finding a solution.

But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) and President Obama were the three main players in the negotiations. The Speaker wanted to defund Obamacare. Reid and the president wanted to raise the debt calling. Both sides believe that their idea was the best way to fund the country.

The debt ceiling is the amount of money that the United States can borrow. However high our debt ceiling is is determined by how much total debt we can have as a country. Raising the debt ceiling is not a smart thing to do unless there are measures put into place that will allow the country to not have to raise the debt ceiling again. If we continue to raise the debt ceiling then we will continue to be able to grow our debt. That being said, the debt ceiling will be raised.

But looking at Obamacare, there are clearer options: defund, delay or partially fund. Personally, I think that we should defund it. However, as a realist, I recognize that isn’t going to happen. So, as I see it, Obamacare should be delayed and the debt ceiling raised with limits.

It is not a bad thing to raise the debt ceiling (raising it doesn’t increase our debt). However, it does not allow the Treasury to borrow more money and therefore indirectly increases our debt.

The Tea Party is against raising the debt ceiling without enforcing some measure of accountability to the American people. Raising the debt limit isn’t a bad thing, but allows the Treasury to continue borrowing money with no plans of paying it back. The only real way to fix this problem is to come up with a way to pay down the debt and limit how much the Treasury can borrow.

If the United States does not begin to work together, then we will be a nation torn asunder. The president and leaders in Congress need to start listening to the American people and remember who elected them. America still has so much to offer. I hope the president and Congress will begin to work together and change things for the benefit of the American people.

I am not the Tea Party’s strongest supporter. I think the way it does things is sometimes not well planned, but I do believe in many of its principles. Both parties are filled with good people that are working for the good of the American people, but until they can all work together, nothing good will come.

T

errible, totalitarian and treasonous – that’s what the Tea Party stands for.

The Tea Party is the single most damaging and insane political group to ever gain a footing in America. It isn’t a major political group like the Republican or Democratic party, although its members identify with the GOP. The party’s core tenets, reduced spending and lower taxes, are what have allowed the group to become popular. While lower taxes most definitely help in an economic recovery, reduced federal spending most definitely does not.

The type of tax cuts the Tea Party supports, massive tax breaks for America’s wealthiest individuals and businesses, would also hurt the economy by reducing federal income. The thought behind this policy is that reduced taxes for the rich encourages economic reinvestment.

However, in most cases this wealth is simply accumulated rather than reinvested, which hurts the market economy. This economic policy, known as trickle-down economics, is the group’s key tenet, and its hardline members say that this is the best method for economic growth. I find it absurd. This is due primarily to the fact that these tactics have been tried in the past (most infamously in the George W. Bush administration) and failed miserably.

Historically, America has been its strongest when the middle class is paid a wage corresponding to the economic goods it produces. The minimum wage could be increased to encourage this trend, but the Tea Party rejects any policy that increases monetary burden on America’s wealthiest, who have already done well by our market system.

The Tea Party supports a flat tax as well and is strongly opposed to the income tax. It sees this as a form of wealth redistribution.

Enacting these policies would increase the monetary strain on the already floundering middle class and would decimate the lower class. However, the Tea Party doesn’t think this would be bad; it also rejects social service programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare, and of course, Obamacare. Clearly the Tea Party is waging a war on poor people, not poverty.

The Tea Party is also renowned for (claiming) to love America while hating its government.

“I’m not in favor of abolishing the government. I just want to shrink it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub,” said Grover Norquist, founder of Americans for Tax Reform, one of the Tea Party’s staunchest supporters.

But what the Tea Party is most famous for is its systematic non-cooperation policies and asinine action in Congress. In fact, one mustn’t look further than the Tea Party’s website for its views on compromise. The Tea Party believes that the Government must be downsized, no deficit spending should be allowed and that any type of bailout or stimulus package is illegal. The Tea Party is so committed to these principles that it would rather have the U.S. Government default on its debt than see compromise made on these issues.

So when Tea Party members in the House tied Obamacare funding to the federal deficit, it wasn’t surprising. The new fiscal year, which began on Oct. 1, was the right’s last chance to prevent, or at least reduce the scope and size, of the Affordable Care Act. Tying Obamacare to the federal debt ceiling was the only way the Tea Party could get support from the more moderate right for a government shutdown. This was a clever tactic, I must admit, but one that is nothing but harmful to the average American.

Both the government and stock market are still recovering from the shutdown the Tea Party caused on Oct. 1. While the shutdown had little benefit for the American people, our friendly Tea Party representatives were able to make a political point. While the Tea Party does make the positive point of government over-reach, federal implosion is not the answer. While there are too many social programs costing too much that make too little sense, cutting of vital programs employing thousands of workers isn’t the answer.

Opinions

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7

OPINIONS

THE

HI-TIMES A STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Editor-in-Chief: Ryan Murphy Assistant Editor: Ben Davis Managing Editor: Jordan Jones Business Manager: Katherine Grace Chief Photographer: Corey Kalish Staff Writers: Rachel Bobo Brett Ashleigh Brooks LeShay Dixon Bethany Fitts Kaitlin Flowers Nathan Jackson Meaghan Killian Mackenzie Morgan Delaney Norton Bailie White Adviser: Ginny Miller See more news at thscurrent.com Follow us on Twitter @tupelohitimes Corrections The Hi-Times newspaper staff is committed to writing the most accurate and compelling news. We strive for integrity. If there is a misprint in an article, photo cutline or infographic, please tell us, and we will correct the mistake in our next issue.

Editorial Policy It is the intent of the editorial staff to provide Tupelo High School students with an opportunity to create a productive forum to further enhance a positive academic environment at the school. The opinions expressed on the editorial page reflect the feelings of the entire Hi-Times staff unless otherwise bylined.

Guest editorials may be submitted to The Hi-Times and will be published according to available space and relevance.

Anonymous submissions will not be considered.

8OPINIONS

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013NOVEM

GENERATION Y: SET UP FOR A LETDOWN Ryan Murphy @Ryanmurph12 Editor-in-Chief

My life as a high school student consists of work. Whether that work comes from school, my job or college applications, I face constant pressure to excel in all fields. Like most, I try to deal with the stress and move on, but this approach is hopeless.

After a peer discussion on colleges and writing portfolio requirements for art school, I began to wonder if I have what it takes to reach my goals. I have often heard from teachers and students that my writing is “great” and “intelligent,” but I question whether this is true. Sharing these comments I have heard is in no way a means to boast. It is my way of giving an example of something I find strange about the time in which we live.

In life, I want to write and change opinions – open minds. The definition of a dreamer, I strive to become whatever I want to be. In fact, this is a major trait of our generation – Generation Y. Although I will never stop being an idealist, I am beginning to realize that this could be a major hurdle in my life.

Members of Generation Y are born from the 80s to the early 2000s, and each have similar characteristics such as unrealistic aspirations, self-important personalities and a knack for technology.

The minute While I have all three, unrealistic we enter this aspirations come first in everything world, we are I do. This will not change anytime suffocated with soon, but it isn’t my fault.

The way Generation Y has been pleasantries, raised contributes to the problem. meaning for We were brought up hearing about most, our first our own uniqueness and our abilfew years of life ity to achieve anything we put our are nothing but minds to. Because of this, I expect to be hit with huge disappointment reassurances later in life and come to a realization of our own self- of what’s actually achievable for me.

The minute we enter this world, worth. we are suffocated with pleasantries, meaning for most, our first few years of life are nothing but reassurances of our own self-worth. These reassurances come from parents who only wish for the best. I know this, but still their best wishes have turned us into a society of naivete. We expect a great life, a great job, a great relationship, great everything. What if this isn’t the case?

Recently I heard a podcast on how Generation Y has been set up for failure, and I would have to agree. While I do believe the failure will be more of a letdown, a sense of disappointment is bound to occur. After high school, many will pursue a career in their chosen field. This is easy enough and education is a wonderful thing, but things may change.

A person might choose a different career path or might graduate with a degree only to discover that there are no jobs available. What many students fail to remember is that reaching dreams in regards to a career sometimes simply doesn’t happen.

People often have to settle for a job that pays just enough to live on. This is normal. Not everyone in the world is going to be famous or make it like they believe they will in high school.

Students must plan for a letdown.

I, myself, am guilty of the naive thinking I previously mentioned. I have always had this thought process, and I don’t believe it will soon change. This is how I’ve been brought up. This is how most of our generation has been brought up. I know that I am unrealistic, but I do not want to be any different. This makes me, me. While Generation Y is and will be struck down by the real world, it’s who we are. We are dreamers and believers.

As members of Generation Y, we may not be able to easily change, but we can prepare ourselves. Understand that unexpected things will happen in life and that life will be a struggle.

While we may each be special, this by no way means that we have a right over others to succeed in life. Generation Y is exactly the same as everyone else and will face the exact same struggles. We must accept our common characteristics and let go of preconceived notions toward the future.

NATHAN JACKSON

With 29 students, Suzy McGrath’s second block Pre-AP English II class is her largest this semester.

Class size affects students derstand things a lot better.

Having a big class causes a lot of trouble for me. I know that we have T-Period for tutorAs the year changes, students get new ing and clubs, so I could go to English or any classes and teachers get new students. I know class if I need help, but as I stated, T-Period is there will be classes that will be packed, but also for clubs. And because I am involved in a I will have a couple that are very small and lot of clubs, it is very difficult to go to tutoring during T-Period. not as stressful.

I also know that if I can’t go to get help I moved here from Huntsville, Ala. I have from the teacher, I can go to J building durbeen a student at Tupelo High ing lunch to go to Kathy BegnSchool for about two years aud. She is there to help everynow and the classes here are “I don’t like to one; no matter what subject she great but sometimes there are feel crowded in a will try. I’ve been there a couple classes that are very frustrating classroom, and I of times as a last resort, but it not only because of the type of don’t like how the can help when needed. things the teacher is teaching teacher doesn’t Most teachers don’t like big but the amount of people that have as much of classes because of the fact that are in the class. an opportunity they know that not all of the kids When you have a big class, to work one on will engage with the class, and it the teacher doesn’t get to know one with the is harder handling 25 kids comyour personality. She can’t com- students.” pared to 15. On the other hand, pletely understand what you - Leah Davis many students don’t care about have trouble with because she Sophomore the size of the class as long as wouldn’t have time to talk to they have friends in there, but you on the side to help you understand. Also, when you have a big class I some of those kids end up with not-so-good can be the type of student that is shy and just grades because they cared more about their sits in the back of the class getting confused friends in that class than actually paying atabout any given topic the teacher may talk tention to what is being taught.

I know that the school already has a limit about.

As a student, I deal with this problem every on the amount of students a teacher is supyear, and I always have a lot of other students posed to have, but they don’t distribute an in the only class that I will have to pay the equal amount of kids to each class so that one most attention to because I am having trouble certain class won’t get crowded.

“I don’t like to feel crowded in a classroom, with it. One prime example is this year in PreAP English II. My class has the most students and I don’t like how the teacher doesn’t have compared to the teacher’s other classes. The as much of an opportunity to work one on teacher is great, but the amount of people one with the students,” sophomore Leah Dain the class, plus the fast pace of the things vis said.

Big classes in this school are an issue that taught, can get confusing and misunderstood.

Last year when I had Pre-AP English I, the most kids don’t care about, but I personally class was very small, and I learned so much feel that it is an issue that needs to be fixed, because the teacher was able to help me un- especially in state-tested classes.

Nathan Jackson @_treehome Staff Writer

Current events important for high schoolers Kaitlin Flowers @_Smudged_Ink_ Staff Writer

As time progresses, students seem to care less and less about the world they live in. Most teenagers will argue that current events don’t affect them or that they don’t need to know what’s happening around them. This state of mind could be detrimental.

Students go to school to learn subjects that have been set in stone like grammar, mathematics and history; but there are new discoveries, laws and history being made every day. The only way to keep up is to take interest in current events. There may not be a grade for knowing about the rebels in Syria or what President Obama said in his latest televised speech, but the knowledge is just as important as knowing the differences between there, their and they’re; how to find the sine, cosine and tangent of a line; or what Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address.

I can’t help but imagine the students sitting in history class during World War II. They probably didn’t think students in the early 21st century would be studying their world. In 50 years, students could be learning about

what’s happening right now, and our generation will still be left in the dark.

While the sheer knowledge of current events is important, the application of that knowledge is just as critical. Students can’t respond to an environment they don’t know about.

Personally, I check the weather every day before I come to school so I know I won’t have a heatstroke when I go outside or wear a white blouse on a rainy day.

This can be applied to a number of things that come with reading the newspaper, watching the local news or clicking on a news website. Let’s say there’s roadwork being done on a major road in the city. I’d need to leave my house earlier to get to school on time. If I didn’t watch the news to find out about the roadwork, I’d leave at my usual time and be tardy for class.

This kind of application of knowledge is taught through current events, so students that don’t pay attention to them won’t be able to adjust when something seems spur of the moment.

Now, while knowing about current events and applying them to everyday life is critical, students don’t seem to realize their current lack of attention will affect them later in life. Many

BRETT ASHLEIGH BROOKS

Juniors Bri Jones and Rachel Rooney keep up with current events by reading the Daily Journal.

teenagers don’t care about the news because they feel like it’s for adults.

Even if that were true, old habits die hard. When students start their days off by watching cartoons, odds are that they’ll sit and flip through the channels to find their favorite animated series when they’re adults. However, by watching the news as a teenager, one is already acclimated to it as an adult; it becomes a habit to learn what’s happening and apply it.

Maybe students feel that things happening in another city, a different state or a foreign country can’t affect them because they’re too far away. But by not staying informed, they’ll never understand the true connections they have to people, places and events across the globe.

Students have the right to know about the world. They should have the heart and mind to know too.

R 2013NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

AN JACKSON

.

STATE CHAMPS swimming cross country

9 Bristow shines under pressure SPORTS

Corey Kalish @cdk1624 Staff Writer

BY NATHAN JACKSON, @_treehome

BY BAILIE WHITE, @bailiew2016

On Nov. 9 in Clinton, the Tupelo High School boys and girls cross country teams retook their first-place spot from Ocean Springs. The girls had five all-star runners, and to be qualified as an all-star, runners would have be in the top 14 in the state. “The girls ran great,” said Anna Sloan, head coach of the girls cross country team.

“I am very proud “Ocean Springs ran really well but we ran a little better.” “I had a of the boys. stomachache and I almost threw They worked up, but I fought through it behard for this accomplishment.” cause I knew I couldn’t give up,” sophomore runner Mika Taka- Jonathan Begnaud Boys Cross Country Coach hashi said. THS was 20 places ahead of the second-place team, which was Ocean Springs.

Sophomore Darnell Collier celebrated winning the championship in 16:11 with a front flip. “I was excited,” he said.

“I am very proud of the boys,” Jonathan Begnaud, head coach of the boys cross country team, said. “They worked hard for this accomplishment.” “I am glad to be a part of such an amazing team,” sophomore runner Logan Long said.

The Golden Wave has now won 11 of the last state titles in 6A and 5A, while the Lady Wave has gotten 12 of the last 13.

The Golden Wave flooded Delta State University and brought THS its first state championship of the year on Oct. 26. This is the swim team’s – boys and girls – third consecutive state championship sweep. There were THS swimmers in the finals for each event.

The girls placed first with 101 points, defeating Madison Central “Winning a state by 21 points, for their third state tichampionship tle. The boys came out on top with feels great. A lot 124 points, claiming their seventh of people can’t state championship. say they have Winning a state championship been a state “feels great. A lot of people can’t champion.” say they have been a state cham- Michael Ray pion,” senior Michael Ray said.

Senior The phrase “shred the gnar,” created by former student Ben Coggin, continues to inspire the swimmers.

“It means to go all out, give it your all, don’t hold anything back, just leave it all in the water,” sophomore Walker Fortenberry said.

Advice senior Lauren Bean gives to future swimmers is to “always do their best, always work hard, always give God the glory and just have fun.”

Teachers, coaches use technology to motivate players, update fans Nathan Jackson @_treehome Staff Writer

In today’s modern world, teachers are using Haiku and other technology, including social media, to keep students engaged in learning and better prepare them for the real world.

Twitter is one way for students to get information about their afterschool activities or the news.

Jonathan Begnaud, THS physics teacher, tweets to alert his science students when there is tutoring.

“Twitter is an effective way to get to my students quicker, and it allows you to remind them at a different time of the day when they normally aren’t thinking about school stuff,” Begnaud said.

Begnaud is also among the growing number of coaches who tweet.

When his boys cross country team is at away meets, he will tweet the team’s performance. This is quickly becoming one of the most popular ways to update students who have twitter accounts.

Keeping up with sports on Twitter is the new thing these days, with updates on your favorite sports team, ongoing games, and player information being some of the most popular tweets in this category. Due to this, many other THS coaches have embraced Twitter to provide valuable sports information.

Trent Hammond, THS head football coach, uses Twitter to show his team support and tweets inspirational messages after games.

“Tupelo Football played a VERY good

Laurie Bishop @lau

riebb

ishop Woke up today feeling incredib to coach @La dyWaveVB pla ly blessed yers. So proud of and thankful for ev ery one of yo u.

Trent Hammon d

@coachHam 67 Tupelo Footb all played a VE RY fb team tonigh t and fought as good WE>me! U wi a TEAM! ll be sore caus e tonight was a game!

Jo Jona nath than an Be Begn gnau audd @ It’s @tupelobegno

always a good Presley bike tra day to run the Elvis ils. Bonus: no to face in the spider webs winter.

Braden Bishop @

tbr

adenbishop Proud to work the Proud to teach re. the kids.

Proud to cove r them weekly.

Proud to say it...

#themblankets

fb team tonight and fought as a TEAM! WE>me! U will be sore cause tonight was a game!,” Hammond posted on Oct. 4, after the Golden Wave defeated Grenada 34-7.

Tupelo High even has its own Twit-

ter account, which is managed

by Braden Bishop, the school’s sports information director. He also started the “#themblankets” trend.

Bishop manages the themblankets account, which reposts every tweet that has #themblankets in it. Bishop also tweets words of encouragement to teams participating in ongoing competitions.

“When I grew up in Pontotoc, we used to play Tupelo in a lot of different sporting events, and of course when you are were getting beat, you want to make fun of the other team because you can’t beat them,” Bishop said. “So I remember talking to my wife and saying that Tupelo’s mascot doesn’t even look like a wave, it looks like a blanket. Then when I first started teaching here and told the story to my class, they said so them blankets beat y’all.”

While games are in progress, Bishop will tweet score updates and other information on his personal account.

Bishop’s Twitter habit has rubbed off on his wife, Laurie Bishop, tennis and volleyball coach. Although Bishop doesn’t tweet as much as her husband, she’s getting there with updates about her team, Bible verses, and how much she loves her husband being the most common posts on her account.

“Woke up today feeling incredibly blessed to coach @LadyWaveVB players. So proud of and thankful for every one of you,” Bishop tweeted on Sept. 8.

Coaches tweet for many reasons – to update, motivate and inspire. Whatever the reason, the Twitter trend has been welcomed at Tupelo High.

Tupelo’s starting quarterback, sophomore Daniel Bristow, definitely had some big shoes to fill at the beginning of the 2013 season. Quarterbacks before him include gifted players such as Chris Garrett (20062008) and Luke Hobson (2010-2011).

Bristow replaced Thom- Bristow as Harris, who started for the Golden Wave in 2012. After graduating, Garrett and Hobson are currently playing college football as quarterbacks.

This hasn’t hindered the confidence of Bristow, who towers at 6 feet 4 inches and weighs in at 185 pounds. Bristow can scramble exceptionally well for an individual of his size. He demonstrated this by rushing into the end zone for a two-point conversion during Tupelo’s opening game against Lafayette. He has rushed for 298 yards this season.

Speed is only one of the many assets Bristow brings to the gridiron. He is also an extremely accurate passer in and outside of the pocket. During Tupelo’s game against Grenada, he played extremely well and threw two touchdowns and passed for more than 250 yards. These are numbers that most high school quarterbacks can only dream of. Bristow also was selected as the MLM Clothiers Player of the Week for his performance in that game.

“He is smart with the football,” Center Nathan Cox said.

“He has good footwork, and when the receivers are covered, he knows how to get yardage by running the ball.”

He is not only a star quarterback, but he is also human.

Bristow was unable to play against Horn Lake due to sickness, so junior Alex Norwood took over and led the Golden Wave to a 17-7 win over the Eagles. Bristow also missed the 6A North Half title game on Nov. 29 when he had the flu. Norwood again stepped in during Tupelo’s 12-3 defeat of South Panola.

One would think being a quarterback of this skill would go to his head, but this isn’t the case.

“With me being so young, it’s sometimes hard not to be overconfident, but since I am a quarterback, I have a leadership role that accompanies my responsibilities,” Bristow said.

Bristow’s athleticism is a result of both natural talent as well as years of practice; he has been starting quarterback since middle school. A Friday night with hundreds of people watching his every move may seem nerve-racking to most people, but Bristow does a very good job of keeping his cool. Before every game, he has a music playlist that he listens to to pump himself up before running onto the field.

“I have to stay calm and keep my composure, game in and game out,” he said.

Daniel Bristow will have a bright future ahead of him if he stays focused and works hard to lead his team.

10SPORTS BRING ON TUPELO GOLDEN WAVE THE BLUE DROWNS SOUTH PANOLA TIGERS New AD wants

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013NOVEM

blue turf football field, gold track from Staff Reports @tupelohitimes

First-year Athletic Director Andy Schoggin has proposed the Golden Wave play on blue turf. The cost to replace the current natural grass field – if the Tupelo Public School District approves it – is nearly $1 million.

“It is a chance to stand out,” Schoggin said, calling the blue field, gold end zones and gold track a “bold design.”

Schoggin, who presented the idea to the TPSD Board of Trustees on Nov. 19, said the district hopes to raise $720,000 of the $935,000 cost by selling sponsorships.

Turf would increase use of the field, Schoggin said, to include soccer games and band practice.

C u r r e n t l y , Schoggin Boise State holds the patent on a blue turf field. Braden Bishop, THS sports information director, said Schoggin already has obtained permission from the Idaho university to use blue turf.

The idea has received mixed results. Comments left on the themblankets Facebook page have ranged from “Love it” and “Too sweet!!!!” to “Oh Lord no” and “No. Grass is green not blue.”

Coach Trent Hammond called the proposed playing surface a “wow factor.”

“Why follow a trend when you could set the trend?”

Hammond tweeted on Nov. 20.

Also that day, Golden Wave fan Greg Miley tweeted that “the blue is awesome & will set THS apart from not only 6A schools but all schools!

What an intimidation factor to opposing teams.”

Historic win changes tide for rivalry Katherine Grace @katiegrace_14 Business Manager

South Panola should have heeded the flood warning.

“I guess some Tigers swim longer than others, but eventually they all drown,” Golden Wave wide receiver Jarvis Wilson tweeted after the Golden Wave defeated the South Panola Tigers 12-3 to claim the 6A North Half Championship.

“We’re gonna beat the Wranglers off of Brett Favre in Jackson,” offensive lineman Nathan Cox tweeted.

It’s the Golden Wave’s first appearance at the MHSAA football state championships in 21 years.

“ONE MORE WEEK! UNSATISFIED!!!!!!” head coach Trent Hammond tweeted after Tupelo claimed the North Half 6A Title.

“WE JUST BEAT SOUTH PANOLA HOLY #THEMBLANKETS,” senior Kyle Holliman tweeted following Tupelo’s win over South Panola.

“There’s a new CHAMP in North Ms. @Tupelo High unseats the university of south panola #themblankets,” football coach Mike Davis tweeted Friday night.

The Wave spent its 2013 season with one loss, to South Panola on Oct. 18.

With the annual rivalry game versus South Panola approaching the following week support for the football team was magnified.

When the fateful day finally came, THS varsity football, students, and community fans rolled into South Panola prepared for the ultimate test of the THS football team.

THS held their ground through out the entire game, players exerted every ounce of energy they had until the final second, coaches made stunning calls for plays and fans left the stadium hoarse from cheering. Sadly, THS was defeated

by South Panola 14-8, making THS 7-1, 2-1.

After the loss to South Panola, fans and team members alike realized that THS varsity football cannot just coast through the football season.

As both teams continued to finish out the season, and eventually entered the playoffs, talk of the two teams re-

KATHERINE GRACE

Senior wide receiver Rodney McIntosh runs a play during the North Half Championship game against South Panola. Tupelo won 12-3.

KATHERINE GRACE

Holding the North Half trophy, Coach Trent Hammond gives players a pep talk following the win against South Panola.

uniting in the playoffs began to stir amongst the student body. Following the win against Warren Central and Madison Central, the dream of playing South Panola in the playoffs finally became a reality.

With THS out for the week leading up to the North Half game, school spirit was kept high by Coach Braden Bishop reminding students, staff and community members of how long it had been since Tupelo beat South Panola.

Prior to the North Half game, Tupelo’s last win against South Panola was in Batesville under Coach Ferguson in 2001. The last time Tupelo and South Panola met in the playoffs was the 5A quarter finals in 2007. South Panola won 28-21.

When the fateful day finally approached THS students and fans packed

the stadium to cheer on the Golden Wave. Soon before the game began, it was discovered that sophomore Daniel Bristow, the starting quarterback for THS, was at home with the flu. With tensions running, high pressure was placed on junior Alex Norwood, second string quarterback, to carry the Wave to victory.

During the first half tension between the two teams ran high and Tupelo’s defense held off the Tigers quick-paced offense. Near the end of the first half South Panola’s quarterback, Rip Kirk, suffered a concussion and was taken to the hospital. Although receiving a concussion is never a positive thing for a player, Kirk receiving a concussion gave the Tupelo defense an edge in the second half.

Senior Ashton Wedel took advantage of the edge that Tupelo had over South Panola by intercepting the football during the fourth quarter. Senior running back Quinn Tiggs then followed up with a 3-yard run for a touchdown.

With a previous field goal by the Wave in the third quarter, the final score was 12-3 Tupelo.

As the clock on the scoreboard rolled down to zero, the scene on the Golden Wave Field became one that many would compare to Hollywood movies.

Players cheering, some crying from pure happiness, fans storming the field and students hugging each other all because THS, for the first time in 21 years, was going to the 6A State Championship.

Lawsuit Continued from PG1 same independent team.”

“All our rules are to protect high school teams,” Rickey Neaves, MHSAA associate director has said, adding that this rule will not “ruin” independent or high school teams.

The THS soccer players involved in the lawsuit are Ben Alford, Boston Hampton, Val Lawson and Tanner Scoville. Also, there are 12 high school soccer players from Starkville High School involved.

“The athletic directors for Tupelo and Starkville went down there and met with the executive director, Don Hinton, and talked to them about it,” Halbert said. “He then invited them to come meet with the MHSAA executive committee and make their pitch on why the rule should be changed or at least delayed a year at the minimum on Sept. 4.”

This proposal was rejected by the MHSAA executive committee. Therefore, if these students want to play high school and club soccer this year, the only other alternative was to go to court. Otherwise they would have had to go through a legislative process, but if they were successful that wouldn’t be effective until next year.

“They declined to waive the rules for this year and study it further, so the rule is preventing independent soccer all over the state and preventing some from playing high school soccer because they are on a club team,” Halbert said.

Harris Faucette, THS boys soccer

Junior goalkeeper Keaton Halbert leaps for the save.

coach, had to hold another tryout this fall and cut some of those independent team players, because they could not all be on both teams.

The U17 boys TFC team has at least 10 THS students who made the high school soccer team in the spring. The U16 boys TFC team has seven students who had made the high school team.

“Not everybody tried out, it was just among those two club teams,” Halbert said. “That U17 team has 10 juniors,

COURTESY

so five of them are cut from the high school team unless they decide to play club soccer. They can’t play them both.

The five that fall within that 50 percent rule can play both.”

Lawson and Scoville were the two U16 players that made the high school team in the spring, but were cut because they play on the same independent team with five other boys who made the high school team.

Of the few that were cut, they had to

make a decision. Some of them have decided to not play on an independent team, which frees them up to play on the high school team, and some of them have decided to play for the independent team instead of the high school team.

The girls THS soccer team is not affected as much as the boys soccer team.

“My freshman group makes up more than those five players, so I have seven freshmen that play on the same team,” THS girls soccer coach Hannah Kimbrough said. “We did not having a second tryout; those girls are just going to play on different club teams. We were fortunate not to have as many girls that played on the same team. Next year it will affect us a lot more, so I hope it changes.”

The lawsuit was in federal court in the Northern district of Mississippi.

“There was a hearing on Oct. 17 to try to get an injunction against the rule and that would delay the rule until a trial or until the court ultimately decides,” Halbert said.

On Oct. 18, Judge Sharion Aycock ruled against the plaintiff and determined not to issue a preliminary injunction.

“Although better alternatives may exist, the MHSAA is not required to choose the least restrictive method of achieving its desired ends,” Aycock wrote in her ruling.

“Obviously, we are disappointed,” Halbert told the Daily Journal. “This may be the end of our efforts, but it may not be the end of the issue.”

The second try-out roster is the roster that the THS soccer team will go by for the 2013-2014 season.

MOVIE REVIEW

HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE Ben Davis @bsdavis4296 Assistant Editor

BY KATHERINE GRACE @katiegrace_14 Weddings are a joyous time in many people’s lives. Two separate families coming together, little kids running around and celebrating and friends reuniting are reasons to make anyone smile and overjoyed. However, over the centuries, superstitions about the joyous ceremony have not only been accepted, but passed down generations and have become tradition.

1

The bride and groom should not see each other on the wedding day.

In the time period that arranged marriages were custom, the betrothed couple were not allowed to see or speak to each other at all.

During that time period, marriages were seen as a business deal between two families. The father of the bride would ideally have the bride marry into a wealthier family.

But, to avoid the groom thinking the bride was not attractive and thereby canceling the ceremony, the tradition of the bride and groom not seeing each other on their wedding day was established.

Some of today’s brides still keep the tradition to not see the groom, while others do not. Those who do, believe that the separation makes their wedding day more exciting and memorable.

2

The bride must wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.

This tradition began with a Victorian rhyme, which is supposed to bring the bride good luck through out her marriage. The “something old” normally represents the newlywed couple’s desire to retain connections to their respected families once they begin married life. Wearing “something new” represents the new union that will endure through hardships and struggles.

“Something borrowed” is a special opportunity for the bride’s friends, family, or soon-to-be family to lend her something special as a token of their love. For the marriage of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess wore a tiara borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II as her “something borrowed.” Finally, “something blue” is a symbol of fidelity and constancy.

Wearing blue on one’s wedding day began in ancient Israel where brides wore a blue ribbon in their hair to symbolize the promise to their new husbands.

3

The groom carries the bride over the threshold of their new home.

This tradition has some interesting superstitions and beginnings. In Medieval Europe it was scandalous for a woman to show excitement over losing her virginity. By the groom carrying her over the threshold of their new home, the bride avoided looking too eager. However, Western Europeans believed that if the bride tripped over the threshold of her new home, bad luck would fill her home and marriage. Therefore, both of these problems were fixed by the groom simply carrying the bride over the threshold.

Traditions are a central part of families during different holidays and special occasions. Some traditions are started from superstitions, some are started by mistake, and some have been traditions for so long that no one really remembers why they even exist. However, most can relate with the opinion that traditions are important to lives and cultures around the world.

Theater students live for the stage Kaitlin Flowers @_Smudged_Ink_ Staff Writer

It’s completely black. There are hushed voices, chattering and anticipating. The smell of hairspray and makeup fill the air. Then, just as a subtle metallic clanging hints that the curtain has been opened, the lights come up on stage.

There is no doubt about it, live theater is thrilling. But sometimes, people don’t realize why students find the pastime so fulfilling. For some, it is the prospect of a future career. Others find it entertaining.

“I guess I like the spotlight,” was Victoria Wise’s reason.

Wise has been taking part in theater for 12 years, longer than the majority of the Tupelo High School theater department members.

“We had a kindergarten play, and I was one of the two leads,” she said. “It was called ‘It’s a Jungle Out There,’ and I was a zebra named Stripes.

We had to go on a journey in the jungle to find the key to happiness.”

This was only the start of her interest in theater. Wise has been in more productions than she can count and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. She is one of two Sergeants at Arms for Thespian troupe 1949, and was recently a cast member in the THS theater department’s production of “Our Town.”

The Thornton Wilder play was performed Nov.14, 16, and 17 and directed by Lacey Carr.

Carr, who teaches Theater I, has only good things to say

The cast of “Our Town” takes time out to have fun between performances.

about the art.

The department is not, how“It’s another outlet for stu- ever, just about what Wise and dents to find out who they other students can get from are and what they acting. Much of want to do,” Carr “I’m very shy the fun is being a said. around people I part of something Despite her love don’t know, and and being able to for the attention I used to let contribute. that comes with “Be willing to people walk all being onstage, give it your all,” over me. When Wise said. “Don’t Wise has theater to thank for much I got really into go in thinking it’s more than ap- theater, I found easy or you can do my voice and plause. it (theater) when “I’m very shy became a lot you feel like it.” around people I more indepenAlthough thedon’t know, and I dent.” ater is all good used to let people fun, a lot of work - Victoria Wise Junior walk all over me,” can go into it, and she said. “When I it isn’t for the faint got really into theater, I found of heart. Anyone interested my voice and became a lot in acting should be prepared more independent.” to attend lots of rehearsals

11

ART&ENTERTAINMENT

Wedding Superstitions

R 2013NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • THE HI-TIMES

COURTESY

and learn lots of lines, but shouldn’t let that get them down. At the end of the day, theater can change lives for the better.

“It’s my place,” Wise said, “No one judges you because you’re a little crazy. Everyone’s a little crazy. There’s no place I would rather be than on a stage giving a performance.”

“I think you should just sign up,” Carr said. “We want to have you.”

Luckily for students, THS has a thriving theater department and one of four Thespian troupes in the state. Getting involved is easy. It all starts with an audition.

Each year, people wait for a certain film series to release another movie. First it was “Harry Potter,” then “Twilight,” and now it’s “Hunger Games.”

The one thing that all these movies have in common is they are very popular book series that became very popular movies and started the careers of some amazingly good actors such as Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe and Kristen Stewart.

After the ending of “Harry Potter” and “Twilight,” Hunger Games became the movie that everyone wanted to watch. Well, this year the second film of the four-part series “Catching Fire” was truly amazing.

The movie starts a couple of months after Katniss and Peeta won the hunger games, but their win started the uproar between the Capitol and the 12 districts. This also caused President Snow to want Katniss dead, since after she and Peeta won the hunger games, the Capitol decided to put previous winners, including them, back into the games.

I love this movie a lot because of the people in it. I like how they tried to include every important part of the book to the movie. I also liked how they show the movie from a different perspective, like the gaming room. They showed how it would look and what actions they would have done, which the author didn’t include in the book, but I am glad they added something different from the book into the film without messing the whole movie up.

My favorite scene in the whole movie was when Effie had announced people she had gained a bond with into the games once again. You could just tell this time was different from her than the previous year. The emotion the actress played just seemed like she wasn’t really acting, it look genuine. I think the casting for Elisabeth Banks as Effie was probably the best choice out of any others. She truly made Effie not only my favorite character in the book but in the movie too.

Overall, I think “Catching FIre” was the best movie released this year. I’m mad that I had to wait a whole year for it, but it was truly worth it.

Now I am just ready for the next film to be released, but I am going to be very sad when the film series ends.

Want to be on The Hi-Times staff next semester? Pick up an application in Ms. Miller’s room in A131. Hi-Times meets 3rd block.

Looking for students with: • A good attitude • Unique personality.

• Good writing, photography and/or design skills.

12ART&ENTERTAINMENT

AUTUMN ALBUMS

VIDEO GAME REVIEW

GRAND THEFT AUTO V

BY NATHAN JACKSON, @_treehome

ic’s VMAs and the return of some of mus with Miley Cyrus’ weird antics at the .

Gaga Lady and This year in music has been crazy, o, Katy Perry em, emo pop band Panic! at the Disc most influential artists, including Emin

Ben Davis @bsdavis4296 Assistant Editor

Have you ever wanted to rob a bank, steal a car, or even start a gang, but didn’t because of moral or legal reasons?

While it wouldn’t be a good idea to do any of these things in the real world, many Americans spend hours every day doing these things in the virtual city of Los Santos in “GTA V.” “GTA V,” designed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, was released on Sept. 17 to a very warm reception.

“GTA V” went on to become the quickest game to pass the $1 billion sales mark, breaking this barrier in three days, eclipsing the previous record of 15 days also held by “Call of Duty Black Ops II.” “GTA V” is expected to haul in even more sales as Rockstar ports the game over to the PC, Xbox One and the Playstation 4. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if “GTA V” broke the $2 billion sales mark, and handedly at that.

The game, which spent close to five years in development, is one of the most innovative titles to ever be released. Los Santos is based on the real city of Los Angeles. Like the real city, Los Santos offers a host of events you can attend separate from the game’s storyline, including mountain biking, hunting, skydiving, tennis, golf, triathlons, scuba diving, darts, races (land, air and sea) and many other activities, all in an open world sandbox format. The game, however, isn’t limited to Los Santos and continues in the deserts of San Andreas, a state based off of Southern California.

The game features four separate storylines that intermesh with as many playable characters that progress through the game. “GTA V” follows Franklin, a once small-time criminal who’s trying to make it big; Michael, an aging multi-millionaire ex-bank robber; Trevor, a maniac member of Michael’s old crew; and a fourth character, which is created by the player for use in “GTA Online.”

The main storyline opens with a bang; a prelude to the main events of “GTA V” in which Michael has a flashback of his original crew robbing their final bank as a team. Soon after, the game shifts to Franklin, who repossesses cars as part of an extortion scheme. The game’s main events begin to transpire when Franklin is sent to repo a car purchased by Jimmy DeSanta, Michael’s son.

While “GTA V” doesn’t offer the fast-paced instant action that other popular titles such as “Call of Duty” are designed around, it offers much more. The game can be slow, but it still includes fierce action and is the most emotionally investing title I’ve played to date.

Overall, I give “GTA V” five out of five stars. Frankly, I can’t find anything wrong with this game.

THE HI-TIMES • TUPELO HIGH SCHOOL • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

BANGERZ BY MILEY CYRUS Miley Cyrus is no longer seen as the little girl who played Hannah Montana. Everyone now looks at her as Miley Cyrus. The first single off the album, “We can’t stop,” became a summer anthem while her second single, “Wrecking Ball,” was an emotional ballad that showed the range of her voice. From her outrageous VMA performance to her recordbreaking music videos, Cyrus has become the artist to watch for this year.

TOO WEIRD TO LIVE, TOO RARE TO DIE

BY PANIC! AT THE DISCO

It has been two years since Panic! at the Disco released “Vice & Virtues,” the last album the group’s major songwriter, Ryan Ross, and bassist Jon Walker were on. Judging by the group’s newly released single, “Miss Jackson,” the group will probably give fans their best album yet.

PRISM BY KATY PERRY The hit singer is back and ready from her last record-breaking album, which is the second album ever to have five number one singles on the Billboard charts (the first being Michael Jackson’s “Bad”). There is a lot of excitement for her follow-up to “Teenage Dream,” but judging by the first three singles released from “PRISM,” Katy Perry won’t disappoint her fans.

THE MARSHALL MATTERS LP2 BY EMINEM Eminem is finally out with new music. The country has been waiting two years to see what he would release next. The first single released off his upcoming album was “Berzerk,” which brings a twist to the old style of rap.

ART POP BY LADY GAGA “ARTPOP” by Lady Gaga has been out for a while now, even though the sales show the people aren’t loving the album as much as Gaga’s previous two. I absolutely love the album and I personally think it is the best one she has released yet. “Gypsy” is my favorite song and another one of her motivational songs, following “Born This Way” on her previous album. Lady Gaga has now made me a true fan and supporter of her music.

MIDNIGHT MEMORIES BY ONE DIRECTION One Direction has released another album, their third in three consecutive years (“Up All Night” in 2011 and “Take Me Home” in 2012). The British-Irish boy band won Best Song of the Summer at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards for the album’s lead single “Best Song Ever.”

They performed their latest single “Story of my LIfe” on Saturday Night Live Dec. 7.

INFOGRAPHIC BY JORDAN JONES

ArtSpotlight: Alex Cayson

One who loves art, da Vinci, Pokemon Ryan Murphy @Ryanmurph12 Editor-in-Chief

This month, The Hi-Times begins a series featuring exceptional art students.

Art at our school is abundant. Many may not realize, but the art program is ever-present and produces real talent.

With four teachers behind the department, students are given the tools to excel and prepare for a future career in the arts.

One example of talent is senior Alex Cayson. Sitting down during third lunch, surrounded by some eight art students, Cayson and I discussed his art, his influences, and his love for Pokemon.

RYAN MURPHY

Senior Alex Cayson, shown here with his piece entitled “Stall,” first became interested in art in elementary school.

Q: You seem to have a huge interest in Pokemon. Does this translate into your art in any ways?

A: It could. I definitely wouldn’t complain if I got to be an artist for Pokemon.

One thing that’s cool is that they have trading cards, “Leonardo da Vinci was the first and I like to look at the art on those. That correlates person I started to me liking art. I’ve never liking a lot...The done any drawings of Pokethings he drew mon though.

Q: How long have you been doing art?

A: Since I started doing it in school, second or third grade. I liked it, so I just kept doing it.

Q: Do you have a favorite type of medium that you like to work with?

A: Not really. Recently I’ve been doing some stuff on the computer a lot, like digital art.

were ahead of his

Q: Do you a favorite type time.” of art (contemporary, abstract, realistic, etc.)?

A: I don’t have a favorite, but I’m not a huge fan of abstract. I’m pretty straightforward, and I just like normal things.

Q: Do you have a favorite artist that inspires you?

A: Leonardio da Vinci was the first person I started liking a lot. He was really good. The things he drew were ahead of his time.

Q: What’s your least favorite things about art?

- Alex Cayson A: It’s sometimes frustratSenior ing when you can’t move it from your mind to the paper and it just doesn’t translate the same, but a lot of things are sometimes frustrating.

Q: Do you have any advice for people who want to try out art?

A: Practice and observe nature.

Q: Do you plan to pursue a career in art, and what are your plans for

achieving that?

A: Yes, I do. I’m just going to keep doing art and see what happens. Hopefully something good will happen. I think I’m going to go to Mississippi State for art.

Q: Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve created?

A: I don’t know if I have a favorite. I know which one is the best. It’s of a hackie sack and a foot. It was at a foreshortening perspective, and it was an oil pastel.

After laughs and discussions on different art practices, the bell that concludes third lunch rang. Each art student that was present during the discussion is an individual with many different perspectives on life related to art. Cayson loves, and perhaps always will love, art. This love pushes him to pursue a career in the field, and it is evident through his pieces that the chance for success is great. Through the aid of the school’s art department, Cayson, and many like him, plan to bring a new look on art into the world.