September 24

the

Newsstreak

where every person has a story Volume XIC • Issue 2• September 24, 2010

Freeze Frame

Go Streaks. The first tailgate of the season began with the home game against Rockbridge Sept 10. Photo by Phillip Bannister.

News Briefs

AP teachers successful in helping students earn ‘5s’ Zach McDonnell staff reporter

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SAT tests and SAT Subject Exams will be available at HHS on Saturday, Nov 6. The registration deadline is Oct 9. Register online or with your guidance counselors.

Spaghetti dinner and Silent Auction for HHS career and tech ed programs on Oct 9. Tickets $5.

Christopher Newport University will be visiting Sept 29 at 8:30 a.m..

Ferrum College will be visiting Sept 29 at 1:20 p.m.

Randolph Macon College will be visiting Sept 27 at 11:30 a.m.

EMU will be visiting Sept 27 at 11 a.m.

Congratulations to journalism advisor Valerie Kibler for having been named the National Journalism Teacher of the Year.

Did I know during the school year we had a good group of kids? Yeah.” But did AP European History teacher Mark Healy expect that a whopping twelve of thirty AP European History students received the maximum score of five on their rigorous AP exams? Not quite—but he’ll take it.

Forty percent of Healy’s students earned a five on an exam on which only around 10 percent of students nationwide annually earn the highest score. But the number of five-earning students— no single-digit affair—is staggering on its own.

But Healy’s reaction is shockingly humble: “I guess it kind of reaffirms that I’m doing an all right job.” Healy de-emphasizes his own role when discussing the scores: “I knew we had done well. The kids worked hard. They really did.”

When discussing the past year’s statistics, he claims the students deserve all the credit for their remarkable scores.

The students beg to differ. Junior Raymond

Hyser contends that Healy deserves “quite a bit” of credit for his five: “He’s a fantastic teacher. He knew his stuff.” Hyser claims that Healy’s students “could ask him anything” and always receive a knowledgeable response.

Junior Ben Marks feels that Healy thoroughly prepared the students for the exam’s essays, including the Document-Based Question— colloquially known as the dreaded “DBQ”—by holding study sessions in the weeks leading up to the exam.

“Healy made it [the class] interesting, too” by enriching the content with his personal stories, Marks says. How much credit does he give to his teacher for his five? “All of it. Definitely.”

Healy’s crop of fives has made a splash among teachers, too. Dr. Raymond “Skip” Hyser, a history professor at James Madison University and the top reader for the AP US History exam, asserts that the extraordinary number of fives earned under Healy’s instruction makes him rank “among the ten best AP Euro teachers” in the nation. The information was announced at a recent faculty meeting and has earned him

See AP scores on Page A2

HCPS system does not meet AYP benchmarks Maria Rose editor-in-chief

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Sports Briefs

he 2009-2010 school year proved to have its fair share of challenges for the Harrisonburg City Public School system.

Though the system succeeded in helping students improve their SOL scores (according to data provided by assistant superintendant Mike Loso), the HCPS division ultimately fell short of meeting certain benchmarks required by the federal government’s No Child Left Behind program, a measure of accountability known as Adequate Yearly Progress.

School systems in Virginia must meet two sets of accountability standards: one by the state and another by the federal government, and both are based on SOL scores each school produces. The state standard, referred to commonly as Accreditation, is established by the state legislature, and reviews SOL scores. Within the state model, all test scores for one subject are combined, and the total score of all the students either meets a pass rate, or fails. For years, all schools that are part of the HCPS system have been fully accredited, meaning that they meet state requirements. However, a much more complicated and difficult set of standards is

The football team defeated Rockbridge in their home game on Sept 10, 34 - 13.

On Wednesday, Sept 15, the boys and girls cross country teams raced on their home course at HHS. Both the girls and boys teams won, with the girls top finishers seniors Tabea Zimmerman and Maria Rose, and the boys top finishers sophomore Jonas Zimmerman and senior Keith Thomas.

The varsity volleyball team won against East Rockingham High School, 3-2 on Monday, Sept 13.

Their next game will be Monday, Sept 27 at 7 p.m. at Turner Ashby.

AYP. AYP has 29 total benchmarks, or standards, that each individual school must meet in order to make federal requirements. Harrisonburg High School is the only school in the system to have reached all 29 benchmarks over the last nine years. But while an individual school may qualify, what is more palpable is whether an entire school division, like the HCPS system, has passed. If even one school in a system does not meet all 29 standards, then the division is not eligible for AYP. The 2004-2005 and 2006-2007 school years were periods when HCPS all eight schools in the system assistant passed. The 2009-2010 school s u p e r i n - year was one of seven school tendant periods over the last nine years Mike Loso that did not meet the standards.

Last year, our struggle was with the English subject exams.

“Not making AYP doesn’t mean we are failing,” Loso replied promptly. “We’re not a bad school system; we just didn’t meet the benchmarks, and we go into deeper explanation. And if anything, it was a close miss.”

It was, in fact, a very close miss. The HCPS school system did not make AYP by .22 percent, which can be traced down to the test results of less than five students in the division. “ We ’ v e developed a See AYP on Page A2

“There’s more to school than passing an SOL. Success comes from teaching students.”

newsstreak.com

Organization key element of this year’s goals Kavya Beheraj news editor

E

very year, principal Irene Reynolds draws up a list of school goals that she intends for the student body to follow. She implements and communicates them in ways such as spreading the word through the announcements every morning. She started off the 20102011 new year with a new goal.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Reynolds said. “ I decided last year that it was time for the school to take on the challenge.”

According to the HHS list of goals, “Students must master essential study and organizational skills before they can function as independent learners.” That is exactly what Reynolds wants to have students accomplish.

“There was so much

Coming Up: Homecoming and Renaissance Rally photos Cross country updates and coverage One act play previews Scary movie reviews and ‘How to watch a scary movie’ Teachers reminisce about being 17 Again Senior college application advice AP US History Williamsburg field trip Forensics and debate tournaments HCPS sponsoring wellness and fitness classes

disorganization in the school, people were losing important documents, misplacing homework papers,” Reynolds said. “I thought it was our duty [to teach students about organization].”

One of the ways Reynolds has focused on organization this year is stressing that all students must have a planner.

HHS planners are also

available and are only $3.

Another way is through assuring that appropriate materials are being used and that students learn correct note-taking skills. Also, a new focus on organization is in the daily program of all classes.

“If you’re organized, you can easily find the things [you need], but if you’re not, you’ll just have to dig through piles of stuff,” senior Abby Penaloza said.

Penaloza says that this year, unlike last year, teachers are stressing organization much more.

I n her classes, teachers are actively trying to get her to get the students to follow the new policy.

Penaloza does not think she is very organized. “[I am] sort of [organized],” Penaloza said. “Sometimes I’ll just put stuff off, I’ll organize it later on but not right at the spot sometimes.”

Reynolds believes organization is a very important skill for every student to learn and master, with many benefits. She believes if students are not organized now, then when they go on to college,

See Organize on Page A2

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Inside this issue

Hall O’ Fame.

AP U.S. History teacher Mark Tueting has created a ‘Hall of Fame’ on the wall next to his classroom to commemorate past students who have earned a five on the AP exam.

His cow, Bonnie, is pictured congratulating them.

Photo by Maria Rose.

Reynolds hopes to increase school attendance with new tardy policy Phillip Bannister editor-in-chief

A

fter the start of the 20102011 school year a new enforced attendance policy has taken effect.

The new enforced attendance policy has been designed to help students cut back on the frequent tardiness.

“If you are tardy five times in the first semester you will be fine, but if you are tardy ten times in two months you are going to need a doctor’s note,” principal Irene Reynolds said.

The consequences of violating the new enforced policies have changed slightly from last years.

“The consequences get to the same severity but it gives you a chance to succeed,” Reynolds said.

The enforced policy was conceived over the summer.

“We looked at data over the summer (how many students were tardy) and decided to start monitoring it,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds credits the enforced policy for an improved attendance rate already at the school.

“Attendance is always good at the start of the year, but this year it’s better,” Reynolds said. “We are giving the morning bell four minutes instead of six. It gives

See Tardy on Page A2

Jeremy Knapp leaves position at HHS to be principal in Franklin Maria Rose

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editor-in-chief

ssistant principal Jeremy Knapp was grilling steaks at roughly 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept 2nd, when a short phone conversation would turn his life around. He was phoning back a missed call, but the message awaiting him on the other end was pretty unexpected: “Would you accept a position as principal of JP King Middle School, in Franklin, Virginia?” Knapp’s initial reaction was shock—“I just tried to catch my breath; I was completely caught off guard”. Mind whirling, he answered that he would simply have to call them back again later.

He breathed. He waited. He called principal Irene Reynolds.

A few hours later, he accepted.

Knapp, who was beginning his fifth year in the Harrisonburg City Public School system this year, loved working with the faculty and student body. But while he was content with his current job, he also kept an eye out for any available positions as principal.

“It was time for me to move on,” Knapp said, on his acceptance of the new offer. “I wanted to also work as a principal, not just an assistant, and this was a good opportunity for me.”

Knapp first heard about the offer around the beginning of August, and started the initial interview process three weeks ago.

On Monday night, he was called back for a second interview. At this point, Knapp was tied in the running for the job with another person.

“It was so close that they didn’t even know who they wanted the day before they called me,” Knapp said. “I think part of what helped was the recommendation Mrs. Reynolds gave me, and I thank her. I think that gave me an edge.”

Reynolds was, in fact, the only

See Knapp on Page A2

IN PRINT ON THE WEB

Harrisonburg High School • 1001 Garbers Church Road • Harrisonburg, VA 22801 • 540.433.2651 •

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Tardy crackdown on tap From Tardy on Page A1 great.”

Enforcing the attendance policy was not due to any major attendance problems.

“We never had a big problem with our tardiness. The kids here are great. Sometimes they are just late like anyone else,” Reynolds said.

Attendance coordinator Jack Smith explains that the enforced policy is used to target the problem areas in our school day.

“What we’re trying to do is reduce the number of tardies, obviously; tardies have been a problem at the beginning of the school day and in between classes,” Smith said. “The most changes have been to the morning tardy policy so it wouldn’t happen anymore. For instance, oversleeping won’t be excused.”

Like Reynolds, Smith agrees that the problem with students tardies becomes an issue after they become excessive or chronic.

“Some things have become chronic, people over sleeping, if they become chronic than we require a doctors note if the student is sick or a note for an appointment,” Smith said. “We don’t want people to think it is impossible to have an excused tardy. We are simply trying to tidy it up.”

Despite the enforced policy the rules are surprisingly more courteous towards students. Every student is allowed six unexcused tardies, but if there is a seventh tardy, he or she will be reprimanded. Eight and nine tardies require one hour detention and ten and eleven tardies equal two hours of detention.

“If you actually look, the enforced tardy policy is more curious but the trade off is that you will have fewer acceptable reasons for tardies,” Smith said.

A copy of the enforced tardy policy can be found in the attendance office, or your student handbook.

Healy’s AP Euro scores reach record high From AP Scores on Page A1

him numerous accolades among Harrisonburg High School staff and students.

“I was embarrassed,” admits Healy, who says that his recognition unjustly takes away from the students’ dedication.

Principal Irene Reynolds “absolutely” sees Healy and his students’ achievement as a testament to the strength of the school, its teachers, and its students.

“We’re recognized consistently” for Harrisonburg High School’s performance on AP exams, Reynolds says, but she wants to give special recognition to Healy in front of the school board—as soon as she receives official news from the College Board, which oversees AP programs.

Unfortunately, no such statement will arrive, as no official ranking exists, explains Dr. Hyser.

“Is [Mr. Healy] going to be given an award? No. Is he going to get a letter from the College Board? No.” Still, Dr. Hyser is absolutely certain that Healy is one of the top-performing AP European History teachers in the country by default. “It [the number of fives earned] just doesn’t happen—unless you have a superb teacher, which Healy is.”

Kavya Beheraj - News A2

Note-taking skills key part of new organization plan Mark Duda page editor

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ote taking is something that is stressed in school from kindergarten through senior year, and is the primary form of studying for many students. With so many different types of note-taking styles, it’s hard to choose which type to use for certain tasks. It is no secret that organization is important to the administration this year, with the school trying to get every student a planner, and

good note takings skills are an- write a summary of the notes other part of keeping organized. to help synthesize the informaCornell notes are popular tion. “It forces processing of the whenever information needs to information three times by the be tied together to be under- time notes are finished,” Soenkstood. Cornell notes are taken sen said. by writing the information in a Compare and contrast notes column on the right hand of the paper, with overarching “[Cornell notes] subjects written in a column forces processon the left. They are best for “the study tool aspect,” ing of the infor- C a t h y said English teacher Cathy mation three Soenksen, Soenksen. times by the E n g l i s h The unique part of Cortime notes are teacher nell notes comes at the end.

After all of the notes are fin shed” taken, the note-taker should

i

are another popular type, especially for English classes, and can come in the guise of t-charts or Venn diagrams.

Outlining is most often used in science and social studies classes and is best suited for information-heavy lectures that don’t need to be tied together as well. Outline notes start with a letter, followed by a number subheading, and alternating between the two afterwards.

With the importance of organization a key to the school this year, note taking is just another form of how students can keep organized.

How to organize your binder: An inside look...

Have a notebook or planner

Have a pencil pouch

Plenty of pencils and pens

Folders to hold papers

Colored dividers by subject

Extra: clear plastic protectors to keep important papers, large calendar with fill-in boxes, post-it notes, to-do lists, headers, table of contents...

Knapp taking career to next level in Franklin, VA From KNAPP on Page A1 person who knew about Knapp’s application prior to Thursday. Knapp, feeling superstitious, did not want to jinx anything.

“I just had it in my head that I didn’t want to tell too many people,” Knapp said.

When he finally did break the news to the school (first the faculty, in an email), it was difficult. He spent his impromptu last day on Thursday, September 2nd packing up (“It’s a mess in here,” he gestured around his office), and saying goodbyes.

“It’s hard,” Knapp said. “I’ve watched a lot of these kids grow. I’ve seen them off to a fantastic start, and I want to watch them continue throughout the year, but I can’t do that.”

This hasty departure has also prompted kids whom Knapp has not had much communication with to speak up. It is the students, Knapp said, who he will miss the most.

“I’ve had students I didn’t know I had an impact on come up to me and say they’re going to miss me, and thanking me for helping them,” Knapp said. “And I will miss the nursery. They’re my babies”—

Knapp grinned widely and continued—“It will be hard to not have that place to relax and see these mothers and their children growing in school and life.”

While there is still some hesitation in his decision (“There still is—there always is when you’re leaving something you love,”), Knapp is looking forward to working as principal in a new environment. JPKMS, three hours from Harrisonburg, has about 250 students total—a much smaller size than what he is used to. However, he wanted to find a school that needed help, and Knapp felt that this was a place where he could put his experiences at HHS to use.

“Here, we’re dealt with numerous personalities and cultures, and there, there isn’t that much diversity,” Knapp explained. “But I can carry that knowledge over and help other groups have a close connection and get more parental support with the small town community.”

For Knapp, it will be hard to leave a place where he has established so many close connections and relationships. He feels that he has created a strong support network within HHS, and one of the things

he is most nervous about and most looking forward to is starting the process of getting to know people again.

“I’m scared to death,” Knapp said. “I’m nervous, but can’t wait to get to know a new group of students and teachers and work with them. I think I can do a very good job with that.”

Knapp will begin his second first day of school on Tuesday, JPKMS’ second day of school. Until then, he will be in and out of the HHS, finalizing papers and organizing different information. But even though Knapp has his own new school to think about, it does not make leaving HHS any easier.

“It will be hard to walk away from here, knowing this isn’t my school,” Knapp said.

“It will be hard to just walk away.”

To the students of HHS, Knapp leaves one final goodbye.

“Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and best effort,” Knapp said.

“Not all schools give their best, but in HHS, I know that you guys are always working hard. Thank you.”

And do not worry too much—he will be back for graduation.

School system working hard to meet AYP standards and the other is based on the pass rate. The From AYP on Page A1 participation, th

system where we can pinpoint exactly where and what we need to work on,” Loso said.

Here is how it works: AYP tests in two subjects: math and English. The student population is broken down into seven different subgroups: All students, Black, Hispanic, Limited English Proficiency, Disadvantaged students, Disabled students, and White. A student’s scores are then categorized into as many groups as the student fits into, and graded within that group. Each subgroup receives four scores—two for math, and two for English. One is based on

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29 benchmark is the graduation rate (for high schools) and the attendance rate (for elementary/middle schools).

One of the challenges facing this divided student testing is helping all the different groups pass.

“Say a child has free or reduced lunch; he’s in the disadvantaged group. Then say that the child has a disability; he’s are in the disabled group. And then, say that he is white; he’s in the white group,” Loso explained. “A student can be in multiple subgroups, so we have to make sure all students do well, and not focus on just one group.”

While the HCPS system did not clear the requirements, they do not have to face harsh punishments. That is not to say, however, that there are no consequences. ������� ��������������� “The public perception is a repercussion,” Loso said.

“We’re seen as a failing division for not making it, but we’re really not.”

However, if the HCPS does not meet the standards for the same subject two years in a row, then there are measures taken. In elementary schools, families are given the option to send their child to a different elementary that is AYP approved, and the original school pays for the transportation. After the third year of not meeting standards, the school must offer and pay for supplement schooling, or tutoring. All elementary schools in this division are Title 1 schools, meaning that money comes from federal grants to support the system, and this money is what would be used to pay for the extra support. In middle and high school, administrators must create a school improvement plan to come up with ways to improve the unsuccessful areas.

While Loso believes one cannot predict whether any particular school is more or less likely to pass AYP, he does feel that one of the factors is the ethnic diversity within the system. Since the subgroup divisions of AYP are based on, in part, race and language proficiency, it allows for a larger error gap.

“We do have a lot of diversity, and it is a challenge, especially with languages,” Loso said. “But that doesn’t mean we won’t meet that challenge.”

Another ordeal the HCPS system goes through is the constantly increasing rates of the AYP benchmarks. They change from year to year, meaning that each group of students must be consistently improving, in order to keep up with the standards. This was determined by the No Child Left Behind act created during the Bush administration, with a goal of making all students 100% proficient in school by 2013 and 2014.

“The pass rates go up each year by 4%, which is a huge margin,” Loso said.

While Loso agrees that having standards is a good goal, he appreciates the fact that sharing the same standards for all children is difficult to achieve.

“Standards shouldn’t scare anyone. If you don’t have them, you don’t have direction and you could end up anywhere,” Loso said. “We recognize that all students can study at high levels, and we try to get them there, but their high levels vary.”

Loso stresses that just because the HCPS system has an unusually high number of different ethnicities, that it is no excuse for not making AYP. “Because of our diversity, we might have to work differently, but that doesn’t stop us,” Loso said. “We recognize the different places our students are in, and we try to get them to the same levels.”

Now, the administration is working with teachers and faculty to help prepare kids for SOLs and other school subjects. Teachers constantly go through staff development, and specifically instructors who work with students of diversity. But Loso says that learning for the sake of learning, and not just to pass SOLs or meet standards is the most important thing.

“There’s more to school than passing an SOL,” Loso said.

“Success comes from teaching students and helping them learn, not just because of a test or standards.”

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Christy Stearn - News A3

A day in the life of...

Jim Stevens, Teaching Assistant

Antoine Sinclair, Resource Officer Years in subject: This is my first year.

Why did you want to be a resource officer?

Well, I like working with kids. I wanted to help them and help them with whatever they’re dealing with.

What got you interested in teaching? I originally went to college to be a teacher, but I always wanted to help kids. It’s a gift I guess.

What is your favorite part of your job? Preventing crime What is the worst part of your job? Seeing innocent victims get hurt What do you do on the weekends? I make and produce good music. I play with my dogs and spend time with my family. I also play basketball.

What is your favorite song? When it gets down to it by Fred Hammond What is your favorite food? Chicken and dumplings What is your favorite book? Anything by John Grisham What was your first job? I was bagging groceries at thecommissary on a military base.

What is your dream job? Playing pro basketball agan What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving

Katherine Stevens, CTE Supervisor

Years in subject: since January What got you interested in teaching? Initially, it started as a good part time job and I enjoy working with students.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Watching students get motivated to do things they like What do you do on the weekends? I hang out with my friends and I like to do stuff outside.

What is your favorite song? Lump Sum by Bon Iver What is your favorite food? The fajita burrito from El Charro What is your favorite book? Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi What is your favorite television show? It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia What was your first job? I did yard work for people in my neighborhood when I was in high school.

What is your dream job? Managing an outdoor adventure company What is the worst job you have had? stuffing envelopes for a bank; it was painfully boring What is your favorite holiday? The Fourth of July; I love being outside that time of year.

Years in subject: 35 Why did you want to be a CTE Supervisor? I want to help more students find what they want to do for their lives and careers.

What got you interested in teaching? I have always wanted to be a teacher or in education, it was just a question of what I would teach.

What is your favorite part of your job? The students, of course.

What do you do on the weekends? On the weekends, I am with my wonderful, adorable grandson.

What is your favorite song? Motown What is your favorite food? Everything! I just love food.

What is your favorite book? The Help by Kathryn Stockett What is your favorite television show? Law and Order SVU What was your first job? In a Singer sewing machine store; I taught sewing - competitive sewing.

What is your dream job? I’m in my dream job.

What is the worst job you have had? I worked in a drug store after college because I couldn’t find a teaching job.

Rhodes assists liaisons in guidance department Heather Hunter-Nickels

D Hard at work! New home school liaison Donita Rhodes settles into her office here at HHS. Photo by Paulina Rendon.

onita Rhodes is in the counseling office, but only on Wednesdays and Fridays when Yolanda Blake, an HHS home school liaison, is out interpreting for the district.

Rhodes, 49, is new to HHS. She is a licensed clinical social worker with an experienced background in counseling. As a liaison, Rhodes and her coworkers, Blake and Rick Castaneda, facilitate communication. They help people with language barriers, whether they are students or parents.

“She can provide mental health services in Spanish, and that is the biggest component we are excited about,” Castaneda said.

Rhodes is fluent in Spanish and was exposed to it at a young age; she spent kindergarten

Alumni Jim Stevens begins year as teaching assistant in math Luke Stephan

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staff reporter

very morning at 6:20 a.m., 24-year-old Jim Stevens wakes up, eats breakfast, and drives across town to HHS in his sister’s Mitsubishi Mirage.

He arrives at 7:20 a.m. and promptly takes his job as a teaching assistant first block with Tameka Burroughs in her classroom. Second block is spent with Joey Beppler in an English classroom, and third and fourth blocks are spent in The Blue Streak Academy teaching math.

Stevens graduated from HHS in 2005, and in 2009 from the University of Virginia as a business major.

After he graduated Stevens and his best friend from high school, Matt Sundquist, decided that before they went off to full time jobs, they would go backpacking in Europe. He spent all summer working for a local magazine, and in the fall they departed.

They landed in Turkey and went through Greece, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Albania, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Spain. Throughout the

three-month adventure, Stevens stayed in hostels and with friends he knew in Europe. He names his favorite part of the trip as his stay in Croatia, but says he enjoyed every bit of it.

In his free time he enjoys playing golf, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with friends. He also enjoys listening to an eclectic mix of folk and hip-hop, and names his favorite artists as Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers, and Gangstar. Stevens moved back to Harrisonburg, and in January he began to substitute for other teachers, later deciding that he wanted to be a teacher’s assistant.

Stevens likes his job, and describes the favorite part of his day as teacher’s lunch. He describes it as “good conversation,” a “place where the teachers actually relax,” and presumably revert back to human form, at least for a little while.

Stevens describes the hardest part of his day as fourth block. At the end of the day, he gets tired and said that it becomes harder to focus on work.

The best piece of advice he can give is “listen to your teachers, they’re probably cooler than you think.”

Attention junior and senior girls: Sign up to play in the Powder Puff Football game with an SCA officer Junior and senior boys: Sign up to be cheerleaders for the Powder Puff game

staff reporter

though sixth grade in a Spanish speaking school.

In addition to working at HHS, she also works as a liaison at Spotswood and Keister Elementary Schools.

“I came to HHS because they needed additional liaison help with Spanish speaking students, especially with female students during the times when Blake is out of the office,” Rhodes said.

Her transition has been smooth, though she has a lot to learn about working at the high school level since she was previously trained for teaching in elementary schools. She has found that the guidance office is very busy at the beginning of the year and that the school staff seems very caring about the students, knowledgeable in their fields, and hard working.

“I have noticed that students have to be very independent and responsible to be successful,” Rhodes said.

Stevens replaces Chapman as CTE teacher supervisor Xuyi Guo

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staff reporter

rom an early age, teaching has always been what Katherine Stevens wanted to do. Maybe it was her calling to teach, or perhaps it was due to the influence of a family of teachers, but regardless “[she] never thought [she] could do anything but teaching,” Stevens said.

After working at Thomas Harrison Middle School for the past 19 years teaching Family Consumer Science, Stevens has come to Harrisonburg High School as the new CTE (Career and Technical Education) Teacher Supervisor.

Stevens’s job comes in two parts: the mentorship instructor and the CTE coordinator for all of the CTE teachers in Harrisonburg City Public Schools. Despite having received a bachelor’s degree from Radford and a master’s from Virginia Tech, as well as having taught for 35 years, this job is new territory for Stevens.

Although she is still learning the job, Stevens already has a defined set of goals. She is passionate about CTE and enjoys working with all of its different disciplines, including family and consumer sciences, business, and technical education, such as HHS’s broadcasting program.

“I would like to promote CTE classes so that more students understand who we are and what we have to offer,” Stevens said. “I would love to see an expansion of classes but we would

have to see where interests lie.”

She would also be pleased if CTE and the core academic subjects (English, Social Studies, Math, and Science) could be considered more as one group. In a classroom setting, she wants her students to have as positive of a scholastic setting as possible.

“It is my responsibility as a teacher to have an environment where students feel safe, are happy to be there, and are excited about leaning,” Stevens said.

One of the best parts of CTE education is that it is connected to the real world. That is why for Stevens learning about CTE was virtually a no-loss situation.

“Even without a career, CTE could apply to my life,” Stevens said.

In addition to her passion for CTE education, one thing Stevens loves about her job is the students. Having taught at THMS before moving into HHS, Stevens has the opportunity to view the development of many of the school’s students.

“The coolest thing so far – since I taught most of the kids – is to see them again,” Stevens said. So far she has found HHS to be very different from THMS, as she finds herself in less of a classroom setting and students are in a later stage in their lives.

Strongly interested in the success of her students, Stevens has a message for the students of HHS: “Pay attention to what you’re doing now or it may come back to haunt you.”

Feichtinger-McGrath adds HHS to resume Anastasiya Kalyuk

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staff reporter

aura Feichtinger-McGrath, an ESL teacher new to HHS, has had experience in teaching for 12 years, and not only in the U.S. Her resume includes teaching in Poland, Turkey, and Ukraine Unlike many of the new teachers, she is not new to the Harrisonburg City Public School system. She has taught at Keister Elementary School, so she has known its alumni since they were little kids.

Feichtinger-McGrath firmly believes in public education. She thinks that all kids, no matter what language they speak or what ethnic background they come from, have the potential to learn and receive a great education.

That is why she created a Newcomer Program for students who did not know English.

“She’s really helpful and funny.

She also has a talent for remembering birthdays,” Ben Kurtz, newcomer Eng-

lish and Spanish teacher, said.

“Harrisonburg High School is great.

It’s a challenge, but the faculty, staff and students have been very welcoming,” Feichtinger-McGrath said.

She specializes in Linguistics, the study of natural language. Even though she is an ESL teacher, she does not know how to speak any other languages other than English.

“Laura is very committed and dedicated. She was a hard worker at Keister Elementary. She was very child centered and has a huge heart,” Anne Lint-

“Harrisonburg High School is great. It’s a challenge, but the faculty, staff and students have been very welcoming.”

FeichtingerMcGrath said.

ner, principal of Keister Elementary, said. Feichtinger-Mcgrath believes that what makes her a triple threat as a teacher is that her strengths include tolerance, ambiguity, appreciation of differences, sense of humor, and self deprecation.

Her favorite book is Master and The Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, (a Russian author) and Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.

She loves to read and would rather curl up with a good book than watch movies, although she does enjoy the occasional cable show. Her favorite comedy is Tosh.O, and she watched Ren and Stimpy when she was a kid, which was theequivalent of our modern day South Park.

She is looking forward to becoming a veteran at the end of the year, to see the community as a whole, reuniting with childhood friends she made, and seeing the students grow up and being able to say that she has known some of the students since they were kindergartners. She also anticipates getting to know some great kids.

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Emily Jamieson - OP/ED A4

Ground Zero: what our leaders aren’t telling us Zach McDonnell Staff Reporter

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believe that Muslims have the same rights to worship as everyone else in this country. Crazy, we know.

But amid this “Ground Zero mosque” debate, we feel we must say it. Everybody knows the early right-wing storyline: Muslims have no right to build a mosque at Ground Zero because it would upset the survivors and victims’ families whose loved ones died at the hands of the Islamic faith.

Once confronted with the issue of, um, the First Amendment, the argument shifted to: “Okay, Muslims have the right to build a mosque at Ground Zero. It just should be built somewhere else.”

Never mind that the “Ground Zero mosque” is a) not at Ground Zero and b) not a e

mosque.

Let us elaborate. The site is actually two blocks Should the mosque at from Ground Zero. The Ground Zero be allowed site is invisible from to be built?

Ground Zero and vice Yes No versa. Anyone visiting Ground Zero would have to walk hundreds of feet past a strip club and a betting parlor and take a right to gasp in horror. And hey, there is al100 people were polled. Poll by ready a mosque—Masjid Manhattan on Warren Olivia McCarty Street—two blocks from the proposed mosque!

Why the need for anoththan a mosque. Because the er mosque? We do not know, center is open to the public mostly because the “mosque” is (but has programs oriented not built to be just a mosque. toward Muslims) it is a place Park51—the building’s offi- where anybody can feel safe, cial name—is a thirteen-story have fun, and connect with the Islamic community center. It people around them. Park51 is includes a theater, a basket- closer to the YMCA than to alball court, a bookstore, a food Qaeda. court—because nothing says Of course, that is not what terrorism like a Jamba Juice— anti-Park51 advocates, includand yes, a Muslim prayer room. ing some Democratic politiBut clearly, Park51 is more cians hoping to win reelection,

66 34

believe. The fundamental problem with their rationale is that these Muslims—in fact, most Muslims—have nothing to do with al-Qaeda or any other extremist Muslim sect. In this truth lies the core of the outrage against Park51: Islamophobia.

This is not to say that everyone holding an antiPark51 opinion is an Islamophobe. But we are saying that the argument that relates all Muslims to Islamic terrorists is Islamophobic—and therefore wrong. In fact, the Sufi—a sect that rejects violence—leader of Park51, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, is in complete ideological opposition to the followers of al-Qaeda concerning the West and Islam’s role in the world.

Imagine if we considered all Christians the same as the guys who carry signs reading “GOD HATES AMERICA” at soldiers’ funerals?

But most of this is mere fact.

The question remains: do we think that Park51 should be built where proposed?

We do. We believe that Park51’s construction would be a reaffirmation of the American values—freedom of religion, minority rights, and protecting the persecuted. These values would be an affront to Islamic terrorists everywhere, and they are worth demonstrating to the entire world.

Park51 is relevant to our society, but it is not a problem.

Why cannot people see that they are being distracted from the real issues such as, oh, the economy? Afghanistan? That “Jersey Shore” is still on? We are standing on the edge of a double-dip recession, and Congress is on vacation until Sept 13. Why are we bickering over something that cannot even be helped? The point is, when Americans cease to discuss the USA’s true ills, everyone loses.

Do you remember the first time you fell in love?

Emily Jamieson photographer

I

was in seventh grade when I fell in love. With photography that is.

It was late summer when I walked into the high school to start the Summer Enrichment Program not

knowing that this workshop would change my perspective, and life. I sat down with my backpack full of sketchbooks, pencils, pens and an old camera, and mentally prepared myself for a week of art and photography.

Throughout the week Ron Ornstein and Jauan Brooks packed my brain full of information about cameras and how to take a good picture.

I soaked it up like Spongebob soaks up water.

We ventured out to the safari park and took pictures of animals, where I I took my favorite picture of all time. At the safari park, there is a petting zoo, why they have a pet-

ting zoo with goats and pigs in a safari park is beyond me. But anyway, there was a petting zoo I went into and found the cutest creatures alive - baby goats. I snapped photo after photo of the beautiful creatures, and finally it was time for us to leave.

Once we got back to the school we learned the steps to developing film.

Which you have to do in total darkness.

Let me tell you, to put a roll of film on a reel in complete and utter darkness is the scariest experience a photographer can go through. One little mistake and your whole roll could be ruined. But I learned quickly enough and my roll came out pretty good. The next step after developing our negatives was to pick our favorite picture. I looked at my negatives and instantly knew which photo I was going to develop.

I remember the smells of photo chemicals on the tips of my fingers. My heart would flutter with excitement, just form the scent. It was Iike – magic.

Magic that I have created with my eyes and my finger on a button. What I see

through my view finder is captured on a little roll of film paper – and with the right chemicals, that image comes to life.

The image that came to life in the darkroom that week was the picture of two goats poking their little heads through the fence. The fence created a frame, which I did not really know what it was at the time. I remember showing my photo to my uncle (who was a professional photographer) months later.

I sat there quietly as he just stared at it for what seemed like the longest two seconds of my life. Finally, he said, “You have a strong eye.” That is when I knew I had fallen in love with photography, and nothing in the world could replace that love.

There is a song called “I will never love you more” by Soko and during the song she is naming all the things that she loves more than her boyfriend. If I made up my own Soko song, I would have to say, “I will never love you more than the feeling I get when I see my photo appear in the dark room.”

Approach your senior year like your first day of school Maria Rose

What is the best part about being a senior? “[The best part about being a senior is] that I’m almost out of school,” said senior Olga Balthazar

“It being my last year, and getting to go to college. I get to move on and become an adult. I get to be more independent,” said senior Bianca Joiner “[The best part about being a senior is] getting closer to doing what I want to do for the rest of my life,” said senior Melissa McDuffee “[The best part about being a senior is] getting out five minutes early for lunch,” said senior Kait Arthur Infographic by Paulina Rendon

H

editor-in-chief

ere it is. Finally.

The culmination of 12 years in the public school system (or approximately 2,400 days, or 57,600 hours, or 3,456,000 minutes, or repeating ‘One-Mississippi…’ 207,360,000 times) has reached its peak.

I have gone through eleven running seasons, roughly 200 Newsstreak first drafts (and I would like to say that a solid 2/3 of them were on time), two musical periods, eight interesting school dances, and an innumerable number of tailgates, ungodly early AP point breakfasts for Tueting, and hours spent doing homework, studying for class, or panicking about said academic assignments.

Yes, aside from the astonishingly few hours of sleep I got through these past few years, I would consider my high school career pretty all right. And now: I. Am. A. Senior!

It all almost makes me sound… grown up.

But see, being a senior is much more than being a senior, and having done all these things does not make

me particularly experienced. And it certainly does not mean that I am in any way, grown up.

When I was younger and, if possible, smaller than I am now, I thought that high schoolers were so cool. Back then, being at the top of the school and having that kind of knowledge and influence was something far away and unattainable.

But now that I am actually here, it feels like a birthday. Sure, you might turn another year older, but it does not actually feel any different other than saying you are 17 instead of 16 (which is a big difference), or a senior instead of a junior (yes, fortunately there are no height requirements to graduate, otherwise I would probably fail).

People think that being a senior means that you are a big kid, that you are grown up. And you are, in some regards. You are given a lot more freedom, but with a lot more responsibility. For example, I can (finally!) drive to school in my own (sort of) car. But that also means that I have to be really careful on the roads, help pay for gas, and shovel the driveway at 6:30 a.m. if it snows.

Part of being a senior, aside from all the fun perks, is owning up to the expectations that accompany being

the oldest students around. It comes as no surprise.

But, that does not mean that I have to be a grown up.

Let’s face it: senior year is really our last year to be kids. I am planning on being a kid at heart for the rest of my life, but with time constraints and all that is to come in the years ahead, this is the last time I can truly enjoy having innocent, adolescent fun. And I am not talking about going to parties, or driving around late at night. I am talking about good, old-fashioned fun.

I am talking about playing on playgrounds and having contests to see how high one can swing. I am talking about jumping in leaf piles in the fall and building blanket forts.

I am talking about carving pumpkins and having lemonade stands and finger-painting and raspberrypicking and trampoline jumping. I am talking about being a kid.

I can do it; I can find a balance between being a responsible student and living up my last chance to be a child. Among all things, this is one of my top priorities: to enjoy my final year as a kid, as a kid.

Look out senior year. I’m coming at you with a planner in one hand, and crayons in the other.

Life would be so much better with homework slave Natalie Warner Guest reporter

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en fifty-nine. Eleven o’clock. Eleven zero one. I am sitting here at my computer, staring at a blank Microsoft Word document as the seconds sift into minutes. Necessary minutes. Minutes that could be useful. I could be learning a government vocabulary term, answering a question for my physics lab, or reading a page for English. Could be, but instead, I am panicking at the prospect of a last minute essay.

I am a practical, responsible person. Generally. But right now, I’m asking myself, “Self, how is it that you are sitting here, at this time of night, with enough undone homework assignments to keep you preoccupied through Labor Day of next year?”

It’s times like these when the pressure of juggling too many responsibilities pushes me over the edge, and I find myself in dark, uncharted territory.

Honestly, it is enough to make

me wish I had a homework slave.

There, I said it. I wish I had a homework slave. Don’t get me wrong; I value learning as much as the next high school student. I long to be the person who spouts critical bits of information at crucial times, like Nicholas Cage’s character in National Treasure. I want to be the classy individual who can debate government policies and order at a restaurant in fluent French. Truth be told, having a homework slave might really help me get there.

While I focused my attention on the subjects I love and understand, my slave would conveniently take care of the subjects that “leak.”

Allow me to explain. A littleknown fact about education is that some subjects leak out of your mind as soon as you learn them.

This results in a false sense of security; you’re sure of everything until you arrive in class the next day and discover a pop quiz waiting on your desk. By the time exams roll around, you realize you know less about the class than when you started it.

Having a homework slave would also allow me to “leverage” my learning. Leverage is a term that gets thrown around a lot in the financial world, but what it really means is that you accomplish something using someone else’s time and energy. Gone would be the fears of completing work for a class like “Bioethics Symposium” or “Impossible Algorithms, Revisited”. Instead of stressing and fretting, I would take responsibility for class attendance (something I am very good at) while my slave completed the actual assignments. You might be thinking that this smacks of academic compromise, and you might be right. Just keep in mind that since we’re talking about my homework slave, I’m supposed to benefit from his/her/its work.

Just thinking about the possibility of all this is enough to inspire and rejuvenate me for my next task. I think I’ll take care of this one myself and give my whole “homework slave” scheme a break…for now.

What stresses you out?

“Calculus and AP government stress me out the most. The calculus material is the hardest to understand. The AP government’s book is boring and the tests are hard.” - Senior Bao Pham “English is the class that stresses me out the most. I have always felt that formal essay writing is a weakness of mine. If I am not a fan of the current book we are reading in class, I find it very difficult to work up the motivation to finish. I always feel there is more work in there than any other class.” - Senior Drew Matthias “Nursing health careers from MTC is the hardest. There are a lot of vocabulary and skills you have to learn to become a nurse. There is also a lot of homework.” - Senior Monique Ware

“Having homework in general is hard because I have to juggle work and school. Doing homework at the same time is hard to do.”

-Senior Skyler Diaz Infographic by Christine Choi

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010 The Harrisonburg High School Newsstreak The Policy The Newsstreak is published by the students of Harrisonburg High School every month. Reproduction of any material from the newspaper is prohibited without the written permission from the editors. Advertising rates are available upon request.

It is the policy of the Harrisonburg City Public School Board to comply with all applicable state and federal laws regarding nondiscrimination in employment and educational programs and services.

The Harrisonburg High School City Public Schools will not discriminate illegally on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, disability or age as to employment or educational programs and activities.

Editorials appearing without a byline represent the majority opinion of the staff, but not necessarily the opinion of the adviser, school administration, or the school system.

Signed editorials are accepted from people on the staff, but are subject to editing according to published guidelines and policies.

Editorials may be edited for special reasons.

Letters to the editor are encouraged and must be signed and a telephone number must be given. Names may be withheld if the editorial staff feels there is a just cause.

The Newsstreak reserves the right to edit and may refuse to publish ads or letters deemed inappropriate, libelous, or obscene. Please drop your letter by room 444 or give them to any staff member.

Letters may also be sent to the high school.

Lauren Martin- OP/ED A5

DREAM Act could be key to immigration reform Staff Editorial

I

magine an illegal immigrant who came here with his parents as a child. He worked hard in school, worked hard in life, and then, slowly, watched his dreams shatter because of a technicality. In many eyes, the child did nothing wrong - it was the parents who brought him, and though none of the children are to blame, they may very well end up being deported back to their own now “foreign” countries. This is the very problem that the DREAM Act seeks to amend by granting tuition benefits, and opening up pathways to citizenship.

Witness Eric Balderas, a 19-year old Harvard Biology student who recently discovered he was an illegal immigrant the hard way, at airport security. While Balderas was allowed to stay in the country after intense lobbying, he, and many others like him, could be deported at any second.

As we see it, America gave you the ability to dream, now they should give you the opportunity to make it come true. While ethically it is the right thing to do, yes, there are still several cons associated with passing this sort of legislation. The amount of money being poured into the Act could leave many education systems hemorrhaging

money like California’s, while Mr. Joe Taxpayer takes the brunt of it.

Besides, why give an illegal a free ride when legal residents and foreign students have to pay full fair?

Granted, most illegal immigrants won’t be attending Harvard. However, it would be more than prudent to invest in the futures of these young adults, most of whom will go on to be successful young professionals, as well as taxpayers. In the long term, these college graduates will, more than likely, net more than was

spent on sending them to school.

The kids targeted by the DREAM Act graduated high school, learned our language, and not only assimilated, but excelled in our society. They should be rewarded with amnesty, not condemned with deportation.

We need to ask ourselves what exactly we would accomplish barring these kids from climbing the socioeconomic ladder? The answer would be nothing. Passing the Act would not only give these young adults a much needed opportunity, but may very well decrease the amount of crime burgeoning from this particular sector by handing out opportunities to accomplish something.

Though, yes, it will create yet another incentive for immigrants to enter this country illegally, this quandary should be pulled to the back and the DREAM Act should be viewed as a much needed step in immigration reform. As of now, both sides of the aisle are stepping up and realizing the potential that this legislation has. The U.S. has always been viewed as the land of opportunity, and the Act simply enforces this axiom. After all, isn’t self-determination the essence of America?

Section Editors: News - Maria Rose Opinion - Lauren Martin Style - Christine Choi Feature - Aidan Newcity Sports - Vanessa Ehrenpreis

Space Jam ‘10 The cool concept of having a space-theme homecoming is new and innovative! We love the idea of the black lights being used for the dance!

Red Sea Tailgating

Business Manager: Savanah Cary Photographers: Emily Jamieson, Maria Rose, Paulina Rendon, Olivia McCarty, Phillip Bannister, Anastasiya Kalyuk, Aidan Newcity

cartoon by Emily Knupp

Cartoonist: Emily Knupp

Oprah inspires senior to live to fullest potential Lauren Martin ads/business manager fun director

I

like to think of life as being millions of moments compiled into one long lifetime.

Each individual moment is what shapes us into the people we will eventually become, whether that be a noble peace prize winner or a customer service representative at Wal-Mart. Our journey is the important piece; our journey is what gets us there. We cannot skip the hard moments, we cannot fast forward to better days.

We must acknowledge the rough patches, push through them, and keep moving.

I have always held strong belief in this specific philosophy. I believe things happen for a reason so you can learn and grow as a person. Yet in hindsight it seems I have always divvied my philosophy out opposed to keeping it close to home. I was always the voice of reason to those around

me. To be honest it never occurred to me that the day would come when my personal anecdote would transform into a sort of personal pacifier.

You see, change is a funny concept. It is always there, lurking in the shadows waiting to consume an unsuspecting passerby. I, being the ultra prepared individual I am, always have a flashlight tucked in my pocket. Change may be relentless but I am, like I said, ultra prepared.

Up until a few months ago, that is.

Life has taken me on some wild rides recently. There were trials, tribulations... a lot of them, actually. It seemed so much I had worked to obtain and maintain was like sand through my fingers.

I felt tested, observed by the powers that be. There were days that were hard to endure. There were days I thought I had reached my breaking point. There were days where I found myself questioning so much and yet finding no comfort in the answers those around

What is your passion?

“I love sports. High school to college to pros, it doesn’t matter. I love them all. I play sports, I watch sports and I coach sports. My grandfather used to pay professional sports and we used to watch sports together. It was never pushed...it just happened,” - David Doyle “[My passion is] random culture trivia.

I just remember lots of random information. Things related to pop culture,” - World History teacher, Mr. Moyers

newsstreak.com opt out notice: If you do NOT want to allow your student’s full name or image to appear on the school newspaper site, please send an email to vkibler@ harrisonburg. k12.va.us stating: I understand that the school newspaper, newsstreak.com, now has an online version of the publication.

I DO NOT want my son/daughter (place student’s name here) to have his or her name or image published on this online venue.

New television season kicked off this week with some great new shows and the season premieres of some perennial favorites.

The latest bracelet fad is really fun and different. Kids are collecting hundreds of these trinkets and wearing them with various outfits.

Advertising Manager: Lauren Martin

Professional Affiliations: The Newsstreak participates as a member of several journalistic evaluation services including the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA-2009 Gold Evaluation and 2005 & 2009 Silver Crown Winner), Quill&Scroll Journalism Honor Society (2010 First Place International Award), National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), the Virginia High School League, Inc. Trophy Class Award, and the Southern Interscholastic Press Association All Southern Ranking.

Fall TV season kicks off

Silly bands

Fun Director: Lauren Martin

Freshmen Reporters: John Adamek, Samantha Blake, William Bleckley, Emerson, Bonga, Matt Bowman, Austin Coffey, Megan Coverstone, Anthony Duong, Celia Ehrenpreis, Kevin Franco, Johnathan Gomez-Lemus, Jessica Jolicoeur

Lady Gaga took the music scene by storm this year producing hit after hit earning her award after award. 2010 will be the year of Lady Gaga

The Hokies aren’t off to a stellar beginning, but you’ve got to give it to JMU for pulling the upset of the century beating VT in Blacksburg and bringing home $400,000 in the process

Managing Editors: Vanessa Ehrenpreis, Jack Burden

Staff Reporters: Nahla Aboutabl, Kavya Beheraj, Emmett Copeland, Heather Hunter-Nickels, Michael Johnson, Christy Stearn, Madison Wilson, Shane McMahan, Mark Duda, Alex Hickman, Maggie Siciliano, Ben DiNapoli, Anastasiya Kalyuk, Charity O’Connor, Rachel O’Connor, Lukas Stephan, Peter Byrd, William Imeson, Zach McDonnell, Simona Byler, Xuyi Guo, Ali Byrd, Mia Karr, Bianca Solis, Jesus Lopez-Chang

Anything Lady Gaga

JMU beats Tech

The editors and staff : Editors-in-Chief: Print: Maria Rose, Phillip Bannister; Online: David Proctor, Alison Domonoske

Page Designers: Christy Stearn, Emily Jamieson, Lauren Martin, Paulina Rendon, Molly Denman, Michael Johnson, Madison Wilson, Kavya Beheraj, Heather HunterNickels, Mark Duda, Shane McMahan, Ama Ansah, Phillip Bannister, Christine Choi, Olivia McCarty, Maria Rose, Vanessa Ehrenpreis, Aidan Newcity

What’s HOT

“[My passion is] is soccer. I started playing in kindergarten. I played because my brother played and I have played ever since,” - Evan Shank

“[My passion is] constitutional law.

I worked at the supreme court and just being in the building I was like, “wow” and since then I have been keeping up with things, reading and seeing the ways systems are made,” AP History teacher, Mark Tueting Infographic by Madison Wilson

me were graciously giving.

Oprah (the greatest woman alive, if you were unaware) was who finally rescued me. In an issue of O-Magazine, there was an article about being the “best you” possible. As I read, it was as if I were traveling back in time.

There were so many of the attributes I treasured about myself listed. My “EUREKA!” moment kickstarted a drive, a will, a desire to be the “best me” possible- and I was going to do this regardless of what I won or lost along the way.

There will be moments throughout life. Each moment will change and mold you into a better more complete person.

Some may call it destiny, others give credit to a divine power. Me? I am going to take the credit for my life and every moment in it; because in the end, it is the journey that will matter. That journey is personal and the “best me” will be the one leader the way, flashlight in hand.

Let your voice be heard!

Submit a letter to the editor to the Newsstreak.

E-mail your letter to newsstreakonline@ gmail.com.

All letters must be signed.

The Red Sea’s first tailgate was ultra-cool, but the participation in the Red Sea at the game left a lot to be desired.

What’s NOT

Next Twilight Movie The hype following this vampire saga has gotten old. All of the attention the movie is recieving has gotten extreamly obnoxious.

Crocs and Toms Folks, get over these fads. They are over, done, kaput, out of here. They are just not cool anymore - kind of like leggings and shirts as dresses.

Effects of Oil Spill The oil might have stopped spilling into the Gulf, but the residual effects are still having a huge impact on the environment along the Gulf Coast.

Jersey Shore We’ve had enough of those guidos and guidettes getting so much media attention. Enough already! Let’s find something else to watch.

Administrators leaving Mrs. Reynolds retiring at the end of January after a 36-year career and Mr. Knapp leaving the first week of school.

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Good Eats!

Christine Choi - Style A6

Delicious signature food options in Harrisonburg

Jack Brown’s brings unique creations to Harrisonburg Michael Johnson

staff reporter

A

s I sink my teeth into the meaty burger at Jack Brown’s, my taste buds are sent to a wonderful place. They have a very wide variety on their menu and put a lot of different and exotic types of toppings on their burgers.

The bar counter in Jack Brown’s is actually one part of a whole tree that the owner cut down from her farm. They get their quality meat from Snake River, Idaho. Sarah Carter, waitress at Jack Brown’s, has been working their ever since she got back from studying abroad in Florence, Italy.

Carter’s favorite kind of burger at Jack Brown’s is called the Elvis burger. It is topped with peanut butter, mayonnaise, bacon, and cheese.

On their menu they also have the Chiflet which is a bacon, egg, and cheese burger, and the Showalter which is the same as the Chiflet, but instead of the bun, there is a glazed donut.

They also have burgers like the Danny Laruso which is a burger with cream cheese and jalapeno jelly, the Slowpoke Rodriguez a burger piled

high with guacamole, apple wood bacon and pepper jack cheese on a burger, the Chili Verde stuffed with roasted poblano chilies and pepper jack cheese, the Jack on Piggy Back covered with a sliced up hot dog, cheddar cheese, and pickled jalapenos, the Cowboy which is smothered in

BBQ, bacon, and cheese, the Greg Brady composed of BBQ chips and macaroni and cheese, and the Jalapeno Popper Burger spread with cream cheese and pickled jalapenos.

They also have a secret sauce that they give people with their French fries.

“All I can tell you is that there is mayonnaise, garlic and onion,” Carter said. “The rest is a secret.”

Junior Matt Carmona is a big fan of Jack Brown’s and thinks that their burgers are splendid.

“I like Jack Brown’s because it is not greasy like McDonalds,” Carmona said.

Carmona usually just sticks with the typical cheeseburger and french fries.

“I like their secret sauce because it is different. It is not just ketchup and mustard,” Carmona said.

One of the features that Jack Brown’s has is their only dessert on the menu. They smother an Oreo in batter and deep fry it.

“I have not tried the deep fried Oreos yet, but am hoping to the next time I attend,”

Carmona said.

Farmer’s market expansion attracts many Ama Ansah

O

feature editor

n a Saturday morning, you can find hundreds of people from all over Harrisonburg shopping at the Downtown Farmers Market. People young and old, big families, and small units stroll in and out of the pavilion located in the Municipal parking lot. There is a constant dull buzz of conversation and vendor to patron dialogue.

Different stands try to arrange their wears hoping to stand out from their neighbor.

Sometimes, all you can see is heads.

“On Saturdays, there are so many people.

I was trying to walk to the end of the pavilion last Saturday and it was just bodies so thick I couldn’t walk. I had to go out through the parking lot,” manager Josie Showalter said.

The market has been part of Harrisonburg for 31 years but has grown lately. They moved from the Water Street parking garage to a new pavilion. They added Thursday evenings to their schedule of Tuesday and Saturday mornings. And now more and more people are taking notice.

“I think it’s a mixture of things. One being the visible location, I think in addition to that there’s been a huge increased awareness in the value of buying local foods and sustainability and the local economy. There are a lot of things combining, like people being more aware of where their food comes from,” Showalter said.

The produce is grown using a minimal amount of pesticides. Though they can’t officially be labeled organic, they are

naturally grown. Nothing comes from farther from fifty miles away and the vendors sell things that they personally grow or make.

Radell Schrock is president of the board of directors as well as a vendor who sells his own vegetables. Schrock used to be an eight and ninth grade science teacher at EMHS and only farmed over the summer to help pay off college loans, but now does it full time.

“I guess to make a long story short, I got a little carried away. I realized that if I plant all this stuff, tomatoes and melons are going to be at their peak right when I had to go back to school. So I had to decide if I should keep teaching or if I should dive into produce and I decided to go for it. And five years later I’m still doing this,” Schrock said.

Schrock originally sold his produce at a vegetable auction, but prefers interacting with his customers face to face and being able to answer their questions about the food.

“People are really appreciative and happy to get something local without pesticides and there’s good enough market to sell it piece by piece,” Schrock said.

The market is not only for veggie lovers.

There are vendors who sell baked goods such as bread and homemade doughnuts. Craft people sell items like cards and jewelry.

History teacher Jay Blair frequents the farmers market almost weekly. Though he comes to do his grocery shopping, he often gives in to temptation and buys baked goods. “l buy a lot of the fresh baked breads, pastries, sometimes I’ll get a coffee, or doughnut…but mostly I’m a fresh food

guy,” Blair said.

Blair said the food he gets at the market tastes better. He attributes that to the way they were grown and the fact that they have not traveled very far from the farms. According to Schrock, many customers visit the market for similar reasons.

“There are a lot of people who come for environmental reasons. You can get stuff here with out all the packaging and hasn’t traveled so far...some come Peaches! Fresh and organic produce are sold in the Farmfor health reasons. Maybe er’s market. Photo by Olivia McCarty they have a certain dietary needs so they need the raw ingredients. Others come for culinary cards.

“We’re really excited about that,” reasons. They want the best produce. Others come just for social reasons. They run in to Showalter said.” We want to grow in that way, so we’re more available to more people all these people they know,” Schrock said.

Blair agrees, calling the market a and have more community shopping here and enjoying the market.” “community epicenter.”

Friendly City food Co-op will be opening “When you go down there, you will have downtown soon. Showalter expects this an opportunity to interact with all different to help the market, bringing more people members of the community,” Blair said. downtown looking for healthy, locally Showalter believes the market can appeal to students looking for a lively grown foods.

“There’s a lot of actually statistics that community place. With the music, the food, say a food co-op and farmers market really and the crafts, the market is bound to have flourish when they’re in the same something going on.

“It’s a really good place to hang out with community,” Showalter said. “Hopefully friends and come and have fun,” Showalter we’ll be good for them and they’ll be good said. And she expects it to grow even more for us.” in the next few years. In June, the market received authorization to accept food stamp

J’s remains local favorite One theme, One cent Mr. New York style bagels highlight menu

Rachel O’Connor feature editor

P

ennybackers has only been open for eight months, but is already a well-known casual restaurant on Water Street in downtown Harrisonburg.

It’s early popularity could be attributed to it being the only soup and sandwich restaurant downtown. Pennybackers is the first restaurant opened by owners Ted and Tammy Brown.

“We are really focusing on just having a restaurant in downtown Harrisonburg,” Brown said, “We aren’t really interested in expanding to Staunton or Charlottesville or anything.” The building is actually known as the Pennybacker Building, named after its original owner, Derrick Pennybacker.

What sets Pennybackers apart from other restaurants is its penny theme. The tables in the restaurant were auctioned off Great food, great view! Pennybackers has an upstairs at the Harrisonburg Children’s deck available for seating with an overview of downtown Museum and the auction winners Harrisonburg. Photo by Rachel O’Connor. designed their own tabletop using pennies. The only rule about the designs is that Another unique aspect of Pennybackers is only ten of the pennies can be heads up, going its rooftop. Although a couple of downtown off the “Pennybacker” theme, since most of restaurants also have rooftop seating, the the pennies are on their backs. Some of the view from Pennybackers is by far the best: the designs include a JMU logo, a dog and a sun. mountains are visible, as well as all of downtown.

According to waitress Katherine Ward, who “It’s a good date spot,” Ward said, describing has only been working at Pennybackers since the rooftop.

Although there are a couple “regulars,” most June, the most popular menu items are the Pennybackers customers are new. Families Pennybacker Sandwich and the Rocktown. Both are common; the affordable kids’ menu and sandwiches contain the Pennybacker sauce, something Ward described as wasabi marmalade. easygoing environment make Pennybackers is a family-style restaurant.

Pennybackers was awarded “Best Sandwiches” With its unique and casual atmosphere, in the “Best of the Valley” competition in May. beautiful views, and of course wonderful food, “We were so excited because we had Pennybackers is is already on it’s way to only been open for four months when becoming a local favorite. the voting happened,” Brown said.

Simona Byler

T

staff reporter

here are always those who claim they are not “breakfast people”, or that a simple Pop-Tart will suffice when it comes to the fulfilling the most important meal of the day. However, it may prove difficult to stick to that argument after partaking in a breakfast composed of food from Mr. J’s. A true Harrisonburg original, Mr. J’s Bagels and Deli is a popular option when it comes to satisfying any breakfast cravings.

Mr. J’s has been locally owned and operated since its beginnings in 1990, when the New Jersey native Jerlinski brothers moved to Virginia and began their first bagel shop. “They wanted to open up their own New York-style deli,” Mr. J’s manager Dee McDonough said. Now with three fully operating locations in Harrisonburg, Mr. J’s has progressed to something of a valley icon.

Upon entering one of the Mr. J’s locations, one might become overwhelmed with the sheer number of choices that accompany the ordering process. One side wall is devoted to the beverage department, hosting several large coolers filled with every kind of chilled drink imaginable. Bottles of iced-tea, fruit juices, and milk as well as vitamin waters and Gatorade comprise just a few of the many drink options.

Coffee, chai tea, fruit smoothies and fountain sodas are also available.

Since the word “bagel” appears in their title, it would only make sense for Mr. J’s to offer a wide variety of bagels in its store. Sixteen different kinds are available on any given day, ranging from plain or egg to more extravagant types such as berry or the “everything”, which has poppy, sesame

and many more seeds covering the bagel’s entirety. The bagels are typically eaten with cream cheese spread, which also comes in a variety of flavors like cinnamon, veggie and honey walnut.

“Our most popular bagels are definitely plain and egg, probably followed by everything. And I’d say that people really like our strawberry cream cheese,” McDonough said.

Seasonal bagels are also offered, including green bagels for St. Patrick’s Day, pumpkin from October to December and pink, heart-shaped bagels for Valentine’s Day. Breakfast specials make their way onto the menu in the form of bacon, egg and cheese sandwich on any bagel of choice with a side of home-fried potatoes, or sausage with gravy and biscuits.

Mr. J’s Bagels and Deli has progressed further than making bagels solely a part of a breakfast diet; twenty-four lunchtime sandwiches are also available. Separated into deli, grilled and veggie categories, bagel sandwiches have become a main component of the menu.

“Everyone loves the Chicken Charlie,” McDonough said of the popular grilled chicken sandwich topped with bacon, melted mozzarella and ranch dressing.

With so many food options, it is no wonder that Mr. J’s is a lunchtime favorite among HHS students. U.S. history teacher Mark Tueting even holds before-school study sessions every Thursday morning at the bagel shop. “[Mr. J’s] is conveniently located to the school, and the managers are nice enough to let me lecture there once a week,” Tueting said. “The students can eat breakfast while I discuss topics we don’t have time to get to during class.”

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Paulina Rendon - Style A7

Social studies students crush AP exam Molly Denman

S

staff reporter

tudents throughout HHS who take AP classes spend months stressing, studying, and worrying about the AP exams that are given in the spring. Their instructors teach them skills that they can use on the test and how to make a 5.

AP tests are graded out of five, a 5 means the student is extremely well qualified, a 4 is well qualified, a 3 is qualified, a 2 is possibly qualified, and a 1 is no recommendation. The scores ranging from 1-5 are looked at by the College Board and are sent out to colleges where students may be applying.

Most students taking AP classes strive for that perfect score and according to the College Board’s release of the 2010 AP scores for HHS, many achieved their goal.

AP U.S. History teacher Mark Tueting had 18 out of 49 students receive fives on their tests.

“I was very happy for them and very proud,” Tueting said. “I was expecting six to eight fives, but the scores exceeded my expectations.”

Tueting started a Hall of Fame for his AP students who received fives on their exams called The Legends of AP U.S. History.

Tueting started The Legends of AP U.S. History at the school where he used to teach and carried the tradition over to HHS. The Legends of AP U.S. History for 2010 include Simona Byler, Tim Galicki, Emily Mackail, Olivia McCarty, Zach McDonnell, Matt Mendez, David Proctor, Chris Pyle, Isaac Rohrer, Tyler Shenk, Ryan Stees, Keith Thomas, Marcus Upton, Natalie Warner and Tabea Zimmerman.

“Part of the students’ success comes from their parents. Having actively involved parents is a big factor,” Tueting said.

In AP English teacher Valerie Kibler’s that they did in the class,” Mark Healy said. rewarded after working hard all year,” junior AP English Language and Composition Healy’s AP European History class scored Evan Shank said of the AP European Hisclass four out of 28 students made fives on in the top 10 of everyone who took it. tory exam. the exam including Zach McDonnell, Maria “I was happy with getting a five because Rose, David Proctor, and Xuyi Guo. Fol- it was nice to see all of your hard work be lowed by four fours, eleven threes, nine twos, and zero ones.

School Totals for this View 5 4 3 2 1 Total Exams “It was about the same as last year. It was good, but it Number of Exams 102 61 71 62 36 332 could be better,” Kibler said.

AP tests were taken in Percentage of Total 31 18 21 19 11 100 classes all over the school ranging from Music Theory to Subject Totals 5 4 3 2 1 Total Exams Environmental Science. The Art History 1 1 2 students who went the extra mile and took AP classes and Music Theory 3 2 2 7 took the tests were ranked English Language and Composition 4 4 11 9 28 throughout the world. These English Language and Composition 6 9 8 15 38 AP students competed against kids around the globe. The French Language 1 1 1 3 scores are all relative, the Spanish Language 16 9 2 5 2 34 standard for a four or a five Spanish Literature 1 1 1 3 depends on how the students perform.

Calculus AB 7 1 2 1 11 “They did good. They did Calculus BC 1 1 the way they should have, the Computer Science A 2 2 1 2 7 way I expected,” Bill Turner said about his AP Calculus Statistics 1 5 2 3 7 18 class. Seven of the 11 students Biology 6 3 2 1 12 in Turner’s class made a 5 on Chemistry 1 1 1 4 7 the exam, one student made a 4, two made a 3, no one made Enviromental Science 7 2 2 6 3 20 a 2, and only one student Physics B 1 1 made a 1.

Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism 1 1 Then there was AP European history...

Physics C: Mechanics 1 1 “I was very happy with the European History 12 6 10 1 1 30 AP European History scores.

Psychology 4 1 2 1 8 Over all the years I have been teaching, this is the best that United States Government and Politics 10 7 18 10 4 49 students have performed on United States History 18 7 8 10 6 49 the test. The students sucWorld History 1 1 2 ceeded because of the work

Choosing top study guides is important

Which is the best AP study guide?

Christine Choi

27% 24% 22% 15% 7% infographic by Olivia McCarty

5%

style editor

T

he Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is divided into ten sections and consists of three subjects; math, reading, and writing. Students have a plethora of options to choose from when it comes down to study aids and guides to master all the tricks and skills to the fullest ability.

“My parents signed me up for an SAT prep class and I had to get “In a flash vocab” and “The Official SAT Guide”. My favorite part of them is that they can tell you the answer and explain it well too,” senior Sam Obenshain said.

The Official SAT Guide is created by the College Board, the same company that administers the SATs. The tips, hints, and strategies are given by the College Board, the same authors who form all the writing prompts and problems that are on the test.

The guidance department provides a “Getting Ready for the SAT” packet, a 76-page mini book that includes sample questions, test- taking approaches, and calculator tips. Writing tips are included addressing common writing problems and solutions along with examples.

This book is perfect for first time SAT takers to get a

taste of what is included in the SAT and how to understand the scoring.

“We recommend this booklet to students.They can also go online and do practice exercises on there. The guidance counselors recommend taking SAT prep classes and Blue Ridge also provides SAT prep classes. Other practice workbooks are available in the guidance career center,” guidance secretary Veronica Ortiz said.

“I think SAT test books as a form of practice are becoming a thing of the past. More and more students are utilizing online practice test tools. some websites that we recommend to find online SAT practice tests are www.virginiamentor.org, www.collegeboard.com, and www.vawizard.org,” guidance director Amy Powers said.

A good SAT prep resource should allow students to see how they did when answering the questions and also give them strategies on how to take the test. Sign ups for SAT prep courses are available in the guidance office and can be taken at Blue Ridge.

“The SAT prep course allows students to take sample sections of the test, they work on the writing section of the SAT- learning strategies on how to organize their thoughts within the time frame allotted. Students also learn general test taking strategies,” Powers said.

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The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

G

ing Mac

Just a touch of music Emily Knupp staff reporter In late 2009 the Apple Corporation released the second generation iPod touch, which took the technology world by storm. The sleekly designed new tech gadget has capabilities unlike any before its time.

Through the iTunes store, owners of this product can shop for, and download thousands of applications, songs, podcasts, movies, TV shows, and music videos with the click of a button.

The iPod touch can stream videos and surf the internet through any WiFi connection available to the user.

The home screen of the iPod touch displays a calendar, safari homepage,

notepad, YouTube direct connect, voice memos, iTunes, the ability to check stocks, maps and directions, a customized weather forecast, a clock, access to the apps store, contacts and photos.

There is, however a negative aspect to the new iPod; it has no camera or video recorder, something almost every cell phone in the U.S. has, leaving its user unable to take a quick snapshot of anything imaginable.

HHS senior Emily Blatt who has owned an iPod touch for the last two years said, “ I use my ipod touch for all of my musical needs, and the internet, too.”

“I love all of the applications that I can get off of itunes,” Blatt said.

2010-2011 HHS

NEWSSTREAK PATRONS NEWSSTREAK SUPER SPONSORS Kathy and Larry Whitten Aidan Newcity Heather and David Denman Leigh-Ann Rucker Sallie and Scott Strickler Ted and Stephanne Byrd Valerie and Bobby Kibler Valley Building Supply Inc GOLD PATRONS Judith S. Strickler Angeliki G. Floros Ann and Mark Siciliano Betsy Dunnenberger Craig and Carla Mackail David and Judith McCarty David Owusu-Ansah Diane and David Ehrenpreis Dick Johnson and Jackie Zito Dr. Scott Kizner Irene Reynolds John A Coffey, Jr Kerri and TJ Wilson Lehman Construction Michael Eye Rose Family Susan and Dan Fitch Wease Auto Exchange SILVER PATRONS Amy Powers Ann Niland Becky Wilson Bill Turner Brenda Greever

The Mac guy

Mark Duda- Style A10

The New and improved Macbook USB ports. Tests concluded

by PC world report that the newest edition of the Macbook runs faster while running iTunes as well as Adobe Photoshop. The new Macbook has a longer lasting battery life in between charging cycles; it is able to run for approximately five hours, nearly one hour longer than the model released in 2009.

Emily Knupp staff reporter Recently released in 2010 by the Apple Corporation, the newest edition of the Macbook series of laptops has hit the market. The new Macbook now has a faster running processor with improved graphics, a 13 inch screen, and two

The latest apple product Emily Knupp staff reporter In the beginning of 2010, the Apple Corporation yet again stunned its loyal following with the release of the iPad, a razor thin handheld device that is capable of completing almost everthing that a laptop can do. HHS math teacher Bill Turner who bought the iPad just after its release uses his iPad for more than just the internet.

“I read most of my emails, I have downloaded eight or nine eBooks to read, I have a news feed from ABC, and I use it in class to create 3-D graphs with one of the applications I got,” Turner said.

With a screen approximately three times as large as the iPod touch, the iPad shows pictures and videos flawlessly. Weighing only 1.5 pounds and being only 0.5 inches thick, the iPad is easy to take to the office, class, or the park.

It has Wi-Fi capabilities to any open connection (similar to the iPod

touch), and allows users to download applications, TV shows, music videos, movies, and much more just by logging into a users iTunes account. The main menu or home screen is also close to that of the iPod touch by displaying the same icons such as photos, contacts, safari etc.

The front of the iPod has a black border surrounding its oil-resistant main screen to reduce the appearance of fingerprints.

Along with all of the pros to the new iPad, it also has some cons. It has a virtual keyboard making it difficult for users to type long emails or papers. The iPad has no USB port to allow its users to type or produce word documents or e-mails and transport them to another computer.

Lastly the iPad does not have a camera, video recorder, or web cam to allow users to connect with persons around the world or send a newly snapped picture to friends or family.

Patrons are members of the Harrisonburg community and others who support the pursuit of excellence in the journalistic publications of Harrisonburg High School. Money generated from the patron program is used to offset costs of attending journalism conferences, to print our paper, and to purchase up-to-date technological equipment for our journalism lab. To become a patron, see any member of the Newsstreak Staff or stop by room 444. Patron level is determined by the following scale: HHS Patrons, $5; Blue Patrons, $10; Bronze Patrons, $15; Silver Patrons, $25; Gold Patrons, $50; and Newsstreak Super Sponsor, $100+.

Brittany Conley Bryan and Theresa Eckstein Cathryn W. Soenksen Cathy Phillips Christine Neary Dan and Betsy Kennedy David Loughran Dawn and Chris Womack Doug Light Gianna Gariglietti and Andre Dight J.R. Snow Jack Smith Janet Timbers Javier A. Rendon Jay and Pat Supko Jennifer Wolfson Jenny and Jared Burden Joe Carico Joe Urbanski JT and Stacy Turner Kent Bowers Kimberly S. Harper Kristy and Tim Peifer Larry and Valerie Kaylor Larry O’Keeffe Laura FeichtingerMcGrath Leslie Bridal Leslie Wilson Pepper Linda McCormick Margaret B. Wilson Mark and Suzanne Obenshain Mark Mace Marshall and Leigh Anne Ross Family Martha and Perry Catron Martha Shifflett Michael and Phyllis Armentrout Wong Nancy Byrd Nancy Faulkner Nick and Nicky Swayne Paul Kim

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Jennifer Thompson Jere Borg Karen and John Rose Kasey Hovermale Kelley Shradley-Horst Kevin, Mary Beth and Grace Tysinger Lauren Kershner Mallory A. Cromer Marcia Lamphier Melanie Smith Mr. and Mrs. Jay Hook Mr. Paul Klemt Nancy Heisey and Paul Longacre Peter Norment Philip Yutzy Rachel and Ian Linden Sallye S. Parker Sharon Posy Sheila Fielding Suzanne Smith Sydney Maldonado/LM Burkholder Tammy Shepard The Elwoods Tim Meyers Tony and Sheila Antonnicola Viktor and Valentina Sokolyuk HHS PATRONS “Club 95” Cafeteria Staff 3-4 P.E. SSES Ali Whalen Amy Histand Amy Wheeler Angela Yurachek Antoine Sinclair Ben Kurtz Beth Bleckley Beth Holsinger Beth Houff

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The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

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Molly Denmen- Style A8

September 24, 2010

Homecoming 2010, Out of this world SCA officers planning black lights for homecoming dance HOMECOMING 2010 FAST FACTS - Tickets are $15 per person and are on sale in room 444 - Dress code is semi-formal - Time: 8 p.m. - midnight - DJ: Peter Pearson - he will be here during all lunch shifts on Oct 1 to take music requests - Dress up for all homecoming spirit days and get your name in the running for a free limo ride for homecoming dance - Enjoy the pie-in-the-face competition at the Friday pep rally - Come join the Red Sea for pregame tailgating

Charity O’Connor

W

Staff Reporters

ith this year’s homecoming right around the corner, (and an outer space theme featuring black lights), knowing what to wear is a must. According to chemistry teacher Suzanne Smith, our eyes can’t detect the color of a black light because it’s off the spectrum. We can only detect the colors as they are reflected back to us off of clothing or other objects. Fluorescent colors absorb some of the energy from the black lights and reflect it, creating a “glow” effect. This process is appropriately called fluorescence.

The reason that dark colors don’t show up under a black light is that they absorb all of the energy from the lights, without reflecting it back; so most importantly,

black would not be the best color choice for homecoming. Lighter colors including white, any fluorescent colors, and any glow in the dark colors will show up best.

Senior Ryan Fletcher, SCA Secretary, came up with the blacklight/space theme.

Space Jam ‘10 won out as the theme for this year’s event over other contenders like Drops of Jupiter, To the Moon and Back, and Fly Me to the Moon.

“I thought what can make this homecoming different? Then I started thinking: blacklights,” Fletcher said. He hopes that with this new theme, and a more diverse selection of music, this year’s homecoming will beat all other years.

Also excited about this year’s space theme, senior SCA President, Kathy Rodriquez has high hopes that this year the SCA will be able to motivate more people to come to the dance.

“I think it’ll be really fun because it’s a new theme that not many people have heard of or used before,” junior Christy Stearn said about the space idea. For freshmen Daniel Roth, and Aubtin Huydari, it will be their first time attending homecoming. “It sounds like it could be really good or really bad, but it should be fun,” Roth said. Sitting together in the library, Huydari agrees, “It all just depends on how they do it,” he says.

They both plan on taking dates this year, and are excited to attend the dance for the first time.

On the other end of the spectrum, juniors Taylor McDonnell and Jayne Slocum have been to the dances before and know what to expect.

“I think it’s kinda stupid, but the black lights will be cool,” Slocum said. “I think it’ll be cool with the black lights,” Taylor agreed.

Where do you get your nails done ?

Madison Wilson

P

Style Editor

ainting nails is a way many teenage girls show their feminine side.

The colors can represent how they are feeling and what is on their mind. Painted nails are just another accessory wanted by many girls to get the perfect look.

The nail color is important; it represents moods and style. Going for the French manicure is a more classic look, while doing all black is more unruly. Girls can play with colors and paint their nails to match clothes.

“I like my nails to be pink or yellow, but I don’t like my nails to be perfect. They have to be chipped,” said junior Evan Wetsel.

“Getting your nails done is a lot easier than doing it yourself,” junior Lexi Biller said.

Another key to getting the perfect nails is going to the right place. There are about 50 nail salons in Harrisonburg and going to the wrong one can be a disaster. It would be bad to walk into a place and realize that the wait is 20 minutes or to realize that the manicure that you want is actually five dollars more at one place than another. Researching the different nail salons helps the consumer decide if they are willing to wait twenty minutes or

if they would rather go to another place.

“I used to go to the one next to the old Wal-Mart, and the Dollar Tree, but I don’t know what it’s called. But I just went to a new place for the first time. It’s called California Nails. And even though it was just a couple dollars more expensive I think they did a better job,” Biller said.

Acrylic nails are different option, they can offer a new look to nails in an instant. There is no need to grow out your nails or to have them perfectly trimmed or to worry about them chipping.

Acrylic nails make everything easier and they can last a few weeks longer.

“I go to Lovely

Nails, but this time I did my nails myself and I panted them purple because they match my purse,” said junior Kortnie Loya.

Nails can complete the perfect outfit, or

make your shoes suddenly match your dress but they also bring out another side in people personalities.

Preparation begins for Space Jam-themed homecoming Heather Hunter-Nicles Staff Reporter

F

reshman Astrid Chauarria and sophomore Stephanie Linares are getting ready for homecoming.

With the theme of “Space Jam!” in mind, they plan to go out of town to shop for dresses. Limiting themselves to a budget of $150, the girls plan to shop either at Tyson’s Corner in northern Virginia, or in Short Pump near Richmond.

“If we get them here [Harrisonburg] we’re going to be looking the same,” Chauarria said.

Even though the girls do not want to risk wearing the same dress as another girl at

the dance, there are several places to shop in Harrisonburg that offer variety. Ross, Debs, Belk, and Bridal Impressions are a few of them. Other options include ordering online at sights like nordstrom.com or promgirl.com, making one’s own dress, or borrowing from an upper classman.

Dress style ideas have been floating around. Because there will be black lights, wearing white is suggested for standing out.

Other colors that would be good with this theme are silver or gold, shiny metallic colors for outer space, and black or neon.

“I am going to wear a glow-in-the-dark dress and I am going to splash neon paint on it,” said senior Kala Barrianger choosing yet another option; to “funk up” a dress.

Junior Brian Chicas, sitting next to her,

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I am going to wear a glow in the dark dress and I am going to splash Neon paint on it”

had a similar idea in mind. “I am going to wear a neon splattered white dress shirt and white pants,” Chicas said. Together they are going to be the “splattered couple,” they joked.

The theme “Space Jam!” is sparking creativity. Funky ideas are floating around.

“I am going to wear a hot pink space suit but no helmet because it would mess up my hair,” senior Catherine Halpern said.

The sky is becoming the limit. “I am wearing a mask, something futuristic. May-

be just an astronaut helmet and my dress will match my helmet,” senior Kelsey Kala Bar- Messerley said. ringer, Crazy ideas aside, if the past years are Senior any indication, most girls wear short formal dresses and guys wear shirt, ties, and dress pants.

The good thing that comes out of purchasing these new items is they can be worn to other formal events. “All I know is I am going to look man-tastic,” junior Leo Lopez said.

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Aidan Newcity- Feature B1

McDonnell holds town hall meeting at JMU David Proctor editor-in-chief

I

sabel Castillo graduated from Turner Ashby High School with a 4.0 grade point average. She graduated from Eastern Mennonite University magna cum laude with a degree in social work.

As she told Governor Robert McDonnell her story at a town hall meeting on August 26th, he nodded and congratulated her for her achievements. Then, she dropped the bombshell: she is undocumented.

A hush fell over the room. As she choked back tears, she pleaded with the Governor to endorse the DREAM Act, a bill that would allow for undocumented immigrants who were brought into the country at a young age to continue their education and eventually become citizens.

“Why not give us the opportunity to give back to our communities?” Castillo asked McDonnell. “This is home to me. I’m an American.”

“I can’t, because what that does is to look the other way… The federal government has done a lousy job [addressing immigration] … I’m the governor of Virginia, and I have very little authority to enforce federal law,” McDonnell responded.

This exchange was the climax of a 5-hour protest against section 287 (g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. In pamphlets handed out at the protest, 287 (g) and similar immigration laws are referred to as a “hemorrhaging injustice in our society.”

“287 (g) is a contract between law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security that would give them the power to stop anyone who looks ‘suspicious’ of being undocumented. It’s basically legal racial profiling,” Castillo said.

Supporters of the DREAM Act, or DREAMers as they are informally known, held signs, which they later raised as Castillo questioned McDonnell. Many wore shirts that read, “The dream is coming.” A small group participated in classes held on the grassy lawn just outside of the James Madison University Federal Conference and Student Center, where McDonnell was speaking.

These classes were on a variety of topics such as pending legislation and civil rights.

“I at least hope [McDonnell] knows there are supporters [of his] who oppose this legislation here in Virginia,” Castillo said.

Castillo says that in addition to fighting for herself, she is fighting for other undocumented children in the area. HHS alumna Maria Martinez is among those whom Castillo cites as her motivation.

Last year, Martinez received a one-year deferment after being nearly deported.

Like Castillo, she graduated from high school with honors and is now attending

Eastern Mennonite University. peaceful, but I was arrested,” Castillo said “At Blue Ridge [Community College], she Castillo says despite being arrested, Reid was paying out-of-state tuition. She goes to was more receptive to her message than EMU now and it’s private, so it’s all the same. McDonnell.

She has multiple part time jobs to put herself “[Reid] said he would put it up for a vote through school. She has to help take care of this year if he has the 60 votes for it to pass. He her family. She signed up to be a Big Sister at doesn’t want to fail all these kids, he doesn’t Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She also volunteers want to disappoint us. He does support it. at her church. She’s just an amazing person,” Sen. Webb voted yes on the DREAM Act in collaborating English teacher and Martinez’s 2007 and Warner says he will not co-sponsor, mentor Sandy Mercer said. but he would vote yes if it is put up for a vote,” Spanish teacher Phil Yutzy wasted no Castillo said. time characterizing Martinez as just that: “There are the kinds of people we want in “amazing.” our community,” Mercer said. “Passing the “[When I had her in class], she was very DREAM Act is a common sense solution and responsible. She always got her work done. a win-win situation.”

She was helpful, involved and engaged in class. She participated. She was respectful and a great person to have around. She never put anyone off– all the other students liked her, too,” Yutzy said.

Indeed, Martinez was so involved in Yutzy’s Spanish for Native Speakers class that she began tutoring students in introductory level Spanish classes.

“She tutored in Spanish 2 and students all loved having her around. She was able to help them with their language learning.

She is an amazing person,” Yutzy said.

Despite all this, Martinez’s one-yeardeferment has expired and she is at risk of being deported again.

“Her one-year deferment from last year has expired so we’ve filed again and we’re For the people. Governor McDonnell devoted his Aug 26 evening to listen to the waiting to hear back. We should find out in thoughts of people in Harrisonburg and the surrounding counties. Besides topics such as road construction, ABC liquor store openings, and global warming, immigration and September,” Mercer said. the DREAM act were some of the most hotly debated topics. Photos by Olivia McCarty.

Mercer says she and Martinez are less worried about her deferral being granted than they were last year. The Obama administration has indicated they will not continue deportation proceedings against non-criminal immigrants. While these immigrants are not being granted citizenship, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official told NBC News that they had “other, more pressing deportation priorities” than “a juvenile who spent the vast majority of their life here.”

Still, undocumented immigrants are subject to changes in the political environment. A shift in immigration policy could place their status at risk.

Thus, DREAMers continue fighting in hopes of becoming United States citizens.

Castillo is perhaps their most ardent fighter. In July, she was arrested after staging a sit-in at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-NV) office.

Speaking up. Isabel Castillo, 23, debated with Governor McDonnell at a town hall meeting “I was in Sen. Reid’s office and held at James Madison University on Aug 26. Being an illegal immigrant under the threat of asking him to put it up for a vote. All deportation, Castillo tried to persuade the Governor to support the DREAM act. Photo by Maof our protests, everything we do, is ria Rose.

Nickels brings opportunity to immigrants in Harrisonburg Natalie Warner staff reporter

S

am Nickels builds bridges for a living. If you are picturing a structure with arches and suspension cables, though, you are a little bit off track. Nickels, Diversity and Development Coordinator for New Bridges Immigrant

Resource Center, does not connect land masses—he connects cultures. According to its mission statement, New Bridges “strives to build connections between immigrant and native-born communities” while addressing “the needs of immigrants in the Shenandoah Valley.” Essentially, the center provides support for newly arrived immigrants and refugees. “Many people don’t recognize the fact that cultures around

the world are blatantly different,” Nickels explained. “Everything is different. The foods are different, the money is different, the school year is different, how you pay for health care is different…When people come into this culture, they have tremendous challenges to try to adjust to living here.”

That is exactly where New Bridges comes in.

“For one thing, we create a network with community agencies to improve services at the agency level,” Nickels began. “We decide what we need funding for, and what policies and programs we need to work on together as a community.

But another large part of what we do involves education.” New Bridges provides workshops for various businesses and churches around the Valley in order to educate community members.

“People might want to know if immigrants who come here pay taxes, or what it has been like for kids in the school system,” Nickels said. “It gives some of the immigrants and refugees that we work with a chance to tell their

Talking things through. Sam Nickels, Diversity and Development Coordinator for New Bridges Immigrant Resource Center, spends his time working with immigrants and helping them adjust to life in the Shenandoah Valley. Photo courtesy of Sam Nickels.

Diversity at Harrisonburg High School

47.7% White, Non-Hispanic

35.8% Hispanic

12.9% African-American or colored

3.6% Other

stories.” In order to make the workshops as effective as possible, Nickels brings two to three immigrants or refugees along with him. “People have a chance to ask them questions and learn about the diversity of the our area…it’s just a way for people to understand each other and build over the stereotypes that we all have.”

Across the board, the workshops have been successful in dismantling prejudice and encouraging appreciation for other cultures. Nickels proudly recalled an email an attendee sent him after he conducted a workshop at JMU. “I received an email from one of the participants in a workshop I did. The participant explained that she saw a woman with a headcovering at the grocery store. Although she normally would have looked the other way, she went over to this woman and began a conversation with her.”

Instances like these serve to make Nickels more excited about his job and the chance he has to make a difference, “especially for them, in the struggles they face,” he said.

Nickels’ deep-seated appreciation for diversity is a quality that he has passed on to his children, as well. HHS students Heather and Alex Hunter welcome opportunities to spend time with people from other countries and cultures. “I think what my dad does is really cool,” Heather said. “It gives me the chance to meet people that I never would have met otherwise, and that’s a large part of the job he does.”

Alex agrees.

“He sets a great example for me.

It makes me really aware of the fact that when I grow The end result. Nickels’ work affects people coming into up, I want to be Harrisonburg and the Shenandoah Valley. Though his doing something that’s making a work may be challenging, helping people with their lives difference.” makes it worthwhile. Photo courtesy of Sam Nickels.

Let’s Dance The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

s e v o M THE

Ama Ansah- Feature B2

DANCE TEAM’S NEW GROOVE

Dance efficianado and team member junior Amber Carter shows off some of her best dance moves. Feel free to use them at homecoming on Oct 16.

Pop Lock and Drop it

Gun fingers

Thriller

The Sprinkler infographic by Ama Ansah and Vanessa Ehrenpreis

New members, new coach, new outlook all influencing this year’s squad William Imeson and Jenny Kniss Staff Reporters

H

ard work, passion, and commitment are key elements to success in anything, and having a successful dance team requires exactly that. Junior Amber Carter, the team captain, sees no reason why the dance team cannot excel this year.

“I’ve been dancing since I was nine, and I think this is going to be one of my best years,” Carter said.

The dance team’s new coach, Britney Payne agrees. She has promising expectations for this year. Payne danced for HHS all four years of her high school career, and has deep roots in the sport. This however, is her first year coaching. She is excited about the possibilities of this year.

“My favorite part is probably getting a fresh start for the girls. We have a chance to do things that the dance team hasn’t done in the past,” Payne said.

In years past, the team has struggled with not having a coach and not having enough people for the team. However, this year the team has about fifteen members signed up, a drastic improvement.

Junior Emily Payne, a member of the dance team, and sister to the coach is also excited about this year. This is her fifth year being on a dance team including one year in middle school. She is also excited about having her sister as a coach.

“Her college dance team fell apart so she decided to coach us. It’s been much better than before with her as coach. And I like it because she treats me just like anyone else,” Emily said.

Returning members are grateful to have new leadership. Junior Ryan Maphis is on the team for her second year and could not be happier.

“The contrast between this year and last year is huge. Brittney is great and we are always learning new dances.” Maphis said.

There are several new members this year,

especially underclassmen.

The team expects to be ready for their first performance which will take place at HHS’s first home football game. Their performances this year will be mainly during the same events as last year including dancing at football games, basketball games, and the school pep rallies. Their routines however are all going to be new. They usually learn a dance and perform it in the same week. In a new twist, the dancers will be expanding their horizons and performing select shows at EMU this year.

With a committed coach and more members, the dance team has a bright future.

While guided by the expertise of a new coach and eager members, the squad is headed in right direction.

Go Streaks!.

Freshman Amber Jamieson, a new member of the dance team, does the routine at the Sept 10 football game against Rockbridge.

Photo by Emily Jamieson Left: The HHS dance team at their first performance September 10.

Photos

by Emily Jamieson

Quinceñera holds right of passage Latin American equivalent of “sweet sixteen” full of dancing, new and traditional.

Maggie Siciliano

S

staff reporter

ome girls, usually with Latin American origins, cannot wait for their fifteenth birthday. This is their time to celebrate their quinceñera, or the party that represents you no longer being a girl, but showing how you are turning into a young lady.

There are many different traditions and ceremonies performed at a quinceñera, but one of the main events is the dancing. Many different kinds of dancing happen at this celebration- the durangense, the waltz, the cumbia, the bachata, and the salsa, to name a fewbut usually it is the hostess’ personal preference that wins out when picking which ones to do.

Sophomore Elena Gerome is getting ready for her quinceñera in September. She will be doing all the dances mentioned, but her favorite is the

Right: Sophomore Elana Gerome and guests enjoy the dancing at her quinceñera.

Photos by Maggie Siciliano.

cumbia.

“I like it because it’s fun, upbeat, and you just go with it,” Gerome said.

The traditional dance is a waltz. It starts out with her father escorting the birthday girl into the dance, and the rest of it is danced with all of her company of chambalans- her best guy friends- the men of honor. Usually a quinceñera will have chambalans, and damas (women of honor), but she has chambalans only. Her and her family decided this because as the birthday girl, her family thought it best she stay the center of attention and stand out more.

“Elena always wanted to show me the dances just when we would goof off,” sophomore Sam St. Ours, her main man of honor: a position given to her best guys friend, said. They would have to take a few official dance classes before the party, “so it came pretty easily to me.”

Gerome did not always know how to do the dances, though. Unless your parents are really into the dances, you

do not learn them until you’re older and start going to other quinceñeras.

The dances are all a little different from each other. The cumbia is upbeat and fun. The bachata is slow. The salsa is the most different of all, being elegant, intense, and passionate.

“It’s more repetetive and structured.” St. Ours said about how the dances differ from American style dancing.

“There’s a lot more spinning and hip movement [with this style of dance],” sophomore Ben DiNapoli said, also one of Gerome’s men of honor.

Gerome got to pick which music she wanted, but almost everyone uses the music called Durangense. It’s the main type of music played at a quinceñera, but depending on what you like, it could be a variety of other types of music as well.

The culture, the family, and the friends all support the dancing and all that it involves during the quinceñera, “Everyone loves the dancing!” Gerome said.

Dance Through the Ages infographic

by Peter Byrd

1960’s The Madison: Line dance that was invented in Chicago, The monkey and even more Twist

1980’s Moonwalk: Made famous by Michael Jackson, The Worm, The Robot, Breakdancing

2000’s

Jerk: Introduced by a group called New Boyz, Two-Step, Soulja Boy, Grinding

1950’s Twist: Writen and released by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters. Chubby Checker made the dance famous.

1970’s

The YMCA: Made famous by the Village People, Disco: Music influenced by funk, Latin, and soul music

1990’s The Macarena: Made famous by Los Del Chipmunks in an effort to entertain children, Rave dancing

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Celebrating a career Aidan Newcity feature editor

H

HS Principal Irene Reynolds did not play sports in school.

There were two reasons why.

Cheerleading and being a majorette were the only options for girls(Title IX was not yet in effect) and she had Rheumatic Fever, which restricted her from playing sports for a whole year.

Reynolds was born on Oct 25, 1952 in Paterson, NJ. She lived in Paterson until high school where she went to Franklin Lakes, NJ. Reynolds was the youngest of a brother and sister, but her sister and brother were 10 years older than she was. “[I was] extremely close to my entire family,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds went to a city school, an old 3-story building where her aunt, uncle, brother and sister all attended. Back then, Reynolds reflects that it was a standard activity to smoke. She remembers there was a sign in the girl’s bathroom that said ‘Marlboro Country’. She doesn’t recall the smell of smoke, probably because everyone smoked and smelled like smoke so it didn’t smell different.

“Even the principal smoked! I remember sitting in class or a meeting and the teacher or principal would pull out a cigarette and no one would think anything of it,” Reynolds said.

Vanessa Ehrenpreis- Feature B3

HHS Principal Irene Reynolds announced her Jan 31 retirement earlier this month. To honor her years of service in the HCPS system, we will be covering a different aspect of her life each issue this year.

Reynolds childhood career dream was to be a teacher. She grew up playing games as the teacher with her friends, and it just stuck with her.

“I always wanted to be a teacher. When I played school with my friends and cousins I always had to be the teachers. Actually, there weren't lots of choices or opportunities for young girls, that I knew about anyway, but, I never regretted my choice [to become a teacher],” Reynolds said.

During the time that Reynolds was at school, cheerleading and majorettes were the only sports offered at her school or any other school. Causing Reynolds not to know any differently than not having girls play sports.

“The only women on TV in sports were the roller derbies,” Reynolds said.

As a child, Reynolds liked to play outside and hang out with friends. She and her friends played jacks, double Dutch jump rope, hop scotch, wall ball, and board games. She enjoyed board games the most and played them all the time. At night, Reynolds and neighbors would play games.

At a nearby park, Reynolds with family and neighborhood friends would play on the playground, running around, and for winter sledding. Reynolds says she ice skated and playing in the snow.

“At night we would play hide and go seek, but when the street lights came on, we would have to come in,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds did not have many conflicts or had a lot of fun times as a child. She enjoyed problems as a child, may it of been with her her childhood immensely. Her memories parents or friends, they didn’t occur. But that she created she will never forget. when she reached adolescence, her and her “I enjoyed my childhood. I had many parents had conflicts, like most teens. friends in the city, lots of double Dutch, “I grew up with all my cousins and long jacks, dolls, and board games. The fire detime neighborhood friends. I didn't have partment opened the hydrants up and we any conflicts that I can remember. My par- would splash around on the streets,” Reynents were very strict and I did have conflict olds said. with that when I was a teenager,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds and her family had a traditional vacation that they went on every summer when she was a child. It was always her favorite vacation of her childhood.

“Going to the beach with my aunts, uncles and cousins every summer at the Jersey shore [was my favorite vacation,” Reynolds Reynolds and her husband Gene Reynolds, 19, sports homemade said. on their honeymoon.

Photo outfit. Photo courtesy of Irene Reynolds courtesy of Irene Reynolds.

Reynolds.

Blacklights give homecoming theme a new twist William Imeson

E

staff reporter

very year, Harrisonburg High School hosts one of the wildest parties in Harrisonburg. It is not Mrs. Reynold’s birthday bash, not the Snowball dance, it’s Homecoming. Thanks to the persistent diligence of our Student Council Association, who is in charge of planning events such as Homecoming, and pep rallies, Homecoming is consistently a great party. And SCA Vice President Leo Arango promises that it will be a smash.

“I can’t wait to see our hard work in full effect,” Arango said.

This year’s Homecoming theme is Space

I was already going to wear a white dress, and now everyone is going to be wearing white.

Jam ‘10. SCA Secretary Ryan Fletcher is the one who came up with it.

“I was just throwing out ideas when I thought of space,” Fletcher said.

Last year’s theme was Fiesta and there were sombreros spread all around the gym commons. This year looks to be even better.

The SCA is also planning to enlist the help of the art club and drama department for decorative purposes.

The gym commons will be all decked out with space apparel and rocket ships and maybe even an acronym for NASA. Last year there were no Homecoming tshirts because the SCA bought t-shirts for

the renaissance pep rallies, but this year they will be back.

The shirts will feaJ u n i o r ture a graphic with A m b e r the moon and an astronaut. Shirts will Carter be passed out at the end of the dance.

The SCA has also lined up DJ Christian Pearson to come this year. Pearson will be coming to school during lunch shifts on Oct 1 and getting song requests from students. These songs will be compiled into playlists and played throughout the night.

Another bonus to the theme this year is that the gym commons will have lots of

black lights. This is a new idea that will surely add an interesting effect to the dance.

“I think it will be cool because of the black lights, the moon and other stuff will be glowing,” Fletcher said. “It hasn’t been done before and it’s going to be fun.”

However, black lights are not appreciated by everyone. Junior Amber Carter was not pleased when she found out there will be black lights.

“I was already going to wear a white dress, but now everyone is going to be wearing white. And I don’t want to copy them,” Carter said.

Despite some disapproval, homecoming is still coming together nicely. Behind the hard work of our SCA, a DJ, and black lights, plans are underway.

Homecoming on a budget: Guys and Girls edition s $ On a budget l r i G Dress

Hair Jewlery

Nails Shoes Makeup

Borrow a friend’s dress, or try Plato’s Closet with dresses starting at $6.00

$$In the middle $$$ Going all out JCPenney- black and white dress by Bisou for $39.99

Look up 5 Minute Homecoming Updo on Youtube. com, and be sure to check out other do-ityourself hair tutorials

Try Simmons Cut and Tan for an updo, $25.00

Claire's is great for cheap costume jewelry that starts at

Chandelier earrings at Icing for $12.50

Get a friend to do it using a nail file, nail polish, and pampering lotions you already have Check out Plato’s Closet for name brands like Steve Madden shoes for as low as $7.00!

Use the E.L.F. Smokey Eye Palette and lip gloss at Target for a total of$4

Total: $11.50

and up depending on shoe and dress price

Do it yourself with Covergirl manicure and pedicure sets for $7.99 each and nail polish by Sally Hansen for $6.99, available at Rite Aid.

Silver formal shoes at Payless for $24.99

Use a Sonia Kashuk eye palette and lipstick from Target for a total of $22.98

$142.43

Designer dress by La Femme for $283.00 at Bridal Impressions

The Studio Salon and Day Spa- updos from $35.00 to $55.00

Crystal necklace and earring set for $32.00 from Foreverprom.com $60.00+ for a manicure/pedicure at The Studio Salon and Day Spa Shoes by Sizzle for 65.00 at Bridal Impressions $30.00 for a makeover at The Stuido Salon and Day Spa

$505

s y u G Dress shirt and tie

Pants

$ Borrow a used shirt from a friend for free. Or buy a George Men’s Shirt and Tie Box Set for $8 from Wal-Mart

Borrow a pair of used pants from a friend.

Wrangler Men’s Flat Front Pants for $14.97 from Wal-Mart

$$

$$$

Claiborne Skip Dent shirt from $24.99 (Tie included), at JC Penny

Burberry Exploded Check Dress Shirt at Saksfifthavenue. com for $195 Ermenegildo Zegna Silk Tie Saksfifthavenue.com for $175

St. John’s Bay Pleated Worry Free Relaxed Pants for $36 from JC Penney

Calvin Klein Mens Flat Front Slim Fit Brown Wool Dress Pants for $99 at www.amazon.com

Pick flowers from your garden free of charge

Go to the Artistic Go to ProFlowers, Florist, buy and purchase the the FTD DeSeven White sire Corsage Spray Rose: for $28.99 $35.99

Photos

Take your own photos and view them on the computer for Free

Take your own T a k e photos and print your own photos, them at Walmart: for print them, and frame $0.09 each them, or putthem a photo book: $25

Dinner

Make a homemade meal for $0. Or go to a fast food chain for a quick and cheap dinner.

Go to Dave’s Taverna for a meal for two for around $45. Or try Taste of Thai for $40

Try Blue Nile Ethiopian Cuisine for $66, or the high-end Joshua Wilton House for $75

Transportation

Get your parents to drive you, ride city transportation or bike for no cost.

Drive yourself. Gas$2.49 per gallon

Rent a limo for the night. It costs about $110.60 per hour.

Corsage

Total: $0

and up depending on shirt and pants price

Space Jam’ 10

It’ll be out of this world!

Homecoming Dance: October 16, 8- midnight

$129.98

$706.59

and up and up depedning on photo and gas costs depending on limo and dinner prices.

$15

per person Tickets available in room 444

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Lauren Martin- Ads

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The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Lauren Martin- Ads

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The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Michael Johnson-Sports

Sarver named coach of decade by VA Preps Shane McMahan Sports Editor

“

Overwhelmed” was the term that immediately popped into long-time HHS football coach Tim Sarver’s head when he heard that Virginia Preps named him Region III coach of the decade. Sarver has compiled a 9524 win-loss record and has reached two state championships over the ten-year span.

“It is obviously a tremendous honor, and is very overwhelming” Sarver said. “Virginia Preps is a great organization that has produced a great website.”

Sarver was quick to give credit to all of the coaches and players with whom he has worked over the past decade, claiming that if not for them, he would not be where he is today.

“The players and the parents of the players have always been great, and help the program out a lot,” Sarver said.

“Family” is a word often associated with most high school football teams. At Harrisonburg, this is no different.

“Some of the coaches who are on my staff, also played for me

Move it!

Coach Sarver surveys his team practicing on Sept 12. Prior to their game against Robert E. Lee in Staunton.

Photo by Paulina Rendon.

when they were younger,” Sarver explained. “That just goes to show that we really have developed into one big family here at Harrisonburg.”

Coaches David Long and Chris Grefe both played for him when they were in high school.

Junior kicker/punter Connor Flores explained that Sarver deserved the honor, not just as a football coach, but as a person as well.

“Coach Sarver is just a great guy,” Flores said. “He is always very straight up and honest with you, which translates to what we do on the football field.”

Senior Ryan Fletcher agreed that Sarver is a class act on and off the field.

“He deeply cares about his players, but not only on the field,” Fletcher said. “He really takes his job to a whole other level.”

Sarver is set to retire after the 2010 season, and explained that going into the season, expectations have not changed.

“Our expectations are the same as they always are,” Sarver said. “We expect each player to give his 100 percent on and off the field, and to always represent our school in a positive manner.”

Football team comes to terms with Sarver’s retirement Vanessa Ehrenpreis Managing Editor

H

ead football coach Tim Sarver has an impressive resumé: 265 games won, a Virginia state championship title, and numerous Coach of the Year awards (including his latest coach of the decade award from Virginia Preps). But perhaps even more interesting than his coaching talent is his vocabulary. Offensive Coach Moses Tinsley faces some difficulties with Sarver’s slang.

“I always need clarification for his sayings,” Tinsley said. “We’re two completely different types of people. Sarver’s a country boy from southwest Virginia, and I’m from inner city Richmond... When we’re sitting around talking I don’t know what he’s saying.”

Phrases like “Root hog or die”, and “Gonna be a Donnybrook” frequent Sarver’s vocabulary, creating a language barrier for some of the team. But luckily, Sarver had an easy solution for the problem.

“Sarver typed up a list of his southern sayings and gave it to Tinsley. Because he had no idea what [Sarver] was saying. So then Tinsley gave Sarver a list of his hood lingo,” defensive coach Mark Healy said.

Although Sarver has acquired countless titles and victories over his 26 year career, Tinsley thinks he will be most remembered for his positive affect on his players.

“His most lasting achievement are all

the kids he’s affected and touched,” Tinsley said, clearly amazed by Sarver’s ability to influence his players. “I always hear about former players coming back and thanking Sarver for what he did in their life... A lot of young men would’ve gone down the wrong path if it weren’t for him.”

Some of Sarver’s players have made it to major college teams and even the NFL. Players like Philadelphia Eagle Akeem Jordan, John Wade (who has played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Oakland Raiders) and James Rouse (who currently starts for Marshall) All decided to continue their football careers.

Sarver himself was an outstanding football player in his day. Even though one could not tell now according to Tinsley.

“The first time I met him was at the old high school [in 2002]. I was in the weight room and he walks in wearing his glasses, with the potbelly, and balding a little bit.

He looked exactly like what you think a football coach should look like,” Tinsley said chuckling a little bit at the memory.

Before his high school coaching days he earned the All-American halfback and running back title in 1963 for Bluefield High School in West Virginia. His college years were no different: in 1977 he was inducted into the Emory and Henry Hall of Fame.

Sarver’s experience with the sport has also helped his coaching talents.

“He truly cares about what he does. He knows what to expect, because he worked at the higher level. He’s a bounce back coach, [someone who comes from college football to coach high school] he knows the game,”

Tinsley said. the team will cope when Sarver is gone] all Defensive coach Healy believes that the time. It is going to be really different.

Sarver’s unique coaching abilities stem from After eight years together you get into a the fact that he “sticks to his word”. routine, you know?” Tinsley said. “He’s “I would say that Coach Sarver has a like a family member, and it’s like a family particular belief about how things need to member is going away so we’ll only see them be done. He’s been doing the same thing sometimes. It’s going to be strange.” for years,” Healy said. “He doesn’t bend on Healy shares in Tinsley’s sadness. something he believes... He’s a man who “I’ve been coaching with him since I was sticks to his guns.”

23, we’re coming up on the 18th year. He Healy remembers an instance when he didn’t just teach me about how to be a good caught the star player (at that time) smoking football coach, but also how to be a man,” a cigarette. Due to Sarver’s zero tobacco, Healy said. “I’ll miss just hanging out with alcohol, and drug policy, even the star of the him. Also the friendship we’ve developed team faced consequences. over the past 18 years. Good friendships are “I turned him in, and he was banned from important.” the game. We lost. Sarver doesn’t waiver Sarver’s replacement has yet to be from his beliefs. There are no exceptions,” named, but as Tinsley puts it, “Who ever it Healy said. is has some big shoes to fill.”

On the field, Sarver is sure to vocalize his opinions and plays to the team.

“He’s more of a talker.

He’ll line up all the guys on the field and talk to them about how to do things. Sometimes he’ll draw plays on the board and explain them. But he’s certainly a hands on and oral coach,” Tinsley said.

Tinsley knows the team will have some difficulties adjusting to Let’s Talk! Coaches Tim Sarver, Moses Tinsley, and Chris Sarver’s absence.

“I think about [how Grefe talk football at practice. Photo by Paulina Rendon.

Sarver abides by same values on,off football field Phillip Bannister

not know about this recognition until the Daily News record sports reporter Marcus Helton called to ask him some Editor-in-Chief questions about it. Basically, I found out about it the way everyone else did, I read it in the paper! Of course I was very proud and was sure to email our family to let them n room 222 HHS Varsity Football coach Tim Sarver know,” Kathy said. teaches United States History. This year Coach Sarver But despite the fact that she did not know about the can add another title to his list, ‘Region 3 Coach of the award in advance, Kathy believes that he is a great coach Decade’. This award was not just a win for the team, which is a key aspect of receiving this honor. school, or Sarver himself, but his family as well.

“He truly honors the game and all who are involved with The coach’s wife Kathy Sarver was surprised to hear her it. It is a passion for him and he believes that being a part husband was receiving the award. of a team, working to become the best you can be, growing “Well, at first we were both surprised because we did together, being held accountable, pulling together as a unit, accepting responsibility and striving for success is preparation for life. He is a coach of high integrity,” Kathy said.

Off the field and outside of the class room Tim holds the same values and integrity that he holds for football for his family.

“I think the attributes that make him a great coach also make him a great dad and husband. He is caring and patient. He loves his family above all else and we know it. He is not afraid to show his love and is so very proud of the successes and accomplishments of his family. Each of his kids ( Jeb, Amanda, and Benjamin) consider him a role model,” Kathy said.

Despite the major time commitments and time restraints that football requires, Kathy could not be more happy or proud to be able to Alert! Coach TIm Sarver watches the announcements during his class Friday. call her husband the coach of HHS football.

Photo by Paulina Rendon.

I

“I love football and I am so proud to be a part of his team and his staff,” Kathy said.

But athletics do not only tie into Tim’s coaching but the family’s life as a whole.

“We are an athletic family. All five of us played sports through school and I also was a coach, so we tend to gravitate to sports-watching, coaching, playing. We also enjoy each other’s company and enjoy family vacations and lingering at the dinner table after the meal just talking and usually cracking each other up,” Kathy said.

The love for football is not just a passion that Tim carries, but the Sarver family as a whole all share a love and passion for the sport.

“We are a HUGE football family! All of us has played a role in Blue Streak football. Our two boys began as ball boys and moved into playing for the Streaks. Amanda was a manager for the team and I do stats each game. Now, Jeb is also coaching with his father. When we are not at HHS games we are traveling to watch Ben play for Davidson College and also routing for our own college teams,” Kathy said.

Over the last decade Coach Sarver has played through many games, seen players come and go, ran many plays, and shared many games with his family. The highlight for the last 10 years for Kathy is not the game necessarily, but them as a family.

“The highlight for me has been that our entire family has been a part of it from start to finish. Watching our boys play for their Dad, all of us sharing in the pride of Blue Streak football and our children having seven dad’s (all the assistant coaches) helping to raise them plus the many amazing ‘adopted’ sons that we have from 26 years of coaching at HHS,” Kathy said.

The last 10 years have been full of games, football players, and family for the Sarver’s. Not only has Tim Sarver succeeded as a coach but also as a dad. Kathy describes the last the last three years as, “Honor, Integrity, and Success.”

Sarver’s Football Accomplishments 1970

1960

1962-63

All-American Half back and Running back for Bluefield High School in Bluefield, WV

1963-67

Played four years of college football at Emory and Henry College

1980

1977

Inducted into the Emory Hall of Fame

1990

2000

2003-04 Region III Coach of the Year

2010

2005

State Coach of the Year

2006-10 Region III Coach of the Year

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Peter Byrd- Sports B7

Freshman lead golf team to district championship Ali Byrd

staff reporter

W

hile most students and teachers were enjoying the last few weeks of summer, freshmen Kyle Templeton and Matthew Shifflett were out practicing on the links. The two youngest members of the golf team are leading the Streaks this year out on the greens.

“I play almost every day., Shifflett said.

When asked what the freshman bring to the team, senior team members, Trevor Shank and Sam Obenshain, and Coach Mike Ruckman all replied, “Good scores!”

The two do not only bring good scores--they also bring experience.

“They are tournament tested and are used to the high level of competition,” Ruckman said.

Templeton picked the sport back up two years ago after taking three years off, while Shifflett just started playing two years ago. Both

play almost every day to keep their shots on point.

In addition to experience, they bring competition. Both athletes are competitors, as all athletes should be, and thrive off of one another. “They are good friends and it’s a good c o m p e t i t i o n ,” R u c k m a n said, “They’ve learned to keep it friendly.”

Although the team practices and plays a majority of their games at Heritage Oaks Golf Course, both players prefer to play at Lakeview Golf Course Massanetta Leading off. Freshman number one in seed Kyle Templeton takes a massive Springs.

“There are cut with his five iron during a practice at a big variety Heritage Oaks. Photo by Jack Burden. of holes and I

like the layout of the holes, Templeton said.

While golf is typically considered an individual sport, Templeton and Shifflett enjoy playing as part of a team. They both agree that it’s helpful because if one person has a bad day their buddies will be there to back them up in representing our school.

Although Shifflett does not have a favorite professional golfer, Templeton follows Ricky Fouler. “I like him because my swing is quite similar to his,” Templeton said.

The Streaks golf team qualified for Regionals by winning the Massanutten regular season district title. Templeton and Shifflett both hope to keep their streak going and possibly get to the State Tournament. The Streaks will continue play in the Region III Tournament on Oct10 at Lexington Country Club.

How to swing a golf club

Place ball in the middle of your stance and grip the club.

Bring club back, making sure your left arm is straight.

Bring club over your shoulder, keeping your eyes on the ball.

Bring club through the ball, making sure not too look up.

Follow through, bringing club over your opposite shoulder.

Freshman team fosters future varsity players Mark Duda

E

staff reporter

xpectations run high for this year’s freshman football team, with battles for starting positions running fierce.

“We have a lot of guys trying out for positions like quarterback and running back,” said Zeki Salehi, a receiver on the team Freshman football is not exactly like junior varsity squads in other sports, the team features freshman and a few eighth graders who compete against teams of similar size. The team competes on Wednesdays instead of Fridays, too. Cornerback Jacob Byrd, a first year player, says that, “the scrimmages went pretty

well, but we didn’t have the best game against Rockbridge.”

With all of the players trying to prove themselves, practices can get pretty intense.

“My favorite thing to do in practice is definitely hit people, even though I play receiver” Salehi said. The team has already participated in two scrimmages, first against Millbrook High School, and more recently against Pendleton County.

“We did pretty well in the scrimmage, it got us excited for the season, a few guys didn’t really know what they were doing before, I think we became more organized,” Salehi said.

Linebacker Ahmed Mustafa highlighted the team’s weaknesses in some areas.

“Our scrimmages went great but we

have a lot of trouble with special teams, Ryan Nixon and Jordan Dove should be star players,” Mustafa said. This doesn’t mean that the team should have anything less than a stellar season though, “I think we stand a great chance this year if our offense and special teams settle in,” he said Expectations for the season vary.

“The teams with the best freshman and JV teams are usually the ones with the best varsity teams,” Byrd said, while Ahmed said, “I don’t know what our hardest game will be, but Waynesboro will be our easiest.”

The team plays four home games this year against R.E. Lee, Waynesboro, Fort Defiance, and Spotswood. The team’s schedule mirrors that of the varsity squad, except they play on Wednesdays.

Red Sea T-Shirts

for sale in room 444 only $10!

Be cool and show spirit for your school!

Shane says...

Leave Lebron alone for good Shane McMahan

A

sports columnist

t the beginning of the 2009-2010 NBA season, we listened to critics rave about how the Lakers were going to repeat, how Kevin Garnett was guaranteeing another NBA title, and how Allen Iverson was set to play (again). However, none of these compare to the speculation that arose around LeBron James’ decision to whether he would stay in Cleveland or pursue other options. LeBron insisted that his focus was on the task at hand (returning to the finals), and that his decision would come after the season was complete. The Cleveland Cavaliers season came to an abrupt halt after the top seeded Cavaliers were dethroned in the east by the Boston Celtics. Many critique that LeBron “was not himself” throughout the whole series, and unlike Zac Efron, his head was clearly not in the game. LeBron James ended the Boston series with averages of 26.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 7.1 APG. Terrible right?

LeBron couldn’t do it alone. He got no help from any teammate, and got all the blame.

That is what you get when you are a superstar, and a global icon. When the clock struck 0, and LeBron took off his Cavalier jersey for the last time, the world knew that the season had not ended; it was just getting started. The media immediately swarmed around LeBron regarding the free agent signing period, asking questions such as “Any plans already lined up?”

“Do you have any sense of how you are going to approach this summer?”

LeBron stated time and time again that he was not even thinking about the summer yet, and that his focus was completely on what had gone wrong in the series. He said all the right things. The things that kept the rest of the world awaiting his decision, on the edge of their seats.

The 2010 free agency period started on July 1. The pool of players included James, Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Joe Johnson, Carlos Boozer, and Amar’e Stoudemire, all NBA superstars. Still, all media attention was centered around LeBron James. Time passed, players signed, LeBron waited. Although all teams were obviously interested, considering James is the face of the NBA, only a handful were able to pursue the “king” due to salary cap restrictions. The final list of contenders included the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks, the New Jersey Nets, and the Miami Heat, who had just days before agreed to terms with all-stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

It is said that James, Wade, and Bosh had talked about and dreamed of playing together, while participating together on team USA in the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing. I mean, seriously, who would have thought that it was remotely possible? The question surrounding the speculation was whether or not the salary cap space would be there. Going into the final days before “The Decision”, the Miami Heat literally cleared the whole roster besides Bosh, Wade, guard Mario Chalmers, and former second overall pick, Michael Beasley. All was in place to make the move happen. Days before LeBron was set to make his choice, he announced that he would make his decision on a one hour special on ESPN. The proceeds from the event went to different Boys and Girls clubs across the country. So why did everyone jump down his back about having the show? James had the right idea in mind, people just looked for anything they could to criticize him.

On the night of July 8, 2010, LeBron James announced that he would join forces with Wade and Bosh, take his talents to South Beach, and join the Miami Heat. Immediately, James was attacked by the media, jerseys were burned, and hearts were broken (in Cleveland). Within hours after “The Decision” aired, Cleveland Cavaliers owner, Dan Gilbert, issued a letter directed towards the Cavalier fans whose hearts had been broken. The letter verbally abused James, accusing him of quitting in the playoffs, calling the way he handled the situation “cowardly betrayal”, and assuring the Cavalier faithful that the Cavalier organization would win an NBA title before the “self-titled former ‘king’ wins one.” Moments after I read the letter that Gilbert issued, I drew the line.

Granted, I am a bit LeBron biased, but he did not deserve this. LeBron has put his focus on winning from day one. The Cavaliers were not putting the right pieces around him, so he left. To win. The Heat showed they were dedicated to winning. The Cavaliers did not.

LeBron did what was best for him, and in the situation he was in, that is perfectly fine.

To this very day, something concerning James is aired on Sportscenter at least once a day. He has not been left alone, and will not be left alone. But, that is one responsibility that comes along with being a superstar. I am confident that James made the right move, and that the Cleveland Cavaliers front office has no one to blame but themselves. So, put the blame on somebody else, and leave LeBron alone.

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

The Deal

with Durden...

Jake Durden sports columist

E

very decade, there are a few sports heroes who exemplify courage and heart for the rest of us. We are lucky enough to be witnessing one right now.

In 2008, Boston College junior linebacker Mark Herzlich was the ACC Defensive player of the year. He had six interceptions (the most in the nation for a linebacker) and returned two for touchdowns. Some NFL scouts had him as a first round draft pick. However, Herzlich elected to stay for his senior year. That spring, everything changed.

On May 12, 2009 Herzlich was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer that is often fatal. Luckily, the cancer was still treatable.

Herzlich started chemotherapy treatments immediately and spent the entire 2009 season battling his cancer, but still managed to make it to games and to support his teammates from the sideline. His courage and strength inspired countless people across the nation and drew the support of others, including myself. Cancer cost Herzlich his hair, his strength, but never his heart. He received the Disney Spirit Award for his courage in 2009.

Once he overcame Ewing’s Sarcoma, Herzlich almost immediately began working out to prepare for his long awaited senior season. A stress fracture in his right foot has kept Herzlich out of practice for three weeks, but he still played in Boston College’s season opener vs. Weber State on Sept 4 and recorded five tackles (3 solo) only 87 weeks after being diagnosed with cancer, just another testament to his toughness. Herzlich overcame Ewing’s Sarcoma, and has shown that a fighting spirit and determination can conquer any opponent.

Whenever I think about Herzlich’s struggle for his life, I remember how fortunate we are to be able to play sports and just suffer nicks and bruises. Herzlich is also a great example of mental toughness; he wouldn’t allow anyone feeling sorry for him to be around him, and focused on the positives and fighting to regain his strength. I think that everyone can learn something from this story about how to respond to adversity. Mark Herzlich is a true warrior and I wish him the best of luck for his senior year and onward

All positions play crucial role in volleyball Ben Dinapoli

I

staff reporter

t is very important to know what to do in a game of volleyball. If you are clueless about your role on the court, there is no way that your team will have a chance at winning. In order to for a volleyball team to work as one, an understanding of your position and lots of practice are vital.

There are six main positions. The middle hitters are located in the front row, played by Aidan Newcity and Mikala Wolter. One of the main priorities of these two people is to block the ball, however most who play this position are also very good hitters. Aidan Newcity and Mikala Wolter start for the HHS . Mikala commented that her job is tough because, “It involves continuous blocking and run a lot of running around, but is always fun because you can play a lot more trick plays.”

The outside hitter is the go-to guy when the ball is on your team’s side. This player is usually one of the best hitters on the team. “One of the cool things about my position is that you can actually get in the air and attack the ball,” says Kerri Hofacker, who starts along side Bianca Joiner in this spot.

The offside hitter’s job is mainly blocking. They are also the back-up setters. This means that if the setter hits the ball first, then the offside hitter is responsible for the second hit. Sarina Hartman starts, and said “This position is different from the outside hitter’s because when hitting to the middle, you have to be aware of the blockers. It’s challenging knowing what angle to hit the ball because of the 2 blockers.”

The setter is arguably the most important player on the court, played by freshman Skyler Johnson.

She usually works the hardest, and is responsible for playing the second ball/hit on the court. If the setter happens to hit the ball on the first hit, then the back-up setter (the offside hitter) is responsible for the next ball. Skyler Johnson starts in this position.

Lastly, there is the Libero, played by Taylor Grogg. Located in the back row, the libero is the Hands up! Junior Mikala Wolter prepares to block from the middle best defender and passer on the court. “The thing position in a recent game against R.E. Lee. The Lady Streaks lost the that makes the libero special is that I can sub in match 3-1. Photo by Jim Newcity. for any player on the back row at any time,” Grogg all about defense and passing, hopefully staying solid to push said.

All in all, the front row is important for blocking and those the team to victory. If everyone is working together, there is a classics spikes that everyone loves to watch. The back row is good chance that your team will end up on top.

Freshman adjusts to life as varsity setter Maggie Siciliano

W

Ready, set! Freshman Skyler Johnson sets the ball to middle hitter/blocker senior Aidan Newcity.

Johnson is the first freshman setter to start on the varsity squad since former all-region player Alex Johnson. The setter functions like the point guard on a basketball team by running the offensive and defensive plays on the team. A team’s success is often dictated by the efficiency of its setter. Photo by Jim Newcity.

Athlete Spotlight Nevin Heckman

Age: 17 Grade: 11th Sport: Cross Country 5K Personal Record: 18:04

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unior Nevin Heckman comes from an athletic family. Both his parents run, and he decided to continue their legacy, starting with middle school athletics. Heckman denies that his parents had any influence over his decision to run Cross Country in sixth grade, because it was more of a social thing at Thomas Harrison Middle School.

“I started in middle school because everyone ran back then,” Heckman said. “I continued into high school because I was good enough at it.”

In fact, Heckman is more than “good enough at it”. Ranked second on the boy’s cross country team, he is a major factor in the team’s success. Although, in the past, illnesses have taken him out of some major meets. Swine Flu kept him from racing in the 2009 cross country district meet, and an eye infection thwarted his hopes of competing in 2010 region meet. Despite his susceptibility to sickness, Heckman can race astonishingly well.

“Cross Country is a brutal sport. It’s all about who can stay in there mentally. You run a mile, and then another mile, and just keep going,” Heckman said. “I’m happy when I’m done.”

Shane McMahan- Sports B8

staff reporter

hen Skyler Johnson tried out for the HHS volleyball team, her goal was to make it onto the JV squad. She had played on the JV team last year as an eighth grader and figured history would repeat itself.

Coach Andy Thompson had other ideas. The team was in need of a varsity setter this year, and she was a perfect fit for the varsity team. Thompson knew she could handle it.

“Her skills and talent are of varsity level, she’s the best setter in the program.” Thompson said.

Her brother, senior Jake Johnson, and cousin, junior Mikala Wolter, who also plays for the varsity team, agreed.

Both had always thought she would make varsity.

“She had played a lot over the summer, had worked hard, and she’s a good player. I knew she would make it,” Jake said.

“When I found out I was really excited, but nervous, too.” Skyler said. She had a reason to be: she was the starting on the varsity volleyball team. She had not expected it, but now that she was on the team, the 5 foot 4 inch freshman knew it was a great opportunity for her.

While Skyler is just a freshman, younger than most on varsity, she is not really treated differently.

“Skyler’s just another player. It’s never been weird with her there, she went to the team volleyball camp with us, and now she’s just part of the team,” sophomore Kerri Hofacker, who also plays on the varsity team, said of the setter.

“It’s not weird because we’ve played trated, but I try to just brush it off.” Skywith freshman before,” Wolter agreed. ler said.

The game, though, is a lot different She does know that this is not exactfor her than it was when she played on ly set in stone, and states, “I just want to the JV team. play and work hard, so that I can keep “The varsity games are much more my spot.” intense,” Skyler said, and the athletes really get into them, “As soon as I’m on court, I get so nervous. And then the other team’s first serve is really nervewracking.”

The on-court nerves are not noticeable during game time. Although she might get butterflies on court, she says she definitely trusts her teammates. She knows if she cannot get somewhere, they are going to be there for her.

“There’s a lot of pressure starting as setter,” Skyler said, “ If I don’t get a good set, or don’t get to a ball, my teammates can’t get a good hit, and we’ll never get a kill.”

“There’s definitely a lot of pressure put on varsity players, but I think she handles it well.” Jump! Freshman Skyler Johnson attacks the ball at a recent home game against R.E. Lee. Skyler, who is the Jake said.

“Sometimes I do starting setter, is an equally effective spiker. Photo by Jim get angry, or frus- Newcity.

Offensive hitter Hartman key to Streaks’ success Jake Durden

son, head coach of the Streaks. “Sarina is extremely versatile; she can play both sports columist outside and offiside hitter for us.”

Her teammate, junior Mikala Wolter, unior Sarina Hartman leaped into thinks highly of Hartman and what she the air and smashed an overhead brings to the table. set into opposing territory, win“She’s one of our best hitters,” Woltning another point for the Blue er said, who plays middle hitter for the Streaks volleyball team. A returning Streaks. “Sarina has a really positive atvarsity player, Hartman’s positions in- titude and helps encourage us to stay clude offside hitter, outside hitter, and focused and positive. She’s very good at occasionally setter. Her primary posi- letting her own mistakes go.” tion is offside hitter, where she typically Hartman’s positive attitude is leading starts every game. to positive results for the Streaks. HHS “What’s hard about pulled out a my position is that you nailbiting win “I expect our have a harder angle and against East you have to keep your team to be much Rockingham, hitting approach inside as well as winbetter this year. the court. Also, you ning a tough have to get the second We have some J u n i o r road game at Sarina ball if the setter gets the really good Hartman Rockbridge. first,” Hartman said.

The Streaks “[Hartman] is defiyounger girls have lost to nitely a key to our team Waynesboro, and I think that and a really good hitR.E. Lee, and ter,” said Andy Thomphelps a lot.” a stellar East-

J

ern Mennonite squad.

“This team can’t win without her,” Thompson said.

Hartman has high hopes for the 2010 Lady Streaks.

“I expect our team to be much better this year,” Hartman said. “We have some really good experienced younger girls and I think that helps a lot.”

“Sarina is an encouraging teammate who is always positive and really funny,” senior middle blocker Aidan Newcity said. “She’s also one of our strongest passers who is in all of our serve receives. It helps out so much when you have a passer who can get the ball up to the setter who is in her position already so I can get a great hit. It all starts with a pass and coach has been drilling and drilling us on that concept.”

With Hartman leading by example, the Streaks have already exceeded their win total for last season. HHS is expected to be significantly more competitive in district and regular season action this year.

The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

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The Newsstreak

September 24, 2010

Phillip Bannister- photo essay B10

HHS! Students body paint at the tailgate in order to show opposing teams their team spirit. Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Defense! Seniors Haley Wenos and Pricilla Harrison get pumped before the game at tailgate. Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Rock the Bridge! Cheerleaders hold a banner for the football players to break through during their entrance to the field. Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Spirit. Sophomore Sam St. Ours dresses in an all red Onesie to show school pride.

Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Chucks! Senior Isaac Roher displays custom made Chuck Taylor Converses made especially for the Blue Streaks. Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Red Sea! The Red Sea takes a break from cheering during a time out in the game. Photo by Paulina Rendon

Practice. Senior Natalie Warner Practices flute. Photo by Olivia McCarty.

Calling the play. A referee calls a play. Photo by Olivia McCarty

Cheer! Cheerleaders pay close attention. Photo by Olivia McCarty

Kick! The dance team performs before a game. Photo by Phillip Bannister

Pledge. Dance team pledges alligance before a game. Photo by Olivia McCarty

Blow the Whistle! The referee holds a whistle in his mouth in anticipation of making a call for the game. Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Pep Talk. Coach Grefe gives players a pep talk to keep up energy and moral on the team. Photo

by Olivia McCarty

Streaks! Red sea gets hyped before a game. Photo by Phillip Bannister

Toot, toot! Band member Ashley Riley plays flute. Photo

by Olivia McCarty

Go! Red Sea displays energy during the game.

Photo by Phillip Bannister

Go! Students display flags at tailgate. Photo

by Phillip Bannister.-

Line it up! The 2010-2011 dance team executes a well rehearesed kick line as a part of their new coreography during a preformance that took place here during our first home game against Rock Bridge. Photo by Olivia McCarty

Reflect. Our Streaks marching band practices outside of the school in preparation to open the football game. The reflection of Senior Alison Domonoske playing shows. Photo by Olivia McCarty

Let’s Go Blue Streaks! Seniors Brandon Baxter, Mark Mullinex, Thomas Wong, Priscilla Harrison, Kathy Rodriguez, Sam Obenshain, Scott Measell, and Shane McMahan help rock the Red Sea student section at the home opening football game against the Rockbridge Wildcats. The Red Sea student section was the brainchild of HHS alumni Jason Krech and that year’s SCA executive board who wanted to do something to liven up the fan section at home sporting events. All students wishing to participate can join the tailgating that takes place in the parking lot prior to every home game and then walk with the group to the student section in the home side of the bleachers. Students can purchase Red Sea t-shirts in room 444 at the high school or in the booster club apparel booth on the track during games. Shirts cost $10. The next home game will be the homecoming match-up against Stuart’s Draft on Oct 15. Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Harrisonburg! Senior Scott Measell wears a Harrisonburg Blue Streaks flag on his back during tailgate.

Photo by Phillip Bannister

Attention. Varsity Coach Tinsley plays close attention to the game at hand. Photo by Olivia McCarty.

Eye to eye. A varsity football player speaks to an athletic trainer during a break in the game.

Photo by Olivia McCarty