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

A night of

Volume XIC • Issue 1• August 22, 2011

Remembrance On August 11, junior Ricky Valencia-Rocha was killed in a car crash on I-81. Valencia was taking Behind-The-Wheel and driving at the time of the accident. A tractor trailer clipped the car, causing it to veer off the road. Student driver teacher TJ Butler, junior Taylor Grogg, and Turner Ashby junior Katrina Borg survived the crash with minor injuries. The truck driver, Robert Lambert, Jr. has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. The night of the accident, hundreds of friends, family, and sympathizers attended a candlelight vigil held in Ricky’s honor at HHS. Tearful memories and goodbyes were shared, as a the community heaved a collective sigh of reverence.

The loss of a friend. Seniors Emily Jamieson and Ryan Maphis mourn the loss of their friend and teammate. Photo courtesy of Bradley and Cara Walton.

newsstreak.com Updated sports scores Feature package stories Advertisement forms Breaking News Video footage Reviews and blogs Poll of the week Picture of the day

Coming Up: A guide for everything HOMECOMING! Price comparison for dresses, hair styling, and accessories.

Coverage of spirit week Regular fall season coverage and statistics Sports columns Books you wish you read over the summer.

Tips for all those college applications, seniors!

Freeze Frame

Community. Above: Teachers, administration, family, and friends came to the candlelight vigil on the night of August 11. Right: The moon shines over the throngs of supporters Photos courtesy of Bradley and Cara Walton.

Shaver ready to “set the vision” William Imeson editor-in-chief

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s much as a ship cannot sail without its captain, a school can not function without a principal. So Harrisonburg High School was in a bit of limbo when former principal Irene Reynolds retired after the first semester of the 201011 school year. Interim principal Dr. Perry Pope took up the reigns for the remainder of the school year and HHS began the search for a new principal. After many months, Tracy Shaver was selected and he accepted. HHS finally has its captain and is ready to sail.

Shaver was born in Colorado and spent the first seven years of his life living in the Centennial State before moving to upstate New York.

“I lived in a town in New York called Oneonta, which is roughly the same size as Harrisonburg,” Shaver said. “Oneonta also has two colleges, one private and one public.“ Shaver met his wife in Oneonta and together they have three children, an eight-year-

old girl, a five-year-old girl, and an eight-week-old boy.

Upon graduating high school, Shaver was unsure of what he wanted to do with his life, so he joined the army and traveled the world.

After three years, Shaver returned to his education and attended The State University of New York.

Shaver got his first job at a high school in Fairfax county. He was a business teacher and a curriculum specialist. As a curriculum specialist, Shaver worked with over 400 teachers in the Fairfax area.

“I spent nine years in Fairfax and then I was the assistant principal at Manassas Park High School for three years,” Shaver said. “I then spent five years as the principal of Manassas Park.”

Manassas Park High School is about two thirds the size of HHS, consisting of around 800 students.

“The diversity at HHS is similar to that of Manassas Park,” Shaver said. “Except there are many more cultural groups represented [at HHS]; Manassas Park is primarily Hispanic.”

Shaver fist heard about the

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My favorite part about being a principal is working with students, supportive parents, and committed community members.

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-Principal Tracy Shaver

job opening from Pope. Pope is from Manassas Park as well and, through him, Shaver was able to become HHS’s newest principal.

Shaver’s first impression was that HHS “was a very good school.”

“Harrisonburg High School has some very strong athletic programs and exceptional extra curricular activities,” Shaver said. “The publications at the school look fantastic. The student newspaper

See SHAVER on pg. A2

Thompson offers summer P.E. as an alternative option

Celia Ehrenpreis advertising manager

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boy sprints towards the goal, swerving as various defenders hopelessly charge him. He aims, and shoots. The soccer ball arches through the air, missing the goal, instead connecting with the girl occupying the bleachers. She squeals in anger-- even more unhappy than usual to be in a physical education class over her summer break.

This summer a few rising sophomores decided to drag themselves out of their cozy beds at 8 a.m. to take a summer P.E. class, Monday through Friday. Physical education teacher Jennifer Thompson offered the class.

The day is divided into two sections. The first part of the day is strictly physical activities: running around the track, or playing sports such as soccer, badminton, and archery. Students also lift in the weight room every other day.

Around 11 a.m., the class takes a break for lunch and resumes the day with a Driver’s Education section that will last until 1 p.m. until students are dismissed. The class is set up so it moves at a much faster pace than normal P.E. classes, especially the driver’s education part.

Students had their first test on the third day. The dates of the driver’s education portion were from June 20 to July 15. But the physical education portion lasted a little bit longer; from June 20-29.

Sophomore Deborah Halpern jumped at the opportunity to take P.E. and Health 10 over the summer so she could have more flexibility in her schedule during the school year.

“I’m taking this class because I would rather not have to take it during the year. I want to take a creative writing class instead. I would not have been able to take that class if I still had to do P.E.,” Halpern said.

Thompson teaches the class almost every summer, depending on the amount of interest shown from students.

“The class really depends on the number of kids who sign up for it. If the numbers are low then we might skip a year. In the beginning, it was only the driver’s education credit, but students requested that both parts be covered to make the class a full credit,” Thompson said.

Sophomore Evan Yoder also took the summer P.E. class in an effort to free-up his schedule.

“I got into honor’s choir this year, and if I had to take a P.E. class, I would not have been able to take [Honor’s choir]. But I heard about the summer P.E. class and signed up,” Yoder said. “The most difficult thing was definitely getting out of bed!”

New school year brings many schedule, policy changes Christy Stearn editor-in-chief

A Bellisimo! A view of a town from the Mediterranean sea on the coast of Tuscany, Italy. A group of HHS’s latin class students traveled to Italy over the summer.

Photo by Jayne Slocum.

s the year begins, students and teachers are welcoming several new changes within the school system. New principal Tracy Shaver implemented a new tardy policy, established in-school suspension at HHS, and is willing to look at revising other school rules.

One of the major changes occurring this school year is the switch from semester classes to alternating day courses. With the exception of a few subjects, all classes are year-long. Nine-week quarters will also replace previous years’ six six-week calendar.

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Activity period, which took place twice a month during third block, is set to be moved before or after the school day in order to maximize academics.

“Activity period is very important, don’t get me wrong,” Shaver said. “However, I’m mandated by my license to protect instructional time, and clubs have taken away from that time before.”

Prior tardy policies have been revised, and new procedures will be instituted that hold students accountable for their tardies. Shaver plans to enforce a new tardy policy that yields a higher attendance rate so students can take advantage of their education. One unexcused tardy will result in lunch detention, (a silent lunch in one of

STYLE

Back to school A6

HHS students’ amazing summer travels!

Haven’t bought your school supplies yet? Be sure to check out our school supply price comparison and tips for the upcoming school year!

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the classrooms.) Shaver invoked a plan similar to HHS’ new tardy policy at Manassas Park High School [MPHS]. After the procedure was put into action at MPHS, tardies decreased by 75 percent.

“In the past, there have been lots of tardies. This is one effort to lower the number of students that come to school or class late,” Shaver said.

Shaver created an in-school suspension program at HHS that will replace the Day Report Center at Lucy Simms. Only 38 percent of suspended students actually showed up. By organizing an inschool suspension program, Shaver hopes to deter poor behavior

What’s new at HHS? Almost ALL classes are full year and now follow the A/B day schedule.

HCPS now follows a nine week quarter system instead of the old six six-weeks.

Activity period no longer takes place during the school day.

New tardy policy expected to yield a higher attendance rate There will now be inschool suspension.

More “liberal” cell phone policy.

See POLICY on pg. A2

SPORTS

THE

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Regular season coverage of fall sports.

experience

Managing Editor Mark Duda traveled to Tanzania, Africa this summer. On his 16-day journey, Duda was able to absorb the African wildlife and culture. His experience is recounted here.

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August 22, 2011August 25, 2008

The

newsstreak NEWS

NEWS - A2 page designed by Katie Surratt

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-8-11:30

Homecoming ‘08 “ “ Do you LOVE your

News Briefs

Have a great first day of school!!!

We send our thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ricky Valencia-Rocha.

Ricky was killed in a car crash on I-81 on August 11. He will be missed.

Congratulations to the JROTC members who attended and graduated from the JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge at Fort Pickett.

2010-2011 yearbooks will arrive on September 2. Pick yours up during your lunch period.

Picture Day is September 16. Seniors, this will be your last chance to re-take senior portraits.

Buy your 2011-2012 yearbook - you don’t want to miss a minute of the memories.

Books on sale in room 466.

HCPS will be closed on September 5 to celebrate Labor Day. HHS will have early release on September 13.

said.

Shaver envisions permitting students to use their phones during certain times of the and keep more students caught-up on of the day, such as breakfast. He also sees their assignments. smart phones as a learning tool if the apps Shaver is considering altering HHS’ rule are school related. denying cell phone use during the school Shaver anticipates working with students day. and teachers to generate rules that suit “I’m looking HHS. at liberalizing “I’m lookthe cell phone ing forward rule. Why do to workwe as a school I’m looking at liberalizing the ing with the say we must cell phone rule. Why do we school to put away our as a school say we must put create rules phones when we and poliuse them all the away our phones when we cies that fit time? Because use them all the time? e v e r y o n e’s it’s distractn e e d s ,” -Principal ing to learning.

Shaver said.

Well, what if it Tracy Shaver wasn’t?” Shaver

from POLICY on pg. A1

The golf team will compete in the Massanutten Mini Tournament on August 23 at Heritage Oaks.

The football team will have it’s first game of the season against Turner Ashby on August 26, at TA. Cheerleading will participate in the Massanutten District Cheer Challenge The cross country team will run in the EMHS Invitational at Burtner Farm on September 10 at 10 a.m.

Be sure to come out in your Red Sea t-shirt (or sweatshirt) and support ALL HHS sporting events!

could rival a professional publication and the yearbook looks like it is done very well.

The drama and band programs are great, too.”

Shaver looks forward to working with the students and pointing HHS in a positive direction.

“My favorite part of being a principal is working with students, dedicated teachers, supportive parents and committed community members.

With the school functioning well, we can prepare students for life after high school,” Shaver said.

Shaver believes the most important thing a principal can do is “set the vision and work with the constituencies to establish goals and strategies for moving a school in good directions and provide the right opportunities for success.”

With a new superintendent and school principal, Harrisonburg High School is sure to be in for some new and positive changes.

the city that never sleeps

When: October 4 Time: 8-11:30pm Attire: Semi-formal Sports Briefs

from SHAVER on pg. A1

music

by DJ White Mike

Cost: $13 single $25 couple Gym redWhere: sea t-shirt?

Commons

Now you can have Come for a night full of dancing! a red sea

SWEATSHIRT!!

Show your school spirit, even if it’s freezing outside!

You’ll regret not buying one for those cold autumn nights in the bleachers. Trust us.

only

$20 in room 444.

August 22, 2011

The

newsstreak

Summer Swimming Spots

Splash! The rocks at Blue Hole are great for jumping or diving off. Junior Sam Martin hits the water after jumping.

Climbing the rocks. Senior Gabe Morey and junior Caitlin Kelley prepare to jump. A ladder on the other side of the rock allows easy access to the top.

Catch! 2011 graduate Zach McDonnell plays frisbee with friends at Blue Hole.

Blue Hole attracts huge crowds

Blue Hole

Mark Duda

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managing editor

ocated just outside of Rawley Springs, about 12 miles from Harrisonburg, Blue Hole is a popular choice to cool off on a hot day. Blue Hole may not have the largest swimming area around, but the swimming hole makes up for it with its depth, which allows jumping off the large boulders that sit on the shore to be the activity of choice for swimmers.

The area is fairly secluded, being a part of George Washington National Forest, but tends to get crowded on weekends and when JMU is in session. Parking is available on a nearby bridge, about a ¼ mile hike from the swimming hole.

“I think the main draw is the rocks,” junior Sam Martin said. “It’s the only place you can dive that’s not the local swimming pool.”

He also recommends taking a picnic basket, because there is a nice shaded area with logs to sit on for a picnic.

“My biggest complaint would be the overcrowding, but if you go on a weekday during the summer it should be fine,” Mar-

Christy Stearn

Blue Hole

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Union Springs Dam

©2011 Google Map Data

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brief, scenic drive through the forest from Harrisonburg, Riven Rock draws notably fewer guests than other local swimming holes, making it an ideal spot for a picnic and splash in the water on a hot summer day. Located in George Washington National Forest, past Rawley Springs on Route 33, Riven Rock sports a lazy, shallow river and several isolated picnic shelters that are almost always available without a reservation.

A sign clearly marks the entrance to the park (which is free of charge). A gravel road runs through the shade from the trees to a few picnic shelters which are large enough to accommodate 20-30 people. While the river runs shallow during summer, and even during its height in spring it is only a few feet deep, it is still a refreshing place to

The ideal location. The shelters at Riven Rock are relatively spread out, making it a great place for one looking for isolation.

editor-in-chief

Once you get the guts to jump, it’s a huge rush,” senior Kelsey Manor said. “It’s exciting, and you keep wanting to jump. The first time I went to Union Springs Dam it took me an hour and a half of pacing and looking down before I finally jumped off.”

Union Springs Dam is located in Hollow Lake, a reservoir in Rockingham County, Virginia, and is famous for its 34-foot tower in the center of the water. Visitors swim out to the tower, climb up the ladder, and leap off into the water below.

“When you climb up the ladder, you have to pull yourself up the first couple of rungs because the bottom two are underwater and are rusted.

Shards of metal can cut your feet really badly if you step on them,” Manor said.

Visitors can jump off the tower on any of its four sides, but Manor prefers to jump off the left side because the water is the deepest there.

Riven Rock offers scenic escape managing editor

tin said. “There was also some litter around the benches, but that wasn’t a big deal because the water is clean.”

Blue Hole tends to draw a crowd from the county, so arriving early to stake out a spot on the rocks is a must, according to senior Gabe Morey.

“Blue Hole is an actual swimming hole, as opposed to the little pool at Riven Rock, and is therefore populated by swarms of people looking for respite from the heat.

The average Blue Hole-r is in his/her 30’s, drinks Bud Light, and marinades in the sun with an ever-present cigarette. If you cannot stand a large number of beach apes, then plan to arrive in the morning, say 9-11 a.m. The hole is fairly empty then, and will remain so until noon,” Morey said.

The hiking trails around the hole provide another recreation opportunity, and Blue Hole is close in proximity to other parks like Riven Rock and the numerous other creeks in the national forest, so if it gets too crowded other locales are only minutes away.

Blue Hole is a great place to cool off on a hot summer day if the crowd can be avoided. The fun to be had jumping off the rocks outweighs the negatives of having people around and the abundant trash.

Union Springs Dam “a huge rush”

Riven Rock

Mark Duda

Mark Duda - A3

wade into.

Junior Erin Goodstein took a trip to Riven Rock with friends this summer, and would do things a little differently next time.

“If you plan on walking down the river, flip-flops would be a good idea. [I went with] a group and only one of my friends brought them, and the rest of us kept falling down and stubbing our toes,” Goodstein said.

The primary draws of the park are the setting and isolation. “The surroundings are really pretty, [there are] lots of hiking trails and bridges. The water is only waist-deep so you can’t swim there, but it is cold for when it’s really hot out,” Goodstein said. “It doesn’t get crowded like the pool.”

Whether it be for a picnic, a hike, or a splash in the water, Riven Rock is a local favorite to spend a hot summer day.

“I’ve seen people jump off all sides, but I only jump off the left. The lake water is so deep that you can dive off the tower, swim for the bottom, and still not reach it,” Manor said.

A metal box is attached to the front of the tower, making it difficult for divers to jump off the front. It is rumored that there is an old Volkswagen hidden under the water on the right side, and the water behind the tower is fairly shallow.

The only downside? Compared to other local swimming holes, Union Springs Dam is relatively difficult to find.

“It only takes about 15-20 minutes to get there from Harrisonburg. It’s not easy to find, though; you have to know exactly where you’re going,” Manor said.

The tower at Union Springs Dam is the lake’s main attraction. Its height makes it one of the most thrilling jumps in the area.

“The jump is way scarier than the one at Blue Hole,” Manor said. “Once you go up the ladder, you have to jump.”

Riven Rock

Versatility. The river runs considerably lower in the summer than it does during the rains of spring. However, this opens up the rocky shore for hiking.

Wading in the water. The water isn’t deep at Riven Rock- four feet at the deepest, but it’s still good to wade into. The area is also ideal for smaller children.

August 22, 2011

The

newsstreak

STYLE- A4

ADMIT ONE

Summer Blockbusters Horrible Bosses one of the “surprise hits of the summer” William Imeson online editor-in-chief

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n the world of 90-minute comedies, Horrible Bosses does not rank extremely high on the list. It does not contain any heart breaking moments, no superhuman acts of heroism, or even display the slightest amount of general decency. It is literally a movie about three people who hate their bosses so much they want to kill them. Yet that is what makes Horrible Bosses stand out. Everyone has had a person, whether it be a teacher, co-worker, neighbor, classmate, or sibling, that they just want to punch in the face. The struggle of these three men to go through their demeaning jobs each day and just make their way through life can be shared and connected

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with any audience.

Horrible Bosses is a laugh from start to finIt is literally a movie ish. Whether it is an about three peooutrageously behaved Jennifer Aniston or a saple who hate their distic Kevin Spacey, this bosses so much star studded cast is what truly makes the movie. Af- they want to kill ter introducing the audience them to the horrible treatment -Editor-in-Chief doled out by each of the “horrible bosses,” the film William Imeson initiates with three friends, Nick, Dale and Kurt, (Jason macabre quest of Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis), desperation. enjoying a few beers one night after a long After confusing an assassin with a male day at work. All it takes is one drunken slip stripper, the friends naively turn to the asof the tongue for these men to embark on a sistance of a heavily tattooed Jamie Foxx,

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who sets a dark mood for the movie as he describes to them just what killing a person entails. This mood is quickly destroyed as more hilarity ensues, resulting a series of miscommunications and general mishaps.

Even though these men are attempting to commit highly illegal acts, the lovable friends gain support from any audience and have you rooting for their success almost instantly.

After failed attempts at scouting out their bosses, killing their bosses, or even staying cool, Horrible Bosses manages to put together a nice story of taking matters into your own hands. Despite the movie becoming awfully predictable about half way through, Horrible Bosses is still quite entertaining and definitely one of the surprise hits of the summer.

Super 8 truly entertaining from start to finish Paulina Rendon

I

style editor

have never been much of a Spielberg fan. Actually, I have never been much of a movie buff at all. If I saw a preview that interested me, I would go see it, or my dad’s childhood passion for superheroes would draw me to the next Marvel making.

So when my dad took my brother and I to see ‘Super 8’ I thought nothing of it. We were going into the movie without knowing anything about it, (thanks to those vague previews of children running away while a camera tipped over) like jumping into an ocean headfirst without checking for danger beforehand. But the movie, like the ocean, had sharks. Or at least giant, man-eating aliens.

The first hour of the movie was rather enjoyable, if not a little boring apart from a completely awesome scene of a train blowing up. The plot flowed smoothly with very little confusion involving movie make-up, the town drunk, and a random love triangle.

The acting was surprisingly good, coming from a bunch of children that most viewers were not familiar with. In fact, Joel Courtney, who played the main protagonist Joe Lamb had never acted before. He had flown to California from Idaho, originally

intending to land a part in a commercial when he was encouraged to audition for Super 8.

Surprisingly, Courtney landed the part, where he would play the love interest of Dakota Fanning’s lesser known little sister, Elle Fanning, who played Alice Dainard. Together, the two of them delivered a fresh new take on the movie.

The story of the movie is centered around Joe Lamb and his friends as they attempt to make their own zombie movie, recorded on Super 8 film, (hence the title).

Lamb’s mother had just been killed in a factory accident that left him with deep emotional issues. His only remaining family member was his father, who did not approve of his interest in movie-making. (But come on, why would you want a son on the football team when you could have a kid who could make someone look like a zombie in less than ten minutes, should the need arise?)

While filming a scene of their movie at an old train station, Lamb, Dainard, and the other three members of their movie crew Charles Kaznyk, Preston, and Martin (played

by Riley Griffiths, Zach Mills, and Gabriel Basso) witness a truck drive straight into an oncoming train, causing a massive explosion. The kids learned later that the crash released an alien that was being carted to a military base. The truck was driven by their Biology teacher, Mr. Woodward (Glenn Turman) who warned them to go away and pretend they had not seen a thing.

Later, the Air Force arrives, and they begin a ‘harmless’ investigation. Meanwhile household pets are disappearing, followed by people themselves. The Air Force sets fire

to the forest nearby in order to evacuate the city, and hopefully destroy the creature the train crash had set free. It was only when Dainard herself was kidnapped that Lamb was forced to look for a solution. From that point on, the Lamb and his friends began the search for the missing people and for a way to get the alien to go away.

To be honest, the movie had only one downfall. After sitting through the movie for almost two hours, I really expected the ending to be a lot more spectacular. What happened instead was the entire problem being straightened out in the last half hour.

Sure, there was the side drama involving the lives of the children and their relationships, but the film’s climax dissolved so closely to the end of the movie that the viewers are left wondering what exactly just happened.

Spoiler alert! The point, being a huge, man-eating alien who terrified dogs and shorted out electric appliances flies off in his spaceship after a little telepathic heartto-heart with Joe Lamb. The actual, physical screen-time lasted about twenty minutes or so. Then bam, the end, goodbye, the theater lights come back on.

So if you are into sci-fi thrillers and do not mind a sudden, fairy tale-esque ending, feel free to Netflix or Redbox the film.

Do not get me wrong, I enjoyed it; the acting was definitely a pleasant surprise that makes this movie a summer hit.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two marks tearful end to Rowling series Emily Jamieson

M

opinion editor

y name is Emily Jamieson and I am a Potterhead. As soon as the Harry Potter logo crept on the screen in Regal Cinemas, I felt my throat tighten and my eyes dampen. I could not help but think “This is the end. The end of the best series ever. The end of my childhood.”

I am going to try really hard not to throw out spoilers, just in case there is someone crazy out there who has not born witness to the final adventure in the Harry Potter film extravagnza.

The producers kept the storyline on point. The film portrays Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his best friends, Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint), on their mission to find and destroy Lord Voldemort’s secret to immortality - the Horcruxes that contain

bits of his dark soul. Their quest takes the students back to Hogwart’s; however, the boarding school is no longer a palace of marvels as it once was.

With the help of Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith), the trio endures a labyrinth of mysteries and challenges until the star of the installments is forced to face Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) himself. J.K. Rowling, David Barron, and David Heyman did manage to forget a few scenes that stood out on paper. But what can I say? The book is huge and packed-full of information.

Just over two hours in length, Deathly Hallows: Part 2 is shorter than its predecessors. There is less suspense and a quicker gallop to the action scene.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 began a bit slowly for my liking, (although it was quite helpful for viewers who had not read the series.) Around the middle of the movie it began to pick up and so did the tears.

If crying makes you uncomfortable,

you may want to skip out on this movie. Sniffles echoed throughout the theater and grunts bounced off the walls as the audience attempted to keep the knot in their throat from forming.

If you are also a Potterhead and have been with Harry from the very beginning to the end, then I think you felt the same way I did throughout the film; like some of my very good friends were moving away forever. I had a lot of empathy for the pain these actors suffered during the film. I tinged with the joy they felt. I felt everything they felt. And that is what a good film does for its audience. It allows viewers to live vicariously through the characters.

When the credits rolled, so did everyone’s tears. No one moved from their seats. Everyone was frozen almost as though they were in shock to know that this was the last time they would ever see a new Harry Potter film in the theaters. Everyone’s post-Potter depression quickly began to set in.

Avada Kedavra! Juniors Sarah Kaylor and Maggie Siciliano show off their fake Dark Mark tattoos at the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 premiere July 15. Photo courtesy of Sarah Kaylor.

Kung Fu Panda 2 positive, refreshing animation Paulina Rendon

P

feature editor

o the panda returns to the big screen in Kung Fu Panda 2. Only this time, he is not battling giant evil snow leopards; instead, Po and the Furious Five take on an albino peacock, who holds the secret of Po's past.

The peacock, Lord Shen (voiced by Gary Oldman) was once next in line for the throne. His chance to rule China however, was jeopardized by a prophecy: he would be destroyed by ‘a warrior of black and white' The Peacock was enraged, and proceeded to wipe out all the ‘black and white warriors’ (hint, hint: pandas) except for one. Po's mother sacrificed her life to a pack of wolves in order to keep her baby safe. Po ended up in the care of Mr. Ping the goose, where he lived serving noodles until he became the Dragon Warrior.

Po (voiced by Jack Black) and the Furious Five: Tigress, Monkey, Mantis, Viper and Crane (voiced by Angelina Jolie, Jackie

Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, and David Cross) spent the duration of the hour and a half long movie trying to thwart the Peacock's plans of ruling China. Along the way, Po learns the importance of living in the past and not dwelling in the future, never giving up, as well as the importance of friendship.

The movie was incredibly well made, and flowed seamlessly from the original, Kung Fu Panda. Despite the darker themes of betrayal and the supposed mass extinction of a species, the movie managed to be tinged with humor and light with Po's antics. The animation was fantastic (although not surprising, with technology these days) and enjoyable in both 3D and 2D. In addition, it was refreshing to watch an animated film that is sweet and charming. Jennifer Yuh, the director, hit the nail on the head.

The storyline had elements of action, humor, and adventure, making for a great, family-friendly film. Kung Fu Panda 2 delivered a brilliant plot that is excellent for all ages.

This is also one of the few sequels that outshines its predecessor. Kung Fu Pan-

da 2 seems to be of higher quality and is richer in substance. Po is a great positive role model. Throughout the film, Po has to learn to recognize, address, and resolve difficult personal relationships. Initially, he refuses to acknowledge some hard truths, but as the movie continues, his character grows. He eventually is able to accept his struggles, and the outcome is riveting.

A key, family-oriented message emphasized throughout the movie is that family is important, it just might not be defined by blood. And just like the plot, the action scenes throughout the movie are the cream of the crop. There is plenty of handon-hand combat. The fight scenes are fast and furious, but hardly anyone seems to get hurt, making it ideal for young viewers.

Fans of the Kung Fu Panda franchise were pleasantly surprised by the ending, revealing something neither Po nor the Peacock ever knew, and teasing the audience's hopes for a sequel. The producers made a statement, that yes, there will be a Kung Fu Panda 3, so Po and his friends' tales are certainly not over.

August 22, 2011

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 editorial board.

Advertising rates are available upon request.

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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.

The editors and staff Editors-in-Chief: Print - Christy Stearn, Vanessa Ehrenpreis Online - Jack Burden, William Imeson Managing Editors: Mark Duda, Maggie Siciliano Section Editors: News - Kavya Beheraj Opinion - Emily Jamieson Style - Katrina Sokolyuk Feature - Paulina Rendon Sports - Jake Durden Fun Director & Advertising Manager : Celia Ehrenpreis Photographers: Emily Jamieson, Paulina Rendon, Anastasiya Kalyuk, Jack Burden, Cartoonist: Kari King Page Designers: Christy Stearn, Emily Jamieson, Vanessa Ehrenpreis, Paulina Rendon, Jake Durden, Andy Shisler, Mia Karr, Kavya Beheraj, Katrina Sokolyuk, Mark Duda, Jack Adamack, Celia Ehrenpreis, Chris Sokolyuk Staff Reporters: Kavya Beheraj, Michael Johnson, Christy Stearn, Mark Duda, Maggie Siciliano, Ben DiNapoli, Anastasiya Kalyuk, Peter Byrd, William Imeson, Mia Karr, Mitch Depoy, Jake Durden, Andy Shisler, Paulina Rendon, Jack Adameck, Katrina Sokolyuk, Emily Jamieson, Chris Sokolyuk, Conner Whitehouse

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.

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.

The

newsstreak

OPINION - A5

If my life were a movie...

Opinion editor Emily Jamieson and Ama Ansah contemplate what the similarities are between their lives and this summer’s biggest blockbusters.

Jamieson finds parallels to her life in ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’ Emily Jamieson opinion editor

I

fall in love easily, and I am not just talking about loving people: I can and will fall in love with a song, an image, or even the way the leaves fall in Autumn. Honestly, I am just a loveydovey person. That is why when “Crazy, Stupid Love” came out in theaters, I knew I had to see it. Not only was Steve Carell part of the cast, but the movie about all sorts of love, not just your average “let me hold your hand and kiss you because I love you so much” love.

The title itself made me think of all of the kinds of love I have in my life. The first kind of love is “crazy” love. My crazy love is the love I have for my job. I know, I know, you are probably thinking “Who could love their job?!”-- Me! I work at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, serving food to the elderly. I love everything about my job. I love every resident, who all smile at me and know me by name. But there is one resident in particular that I love more than the rest. His name is Fred and he is the funniest and kindest person that I have met in my seventeen and a half years on this earth. It all started on my first day of work.

I sat him down at his usual table and he ordered his food. Suddenly, he reached over and put his hand on my shoulder and said, “You’re doing fantastic, kid,” and smiled at me. That was when I knew that I loved my job.

The second kind of love is ‘stupid’ love. My most prominent form of stupid love would have to be my love for people calling me a “little lady” and winking at me.

It gets me every single time. You know those trees in front of the movie theater? Well, I was walking under one of them when this kid suddenly jumped on a branch, forcing it to swing towards my face. His older brother said, “RI-

“

I can fall in love with a song, an image, or even the way the leaves fall in autumn... Honestly, I am just a loveydovey person.

“

-Opinion editor Emily Jamieson

LEY! You almost hit that little lady in the face!” and winked at me. Speechless, I just smiled like a goon and tried to walk off the butterflies fluttering viciously in my stomach. It does not matter how old the person is or what they look like, if they wink at me I will grin like a crazy person and have butterflies for at least five minutes.

Not to mention my face turning as red as a cherry.

“Crazy, Stupid, Love” is about loving others, but it is also about loving yourself. This summer I realized that I am a caretaker, no matter to whom, or what the situation is, I am always trying to take care of people. I am constantly putting others needs before my own. I realized that this is not always good. So I am starting to take better care of myself and love myself more than I had been. I also learned that you cannot rely on other people to pick your spirits up when you are down. The only person who can truly make you happy is yourself.

Love yourself more often, take a deep breath and realize that everything will be okay. Do not worry about loving someone else, if you cannot love yourself. And love the little things in life. Love really is that simple.

Ansah prefers short films instead of summer blockbusters Ama Ansah

opinion editor

M

y life in no way mirrors a summer blockbuster. Simply put, summer blockbusters are obtuse, unintelligent, existentially depressing, and not worth my time or money. *Adjusts glasses and hipster scarf, takes sip of fair trade organic coffee.* I prefer to watch short films. And when I say short films, I don’t mean some hackneyed comedy video on Youtube, I mean well made short films that capture the viewer’s attention, entertain them, and make them think. It’s really easy to find good short films.

What you do is go onto film festival websites and look at their schedule. They have links to the director’s websites and you can watch the shorts there.

There are some genuinely entertaining ones out there that don’t get the exposure they deserve.

I saw some lemonade stands this summer, but none of them as ambitious as the pretentious little boy in the short film Lemons & Lemonade [Cannes Film Festival]. In the film, a little boy sets up a lemonade stand and acts like a very serious businessman to im-

press Jenny next door. Jenny was confused and bored by the economic and business lingo he was throwing at her. I can relate in that I don’t really understand the economics the news was covering all summer long.

Train by Darius Clark Munroe reminds me of my many rides on the tube when I go to London and the strange people you encounter. Of course, the train ride in the film was darker than many of mine. (Molestation, assault and battery…thankfully I’m not familiar with those.) I can kind of empathize with the woman who just wanted to read her book. It is impossible to focus when there is so much stupidity (and yikes-ness) happening around you. Though, unlike her, I don’t tighten my grip on my purse when strangers sit next to me.

As you can tell, my summer wasn’t really that interesting. But I do encourage you, reader, to check out some of these short films. Check out rooftopfilms. com and youtube for some Check us out on the web cinema quality www.newsstreak.com entertainment without the cin- To read more of Ama’s “Dumb Thoughts” go to ‘blogs’ at ema price. www.newsstreak.com

Imeson hopes for an increase in school spirit this

we

BELIEVE

William Imeson online editor-in-chief

W

e believe in the power of pride.

The power to root for your school through thick and thin, to never give up on the blue and white.

Whether it is supporting your alma mater or being a fan as a student of HHS, having pride is a simple and easy way to show what an outstanding school HHS is. Yet as easy as it is to have pride, it can also be lost. Waves of apathy can sweep through the halls and cause any student to give an “I don’t care” when asked if they are attending a school event.

Almost all of the football games and even Homecoming will take place in the first nine weeks of school-- and these will be significant events that can help to define the school year. In recent years, these events have been a little lackluster. The Red Sea and Homecoming have both been

called “lame” and “boring”, but we believe that can be changed.

Picture a crisp Friday night in mid October. Imagine there is a home football game, and hundreds of people have shown up to watch their Blue Streaks play their hearts out. The team is pumped, the band is blaring, even the opposing crowd is ready for a fight on the gridiron. And where is the HHS student section? They is a small crowd of kids on the bleachers at the 40-yard line, not doing too much, practically just milling about. Where are the chants?

Where are the cheers that can be heard 100 yards away? They are non-existent.

The band seems to get it. They make a heck of a lot of noise and cheer their hearts out. The parents get it too, there is nothing holding them back from supporting their kids. So why don’t we? The Red Sea is entirely student run and needs to be become a thriving place of pride, led back from the brink by students willing to step up and make it happen.

Throughout the school year, there are two main dances. The Homecoming dance and Prom.

Prom is primarily exclusive to ju-

niors and seniors, so ideally Homecoming would be the biggest party of the year. Homecoming even comes a day after the Homecoming football game, where there is usually one of the biggest crowds of the year at the game. So the dance should be big stuff. But there are always people who say the dance is lame, or Homecoming sucks, or that they would even rather watch TV in their basement. With this kind of attitude, Homecoming definitely would be lame. The size of the dance would decrease in the blink of an eye.

So we need to shape up and get our act together. The Red Sea and Homecoming can become incredible with more student attendance and some commitment to simply having a good time. You do not need to like football in order to be a part of the Red Sea; you just need the right attitude and to be excited to support you school. Homecoming can be an annual, memorable, party with greater participation and turnout. So get together with your friends, come out to football games and dances, and show some passion! Great advancements can be made, because we believe in the power of pride.

Feeling opinionated?

Write a letter to the editor!

Let us know what we are doing well, doing poor, or not doing at all.

Drop ‘em off in room 444

What’s

HOT New staff members

HHS is welcoming new principal Tracy Shaver, as well as new football coach Chris Thurman!

The debt ceiling After a long summer of arguing, Congress has authorized the government to borrow more money for federal programs.

New shops arriving downtown Duo, a gentley used clothing store is opening, as well as the new resturant Billy Jack’s.

Back to school shopping Who doesn’t love going to your favorite stores to stock up for the school year?

The fall season Leaves are changing colors!

Football season is upon us, Go Streaks!

Having a tan What a nice reminder of your summer break. Plus it’s always fun to compare with friends!

What’s

NOT

Norway Shootings 77 innocent Norweigans were killed this past summer. Anders Breivik, 32, bombed the capital killing eight, before moving on to a youth camp where he killed 69 more people.

Death of Amy Winehouse The British singer died at age 27 of currently unknown causes. She should have gone to rehab.

End of Harry Potter The last part of the multi million dollar franchise came out this summer, ending the 8-part phenomenon, and part of our childhood.

End of summer break It was lovely while it lasted.

But now it’s time to hit the books.

Casey Anthony trial The 25-year-old mother was released after her trial when the jury found her “not guilty” of murdering her daughter. Riiiiiight.

Gunman at Virginia Tech?

Although the “Gunman” was never caught, the incident certainly brought back some eerie reminders

August 22, 2011

newsstreak

FEATURE - A6

Around the world The

A few students were lucky enough not to have a ‘staycation’ this summer. Check out some of their exotic destinations below.

Penrod travels to Mexico, Caribbean, for diving expeditions about

there is a lot more of everything.

ally your first time underwater breathing, which is really hard. [The instructors] try to teach you not to be scared. It’s a lot better after your first time,” Penrod said.

Penrod’s entire family is certified for some degree of diving, but Louis most frequently dives with his father, Michael.

“I dive with my whole family, all four of us. The Keys has wreck diving which we do. My sister and mom aren’t comfortable with diving below 85 feet, so dad and I usually stick together,” Penrod said.

Although Harrisonburg is not in a prime location for open water diving, there are various spots for freshwater diving relatively close.

Louis and his dad frequently take weekend diving trips throughout the year to Petersburg, Virginia, and Mount Storm, West Virginia.

Both spots are well suited for diving. Over Christmas, the family extended their travels to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“For a weekend trip, we can just pick-up and go without planning. Big trips take a lot of time and effort to plan,” Penrod said.

One of those “big trips” took place this year. The Penrod family flew to Cozumel, Mexico for a week of diving, and then set off to Saint Martin Island, in the Caribbean for three weeks of diving and sailing.

“Cozumel had amazing coral reefs. [The sea life] is bigger, and

only in Cozumel. It was awesome,” Penrod said.

Picking the diving destinations is easy for the Penrod Family; many of their trips are organized through Kathy’s Scuba. The Penrod family was part of Kathy’s group excursion to Cozumel, but their trip to St.Martin was just the family unit. Transoceanic trips can be expensive, but the Penrods are careful to book package deals that cater specially to divers.

“We went to Cozumel on a package deal that had a relatively good price. Part of the package was diving at the resort,” Penrod said. Diving itself can be a pricey hobby-- constant equipment rental and travel expenses add up. The Penrods decided to make an initial investment and purchase their own gear.

“Diving is relatively inexpensive on your own [not through a company], with your own gear.

Buying all the equipment is really expensive- an air regulator alone is about 600 dollars- but is pays off,” Penrod said.

Despite his recent remarkable diving voyages, Penrod has his eyes set upon future diving locales.

“I want to go to the Red Sea. There’s life and stuff we don’t have here in the States or even the Caribbean,” Penrod said.

With his own diving gear and expertise, Penrod hopes to venture into the world of marine biology, and plans on diving “for a very long time.”

Vanessa Ehrenpreis diving.

I got to see the Splendid ToadCozumel, Mexico It’s usufish, which is a species that is editor-in-chief

H

Just keep swimming.

Penrod is able to see a variety of aquatic life, including a Rock Beauty and a Blue Tang.

Photo courtesy of Lousi Penrod.

Under the sea! The Penrod Family and Kathy’s Scuba group embark on a dive in Cozumel. Photo courtesy of Louis Penrod.

arrisonburg, Virginia is not surrounded by a warm body of salt water, or even remotely close to one-- but that has not stopped senior Louis Penrod from taking up the pastime of scuba diving. Penrod began diving in 2009 through the boy scout’s “Discover Scuba” program in partnership with Kathy’s Scuba. Kathy’s Scuba, which is located in Harrisonburg on the North Valley Pike, has been Penrod’s main source of diving lessons and other auxiliary programs.

“I had an introductory lesson in ‘09 and I’ve been diving ever since,” Penrod said, clearly pleased to discuss his much loved sport. Penrod’s adoration for diving partially stems from his love for marine life. “I want to be a marine biologist. I like the underwater environment. I see animals down there [underwater] that are amazing. As a marine biologist, I could study them further.”

Penrod is well versed in the art of scuba diving, and is a certified “master diver”, which is the highest level of certification available for a minor. Once 18, Penrod hopes to become certified to help instructors in the field; and even get various “add-ons” such as a navigation and an underwater photography certification. Penrod is now completely comfortable in the water, but does admit that beginners’ training was frightening at times.

“Training is the worst thing

Latin class continues learning this summer in Italy Christy Stearn

L

editor-in-chief

atin teacher Paul Klemt decided to bring his lesson plans to life.

After noticing his students’ growing interest in Roman culture, he organized a trip to Italy with Explorica, a travel agency. Explorica arranged a nine day informational tour of Rome and Sicily, and Klemt and five of his students embarked on the trip shortly after school ended.

Sophomore Daniel Roth, junior Ellie Pruette, seniors Jayne Slocum and Taylor McDonnell, and recent HHS graduate Olivia McCarty accompanied Klemt on the 10-day trek overseas. The crew left the states on June 28, landed in Paris, and then flew to Rome, where they arrived on June 29.

“The trip was a disaster at first,” Slocum said. “A lot of our flights were delayed, and when we got to Rome late at night, all of our bags were lost.”

Because their flights were delayed, the group missed Day 1 of their tour, forcing Day 1 and Day 2’s curriculum to be packed into a single afternoon.

“We ran all over Rome in clothes we had been wearing two days straight. Plus, on Day 2, we had to go to the Vatican, somewhere where the dress code is strict and your shoulders and knees must be covered. All of the girls had an interesting time creating appropriate outfits,” Slocum said.

After everyone’s luggage began showing up, the trip took a turn for

the better. The group’s main director Nancy Benedetti lead Klemt and his students to several iconic sites located around the cities they visited. They were also paired with a second tour guide who was an expert on the day’s location. In Rome, they toured landmarks, such as the Colosseum, the Tre v i Fountain, and Vatican City.

“We were taken around in a bus, and then we’d get off and sight-see all day long. [After,] we had about an hour of free time to shop or eat,” McDonnell said.

The group even had the opportunity to visit Pompeii where they were able to see Caecilius’ House.

“Lucius Caecilius Iucundus was a banker whose house was partially destroyed when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D.,” Slocum said. “We read stories about him in our textbooks during Latin class, so it was really cool to see where he lived.”

Aside from leading the bunch all over Italy, Benedetti ensured Klemt and his students enjoyed their time overseas.

“She was wonderful. She would take the five kids in our group to cool places. Like she took us to get a “gelato big mac.” It was gelato in a big sweet bun with whipped cream. She would always take pictures of us, point out “cute” police officers, show us where to

Rome, Italy

shop, and buy us chocolates,” Slocum said.

After their Day 9 tour, Klemt and his students boarded an overnight ferry from Italy to Sicily, the final destination of their trip.

The group spent their last day in Letojanni, a town that borders the beach, and then head to a city called Taormina to shop for souvenirs.

“I loved the last day [of the trip] because we got to relax by the Mediterranean Sea,” McDonnell said.

Over the duration of the trip, Klemt and his students stayed in four different hotels and one ferry until they departed on July 7. Explorica charged each passenger $3,449 for the trip, and added expenses spent on tipping the bus drivers and tour guides, food and water, and souvenirs and clothing totaled around $780 per person.

“I can’t choose [my favorite part of the trip].

Just being exposed to a new culture was amazing. The people, the food, the chapels, and the architecture were all incredible and I’ll never forget it,” Slocum said.

Ancient Rome. Klemt and his students visited the Colosseum as part of their tour. Photo courtesy of Jayne Slocum.

Lucius Caecilius Iucundus. Sophomore Daniel Roth, junior Ellie Pruette, seniors Jayne Slocum and Taylor McDonnell and recent graduate Olivia McCarty stand in front of Caecilius’ House.

Hernandez ventures to Mexico to visit family, help poverty-stricken community BUYING * SELLING * LEASING BUILDINGS LAND INVESTMENTS

Call: David Denman (540) 810-3000 A Commercial Real Estate Brokerage 1954 Evelyn Byrd Avenue, Harrisonburg VA 22801 Office: 434-9922 Fax: 437-0105 www.Cottonwood.com

Jack Burden editor-in-chief

S

enior Joanna Hernandez and her family may have left Mexico years ago, but they certainly have not forgotten it. Every year since Hernandez moved, she has returned to Mexico City to help those in need and visit friends and family.

“I spent two weeks with family, and then one week working with people, doing community service with my old church,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez spent most of July in Mexico, working with her old church, Be-

tions to the family’s old church in Mexico.

“We were helping with to kids Mexico City, Mexico with outreach lesser means in the neighborhood, and we helped with various evening activities,” Hernandez said.

“I did good for others, but the experience was tel, to help the poor in one of the world’s largest cities, also good for me. I did things Mexico City. Hernandez has I was not used to doing.”

While the trip could participated in these trips be considered partly a eight times, going for three weeks each summer. Her- “work vacation,” Hernannandez’s father, Jacinto Her- dez still had a fun time.

“It was great to see nandez, is currently a pastor people I grew up with, and at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, to see people I’ve worked but maintains close connec- with. It was very fun.”

August 22, 2011

The

STYLE- A7

!

2 1 0 2 1 1 20

9

time management skills Don’t procrastinate

It’s easy to forget about homework assignments until the night before it is due. A good way to avoid this is to work on a large project a little bit each day until the project is due. This way, you get the task done relatively easily and on time. It’s especially important to get to working early on larger and more time consuming projects.

2

Establish a routine

3

Get a good night’s sleep

4

Stay focused

5

Take breaks

Everyone benefits from having some structure. Figure out a regular routine that balances your priorities and enables you to enjoy a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.

A message for students and parents from Principal Shaver

What is your favorite class?

tips for improving your

1

newsstreak

I

“Renaissance - I like how you can be a leader.” senior Will Turner

“Renaissance You get to help people in the community.” senior Brady Cockerham

“Tech Ed Shaffer was a cool teacher.” sophomore Seth Harper

“Sports Marketing - I like the subject.” sophomore Jorek Arellano

“Tech Ed - I liked how it was hands-on.” sophomore Ryan Phillips

“English 11 Swartz had a way of explaining things.” senior Allen Rivera

“Renaissance It’s a fun class that’s laid back.” sophomore Jacob Byrd

“Pre-calculus - Turner was hilarious.” senior Evan Wetsel

“Broadcasting we had a lot of fun.” senior Eli Kline

“Nutrition and wellness - we got to eat the food we made.” sophomore Kaityln Keck

“JROTC - it builds character and leadership.” senior Andrew Deutsch

“AP Euro - I learned a lot because Healy is a good teacher.” junior Sarah Kaylor

Research shows that getting adequate rest is the basis for success, regardless of the circumstances. It’s difficult to get work done effectively when you’re exhausted.

When working on a task, do not let yourself become distracted. While typing up that English paper, don’t tempt yourself by having a Facebook tab up. Finish the task at hand, and then you can reward yourself with a short break.

If you’re working on a particularly strenuous or time consuming project, make sure to take short breaks, every 40 minutes or so.

This will allow you to stay more focused for longer.

6

Work on harder assignments first

If you have multiple homework assignments, take care of the hardest one first.

This will allow you to tackle the most difficult work while your brain is its strongest.

If you don’t understand a certain topic, ask your teacher for help. There are many great opportunities for homework help after school (Power Hour!). Don’t let yourself become lost by not asking for help when you need it. Teachers want to help you succeed, but you have to let them know if you need help!

8

Plan ahead

Set aside time to work on long term projects once they are assigned. Planning ahead guarantees time to complete both extended assignments and homework that is given daily.

9

Set time limits for tasks

Forcing yourself to complete an assignment in an allotted amount of time is the best way to make sure everything gets done.

School supply item

CVS

1 2 3 4 5

Notebook paper

Load up on basic supplies needed for the school year. This includes pencils, pens, notebooks, a binder, dividers, and loose-leaf paper.

Always keep an up-to-date planner. If you keep track of the day’s assignments, you will not forget to complete your homework or be caught off guard on test days.

Divide and conquer. Using dividers, give each class its own section in your binder. Assignments will be easier to locate and harder to lose.

Invest in a pencil pouch. Pencil pouches prevent pencils, pens, highlighters, and other writing utensils from getting lost.

Maintain a clean binder. Having a clutter-free binder is a necessity. Clean out folders once a month and reorganize papers frequently.

Mechanical Pencils

$2.27 $3.59

Target $.75

(10-count)

$1.19 $3.00 (5-count)

6 7 8 9 10

Get a different color binder for each subject. Colorcoding notebooks and books for each class is also helpful; they are easier to grab between classes.

Be prepared. Be sure to pack extras: extra pencils, extra lead, extra erasers, and extra paper. If you run out during the school day, you’ll still have an emergency supply.

Hole punch all class handouts. Hole punch notes and worksheets and put them in your binder when they are handed out.

Date your notes. Jotting the current date at the top of your notes allows you to flip through specific topics before tests and quizzes.

Neatness counts. The easiest way to clean something is to never let it get dirty. Maintain organization dayby-day.

Looking for the best prices for your school supplies? We’ve compared prices from three stores in Harrisonburg, guaranteeing you some great savings!

One subject notebook

1” Binder

Pencil pouch

$5.49

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(8-count)

Staples $2.00

“

STAY ORGANIZED

Summer $avings Store

“

how to

7

If you need help with something, ask!

t is with a great deal of pleasure and pride that I have been charged with serving the Harrisonburg community. The prospect of working with the students, staff, and parents is a challenge The prospect of that I find working with the stimulating students, staff, and rewardand parents is a ing. I look forward to challenge that I making Har- find stimulating risonburg High and rewarding.

School a world-Principal Tracy class school by Shaver making a significant difference in the lives of every student who walks through our doors.

What makes HHS such a great place to teach and learn are the motivated students, supportive parents, a committed community, and dedicated staff members. As we begin another school year, let us work together to provide the very best educational experience for the students of Harrisonburg High School.

I look forward to the great number of successes that will be achieved during the 20112012 school year, and I am honored with the responsibility of helping your student show their Blue Streak Pride by distinguishing him/ herself in the classroom, on the field, and in any activity while representing Harrisonburg High School. I wish everyone the best for a most successful school year - Go Streaks!

Highlighters

(2-count)

(2-count)

(3-count)

$2.00

August 22, 2011

The

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Enjoy writing, photography, or design?

ADS- A8

JOIN NEWSSTREAK! Come by room 444 for details.

August 22, 2011

The

newsstreak

SPORTS - A9

Volleyball teams welcome new athletes, new coach

Paulina Rendon

I

style editor

nstead of being able to enjoy their last few weeks of summer, the girls’ volleyball team began practice the first week of August at 10 a.m. The team practices for two hours straight, then has a one hour lunch break followed by another two hour long practice.

Most of the girls are used to this schedule since many of them are returning players. Incoming eighth graders, freshmen, or new players are quickly learning to adapt to the routine as tryout week goes by. However, new players are not the only ones who have to adapt to the team this year, new JV coach Jessica Life has to adjust to it as well.

Although Life is new to HHS, she played volleyball for five years at Spotswood High School and has had three years of experience coaching varsity volleyball at Rockbridge High School. “[I got into coaching because] I started [playing] in eighth grade. I basically couldn’t get enough of it. I also played club volleyball, so I was really into it. I helped out with Rockingham County recreational league, teaching little kids how to play and I really liked that. So I got into coaching,” Life said.

Life mostly enjoys being able to teach her team new skills; as a varsity coach, the majority of her players were past the point of learning the basics. “[So far] it’s been fun getting to know the girls,” Life said. “It seems like it’s going to be a good year.”

Returning senior Sarina Hartman shares her enthusiasm. This year will be Hartman’s fourth year on the varsity volleyball team,

and her fifth year playing volleyball for HHS. “The team looks pretty good this year.

I think the skill level has increased a little more than last year, and the younger girls are pretty athletic so we’re starting out pretty strong,” Hartman said. “Last year was a pretty good year so hopefully we can keep going from that and be better.”

The varsity team had eight wins and 10 losses last season. This season, Hartman hopes to be able to both stay focused and have fun.

“I want to keep it together and stay strong as a team,” Hartman said.

Hartman’s favorite thing about the team (as well as the thing she will miss the most) is how well everyone gets along.

“They are a really great group of girls and we get along really well. We keep each other motivated and going. There is never too much drama, and everyone is really supportive. We are good as a team and then good friends.” Hartman said.

Hartman enjoys playing volleyball for many reasons.

“The whole thing is really fun,” Hartman said. “Though I think the games are probably what make me the most excited because there’s a lot of adrenaline and energy while you’re playing and it brings you closer to your team.”

The team’s strong bond was exactly the reason sophomore Callie Glover decided to join. The last time she played a sport was during middle school, and she missed the team connection.

“There’s a lot of girls trying out who are worse and better than me,” Glover said. “So I’ll just have to wait and see what happens, and how the rest of the season goes.”

Go Big Blue! Tryouts for the HHS girls’ volleyball team were held during the first week of August.

Over the course of the week, the girls practiced a variety of drills in order to prepare for the upcoming season. Left: Players participate in a game that puts their speed skills to the test. Above: Junior varsity coach Jessica Life observes the athletes stretching during her first week coaching at HHS. Life is eager to teach her team new techniques. Photos by Paulina Rendon.

HHS football squad replacing famous faces in hopes of another playoff run Mitch Depoy staff reporter

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Let’s go HHS! The Blue Streak football players perform various stretches and warm-up exercises in order to keep their bodies performing at a high level under the physical stress of two-a-day practices in the summer heat. Photos by Jack Burden.

he HHS football team’s last memory is last December’s state championship. A hard fought game ended in a losing effort, but that taste has this year’s team wanting it all again.

The Streaks open this season with many new players on the field along with a new head coach. Tim Sarver hung up his cleats last season after a 44year tenure as the Streak’s head coach.

Stepping into the shoes of a Hall-of-Fame caliber coach was something most coaches would shy away from. Chris Thurman took the job head on and is preparing the Streaks for another state championship run.

“Sarver was more conservative and Thurman is more outspoken and vocal,” returning starter Salim Charles said.

Coach Thurman believes his players fitness is something that is very important to the team’s success. While having two-a-days for a week before school started, Thurman also had the team run the length of the football field 21 times in brutal sets of sprints known as gassers.

Senior offensive linemen Dakota Hassler agrees with the hard nosed reputation that Thurman has.

“Coach Thurman is a real meat and potatoes kind of guy and doesn’t take crap from anyone,” Hassler said.

On the offensive side, the Streaks lost many seniors, most notably running back Michael Holmes who is attending Virginia Tech. Looking to fill the two-time all state

running back will be senior Corbin Whitelow, Holmes’ respected back up last season.

Senior Jake Durden will become the new field general at the quarterback position and the offensive line will also take a hit as guard Landon Turner graduated early last year to attended the University of North Carolina.

The most difficult part on the offensive side of the ball will be learning the new system that Coach Thurman brings. Thurman is installing a more up-tempo and no-huddle offense.

“The hardest part is going to be to remember the names of the plays because not all of them have numbers,” Charles said. “Once we get it down it will be magic.”

The defense also has to deal with the loss of many seniors. Donte Fitz-Sloan and Connor Wolfe both graduated, as well as the big body Shannon Pouncey. The Streaks’ biggest struggle this year should be replacing the big bodies that propelled them to a second place finish in the state. The line no longer boasts a player that demands a double team as in years past. “The O-line and the D-line have to step it up this year,” Hassler said.

The Streaks are still one of the top teams in the new seven-team district.

The vibe throughout the players is that they all want to go back to the glory of the championship game. “My goal is to reach the state game again,” Charles said.

With a new offense and the the loss of the household name Michael Holmes, it will be tough. The Streaks are always down for the challenge and Charles thinks they can do it.

“We are all close and play as one team not 11 different players,” Charles said.

Young golf team anticipates positive season despite age Jack Burden

W

editor-in-chief

the

ith just two seniors and two juniors, the HHS golf team could be called fairly young. But do not be deceived; although the team is made up of mostly underclassmen, it can pack a punch. Sophomore and first seed Kyle Templeton started the season with two even-par rounds, rivaling district favorite Robbie Failes of Spotswood High School.

“I think I’ll do a lot better than last year,” Templeton said. “I think I’ll improve more on hitting different types of shots, like the fade, draw, etc., and my mental game.”

Despite not making it to the state tournament, Templeton considers his inaugu-

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ral season a success. consistently in the “I think [last seamid- to low-70’s last I think I’ll improve son] was pretty sucseason, Armentrout more on hitting differcessful because I went shot 85 and 82 in the ent types of shots, like far past my scoring first two matches of goal,” Templeton said. the regular season. the fade, draw, etc., Junior Troupe Ar“I need to improve and my mental game. mentrout was the only on my putting,” Ar-sophomore Kyle Blue Streak to qualify mentrout said. “I’ve Templeton for the state tournajust missed a lot of ment after shootshort, crucial putts.” ing in the mid-70’s Last season, the at the regional tournament at Waynes- Blue Streaks won the Massanutten Disboro Country Club. While Armentrout trict Tournament, with rival Spotswood also considers last season a success, High School coming in second. This seahe too hopes to improve this season. son the Blue Streaks found themselves 44 “Last season was pretty decent for my strokes behind Spotswood after the first first season, but I’d definitely like to im- two matches of the regular season, but the prove. I haven’t starting improving yet team is optimistic about the rest of the year. though,” Armentrout said. After scoring “I think I’ll end up playing how I

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Ben DiNapoli

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bottom. I didn’t get up for a while,” Penrod laughs.

Although skateKeller Penrod, 17 boarding is not always the easiest, Penrod still loves First trick of the day: it. Penrod’s favorite Heelflip part of skating is Favorite board setup: the mini-ramp. A Creature board, Indemini-ramp is made pendent trucks, Spitfire of two near-vertical wheels, Reds bearings quarter pipes with and Mob grip tape metal coping joined Favorite street spot: The by five to ten feet wall at Papa John’s of Skatelite, a solid Favorite skate video: wooden composGod Save the Label by ite material used Black Label Technique, technique, for building ramps.

Favorite brand: Createchnique. Senior Keller Now that Penrod ture Penrod sharpens his tricks has mastered the Best park in Virginia: at a local skate park. mini ramp, he plans Front Royal Photo by Ben DiNapoli. to keep improving his skills. where everything is difficult, “Even though it’s and when you screw up, you can get hurt. challenging, the easiest thing about skateI remember trying to roll in on the mini boarding is the freedom of it. You can do when I first started skating and my rear whatever you want, whenever you want and truck got caught up on the coping, and I fell wherever you want. I’m not going to stop from the top of the ramp straight to the flat anytime soon,” Penrod said.

Behind the athlete

staff reporter

any people complain that there is nothing to do in the heat of summer, but for some, the weather could not be more perfect. Senior Keller Penrod spent nearly every day of his summer break skateboarding at skate parks around Virginia.

“I try to skate as much as I can. Summer is the best time to skate since it usually doesn’t rain and you can get out and ride every day,” Penrod said.

Penrod first started skating freshman year when senior Caleb Tucker got him started into the sport.

“I was hanging out with Caleb a lot, and since he was skating every day, I needed something to do, too. He really helped me be a better skater,” Penrod said.

Skateboarding certainly was not easy to get a handle on for Penrod. He took some hard falls in the beginning, it was not easy

did at the end of last year, but I think the team bounce back and do pretty well at Regionals,” Armentrout said.

While five of the top six players on the team are returning from last season, there are several new players that could become key for Harrisonburg.

“I think [sophomore] Ryan Phillips is the best new player. He hasn’t really played much, but he did pretty good at his first tournament ever, where he shot a 92,” Armentrout said. Templeton concurs, but also cites freshman Sam Imeson as having potential.

While the HHS golf team may have had a rocky start, it hopes to recuperate before the district tournament in September. The team may be young, but last season it proved it cannot be counted out of the district title.

And with five of those six top players returning, who’s to say it couldn’t happen again?

to try new tricks and commit to difficult maneuvers.

“The hardest thing about skating is when you are trying something for a really long time but you still can’t get it. You get really frustrated, especially on the mini-ramp

The newsstreak

August 22, 2011

On

The experience - A10

SAFARI

Managing Editor Mark Duda traveled to Tanzania, Africa this summer. On his 15-day journey Duda was able to absorb the African wildlife and culture. His experience is recounted here.

Mark Duda managing editor I. Arrival Hazy blue mountains in the distance rose up over the acacia trees, beneath which I sat in our open game vehicle, staring out the side. We rolled down the hill from our camp with the morning sun above us, uncovered by clouds, but the high altitude gave the air a cool feel to it. The Serengeti loomed in front of us, the clearings in the acacias dotted with roaming zebra and buffalo. Our driver, Erasto, gave a quick glance to the side as we passed the place we had spotted a few young elephants the previous night, although the area now lay empty. The tracker, sitting in a chair on the hood of the vehicle, motioned for Erasto to stop.

A quick glance through his binoculars towards the bottom of the hill confirmed his find- lions.

That sighting took place on my second full day in Tanzania, and my first in the bush. We had spent our first night in a lodge outside of Arusha, the primary commercial center of northern Tanzania, which was pleasant, but hardly a destination. The first morning we caught a flight on a small, 12-seat plane to our first camp on the outskirts of the Serengeti. The flight was maybe an hour long, but enjoyable, we flew low and were able to take in the landscape. As we approached the landing strip I started to feel as if we weren’t descending fast enough and would hit the strip too late. However, the pilot flew past the landing strip, turned around, and after some maneuvering landed us safely. On the ground, my sister was the first to ask why he hadn’t landed the first time.

He responded, “Oh, we get buffalo on the landing strip sometimes, so we have to scare them off.”

Welcome to Africa, I guess.

We met Erasto with the game vehicle at the landing strip, and drove through the savanna for a while until we came to the entrance of the Serengeti. Unlike in America, where the only requirement for getting in a national park is a fee, the Tanzanian parks, particularly the Serengeti, are extremely regulated. Erasto spent ten or fifteen minutes filling out paperwork even though he passed through the gate several times per week. The rest of that day was spent on a game drive, and featured our first spotting of most of the local animals.

Takin’ a break. A Male lion rests beneath a tree, a female lion sits in the branches. Photo

by Mark Duda

A different kind of Bushman.

Duda stands beside the open game vehicle on the second day of his african safari voyage in Tanzania. Duda spent a week on the serengeti, with various stops in African villages and camps. Photo

by Mark Duda

Slowly but surely. A herd of African Elephants treks across the Savanna landscape. Photo courtesy of Mark Duda.

Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Left: Giraffes in the Serengeti Right: Female lions protect a cub. Photos by Mark Duda

B-e-a-utiful. A rainbow streches over the Serengheti landscape. Photo by Mark Duda.

Gone fishin’ Duda and his family go for a boat ride in the fishing villiage near lake Victoria. Photos courtesy of Mark Duda.

Yummy. A fruit market in Stone Town, Zanzibar. Photo by Mark Duda.

A different world. Maasi children shaving their heads to avoid contracting parasites. Photo courtesy of Mark Duda.

View fit for a King. The view from the ‘House of Wonders’-- the former house of the Sultan of Zanzibar-- in Stone Town. Photo by Mark Duda

II. The Maasi The next day or two were filled with game drives, and the first lion spotting (and seven or eight more after that). However, on our third day or so at that camp, we had the opportunity to visit a local Maasai village, a tribe that was allowed to live on certain swathes of land within the Serengeti. The Maasai, to give some perspective, are a culture in which the basis of one’s worth as a human stems from one skill- how high he can jump. That, and how many cows and wives he has (at one point, later in our trip, we learned of a man with so many wives and children that a school had been built just for them). Physically speaking, the village wasn’t much to look at. It sat on top of a hill with the cows and goats down below, and the buildings were huddled around the holding pens for the animals. Although the villagers were friendly, especially the children, I couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable. The village was obviously authentic, as were the villagers, but they were also a little bit too accustomed to having guests of the camp we were staying at come to visit.

III. Problems in Africa The Maasai village, although very tribal and rural, did not live in abject poverty, unlike another village we visited a few days later. We had moved on to our second camp, which happened to be an hour or so drive from Lake Victoria. Our guide at the camp, Cyst (pronounced Cyst-ee) offered to take us. Not knowing what we had gotten ourselves into, we agreed. Cyst drove us to a village on Lake Victoria, we expected it to be somewhat like the Maasai village. The fishing village, however, turned out to be much more like those melodramatic aid for orphans commercials rather than the National Geographic-esque Maasai village.

Our guide though the fishing village was the local schoolteacher, a local woman in her lower 20’s named Suzie. We walked along the shore of the lake, around the edge of the huts, to the main drag of town. We entered through the fish market where the women vended dried fish, the main sustenance of the village. The unbelievably patriarchal culture didn’t allow women to fish, and the men were not prone to sharing their hoard with the women, especially considering how many wives most of them had. So, the women faced the choice of selling fish bought from the men in the market or prostituting themselves. Discarded packets of ‘local brew’ lined the streets, the primary source of the rampant alcoholism plaguing the village.

The tragedy of the village, I think, was that with some social reform it could solve a lot of it’s problems. Lake Victoria is brimming with fish, and the traps they use to capture them are very effective.

The preservation techniques there are advanced enough that they should be able to trade with other villages (which they do now, a bit, but the money only reaches the elder men.) The Tanzanian government, to their credit, does do a lot to support social mobility, like offering scholarships to high-performing students, but it’s difficult to teach students that are fifty to a room and sitting on dirt floors.

Check us out on the web www.newsstreak.com This is a condensed version of Mark’s story, for in-depth coverage go to www.newsstreak.com