the
Newsstreak
where every person has a story Volume XIC • Issue 1• August 23, 2010
Freeze Frame Get your kicks on Route 66. Junior Jordan Bushong taps out jazzthemedmusic on the xylophones. Bushong, along with the rest of the band, spent hours practicing music and marching two weeks before the start of school. Photo by Maria Rose.
Summer sunset. Along the Oregon Coast, pictureseque sunsets are not difficult to find. Photo by Maria Rose.
News Briefs
Marching band members prepare for fall season
School will be closed Sept 6 for Labor Day. If you are interested in joining the HHS Forensics team, you can pick up sign up sheets on the bulletin board across from the library. The Newsstreak had 19 finalists in the Virginia State High School League Writing, Photo, and Design competition. The yearbook had eight, and the literary magazine had 15 finalists. Final results will be released at the VHSL/Jostens championship workshop in October in Roanoke along with evaluations of publications from last year.
Natalie Warner
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he phrase “band camp” has a number of connotations. Some people picture summer flings and drama exclusive to television shows like The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Others envision an affair similar to boot camp, with music instructors for drillmasters and the continuous rhythm of drum cadence. But for students in the Blue Streak Band, “band camp” conjures images of August days spent on the practice field memorizing music and learning marching techniques. Many students might balk at the idea of surrendering summer vacation two weeks early, but sophomore returning marcher Margaret King offers a differing opinion. “It feels like I’m back home,” she said contentedly. Senior saxophone section leader Simona Byler readily agrees, even though she sometimes would
Sports Briefs
See Band Camp on page A8
New superintendent believes ‘learning is more than SOLS’ Maria Rose
The golf team will compete in the HHS Massanutten mini meet at the Heritage Oaks Golf Center at 2 p.m. on Aug 23. The boys and girls cross country teams will compete at the Easter Mennonite High School Invitational at Burtner Farm on Sept 11 at 10 a.m. Varsity volleyball will compete against Eastern Mennonite High School on Aug 26 at EMHS at 7 p.m. The football team will scrimmage Charlottesville High School on Aug 26, and their first game will be against Handley, at Handley High School on Sept 4. HHS will host the Massanutten Cheer Challenge on Monday, Sept 27 at 7 p.m.
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editor-in-chief
r. Scott Kizner is an actor. Well, sort of. As a teenager working in New York City’s Madison Square Garden as a street vendor, he was asked to play a hot dog seller in a short scene for the movie Willy and Phil. (“Trust me, no one’s heard of it,” Kizner said.) But his line—“That’ll be fifty cents, sir”—was cut from the movie after he stumbled over the words for nearly two hours in the filming process. He has, however, had much more success in a different field: education. Kizner, a New York native, was hired this past spring as the new Harrisonburg City Public Schools system superintendent, replacing Dr. Donald Ford, whose 13 year service ended on June 30th. And Kizner is no stranger to the line of work, or the area. This is his third position working as a superintendent after functioning as superintendent in Westerly, Rhode Island and Martinsville, Virginia, for approximately six years at each job. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baruch College in
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NYC, a Master of Arts degree from James Madison University (which is how he is so familiar with the area), and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) from Virginia Tech. In addition to that, he has worked as a school psychologist and been a teacher for students with special needs. But Kizner was not planning on being a teacher. It was not until he accepted a position as a counselor at a camp for disabled kids “at the very last minute”, that he realized his passion for working with children. In fact, when he moved to Berryville, Virginia with his wife in 1981, he hosted the first ‘group home’. This meant that he took in teens who were impaired in some way out of a hospital setting and lived with them. “It was exciting; I just got married and one week later I had five teens,” Kizner said with his heavy New York drawl. “In a sense, we were like pioneers, since we were the first ones to do it.” Kizner has also been a pioneer in his own field as superintendent. He brings with him to the HCPS system new ideas that involve heavy collaboration of staff, students, and families. In his previous jobs, he has required
Introductions. New superintendent Dr. Scott Kizner addresses the new teachers and faculty of the HCPS system at a breakfast on Wednesday, Aug 11 at VMRC. Photo by Maria Rose. every teacher to have at least 25 positive contacts between home and school, which is something he intends to establish here. This means that teachers must phone home--but instead of discussing the negatives, they share praise with families about the good things students accomplish. He is also planning to form a student advisory group, which he will meet with quarterly throughout the year to gain a student perspective of the education process and discuss updates. See Kizner on Page A8
AVID teachers focus on new teaching techniques
of eight different institutes offered across the country this summer and had about 2,000 people at each feature editor location. Each teacher spent the morning attending specific classes to learn effective practices in the dvancement Via Individual Determina- classroom that encourage writing, inquiry, collaboration (AVID) is a program that targets stu- tion, and rigor. The teachers were taught strategies dents in the academic middle – B, C, and for critical writing, reading, and incorporating colD students – who have college dreams lege tutors into their curriculum. Collins and Moyand a good work ethic. AVID stuers spent time with several other dents are capable of succeeding AVID administrators to discuss Several of in advanced classes but need asadministration of the program, the personal sistance to reach their full potendocumentation, and funding. tial. AVID’s objective is to close stoires...were Cathy After the classes, the site team the achievement gap and prepare set goals for the next few years heart-wrenchSoenksen, students for a four-year college as the program expands. They ing and cause AVID or university. Last year, HHS spent the afternoons working decided to join AVID’s program for celebra- teacher on a site plan for HHS, making and aide and instill its goals in students plans for the upcoming year, and tion.” enrolled in the elective. During deciding what changes needed the summer, AVID site members to be made as HHS’ second year from HHS attended a summer institute in Chicago, as an AVID school. Illinois to learn how to improve the program in our The site team enjoyed the 30th Anniversary Celhigh school. ebration Luncheon that was thrown during their visit The AVID site team, made up of District Director the most. Kirk Moyers, Site Coordinator Gail Collins, elective “The highlight of the week-long institute was listeachers Bonnie Anderson and Cathy Soenksen, and tening to four recent high school AVID graduates exEnglish teachers Peter Norment and Jen Rose, visited plain how AVID changed their lives,” Rose said. AVID’s summer institute July 26th-30th. It was one See AVID on page A8
Christy Stearn
Homecoming previews and SCA updates Football coverage and statistics The Hunger Games book reviews Athlete spotlight Immigration issue and controversy coverage More bang for your buck: finding cheaper items around town Sarver awarded ‘Coach of the Decade’ and retirement announcement Getting to know Principal Irene Reynolds Tips for succeeding on your SATs
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rather be “out of the hot sun, preferably sleeping.” Band camp marks the beginning of something exciting: the marching season. “Part of me gets excited for the season…I just hope to have as positive of an experience as I’ve had in years past, and have fun the whole time. For me, that’s really what it’s about,” Byler said Though the overall experience seems to be a positive one, marching band can be both challenging and exhausting. Temperatures routinely reach the upper eighties and nineties, and the late August humidity can be stifling. Band members have developed a number of traditions to make camp more enjoyable. Various activities, including water balloon volleyball competitions, movie nights, and themed days like “Superhero Day” and “Country Day”, encourage high spirits. Byler is more than happy to offer an illustration. “On Country Day, we all talk with Southern accents and rock some John Deere logos,” she said.
Newly elected SCA officers plan on bringing the entire student body together Aidan Newcity feature editor
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very May the HHS student body votes to elect SCA officers. SCA, or the Student Council Association, is a student-run board of five students trying to make the students get involved in the school and put on events to reach their goals. This year the SCA executive board consists of President Kathy Rodriguez, Vice President Leo Arango, Secretary Ryan Fletcher, Treasurer Christine Choi, and Reporter Lauren Martin. The month before school let out the SCA met and made plans for events for the upcoming 20102011 school year. The SCA did not meet anytime during the summer, but instead focused on creating different plans during their May meeting. “This year the SCA has come up with a variety of plans. We hope to start giving students treats for their birthday like we used to get when we were back in elementary. We are planning on having movie nights like we had a few years back. This year we hope to have a homecoming like the student body has not seen before,” Rodriguez said. Choi is determined to get more students involved with every event and especially spirit week. The SCA always has that goal in mind when planning events. “We want even more students participating in penny wars, powderpuff football, and class wars. We’re trying to expand everything that was successful last year and make them even better,” Choi says. See SCA on page A2
Band moms are an essential part of band camp’s successes Phillip Bannister editor-in-chief
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full two weeks before most students return to Harrisonburg High School, our Blue Streak marching band can be found here practicing. This long and potentially tedious time period is known as band camp to marching band students. Students spend hours at the high school playing their instruments and marching every day through the course of band camp. With this extensive practice schedule it is easy to overlook all the work that goes into it as a whole. Band moms, although silent in the background, do a lot for band throughout the season and especially throughout band camp. “It’s a full week of food they need,” Aileen Steere said. “Six days of full lunch. We have to come up with that from various eateries around town. Some food is donated and some is at a reduced rate.” Along with the places around town, parents of former band members still donate food for band camp despite the fact that their child has graduated. The band mothers see their contributions as a way to help the students get the work done they need with no extra stress of having to worry about providing their own food or snacks for breaks. “We do all the support so that they can focus on the music,” Terry Hess said. “They are 100 percent dependent on us.” The mothers go out of their way not to just provide the students with food but with planned balanced meals. See MOMS on Page A8
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