March 11 issue of the Newsstreak

The

Newsstreak

where every person has a story

Volume XC • Issue 9• March 11, 2010

harrisonburg high school • 1001 garbers church road • harrisonburg, va 22801 • 540.433.2651 • Newsstreak.com •

Freeze Frame

Renaissance rally features popular performers by-one the volunteers entertained the crowd by doing ridiculous things.

He was able to convince his volunteers that they could speak other made-up languages, that they were in love with fruit, or that they were secret agents who sprayed themselves in the face with a water gun. Senior Hannah Thigpen was one of the audience members for See Rally on Page B8

Tricia Comfort Editor-in-Chief

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PITS. Jenn Rose works with members of poets in the schools. Photo

by Emilee Burke.

News Briefs Due to the number of days missed for snow, the following calendar adjustments are being made: 

March 5: regular school day March 11: regular school day (no early release) March 12: end of 4th six weeks/ early release (teacher workday in afternoon) March 18: early release and parent/teacher conference day March 19: regular school day May 31: regular school day (no holiday for Memorial Day) June 9, 10, 11: regular school days - workday scheduled for June 11 will be moved to June 12 or 14. SSB spaghetti dinner will be held on Mar 14 at 5 p.m. with a minimum $5 donation at the door

ach semester the SCA and Renaissance class hosts a renaissance rally to reward those students who have earned the title of a ‘Renaissance Kid’. To become a Renaissance Kid, students must achieve certain standards with their GPA and attendance. At this year’s fall renaissance rally, the SCA organized events such as pie-in-face and performances from the dance team, cheerleaders and the girl’s cross-country team. This spring, the SCA has two major performances planned to keep the crowd entertained.

The boys dance team, which is comprised of boys from the renaissance leadership class, performs first this spring. They have been practicing their routine for several weeks, and the girls in the renaissance class have been getting the boys outfits together. They received coaching from juniors Bianca Jerlinski, Emily Blatt and Sofia Cabrera. This year, the boys are dancing to Shut up and Drive

by Rihanna, Chillin’ by Wale featuring Lady GaGa, and other popular dance songs. Their performance will feature the traditional kick line, a class battle, and some oldies style dance moves.

The spring rally will also feature the famous hypnotist, Tom DeLuca. DeLuca performed for HHS in 2007, and the SCA decided to bring him back this year.

DeLuca started his performance in 2007 by getting volunteers from the audience. Waltz. Senior Michael Clopper practices his dance moves He hypnotized his volunteers, breaking with junior Thomas Wong. The boys dance team practiced down their mental barriers and fear so for several weeks before performing for the school at the their imagination was more open. One- Renaissance Rally. Photo by Tricia Comfort.

Sports Briefs

Congratulations to the members of the Indoor Track team who placed in the state meet. The boys 4x200 and 4x400 meter relay teams earned all-state honors. The girls 4x400 meter relay team also earned all-state honors. Drake Cary placed eighth in mens 1 meter diving at the state AA dive meet and Priscilla Harrison placed eighth in the ladies 1 meter diving competition at the state meet, too. Workouts for next fall’s competition cheerleading squad have begun. If you’re interested in joining the group, see Bridget Smith in room 138

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he HHS Academic, debate and forensics teams have all experienced success this year. Now, they are down to the final count. The regional and state competitions are coming up this spring.

The forensics team progressing to regionals is not new. In the all the years library secretary Bradley Walton has coached forensics, a significant portion of the team has always gone to regionals.

This year, everybody on the team qualified. Harrisonburg did not, however, place first at the Massanutten District meet on Feb 4. HHS placed second behind Turner Ashby High School.

Coming Up:

Renaissance Rally wrap up with hypnotist Tom Deluca Spring sports kick-off Prom plans under way The search for a new superintendent of HCPS Spring play cast decided Forensics and Debate teams advance Academic team wrap-up All-State musicians interviewed Planning for spring break An in depth look at classroom decorating and the first amendment 

“Many of the events at the district tournament were so small most of the team would’ve advanced regardless of how poorly they’d done.

I think most of the team would’ve advanced even if we had had a larger district. I’m pleased with that. Conversely, TA whooped our butts at the competition and they whooped them good. That may continue at regionals, I don’t know,” Walton said.

Forensics has always had at least one member of the team go to the state competition.

Last year, half a dozen people qualified for states.

The academic team went to their state competition in Williamsburg on Feb 26-27 along with eight other schools from around Virginia. The academic team was undefeated all year, until their regional competition where they placed

second behind E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg. The team placed fifth in the state.

“They were ok with it. We have a small district this year because of VHSL redistricting.

We saw the same three schools every time. No offence, but they didn’t give us that much competition,” academic team coach Robert Edmunds said. “Then at some of the meets where we had bigger competition, the students were pushed a little. They hadn’t had the experience of being bested. Since we still got a trip to states out of this, it’s a good experience for them.”

The regional competition took place in the middle of Harrisonburg’s snow cancellation days. Because of this, getting all the team members together was difficult. The team has not had any practices recently because See States on Page B8

Classes collecting soap, other supplies for Haiti relief

newsstreak.com Updated class wars scores Daily lunch menu Advertisement forms Breaking news Athletic calender and updated scores Polls and more

Jessica Strickler Opinion Editor

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lthough the earthquake in one of the world’s poorest countries, Haiti, occurred more than two months ago, classes at HHS are still collecting relief supplies to make into health care kits.

Coordinated by Key Club Sponsor Maurizio Antonnicola, teachers in the building have been asking their classes to contribute to the kits.

“Key Club will be assembling the kits as soon as the supplies are collected,” Antonnicola said.

“Then the kits will be shipped to Louisiana and then on to Haiti to be distributed.”

Math teacher Tricia Cummings has been collecting bars of soap, and offered extra credit to entice her students to bring in bars.

“I offered one point of extra credit for each bar of soap students brought in, but the maximum points they could earn was ten,” Cummings said. “Some of the kids don’t need the extra credit, but contributed to the cause anyway.” “[Cummings] only gives extra credit through our game, ‘Search for Gold’, so this is a good chance to get some extra points,” senior Elisha Hill said. “In the game, most times you are limited to five points per prize.”

Cummings’ 62 students have accumulated

between 100 and 150 bars of soap. Junior Carley Shears was the first student to bring in soap for the relief efforts in Cummings class.

“I wanted to help with the relief efforts and get some extra credit,” Shears said. “So I brought in two bars of soap.”

In the library, all fines collected during the week of Feb 15 were donated to the Haiti relief efforts. Overdue materials cost the students five cents for every day late.

“We donated $23.40 to the Haiti cause,” library secretary Bradley Walton said. “I would say students were probably just paying the fines, not donating to Haiti.”

Math teacher David Rush has been collecting laundry soap, but his methods of persuading students were different from Cummings.

“I didn’t offer extra credit or anything, I just asked the kids to help people,” Rush said. “We have about 50 soap bars at this point.”

Rush also offered his students the option of bringing in money and then he went to the store and purchased soap bars in bulk. His third block, A-day class has been the most generous with donating so far.

Art teachers Jauan Brooks and Kelley Shradley-Horst have not had as much success in getting students to donate. Although the teachers themselves have purchased toothbrushes, nail clippers and soap, students taking art have not been as interested in helping out.

See Haiti on Page B8

style Wrist art: check out the accessories A6 that adorn our wrists

David Proctor News Editor

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ars were trapped by snow, roofs were collapsing and power lines were going down. The Blizzard of 2010 delivered the largest amount of snowfall to Harrisonburg, and a good portion of Virginia, ever. Many have begun to wonder, with over a week of school missed, if SOL testing would be pushed back.

“You don’t actually have to test on a certain day. There’s a testing window and that’s a fairly large window. But the actual date, we choose that and we can change it,” Principal Irene Reynolds said.

Reynolds said that Richmond is waiting to see how school divisions decide to handle their make-up days.

“It would be useless, for example, for schools to add make-up days at the end of the year after that window expires,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds claims that she See SOL on Page B8

Academic team, forensics, debate all have strong seasons A cappella Ama Ansah News Editor

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Weather could push back SOL testing dates

health

Feature

Getting in shape for spring

A10

Exploring the photography of Cara Walton B3

Emma DiNapoli Editor-in-Chief

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enior Justin Goldberger and juniors Maria Rose and Jessica May are the founders, respectively, of the first-ever HHS a cappella groups. Both the girls and guys groups will be performing for the first time at the National Art Honor Society’s Soup Night on March 11, which begins at 6 p.m.

A cappella, a form of singing without any kind of instrumental accompaniment, has seen a rise in popularity on college campuses in the past couple of decades.

“My favorite college a cappella group is Madison Project,” Goldberger said. “I wanted to be able to bring college a cappella to the high school.”

Both of the high school groups held tryouts to ensure all group members were qualified.

“For the girls group, no freshmen were allowed to tryout,” sophomore Gwen Elwood said. “That kept the size of our group small. We had to sing a prepared song and run through some scales, and sing in groups of three.”

Generally, a cappella groups have a couple of “percussionists,” or beatboxers.

“Patrick Toohey, Dorrall Price, and a couple of other guys are our main beatboxers,” Goldberger said. In an a cappella performance, groups take current hits and remaster the scores to sound as similar as possible without including any instruments. The beatboxer’s purpose is to mimic any percussion instruments in the original song.

The girls a cappella group has met only once since its inception. “[The] women have only had one practice because we’re See SINGING on Page B8

Photo Essay

Sports The evolution of the track uniform

groups will debut at Soup Night

B6

Finding the smiley face in everyday items B10

The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

Health A10

Ways To Get Into Shape This Spring

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3.

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4.

Fitzwater attends Harrisonburg Fitness monthly

Both Fitzwater and Horst agree that working out outside of school is more comfortable for them, rather than using the weight room after school.

“I don’t work out at HHS after y paying $35 a month school because I feel like I focus better to become a member of when I’m not surrounded by people I Harrisonburg Fitness, junior know,” Fitzwater said.

John Fitzwater feels like “Recently we’ve been going to work he gets his out at night because it’s money’s worth. emptier, not everyone I The money know is there,” Horst goes toward My favorite brand said. the upkeep of Occasionally is Whey Protein. the gym’s new Fitzwater and Horst For starters I would equipment such head to the gym right as the sauna recommend muscle after school, but that and workout plan can change due to milk” machines, and after school activities. his unlimited,  Junior They spend two hours 24-hour access RJ Good every other day at to the facility.

Harrisonburg Fitness, Every other changing their fitness day he hits routine every time they go. the gym, accompanied by his friend, “Normally it’s just reps for chest, junior Daniel Horst. However, legs, and that kind of stuff,” Fitzwater Fitzwater works out every day-using said. his weight training class as a way to fit “We lift, we run, we do all kinds of in his workouts on days he doesn’t go stuff,” Horst said.  to Harrisonburg Fitness.

Ryan Maphis Feature Reporter

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Whey protein can be mixed into a shake which helps athletes build up their energy.

Cliff bars and Protein Plus also are a great way to get protein.

Tandel achieves his goals by working out seven days a week Lauren Martin Ads Manager

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rue commitment is a hard thing to come by.

It becomes even rarer when the commitment is to exert oneself at a gym almost seven days a week, every week. But senior Aakash Tandel has made that very commitment and has stuck to it.

“I started going [to the gym] about a month ago and I go [to the gym] five or six days out of the week,” Tandel said.

The senior goes to Harrisonburg Fitness on West Market Street to work out.

Tandel chose this particular gym for multiple reasons, one of which was that his friend, senior Alex Neff, also had a membership at the gym.

“I started working out with Alex Neff. He seemed to like going to [Harrisonburg Fitness] so I was pretty sure I would get good workouts by going too,” Tandel said.

Both signed up for six month memberships with the gym.

Normally, a membership is $35 a month, but when members sign up for six months, one month’s payment is deducted.

Neff feels having someone to workout with is an incentive to get there each night.

“Working out with another person is beneficial because

they are able to push you harder than you would ever be able to push yourself,” Neff said.

Tandel and Neff have both come up with workout plans that they each feel will help them reach their fitness goals.

“I [work out] my arms and abs one day then shoulders and back the next time. Then I do chest and abs one day, legs the next, and one day a week I do nothing but straight running,” Tandel said. “But I always run for fifteen minutes before I do anything.”

Tandel’s rigorous gym schedule is meant to obtain results quickly.

“I felt like it was time I became more fit and healthier,” Tandel said. “I want to gain more muscle mass and tone, mostly.”

Neff ’s workouts are geared toward different goals. “[My goal] is to gain muscle and lose weight, which is a lot harder,” Neff said.

Tandel has proven to be committed with his recent fitness endeavors, even though he was attending rehearsals for the most recent HHS musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat at least four times a week.

“I just felt like both things were important and as long as I could do both it was worth it,” Tandel said. 

5.

6.

1. Senior, Kelsey Hyser, shows the first step into toning your abs. Start by lying your body down, lift each leg while lunging your body forward and lift your abs to the center of your body.

2. Alternate the first step by doing the left side of your body.

3. Grab a chair and then place one of your legs behind the chair and keep balance.

4. Bend leg down, while still keeping your balance. Switch legs. This helps tone the upper thighs.

5. Utilize your staircase by holding onto the rail while stepping on the edge of the stairs. Bend all the way down.

6. Once you bend all the way down, lift your feet up. These steps maintain toned calves. Enjoy!

Smith,Tiernan attend yoga class to de-stress Alison Domonoske Feature Section Editor

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he life of a high school teacher is full, from unruly students to projects to grade, but science teacher Suzie Smith has found a fool-proof way to relax. Smith practices yoga, a form of exercise, stretching, meditation and spiritual centering.

Chemistry teacher Smith has done yoga for five years, and uses videos from her house and attends sessions at the RMH Wellness Center. For her, yoga is a way to relax and get in shape.

“I use it to de-stress and I do feel most relaxed after a yoga session. When you do yoga consistently, it’s also very toning and makes me more flexible,” Smith said. Smith, however believes one should do yoga three or four times a week to get all the benefits. She only does yoga once a week.

Senior Maureen Tiernan has done yoga since 8th grade. Tiernan goes to a yoga class twice a week with her friend, alumna Samantha Charles, at Gold’s Gym.

“She [Charles] goes to Blue Ridge so she has to do yoga for a class and I just get a guest pass. But there are tons of places to do yoga,” Tiernan said. Tiernan agrees with Smith that yoga is a great way to de-stress.

“It helps with circulation and you feel better and stretched out after doing it,” Tiernan said. “It makes you feel relaxed and energized.”

Neither Tiernan nor Smith plays any sports, but they do both do other exercise. Both have noticed that yoga is easier now than it was at the beginning.

“Learning all the different poses is hard but once you know them that part is easy,” Smith said. Now, she only struggles with the end of her yoga sessions, when they practice total relaxation.

“The final relaxation is most difficult for me because you have to keep your mind clear. They tell you to not think about anything but your body,” Smith said. If you want to relax and gain strength, yoga is what you should try.

“It’s harder than people think because it may look simple to just stay in one pose,” Smith said. “But that is what really makes you strong.” 

Protein shakes shape Good’s performance during sports

protein shake and did not like it. He stopped drinking it to avoid trouble.

“A lot of people say that Creatine is like steroids, so I do not want people to think that I am taking stuff similar to steroids,” Good said. ll athletes who plays sports has “Protein shakes help you because it adds a different way of helping their muscle mass to the body,” Good said. performance. Junior, RJ Good stays Good drinks protein shakes at different times healthy and strong by drinking of the year depending on which sport he is protein shakes. in. During the wrestling Good first started making season he tends to not his own protein shakes two to drink as much because he three years ago at his house. has to either lose weight or My favorite brand He now gets his protein shakes maintain weight. During at GNC, a vitamin health store is Whey Protein. the spring when he does in the mall. Once he buys the For starters I would track and field, he tends powder, he then makes the to drink more because he reccomend muscle drinks at home. The nutritious wants to gain weight and drinks are filled with vitamin milk” prepare for the upcoming A, vitamin C, and vitamin D.  Junior football season.

There are many brands of “Protein shakes are a RJ Good protein drinks. Muscle Milk great way to get strong and and Whey Protein are two in shape,” Good said. examples of brands.

Spring sports are “My favorite brand is Whey Proteins. For creeping up on us, so start getting in shape. starters, I would recommend Muscle Milk Protein shakes can help with this. Strength is because it makes you gain muscle. Once you a big part of sports and there are many ways become more serious, you should start drinking people can gain the strength they need. Find Whey Protein,” Good said. something that works and stick to it.  Good has tried Creatine which is a kind of Michael Johnson Staff Reporter

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The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

News A2

are you

RECALL READY?

Cars Effected by the Recall: 2005-2010 Avalon 2007-2010 Camry 2009-2010 Corolla 2009-2010 Matrix 2004-2010 Prius 2009-2010 Venza

Looking out into our student parking lot, most of the Toyota’s seen are older models that have survived the recent recalls the automotive giant has issued for problems with accelerator sensors as well as malfunctioning brakes. However, many of our staff, parents, relatives and friends drive affected cars.

If you have any questions or concerns about your Toyota or that of someone else, feel free to contact your local Toyota dealer.

Trucks/SUVs Effected by the Recall: 2008-2010 Highlander 2009-2010 Rav-4 2008-2009 Sequoia 2005-2010 Tacoma 2007-2010 Tundra

HHS girls to participate in fashion show for St. Jude’s Kavya Beheraj News Reporter

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ights will flash on March 21 as over a hundred girls strut down the catwalk in gorgeous dresses. The girls are participating in the St. Jude Prom Fashion Show, hosted by the bridal and prom dress store Reflections. Girls from around Virginia are invited to participate, and anyone can attend. “[The show will be] at HHS,” said Jessica Morris, an employee at Reflections.

The difference between this

fashion show and others is the fact that any girl in high school is eligible to enter. That is the reason that sophomore Jessica Sangabriel, also an employee at Reflections, decided to enter.

“I wanted to be in it simply because the idea of being a non-size-zero model appeals to me,” Sangabriel said.

The show is $7 for advance tickets, and $10 at the door. The proceeds will all go to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, which is internationally renowned for their work in finding cures for diseases and for helping children with cancer.

“We have close to a hundred models, and we’re looking for

more,” Morris said.

At the same time, several items, such as coupons and gift certificates, will be auctioned and raffled off at the show.

Sangabriel first heard about the show from marketing teacher Tony Antonnicola and really wanted to participate in the show.

“I got a job at Reflections and they were the ones organizing it,” Sangabriel said. “It was pure luck.”

Although anyone can be in the show, there are some requirements participants have to meet to be qualified for the part.

“To be in the show, you

have to sell twenty tickets [to the show], you have to be fitted, and you have to go at least once to Reflections,” Sangabriel said. At Reflections, the models will go through fittings and training sessions for the runway.

The event will showcase the work of Tony Bowls, a nationally recognized fashion designer. His pageant, prom, and wedding gowns have been featured in the opening numbers of the 2006 Miss America Pageant and many other famous television shows. Even though he will not be present at the show, he has generously donated two hundred of his

Ugly to hit THMS stage Heather Hunter-Nickels News Reporter

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ooks can be quite deceiving when it comes to a little swan who thinks he is a duck. He is called the ‘ugly duckling’ and everybody abhors him.

That is the role eighth grader Abe Nouri plays in Honk, the Thomas Harrison middle school spring musical. The production is a remake of the ugly duckling story but with a few new characters and songs.

“There is a little kid element of immaturity, or unprofessionalism, that people relate to middle school musicals,” eighth grader Celia Ehrenpreis said.

“And we want to prove them wrong,” Nouri said. “Rachel Cavoto, who plays the cat that entices Ugly away from the ducks, has one of the best voices. There are clever lines and the characters are easy to fall in love with.”

Nouri plays the role of ‘Ugly’, the ugly duckling, who starts out with a hideous appearance, and transforms into a beautiful swan. Ehrenpreis plays Grace, the lead adult duck. She has a high social status and is the protagonist of the story who banishes Ugly from the rest of the ducklings.

Practices range from 1.5-3 hours long and each of the five ensemble numbers are rehearsed approximately 50 times before opening night.

“Musical productions are the "triple threat". One has to act AND sing AND dance,” drama director Kim Schlabach

said.

In the past, both Nouri and Ehrenpreis have played roles in the productions of Sir Nose, Annie, Zink the Zebra, and Tom Sawyer. Honk will be their final chapter of middle school drama. They both plan to continue their involvement in drama when they get to high school, and run cross-country.

“We are really going to miss our directors, Mrs. Schlabach and Mr. Strawderman, and the whole drama scene,” Ehrenpreis said. Nouri agreed.

Like the HHS production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Honk requires an immense amount of parental participation in set construction, set painting, finding props and costumes, providing refreshments, Box Office/Ushers, placing posters around Harrisonburg, purchasing some costume needs, setting lights and sound. One could say the parents “run” the show. Fortunately that is not the case because the parental help is only a fraction of arranging the production.

There is a lot of work that needs to be done before a play. Everyone has his or her role, and in the end it all fits together like a puzzle. The whole picture looks best with all pieces present.

The musical is scheduled for March 19-21, 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. on Sunday. To reserve tickets call 271-3064. Concessions provided by the THMS FCLA club with profits going to Haiti Relief.

“We are hoping for a huge crowd, and that they will enjoy it,” Nouri said.

Alex Rendon Staff Reporter

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he eleventh annual teacher recruitment fair took place at Harrisonburg High School this February 27. People who were interested in applying for a position in education were afforded the opportunity to gather information from nine school divisions near the Shenandoah Valley when they attended this past fair. As large as this fair was, the importance of it is outlined by the fact that so many people are in need of employment in this ailing economy. That was the underlying concern of the event and partly why it was so popular.

“This fair is really important because so many people are looking for jobs these days,” Beverly Sterm said.

There are eleven prominent vacancies at Harrisonburg High School including the need for an earth science teacher, a math teacher and an ESL teacher. The purpose of the job fair was to present information and attract attention to these critical posts within the school as well as openings in schools

Father and Son. 8th grader Abe Nouri (right) meets his father, played by 8th grader Garrett Thompson left). Photo by Ama Ansah

Ready to hatch!

Ida, played by Jaymie Inouye, waits for her eggs to hatch.

Photo by Ama Ansah

AVID aids freshmen students

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Christy Stearn Feature Reporter

Prospective teachers attend job fair around the area. Many people attended this year’s fair eager to find out more information from employers.

“The main reason this fair is so important is the budget cuts. The job fair is an opportunity for employers to let people know information about their school,” Sterm said.

Potential teachers sought this opportunity to network and get to know important people as they seek to separate themselves from other prospective teachers. Since the demand for education posts is so high, would-be educators were eager to find out more information about the fair itself and how to find employment in general.

“It’s a great opportunity to meet with all the school districts because so many are represented at the fair,” student teacher Anne Noffsinger said.

“The budget cuts this year added to the importance of the fair for people looking to get teaching jobs.”

The job fair provided opportunities that people who have felt the brunt of dwindling economic opportunities, are trying to take advantage of. Letters of intent may have been offered immediately after the event to ease their worries. 

dresses for the girls to wear.

Sangabriel had the chance to meet him when he came to visit Reflections on Feb 18. “[Bowls] is a really great guy,” Sangabriel said. “You wouldn’t think such a person with such big publicity would be so kind and so humorous.”

The show, which is the largest prom fashion show in Virginia, is currently in its fourth year running, and every year more and more money has been raised.

“We wanted to help other people our age. It was a way to involve all the high schools,” Morris said. “We wanted to make it fun.” 

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dvanced Via Individual Determination, or AVID, is a program that has recently been introduced to the school.

AVID is an international program that offers preparation for students that have the potential to attend a college or university.

Although AVID classes have just begun at HHS and are only accessible for students in the ninth grade right now, schools around the nation start AVID training as young as fourth grade and continue until the students’ senior year in high school. HHS hopes to expand the courses to upperclassmen, and the Skyline Middle School and Thomas Harrison Middle School are both interested in adding AVID to their curriculum.

Instructors often teach students who will be the first generation in his or her family that is college-bound. AVID provides support to students who are in need of it in order to reach honors levels academically. The biggest goal for the program is that the group will take more vigorous classes and learn that they can compete with other top students.

“We have really good programs to reach academically talented students and we have really good programs that help students who may be struggling

in their classes, but [AVID] is directed toward kids stuck in the middle,” AVID teacher Cathy Soenksen said.

AVID was added at the high school to assist students looking to excel in school, but who need help motivating themselves. Principal Irene Reynolds became interested in having AVID classes available to students after investigating the program and visiting other schools that have the program. Reynolds then asked the school board to allow the site team at HHS to be trained for AVID. The lessons taught during the class help prepare students for a future education after finishing high school.

Students who take AVID classes learn how to take notes, write at a higher level, stay organized, think more critically, and other vital skills inside the classroom. College mentors are also involved in the program and give the students someone they can look up to. In addition to college students and teachers acting as role models, students learn a lot by looking at their peers. “[AVID] teaches the kids how to be competitive with one another. I have also noticed that they help each other out tons,” AVID teacher Jennifer Rose said.

Instructors and coordinators are hopeful to see the program continue to help students at HHS. Everyone involved in AVID is eager to see students stick with it every year and have success because of the course. 

The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

News A3

Blizzards pound Valley with record snowfall David Proctor News Editor

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wo major blizzards and several smaller snow storms shattered records all across the East Coast, including the Shenandoah Valley. In Harrisonburg, the record of 53 inches of snow in one winter season was broken. Harrisonburg currently has about 53.5 inches with about two weeks remaining in the season.

With the massive snowfall came costs. Harrisonburg far exceeded its budget for snow removal. Director of Public Works Jim Baker told the Harrisonburg City Council that this year’s snowfall “busted” the budget. The city spent almost $800,000, despite only allocating $220,773 for fiscal year 2010.

The fiscal year runs from Oct 1 to Sept 31.

“We have to find somewhere to close the gap. We’re still about $300,000 in the

hole,” Baker said in a phone interview.

With time still left remaining in this winter season, Baker is concerned that the city will face an even larger snow removal deficit.

“We’re going to have to get the money from somewhere else. It’s up to the city council and city manager to figure out where that money is going to come from. Even if we took every cent from street beautification, for example, we’re still not going to close the gap,” Baker said.

Baker says that no matter what happens, the streets will continue getting cleaned when it snows. The implications will come in other areas of the city budget. He fears vital programs such as downtown Renaissance, which hopes to revitalize the downtown area, could suffer.

“It’s really put us in a tough position. What we’re trying to figure out is if we can get an advance on next year’s funding and then hope it doesn’t snow nearly as much, but who knows,” Bak-

er said.

The massive snowfall has also impacted many school schedules. Harrisonburg City Schools has made plans to make up all missed days by elimiinating teacher workdays and making early release days into regular school days. This is because each school in Virginia must be in session for at least 900 instructional hours. Unless Harrisonburg is hit with even more snow, spring break will remain in place. Rockingham County Schools, which missed over two full weeks of school from different storms, lost much of their spring break in addition to the teacher workdays.

Other regions also broke snowfall records. Baltimore was just one of many cities that broke snowfall records. During the Feb 5 blizzard, citizens were banned from driving on the roadways to make snow removal easier. Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. also shattered their snowfall records. 

Brr! After the February 5 blizzard dropped nearly 30” on much of the Valley, freshman Chris Sokolyuk helps dig out.

Photo by Katrina Sokolyuk.

Photos by Paulina Rendon

AP Points allowing students to pursue interests, earn extra credit Savanah Cary Feature Editor

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o deal with the difficult tests of advanced placement classes, and to enrich students understanding of the topics, many AP class teachers have implemented AP points. AP U.S. history teacher Mark Tueting is a firm believer in the benefits of AP points.

“AP U.S. history covers a huge content area, and through AP points students are able to experience more material and explore the areas of history

that they are interested in,” Tueting said. In Tueting’s class, students are required to get seven AP points per six weeks, and any points that they receive after those seven are extra credit.

The idea behind AP points is for students to do something related to history in an area that they are interested in. For example, students can read nonfiction or novels (related to history) if they are interested in literature. If they are interested in art, they can do an art analysis. In addition to things students can do individually, the class meets at Mr. J’s every Thursday morning to discuss

topics in class, and they can go to movie nights to watch a movie related to history.

“One thing that is great about breakfast at Mr. J’s is that students can bring their parents for an extra AP point, this gets parents involved and reinforces the topics we are learning about in class because it can be discussed at home as well,” Tueting said. “It also allows parent to see their kids being mature and responsible.” Tueting finds that at the beginning of the year, students generally dislike AP points, but after the first six weeks they begin to see the benefits of them.

“It helps the students pursue

their interests, reinforces things we learned in class, and increases participation in class,” Tueting said. “AP points are great for the hard worker, who is not necessarily the best test taker.”

AP points allow for more students to take the class without having the class affect their GPA if they do not get good grades. Tests in the classes have to be difficult in order to prepare the students for the AP test in May, but AP points offer a way to improve one’s test scores.

“Very few kids get A’s on the tests, and AP points allow me to not dumb down the tests,

“

It helps the students pursue their interests, reinforces things we learned in class and increases participation in class”  History teacher Mark Tueting

but students can still get good grades,” Tueting said. 

By the numbers Band gears up for performance at Disney World # of students: 86 # of miles to FL: 818 # of hours on bus: 13 # of hours roundtrip: 26 # of days total: 7 # of days working: 3 # of days playing: 4 # of fundraisers: 3 # of hours in clinic: 3 Cost: $600 Cost of booklets: $20 Cost of cookies: $1

Madison Wilson Staff Reporter

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or 86 band members, all focus is on the band trip that is just four weeks away. The band is going to Orlando, Fl for a band clinic and to perform at Disney World.

They will leave Wednesday March 17, at 9 p.m. They are traveling overnight, so they arrive early Thursday morning and will able to get in a full day. The band will return on Monday, March 24.

Two charter buses will take the band members 818 miles, making it approxi-

“When in Rome” chosen as Prom theme Emily Jamieson Staff Photographer

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rom is a steadfast tradition in high school. But there is more to prom than just planning on showing up, there is hard work and commitment that goes into everything that one sees at the prom. The prom committee is in charge of organizing everything for the event.

Ali Byrd is the president of the ju-

nior class and the prom committee.

She is a part of the ten other people on the prom committee who look through many books to decide what the theme should be and what HHS and other schools around the city have not done.

“We chose ‘When in Rome’ for the prom theme,” Byrd said.

The prom committee makes many more decisions for the prom than what the theme will be. They also have to come up with the right decorations that go well with the theme and fundraise. 

Spanish Club trip to Florida cancelled Michael Johnson Staff Reporter

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he Spanish Club has been busy fundraising this year to go to Orlando, Fl. They have sold tamales and hosted dances to raise money for their trip. Their intentions were to depart Friday before spring break and return Wednesday of the next week, but it was on such a short notice that it got postponed until next year.

Sophomore, Christina Luna is a member of the Spanish Club and would have voyaged to Orlando to participate in this trip.

“I was excited to go to Orlando because I was looking forward to getting out of Harrisonburg,” Luna said.

The Spanish Club was going to travel by bus. On the way to Orlando they were planning on stopping in Atlanta, Georgia to visit CNN (Cable News Network) where they were to take a tour of the studio.

While in Orlando, the Spanish Club

was hopefully going to visit Universal Studios, Sea World and see different underwater animals.

“In Orlando, I wanted to go to Universal Studios and the beach. I wanted to go to Universal Studios to have fun and tour and I wanted to go to the beach because it is spring break and I want to get out, relax, go in the water, and tan,” Luna said.

Spanish teachers Constanza Rojas and Edson Arango were heading up the trip. Spanish teacher Phil Yutzy was also going to be chaperoning.

“We were going to go to Orlando to learn and see museums,” Rojas said.

The Spanish Club cancelled the trip because they did not have enough people going. One bus would have cost them $8,800.

“We are hopefully going to go to Orlando next year for Spring Break,” Rojas said.

Some members feel that it is unfortunate that the Spanish Club will not being going this spring break.

“I’ve really wanted to go to Florida.

I’ve been waiting for it for three years,” senior Luis Garcia said. 

mately a thirteen hour trip. The HHS choir is also attending a clinic that will help them improve on vocals and singing presence. The clinic is for one day and it will last two hours. Disney musicians will work with the students to help teach them skills.

The students are raising money by selling coupon booklets for $20. They previously raised money by selling fruit, which was from Florida, and Domino’s pizza cards.

Everyone in the band and choir were invited to attend.

“Not everyone is going. People won’t go if they can’t pay it all or if they don’t want to go,” senior Amie Sombunwan-

na said.

After a day at a clinic, both the choir and the band will perform inside the park. The band will be playing multiple songs from Disney movies. This includes the Pirates of the Caribbean, The Incredibles, and Aladdin. For the rest of the four days, the band and choir will be relaxing and enjoying themselves in Disney’s theme parks.

“This is a well deserved retreat,” band director J.R. Snow said.

The trip costs about $600 per person.

Some money is being raised by selling cookies in the band hallway. The students have to come up with the six hundred dollars to cover all expenses. 

The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

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this

bel i e v e

Smile, but only if you mean it Lauren Martin Ad Manager

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here are so many things in life that bring people joy that it is hard not to celebrate each and every one.

I do not mean honoring them with presents and special days, or even devoting large feasts or parties to them.

When something brings you joy, there is only one genuine response. I believe smiling is the ultimate acknowledgement of joyful expression.

Sometimes I catch people randomly grinning, ear to ear grins, and they are completely alone. It really gets me thinking about why they are smiling. Is it a joke they heard? Are they reliving a memory?

I caught a friend of mine doing this once, and decided it was only fitting to ask the question. Their response was: “Oh, I was just imagining what it would be like to have a NFL draft party. I imagine it would feel pretty amazing.”

And all the while, they were still grinning. It was pretty incredible to me that just the idea of achieving such a feat brought them such personal bliss.

If I walked out of class and beamed at some kid on the way to class, would it really change the course of their day creating a continuous stream of smile-passing? I like to think so, except when the smile is forced.

Nothing is worse than someone making it blatantly obvious that they are merely giving you a “warm” smile out of some weird sense of obligation and not because they truly mean it.

For example, I saw an old friend in Wal-Mart one night, caught their eye and gave them a very genuine smile. In return I got a wannabe smile that made it clear they were no longer excited by seeing me. It was so confusing to me that someone I used to spend so much time with, now saw me in a different light.

Admittedly, smiling is not on the priority list for many people. It is probably safe to say that people do not analyze the smiles they give and receive. When something or someone makes you happy, there is an obligation to say ‘thank you for brightening my day’ by just turning your lips up. Give your mouth a little leeway; let your face muscles speak up for you. 

OP/ED A4

Enjoy snow days, rather than worrying

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Staff Editorial

he range of emotions we feel on snow days perfectly epitomizes how many of us feel about high school: nervous anxiety, euphoria, creeping boredom and, finally, allencompassing lethargy. When the weather forecast calls for just enough snow, sleet or ice to make the odds of having school the next day nearly impossible, we shriek with excitement, wear our pajamas inside out and turn our alarm clocks off, all for good luck. What we regularly fail to recognize is the inevitable boredom and, more importantly, anxiety that faces us when we do not have school.

The first couple of hours on the snow day are perfect. We enjoy ourselves, sleep in late, coerce our parents into making us pancakes or waffles and regularly run to the windows to make sure that the snow continues to fall. By noon, we have usually summoned up enough energy to pull on our snow clothes and slosh out into the wintry weather. For those of us lucky enough to live near friends, we create sled trails and snow angels or pelt each other with snowballs. Others are resigned to a day spent only with family, unless plows

Cartoon by Vivian Tejada.

render the roads clear enough to be driven on.

The question of plows brings us to the most pressing question on our minds… will there be school tomorrow? Are the roads clear enough for the school buses to pick kids up?

Though plows free us from our houses, they unfortunately can clear our path to school tomorrow.

Through the delight of a snow day there constantly remains the looming dread of school the next day. One can only stay outside in the cold for so long; without the distraction of snowy play, we find ourselves either bored indoors or restlessly checking the school website lest we miss the latest school closing update. Regardless of age or

academic achievement, we all worry equally about having to wake up early following a snow day and resume our normal school schedules. It seems, in fact, that more of a snow day is spent preparing for the next day of school than is spent enjoying the snow day we are given. We turn off our favorite movies in favor of homework, stop Facebook chatting with our long-lost cousins to write those papers due two days ago, and stretch for our postponed sports competitions. We on the Newsstreak staff say no more! Next snow day, let us relax in peace, and not worry about the upcoming school days, but savor the gift of the snow day we have been given.

Carpe diem. 

Tennis tryouts, practices prove more daunting than expected

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Emily Jamieson Staff Reporter

Classic Saturday cartoons just aren’t what they used to be

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all me too young to make this judgment, but my childhood happened at the end of the Golden Age of Cartoons. We had it all then. Old Looney Toons still ran Saturday mornings. The Flintstones and The Jetsons were still shown regularly. Environmental messages were spread by Captain Planet.

We had Dexter’s Laboratory, Ed, Edd, and Eddy, Johnny Bravo, CatDog, Hey Arnold, and even The Powerpuff Girls. Imported from Japan were the legendary Dragon Ball Z, Gundam Wing, and of course Pokémon.

A friend of mine once phrased it exceptionally. “We are the Pokémon generation,” he said. Every Saturday morning I would wake up, more promptly than I ever had for a school day, run into the living room, turn on the T.V., and watch an hour of Pokémon.

Although I can name all 151 original Pokémon, I cannot name all 44 American presidents today. I was enthralled by Ash’s quest to become a Pokémon master. I thought it was the coolest thing ever when his Pikachu defeated Brock’s Onyx by soaking it with water to make it vulnerable to electricity. I cheered when Ash’s Pikachu defeated Lieutenant Surge’s arro-

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

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

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

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

Signed editorials are accepted from people on the staff, but are subject to editing according to published guidelines and policies. Editorials may be edited for special reasons.

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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 :

y schedule consists of running around writing stories for The Newsstreak, playing Rock Band, Facebooking, doing homework and hanging out with friends. Persuaded by my lovely best friends, I decided to try out for the tennis team.

Wednesday I went to the meeting, stumbled in late, and found myself already immersed in the world of tennis. I left with a handful of papers to fill out and already dreading the first practice due to the fact that we have to shovel the tennis courts for our warm up. The next thing I knew I was bombarded with the tennis team from last year asking me question after question. “Do you even know how to play tennis?”

“You do know that we have to run...”, and the best, “Are you really doing tennis?” These questions first caught me off guard and I answered quietly with a smile, but after a while it got kind of annoying that all these people doubted me and my quick learning capabilities and how they thought I did not know what I was getting myself into.

Naturally, I started worrying about what I got myself into and I even started doubting myself.

I thought about skipping school so I would not have to go to practice, then I thought about just heading home after school so I could sleep and be my normal bum self. But, as I thought those last few words I remembered why I was trying out for something, to be something other than a bum. Then I thought who cares what those other people think? If I quit then I would just prove them all what they think I am, a bum. Who cares if I don’t make it, at least I tried.

But a few days into shoveling and running around the school, my mother told me that I should focus on my school work than do a sport, and to try out next year. So I will prove you all who doubted me wrong next year when I try out again. But do remember that quitting was not my idea, nor my decision in the end and do not hold this against me. 

Xuyi Guo Guest Columnist

The Harrisonburg High School Newsstreak

gant Raichu. Wide-eyed and with my jaw growing cartoons faster? Are they born dropped, I watched Ash battle with Team mentally six years older than I was? Did Rocket when their boss gave them super- all of the cartoon writers and animators powered Pokémon. just quit? Is it cheaper for the television I had to have the Pokémon cards and networks to produce live-action shows? the video games. I bought “Happy Meals” Could the government have decided that at McDonald’s for Pokémon toys; I didn’t these cartoons were a threat to national sereally care about the food. curity and that they must be censored?

When teachers mistakenly said, “PokI’m sure that live-action shows have ey-Man”, all of the kids giggled and cor- their merits. Perhaps they keep kids more rected them promptfocused on the real world ly. Even Microsoft than cartoons do. They I feel as though kids Word recognizes the might better prepare kids words “Pokémon” for adulthood. They probare really missing out and “Pikachu”. ably have some entertainon the imagination, Alas, it couldn’t ment value. They might… the creativity, last forever.

I don’t know.

Cartoons are dyI feel as though kids are and the genius of ing. The tradition of really missing out on the cartoons.”

Saturday morning imagination, the creativity, cartoons seems to and the genius of cartoons. be fading away. The classic shows listed The alternate worlds of cartoons where above are all but gone from T.V. (aside people recovered from every injury, where from a few retro channels). Pokémon is anvils were good fun and where you went still hanging on, but they’ve changed the off on your own to train Pokémon as a voice of Meowth and even Ash. 10-year-old are going to be missed by a lot Now live-action shows are taking over. of kids.

According to tv.com, iCarly is the most Cartoons were just fun. They weren’t popular kids show now, followed by De- bound to the real world. They didn’t have grassi: The Next Generation and Hannah to follow any of the rules. They made a Montana. All of them are live-action. The place just for kids. It’s a serious world out Mecca of cartoons, Cartoon Network, has there. Shouldn’t everyone have the chance fallen as well. They have begun showing to get away from it, even if it’s only every live-action shows, contrary to the name.

Saturday morning until age 12?  What happened? Are children just out-

“

Editors in Chief: Emma DiNapoli, Tricia Comfort Managing Editors: Kim Antonio, Claire Sudol Section Editors: News - David Proctor Opinion - Jessica Strickler Style - Emily Knapp Feature - Alison Domonoske Sports - Claire Sudol Fun Director: Meagan Kelley Business/Advertising Managers: Lauren Martin, Molly Denman Photographers: Emily Jamieson, Rafiqa Haji, Maria Rose, Paulina Rendon, Olivia McCarty, Phillip Bannister Cartoonist: Vivian Tejeda Page Designers: Ama Ansah, Phillip Bannister, Christine Choi, Diana Gutierrez, Olivia McCarty, Maria Rose, Savanah Cary, Vanessa Ehrenpreis, Jack Burden, Aidan Newcity Staff Reporters: Kavya Beheraj, Ethan Blackwell, Emmett Copeland, Mitchell Depoy, Heather Hunter-Nickels, Michael Johnson, Ryan Maphis, Emily Payne, Alex Rendon, Christy Stearn, Will Turner, Conner Whitehouse, Madison Wilson, Shane McMahon Freshmen Reporters: Emilee Burke, Mark Duda, Alex Hickman, Gabe Hoak, Vera Shindyapin, Chris Sokolyuk, Katrina Sokolyuk, Michael Tower, Julia Trotsyuk 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 Silver Crown Winner), Quill&Scroll Journalism Honor Society (2009 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

March 11, 2010

Op/Ed A5

Reality shows provide amusing entertainment Hot, Not Emily Payne Staff Reporter

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hen I come home from a long day at school, I usually just plop down on the couch and look for something to watch.

After changing the channel a hundred times, I end up watching the reality show network. Bad Girls Club or Hell’s Kitchen, for me, are the top two reality shows to watch.

For anyone who hasn’t seen these shows, they are both extremely dramatic.

Hell’s Kitchen is a show about a few people who move into, well, Hell’s Kitchen and compete to be the executive chef of one of Chef Ramsey’s top restaurants.

I have thought about being a professional chef for a long time, and winning an executive spot in a top restaurant would be a pretty awesome achievement, but Hell’s

Kitchen made me realize how stressful it actually is. Whether it is dealing with employees who do not listen, or having a head chef who yells at you constantly, it doesn’t seem like very much fun. If you haven’t seen any of Ramsey’s shows before, you probably have no idea how many times he drops the f-bomb during his show. To him, the f-word is like saying “you’re stupid”. Stupid is not the nicest word, but I think it is way better than using “You fat worthless cow!” which is a sentence he uses a lot. I do not know how you would feel about it, but I know I wouldn’t really like being called worthless.

Though Ramsey has the vocabulary of a sailor, I think he is an amazing cook that a lot of people look up to and hope to work for.

Bad Girls Club, if you have not already seen the twenty billion commercials, is about a bunch of supposedly “bad” girls who they put in one house together.

I think they move them into one house

just to see how many fights they can stir up with each other. I have always hated drama. When I saw anything that resembled drama, I usually ran the other way because I saw how much it hurt those around me; it‘s not good for anyone. It’s middle school all over again, one second they are all friends, and then it flips, and they hate each other. I think it is pretty hilarious seeing how dramatic and careless these girls actually act on TV. Do they know it will be seen by everyone in America? And the answer to that, in my mind, is yes.

They act like crazed middle-schoolers just for attention they couldn’t get anywhere else but the show.

In my opinion these shows are just there if nothing else is on TV, but if they are your favorites, kudos to you. It’s not that I hate these shows or anything. I actually think these shows are pretty amusing. It’s just that reality shows, no matter how funny, are always going to be the shows everyone knows to be completely unrealistic. 

College opens exciting new doors

Democrats have lost their focus David Procter Feature Editor

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t t e n t i o n Congressional Democrats: wake up and grow a

spine.

I am not saying this to be inflammatory or to rile people up, I am saying this because I care. I am a Democrat and frankly your idea of a bipartisan America never was and never will be.

That is the reality of today.

“

For America’s sake, do not let the fate of the country come down to one or two people”  David Proctor

While it is great to try and get people to rally around a cause, at what cost does this come?

During the health care reform battle, you catered to the Republicans for essentially no reason. You had 60 votes and you should have put the conservative Democrats in the position to have to kill the bill.

You should have played a game of chicken, and for one God-forsaken time, you should have stuck to your ideals. But you didn’t.

And the result? Health care costs will continue to rise and more Americans will become uninsured.

You think this will help you in November? You’re

wrong. According to a poll

by ABC News/Washington Post, your numbers with Democrats will shoot up if you pass a health care reform bill while numbers with Republicans and Independents stay the same. So overall, numbers go up. Why not rally the base while keeping your numbers among the opposition the same? Start making a lick of sense, people.

Now there’s a $100 billion jobs bill on the table. According to a Quinnipiac poll, the public supports this measure 77-22, including 70% of Independents and 50% of Republicans. It is the most popular bill that has been put forth all year, so obviously on this issue you would stick to your guns, right? Wrong. Republicans are unanimously opposing the bill. This should be a trap for the Republicans.

Make them deny the most popular bill passed through Congress in ages. But instead, you’re floundering.

You scrapped the original bill and trumpeted a new bipartisan bill that Republicans are STILL opposing. @$#%!

Here’s some advice: Stop worrying about November.

If you worry about taking care of the country, success in November will follow.

Please, for America’s sake, do not let the fate of the country come down to one or two people. In short: grow a spine. 

Emily Knapp Style Editor

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here are 6,706,993,152 people on the planet.

303,824,640 of them live in the United States.

7,078,515 are in Virginia. 32,284 attend Virginia Commonwealth University. Their School of the Arts accepts only 20 freshmen into its Cinema Program each year. One of them is me.

VCU is the fourth best art school in the entire nation.

To put this in perspective, there are a grand total of 4,084 colleges and universities in the U.S. I am blown away by the fact that this school would want me – especially when I so desperately want to make major motion pictures. Besides taking general classes like chemistry, I will be able to learn how to light camera shots, the history of film, and even spend a summer in France.

When I visited the campus last spring, I was amazed by the energy. Students covered in tattoos and piercings brushed past sorority girls and jocks.

The buildings were gorgeous ––unexpected in downtown Richmond––and the pizza in the student cafeteria was surprisingly fantastic. There were posters advertising the arrival of Broadway’s hit “Wicked” and scene kids skating down handrails. These artistic, independent people looked like the kind I wanted to spend four years with.

That said, I was terrified to send in my application. I have wanted nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of inspirations such as Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and Tina Fey. The possibility of rejection caused many tears and anxiety attacks, but eventually I hit the “submit” button.

Two months later, I received

an envelope from VCU Arts – a small envelope. Holding my breath, sure of failure, I began tearing it open as my mom assured me, “It’s okay either way. We’re proud of you.” As I unfolded the letter, a sticker fell out that read, “VCU Arts Class of 2013.” Needless to say, there was screaming in the Knapp house.

Did I mention I can graduate in three years? That’s right.

While many of my peers will be forced to work menial jobs over the summer, I will be participating in what is known as a “summer intensive.”

During this time, I will spend my days not in a classroom, but on a set, shooting films. Of course, the school “strongly suggests” that I double major in something not within their art school, so it looks like I may have to stick around a little while longer. But hey, I’m not complaining. This is my dream.

I could not be more blessed.

After struggling through some especially tough times in high school, everything is falling into place for me. My brain is in order, I am surrounded by people who care about me, and I have sent a $300 deposit to my dream school. Yes, I will miss my puppy, my family, and my best friends come fall, but hey – I am a rowdy Ram. 

What are you most looking forward to about college?

Sports 14% Classes 1%

New Friends 22%

Independence 42%

Other 13% Food 8%

100 people polled on March 1 by Meagan Kelley. Infographic by Jessica Strickler.

Martin puts others’ needs before self Lauren Martin Ad Manager

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here are some things in life that will follow you until the day you die. For some it is the bad luck of a summer camp curse; for others it is the guilt of something in the past. For me, however, it will be my unfortunate self-responsibility to take care of others.

I have found that my best quality, in the opinion of my family and friends anyway, has been the cause of many of my life’s low points. I often have found myself consoling friends, supporting people, putting so many others before myself that I forget that I need help myself and by then, it is almost always too late.

My mother used to tell me when I was younger that I would never befriend or date a needy person because I would be too selfish and high maintenance to put up with them.

Well, she was wrong. Many of my friends and boyfriends have turned out to be those needy people my mother told me about, the kind of people who need someone or something (aka me) the majority of the time.

To my misfortune, however, I was the only person who did not see that I was playing the enabler for so many people in my life. At one point, it was as if I were playing mother to someone who was both older and far more independent than me (or at least they should have been). I was never home, always spending money to make them happy and fighting with

my parent’s every day because of it. It took so many negative bricks being built around me and me being stuck inside of them to even realize how horrid things had gotten.

After what is now referred to in my house as “the day Lauren saw the light”, I was forced to talk to counselor after counselor on subjects from selfrespect to clinical depression… all of which I was told I had a problem with. But I was unable to stick with it because I still could not see where I was so terribly wrong for wanting to help people, wanting to make people happy by any means necessary. The thing was, however, I knew that making others happy was making me unhappier. I would feel guilty and confused about things that used to bring me joy.

I still struggle with these is-

sues from time to time. I stretch myself close to the breaking point. I try to juggle going to school, doing school work, doing actual work, family, community obligations with doing other people’s work, friends, and social events without asking for help. All my priorities have a number one beside them which leaves me with so much to do with zero time to get it all accomplished.

On my mission to remain calm, level headed and successful in my life, it always seems there is someone who is going to pull me off course.

And lil’ ol’ me will let them because there will always be a crazy little monkey on my shoulder. I will always want to help someone before myself. I will always feel an uncontrollable obligation. 

What’s the nicest thing you’ve done for someone?

“I handmade a shirt to wear to my boyfriend’s basketball game.”-freshman Sydney Wells

“When I was little, I made a cement handprint stone for my mom on Mother’s Day.” -junior Kaitlyn Ressin

“I took my girlfriend out to dinner at Red Lobster.”-senior Luis Garcia Valdèz

“I served at a soup kitchen once. I felt pretty good about it.” -sophomore Neil Hammond

“I woke up really early and made breakfast for my mom.” -freshman Max Johnson Infographic by Christine Choi

US Wins 37 medals at Vancouver Games Soup Night Boys Dance Team performs Tom DeLuca stuns HHS Spring sports begin Taylor Swift performing at JPJ March 20 HHS a capella groups perform for first time LSSB going to Mississippi for hurricane relief Band to compete in Disney World Journalism trips to SC, NYC Joseph draws record crowds, adds 4th show Tennis team shovels snow off tennis courts to play 11th Grade takes writing SOLs Senior class has no money for trip Obstructionists in Congress No more full days off until the end of the year due to snow

March 11, 2010

rist

The Newsstreak

ariety Originality reflected in handmade bracelets Emily Knapp Entertainment Editor

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t’s cliché, but completely true – teenagers want to be unique.

In a world where they are force fed pop music and brand name clothing, high school students are looking for a way to stand out. For some, this means filling their iPod with indie rock or dying their hair an unnatural color. A less dramatic approach, however, is jewelry. For Freshman Sydney Wells, this is her way of setting herself apart.

Adorning both wrists are bracelets of every color. Wells owns about thirty, and has made fifteen or so herself.

“Some of them are braided.

Some of them I just make knots in them over and over,” Wells said.

She also uses a method that is similar to making a “4” in the string over and over. This is a popular way of creating bracelets among teenagers, particularly at HHS. Any number of colors can be used and how thick the product ends up being is up to the creator.

It is popular for many students to make them for themselves or their True Variety. Junior Kala Barringer received a tattoo of friends.

“I make some of a bird on her left wrist this year. Photo by Phillip Banthem the colors of my nister. favorite sports teams, or matching ones I make for me and my friends,” Wells said.

Besides handmade bracelets, she also has several that she bought.

Wells splits them between both of her wrists with no system to the placement, just pure aesthetic value. She began her collection with a “boy bracelet” from Hollister about two years ago and has been wearing bracelets ever since.

Wells acquires a new piece of jewelry every week or two, more often if she makes them herself.

Her favorite is one which her sister made for her out of cloth. When asked how long she planned to keep her bracelets on, Wells responded that she plans to keep them on for a long time.

“Well until cheerleading ‘cause I have to take them off,” Wells said Colors! Freshman Sydney Wells shows off her extreme number of bracelets, fifteen  per wrist. Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Healy family supports Livestrong

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o date, 70 million Live Strong armbands have been sold to support cancer awareness and create funds to help cancer research. History teacher Mark Healy is one of the few people that wear the armband that has been affected by cancer. His father was diagnosed with bone cancer in 2004. Agent Orange caused his cancer; he was exposed to it while serving in the army as a Captain Major in Vietnam. The United States Army used this chemical weapon to kill the vegetation so the Vietcong could not live off the land.

“I was in the Walter Reid Hospital in Washington D.C. and I just became tired of watching my father die; so decided to take a walk around the hospital. In the window of a gift shop I saw the live strong bracelet and bought

one. I haven’t taken off the bracelet for military service because he was not about five years now. There will be a at home for long periods of time on time when I do take the bracelet off but end,” Healy said.

I’m just not at that point yet,” Healy After Healy’s father passed away said.

Dec 9, 2004 Healy’s son, Sam asked When Healy sees the yellow stripe if he could have a Live strong armon his arm reminds him of some of the band too. activities he and his dad used to do “My daughter Elizabeth was too together like skiing and playing golf young to know, but we decided to constantly.

Healy get one for used to think of his her, too. She loss constantly; it only knows has become more her grandfaThere will be a time habit over time for ther through when I do take the him. pictures and bracelet off, but I’m just “In my childhood stories. The two not at that point yet.” we were not as close of them keep their as we were when bracelets in a box  HHS Faculty Memeber I became older. I in their room,” Mark Healy think it was parHealy said.  tially because of his

“

Bracelets have memo memories Diana Gutierrez Entertainment Editor

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veryone is a completely different person, and everyone expresses themselves in ways that are entirely unique. Some people may do it through clothing, tattoos, music or piercing and some people like showing little hints of their personalities with handmade jewelry such as bracelets. “[My bracelets] are all colorful and I guess I’m colorful,” freshman Nancy Carrie Logan said. Logan wears a few hemp bracelets on each wrist, most of which she made herself or got as gifts from her close friends. “[Nancy Carrie] thought the bracelet was cool, it’s made of yarn, rolled around other pieces of yarn,” freshman Lidija Barisic said.

“I made some of them with my friends,” Logan said “I made one for musical so I can remember it.”

A hemp bracelet made of many colors hangs on her right wrist as a reminder of the musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (where she had the role as one of four narrators).

Logan added a lot of colors to the bracelet because the play itself was really colorful.

“I actually made all the narrators [from musical] one so they can remember it, too,” Logan said. Making a bracelet takes Logan up to twenty minutes, she likes the way they look and it is a hobby she really enjoys doing since attending Camp Massenta, where she made her first hemp bracelet.

Most of her bracelets involve a memory of a friend or something she participated in. Logan is also part of the gymnastics team where she befriended sophomore Gentry Dove, who also made a bracelet for her after Logan asked her, so she could have a memory of gymnastics.

Logan also has a bracelet with her name printed on it from Disney World.

“It’s my favorite place in the world, it couldn’t fit my whole name [on the bracelet] so it just says ‘Nancy C’,” Logan said 

Crittenden wears bracelets just for looks Savanah Cary Feature Editor

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s students go through their high school years, their style changes numerous times.

Whether it is shoes, clothes or jewelry, there is always a new trend every year. One of the most recent jewelry trends is wearing multiple bracelets.

Senior Kaiti Crittenden started wearing a lot of bracelets during her sophomore year. Now she wears about fourteen bracelets at a time.

“I own more than that, but I just wear my favorite ones to school,” Crittenden said. Crittenden usually wears the same

ones every day. At school, she does not take her bracelets off, but at home, she usually does not wear them.

Although Crittenden purchases most of her bracelets, some of them still have meaning to her.

“I always wear my ‘Jesus’ bracelet because it gives me good luck, and I wear another one of my bracelets because my friend Nancy Carrie Logan made it for me,” Crittenden said. Even though these bracelets have meaning to Crittenden, they are not her favorite bracelets.

“My favorite bracelet this black, yellow, red and green string bracelet,” Crittenden said. “I bought it at Roots in Music and I think it looks cool.” Some of the bracelets that Crittenden owns she has had for a long time.

“I have had my ‘Jesus’ bracelet for a long time, and I got this one (white beaded bracelet) from the beach when I was nine,” Crittenden said.

Crittenden wears many different styles of bracelets at once, but most of them have a general theme.

“I like bracelets that look homemade even if they aren’t,” Crittenden said. “I like little bracelets, not metal, clunky and huge ones.”

While many people wear bracelets because they have meaning, it is more of a fashion trend for Crittenden.

“I think it looks really cool [to wear multiple bracelets],” Crittenden said 

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The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

FOX introduces new season, judge Olivia McCarty Style Editor

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merican Idol has become a huge phenomenon in this country. In fact, it is the most watched show on television, and has even beaten the Olympics in ratings. Being one of the biggest shows on television comes with a large number of supportive fans who have watched the show from season to season.

Chemistry teacher Suzie Smith became a fan of American Idol three season’s ago, after hearing her family talk about how funny the beginning auditions were. She started watching American Idol for the “funny factor” Smith, said.

After a couple of shows she was hooked and to this day the auditions have been her favorite part of the show.

Since Smith has started to watch American Idol, there have been a couple of changes. In season eight, American Idol added a fourth judge named Kara DioGuardi, a singer/song writer and a record producer, into the mix. The original three judges of American Idol are Randy Jackson; a record producer, and A&R executive with a laid back personality and a habit of saying “dog.” Simon Cowell, an British music executive and television producer; who is known for his sharp tongue. The final judge was Paula Abdul; a singer, producer, and choreographer, who always tried to find something nice to say to a contestant.

What’s Your

Favorite Reality Show?

American Idol:

44.3%

Dancing with the Stars:

21.9%

Jersey Shore:

15.2%

Tool Academy:

9.7%

Bad Girls Club:

5.1%

The Real House Wives of Orange County:

3.8%

Out of 237 students polled.

Infographic by Ethan Blackwell

This year, in its ninth season, fans had to adjust to another change as Abdul decided to leave the show, when the negotiations for her contract were not met.

Fox added television host Ellen DeGeneres to the show and replaced Abdul. Smith believes that the switch from Abdul to DeGeneres is a good idea. “Ellen brings more to the table then Paula, she (Ellen) can be brutally honest where Paula was more complimentary.” Smith, said. Junior Lindsey Cockburn however disagrees with Smith, Cockburn believes that Ellen is “pointless” Cockburn feels that “she (Ellen) doesn’t really critique them,” Cockburn said.

American Idol Fans will have to gear up for a another change as Cowell has already released that he will be leaving next year to host the American version of his British show, “The X-Factor” with former American Idol judge Abdul “I will be sad to see Simon go,” Smith said. With Cowell leaving next year and the changes of the past two years Smith doesn’t know if she will still watch Idol. Cockburn too is worried about Cowell leaving especially since he is her favorite judge “Simon is pretty amusing” Cockburn said, “he is harsh sometimes but at least he is accurate,” Cockburn said about Cowell’s judging.

“I will probably watch the first couple of episodes and see how the judges are, to see if I will continue to watch the show” Smith said.

Though Smith enjoys watching the show she has never wanted to try out for it. “I sang in high school but I am more of a clarinet player then a singer,” Smith said. 

A7

Idol by the Numbers Season 1: Kelly Clarkson Start: 10 million viewers End: 22.77 Season 2: Ruben Studdard Start: 26.5 End: 38 Season 3: Fantasia Barino Start: 28.56 End: 28.84 Season 4: Carrie Underwood Start: 33.53 End: 30.27 Season 5: Taylor Hicks Start: 35.53 End: 36.38 Season 6: Jordin Sparks Start: 37.7 End: 30.74 Season 7: David Cook Start: 33.4 End: 31.66 Season 8: Adam Lambert Start: 30.4 End: 28.84 Season 9: Unknown Start: 29.8 Infographic by Precious Johnson

Jersey Shore fist pumps to top of charts Christine Choi Feature Editor

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he reality show members from MTV’s Jersey Shore are mostly from New York, some from New Jersey, and Rhode Island Italian families. They all have unique qualities, excessively voluminous hair, extreme tans, and perfectly gelled coifs. Together they cause riots in clubs, show true friendships between strangers and allow the audience to catch a glimpse of their outrageous summer lives. This is MTV’s Jersey Shore in a nutshell.

“I’ve only watched it twice and it kind of bothers me,” junior Bianca Jerlinski said.

Jerlinski was raised in New Jersey and with living in Jersey comes trips to the Jersey Shore every summer.

Although The Jersey Shore shows the wild and fist pumping summer lives of JWOWW, Snooki, Vinny, The Situation, Pauly D, Ronnie, Sweetheart, and Jolie, this is not the reality of the Jersey Shore.

“There are guidos and guidettes with big hair and tans, but not everybody’s like that,” Jerlinski said. Being an Italian herself, she agrees with the closeness, loudness, and abundance of food at meals in Italian families. Jerlinski thinks that the show like any other reality show is a way of entertainment and not all parts of the show are true.

“I have a guy friend who’s like a gui-

do. He does his hair perfectly, spikes it, and ALWAYS wears sunglasses. They are worn over his eyes and never over his hair because it would mess up his hair. I could poof my hair up like they do with my thick Italian hair, it could work but it would take a while,” Jerlinski said.

Reality show members live together in a rented house which gets paid off as they take turns working in a store on the boardwalk. They work by day and party hard by night. They even started a new trend in clubs called “fist pumping.”

“I like it because they live a crazy life.

You can see people acting stupid without consequences,” junior Rangeen

Al-Shebani said.

Snooki is Al-Shebani’s favorite character. She shows great courage in the show while she takes a blow in a bar by a man. She spread awareness that domestic violence is not okay and even through all the relationship problems, arguments, and tribulations faced throughout the summer, she showed her true personality and how to have a good time.

“The fact that producers didn’t hold back makes it that much more interesting,” Al-Shebani said. Although curse words were the only part of the show that were censored, all of what happened in their show whether scripted or not was shown. It truly showed the reality of a crazy summer on the Jersey Shore.

Canadian quartet cross items off bucket list, help others Meagan Kelley Fun Director

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hat do you want to do before you die? This question seems to have unlimited possibilities.

For Dave, Ben, Duncan and Jonnie, it is a question that inspired their Buried Life Project which MTV developed into a hit TV show.

The show’s premise revolves around a “bucket list” of 100 things that the four guys hope to do before they die.

Traveling around in an old transit bus named Penelope; the guys attempt to cross off one thing each episode.

Their single rule is that for each thing that they do on their list, they have to help a stranger accomplish something on theirs. Many students have been inspired and very entertained by the Canadian quartet. Junior Simona Byler heard about the show from friends.

“The boys are really funny and hott,”

Byler said. “They also do good things for people. They have, like the whole package.”

Byler’s favorite episode so far has been one where the boys travel to South Central Los Angeles to learn a type of dance called “krumping” and to ultimately compete in a krump contest.

“You got to see them do something that was obviously out of their element,” Byler said. “It was funny to see them get down.”

Senior Brendon Cummiskey began watching the show because of previews.

“The commercials were really intriguing. They seemed like really cool guys doing crazy things.” Cummiskey said.

During a half-hour episode, viewers follow the four guys as they try, fail, and try again until they accomplish their goal. Anytime that the goal is not accomplished the episode leaves the viewer knowing that they have not given up, almost like a “to be

continued…”

“The best part of the show is the guys struggle to actually succeed in accomplishing their goal. They struggle to get what they want and then get denied but eventually succeed in the end,” Cummiskey said.

Cummiskey hopes to see Ben, one of the guys, succeed in his quest to ask Megan Fox out on a date. In the second episode the guys came close, but failed.

After watching the show, Cummiskey was prompted to think of what he would want to do if he was on the show.

“If I was on the show I would like to tell Brett Favre how I feel about him betraying the Packers,” Cummiskey said. “I would also have liked to go to a rock show at CBGB but it’s closed now.”

Cummiskey absolutely recommends the show to others saying that it will

MTV warns against teen pregnancy Molly Denman Staff Reporter

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he show 16 and Pregnant premiered on MTV as a documentary series about teen pregnancy.

The show followed several teenagers throughout their pregnancies. Each episode showed the hardships that come with being a pregnant teen such as getting along with family, rumors around school and the community, focusing on school, graduating high school, not being a child anymore and being pushed into the “real world.” The show provides viewers with a sense of what it is actually like to become pregnant as a teenager. 16 and Pregnant shows the emotional turmoil that goes along with becoming pregnant at such a young age.

After the season of 16 and Pregnant was completed, MTV came out with a new documentary called Teen Moms. The show continued to follow the teenagers from 16 and Pregnant throughout their first year of being teen mothers. Teen Moms documented what it is like after having a baby and how complicated life can be when a baby is involved. One of the biggest struggles for the girls throughout the show was being able to finish high school. Many of the mothers had to drop out and resort to trying to take online classes. The program also shows how the girls get along with their boyfriend or the father of their child and their families.

The second season of 16 and Pregnant aired Feb 16, 2010. The show will document four new teens and their struggles with being pregnant. The show airs new episodes on Tuesdays at 10/9c.

inspire you.

“It makes you realize that there are still good people in the world, like Brendon Michael Cummiskey,” Cummiskey said.

While the boys keep you entertained by dressing as Oompa Loompas and trying to ask out Megan Fox, though not both at the same time, they try to send two good messages: that you should first live life to the fullest but that you should help others along the way. 

The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

a8

What’s inside those healthy lunch boxes?

by vegetarian parents, stays completely away from any sort of meat products.

“I don’t want to die from meat diseases, I would never eat steak, that stuff will kill you,” Silver said, “If you eat it all ur school lunch menu has a wide variety of the time, I feel like you’d have some artery problems—it just food selections such as pizza, salad, subs and can’t be good.”

Along with keeping away from meat not exactly authentic but products, eating healthy has a stricter foods from “around the concept of you having some sort of balance world”. Though hundreds If I eat healthy now, between food groups. of students enjoy the choices offered by I won’t have to worry “As with anything, too much is never a the school, many prefer to pack their own good thing, it’s about balance,” Fisher said, lunch and keep it healthier because they about it when I’m “It’d be really crappy for your body to just feel it is important and will benefit them old,” eat cereal, bread and cookies.” in the long run.

Silver tries to stay within all the  Sophomore Kiah Chemistry teacher, Kacey Fisher has basic food groups and eat in portions been a vegetarian for the past few years.

Silver throughout the day.

She packs her lunch because she wants to “I eat in portions, periodically; it helps stay true to her diet and she is concerned to not gorge on one meal and over eat,” about her health.

Silver said.

Silver usually waits to get back home from school “I’d rather eat healthy now, instead of eating junk foods and having to deal with heart problems or diabetes later,” Fisher to eat a good meal or she will purchase a salad at the salad said. A healthy meal in her opinion would consist of a good bar.

“If I eat healthy now, I won’t have to worry about it when balance of protein, carbohydrates and a moderate amount I’m old,” Silver said, “I can live longer and stay fit.” of sugar; also consuming less calories. Fisher would include Fisher feels the same way. Eating healthy always been foods such as vegetables, fruits, soy milk, and oatmeal.

Sophomore, Kiah Silver, who is also a vegetarian, raised something that she has cared about and something that she believes people should not take for granted. 

O

Diana Gutierrez Style Editor

“

Eat Healthy! Science teacher Kasey Fisher packs grape Propel, vanilla yogurt, mango-flavored applesauce and an almond butter sandwhich. Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Organic trend growing Packing lunch popular these days Jessica Strickler Opinion Editor

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or some, eating healthy foods is a struggle because as a society we love processed, sugary, fattening foods.

For some students, their parents have made diet choices that removed processed foods from the house. This new trend of trading junk food for healthy alternatives is growing rapidly, especially in households where parents are taking the initiative. Sisters Margaret and Marion King are no strangers to this new-fangled idea.

Their mother makes certain that their house does not contain any of the products most families would consider staples.

“I don’t really remember when she started going organic, I just remember thinking one day, ‘wow, she’s changed all the food’,” freshman Margaret King said. “[Mom] has always been hardcore healthy, so it was never, ‘oh, we are only going to eat organic from now on’ sort of thing,” senior Marion King said.

The refrigerator is filled with fresh fruit and veggies, the cabinets contain whole wheat cereal and the freezer hold all-natural fruit juice popsicles. There are no cans of Pringles or bags of chips.

“Marion and I buy our own food sometimes and we hide it,” Margaret said.

“Once we accidentally left a new container of Nerds on the coffee table and [mom] came in and said, ‘oh, these look old, I’m going to throw them away’. The box was completely full, but she threw it out.”

“We used to hide stuff

when we were younger,” older sister Marion King said. “Now, mom is a little more flexible. Like the other day, I was craving sour cream and onion chips and she went out and bought me a whole bag. She didn’t say, ‘only a have a few’ or ‘those are so unhealthy Marion’, she just let me eat them.”

To start making healthier choices in your own life, try eating different color foods. Red foods, like strawberries, peppers and tomatoes are loaded with antioxidants and vitamin C. Anti-oxidants are proven to help prevent heart disease and strokes.

Orange and yellow foods contain beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. In turn, vitamin A helps to maintain the lining of the body’s organs. The healthy, thick tissue prevents the organs from getting infected and making us sick.

Good yellow and orange foods to try: grapefruit, peaches, butternut squash or cantaloupe.

“I don’t eat like any green foods, except for salad,” Margaret said.

“And I don’t really like vegetables, especially cooked carrots.”

However, green foods like broccoli, kiwi, green beans and peas will help keep your eyesight strong and prevent you from going blind as you age.

“I hate eating peas,” Marion said. “Mom will make, like, mixed veggies and I never eat the peasbut that’s okay with her, because I’ve never eaten them.”

Both agree that the grossest food their mom ever tried to convert them to was organic Oreos.

“Those just don’t taste the same. Eventually even mom realized that the real Oreos tasted better than the organic ones,” Marion said. 

HealthyVS. Junk Food Food CONDIMENTS

DAIRY

S

Paulina Rendon Staff Reporter

tudents always have a variety of reasons as to why they pack their lunch. Despite all the choices that HHS offers for lunch every day, many students still choose to bring their lunch from home.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, schools are required to provide a lunch for students during the school day. HHS also chooses to provide breakfast in the morning for students who come to school too early to eat breakfast at home.

Some students have a hard time deciding what to eat for lunch, because there is so much variety available at HHS. The pizza, salad, and sub lines don’t change, except for the kinds of subs and pizza offered on a daily basis. The Around the World and Grill lines change selections daily.

“Sometimes I don’t know what to choose because nothing appeals to me,” senior Tony John said.

“Sometimes I want this and then I change my mind and want the other thing,” sophomore Li Xie said.

Others bypass that decision altogether, choosing instead to bring their own lunch from home. Packing lunches involves time. Students have to wake up early or even prepare the food the day before.

“I get up at 5 a.m. every morning, and make my lunch at around 5:15,” sophomore Jemma Hedrick said.

Hedrick chooses to pack her lunch because she believes that with all the choices available, the tendency to overeat poses an issue.

Now, she packs her lunch to avoid the problem, and so she can have some options not available on the school lunch menu.

Senior Nick Fornadel also began packing his lunch for health reasons.

“In middle school, I figured out the lunches gave me headaches a lot,” Fornadel said. “I started packing my lunch, and I just never stopped when I reached high school.”

Unlike Hedrick, Fornadel does

not pack his own lunch, and has his mom prepare his food for him.

“She packs me a ham, turkey, or chicken sandwich. Also, she gives me cookies, chips, applesauce, or pudding,” Fornadel said. “Pretty much everything, like normal lunch stuff. With pickles and stuff like that.”

Sophomore Nahla Aboutabl also has her mom pack her lunch for her. She has been packing lunch since grade school, and continues now almost every day. “[Usually my mom packs] a sandwich, fruit, crackers, juice, that kind of stuff,” Aboutabl said.

Aboutabl chooses to pack simply because school lunch doesn’t appeal to her. She does make an exception, however, when “there’s something good, like fries on Thursdays.” That is the only time that she buys her lunch.

She believes that packing is a better choice than buying the lunch the school provides.

“I’d rather have the lunch that my mom made,” Aboutabl said.

“And packing lunches is much healthier.”

Poor changes in lifestyles ruin diet

A

Maria Rose Feature Editor

merican dinners, as of late, have been fast. According to cbsnews.com, a fourth of the U.S. population eats fast food meals (sometimes several per day) daily.

This, as one might suspect, is not entirely

healthy.

HHS cooking teacher Diana Kern believes that our eating habits are tied together with our busy schedules.

“We are very tied to our schedules and on the go.

It is not always bad [to eat fast food] but we have to realize that it is just as easy to cook rice and fresh meat, rather than buy and heat up a pre-made dinner.”

This habit of eating on the run, or whatever we think tastes good at the moment, is not healthy. Several eating habits that Kern has noticed include not only when people eat, but how they eat, as well.

In the mornings, Kern notices students who start their day without any breakfast, which she disapproves of.

“Students need energy,” Kern said, “Just grab a banana or some fruit to take to school if it is a time issue.”

She also sees that some students drink more sports drinks when they sit in class. This is an unhealthy habit, since sports drinks such as Gatorade, or even Red Bull, are meant for people during intensive activity, meaning they have to replenish their supply of salts and electrolytes.

“When students just drink energy drinks, it does not work the way it should,” Kern said.

Another effect of our society’s eating habits is the traditional family dinner. When Kern asked her class how many people still eat meals with their family after school, only a meager handful of people raised their hand.

DESSERT

BREADS

“We are too busy for each other,” Kern said. “We should sit down and take the time to relax.”

Part of the reason Kern sees families spending more time apart is because of the way the traditional family has broken down. Before women started working, she notices, they were able to stay at home and make healthy, regular meals. But since both parents started working, there has not been enough time to spend on eating properly.

“One has to also account for the economy,” Kern said. “Some just don’t have the time to not work— they need the money.”

Single parents, or parents whose schedules are devoted entirely to working can also lead to TV dinners or fast food meals. Kern also sees that since people have become more materialistic, we focus on instant gratification, rather than what is good for us in the long run.

But though certain things might be good initially, they will inevitably lead to stress and diseases. About 300,000 people in America die from obesity, second only to smoking, and since the 1970’s, obesity in children has doubled, according to cbsnews.com.

And aside from the risk of bodily health, it adds stress to one’s mentality.

Kern does not see the fast food industry changing, so instead, she believes that we have to change ourselves and take measures to go back to being happy and healthy. She sees that we must first change our food habits and also, start exercising more. This does not mean to take extremes, like becoming vegan or joining a varsity team, but instead, eating smaller portions and taking walks outside.

“Kids need to play more,” Kern said.

As a result of all this exercise and healthy habits, people will be more content, and happier. And while changing one’s engrained habits, such as eating, might be a challenge, Kern promises it will be worth it in the end. Kern suggests beginning with salads for healthy meals.

“Just go easy on the dressing,” Kern said. 

CHIPS

DRINKS

Kellogg’s Yogos 1 pouch 13g sugar

Heluva Good French Onion Chi-Chi’s Dip Mild Sala 2 tbsp 2 tbsp 60 calories 10 calories

White Bread Wheat Bread 2 slices 2 slices Oikos 90 calories Fun-size Andes Mints 180 calories Organic (18 from fat) (10 from fat) Snickers Bar 8 pieces Greek 277mg 230mg 1 piece Yogurt sodium sodium 1 container 2.5g sugar 6g of sugar 95 calories

Lay’s Salt Garden Country Time Crystal Light and Vinegar Salsa Sun Lemonade Lemonade Chips Chips 15 chips 5 calories 15 chips 20 calories 280mg 160mg sodium sodium

The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

Mentorship

Montavon mentors as nurse at hospital Aidan Newcity Sports Editor

T

aking small steps to reach her future career goal, senior Melissa Montavon takes mentorship class to give her experience. Her mentorship takes place at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, and she follows different types of nurses around, learning the skills.

“My main mentor is Linda Riddle but I follow a different nurse every day, like IV therapy, Nursing coordinator, or a floor nurse to get an idea of different nursing roles,” Montavon said.

Montavon enrolled in mentorship because she wanted to further her nursing experience and it will be good for her in the future. Nursing school is very competitive, and this experience will help her earn points toward attending a nursing school. She also values the experience.

Montavon does many different things. She follows many types of nurses to learn what specifically they do, and she is taught how to use the technology and machinery that goes into nursing.

“I follow nurses and observe them giving patient care and learn about how to document, give medicine, etc but I am not allowed to do anything hands on,” Montavon said.

Montavon is adapting well to the experience. She sometimes would have had squeamish feelings toward certain situations. However, her mentorship has taken care of the hesitating feelings. The situations she has seen and been through helped her a lot.

Swine flu slowed down the experience for Montavon.

Since Oct 23, she could not participate in her mentorship, until the week of Feb 19. She could not attend her mentorship because of the 18 and under restrictions.

The restrictions came to RMH because of the increasing number of people with H1N1, also known as Swine Flu. They felt it would help prevent the spread of the disease if they limited visitors.

Montavon has not necessarily had a favorite moment while mentoring, but she has had a experience that she won’t forget and got her excited about what she plans to do in the future. “The other day I saw a Pegasus transfer of a very unstable patient in critical care, and I’d never seen anything like that before so it was very intriguing,” Montavon said.

Montavon, being a senior, is thinking about college.

Montavon has committed to James Madison University, expecting to major in nursing.

“I have committed to JMU for fall 2010 and will declare my major as nursing. I will apply to their nursing school at the end of the first semester of my sophomore year. I am going to get my BSN, which is an RN but a higher degree than the one you would earn after two years at Blue Ridge Commu-

feature B1

Kniss rescues Chris Sokoluyuk Staff Reporter

S

enior Andrew Kniss is in the mentorship program as a member of the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad. Kniss has to earn 90 hours of work minimum in order to pass the mentorship class which sometimes requires after school commitment.

“I’ve wanted to be in the medical field for at least four, five years,” Kniss said.

Kniss chose to mentor at HRS because he wanted to see if it was worth it before he went to medical school. Kniss is not only just an intern, but a part of the actual squad.

As a member of the Harrisonburg Rescue Squad, you have to be physically and mentally tough. Kniss is going to try to stay in the medical field and eventually become a full time doctor. Kniss is extremely eager to be in the HRS. “I just think that it would be fun to be going 45 in a 25 mph zone in the back of an ambulance with a dying person in the back,” Kniss said. 

Kline babysits at Minnieland Career working with kids has ups, downs

ieland than have a class and just sit there,” Kline said. “It’s just a perfect fit for me.”

The only disadvantage of working at Minnieland to Kline was getting thrown enior Emma-Rose Kline has alup on. ways known what she wanted to “The only bad experience I’ve had do later in life. She is taking small working at Minnieland was getting steps to reaching her goal. She is thrown up on once,” Kline said. “I doing her mentorship guess that comes at Minnieland, a prewith working with school where young kids though.”

I would much kids stay throughout Kline wants to the day. rather work at be a pediatric nurse “I work in the inwhen she gets older, Minnieland than fant room at Minnieand her mentorship have a class and just land,” Kline said. “I looks to prepare her love working with basit there” well for doing just bies so it’s a perfect fit that.  Senior Emma-Rose for me.”

“Working at MinKline watches the Kline nieland has taught babies and just makes me a lot about worksure that nothing goes ing with babies and wrong while she is there. younger kids,” Kline said. “It made me Kline volunteers at Minnieland evrealize that it was something that I reery other school day, and explains that ally want to do later in my life.”  it’s a great alternative for a class.

“I would much rather work at MinnShane McMahan Staff Reporter

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Senior Kelsey Hyser works at Classic Kitchens to follow her dream of becoming an interior designer.

Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Glover assists veterinarian Ryan Maphis Staff Reporter

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I’ve seen some crazy things,” senior Whitney Glover said.

For mentorship class, Glover has taken a position as an intern at a local veterinarian’s office.

Pulling out her phone, she proves just how crazy some things can be.

As a tumor the size of a bowling ball pops up on the screen, Glover smiles.

“I take pictures when stuff is really weird,” Glover said.

However, no matter how weird the job gets, Glover still enjoys going to work.

“I’ve wanted to be a veterinarian since I was little. My mom knows the

Commonwealth Attorney’s Office welcomes Klosinski

the mentorship program, she needs 80 hours of work total with 10 hours of travelling factored into the 80.

“I thought the Attorney’s office would be a good fit for me, I want to major in criminal reta Klosinski does not want an average justice and I get to experience a lot of the work after school activity, she would rather now, while I’m still in high school,” Klosinski help prepare attorneys for murder trials. said. Klosinski wants to attend Appalachian Senior Klosinski’s mentorship program consists State University next year and will pursue a deof working at the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s gree in criminal justice.

Office in Court Square, it’s the office where the “I think this mentorship will help prosecutor’s do their work. The averwith college acceptance, they wrote WHAT YOU THINK age day includes answering phones, a really nice recommendation letter,” Would you want to take filing, helping in court, and even Klosinski said. Klosinski was raised the mentorship class? helping the attornies with their work. loving dramas and TV programs, She sometimes gets special duties those shows inspired her. such as preparing boxes of evidence “I grew up loving Cops and Law for certain trials. and Order, so that’s how I got interKlosinski goes to the Commonested. I also want a career where I can wealth Attorney’s Office on B-day help people, and be fulfilling,” Klosin100 people in all grades polled 4th block and stays until 3:00 or later on March 3 by Michael Johnson ski said, “so I figured Criminal Justice if she’s needed. In order to complete would be a great match.” 

Shenk drafts at JMU

Conner Whitehouse Staff Reporter

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YES NO 63 37

Blackwell Engineering gives St. Ours practice Ethan Blackwell Staff Reporter

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eing in a mentorship is an opportunity for students to partake in real-world jobs and hopefully assist them in deciding whether or not they would want to pursue that career in the future.

Senior Dylan St. Ours is currently working in a mentorship with local engineering firm, Blackwell Engineering.

St. Ours spends an hour and a half every other day after school working alongside professional engineers.

“Most of my time is spent working in Microsoft Excel,” said St Ours.

“I also work with the

firm’s CAD programs.”

CAD also known as Computer-Aided Design is a program that Engineers, as well as other design careers, use to draft plans and create drawing that can be used by Engineers on the project site. While mentoring in engineering knowing how to perform tasks on CAD is very helpful. Without CAD plans must be drawn out by hand which takes more time and is less precise.

Though St Ours doesn’t get to travel to the project sites, he still acts as a vital member of the Blackwell Engineering team. When Dylan is mentoring he generally works on the computers assisting the rest of the firm.

“I work with a guy

named Basil, and I go over and fix mistakes for him,” St Ours said.

“If he happens to have any problems I will go on the computers and research how to fix his issues with CAD.” Dylan will have his mentorship for the remainder of the school year. Recently accepted into the Virginia Tech Engineering Program, St. Ours wants to ensure that this is what he wants to be doing in the future.

“I did this mentorship so I could get experience in the field and decide whether or not I want to be a civil engineer,” St Ours said. “So far the best part of my mentorship is the satisfaction felt when I complete a project and it comes out looking great.” 

people at the vet because we take our dogs there. They offered me an internship, so I took it. I spend around two hours there a day,” Glover said.

Glover can be seen in the halls of HHS in scrubs, getting ready to go to work. She only attends one class at the high school every day; the rest is spent at the vet’s office.

“The point of the mentorship class is for you to shadow a business and see if it’s an area that you want to work in. My day is pretty relaxed-I’m surrounded by women, there are two or three guys in the office, maybe.”

Glover said.

Working as an intern does not guarantee Glover a job at the veterinarian’s office, but it looks good on job and college applications. “It makes applying to things like Blue Ridge easier,” Glover said. 

Mark Duda Staff Reporter

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enior Daniel Shenk is a member of our mentorship program. While other students spend their fourth block in class, Shenk spends it getting handson experience at the JMU engineering department.

On A-days, Shenk heads over to the drafting division, where he meets with his mentor, Dennis Kiracoff. Kiracoff teaches him about drafting and design. Shenk learns and works with the program AutoCAD, putting old blueprints into the system and planning

new designs.

“AutoCAD is a program that is used for drafting, and we usually use that,” Shenk said. The design department is responsible for drafting designs for construction of buildings around campus. Shenk mostly spends his time putting the designs from past projects into the computer.

While he might not always love the work, Shenk enjoys the company of his mentor and the other guys.

“I mostly like it because of the guys who work there, otherwise it’s not that fun,” Shenk said. His work has few variations, “I mostly do the same thing,” Shenk said. 

Salehi works in Court Vera Shindyapin Staff Reporter

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I file tickets, sometimes record sheets of who is present,” senior Maryama Salehi said about her mentorship job at the courthouse. She joined the mentorship program at HHS to gain hands-on work experience. For the first half of the semester, the class learns about business ethics. For the second, they go out and learn from a job place.

“It’s not just an easy “A” as some people think,” said mentorship teacher Sherri Chapman.

Salehi works and helps out at the Rockingham District Court. She does not get paid, but rather is

paid in hands-on experi- loved all of her governence. ment classes. “[In the beginning of the “I definitely want a fedsemester] I learned all the eral job. This mentorship different ethics, and had program really settled that group discussions,” Salehi for me,” Salehi said. said, “[Then] I got to leave Her bit of advice? “Do school. I wanted to try mentorship because it will something out of school.” give you first hand experiSalehi has to stay for one ence on your career.”  to three hours and does filing, recording, and observing.

Salehi decided to work in the court h o u s e because she really liked political science. She has been in de- Senior Maryama Salehi works at the Rockingham bate and District Court as part of the mentorship class. Photo by Phillip Bannister.

Put a SmileOn

March 11, 2010

The Newsstreak

Photo Essay B10

For a typical human, it takes 37 muscles to frown, but only 22 to smile, so turn that frown upside down!

It requires less energy : ). In this layout, Newsstreak photographers portrayed smiles, but not the typical kind, the kind found in everyday objects and the kind that just happen to be lying around, where you may least expect it.

Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Rafiqa Haji Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Phillip Bannister

Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Phillip Bannister

Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Phillip Bannister

Photo by Phillip Bannister

Photo by Rafiqa Haji

Photo by Phillip Bannister

The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

ADS B2

Zuo earns national recognition for his piano playing Jack Burden Sports Editor

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magine getting in front of an audience of hundreds of people to compete for the title of best pianist for your age in America. If this sounds difficult, if not impossible, to you, don’t worry. It would be for most people. However, sophomore Howard Zuo is not one of those people.

Zuo experiences this kind of pressure every year at piano regionals, states, and nationals. Needless to say, he has dealt with the pressure pretty well. Two years ago he placed ninth in the nation in a field of 50 pianists. Last year, however, he was not allowed to place because if one places in the top ten one year, the next year they are not eligible to compete.

The road to the Yamaha Competition,

or nationals, is not an easy one. Most every day Zuo practices around an hour and a half on his pieces, from Beethoven to Rachmaninoff. But all this practice is necessary when he goes to compete. He begins at the state level.

After every pianist has competed, the judges decide who the top two pianists in the field were. These two are given the privilege of going to compete at the Yamaha Competition, a nationwide contest for the best junior pianists in America.

Zuo has not only competed in the state and national competitions, however. He has competed in the local James Bland competition, which is sponsored by the Lions Club of Virginia, the past three years, taking first the past two years. The Virginia Music Teachers Association competition, which will take place on April 26, is another tournament Zuo has participated in, and will be competing in again this

year.

Zuo’s piano teacher, Dr. Eric Ruple of JMU, likens the level of competition on the state level alone to that of Olympic athletes.

“If [Howard] were to ever win, or even place, in such a state-wide competition, it would be quite a remarkable event,” Ruple said.

Recently Zuo was the accompanist for HHS’ recent musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He attended every practice, playing the piano accompaniment of most songs in the musical.

“He’s incredible,” sophomore Dylan Norquest said, “If anybody heard him play, they would think he’s good, too.”

Norquest, who was a member of the cast in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, said he has heard Zuo play at least 20 times. Sometimes, Norquest said, he had even heard Zuo warm up for practice by playing a piece by

King creates music in Christian rock band

with them.

Alison Domonoske The band members all Feature Section Editor share similar musical influences, like the bands Switchfoot, Relient K and enior Eric King: mild- Skillet among others.

“We all really like Remannered senior by day, lient K a lot and how crerock god by night. King, ative they are with their along with Eastern Mennonite High School students Ben- lyrics and musicality, so son Hostetter, and Nathaniel and they’re a big influence on Christopher Oberholtzer makes the way we try to play,” Oberholtzer up the Christian rock band Emp- Nathaniel said. EmptySet plays all tySet. “I met Benson, the lead singer original songs, written by and guitar player because I go King and Hostetter with to his church and we also go help from Chris Oberway back,” King said. The Ober- holtzer.

“We have like 15 good holtzer brothers also attend the songs and more that we’re same church. working on. We have The Christian band gets most of their inspiration, for songs and some older bad ones too,” music from God and other Chris- King said. In songwriting, tian bands. In fact, the band was the three listed God and King of Rock. Senior Eric King practices started after Hostetter and the girls as major inspiration. singing lead in a band rehearsal. Aside “Making new songs from singing lead in several songs, he also Oberholtzers attended the Christhat are better than pre- plays electric bass with a guitar from fellow tian rock festival Creation Fest.

“We went and decided that vious ones is my favorite band member Chris Oberholtzer. Photo we really wanted to start a band part,” Hostetter said. courtesy of EMHS junior, Kelsey Blosser.

For music, King plays afterwards. Eric came the third year with us and also loved it,” bass guitar, Hostetter King said. EmptySet was started Christopher Oberholtzer said. plays guitar and keyboard, Chris last year, and has since played Oberholtzer said the band is also Oberholtzer plays guitar and Na- around eight shows. influenced by all the other bands, thaniel Oberholtzer plays drums “We got paid once, when we such as Prevail and Staring Down and sometimes violin and key- played for our youth retreat, but Forever, that have played shows board. All four of them sing. mostly it’s just been basement The band prac- concerts for our friends,” King tices at least once said. Earlier this year, the band a week, all balanc- played at MennoRock for an auing all their other dience of a couple hundred and activities can get this was their biggest show so difficult. far.

“There’s always Because EmptySet has had a other things I need lot of playing experience, shows to get done and no longer put much pressure on I usually have a King. lot of homework.

“I used to get really nervous, So, I’m usually ei- for the first shows but now it’s ther cramming it just another show,” King said. all in before prac- For Chris Oberholtzer, playing tice or staying up shows is one of his favorite parts late after to finish of being in the band. whatever it is I “Being in a band is my dream, have to get done,” I love writing songs and playing Nathaniel Ober- shows. I love packing the van holtzer said. full of equipment and driving an King has experi- hour to play a show in the crowdence with balanc- ed van,” Oberholtzer said. ing everything, The band has plans for more since this is his shows and will keep going strong, second band. He even though King is graduating previously was and the other members will still part of a band be in high school. called Goodbye “I’m going to EMU so I’ll still Pluto with other be around,” King said. “It’s not Guitar Heroes. King and fellow band members HHS students. like we’re expecting to be famous play at a concert for several hundred called Men“We were fresh- but I think we’ll stay together.” noRock. The song, Take Me Away, was a crowd men and had fun tt favorite and written by Senior Eric King in eighth but we didn’t grade. “It was a cliche relationshipd song,” King practice and it said. Photo courtesy of EMHS junior Ginny Kirk. wasn’t serious,”

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Mozart. No big deal.

Sophomore Dorrall Price also participated in Joseph, estimates that he has heard Zuo at least 10-12 times.

“He’s one of the better [pianists] I’ve heard,” Price said.

Price can tell Zuo practices hard, and believes, like Norquest, that all that practice has really payed off.

“He’s at least as good as many professional pianists I’ve heard,” Price said.

With competitions coming up soon, Zuo will be practicing as hard as ever.

But with a ninth place finish in the nation under his belt, Zuo really has nothing left to prove.

When asked how far Zuo can go with piano, Ruple had some very encouraging words.

“I think he can accomplish whatever he wants, and I will be very happy to have helped him along the way.” tt

HHS alumni Weaver, Wolter pursue music careers in college Paulina Rendon Staff Reporter

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hile most students spent their childhood lying around the house, HHS alumni Joy Weaver and Ryan Wolter choose to do something more productive. Weaver and Wolter both became involved with the piano at a young age, and have been playing it ever since.

Both Weaver and Wolter spread their love of music outside of high school. During her years at HHS, Weaver participated in pit, the orchestra that plays for the musical, every year except for her sophomore year. Weaver, who graduated last year, returned to HHS to help out with this year’s musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.

“I decided to help out because I love being part of the musical; it’s very rewarding and a lot of fun,” Weaver said.

Band director JR Snow asked Weaver is she had any interest in playing the synthesizer keyboard (a pianostyle instrument that is capable of making various noises of different instruments since it is digital) for the musical. The positions available for keyboard players—a position she’s played for thirteen years— were all taken, so Weaver decided to take the job.

“Since I’m not in high school anymore, I get paid and for a poor college student that’s always a plus,” Weaver said. At the same time, Weaver has a job at HHS as the choral accompanist. During the choir classes taught by choral director Bethany Houff, she joins the classes to play the piano accompaniment for various songs and at times, sing with them.

Because Blue Ridge Community College, the college Weaver attends, does not offer a very strong music department, she chose not to enroll in the program there. She has decided to transfer to JMU in the fall and participate in their program.

Wolter is currently involved in the music program at JMU. After playing in the percussion ensemble and symphonic band in high school, as well as the marching band, Wolter joined the Marching Royal Dukes and the JMU indoor drum line.

Before high school, Wolter began with the piano when he was four years old.

“I learned to play my first song, ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ by ear,” Wolter said, meaning that he learned the notes by listening to them and identifying them on the piano, rather than following sheet music.

Even though Wolter’s piano lessons began when he was six, he did not become serious about music until eighth grade, when he began writing his own songs. Monsoon, one of Wolter’s compositions, was played at the 2009 HHS graduation ceremony and he even had the privilege of conducting it.

While Weaver prepares for her transfer to JMU in the fall, Wolter continues expanding his knowledge of music. Weaver is considering helping with the HHS musical next year, depending on her schedule. Either way, both Weaver and Wolter will continue pursuing their career in music. tt

Choir teacher Houff teaches new piano class, spreads love of music

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Claire Sudol Staff Reporter

ach day, students in HHS’s new piano class sit in a semicircle while they are introduced to new notes, chords, and songs. During the second half of class, they are back at their keyboards practicing notes and songs. Choir teacher Bethany Houff has taken on the task of teaching the new piano class of students whose music experience ranges from musical backgrounds to others who have never held an instrument.

Houff who has been teaching choir for the past seven years and is excited about a new class that will enhance students’ musical talents.

“In music class, students become a part of a team,” Houff said. The class is comprised of roughly fifty percent of people who are either in choir or band, and fifty percent who are brand new to music.

“I really like the sense of success my students feel when they play a song all the way through,” Houff said. “When they do a song on their own, it’s really rewarding.” Her students agree that they feel a great accomplishment when they play their first full length song.

“I can play As the Saints Go Marching In and it’s quite exciting,” sophomore Nahala Aboutabl said. “At first songs sounded like a jumble of keys, but now the songs sound like actual music.”

Aboutabl has never taken piano lessons before but was thrilled when the piano class became available.

“I like music a lot and my friend plays piano and since this class was provided I thought it was awesome,” Aboutabl said. However, unlike Aboutabl who chose this class, the class seemed to choose freshman Luis Cruz.

“It was either cooking or piano, and I didn’t want to cook,” Cruz said. Students do not need any experience with piano to join the class because Houff starts with the very basics.

Senior Chelsea Thurman is one of the students who has a musical background. Not only is she in the Honors Choir this year, but she has also participated in the annual musical since tenth grade.

“Having a musical background helped me in the beginning of the class because I knew all about notes and lines,” Thurman said.

However, while Thurman is a singer, she is still a newcomer to piano.

“I have always wanted to learn the piano but never had the time or opportunity,” Thurman said. “And, then this class became available and so I decided to take the time to learn piano basics.” By the end of the semester, Thurman’s goal is to be able to look at a piece of music and have her fingers be able to play a song without hesitation.

Houff sees music as another language, as a new way of thinking. tt

Tinkling the ivories. Students in beginning piano class practice their chords. Photo by Emily Jamieson.

March 11, 2010

Feature B3

The Newsstreak

Photography allows Walton to be creative, artistic Maria Rose Feature Editor

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alking through the halls of HHS takes you past mostly nondescript walls and empty doorframes.

However, as soon as you pass geography teacher Cara Walton’s door, you already know that she is, well, something else.

The front of her door features several pictures she has taken—and they range from close-ups of eyes, to flowers, to CNN-featured—even to one featuring Boba Fett, a Star Wars character. As another teacher approaches her, she stops her commentary on photos to have a debate about Star Wars Storm Trooper and clones. On the inside, tiedyed sheets explode on the windows, while maps and posters of ancient Mesopotamians cover the concrete walls. And as she answered my questions, I could not help but notice the dozens of photos she has taken that are hung up around her desk.

Walton’s interest in photography started when her father gave her his old 35 mm (using film, rather than being a digital camera) Minolta camera and a set of lenses that he had used when they lived in Europe. While attending Bridgewater College here in the Valley, she worked as the Photography Editor for the college paper, The Talon.

“Photography is something that I do just because I love it,” Cara said.

But as her senior year of college approached, she dropped her title as Photography Editor and even stopped photography as a hobby all together.

With two choral ensembles, theatre activities, and a student teaching job taking up her time—not to mention planning a wedding (to HHS’s librarian and her co-forensics coach Bradley Walton), she was not hesitant in taking a break.

“I just had a lot on my plate,” Walton said, shrugging. “It was a time issue.”

During her sabbatical away from photography, Walton also took up artistic projects like origami and tiedye.

“She was always an artistic person,” Bradley Walton remembered. “She always had to have art.”

It was not until last spring when a chat room that she was a part of started a ‘photography thread’, where they began to post pictures. After remembering how much she enjoyed taking pictures, she pulled out her ‘point and shoot’ camera, which is the term for cameras that do not have

lenses, and revived her photography hobby, with some encouragement from her husband and several of the people in her chat room.

Her husband is an avid supporter of her work, though he himself does not actually take pictures. He uses photography as more of a way for remembering moments rather than art.

“I don’t attempt to be artistic; I see it as more of a utilitarian thing,” Bradley said. “It’s like, oh. There’s my daughter.

She’s nine, and she won’t be nine long. I guess I’d better take a picture.”

Cara finds inspiration in everyday things that catch her eye; the majority of her projects are spontaneous. However, at times, she plans to go on excursions for the sole purpose of taking pictures.

And Bradley is always happy to accompany her.

“One weekend, she wanted to go to a cemetery,” Bradley said. “And I just said, ‘well, okay!’”

She usually gravitates toward the same sort of pictures—artistic-style photos over journalistic ones.

“I hated taking pictures of sports events in college,” Cara said.

Macrophotography is a style of photography that she enjoys, where the subject material is magnified and shown from a close-up perspective.

Another running topic that Cara is fascinated with is the concept of, as she calls it, “beauty in decay”, referring to old buildings, usually shot in black and white images.

“Black and white images capture a level of contrast and emotion that is really beautiful,” Cara said.

Cara has also been recognized for her work nationally. She submitted a photo she took of a beach during sunrise while on a vacation to a CNN contest.

After no response for a long time, she had nearly forgotten about it, when she suddenly received an email from CNN asking her to clarify information about her photo. Several weeks later, she went onto the CNN site and saw that they had used her picture as CNN’s Travel Photo of the Day. “I ran out of my class, down the hall, screaming,” Cara laughed. “The kids in my class must have been wondering what was wrong with me.”

While Cara likes being the one behind the camera, she used to hate being the actual subject. To force herself out of her comfort zone and challenge herself, she is doing a project where she takes one self-portrait everyday for an entire year.

“I’m pushing myself to try new things,” Cara said. “Plus, I get to be

How to take a good picture 1.) Use a vertical angle- A landscape format can be too generic. Flipping the camera sideways for a vertical angle is sure to capture more details of people, since people are not exactly built for landscape format.

2.) Switch off that flash- A camera uses flash because it is programmed to, not because the picture necessarily needs it. You have the option to turn off the flash and decide. At times, using natural light is a lot better than flash.

3.) Get close to your subject- Taking a picture from far away is fine because it involves beautiful scenery but when capturing a picture of a person, make sure to get close. Do not be afraid of getting too personal.

4.) Use the rule of thirds- The rule of thirds is a guideline for photographers to achieve great visual composition. What you want to do is divide your picture into three horizontal rows and three vertical columns. The major points of interest should be at the intersection points of the lines.

5.) Lock the focus- In order to create a sharper image if a person or an object, it is best to lock the focus.

To do so, center the object and then press the shutter button only halfway down. Look to see if the object is fully focuses, then finally press the shutter button all the way down.

6.) Use a plain background- The eye is drawn to what easily stands out, so before you snap your photograph, check around you for flat surfaces or solid backgrounds that you can place the object.

Look out for ambiguous objects surrounding the pictures, which may look confusing to people who do not know what the story the scene is supposed to tell.

7.) Know your flash range if you use flash- If you get too far from your target and use flash, the pictures will come out dark. To prevent this, get as close to the object as possible so that you can use the best of the flash range. Usually pictures that are ten feet away from the camera will look too dark.

8.) Know your lighting- It is your job as the photographer to overall determine your lighting.

A great light makes for a great picture. For people in pictures, choose a softer light so you can avoid harsh shadows. For nature, use the suns natural light to capture the shadows and details of the scenery.

9.) Use a tripod- A tripod is a three legged metal stand which holds the camera up when taking pictures.

If your hands are naturally shaky, then a tripod can make your images sharper.

10.) Be the Picture Director - Do not be afraid to voice your opinion and direct the scene. Most of the time, people fo not know how to pose for a camera and will surely appreciate your direction. You can add pro[s to the picture or even re-arrange the objects around it. The photographer is always in control of how their pictures improve. www.samirbharadwaj.com and www.kodak.com infographic by Kim Antonio

Sunrise. Walton took this picture while on vaction with her family to the Outer Banks. It was CNN’s photo of the day on Dec. 3.

Frost. Using her macrophotography lens, Walton captured frost on the windshield of her car.

Fall Colors. Walton captured the natural color of the leaves in the Fall of 2009 at the JMU arboretum.

creative—I come home and ask myself, what can I do [for my picture] today?”

Photography is still just a hobby at the moment, but she plans to take professional classes to grasp a better understanding of it in the future. Even since she started, she has noticed Rose. Walton took this picture of a rose using her an improvement in her macrophotography lens. All photos by Cara Walton. own work, having to crop less empty space out of her taking pictures. pictures and being able to frame her “If I was paid, that’d be great,” Cara shots more easily. She might not be said. “But no matter what, I’d do it.”  considering photography as a career, but she knows that she will continue

Gooden finds success with photography

tomers with a great picture.

“I love making people look and feel great about who they are. There is a certain magic about capturing someone’s personality. It’s a rofessional photographer Josh Gooden, very fulfilling career,” Gooden said.

Gooden claims a lot of his success from the a Harrisonburg local, found his true media and word of mouth. interest overseas. Throughout high “Providing clients with images that they love school, Gooden did sports photography and utilizing social media to make it sustainand was the yearbook editor at Spotswood High School. He was no stranger to photography. able. Word of mouth is huge and Facebook ofThen a summer exchange program to England fers a big platform for that,” Gooden said.

After owning a successful business and takonly managed to feed the ing gorgeous photo after interest even more. photo, the question comes “I was an avid traveler. up where Gooden received I love making people I lived in England as an his training? exchange student for two look and feel great about “I am self-taught. There summers and loved evare plenty of resources onwho they are. Its a very ery minute of it. When we line and many people willfulfilling career .” first arrived in London, a ing to help you if you seek few bombings occurred  Professional them out,” Gooden said. just minutes after we left The media plays a big Photographer Josh the terminal. Fortunately, part in Gooden’s publicity.

I was able to meet a few Gooden He suggests any aspiring professional photographotographer to get their phers covering the event stuff out there by posting it and it made me ask the question of what I really everywhere they can. wanted to do in life,” Gooden said.

“Share. Send your thing out into the world.

The trip managed to provide more than a Post it to your Facebook, your blog. Tweet it. summer in a different country; it also sparked (And still share it with your mom),” Gooden inspiration for his life to follow.

“The culture, people, and landscape forever said. “And soon enough, if you so desire, and if changed who I was and it continues to inspire you listen to yourself and your network--your me today. I also won several awards for my creating and your sharing will become your work as a web designer, but I soon found that sustenance,” Gooden said.

Gooden is a firm believer in just working my true passion was photography and cinemahard, aspiring for something and achieving tography,” Gooden said. your goals.

Gooden has a business and studio located “You just have to constantly create, share, downtown. and sustain to really be successful in this busi“I shoot mostly models and seniors photo ness,” Gooden said. wise and corporate film projects,” Gooden said.

To see Gooden’s portfolio and other works Despite the harshly competitive nature of photography, Gooden still makes a living of visit his website at www.JoshGooden.com. Visit the business in our small town. A major benefit his blog, http://joshgooden.com/blog, or follow Gooden finds in his job is just providing the cus- him on twitter, http://www.twitter.com/steadicamOp.  Phillip Bannister Feature Editor

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Keopanga uses Facebook for photography Martin Vichnar Staff Reporter

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reshman Alexis Keopangna likes to take pictures and put them on the social networking site Facebook.

“Everytime I take a picture and then I am looking at it later, it brings me back so many beautiful memories. That is why I am taking so many pictures. I am trying to shoot my life on camera because it will be great to see it all once I am older,” Keopangna said.

She has not taken pictures for a long time.

She started last summer.

“Everytime I see something interesting that I like, I take a picture of it.” Keopangna said.

Like many other photographers, she enjoys putting her pictures on Facebook, hoping that more people will see it and she will get more response.

“I want to be better and better, so I am happy every time when somebody commends me.

I have been getting very good responses from people which helps me a lot because I see that people like my work. It is also good sometimes when somebody tells me that I should do something better or change. Facebook is great for this because many people have seen my pictures and they can tell me their opinions.”

Keopangna said. 

The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

Sports b6

Roadcap signs with Bridgewater College to play football Tricia Comfort Editor-In-Chief

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enior Travis Roadcap has always known that he wanted to play a sport in college. The 5’9”, 165-pound athlete has been playing baseball and football throughout high school, and this year he joined the indoor track team. He was also very successful in karate, winning three state championships in sparring, which he gave up so he could have more time to focus on football and baseball.

Roadcap used to believe that he was too small to play football and be successful at it, but he recently discovered that he was wrong. He has committed to play football for Bridgewater College next year.

“It personally feels great to commit to Bridgewater,” Roadcap said. “It has been a goal of mine to play either baseball or football in college ever since I started playing.” Bridgewater was not the only school that showed an

interest in Roadcap, he received several other offers from schools such as Saint Vincent, Ohio Wesleyan, Randolph-Macon, Concord and Ferrum. For Roadcap, the decision was easy since he knew he wanted to stay close to home next year and Bridgewater offered him the best scholarship.

The thing Roadcap is most excited about, is the opportunity to be an athlete at the colligate level.

“Bridgewater has an excellent tradition, and I’m going to be very proud to participate in that,” Roadcap said. Roadcap is Bridgewater has an also nervous about excellent tradition, some aspects of the and I’m going to situation since he does not know what be very proud to to expect. participate in that.”

“Playing here  Senior Travis [Harrisonburg], I grew up with most Roadcap of the kids I played with and against,” Roadcap said. “In the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, the kids come from just about everywhere on the east coast, plus they will be bigger and stronger than some of the guys in

“

high school.”

According to Roadcap, over the past decade, Bridgewater leads the state in winning percentage (80%). They have also won the ODAC five years in a row and made it to the National Championship in 2000-2001. Since the team has such high standards, Roadcap will have to prove himself before he gets playing time.

“My freshman year, I’ll be playing on the JV team with the other freshmen. During my sophomore and junior years, I hope to be on just about every special team. I also hope to see a lot of playing time on defense my junior year. My senior year, I expect to start,” Roadcap said. His other goals for college are to eventually become an All-ODAC selection.

“I hope that Bridgewater will help me become bigger, faster and stronger,” Roadcap said.

Although Roadcap has committed to play football next year, he has not completely given up on his baseball career. He will play on the varsity team this spring, and hopes that maybe he will get the chance to play both football and baseball next year in college.

Academically, Roadcap plans to major in Health and Physical Education.

“I want to be a physical education teacher some day,” Roadcap said. “I also want to get my teachers certificate in driver’s education. Call me Mr. Butler or Mr. Tysinger, but I think that’s where I belong.” 

Girls soccer team hopes to make it past regional tournament Shane MacMahan Staff Reporter

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ryouts for the HHS girl’s soccer team began on Feb 22. Tryouts consisted of mainly conditioning and scrimmaging, so the coaches knew the right players to pick.

Tryouts did not come soon enough for some of the returning varsity girls. Junior Morgan Wheatley is excited for the season to begin, and has some relatively high hopes for this year.

“I’m really excited for soccer season,” Wheatley said. “I really want to make it to states, but if not, at least make it to the regional tournament.”

Last year the Lady Streaks did in fact make it to the regional tournament, losing to Lord Botetourt 1-0. Junior Simona Byler has revenge on her mind.

“I want to beat Lord Botetourt really bad because they knocked us out last year,” Byler said.

Byler also said that she wants to help the Lady Streaks win another district championship.

The Streaks are expected to return six seniors to the squad. Among those seniors is Stephanie Wampler, who has been a part of the Blue Streak soccer teams for four years and has much of the same goals as her teammates.

“I want to win districts and end up making it to at least regionals,” Wampler said.

Even though all of these ladies have high hopes for the season, they all know that it begins at tryouts.

“I don’t like tryouts but that’s where it all starts,” Byler said.

The Lady Streaks will be playing much of the season without senior

Sally Kardos and junior Kelsey Messerley. Messerley suffered a devastating knee injury this winter, while Kardos broke her ankle during her first basketball game this season.

Both of these ladies started last year and are huge pieces of the team. Kardos said she wants to come back as soon as possible.

“When I come back to play, I want to be at full strength so I don’t re-injure my ankle,” Kardos said.

“The younger players are going to have to step up early because Kelsey and I both had a lot of experience at the varsity level.”

New students provide fresh talent for soccer team Jack Burden Sports Editor

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ome soccer season, the HHS soccer and baseball teams will each find themselves one player stronger after acquiring soccer player Ty Armentrout and baseball player Yadiel Guzman.

Armentrout began playing soccer two years ago after moving to Colorado from Georgia, and has been playing ever since. He moved to Harrisonburg last November from Trinidad, Colorado, a town a quarter the size of Harrisonburg. His high school did not have a soccer team, so he spent his high school career there playing for the city team as a goalie.

“I’m not sure if I’ll make the team here because I don’t know who is trying out for goalie,” Armentrout said.

Armentrout was not nervous about moving to Harrisonburg from Colorado because he had experienced almost the same thing three years ago, when he moved to Colorado from Georgia. In fact, after living here for the past four

months, Armentrout even goes so far as to say that he likes Harrisonburg better than Trinidad, because Harrisonburg is bigger, and therefore has more to do.

“I wasn’t really nervous [about moving] because I had already done it once,” Armentrout said.

Guzman, who moved to Harrisonburg from New Market, is looking forward to playing baseball for the Streaks.

“I think this season will be pretty good,” Guzman said.

Before coming to Harrisonburg, Guzman played shortstop for Stonewall Jackson High School. He and his family moved to Harrisonburg so he would have a better chance of getting into college. “[I like Harrisonburg better because] there’s more competition in sports,” Guzman said.

Moving to another high school in the middle of one’s high school experience can be a difficult thing to do. However, sports can make that transition easier, for it provides the student with a pre-made group of friends and the confidence to survive in the new environment, “I’ve gotten a good reception her. The kids are friendly, and the teachers are friendly too,” Armentrout said.

Messerley explained that she just hopes she can play this season, though it is not very likely.

“I just want to return for the end of the season, and help my team make it as far as possible,” Messerley said.

The Lady Streaks quest for a championship starts February 22. Defense, defense, defense! Number eight Junior Morgan Wheatley defends the goal during one of last year’s games against Turner Ashbey. Photo by Aidan Newcity Girls Varsity Soccer Scedule March 15/10 *Scrimmage - Wilson Memorial High School 19/10 H Waynesboro High School 26/10 H Robert E Lee High School April 06/10 @ James Wood High School 09/10 @ Lord Botetourt High School 13/10 @ Fort Defiance High School 16/10 H Turner Ashby High School 20/10 @ Waynesboro High School 23/10 H Spotswood High School 27/10 H Rockbridge County High School 30/10 @ Robert E Lee High School May 04/10 H Stuarts Draft High School 07/10 @ Broadway High School 11/10 @ Spotswood High School 14/10 @ Turner Ashby High School 21/10 H Broadway High School

Eighth graders participate in HHS gymnastics program Aidan Newcity Sports Editor

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or most sports, eighth graders can play on Junior Varsity teams at the High School. But gymnastics is a different story. The eighth graders can still participant at practice and the meets; the key is that they only can compete exhibition. Exhibition means that the gymnast does the event, but the score does not count towards the teams end score.

“Gymnastics was a lot of fun, but meets were my favorite because I saw experienced gymnasts doing tricks,” eighth grader Victoria Hurtado said.

On this year’s gymnastic team, there are 2 eighth graders participating. Along with Hurtado, Chloe Scandlin is the other eighth grader. Both girls get along with their older teammates. Hurtado thought the older girls were a lot of fun, and was happy that the teammates helped her daily.

“I like both of the eighth graders on the team; they both have easy personalities to get along with and it’s easy to make them laugh. They will be very good gymnasts in high school,” Junior Haley Wenos said.

Wenos, like Scandlin and Hurtado, has been apart of the gymnastic team since she was in eighth grade.

Junior Simona Byler has also been on the team since she was eighth grade. She has been in their position, not being able to compete.

“I didn’t get to compete as much as last year, but I saw a lot of new stuff like new tricks,” Hurtado said.

Hurtado saw a difference in practices. She enjoyed the new way better.

“I liked how we had longer practices than the middle school ones. I have been doing gymnastics for 4 years at Stone Spring Elementary with the Skyline gym,” Hurtado said.

The eighth graders work hard, and try their best.

Hurtado and Scandlin excel in different ways. They are going to make an excellent part of the team in the upcoming four years.

“I want to continue in all 4 years of high school, and I really want to try a back tuck,” Scandlin said. 

The Evolution of Uniforms- The Newsstreak takes a look at how uniforms have changed over the years.

776BC-776BC--First track events were held at the olympics in Greece. They did not wear clothes.

1 9 4 0 ’s - mot athletes wear cotton uniforms

1860’s--First college track 1860’s-events in America. Peck and Snyder Sporting Goods advertise Rubbersoled canvas “croquet shoes.” These become a hit in the world of track.

1960’s7 0 ’s - N i k e shoes adapt to the new urethane tracks that are being used.

1950’s--Adidas’ are the most popular track shoes.

1990’s--TheHHS track team sports light weight nylon uniforms.

Now--Track athletes at HHS and all over the world opt for uniforms made of spandex and other moisture-wiking fabrics.

Modern track shoes are made of nylon and other synthetic materials.

Infographic by Ama Ansah, art work by Vivian Tejeda

The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

The Rendon Report

Patrick infiltrates maledominated NASCAR Alex Rendon Staff Reporter

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have a problem with people who have a problem with Danica Patrick. Aside from Jimmie Johnson, she’s probably the best thing that’s happened to NASCAR since Ricky Bobby. People who say that she’s not actually good and only gets attention because she’s prettier than the lead singer at a hootenanny are absolutely right. NASCAR has a loyal following but that following has, for the most part, stayed consistent within the boundaries of Toby Keith fans and hardcore Toby Keith fans. Danica Patrick is helping to reign in some more diverse viewership.

Women don’t typically have success venturing into guy sports. Michelle Wie and Annika Sorenstam didn’t do so hot when they tried to play golf with the guys and it was sort of disappointing.

Danica Patrick could finish with a 31st place average for the rest of her career and I don’t think many people will give a flying hoot.

Will she go down in the annals of NASCAR lore?

No, and if you ask me, BIG WHOOP. As long as she stamps her feet and throws those spitfire tantrums I think the “sport” will be all right (I apologize for the quotations but I think any sport that forces you to sit in 130 degree agony in a puddle of your own urine for four hours is not really a sport).

I’m ashamed to say this but I did tune in to watch a NASCAR race recently because I was curious to see how Danica would do.

On a side note, I still don’t see the appeal of watching this for hours. I’ll concede that participating has got to be fun and the last few laps are actually pretty entertaining but what is with the gigantic crowd at every race? The conditions cannot be sanitary, there is no t-shirt cannon, and the whole situation reminds me of a cross between the DMV and KFC. I’d much rather watch the Kentucky Derby where the race is shorter and the spectators look like the type of people who have hyphenated last names.

I’m not hating on NASCAR because I don’t think that it takes skill to be a driver. It’s also incredible what the pit crew can do in such a short amount of time. Watching it over and over again is what I think will lose me. That, and the fact that they go for 500 laps. What am I supposed to do at lap 137 and lap 322? Maybe watching a race will change my mind, but I’m not holding my breath. I’m not exactly thrilled about the prospect especially considering that I’ll basically be walking into a massive auditory assault. I’ll find a pro in this sea of cons eventually.

If I were a NASCAR fan, I’d thank my lucky stars that Danica decided to give stock car racing a try. It was inevitable, though. How could you be born with the name “Danica” and NOT want to drive cars fast for a living? Danica Patrick has had a significant impact on NASCAR already as she’s been the dominant storyline week in and week out. Because even if she never actually wins, NASCAR already has. tt

Sports B7

Tennis team begins bid to return to states Martin Vichnar Staff Reporter

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ennis is one of the sports which has a strong tradition at HHS. The season began this year with one week of conditioning prior to participating in tryouts.

“I really like how hard guys were working on conditioning practices,” coach Justin Fainter said.

“This season’s goal is to win the districts again, try to win a regional championship and play well in states,” Fainter said.

The first days of tryouts were more about shoveling skills as the team had to clean the snow off the courts, but after that, it was all about tennis. The tennis team should be very strong again. Scott Measell and Andy Shisler are both ready to roll.

“This season should be good!

We have four out of six people

from last year’s top six. Fainter said.

Last year’s number four player Scott Measell will be one of the key players again. His personal goal is to be the number one seed this year and beat every team that HHS will face.

“It was a lot of fun last year and we won many games, but I hope that we will be even better this year,” Measell said.

Andy Shisler is looking forward to playing, too.

“I want to be in the top six players this year because I could not make it last year. It was a great learning experience,” Shisler said.

He wants to get in better shape.

Both of them want to win all of the games this year.

Fainter thinks that Measell, sophomore Jack Burden, and senior Ian Frazier will be the biggest stars of the team. Senior Stefan Peric should be good, too.

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Wimbledon, here we come. Sophomore Ryan Waligora serves during tennis practice. Photo by Jack Burden.

Boys baseball tryouts happening indoors Daiki Ishikawa Staff Reporter

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aseball tryouts were held on Feb 22. There were between 55 and 60 people who wanted to play baseball this year. Tryouts cut it down to 36 people. Because of all the snow in the baseball field, tryouts were held in the gym. ”It will be hard.” Coach Jay Hook said.

Senior Preston Grogg tried out. He

started playing baseball when he was four years old with a tennis ball. He loves the sport.

“Baseball is the typical American sport.

I can play baseball outside. That is really fun,” Grogg said. He also played baseball last year. His best moment last year was when he hit a grand slam against Stuarts Draft, and this year he wants the team to win districts.

Senior Michael Clopper tried out.

He has played baseball for 13 years. His brother was playing baseball, so he began to play.

“I can’t live without baseball. I love it!!”

Clopper said. “I will be a monster like a Godzilla.”

Sophomore Jake Durden tried out. He has played baseball for 11 years. Baseball was his first sport and he grew up with it.

He really loves playing baseball outside in the spring. His best moment last year was during the first game. He hit three rbi’s and got two singles against Waynesboro.

“We have a lot of guys who got experience. So we will be really good,” Durden said. tt

Tryouts worst part of season for many softball players Madison Wilson Staff Reporter

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little over two weeks ago, more than 30 girls attended the annual softball tryouts held here at HHS. The tryouts are held by three-year coach Nicole Moran who is a gym teacher a Keister Elementary School.

Tryouts started Monday Feb 22, and ended Friday Feb 26.

They went from 6-9 p.m. The girls were expected to meet in the gym and to be ready for a work out. All of the practices are held inside right now due to the inclement weather.

“You can just tryout but then you tell the coaches where you want to play. But they will put

you were you are best,” junior Montana Magee said.

The girls must bring shorts and a t-shirt for the majority of the practices but they also bring a pair of sweat pants and a sweat shirt in case they practice sliding. They must wear tennis shoes since you can not wear cleats inside. Also a glove is needed for catching, and bats are needed if any hitting is done. “[I do softball because] it’s fun to play and I get to hang out with friends,” junior Nadis Ndayzigiuye said.

The schedule for each practice during the week of tryouts is different. On the first day players arrived at HHS around 5:15 so that paperwork could be turned in and to make sure everything is there that is needed. Warm ups started at

5:30 where the girls had to run, do drills, and stretch. When practice started, all the girls were split up into three groups.

One group is for fielding and throwing drill, another group worked on batting and techniques with off tees and soft tosses, while the third group worked on conditioning.

The groups would then rotate.

At the end of practice, there was a team conditioning and a cool down.

“About twenty-five to thirty girls will be there. About twelve will make junior varsity and another twelve will make varsity,” Magee said.

Many girls believe the tryouts are the worst part of softball because of the conditioning. One of the good things about the tryouts are

getting back into the season and getting to play again said Ndayzigiuye.

“This year we had a lot of eighth graders that are very energetic so it was hard to get things started,” Ndayzigiuye said. “But [the fun part about tryouts is] getting to know the people who are going to be my teammates.”

Some girls believe that tryouts are nerve-racking, not during the week mostly, but when they are called into a room at the end of tryouts to be told to and told if they have made the team yet or not.

“It is a very stressful for some but for others who are sure they will make the team do not get as worked up,” Ndayzigiuye said.tt

Durden lobbying for ping pong club to be added to activity schedule Vanessa Ehrenpreis Sports Editor

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arrisonburg High School offers a wide variety of sports clubs for students, including the Ski and Snowboard Club, Walk About Club, and Four Wheel Drive Club.

Yet still some students are not satisfied with the choices they have. Sophomore Jake Durden is content with his A-day club, Streaks Serve the ‘Burg, but has nowhere to go on B-days.

“A-days are good, I go to SSB and have a great time. On B-days I have nowhere to go that has a group of my peers that share similar interests as me,” Durden said.

Durden, an avid sports fan and participant in many school sports teams, such as football, basketball, and baseball, thinks that a ping pong club would be a perfect addition to HHS’s club line-up.

Not only would it allow him to challenge his athletic abilities, but would give him and his friends a chance to have friendly competition.

“Ping pong is the best spectator sport in the western hemisphere. It is multi-ethnic, and a lot of people would participate and be challenged by the other members,” Durden said.

Sophomore Zak Kraimeche agrees with Durden, and thinks that a ping pong (and tennis) club would be wildly popular throughout school. Kraimeche is a member of Habitat for Humanity and Robotics club, but has decided that he needs a more active club.

“I think we should get a ping pong and tennis club. Those are the top two sports I play, and I know a lot of other people who play, so I think it would be a very successful club,” Kraimeche. “I love ping pong and tennis simply because they are just fun to participate in. It’s usually a social thing,

playing with friends and enjoying it. It’s like hanging out.”

Durden is confident in his abilities as a ping pong athlete, and ranks himself about fifth in the school overall. Kraimeche on the other hand is more reserved in his rankings.

“I happen to be about number five in the school. On my best day, if an Olympic player hit me a shot I might have a chance at returning it,” Durden said.

“I am obviously not number one, but I am definitely experienced enough to compete with others,” Kraimeche said Sadly enough, Durden and a few of his friends tried to start a ping pong club last year, but it disappointingly did not work out. Now more determined than ever, Durden promises that the club will be started by the time he graduates.

“By 2012 there will be a HHS Ping Pong Club. Even during Armageddon, I will make it happen,” Durden said. tt

Boy soccer tryouts ‘absolutely brutal’ Conner Whitehouse Staff Reporter

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ost athletes are fully aware that the first days of tryouts are never fun. Boys soccer is no exception. “The first day was absolutely brutal,” junior Trevor Shank said.

“The first day was all conditioning, Erickson ran us hard. He wants to see who the fit people are, and who tries hard,” sophomore Evan Shank said.

Try out week is a big time for a lot of people. Approximately 40 people are trying out this year and based on their skill and effort, 18-20 will be kept according to head coach Ted Erickson.

Because of our good friend mother nature, like most other spring sports, the team needs to practice indoors. They use the gym at Skyline Middle School and, within this enclosed area, cuts will have to be made. First cuts were made on February

24.

A big problem came up toward the end of last season, when the realization that the teams all-state, star goalie Colin Newcity would be graduating, sunk in. The back up, Tanner May, was also a senior and would be gone as well. The answer came when this week at tryouts a transfer student from Colorado, senior Tylan Armentrout tried out for the team.

“I heard this school needed a goalie and I hope I make it and can help out,” Armentrout said. “I’m also trying out for defense, so I’ll do anything coach wants me to do if I make it.”

With around 20 people getting cut from the varsity squad, not everyone will emerge victorious. Those cut may play JV if they are still in 8th-10th grade.

“Based on the performance last year, and the fact that we have some returning veterans such as Louis Hernandez, Adrian Zamora, and Justin Syharath, I think we Goal!!! Sophomore Michael Johnson have the potential to take it to states this practices juggling. Photo by Jack Burden. year,” Shank said. tt

The Newsstreak

March 11, 2010

Sports B8

State competitions

Four wrestlers qualify for state tournament Emmett Copeland Staff Reporter

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spotlight focuses on the center of the gym. Strange TA fans scream things like “Teabag him!” (this is not made up).

Two monsters clash on the mat. Landon Turner is the victor, he will proceed to States.

Four Harrisonburg wrestlers qualified for the state competition at regionals, the aforementioned Turner, sophomore Henry Valladarez-Cruz, sophomore Daniil Makayed, and junior Robert McCarthy. The athletes left for States on Thursday, Feb 18 returning on Sunday. Of the four, only Turner won any matches, however he did so

in style, placing seventh in Virginia in the 285lb. weight class. Turner finished with a 4-2 record after losing a match in sudden death overtime because of a technical violation, which in his case was an untied shoelace. Turner’s postmeet comment on the subject was “It was a bad call and disappointing, but we move on. It’s in the past.”

“The coaches felt that some things could have been different, but that it was a solid season,” Turner said. The other wrestlers also felt that things could have been better.

“Some matches were really exciting. I think I could have tried harder, though, I should have been on that finals mat,” Makayed said.

“One thing I can improve on is tying my shoes,” Turner said.

The team’s disappointment is understandable since they prepared for the meet with brutal workouts and routine changes in their eating habits.

“We’re doing a lot, a lot of conditioning,” ValladarezCruz said. “In this one workout we run up and down the corner stairs and the doorsare shut to make it hot and to lose weight faster.”

None of the wrestlers who qualified for states this year are seniors, so the team has time to build and refine for years to come. Although ValladarezCruz is unhappy about his 0-2 record, he is staying positive, “I still feel like I have achieved something great, qualifying for States

Cartoon by Vivian Tejeda

as a sophomore. Everyone I wrestled was really aggressive so I’ll just have to step it up next year,” Valladarez-Cruz said.

Turner Ashby, the district champions, only had two wrestlers place in the meet, and they were destroyed pointswise by Broadway. 

Heatwole coaches junior varsity baseball for first time Mitch Depoy Sports Writer

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ith all of the recent snow and a winter for the record books, you wouldn’t think that spring sports are starting up again very soon. With the snow melting away baseball season is starting up. There is also a new face to the head coaching position on the JV team.

For his first year on staff, David Heatwole was a varsity assistant coach.

Heatwole also has a background when it comes to baseball. He played varsity baseball as an outfielder, here at HHS in 2000 and 2001. He played outfield for the Streaks both years. Also, Heatwole has played in County League baseball for the Montazuma Braves.

Last year the JV team was lead by David Hoover. Hoover had been the JV coach for the last four years. Last year Hoover’s wife moved to West Virginia to enroll at West Virginia University.

Since Hoover stayed here to continue his guidance counselor role, he decided that he is going to take time away from after school athletics and will go to see

his wife more often.

Heatwole was the outfield coach for the varsity team last year.

“Since Tysinger used to be the JV coach, they weren’t going to bring him back down,” Heatwole said. Also, Heatwole has always wanted to be a head coach. “Over the summer I helped coach a Legion team, and I got to fill and be the head coach some games,” Heatwole said.

When it comes to Heatwole’s thoughts on this year’s team, he is positive. “We have 18 eighth graders that are trying out for the JV team,” Heatwole said. Also on the team there

are eight returning tenth graders. “This year we will be balancing both older and more experienced players along with the younger kids who will be learning the system,” Heatwole said.

Heatwole also has the support from his players. For sophomore Nathan Mendoza, while recovering from a recent knee surgery, the star outfielder will be back in a few weeks. As for his opinion on Heatwole, “he is a very good coach and I have faith in him that we will do good,” Mendoza said.

Crazy winter weather great for ski resorts, snow enthusiasts Heather Hunter-Nickels Staff Reporter

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inally the snow comes and school is out. Every child’s dream right? Well, it is every ski resorts dream too. The snow is free advertisement for Massanutten, and when kids are out of school, where better to let them burn some energy?

“Some people don’t realize we are even open until it begins to snow,” Ski Area General Manager, Steve Showalter said.

This year has been Massanutten’s record year, with 10% more revenues (profits) and clients, than last year. In fact, 08-09’s record was already 5% higher than previous years, so breaking

that record by 10% and possibly looking Mark Healy took advantage of the forward to more snow, has been great slopes and went four times with his for Massanutten. family. On occasion Jay Blair, fellow For special satisfaction, and so the history teacher, joined Healy and his snow is revived and ready for skiers family. “What I liked the best were in the morning, four plows groom the the moguls (a series of progressive beaten down snow eight hours every bumps either on the slope Mac Attack night. Not to mention the ‘hard at work’ or lining the left side of Paradise), they snow gun’s that provide fresh blankets are awesome,” Healy said. of frosty snow, when Sophomore Jake the levels are low.

Durden hit the But when it comes slopes three times The die-hard skiers to the glorious snow with friends over that attracts the the snow provoked always fina a way to masses, the guns are break. “Friday was get there.” spared their work great because not  Ski Area General and money and many people could electricity is saved. get to the slopes Manager Even more profit for (due to dangerous Steve Showalter Massanutten. road conditions) so History teacher there were less crazy

“

people flying at you, and almost no lift lines.”

Some days the snow on the slopes is icy, some days it is powdery or fluffy, but daily the conditions change. “I have not ever skied in powder like that, ever,” Healy said. Healy is referring to deep snow that is easy to sink into.

“Blair and I went over a bump and sunk into the snow.” In those cases, one can only maneuver out of the snow.

Though snow is lucrative, the resort is faced with several challenges. One of the most obvious problems has to do with the snow trapping skiers and boarders at home. The conditions grow more dangerous with slippery ice. They also have to clear the parking lots.

But, “The die- hard skiers always find a way to get there,” Showalter said. 

Lee turns in stellar performance at state meet Kavya Beheraj Staff Reporter

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s a sophomore, Wayson Lee is already placing and receiving medals in events as a member of the outdoor and indoor track teams.

His recent performance landed him a position in the state competition, an uncommon event for a sophomore on the team. The competition was held at Liberty University.

“In states I hoped to place and get a medal, and it happened,” Lee said.

Lee has been participating in track since the sixth grade as a way to get into shape and to hang out with friends. He takes part in most sprint events, hurdles, and triple jumps in track.

Training for indoor track

is different than training for outdoor track because the distance to run is a lot shorter.

Since HHS does not have an indoor track, Lee and his teammates usually run in the hallways, unless the weather permits them to run outside.

“It is hard to train in the halls because of space,” Lee said. “And we can not practice jumps in the hall.”

To get into states, Lee had to train with the team once or twice per week. His best events are the 400 meter and the hurdles. “[I had to] work hard, eat healthy, and run one of the fastest 400 [meter] times on the team,” Lee said.

Other members of track who went to states along with Lee were Jake Johnson, Nevin Heckman, and Troy Jones, who participated in the 4x400 meters. Members who

participated in the 4x200 meters were Chris “Foot” Johnson, Donte Fitz-Sloan, Troy Jones, and Connor Wolfe.

“States was fun,” Lee said.

“It was exciting to see really fast people race.”

Christiansburg won states, but HHS took second place from Blacksburg in the 4x400.

As a member of track, Lee looks up to a few of his fellow members. “[I look up to] Troy Jones because he is really fast and Nevin Heckman because he is a sophomore that went to states with me,” Lee said. “[I also look up to sophomore] Vanessa Ehrenpreis because she went to states as a freshman.”

Lee hopes to use track as a way to get a scholarship in college.

“It feels very accomplishing to be in states as a sophomore,” Lee said. 

art by Vivian Tejeda

Hypnotist performs again at rally RALLY from page A1 the 2007 performance.

“The things he was able to make people do were hilarious,” Thigpen said. “I’m excited to

see what he does this year.”

DeLuca will return to HHS on March 10 for the spring renaissance rally. 

unfair advantage.

Reynolds says regardless of what is decided in Richmond, Harrisonburg will go to the latest date possible.

“We will always go to the latest possible date to take the SOL. We want to help our students as much as possible,” Reynolds said. 

feature new girls, boys singing groups

Debate, forensics continue seasons SOL schedule depends on weather Soup night to STATES from page A1 of the snow schedules. So, Coach Verity Caron assigned the team some homework. “[It’s] a list of English stuff because we’re really good at math and science and pretty good at history too, and English we kind of vary on,” Caron said.

The debate team has had to modify their practice schedule as well. The debate class ended last semester, so practices now have to be after school.

“When we first get the topic, we just sit around and throw out ideas for both sides. Then usually the practice is just spent doing practice debates,” coach Peter Norment said.

They went to district competition on March 3. District competition is different from the team’s usual tournaments.

Usually, there are four different debate categories, student congress, public forum, Lincoln-Douglass and policy.

VHSL competitions only have Lincoln-Douglass and Policy debates.

“Policy debate and LincolnDouglass are two very different types of debate, so their practices are different.

In Lincoln-Douglass, we sit around and talk about philosophy and values. Policy, they just have to really be up on current events and what’s going on in the world,” Norment said.

Both Norment and Walton expect their teams to continue to do well this season. HHS has won the regional forensics tournament for the past three years. Last year, a policy debate team placed third at states. 

SOL from page A1 is not worried about the SOL subject tests but rather the writing, which must be administered in March without exception. This is because everybody in the state receives it at exactly the same time so that the topic does not leak and some students get an

Collections still coming in for Haiti HAITI from page A1 “I think people are just tired,” Brooks said. “Plus, we haven’t had much school recently, so it’s been hard to get the kids interested.”

Brooks noted that with a new group of students this semester, she does not know many of the kids that well yet, but believes students will start

contributing now that we are back in school.

“I brought in 12 bars because it’s all for a good cause and I really wanted the extra credit,” Hill said. “I didn’t get extra credit for two of the bars, because you could only earn up to ten points, but it will still help somebody.” 

SINGING from page A1 all doing different things,” senior Jessica Rutledge said.

“It’s hard to get everyone together all at once because we are just starting off.”

At the Soup Night performance, both a cappella groups will be collaborating in at least one song.

“We are singing ‘I Gotta Feeling’,” junior Lindsey Cockburn said. “I’m not sure how it is going to turn out because we have not practiced, but it should be fun.”

Rutledge is not worried about the lack of practice so far. 