Wadsworth High School
Newspaper II/III
OCTOBER 2009
The
BRUIN
1870 - 2008 Wadsworth City Schools: “Celebrating 138 years of Excellence in Education”
Volume XXXV No. 1
Happy Halloween! October 31
625 Broad Street Wadsworth, Ohio 44281
$1.00
Parsons takes on new task Principal joins Wadsworth with ease, exceeding expectations
BY EMILY ORCHARD AND KALEE CURTIN
On any given morning, Principal Jerry Parsons can be seen greeting students in the hall as they are on their way to first period. Although this is Parsons’ first year at Wadsworth, he seems to have made an easy transition to the school and has become well acquainted with the students. “Parsons has really added some pizazz to our school and the halls by always being active and interested in the student body,” senior Sam Schwab says of Parsons’ transition to Wadsworth. Parsons first heard about the opening for a principal position at Wadsworth through Joe Magnacca and Brian Williams, both former Wadsworth High School principals. When he heard about the available job, he applied immediately. Our new administrator has 11 years of experience as a principal at Akron and Wooster high schools. Despite the difference in schools, Parsons claims that high school students are high school students, no matter where they attend. He believes that each school has its own unique personality, and getting to know that personality is the hardest part of the job. The change of schools has not seemed to affect Parsons, who states that the “most important
Principal Jerry Parsons shakes hands with Brett, 11 as he greets students in the hallway.
thing about being a leader of a group of teenagers is making sure you don’t forget about the
forgotten and overlooked. The emphasis he places on the individual can be seen as he takes the time to greet individual students each morning. His “This is a 24/7 venture.” desire to be more than -Mr. Parsons, principal just a figurehead to the students has caused him to be an extremely individual.” He even referred personable principal. to high schools as “factories” Parsons also recognizes the in which students can be easily many struggles that account for
PHOTO BY BRUIN STAFF
the unbelievable amount of strain and anxiety put on students. He believes the biggest problem that teenagers face is “the pressures kids face from their parents to be better than they were - it’s too much. The pressures in academics and the overemphasis on athletics,” is what Parsons says is to blame for the stress that teens face. Parsons believes these struggles can be overcome by
converting negative energy to positive energy, whether through youth groups or club activities to give the students an outlet to their stress. He even said that his biggest pet peeve was “when I see talented kids who don’t work up to their potential.” This attitude shows that our principal merely wants to see students do the best they can in any way possible. While Parsons has grown to be a great principal, he did not always aspire to be an administrator. His initial intention was to attend flight school, and he was also a head basketball coach at schools in which he previously worked. Even with his success thus far, there are a few accomplishments Parsons has yet to achieve. Landing and flying planes off air craft carriers was a goal that he never lived out. However, he has reached his goals of becoming a teacher and coach and is living his goal of becoming a school administrator. Reaching this goal was not easy. The best advice Parsons can give to those who would like to someday walk in his shoes is to “fully understand what you’re stepping into. This is a 24/7 venture.” Parsons understands what he has stepped into at Wadsworth and wants to make the most of this venture. Many feel his personable nature and compassion for the individual will soon make him an invaluable new principal who Wadsworth is lucky to have.
Past WHS Principals: Mr. Keith Leggett
Mr. Anthony Pallija
Mr. Ron Jones
Mr. Dale Fortner
1989-1991
1992-1997
1998-1999
2000-2001
INSIDE
THE
Mr. Roger Cramer
2002-2004
Mr. Brian Williams
Mr. Joe Magnacca
2005-2006
2007-2008
BRUIN:
FALL SPIRIT Students show school spirit through band, Homecoming and tailgating.
WADSWORTH ATHLETES STAND OUT Brandon House and Jack Snowball show talent on the field.
– pages 8 & 9 SUMMER’S NOT OVER YET Midsummer Night’s Dream and A Monster Ate My Homework, two new school plays, are in full swing. – page 10
– page 15 WHY WE LOVE FALL Students and teachers share their favorite fall past times.
– page 20
INDEX
PAGE
News ............................................................3 Opinion .....................................................4,5 Ads ..............................................6,11,13, 16 Entertainment .............................................. 7 Picture Pages ...........................................8, 9 Features ....................................................10 Of the Month ..............................................12 Sports ....................................................14,15 Health .........................................................17 Speakout ....................................................18