2015-2016 Wingspan Issue 2

Wingspan WEST HENDERSON HIGH SCHOOL

March 2016 • Volume 35 • Issue 2

To bear arms Students disagree on 2nd Amendment

Page 7

Text me later School policy on cell phones debated

Page 12

Take a hit Deaths in sports raise questions about safety

Page 16

Pin to win Interview with sophomore wrestler

Page 19

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contents

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staff EDITORS-IN-CHIEF SPORTS EDITORS Carlie Gillespie Caroline Ward MaryKent Wolff

Isabella Perron Josh Conner

OPINION EDITORS WEB EDITOR-INCHIEF Ari Sen

Katie Farina Brandan Naef, asst.

Bobby Slagle, asst.

WEB EDITOR NEWS EDITOR Jackson Whiting

JUNIOR EDITORS Charlotte Grush Sarah Stertzbach

FEATURE EDITORS Samuel Littauer Sofia Molina

Dhuru Patel Hailey Port, asst.

Emily Treadway, asst.

FEATURE WRITERS Rebekah Littauer Amber Detwiler Hannah Stertzbach Kendall Owens Lilly Summey

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR STAFF WRITERS Emily Turpin Katlyne Featherstone, asst.

Bryn Bowen Emily Mertz Valeka Ramekis Nolan Singer

MANAGING EDITORS Rachel Raasch Kiersten Woodring

PHOTOGRAPHERS Will Lindsey Annalyse Wilkins

ADVISER Brenda W. Gorsuch

DESIGNER Collin Huske

13

11

opinion

20

14 homeless students

22

School provides assistance to those who classify as homeless

4 column

Students will miss retired principal, Dean Jones

15 where to give Charities not always honest

5 staff editorial

Civil rights movement made strides, but bigotry still lives

7 pro/con

16 football injuries Nationally, 9 players die

sports

What does the Second Amendment really mean?

18-19 sports profiles

news

Get to know the players on our winter sports teams

8 new sat arrives

20 sports updates

College Board changes popular admissions test

Winter sports teams wrap up seasons

11 all work, no play Students, teachers disagree on what assignments are busy work

features

12-13 cell phone policy Teachers struggle to keep students’ attention

Wingspan The student forum of West Henderson High School is published four times each year by the newspaper journalism class. The purpose of Wingspan is to convey school and community news to the students, faculty, administration and community.

Wingspan content is determined by an editorial board of student editors.

George Tsakalos

4

a&e 22 top picks

Where to look for best bagels in town

23 feathers and talons Staff reviews the best and worst current trends

CHECK US OUT ON WINGSPANONLINE.NET

Wingspan is a Southern Interscholastic Press Association All-Southern, National Scholastic Press Association All-American, Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Medalist and N.C. Scholastic Media Association All-North Carolina and Tar Heel Award publication.

Staff editorials express the opinion

of the editorial board. Columns reflect the opinions of the individual writers.

Circulation is 2,000. Printed by Target Printing & Distribution of Fayetteville, N.C. 28273.

Contact the staff at wingspan@hcpsnc. org. The Wingspan staff also publishes online at wingspanonline.net.

/ MARCH 2016 / 3

4

opinion

West’s principal Dean Jones dances at a 2014 fall school pep rally alongside West’s Dance Team and cheerleaders. Jones retired in January after nine years as the school’s leader.

(Photo by Graham Galloway)

Principal leaves imprint on school by / Caroline Ward / Editor-in-Chief

T

hey say you make some of your best memories in high school, and that high school will be one of the best times of your life.

From the minute I walked in the doors of West as a scared little freshman, I could tell that the people in my new school were having the time of their lives as I looked around me and saw the excitement and involvement of the upperclassmen and the teachers.

I remember the beginning of the year assembly where Principal Jones told us to enjoy every minute because before we knew it, it would be over. Well, that time has come.

My graduating class is now entering our last semester of high school and eagerly waiting for graduation, which at one time felt like it would never come. But when Mr. Jones told us that before we knew it we would be walking across that stage, I don’t think anyone imagined that it wouldn’t be him calling out our names and handing us our diplomas. Our high school memories with Mr. Jones are coming to a close a little sooner than we had imagined.

I think it’s safe to say that Mr. Jones has made sure that the statement “You make some of your best memories in high school” is true for each and every one of us. Mr. Jones was first at West from 1999-2007 as head football coach and returned in 2007 as principal. Nine years later as a tribute to his retirement, the Wingspan staff wanted to share some of the best memories of Mr. Jones.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Every year as winter break approached, Mr. Jones spent the lunch periods dressed up like Santa Claus so groups of students could have their pictures taken with him. Since freshman year, this was a tradition that marked the last few days of school before break.

Do the Nae Nae

At pep rallies, Mr. Jones never failed to get the whole student body on their feet by joining the Dance Team in the middle of the gym. Whenever a new dance craze swept the teenage population at West, Mr. Jones jumped on board, too. He knew how to do a pretty good “Stanky Leg.”

Support for seniors and learning

There have been countless student-made videos where Mr. Jones made a cameo appearance in the background, doing something silly, but always encouraging us to work hard in the classroom. His support for us was never more apparent than on

4 / WINGSPAN /

graduation project jury nights when Mr. Jones spent the evening in the media center passing out peppermints to keep everyone calm, and then high-fiving each and every senior as he or she headed out the door to present their project to a jury of community mentors. When seniors completed their presentations, Mr. Jones was there to congratulate them.

Before the graduation ceremony, Mr. Jones took great joy in joining the seniors in the old gym to shake their hands one last time and congratulate them for earning the diploma that they would soon receive. He sincerely wanted to know what each senior planned for the future, and he spent hours preparing “words of wisdom” that he shared each year at graduation before awarding diplomas.

Singing while directing traffic

Leaving school every day, Mr. Jones was always standing at the top of the hill to make sure we didn’t walk out in front of the buses. He sent students home with a

“Have a good day” and could often be heard humming or singing to himself.

PJ day After four years of begging for PJ day and always being denied, we finally got to have our pajama day this year.

Although Mr. Jones didn’t come to school sporting his pajamas, he walked through the hall smiling and complimenting everyone else’s.

When I remember Mr. Jones, the first thing that comes to my mind is his motto, “Do what’s right, all the time.” After I walk out the doors of West for the last time,

I hope to carry these words about me in everything I do. When I look back fondly at my time in high school, I will remember the man who did so much to make it great for all of us.

Mr. Jones will be missed greatly, but we wish him all the best in his retirement and are excited to welcome Shannon Auten as our new principal.

Staff Editorial:

(Cartoon by Carlie Gillespie)

Bigotry alive in modern-day American society Highlights Of the 5,462 single•bias hate crimes in the United States in 2014, 47 percent were racially motivated.

60 percent of •religious hate crimes are anti-Semitic, followed by antiMuslim religious hate crimes.

48.3 percent of •hate crime victims

were targeted due to race and 18.7 percent were targeted due to sexual orientation. (www.fbi.gov) (www.washingtonpost.com)

B

igotry is alive and well in the United States of America. Each day’s news, including the current political news from the presidential election, brings evidence that there is a sizeable number of American citizens who have an intense aversion to the toleration of people who are different from them or people who simply have different opinions.

Since the beginning of the Obama administration in 2008, it has become more and more evident that the successes of the Civil Rights movement have not rid our country of bigotry. Slurs routinely directed at President Barack Obama, our first African-American president, show the racism that runs rampant in American culture.

Sexism has been shown in the insult of “bitch” and other unprintable slurs directed toward presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Individuals have gone to Twitter to suggest she could never be president because she’s a grandmother and has female hormones — while the 12 male presidents who were grandfathers and the seven who had affairs while in office never faced the same kind of criticism.

In Dec. 2015, Donald Trump announced that he, if elected president, would bar all Muslims from coming to the United States. This is not only unconstitutional, but Islamophobic

and incredibly bigoted. The cheers he got for announcing this plan in a South Carolina rally showed just how close to home this bigotry is. Recently, Trump refused to disavow an endorsement by David Duke and his hate group, the Ku Klux Klan.

Closer to home, bigotry has been on display. In their desire for the “good ol’ days,” some of our neighbors have made public their hatred for those different from themselves.

Recent controversies at two separate schools, Lake Lure Classical Academy and Brevard High School, provide evidence.

In November 2015, Lake Lure Classical Academy banned all school clubs because of a community wide dispute over a new Gay/Straight Alliance organization. Parents, community members and churches alike came out against the school for allowing students to form the club, and the school temporarily shut down all student organizations. They were eventually reinstated with a few new rules, but the question still remains — what would ever lead them to become so upset about something that doesn’t affect them that they’d want to shut down a club?

Around the same time, WLOS reported that racial bullying had become a major serious problem at Brevard High School. The bullying claim was made by student Marlon Cruell, and

classmates and his father believe that it stems from a racial divide found at that school.

These are the issues that point to bigotry, the same bigotry that we thought our society had overcome after desegregation and the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationally.

Bigotry is seen in the whines of people who are upset that their rights are being infringed upon because other people are gaining the same rights they have always had. They are longing for the days where families sat around the table each night. The same days that a woman’s place was in the kitchen with an apron tied around her waist. The same days that African-Americans were living in fear of beatings, lynchings and the KKK. Days when white men were still in charge of everything.

The truth is, the good ol’ days weren’t that good if you weren’t a middle or upper class white man. Even if they had been good, they are long gone. People who have been oppressed deserve their rights, and their rights rarely affect the lives of those who are so vehemently opposed. So here’s a word of advice: get over it, mind your own business and adjust to the fact that it’s not all about you. Our country is making progress. It’s about time to realize the simple truth. Other people deserve rights, too.

/ MARCH 2016 / 5

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Does U.S. need more gun control laws?

PRO:

The Second Amendment was meant to protect the right of citizens to form militias in case of attack. That’s a far cry from how it is interpreted today. It states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The Founding Fathers wanted the states to be able to protect themselves and have a way to overthrow the government if it got too big or too overbearing like the government of England had been. The entire Constitution was put in place in order to protect the people from an by / Carlie Gillespie overpowering government.

In recent years, the United States has taken it farther than that. According to dosomething.org, there are approximately 270 million guns possessed by civilians in America. That’s enough guns for every American adult to own a gun. That is far more than the population needs to form militias.

The number of guns in America has gotten out of control. According to The Washington Post, the average gun owner owned eight guns in 2013. Anyone can get them, and do anything they want with them. Even people on the no-fly list, the Transportation Security Administration’s list of potential terrorists, can have access to guns.

The number of shootings in America is staggering. Gunviolencearchive.org reports that 49,074 gun violence incidents happened between December 2014 and December 2015. More than 12,400 people involved in those incidents died. On Dec. 2, 14 people lost their lives in a shooting in San Bernardino, California. During this accident, terrorists Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik were able to get firearms through a friend, Enrique Marquez, who is now being held in a mental health ward.

The United States leads the world in total number of mass shootings. Although it has a lower gun homicide rate than South American countries, The Washington Post reported that the United States has a far higher gun homicide rate than Europe, Canada, India and Australia.

The United States should be better than that. Children should not have to be taught how to survive school shootings. Children should not have to know that pretending to be dead will increase their chances of survival. Teaching children how to react when an armed intruder enters their school is not the answer; a reform in federal gun laws is.

Should every American adult own a gun? Before answering, think about the state of our world today. One in 35 adults in America is incarcerated. According to nami. org, one in every 25 adults has a serious mental illness that “limits or interferes with one or more major life activities.”

No one is saying guns should be illegal, but it should not be so easy to get a gun.

More mandatory background checks and mental health screenings are a start, but the most dangerous of criminals can get their guns by side-stepping these safety measures and stealing guns. The infamous “gun show loophole” allowing small volume gun sellers to not keep records of their gunsales and not do background checks is a problem. The sheer number of guns in America is our downfall. No individual needs more than two, definitely not eight or nine. If we want to keep our country safe, that needs to change.

CON:

The Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America states that “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Recent shootings have spurred on talk among politicians and American citizens about the best way to react. More gun control has become a popular idea. However, it should be recognized that such measures not only would violate our rights but would also be counterproductive. The most by / Rachel Raasch obvious argument is that if you ban the citizen’s right to own a gun, the good, law abiding people of our country will be defenseless to the criminals who disregard these laws and possess fire power. Home invasions have been prevented by homeowners who own guns and know how to use them to protect their property.

According to procon.org, a study done in 2013 found that “weapon bans did not significantly affect murder rates at the state level and states with restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons had higher gun-related murders. While gun ownership doubled in the 20th century, the murder rate decreased.” Additionally, a Pew Research Survey in 2014 found that “57 percent of people believe that owning a gun protects them from being victimized.”

We have the innate right to defend ourselves. No one should be allowed to attack us, and we certainly shouldn’t be the one’s allowing it to happen. Some may argue that the Second Amendment was only intended to be applied to militias. Our Founding Fathers understood the pull of power. They wanted to guarantee that if there was ever a time where the government grew out of control, we would have the power to defend ourselves against the government.

The militia would fight for the people as opposed to the military which would fight for the government. There could come a time when it becomes our duty, not as American citizens, but as human beings to stand up for our rights. We revolted against Britain so that we could protect these rights; we should not allow them to be taken away from us. Currently in North Carolina, there is a 30-day waiting period to obtain a concealed carry permit. A convicted felon cannot own a handgun or any gun with a barrel less than 18 inches long or has an overall length of less than 26 inches within five years of either his or her conviction or termination of sentence.

It is illegal for an unlawful user of drugs, a fugitive from justice, a person deemed by the court to be mentally incompetent and an illegal alien to own a firearm.

I am not arguing against any safety measures being enacted. Obviously, something needs to be done, but removing citizens’ ability to protect themselves in the middle of these violent times is nothing but counterproductive.

I propose increased and more intensive background checks. We need to be aware of who is getting weapons, not abolishing them altogether. The fact of the matter is, if criminals want to commit crimes, they will find a way regardless of state or federal laws. We can’t prevent crime altogether, but we can learn to protect ourselves. Taking away our constitutionally endowed rights and our innate rights as human beings to protect ourselves will not stop that. We should be fighting for education and regulation, not promoting fear and making hasty judgments.

Meaning of second amendment debated

What do you think?

“They (gun laws) keep our community safe, and we should have them. If we didn’t, anyone could get guns, and it would be an unsafe environment for all of us.”

— Lacey Cagle, 9

“I don’t think they should ban guns because guns are for your safety. People use guns to survive. I don’t think they should ban them.

I think they should have checks to find out if buyers are responsible enough.”

— Jordan Cantrell, 9

“Everybody should have guns because they need a way to protect themselves.

No one should ever be banned from having a gun to stand up for themselves.

They need a gun to protect themselves.”

— Larissa Cooper, 11

/ MARCH 2016 / 7

news President proposes testing changes to affect students and teachers by / Dhuru Patel / News Editor

T

he SAT, ACT, APEX, WorkKeys, PSAT, PLAN, English II EOC, Math II EOC and Biology EOC. The list goes on and on as these are just some of the tests that students are required to take during their time in high school.

President Barack Obama and his administration recently urged states to implement guidelines that would limit standardized testing to only 2 percent of the total instructional time.

“Learning is about so much more than filling in the right bubble,” Obama said in a video posted on Facebook, “so we’re going to work with states, school districts, teachers and parents to make sure that we’re not obsessing about testing.”

Obama said that tests need to be high quality, a limited part of the curriculum and just one measurement of a student’s progress. Currently, teachers are under pressure by the school systems to make sure students do well on standardized tests instead of making sure students learn at their own pace.

“This is a positive thing for students and teachers.

We have gone too far in emphasizing testing to where it’s dominating our instructional time,” Dana Ferrell, an English teacher at West, said. “I think we would all appreciate getting back to just straight up teaching and learning.”

Many students and teachers like the idea of standardized tests having less of an impact on students and the school. These changes would create differences in the way that students and schools are evaluated.

“I still have no question that we need to check at least once a year to make sure our kids are on track or identify areas where they need support,” the former

New principal named Assistant Principal Shannon Auten became principal on Feb. 1.

Former Principal Dean Shannon Auten Jones retired after 28 years in public education.

Jones held several positions

8 / WINGSPAN /

PUT to the TEST Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said to The New York Times. “But I can’t tell you how many conversations I’m in with educators who are understandably stressed and concerned about an overemphasis on testing in some places and how much time testing and test prep are taking from instruction.”

In the Henderson County Public Schools, the total instructional time that each school has is 1080 hours per school year. Currently, the average hours spent taking standardized testing varies by grade level, but averages between 18-25 hours. Juniors at West take about 24 hours of testing per year, bringing the percentage to 2.2 percent, just above Obama’s target.

Major teachers’ unions are behind the changes that Obama is proposing, including the American Federation of Teachers.

“The fixation on high-stakes testing hasn’t moved the needle on student achievement,” Randi Weingarten, president of the union, said to CNN. “Testing should help inform instruction, not drive instruction. We need to get back to focusing on the whole child — teaching our kids to build relationships, how to be resilient and how to act

in public education, including positions at Murphy High School, Flat Rock Middle School, East Henderson High School and then finally West where he became the head football coach in 1999. He was named principal in 2007.

“In my educational career this is the one place I fell in love with,” Jones said. “The most rewarding thing was to see student success.”

Auten has been working in the Henderson County Public Schools for nine years. She started at West as a coach and school guidance counselor and became assistant principal in 2011.

“I’m really excited because it’s a great opportunity,” Auten said. “I am going to have some tough shoes to fill. This is the school where I started, and I’m excited to continue here.”

critically.”

With standardized tests not being the sole gauge of a student’s progress, teachers can be less stressed about them. In turn, more time could be spent improving a child’s critical thinking and creativity.

“As a teacher I use the results from benchmarks and EOC’s to help clarify and focus on difficult topics,” Cari Kennedy, instructional and technology facilitator and testing coordinator at West said. “The results from standardized tests show students and teachers where their weakest areas are.”

Standardized test scores show a student’s proficiency in a subject and compare them to other students. They also show a student’s growth over time. These scores can also be used for the entire school and show the average student proficiency, growth and areas for improvement throughout a particular school.

“I don’t mind taking standardized tests because they are a good gauge of where you are in school and how well you’re doing,” sophomore Hunter Koch said. “I feel like we don’t take too many tests at school because we only take them two times a year at the end of each semester.”

Mock Trial Teams compete

West’s two Mock Trial Teams competed at the N.C. Advocates for Justice Mock Trial Team competition for the western district at the Buncombe County Courthouse in February.

The team of seniors Ari Sen, Leah Dorn and Alexis Whiteside and sophomores Hunter Koch, Benjamin Pruitt, Conner Awald and Casey Brewer competed in the finals, but lost.

Dorn received two best attorney awards, Sen won a best attorney award, senior Jonah VanDoren from the second team won a best attorney award and senior Ethan Stepp from the second team won a best witness award.

Art awards announced

Senior Annalyse Wilkins and junior Hannah Wieman won awards in this year’s Scholastic

FAST FACTS Old SAT

•Maximum Score: 2400

•Median Score: 1500 • Time: 3 hours, 45 minutes

• Sections: Reading, writing, math and a mandatory essay

Test it out

• Guessing Penalty: 1/4 point

• Answer Choices: 5

New SAT in place for juniors taking exam this spring by / Sofia Molina / Feature Editor

I

n the middle of the reading portion of the November SAT administration, junior Zach Godwin found himself confused.

“What possible use is there for words like byzantine?” he thought to himself.

As he came across more obscure vocabulary, Godwin questioned how applicable the contents of the test were.

“There were some words that were just ridiculous,” Godwin said. “They weren’t words I had ever heard or ever will hear again, and there’s no point in them being on a test. Unless I’m planning to major in English, I don’t think I’m ever going to need words like that.”

This wasn’t the first time the relevance of the SAT has been questioned. Criticism of the test has been going since it was introduced in 1926. Since then, the SAT has changed and grown to accommodate the educational standards of the best colleges and universities in the country. The biggest

Regional Art Competition.

Wilkins was awarded two silver keys and an honorable mention. Wieman was awarded two honorable mentions.

Talent show auditions

Auditions for the talent show sponsored by Arts for Individuals will be on April 21.

The talent show is planned for May 20.

changes to the SAT, however, are yet to come.

The College Board changed the content of the test this spring in an attempt to address some of the criticism.

One of the long-standing criticisms on the old SAT was that students from wealthier households did better on the exam because they could afford expensive test preparations.

The College Board sought to eliminate this possibility by partnering with the nonprofit Khan Academy to provide free test preparation materials for the new SAT. They extended this effort to assist low-income households by adding the opportunity for income-eligible students to receive four fee waivers to apply for colleges.

“I feel like the worst part was actually the math,” sophomore Shannon Sellers said.

“Not because it was hard, but because there are a lot of questions and we didn’t have enough time to work them out. There was a lot of stuff on there that I hadn’t learned yet, and I had taken all the maths up to precalc and AP Statistics, and I still didn’t know it.”

FFA members compete

Eight FFA members recently competed in a dairy cattle judging contest in Raleigh.

The junior team won 10 out of 53 dairy handling competitions and the senior team won 32 out of 68 competitions.

Music programs compete

Both the West’s Concert Band and Wind Ensemble competed on March 15 Fri. March

The new SAT has several major changes.

The math focused heavily on linear and polynomial algebra with the basics of geometry, trigonometry and statistics and be based more on conceptual understanding.

The essay will be optional. The reading will contain more relevant “great texts” or texts that are considered to be literary classics and the vocabulary section will include fewer obscure words.

The biggest change will be the scoring and penalty systems. The scoring will change from 2400-point scale back to a 1600-point scale. The one-fourth point penalty that was implemented to discourage guessing and the fifth answer choice will be removed in the new test.

“I like that you don’t get any deductions for answering incorrectly because, in the old test, I felt like I needed to make sure that I answered enough so that it would balance out,” junior Chloe Biggs said. “It was hard to find the right amount to guess on and the right amount to leave blank.”

at the Western District Bandmasters Music Performance Assesment (MPA) competition at Smoky Mountain High School on March 15.

The Concert Band earned an excellent rating and the wind ensemble earned a superior rating at the competition.

Both the wind ensemble and the concert band performed three pieces. The concert band played “Spirals of Light” by Sean

O’Loughlin, “Mountain Country Dances” by Jonnie Vinson and “Project March” by Harold Bennett. The wind ensemble performed “The Orange Bowl March” by Henry Fillmore “Pale Blue on Deep” by Aaron Perrine and “Original Suite” by Gordon Jacobs.

The band will perform their spring concert on May 19.

The orchestra program preformed for the Music Perfor-

New SAT

• Maximum Score: 1600

• Median Score: 1000 • Time: 3 Hours, 50 minutes

• Sections: Reading

and writing (together), math, optional essay

• Guessing penalty: none

• Answer Choices: 4 http://sat.ivyglobal.com/new-vs-old mance Adjudications on March 18 in Charlotte. The orchestra will have their Spring Concert on May 16.

Band members competed for the all-district band at on Jan. 28. Students who qualified included Tino Mangone, Connor Miller, Nick Baker, Vito Bell, Brian Arden, Jonah VanDoren, David Olvera, Carolina Herrera, Rebecca Davenport, Conner Awald and Sarah Gosnell.

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10 / WINGSPAN /

What is busywork?

What teachers say...

All Work, No Play

“If I’m going to give them busywork, I would rather just put on a movie. I don’t assign bookwork [or] reading out of the chapters.”

— Devon Lategan, Biology “There is a place for book work as part of the overall lesson structure, but it has got to be used in an appropriate way.”

— Frank Gerard, Civics and Economics

What students say...

“Busywork is a worksheet that teachers give us that is too easy where we all know how to do it, and it is just to take up time.”

— Cammi Ochs, 10 “For the most part, the busywork I get in class is like coloring sheets and math worksheets that are basically puzzles.”

— Mary Catherine Ball, 11

Students and teachers disagree on ‘busywork’ by / Amber Detwiler / Feature Writer

G

rudgingly, the first period English III class took out their more than 100 written-response questions, some wondering why these questions were important.

Social studies and English teacher Angela Perry, handed a stack of Huckleberry Finn paperbacks to the first person in each row and then watched them pass back the novels. The students flipped through the 44-chapter book, searching for the answer to one of the questions.

While some of her students considered the assignment to be “busywork,” Perry believed the questions were necessary for her students to understand details about the plot, characters and themes in the classic work.

The dictionary defines “busywork” as “work that usually appears productive or of intrinsic value but actually only keeps one occupied.” Students and teachers rarely agree on which assignments fit that definition. “(Busywork) is something that the teacher gives you so they don’t have to teach as much,” junior Mara Shook said.

“The teacher probably thinks that it connects to the lesson and the student might think there is no reason in doing it.”

Math teacher Theresa Caldwell has noticed the differences between student and teacher perceptions of busywork. “(Students) think that busywork is

when we (teach) without standing up in front of them, telling them step-by-step how to do every problem,” Caldwell said.

“As teachers, we think that busywork is more of ‘I have other stuff to do. I just need to keep them occupied.’”

Although their definitions of busywork differed, Perry, Caldwell and Shook all categorized one type of assignment as busywork: worksheets.

“To me, worksheets are busywork,” Perry said. “By worksheets I mean sheets that have just been copied, sheets that just ask for basic information.”

Sophomore, Regina Babor, considers the amount of written assignments, specifically worksheets, to be excessive in some classes. She feels that she learns more when teachers provide hands-on assignments.

“Right now, the entire weight of my book bag is all papers from biology,” Babor said. “There is a stack about three inches high. We do hands-on activities, but there is just way too much paper.”

Student-led learning is more beneficial to students than when the teacher is the facilitator, Perry believes.

“Students think that anything that they are doing where the teacher is not actively in front of them, force-feeding them information, is busywork. And of course it’s not,” Perry said. “Studies in secondary education, in primary education as well, say that students learn by doing. One of the worst things for

students is when a teacher stands up in front of a classroom doing nothing all day but a Powerpoint or lecture.”

In Caldwell’s opinion, different classes require different teaching styles.

From her experience, she feels that math classes are better taught with the use of repetitive processes, while literature and writing classes require more discussions and student-led learning.

“When I have my students doing repetitive types of problems, it is so they become familiar with the process, and it becomes second-nature,” Caldwell said. “Once you learn a process, it never changes, regardless of whether you are in Math I, simple-step equations, or solving trigonometric equations in Math III.” Though it is not necessarily her preferred learning-style, Babor feels repetition is often mischaracterized as busywork. She said the repetitive process of Powerpoints, worksheets and assignments that cover the same material are all teaching methods.

“It’s like in the third grade when we had the multiplication tables,” Babor said. “You had to write them so many times until you got it.”

Perry said students sometimes use the label of ‘busywork’ as an excuse for cheating. She feels the cause of this misinterpretation can sometimes be attributed to students not understanding when to collaborate and when to do the work on their own.

/ MARCH 2016 / 11

feature

Cell phone policy not stopping use at school by / Bryn Bowen / Staff Writer

M

ath teacher Jodie Baker was teaching her class a new lesson involving statistical probability. She was busy writing examples on the board for the students. When she turned around she realized her class was much more interested in the phones sitting in their laps than in her calculations on the board. How did she know? The phone screens were shining light on her students’ faces.

“Students are on their phones too much,” freshman Katie King said. “School is where we sit down and learn, and if you’re on your phone, you’re not getting the information you need.”

The school agenda states that electronic devices may not be used between 7:50 a.m. and the final bell except during lunch or with a teacher’s permission. Students are not allowed to use devices during class changes.

Yet anywhere in school students have their phones on.

Whether it’s in the hallways during class changes, in the media center or in classrooms, their phones are glued to their hands.

“I think phones are very useful when we are allowed to use them, but when teachers say that you can’t use them, they become a really big distraction,” King said. “You can’t monitor what people do on their phones unless you’re breathing down their necks and there’s only one teacher for every 30 kids.”

A number of students and teachers agree that students are not following cell phone rules. According to a Wingspan survey of more than 400 students, 86 percent of students said the cell phone policy is not followed.

“Students don’t follow the cell phone rules,” junior Rebecca Davenport said. “In class they’re texting or watching videos and the teachers don’t usually do anything about it.”

Some students think the cell phone rules aren’t working because of lack of enforcement. There are teachers who are more lenient than others on the use of devices.

“I don’t think a lot of people get in trouble for their phones,” freshman Kaitlyn Collins said. “My teacher will say put your phone up, but I think they are used and people don’t get in trouble for it.”

Cell phones can be a major distraction in class. Students often use their phones in class to text, go on Instagram and Twitter or Snapchat their friends.

“In class I think it’s so easy to be on a device,” King said.

“If they don’t put it in their lap, they put it next to their hip. If they’re not facing the teacher or if the teacher is in the back of the room, it’s so easy for the teacher not to see.”

When students are focused on their phone in class, they

12 / WINGSPAN /

BY THE NUMBERS

84% 86%

of students use their phones to do homework and classwork do not believe that students follow the school’s cell phone rules

23% 31% 36% spend one to two hours on their phone per day

spend three to four hours on their phone per day

spend more than 5 hours per day on their phone

28%12% 39% 21% use their use their phone to phone complete most at their home- school for work classwork

use their phone most at school for social media

use their phone most at school for texting

(Based on a Wingspan survey of 425 students)

may be missing information being taught that would help them understand the subject and do well on tests, including the state final exams at the end of the semester.

“Students should be allowed to use their phones at school if they are working on school-related activities,” Baker said.

“They shouldn’t be using them for Instagram and Snapchat.”

Teachers and administrators have to deal with students not following the cell phone rules daily. Consequences of violating the cell phone rules are confiscation of the device and In School Suspension (ISS), according to the student agenda.

“I would say we have several students each week,” Shannon Auten, assistant principal, said. “I think it’s a fantastic learning tool, but it can also be a major distraction when you’re not using it as a learning tool.”

Some teachers are using creative ways to keep phones

from interfering with learning. Vanessa Price, a social studies teacher, has what she calls a cell phone jail. A gray box with the words “Cell Lock-up” on the top and prison bars on it sits on a desk next to the door.

“When I see a student’s cell phone, the first thing I ask them to do is put it up,” Price said. “If I ask them to put it up again, I’ll take it from them and put it in the cell phone jail.”

Some teachers also use phones as an educational tool in class.

“We use phones for academic purposes regularly,” science teacher Kathleen Abraham said. “We also use phones for review games, interactive tutorials and webquests. I even use my phone to scan quizzes.”

Phones are now being used more in schools across the country. Many students use their devices to work on homework and class assignments.

“My science teacher does our homework online,” Collins said. “Every day I do my homework on my computer and phone.”

With more technological advances happening all the time, there is the possibility of schools having to allow phones more.

Cell phone rules in the future could possibly be more lenient regarding the use of devices.

“It’s probably going to be less strict in the future,” Davenport said. “We are starting to use technology more in the classroom, and next year we may have the Chromebooks to use at school.”

On the other hand, some people think schools could start making the personal device rules stricter.

“I think they’ll try to make it more strict,” King said. “It’s just not going to work because it’s going to be easier to access technology than it is today.”

There are already schools who have completely banned phones. New York City public schools have lifted their ban, but other school systems have kept the bans.

“It will probably be stricter because every kid has a phone in their hands,” Collins said. “It’s going to get more strict as technology advances.”

While students are sometimes allowed to use devices in class, they are used more often for reasons not related to school. Phones can be useful in class; however, students and teachers agree that when students do not follow the cell phone rules it can become an issue.

“I think the rules are very reasonable,” King said. “But because they are so reasonable, it is very easy to get around them.”

National survey finds students spend more time on devices than in class by / Kendall Owens & Charlotte Grush /

E

very morning he goes through the same routine. He wakes up, gets out of bed and showers. As soon as he walks downstairs, he immediately pulls his phone out of his pocket. He checks his Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

He eats breakfast, and as he finishes, he checks Twitter and Tumblr. While riding on the bus to school, he puts his earphones in, turns up the volume and browses Tumblr and, on occasion, Reddit.

This may sound a bit exaggerated to some, but surprisingly this is not uncommon for the average teenager today.

According to the New York Times, teenagers spend an average of nine hours a day on technology. This number includes more than using cell phones; it also includes playing video games, listening to music and watching movies in and out of class.

“Technology has made everything a little faster paced.

I think it has changed our definition of time and how time works,” Ariel Croom, an AT&T sales associate said. “Everything is so fast. Before, if you wanted to learn something, you had to read a whole book to find it. Now you can just Google something really quick, and it will pop up. It changes study times, it changes work-related things — for school, writing papers and things like that. Writing a speech, you can just talk in your phone and it will write your whole speech for you, so you don’t have to sit down and write it all out.”

According for the New York Times the majority of technology use by teenagers can be labeled as passive consumption.

Passive consumption takes up about 40 percent of technology use and encompasses listening to music, watching television and reading books online or on a mobile device.

“I listen to music while doing homework because it helps me focus,” sophomore Jocelyn Berry said. “I feel like music is an important thing to be able to have because if you are stressed out or you need to take your mind off of things, you can listen to music and get refocused.”

Passive consumption is where technology is involved most in the classroom. This could mean watching a documentary,

using a device to look up information, or taking notes from a PowerPoint shown in class.

“We incorporate technology every day,” Suzanne Green, multimedia and webpage design teacher, said. “We use PCs in here. We will also do things off of the SmartBoard. Students will use different devices that include phones and tablets or some even use MacBooks in class, too. ”

“

Technology has made everything a little faster paced. I think it has changed our definition of time and how time works.

— Ariel Croom AT&T Sales Associate

”

Students spend almost an equal amount of time using technology for interactive consumption or active consumption. Interactive consumption involves playing games and browsing websites online while consumption is characterized by social media, video chatting and texting.

“Social media is very important. A lot of people like it because you can be social with people who you would never meet otherwise,” Berry said. “You could meet someone from California if you live in North Carolina or you can get in touch

with people who move away. You can see other people’s lives and what is important to them. Even though we don’t talk face-to-face as much, we know more about people by the way we use social media, specifically our pictures and our posts.”

According to the Pew Research Center, 92 percent of all teenagers report going online every day, and as many as 24 percent report being online almost constantly. Of the teenagers studied, ages 13 to 17, only 12 percent reported going online only once a day.

“Black teenagers spend more time with media than other ethnic groups,” a study from “The Big Story” found — “an average of 11 hours and 13 minutes each day. Latinos spend just over nine hours and whites eight hours, 48 minutes.”

Green feels that advancements in technology have caused people to lose skills they previously were taught. Now students grow up learning basic computer commands.

“When I first started 15 years ago, we had to teach a lot of typing skills and keyboarding skills. Those have gone away,” Green said. “Now students come in, most of the time knowing how to do most of those things already. I’ve got an almost 5 year old who has grown up using an iPad, using a phone, using a desktop computer. He can do a lot more than I would ever imagine that he would be able to do at this age. So growing up using the devices, I think students are a step ahead.”

When using technology, students tend to prefer social media over browsing websites. The most popular social media apps according to Pew Research are Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Google+. Other popular social media outlets are Vine and Tumblr.

Teenagers are often on their phones during school on these websites but in the future the school may provide Chromebooks instead of textbooks.

“It will really benefit classes with being able to do that extra research,” Green said. “There are so many apps on the ChromeBooks, kind of a little bit of everything for all subjects.” here on campus.”

The Chromebooks will be used as an alternative to textbooks in the upcoming school year.

/ MARCH 2016 / 13

feature

A student rummages through various clothing items collected by West’s faculty to help students. Teachers at the school collect items such as clothing and school supplies to give to students in need. (photo by Caroline Ward)

School system, school provide help for homeless by / Nolan Singer and Graham Neve /

H

e was having trouble accepting the fact that his dad had just left the family, but he was also struggling to help his mother support his siblings. If the minimum wage job she had wasn’t supporting them, then it certainly wasn’t going to cover the car repair.

Moving in with their uncle didn’t seem too farfetched. This hypothetical situation might seem extreme, but it is a growing reality for students attending the Henderson County Public Schools.

There are more than a dozen students at West who classify as “homeless.” The term “homeless” can mean a variety of things. In order to be classified as homeless, a student must be in need of a regular, fixed or adequate home.

“Here at West, homeless students are a minority,” Lea Putnam, junior guidance counselor, said. At any given time, we have about 14 to 20 students who are either couch surfing or living in a shelter or car — pretty much anything but living in a home.”

According to Frank Edney, HCPS’s homeless education administrator, school systems generally underestimate the number of homeless students.

“So realistically from what we have been told, if we have 320 (homeless students in Henderson County) on our case load, the cases really should be more than 400 or 500,” Edney said.

Experiencing homelessness presents special problems for students.

“I don’t see how a homeless student could get homework done,” freshman Sean Sullivan said. “I’d have to imagine that they probably don’t have a computer to work with or maybe even a stable environment to do homework in.”

When homeless students have to work hard daily to survive, school become less of a priority. However, their

Homeless Students Homeless students are four times more likely to show delayed delevelopment and twice as likely to have a learning disability

Out of the 50 states, North Carolina is ranked 29th for child homelessness.

2,483,539 children in the United States experienced homelessness in 2013, making the year a historic high in homeless numbers for children (www.familyhomelessness.org/ and new.homelesschildrenamerica.org)

work effort frequently overcomes the difficulties that they are experiencing, Edney said.

“We don’t see a lot of differences academically as far as their being way behind. Where it does show a difference is the end-of-grade testing, so it is like the day-to-day they seem to keep up pretty well,” said Susan McKenzie, who works with Edney.

According to www.wsws.org, the percentage of homeless students in the United States increased by 10 percent in 2013 alone, to more than one million students. Despite the growing population, the personnel at West try to help meet the needs of homeless students.

“Here at school we keep a pretty big collection of goods in case a student tells us that he or she might need something like a sleeping bag, toiletries or even food,” Putnam said. “Students may need food if they’re couch surfing, so that they don’t have to borrow food from the person they’re staying with.”

At West, homeless students tend to blend in, Putnam said, but homeless students in bigger cities often face problems like bullying.

“I think a lot of kids try — they just want to fit in — and they don’t really want a lot of people to know that they are homeless, but we keep it confidential,” Edney said.

There programs and organizations that homeless students can be involved with to get help.

“Here at West, we do the Angel Tree, where students or families in need can apply and get help from the school for Christmas presents,” Putnam said. “Or they could get a gift card to wherever they may need clothes from.”

About 27 percent of Henderson County’s homeless students do not have a legal guardian and about 7 percent experience domestic violence, Edney said.

Affordable housing is the biggest determining factor in Henderson County. When someone qualifies for a house, they often have to wait a long time for a voucher.

Edney and McKenzie follow the McKinney-Vento Act, federal guidelines for homeless education. The law seeks to make sure homeless students stay in school and receive the support that they need.

“There is not a typical homeless situation, but we have a tradition of having teachers that are really compassionate about students when they know,” Edney said.

14 / WINGSPAN /

GIVE & TAKE Popular charities face criticism by / Valeka Ramakis / Staff Writer

S

ophomore Autumn WongChong rummaged through her closet pulling out all the clothes she didn’t wear anymore. She folded and placed them into an old cardboard box, ready to take them to Goodwill.

WongChong had just packed an old Camp Tekoa T-shirt and jeans three sizes too small when she remembered what her mother had told her about a Goodwill story in the news. She wondered if she should really be donating her clothes to the popular charity.

WLOS recently reported that Goodwill pays its disabled employees less than minimum wage. Nationally, this is affecting more than 300,000 Goodwill employees, according to Huffington Post. Another criticism of Goodwill in the WLOS investigation involved the use of Goodwill profits to award college scholarships to board members’ children.

“I don’t think that it’s right that they go through all the trouble just to get the certificate to pay disabled employees less for something they can’t help,” WongChong said. “If they are working just as hard as anyone else, then it’s just unfair to pay them less.”

Along with Goodwill, there has recently been a controversy about another charity, The Salvation Army.

The organization has been accused of not serving the LGBT community and discriminating against teenage boys.

A boy in Tennessee was rejected en-

try to a Salvation Army shelter because he was too old to sleep on the women’s side, but he was too young to sleep on the men’s side. A letter addressing the issues the Christian charity has had with the LGBT community says, “Leadership roles in denominational activities such as teaching or holding local officer roles require certain adherence to consistently held spiritual beliefs. This would apply to any conduct inconsistent with Salvation Army beliefs and would include same-sex sexual relationships.”

At Christmas time area residents see the Salvation Army’s red buckets and bell ringers outside of businesses.

The spare change does go to the Salvation Army, but not many people know how it is being used or what the charity may represent.

“Gays need to be put to death,” is one of the things included in the Salvationist Handbook of Doctrine. It mentions many chapters that speak of the “sin of homosexuality.”

The Salvation Army backs up their actions by saying that in Romans 1:18-32 it mentions that homosexuals “deserved to die.”

Another charity that impacts West students, Angel Tree, is an organization that works to help the less fortunate in local communities. This program provides clothes and toys to children and teenagers in the community that would otherwise not get anything for Christmas.

West has been participating in Angel Tree projects for more than 20 years

by providing gift cards at Christmas to disadvantaged students. A local group recently criticized the school’s project as “a waste of time and money.”

“They had some good points like the one about our students’ parents just signing up so they could take the money and the kids wouldn’t even be able to use it. I thought that was a valid reason,” WongChong said.

One criticism of the school’s Angel Tree project was that the parents could take WalMart gift cards given to the students for other purposes.

“They don’t know anything for sure,” WongChong said. “They’re just making assumptions about the children’s parents. Unless they have proof that this is actually happening, then they have no right to say we should stop funding something we’ve been doing for 20 years.”

Today it is sometimes difficult to know where charitable gifts are going.

People are giving their clothing and other items to organizations like Goodwill and the Salvation Army, but then are later finding out they are donating to organizations that hold beliefs they may not agree with.

“At first I didn’t know about Goodwill paying their disabled employees less until you just told me,” sophomore Sophia Walker said. “But now that I know I feel differently about giving money to people who believe that it’s humane to discriminate against people because of a disability they were born with, and they can’t help.”

How do Falcons give back?

“I volunteer at Saint Gerard’s Catholic School for children with special needs. I like watching them grow and learn new things. It makes me feel good to watch them be happy.”

— Maili Hernandez, 10

“Rugby did the musical Xanadu in November and Mrs. (Heather) Denton asked me to come back and direct. I liked doing it because it made me feel good that she wanted me to come back and help her.”

— Travis Pressley, 9

“I volunteer with Steps of Courage, which is a shelter that helps house people who are victims of domestic abuse. I really like volunteering because it’s helping people that wouldn’t ordinarily get the help that they need.”

— Alexis Whiteside, 12

/ MARCH 2016 / 15

feature

Get your

HEAD in the game

Seniors Stephen Perron and Davis Fisher and juniors Alex Browning and Devon Stepp stand for the coin toss at West’s game against Smoky Moutain. “I love the sport and know the dangers of playing, but by trying to take head contact out of the game, the game can only get safer,” Perron said. (photo by Ralph Raesemann)

Increase in deaths prompts questions about safety of football by / Emily Mertz / Staff Writer

T

yrell Cameron, a 16-year-old at Franklin Parish High School in Louisiana, walked onto the football field for a game against Sterlington High School. All he could think about was catching the ball and picking up as many yards as possible. He never imagined he wouldn’t be able to walk off the field.

During the punt return, Cameron got hit hard and had to be wheeled off the field and rushed to the hospital.

He died a few hours later from internal bleeding.

“That’s your worst fear as a coach,” West’s Assistant Football Coach Jason Livingston said. “We do everything in our power to prevent that from happening.”

During last fall’s high school football season, there were nine deaths among high school players nationwide.

They were primarily caused by hits that resulted in internal bleeding and broken necks.

Protective gear is important in football. If the gear does not work, the player can be injured or even killed.

West’s football coaches have to take an online concussion course before each season. They also make sure that the parents are well aware of the risks that come with playing football. Parents have to sign a form and sit through an informational meeting.

“We do a parent meeting before each season where we educate the parents on the risks involved in athletics,” Livingston said. “Concussions are at the forefront now.”

16 / WINGSPAN /

On the sidelines of West’s games last fall, an athletic trainer checked on the players if they were hit. If the trainer observed a hard hit, he would pull the player aside and check on him.

“He checks if he sees a big hit or if we’re walking off the field weird,” junior varsity player Jacob Burnette said.

“If we’re stumbling or a little bit woozy, he’ll check on us.”

If the trainer has to pull a player to check on him there are certain guidelines that he follows. The players are told to get as much sleep as possible and to eat healthy foods to help the brain heal.

Once the player has no more symptoms, he begins a process to return to play.

“I’ve had some athletes that had a concussion and they see a doctor, and two days later they’re perfectly fine so we’d return them to play right then,” athletic trainer Andrew Patterson said. “No matter what, the minimum time to a full return is about a week, but the time can vary depending on the severity of the injury.”

When there are nine deaths in high school football this season alone, parents are bound to be worried with this extra pressure. The thrill of being a “football mom” comes with feelings of fear and concern.

Stephanie Guffey, mother of offensive lineman Jared Guffey, became emotional when she heard about all the deaths in high school football.

“He wants to play. He’s in God’s hands, and all I can do is hope for the best and pray that he will be fine,”

Guffey said. “I can’t see not letting him play because he could get hurt.”

Senior Tanner Bullock has had multiple concussions in his 13 years of playing football.

“At Franklin my head was just pounding, but I ended up having a good game,” Bullock said. “I literally thought I was going to die. I was scared to walk back on the field.”

There’s talk in the National Football League about taking out certain elements of the game, including the kickoff return. If this were done, there could be fewer injuries in the game itself.

“In the NFL, they are talking about doing away with kickoff returns. That’s where a lot of people take these massive blows to the head,” Livingston said.

For many players and coaches the game is more than playing on a football field. It teaches them life lessons about teamwork. What happens on the field could not only end the game, but end their own life.

“Short term dangers of concussions are brain bleeds.

Long term dangers of concussions include CTE,” Patterson said. “CTE is brain damage that can affect mood, concentration, and lead to other types of diseases from having multiple head traumas.”

Coaches and players are working to keep the game they love safe for everyone on the field.

“We love the game. It’s done so much for us,” Livingston said. “We want to do everything in our power to keep the game alive.”

33%

of all concussions happen at practices of high school athletes who have had a sports concussion report 2 or more in the same year

high school football players are

twice as likely to get a concussion as college players more than 100 players

HIGH SCHOOL

CONCUSSIONS an average high school player suffers 11.2 concussions every 10,000 games and practices

high school football accounts for

47%

of all sport concussions

have died from high school football related injuries in the last decade

90 percent of most diagnosed concussions do not involve a loss of consciousness

1 in 5 high school athletes will sustain a concussion during any given season (www.headcasecompany.com)

/ MARCH 2016 / 17

sports

WORTH A

SHOT

Freshman Ian Rogers goes up to take a shot at the home game against Brevard. West went on to win the game, 58-44. ”This year was a great learning year for me and got me prepared for next season,” Rogers said. (photo by Ralph Raesemann)

Freshman Jaia Wilson takes a lay-up in the game against North Henderson. West won the game 5429. “I had a good time this season,” Wilson said. “I get along well with the juniors and seniors.” (photo

by Ralph Raesemann)

Freshman Jacob Burnette moves toward the basket in a game against Enka. The team lost the game 5351. “As the season progressed, I was happy to earn more playing time, Burnette said. (photo by Ralph Raesemann)

Freshmen make contributions to varsity basketball teams by / Josh Conner / Sports Editor

D

ribbling down the court in only her second game of the season, freshman Jaia Wilson scanned the floor for a scoring opportunity. As Wilson saw an opening, she cut to the hoop to add to her team’s lead.

Wilson was not fazed by her opponent’s experience and age as she knew her knowledge and skill set had earned her a spot on the varsity squad.

“Everyone was kind of intimidated, but I was just trying to be me and be a team player,” Wilson said. “I always have to remind myself in games of what I do in practice.”

Wilson finished the night with 25 points to help lead her team to a win over Madison, 56-40.

Wilson was a spark for the team’s offense, leading the team with an average of 13.9 points per game. Coach Robbie Lowrance noticed the young guard’s ability to play and manage the game early on in the season. Lowrance believes Wilson can improve to be one of West’s top players in years to come.

“She brought that stability that we needed,” Lowrance said. “We were missing that one player this year, and she’s that player. She can become a really great player. If she keeps improving I think she can become one of the best players in the area.”

Wilson is not the only freshman who made an impact this winter. Freshman guard Jacob Burnette and center Ian Rogers made the men’s varsity basketball

18 / WINGSPAN /

team. Head Coach Billy Phillips believed both players would make an immediate impact for the team during the season. Rogers and Burnette are the first freshmen to make the men’s varsity team under Coach Phillips, who took over in 2011.

“I noticed their advanced skill level, and I knew they could help our team improve,” Phillips said. “Their ceilings are pretty much unlimited, but what they do over the next three years will determine what they will be able to do.”

Despite their younger age all three freshmen believed they were welcomed and mentored by their experienced teammates. Inviting the freshmen to hang out off the court, the upperclassmen saw improvement in the overall chemistry of the team.

Senior Dylan Buchanan observed the nerves of the freshmen lessen as the season progressed, and they became accustomed to the game. “They are really starting to pick up on things,” Buchanan said. “At the start they seemed nervous, but as the season went on, they have really grown as players.”

The freshmen did not come to West as inexperienced as one might expect, all three have already had the opportunity to showcase their talent at a higher level. Wilson has been playing with the Lady Royals club team since sixth grade, and now the team is one of the best travel teams in the area.

“When I first joined the team, we were not that great, but as we started to play together we were able to

reach the level we are now,” Wilson said.

Burnette and Rogers have been playing on talented travel teams together for years and last summer were invited to play with West at scrimmages and college camps.

Last summer Rogers was invited to play with a Charlotte team that was invited to play at a national tournament and also an international tournament.

Rogers averaged a double-double and his team went undefeated in both tournaments.

“Playing against some of the best in the nation really helped me out, and it really showed me what is out there,” Rogers said. “The camp I went to sent videos to all the Division I colleges, so it is definitely going to help me get recruited to play college basketball.”

The women’s basketball team finished the season in the second round of the state playoffs with a 13-12 record overall, 8-6 in conference. “It’s exciting because so many of us have played together since middle school, and we are finishing out our last season together,” senior Caroline Ward said. “We started out better this season than we have in the past, so it worked out well.”

The men’s basketball team finished the season 11-13 overall, 6-8 in conference. Junior Will Lindsey believed team chemistry was important. “We have made a lot of strides from the offseason, and I think we have really come together as a team,” Lindsey said. “We knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses, which helped us play well together.”

MAT

ROLL OUT THE

A Q&A with sophomore wrestler by / Jackson Whiting / Web Editor

S

ophomore Parker Gillespie knows what it’s like to be an underdog. He had to make the transition to varsity wrestling after being a Rugby Raider just one year earlier.

Wrestling in the 132 lbs. weight class as a freshman, Gillespie produced a respectable 24-22 record and a third place finish in the WNC Athletic conference tournament as the Falcons finished 21-6 overall. This season Gillespie pushed his overall record last season with 21 wins and 10 losses. He was expected to make it to the conference final for the 132 lb. weight class as a sophomore, but he came up short.

What was it like being a varsity wrestler after being a middle school wrestler just a year before?

Well, it came as a surprise more than anything. It wasn’t like I had a whole offseason before freshman year to get prepared mentally and physically. I was expecting to go in as a JV wrestler, like most freshmen do. But I had tryouts, and then a week later I was wrestling in my first varsity match. It was a little surreal and a little scary honestly, being 14-years-old and having to wrestle 17-year-old guys who have more experience. But I’ve had plenty of time to develop, and it’s just another match now.

Do you feel as if people look at you differently because you are younger?

Not at all. When you step out on the mat, nothing else matters. It doesn’t matter how old the other guy is, how much he weighs or his record. All that matters is that he wants to beat you, and you can’t let that happen. It’s as simple as that.

What prepared you the most for high school wrestling?

The thing that prepares you the most is just getting as many matches as you can. I started wrestling with the Strong and Courageous (club team) when I was in sixth grade. I decided very early that wrestling was what I loved to do the most, and my parents were very supportive in making sure that I would be the best I possibly could be. So I guess just that I’ve had very good coaches from a young age is the reason I’ve had some success.

What is it like stepping on the mat at West?

People don’t realize how big the “Monster Mat” is. When you step out on that thing under the single light, it can be a little intimidating, even for someone who’s had a lot of matches. Wrestling is a team sport by definition, but when you actually get out there, it’s just you and the guy standing across from you. Wrestling matches can get really loud, but when the ref blows the whistle, it’s amazing how quiet the gym gets. It’s one of those things you can’t understand until you wrestle.

What was it like seeing the alumni from the 1996 state championship team come back for their reunion?

That was super cool to see. Those guys were kidding around and laughing with each other like they were still my age. I think it would be really special to win state and in 10 years come back and get recognized in front of everyone. It’s been a goal of mine to win state as an individual or as a team since I started wrestling competitively. I hope one day I can say I accomplished that.

What did you learn this season and how will that benefit your future in wrestling?

I learned how much the team matters, even though this is an individual sport. You don’t realize how much motivation the team gives you until you step out on the mat. The impact this will have on my future is learning how to work well with a team. Overall, a team benefits from the motivation we give each other.

/ MARCH 2016 / 19

sports Indoor track team goes to state by / Samuel Littauer / Feature Editor

T

he gun fired and the race was on. In just the first meet of the season, the winter track team felt like they had something to prove.

Seconds into the women’s 4 x 200 meter relay, the women took a commanding lead.

The relay team of sophomore Taylor Meadows, junior Melena Robinson, junior Alessandrea King and senior Rylee Dean had taken great strides in the offseason to improve their times and on Dec. 16, they saw their hard work pay off.

At Polk, the women posted their best time of the season in the 4 x 200 meter relay finishing the race with a time of 1:51.51, a state qualifying time.

“We were all very excited to put up such a fast time so early in the season,” Robinson said. “It was a huge confidence boost and gave us a lot to look forward to for the end of the season.”

Several members of both the men’s and women’s indoor track teams competed at the state meet at the JDL Fast Track in WinstonSalem. Meadows, Gracie Tate, Robinson and Dean placed sixth in the 4 x 200 meter relay, and senior Olivia Hogan, sophomore Carlene Smith, freshman Shylee Stocks and Meadows competed in the 4 x 400 relay.

But the women’s team wasn’t the only team to find success. The men’s team had several runners who qualified for the state championship meet.

In their meet at Polk on Dec. 16, the 4 x 800 meter relay team including juniors Brandan Naef, Dylan Shamburger and James Burnette and sophomore Graham Neve earned a trip to Winston-

Salem for the state championship on Feb. 12.

“Qualifying for state was a great way to start the season,” junior Brandan Naef said. “We’ve really grown together as a group. I couldn’t ask for a better team.”

The young team had a lot to look forward to as indoor track team is only graduating three seniors at the end of this season.

However, most of these senior runners will also be competing in the spring track season.

“My main goal coming into this season was to lower my time in the 55-meter dash,” senior Tyreke Dunbar said. “It’s been a good season.

I’ve almost accomplished my goals, but there’s always more work to do and always more ways to improve.”

Both the men’s and women’s teams attended the NCHSAA 3A state meet in Winston Salem Feb. 13 at the JDL Fast Track facility, one of the only indoor facilities in North Carolina.

“Qualifying for state was a very exciting experience. One of my first meets of the season was when our relay team qualified,” Naef said.

“State was an experience I will never forget. The competition was very steep and it was one of the hardest races I have ran. Our team competed very well, and we are glad with the end results.”

The indoor season ended with many of the team members immediately starting practice for the spring track season.

“It felt good to run my best time this season at the state championship,” junior Olivia Hogan said. “This was a great way for me to end my last indoor season at West.”

Junior Brandan Naef runs The 4 x 800 meter relay at the state championship meet in February. The relay team consisted of Naef, James Burnette, Dylan Shamburger and Graham Neve. (photo

by Olivia Hogan)

On the right

TRACK

Men’s, women’s basketball teams finish season in playoffs Men’s Varsity

Women’s Varsity

First Round Playoff Opponent: North Buncombe - 56-63 Loss Overall Record: 11-13 Conference Record: 6-8

First Round Playoff Opponent: King’s Mountain - 48-39 Win Second Round Playoff Opponent: North Iredell Overall Record: 13-12 Conference Record: 8-6

Stat Leaders: Points Per Game: Tristan Thomas - 11.8 Rebounds Per Game: Tristan Thomas - 6.7 Assists Per Game: Dylan Buchanan - 5.5 Blocks Per Game: Tristan Thomas - 0.7, Trey Cochran - 0.5

20 / WINGSPAN /

Stat Leaders: Points Per Game: Jaia Wilson - 13.8 Rebounds Per Game: Taylor Houck - 9.5 Assists Per Game: Savannah Smith - 4.0, Kendall Gilliam - 3.6 Blocks Per Game: Caroline Ward - 2.5

“Senior night meant a lot to me because I hit the shot that helped Dylan Buchanan to break the assist record.

My favorite part of this season was our team chemistry. We became a family. I’ll miss our home games because of the crowd.”

— Trey Cochran, 12

“My favorite game was senior night against Franklin. The game was really close in the second half. The gym got very intense. I loved being a part of the team.

We had sleepovers before morning practice and meals before the games.”

— Anna Morrison, 11

“My favorite game was when we played Franklin at home because it was intense. There were even fights. It was also senior night. The thing I’ll miss the most about this season is definitely all of the seniors. We were all really close this year. ” — Megan Dalton, 11

“My favorite part of the season was coming in every day and playing with some of my best friends. My favorite game was Hendersonville because it’s always a good game and there’s always a big crowd.

I’m going to miss the seniors next year.”

—Will Lindsey, 11

DIVING into SUCCESS Junior George Tsaklaos swims the butterfly at the first swim meet of the season at the Kingsport Aquatic Center in Tennessee. Tsakalos is a member of the 200and 400-yard relay teams that competed at the state meet in Cary, N.C. (photo by Ari Sen)

Swim team members advance to state championships by / Isabella Perron and Ari Sen /

R

ebekah Littauer crouched on the starting block at the East Tennessee pool with her chin tucked to her neck and one leg back waiting on the start sound. “Beep,” and with that Littauer shattered the cool teal water.

She came up to take a breath and thrust her arms forward. She slammed into the touch pad in front of her seconds before the others in her heat. As she surfaced, she heard the cheering. Littauer had broken the school record for the 100yard breaststroke.

Littauer, a sophomore, was not the only record breaker this season. Junior Jake Johnson not only won state last year in the 100-yard backstroke, he also broke the school record with a time of 51.83 seconds. Also at the state meet last year Johnson broke the school record for the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:44.71.

This season Johnson broke the school record for the 100yard breaststroke with a time of 1:04.21 at Asheville School.

Although Johnson missed the first few meets because of sickness, the members of the team were able to excel without him. Several members of the team earned regional qualifying times. In addition to Johnson and Littauer, seniors Levi Gibbs, Andrew Guffey, Taylor Johnson, Mackenzie Keel, Bailey Austin and Ari Sen, juniors Blake Wooten, George Tsakalos, Sophia Molina and Gavin Blake, sophomores Tim

Kinsey and Samantha Gonski and freshmen Alex and Rachel Willey all earned consideration or automatic times to be considered for the regional meet. All of the men’s and women’s relay teams qualified for regionals.

“The season has been great so far. Everybody has been

“

We’ve honestly been killing it. My team is a great family. I wouldn’t want to swim with anyone else.

”

— Taylor Johnson

Team co-captain

doing well,” Johnson said. “I’ve been sick, so I haven’t made all the meets, but the guys have done very well. I am proud of their work.”

At the regional meet at Huntersville Aquatic Center, the men’s 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams advanced to the state meet in Cary. Littauer and Johnson both qualified for state in their individual events.

“Our season has been good. We’ve honestly been killing it,” Taylor Johnson said. “My team is a great family. I wouldn’t want to swim with anyone else.”

The swim team competed in the conference swim meet at Waynesville Recreational Center. Both the men’s and women’s teams placed third in the meet.

“We are all very different people,” Littauer said. “It’s really special that we can all come together and form unique bonds on the team.”

At this season’s state meet at the Cary Aquatic Center, Johnson placed fifth in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:46.41 and third in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 51.88. The men’s 200- and 400-yard relay teams also qualified for the state meet in Cary. The 200-yard relay team of Jake Johnson, Blake, Guffey and Tsakalos placed 13th out of 16 teams. The 400-yard relay team of Jake Johnson, Taylor Johnson, Tsakalos and Guffey placed 18th out of 24 teams. West placed 17th overall in the meet out of 38 teams.

“This season has been really spectacular. Everyone has improved tremendously,” Sen said. “I am going to miss swiming with some of my favorite people.”

/ March 2016 / 21

a&e

Food

We live in the South, where biscuits get lots of attention, but Bagels are a classic breakfast food increasing in popularity. We all know nearby Joey’s New York Bagels, but what how do other area bakers stack up? Including Joey’s, the Wingspan staff rated three other establishments: Fletcher Village Bakery, Bruegger’s Bagels and Panera Bread. To begin, the staff had higher expectations for the independent bakers over the chains. To keep it fair, the staff compared toasted blueberry bagels with regular cream cheese. The search for the best bagel in Hendersonville is over.

for thought

Joey’s New York Bagels

Fletcher Village Bakery

Joey’s New York Bagels, located at 1500 Haywood Road in Hendersonville, has always been a West favorite when it comes to food. Easily the best known bagel restaurant on our list, Joey’s New York Bagels has a very mixed atmosphere with a down-to-earth deli. The service was relatively quick and the workers were friendly. The bagel was not fully toasted and tasted faintly like blueberry, but it was overpowered by the cream cheese. The bagel was hard to enjoy because of the mountain of cream cheese that was put on my bagel. Over all, I would have to say that the best thing about Joey’s is its close location to West and its overall convenience. They offer a variety of bagels and are recommended when in a pinch and craving a bagel. 2/5.

Bruegger’s Bagels

Bruegger’s Bagels, located at 160 Hendersonville Road in Asheville, was the first chain on my list. I did go in with low expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised. The overall atmosphere was that of a large sandwich shop. The service was rather disconnected, but still friendly, more than I would expect from a chain. On the other hand, the bagel surprised me. The bagel itself was very flavorful and was toasted just right to keep the inside soft, but it was well toasted on the outside. The flavor of the bagel was almost overpoweringly blueberry and the cream cheese faded in comparison to the actual bagel.

The best thing about Bruegger’s Bagels would have to be the wide variety of bagels and other breakfast sandwiches. The fact that Bruegger’s is a chain is most likely why it has such a large selection. If you are ever in the Asheville area, Bruegger’s Bagels is definitely worth considering. 3.5/5

22 / WINGSPAN /

by / Bobby Slagle / Opinion Editor asst.

Fletcher Village Bakery, located at 235 Saint John Road in Fletcher, is a hidden gem when it comes to bagels. The actual bakery was quite small, but it had an overwhelmingly warm and inviting atmosphere.

The service was amazing and quite personal. The bagel was well toasted and had a strong blueberry taste that was not overwhelmed by the cream cheese. The bagel, in comparison to Joey’s, rose to the occasion and overshadowed the West favorite. I would have to say that the best thing about the Fletcher Village Bakery was that they seemed to really care a lot about the customer. The Fletcher Village Bakery offers a wide variety of bagels but also offers other amazing baked goods and is well worth the search for this wonderful bakery. 4.5/5.

Panera Bread

Overall, the best bagel you can get in the Hendersonville area was the Fletcher Village Bakery because of the friendly employees and great food. The bakery offered a wide variety of bagels, pastries and other baked goods.

Fletcher Village Bakery had a great atmosphere.

That being said, all of the restaurants on my list offered great, inexpensive bagels, and I would recommend them all for anyone with a craving for some bagels — a good choice when Bojangles’ gets old.

Panera Bread, located on 1843 Hendersonville Road in Asheville, was the second chain and final location on the list. It had a very calm and laid back hipster feel and was family friendly. It was more of a lunch kind of place, but the restaurant offered a number of breakfast choices. The offerings focused on the fresh and healthy. The service was quick, but not friendly, as they seemed too busy to help you. The actual bagel had a very subtle blueberry flavor, and much like Joey’s, was overpowered by the cream cheese. The bagel was toasted to the point of a chewy inside and a crunchy outside, and the bread had a fresh flavor. It was obvious that they focused on bagel quality over cream cheese, unlike Joey’s, which focuses more on the cream cheese than the bagel itself. Overall, Panera had a very comfortable feel, but was not the kind of place where I would go and sit for long periods. 3.5/5

What the editors think by / Emily Turpin / Entertainment Editor

“Netflix and Chill”

Bean Boots

We love Netflix. It’s entertaining and a great way to procrastinate. With a wide selection of movies and TV series, there is always something to watch. The “chill” portion of this new saying, however, is what we’re not fans of. We all know what is really means. Let’s keep it classy, Falcons.

These warm boots are currently very popular among both women and men during the chilly, snowy months of winter. These boots are durable and, though expensive, are completely worth the price. We think they’re a practical and stylish addition to your winter wardrobe, so march on.

Artsy Instagram Photos

Snapchat Update

You’ve seen it a million times — a picture of something completely random on your Instagram feed. Whether it is a small plant, an interesting shop, or a delicious meal, photography is an amazing talent. Filters or not, they usually look cool. We hipsters here on the Wingspan staff still love these artsy pictures and are completely guilty of posting them.

Colorful Locks A big trend since school began last August has been dying parts of your hair or all of your hair bright, vibrant colors. Anyone who spends time in downtown Asheville knows colorful hair is very popular. These styles can look really trendy and cool, as long you keep up with the re-dying. Your hair is your own, so make it a masterpiece.

The creators of Snapchat have released its most recent software update. While the bug fixes are appreciated, we don’t understand many of the changes. The font Helvetica is no longer in use, and was replaced with the less pleasing font Avenir. This seems like an odd update, and many users have complained that the font looks “Android-like.” That being said, there are numerous filter options now that we love. Our favorite is the face swap.

After School App This app has recently gained a lot of popularity. On it, you can post anonymously about people you know. Most posts just reveal crushes or silly compliments, but the app is mostly boring and leaves a lot of room open for cyberbullying. Let’s be mature and stop hiding our feelings behind our cell phone screens.

Ivory Ella

Bye Bye, Jones

Ivory Ella’s are those long sleeve shirts with the elephant logo on the front pocket on girls all over the school. While the company advertises clothes for men, we have never seen a man wearing an Ivory Ella shirt. The company is constantly releasing new styles and colors. The money paid for these shirts goes toward saving the elephants, and we think that’s amazing. We especially like that Ivory Ella isn’t the only company that has started donating to good causes.

With the news of our beloved Principal Dean Jones retiring, many hearts were broken. We are all very sad to see him go. However, Shannon Auten is a wonderful new principal, and we are delighted to have her. Hope retired life treats you well, Jones. Do what’s right all the time.

FEATHERS AND TALONS / MARCH 2016 / 23

Driving Falcons Forward 4801 Asheville Highway Hendersonville, NC 28791 presleyautomotive@att.net Mark Presley, Owner