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Editor-in-Chief After submitting her piece for possible selection for the Harper College Regional High School Art Show, Hannah Park, junior, found that her piece, a depiction of Laz López, principal, would not be considered for admission to the show. According to Rebeccah Silver, art teacher, Park’s piece, a sketch of Mr. Lopez sporting a long mustache and American flags repeated as a background, was not selected because it created “a loss of dignity” toward Principal Lopez. “Mr. Lopez, everybody knows the guy, so I figured that if I made a lighthearted joke, everyone would have laughed at it and moved on,” Park said. Park originally obtained an image of Principal Lopez in September. Over the next two months, Ms. Silver and Park met multiple times to talk about the piece. According to Ms. Silver, in their later meetings the two had determined that Park would not submit the piece to the art show. Park said they did not discuss the art show in their conversations prior to her submitting the piece. “The big idea here was that she didn’t get permission to use that image to openly mock an individual,” Ms. Silver said. Park placed her piece into the submission pile on Nov. 10. After Ms. Silver found the piece in the pile, she met again with Park. “I made it clear that she was in no way not permitted to create the piece. Freedom of expression is something we try to promote in the classroom,” Ms. Silver said. According to John Aldworth, fine arts divsion head, Park’s piece went through the same selection process as other pieces, but did not meet the criteria that judges were looking for. Park said that she believes the WHS
administration has been taking a strict stance on artistic expression. “I think they are mainly afraid of the school’s image and what others perceive them as,” Park said. “I think they are too afraid of that instead of letting their students be what they can be.” According to Adam Goldstein, attorney advocate for the Student Press Law Center, an advocate organization for free-press rights, teachers should not have taken into account the mocking nature of Park’s piece when selecting submissions to the art show. “The obligation of employees of the state is to permit themselves to be ridiculed,” Mr. Goldstein said. According to Principal Lopez, upon hearing about the art piece he told Mr. Aldworth to use
whatever process the teachers normally used when selecting art for the show. Ms. Silver, Laura Pisziewicz, and Ruby Rochetto, art teachers, decided as a group which pieces they would submit to the show. In addition, Ms. Silver also consulted other District 214 art teachers “and the decision was unanimous. The piece did not belong in the Harper Art Show, end of story.” Park created a Facebook group titled “Wheeling High School CENSORS art!” on Nov. 29 where she wrote about her piece “I just want an apology from Ms. Silver and from Mr. Aldworth, and I do not want something like this to happen to a student again,” Park said. Harper College featured high school artwork from Nov. 14 until Dec. 4.
New driving law prohibits texting, phone use in school zones Luke Sokolowski News Editor Talking on a cell while driving in a school zone and texting while driving will officially become illegal on Jan. 1, 2010. According to Mike Porzycki, Wheeling Police Department traffic sergeant, a recent study conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) showed that texting while driving and talking on the phone while driving were the top two causes of traffic accidents. “They (NTSB) went back through accident records and they found that most accidents were occurring because of distracted driving. When the officers asked the people who caused the accident what they were distracted by, most said they were talking on their cell phones or texting while driving,” Sergeant Porzycki said. Chris Parr, Wheeling traffic officer, said that once the new law goes into effect, drivers who violate the law will receive a $75 traffic ticket that will stay on their driving
citations will be issued on an “on-view” basis. This means even drivers who hide that they are texting while driving will be ticketed if seen. “It is our job to be trained observers. Just like with any other laws, we are constantly looking for violations,” Officer Parr said. Ericka Valencia, senior, does not text and drive but she said she thinks that drivers will continue to text and drive until they receive a ticket. “I think if someone gets a ticket that they have to pay for, they might stop texting and driving because they will realize that they have to pay out of their own pocket for their mistake,” Valencia said. Overall, Sergeant Porzycki said that the new laws will improve the quality of driving and make the roads safer. “The new laws should make young drivers and all drivers overall better drivers because they will be less distracted and driving will become safer for everyone.We get so used to driving with a lot of distractions, but when you add cell phones and more distractions that makes the roads a lot more dangerous,” Sergeant Porzycki said.
whs
records. Drivers who take the ticket to court could face fines of up to $500 and will be responsible for paying $135 in court costs. “As with any law, there will be people that will think it does not apply to them or that they will not get caught, but overall the law will decrease the amount of people texting and driving,” Officer Parr said. Sergeant Porzycki said that the law like any traffic law will be especially strict on minors with a driver’s license. “If a 16 or 17 year old gets two traffic citations of any kind, that is two convictions to their license and will lead to the suspension of their drivers license for a year,” Sergeant Porzycki said. Megan Edmonds, senior, said she text messages while driving to keep herself entertained and she does not think the law will stop people from texting and driving. “People will try to hide the fact that they are texting and driving. No one really texts where the cops can see it. The only way you can get caught is if you are being dumb about it and texting where everyone can see,” Edmonds said. According to Officer Parr,
Holiday Extravaganza p 10
Teen Driving Statistics -The majority of teen drivers ignore cell phone driving restrictions. -In 2007, using a cell phone or text messaging, contributed to nearly 1,000 crashes involving 16- and 17-year-old drivers. -Almost 50 percent of all drivers between the ages of 18 and 24 are texting while driving. -Teens say that texting is their number one driver distraction.
Information from www.edgarsnyder.com
Music impacts social interaction p3
Girls Basketball p 12
Junior attends day; night school p4
INSIDE
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Wheeling High School 900 S. Elmhurst Road Wheeling, IL 60090 <www.wheelingspokesman.com>
POKESMAN
Winter Pep Assembly Full pep assembly coverage
Dan Malsom
Artwork by Hannah Park
On the Web
Teachers reject student Harper Art Show submission
Luke Sokolowski
December 18, 2009 Volume 46 Issue 4
2
News
December 18 2009
Egle Stravinskaite and Ayesha Qazi, seniors, work at the board during the first AP Biology study group during the late start on Dec. 10. Kristen VanZant, senior, led a discussion on DNA mapping in their session which took place in room 150. Each study group that met in the morning received two dozen doughnuts to share.
Pixie Angels connect students, teachers Jennie Alcantar
Berger offers incentives to motivate tutors La Voz Editor With a total of 1292 tutoring sessions for the 2007-08 school year and 1311 sessions for the 2008-09 school year, tutors and Laura Berger, the learning center (TLC) supervisor, look to achieve a larger number for this school year. TLC has held approximately 580 sessions. TLC consists of 100 tutors, sophomores through seniors. To begin their role as tutors, the students must go through a training process that earned them their eight hour certification. “We try to make it (the training process) as fun as possible,” Ms. Berger said.
During the training process, tutors-to-be were given real prompts from students in Rolling Meadows High School to edit and were given advice from previous tutors. Students also built a high tower out of legos with other tutors and had a lego competition so they could establish communication with the other students that they had never talked to before and to learn how to work with each other and solve problems. “I thought it (training process) was awesome,” Karen Rodriguez, sophomore tutor, said, “it was definitely something different.” To motivate tutors to get in more sessions, Ms. Berger offers incentives. The incentives include Ms. Berger getting them bags of candy.
Tutors are also available to go into specific classrooms by teachers’ requests. To keep the learning environment as a beneficial working place, Ms. Berger keeps a “swear jar” in the room to avoid what she calls “unnecessary comments.” Each time a tutor or student uses a foul word, they have to place 25 cents in the jar. The money then goes towards Relay For Life. According to tutors like Rodriguez and Jaime Ropski, junior tutor, TLC learning environment has proved to be useful. “I definitely think that the tutoring helps. I mean, kids come in every day just for someone to edit their paper or to learn how to pronounce words (for language),” Rodriguez said.
School subjects
TLC Attendance
What’s Happening In The TLC? Decided to go by themselves
40
Teacher referral
31
30
Once
25
18% Never Been 55%
More than once 27%
20
15
10
5
0
Total surveyed: 142
Subjects
History
Gaby Najera
Science
WPAC hosts the coat drive this week where students could donate coats. “I saw that no one was donating, and I had extra coats at my house, so I decided to bring them to school,” Katrina Gustafson, freshman, said.
Pixie Angels, an event that has been at WHS for over 10 years, has students fill out a form which asks for three teachers of their choice to give gifts to. Diana Bargamian, senior, and Estrella Gonzalez, junior, planned the event this year that occurs during the month of December. “Juniors usually plan it (Pixie Angels), but Estrella
said Gil. However, Kati Drake, freshman, has a different opinion. “I wanted to show teachers how much I appreciate them,” Drake said. “(I was) kind of nervous.” Even with the 50 students participating, there was one student that regreted not doing the event. Last year Danielle Knurowski, sophomore, choose Ami Mayani-Heng, former math teacher. This year she forgot to sign up.
Math
Brianna Bitout
A&E Editor
wanted to have someone help her with it,” Bargamian said. Sandra Chico, Student Council adviser, described the activity as a “secret gift exchange between students and teachers.” This year, there were around 50 students signed up for the activity. Damaris Gil, junior, participated in Pixie Angels last year and continued for the second year in a row. “I didn’t do it freshman year. I thought I was too young and not cool enough,”
Other
Students donate coats
Test
In order to improve grades in AP classes, Wendy Relich, English teacher, worked with other AP teachers to coordinate study group meetings for students. Study groups were created for students in AP Physics, AP Biology, AP US History and AP English Literature on every Thursday since Dec.10. Each week, two classes will have meetings before school during the late start time, and the other two will have meetings after school until 3:50 p.m. These times will rotate every week. “I thinks it’s actually really helpful because we go through problems, but I think it would have been helpful if there were more people there,” Jessica Peterson, senior, said.
Literature
Focus Editor
Three students, including Peterson, went to the study group meeting for AP Physics on the morning of Dec. 10. Peterson said she went to “become more solid on the topics.” “We (AP teachers) also decided that it would be nice to support the student leaders and Mr. (Lazaro) López (principal) suggested that we have some college students working with the AVID program to faclitiate,” Ms. Relich said. Ms. Relich and other AP teachers organized the meetings to help the students that face struggles in the class. Several first time AP students receive C’s, D’s or F’s in the classes. “Some may never use it, but if we can serve a part of the student population that’s taking AP, then why not?” Ms. Relich said.
People surveyed
Daniel Brount
Dan Malsom
AP Teachers establish study groups
Bar graph out of 84 people
Infographic by Jocelyn Torres
Forum
PhotoOpinion
Do you think the new law regarding texting will work?
Editors-in-Chief Dan Malsom Oscar Najera Web Editor Katie Kalmes Asst. Web Editor Brianna Bitout News Editor Luke Sokolowski Asst. News Editor Krista Sanford
“I hope it will work because I don’t think it’s safe and my sister does. It’s bad. There could be more acccidents that way,” Sandie Petsinis, freshman, said.
Forum Editor Jon Tracey Feature Editor Stevi Anderson Asst. Feature Editor Mallorie Bromer Focus Editor Daniel Brount
“People got so used to it that they don’t realize that they are doing it so the new law will not do anything,” Matt Stoklosa, junior, said.
La Voz Editor Gaby Najera
Dave’s Doodles
Editorial
3
Legislature should have enacted texting law sooner The new year will bring with it a new law with ramifications for all who drive, especially teenagers. Beginning on Jan 1, people who text on their cell phones while driving will also break the law. As technology evolves, legislation must do the same. Ten years ago, when texting features on cell phones drew nowhere as much use as they do now, there was no need for a texting while driving ban. Since then, cell phone makers have designed new phone models that make texting much more convenient. Some phones mantain the easy “T9” texting function which allows a user to press a single button, and the phone deciphers the letter through that. Some of the newest models sport qwerty keypads specifically designed to make texting easier. This form of communication, while easy, also proves distracting
behind the wheel. According one cause of teen car accidents. to a report released by the Clearly, texting poses a National Highway and serious problem throughout Traffic Safety Administration society. An accident can occur (NHTSA) in 2008, almost within a split-second and if a 80 percent of car crashes driver’s texting distracts him, involve the driver not paying he may not have enough time attention behind the wheel in to avoid it. the three seconds before the Not only does this crash. problem affect teens now, Distractions but what about Texting while when while driving they could include driving rivals grow up and anything, but to drunk driving continue texting has believe that as the number texting remains made its case as a major safe? one cause one—especially Spokesman of teen car for teenagers. has a tough In July 2007, time imagining accidents. Students our country’s A g a i n s t roads without Destructive Decisions the strict drunk driving laws (SADD) and Liberty Mutual in place today. With a nation Insurance Group released a of teens intoxicated with the survey where nearly half of all notion that texting while teens surveyed admitted to driving does not pose any texting while driving. risks, legislators need to make They concluded that it clear to all of their citizens texting while driving rivals that texting while driving is drunk driving as the number not safe and is not acceptable.
Liberty Mutual and SADD study
2009-2010 Spokesman Staff
December 18, 2009
A&E/Photo Editors Jennie Alcantar Bety Camino David Kajmowicz
Sports Editor Ryan Griesmeyer Graphics Reporter Jocelyn Torres Staff Reporter Jamie Livingston Staff Photographer Dilsia Miranda Staff Artist David Kajmowicz Adviser Karen Barrett, MJE This is the official student newspaper of Wheeling High School, 900 S. Elmhurst Road, Wheeling, Ill. 60090. Written, edited and distributed 9 times a year by advanced journalism classes, independent studies and other interested and qualified students. Produced by using desktop publishing and is printed by Son’s Enterprises, Inc., Skokie Ill. Mailed subscription $15 per year. Advertising- For information call (847) 718-7114 Monday-Friday 7:25 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Letters- Spokesman is a limited public forum and welcomes a free exchange of ideas from all readers. Readers are encouraged to contribute letters to the staff in room 137 or mail them in care of WHS. All letters must be signed. Letters may be edited for length, style, possible libel, clarity, and adherence to our publication policies. Spokesman’s mission is to report the news objectively and truthfully. We will not print any errors knowingly. Editors will print corrections of printed errors here in the issue following our gaining knowledge of the error.
Music acts as barrier between students Stevi Anderson Feature Editor
“Okay, class you may either work by yourselves on this assignment or work in groups, just as long as you’re working.” Almost every time my teachers say this, while my fellow classmates form clusters with their friends, I am one of the few students to put on my headphones and work alone in order to listen to my music. But the moment I leave class, I join the new sea of hallway walkers with headphones hanging from their ears or around their necks. I observed my fellow students in the cafeteria during seventh period lunch, and I noticed a group of boys heavily involved in a conversation. Half of the boys had at least one headphone in their ear, not partaking in
much of the conversation. In the foyer I spotted two students sitting together, sharing a pair of headphones without much conversation happening. Finally, while walking down the hallway, I came across many kids walking in silence, keeping to themselves and the small world that lives inside the metal casings of their iPods. Social interaction serves an important role in high school life. But society has surrounded us with so much technology and made us dependent on things like our headphones and music players. Soon people form habits, and before they know it, they realize they are never without the comfort of their handheld technology. Teenagers need to realize that multitasking does not work when it comes to listening because we cannot give our full attention to either. I have sat at the lunch table with my friends, with my music playing and my friends chatting, and realized that I either am constantly
asking my friends to repeat themselves, or am constantly starting my songs over to listen again, either way insisting that this time, I will pay attention. Students think that they can enjoy the company of their friends and the company of their music all at once, but the reality is that they cannot fully enjoy their music when trying to listen to what others say, just as they cannot fully appreciate what their friends have to say with the distraction of music constantly upon them. The only way to fix this is to become completely immersed into which is more important at the time. Even when I have my headphones on without playing my music, I create a wall of plastic and wires that separates me from the rest of the world. Trying to listen to music and a conversation at once is the same as trying to listen to two conversations-no matter how hard you try, you will never get the full story on both sides.
Corrections- The name of Jennie Alcantar, sophomore, was misspelled on page 12 In the page 1 story “Wheeling community youth involved in stabbing incidents in November”, the victims were three WHS students and one WHS graduate.
Infographic by Katie Kalmes
Media negatively influences new generation of kids Mallorie Bromer Asst. Feature Editor
A few weeks ago, I was watching the Disney Channel with my younger brother and saw Miley Cyrus and her back-up dancers in booty shorts and push-up bras doing a slutty dance against a climbing dome in a playground in Cyrus’s “Party in the USA” music video. While I was watching this, I thought to myself, “How can the Disney Channel put this on? Isn’t this supposed to be a kid’s channel?” Little kids are like monkeys, they imitate everything their parents, friends and idols do. If kids see Cyrus acting and dressing slutty, then they will try to imitate her, not knowing that what they are doing is wrong. How have our society’s children been reduced to this? I then started to think of a kindergartner who had seen movies like “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” and a fourth grader knowing all the lyrics to “Right Round” by Flo-Rida. “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” is the goriest, most inappropriate movie that I have ever seen; I felt disgusted after I watched it. “Right Round” by Flo-Rida is a song about prostitution and strippers while also portraying them to seem beautiful and acceptable. If young children deem innapropriate actions OK, then our society could become filled with druggies and prostitutes. The path we are on must be destroyed. Musicians and artists must realize who their actual audience is. Miley Cyrus must accept the fact that she will only be cool to girls under the age of 13, and Flo-Rida must realize his music reaches more than high school and college students.
4
Feature
December 18, 2009
Sabol works behind scenes for eight December performances
Senior hangs decorations, designs light shows, controls sound board Mallorie Bromer Asst. Feature Editor Over the past three weeks, Ken Sabol, senior and tech crew member, helped run eight shows in the theater, gym and cafeteria. Sabol took charge of lighting and sound for the both Orchesis Winter Showcase performances, both Holiday Extavaganza performances, Madrigal dinner, Orchestra Concert, Choir Concert and the Holiday Assembly. He usually spends three to four hours per day working on upcoming productions. “Orchesis takes all week to set up for...We have to actually design the lights for each dance to make sure the lights and sound all works, so it is wonderful,” Sabol said. After the Orchesis show ended, Sabol and the rest of tech crew had to take down the Orchesis show quickly, so the Holiday Extravaganza preparations could begin by that Monday. According to Sabol, the tech crew usually hangs up Christmas lights first, and then sets up for the show throughout the week.
To set up for the Madrigal dinner, besides being a Madrigal singer, Sabol moved the sound board and the light board into the cafeteria, so he could set up the lighting and sound properly. In the days after the Madrigal Dinner, Sabol used some of the same elements, such as the Christmas decorations, from the Holiday Extravaganza in the set up for the Orchestra and Choir concert. According to Sabol, the Holiday Assembly is easy to set up. The two spotlights must be moved to the outcroppings behind the bleachers, and whatever else needed to be set up depends on the vocal groups performing. Besides setting up for different productions, Sabol also acts as a teacher to some of the younger tech crew members. “Just last year, we got a new lighting control system. He’s been learning it himself, but he’s also been showing others how to to use it,” Derek Ellertson, tech adviser, said. Because of Sabol’s dedication to tech crew, Mr. Ellertson nominated Sabol to be one of November’s Students of the Month, and Sabol won the honor.
Behind the scenes: the light board
Tech crew members set up cue lists on this computer. The list program will then switch sets of lights when the action on stage changes.
Dan Malsom
The program on this computer informs crew members of the intensity of each light over the stage.
Dan Malsom
Tech crew uses this computer to connect to the Internet to play music and videos for shows.
Ken Sabol, senior, pauses to think while setting up the Tailor Shop for the Madrigal Dinner in the WHS Cafeteria. Tech members constructed the shop three years ago as a part of the set for a school play. “We saved it for the Madrigal Dinner, but each year we have to take it apart for storage reasons,” Sabol said. After the shop went up, workers at the dinner used it to check guests’ coats.
Williams takes on day, night school in hopes to graduate early, start planning future
Congr
ats
Total: 21 Credits
208 McHenry Road Wheeling, IL 60090 (847)541-6752
- 4.0 credits of English - 3.0 credits of Mathematics - 2.0-3.0 credits of Science - 3.0 credits of Social Science - 0.5 credits of Physical Education - 1.0 credits in BTLS - 1.0 credits of Fine Arts Infographic by Katie Kalmes
Attention all students, faculty and staff Follow Wa-Pa-Ghetti’s Pizza on Twitter for savings and Free Food! Just search wapaghettis
Williams wants to attend Spellman College in Atlanta. News Editor “I want to get out of here, After coming home from get on with my life and meet day school on Mondays new people,” Williams said. and Wednesdays, Johnnetta Williams said that there Williams, junior graduating are several reasons why she early, works on homework wants to be a police officer, before going to night school but she also wants to be a from 5 to 9 p.m. at Rolling businesswoman. Meadows High School. “I want to be a police Williams has been going officer because navy blue to night school two days a is my favorite color, I like week since the doughnuts “I want to be beginning of and most the school year importantly a police officer in order to take I want to because navy required classes help people,” blue is my favor- Williams said. and earn credits toward her According ite color, I like graduation at to Dr. Rick doughnuts and W a t s o n , the end of this school year. most important- c o u n s e l o r , “I am has ly, I want to help Williams graduating early expressed people.” because I want the desire to to experience graduate early new things and see what since the beginning of last other opportunities are out year. there. I also want to be more “She is highly motivated independent and get an early to complete the high school start on my future career as a curriculum in only three police officer,” Williams said. years. I support her decision Williams plans to and I believe she can do it,” graduate along with the Dr. Watson said. current senior class in June Williams said that she 2010. After graduating doesn’t mind going to school
Luke Sokolowski
Johnnetta Williams, junior
D214 Graduation Requirements
during the day and at night because she feels that it will help her in the long run. “Going to night school doesn’t really bother me because I have a goal that I am trying to reach, so it gets me closer to that goal,” Williams said. Katie Smith, junior, has known Williams since freshman year and said she believes that she will achieve her goal of graduating in only three years. “I think it’s very impressive that she is trying to graduate in three years and I think she can do it. She always works hard to reach her goals and she doesn’t take no for an answer. She fights hard to achieve her goals and she gives it her all,” Smith said. Williams gets home from night school at about 9:15 p.m. and then does homework until about midnight, getting only about four to five hours of sleep on Monday and Wednesday nights. “I sleep more on the weekends, so it balances out. Sometimes I do my day school homework during
night school because most of the time we just watch movies, fill out worksheets and have discussions,” Williams said. “It (going to night school and day school at the same time) isn’t really that hard, I just have to try a little harder, but that will pay off at the end,” she added. According to Dr. Watson, Williams will be the first student ever in his counseling group to complete both day school and night school at the same time. “I’ve never had a student complete both successfully before. She is one of the very few to do both and be successful. Usually people who try both end up figuring out that they don’t like going to school for eight hours, then going back to school for four hours, coming home and going to bed just to wake up and go back to school again,” Dr. Watson said. “I think she will be able to graduate in three years. They (night school) finished first semester this week. If she has gone for this far and been successful, I don’t see her giving up now,” he said.
Feature
December 18, 2009
5
Bety Camino
Bety Camino
Seniors spend day at front of class
Holding a chai latte in her hand, Samantha Victor, senior, spoke with Karen Rinella, math teacher, and Zachary Kreul, senior, on Dec. 11, Senior Teach Day, as students walked into the classroom that Victor and Kreul taught in: room 228. After the bell rang at 7:25 a.m., class started with a 10 minute ACT quiz. The quiz had been Ms. Rinella’s choice, though Victor and Kreul planned the rest of the class after they had decided that they wanted to do Senior Teach Day. Both Victor and Kruel agreed that they decided to work together “’cause we’re good friends.” “I chose to do Senior Teach Day because initially I was considering going into teaching engineering. I’ve had internships for engineering and not as many for teaching,” Victor said. Each had their own reason for teaching Ms. Rinella’s class, though both of them agreed that she was a favorite teacher. “I learned more in this class (Precalculus) than any class junior year,” Victor said. Before they planned the day, Victor and Kreul met
which included a game similar to “matamosca,” meaning fly swatter. In this game, the senior teachers said either an angle or radian and the students had to swat the corresponding angle or radian. The class split into two teams and sent two people up for each round. “It was a good game and everyone seemed to have fun and had to think,” Kreul said. The last game, a relay, had students solve a trigonemetric problem through five steps. Each group member did one step until one member hurried to the board to write all of the steps. In each game, students won candy and received more candy towards the end of class. “I learned that you can get a stomachache from eating too much candy,” Kreul said. Students, such as Szczepaniec, enjoyed each of the different games. Besides teaching classes Blocks A, B and D, Victor and Kruel and the other senior teachers got a free lunch from Rammy’s. Victor and Kreul also graded papers. “I think they are doing a great job. I think students are enjoying it and they (Victor and Kreul) are. It’s a good experience for everybody,” Ms. Rinella said. “I think it’s a good experience for everyone to step in teacher’s shoes.”
Bety Camino
Focus Editor
with Ms. Rinella so they knew what the classes had been working on. “We met up with Ms. Rinella and found out there was a test Thursday and Monday so we figured we would do a review day so we figured out what games to play and what to do to make class fun,” Kreul said. Nine minutes passed, and some students continued working on the quiz. “If you still have your quiz out, you have one more minute,” Victor said. Once the clock changes from 7:35 to 7:36, time is up and the last few students with quizzes stood up to turn them in. A couple of stragglers took an extra second to check their answers. “Finally, the boring quiz is over. Now we can have some fun,” Kreul said. “You all know bingo. We’re gonna play Trig-o.” Trig-o is similar to bingo, but uses different angle and radian measures, along with trigonometric functions. During the first game, Kreul notices Sabina Szczepaniec, junior, erasing on her sheet. Kreul jokes that she cheated, resulting in laughter from the class. “I don’t know, I took it as a joke,” Szczepaniec said. Victor and Kreul organized two other games,
Top Left: Robert Desio, senior, teaches for Jeff Bott, “Tech & You” teacher. During block A, Desio used a Powerpoint to teach the “Introduction to Engineering Design” class about design principles. Top Right: Samantha Victor, writes instructions on the chalkboard for Karen Rinella’s Precalculus class. Victor, teaching alongside Zachary Kruel, senior, planned activities for the class to help the students prepare for their upcoming test. Left: Paul Sawicki, senior on right, helps a student in woods class. Sawicki taught for Marc Sears, woods teacher. Bottom Left: Patrick Geraghty and Alex Tapas, seniors, teach AP US History for Elizabeth Lennon’s class. “Remembering everything about Reconstruction (was the hardest part about senior teaching) because I forgot all of it from last year. By Friday, me and Tapas were on top of it (though). We had it locked down,” Geraghty said.
Bety Camino
Daniel Brount
Oscar Najera
Oscar Najera
Editor-in-Chief
Cody Przekurat, senior, laughs after seeing his twin brother, Alex Przekurat, senior, try to perform a back hand spring during the Dec. 4 girls basketball game at Rolling Meadows High School. The twins, along with Ethan Gonzalez, senior, are the only boys on the cheerleading squad this year, however, the Rolling Meadows Mustangs have no boys on their squad.
On the Dec. 4 basketball game at Rolling Meadows High School, the Mustang cheerleaders lacked testosterone on their side; however, Alex and Cody Przekurat, seniors, added their own individual style to the Wildcat squad. “We just did it (cheerleading) for fun. It was something new for us to do,” C. Przekurat said. Not only do the twins share commitment to their sport, but they have also shared every class together since sophomore year. “We thought it would be easier for homework help... Also we always have a partner in class and our minds think alike, so projects and that are much easier,” A. Przekurat said. According to the Przekurat twins, they have taken several rigorous courses such as honors precalculus and AP statistics. Having a
twin taking the same courses has proved to be beneficial for both of them. “If one of us didn’t understand, we just ask the other one for help,” A. Przekurat said. The Przekurat twins also work together as Senior Leaders. They helped Elda Robbins, P.E. teacher, with her first period Freshmen P.E. class during first term. “They bring their own uniqueness because they are twins. They are very athletic and did extremely well in fitness testing. My freshmen were quite taken with how hard they worked to do their very best,” Ms. Robbins said in an e-mail interview. According to Lisa Kitahata, senior and girlfriend of C. Przekurat, the twins may seem like they spend a lot of time together, but she finds that it’s only a school image that they carry. “When Cody is with me, he’s more mature than when he’s with Alex. They seem like they are always together, but at home it’s not like that,” Kitahata said.
Dilsia Miranda
Przekurat twins share high school schedules
Alex Przekurat, senior, cheers the “Go Wildcats” cheer at an away girls basketball game in Rolling Meadows. “We just wanted to do it, (cheerleading) just for the fun of it and now we both love it. It’s fun,” A. Przekurat said. The Przekurat twins have been on the cheerleading squad since their sophomore year.
6
Fo
December 18, 2009
School S
Miller keeps up with school by using Moodle Jon Tracey Forum Editor Evan Miller, junior, takes AP Language, AP US History, Honors Physics and Algebra in addition to playing Saxophone in Wind Symphony and in Jazz Band 1. He missed a week of school due to swine flu (H1N1). “It (H1N1) wasn’t that bad, just annoying,” Miller said. “The only really bad part was missing school.” However, Miller found himself able to make up most of the work while still at home sick. According to Miller, most of his homework appeared on Moodle, an online classroom environment, and involved reading, which he could do at home. Teachers can use Moodle to aid students like Miller who miss multiple days of school. “Having Moodle allows me to provide
students with what they’re responsible for,” Dan Weidner, physics teacher, said. “It’s another spot where they can access what they need to do if they don’t write it down.” According to Tina Miller, E. Miller’s mother, Moodle disallowed extra hassles for the entire family. “If it weren’t for Moodle, I guess I’d have to e-mail all his teachers,” Ms. Miller said. “Moodle is faster than e-mail.” Additionally, Nathan Miller, senior and E. Miller’s brother, said that in elementary school, he had to take E. Miller’s books home for him when E. Miller remained home sick, but with Moodle he no longer has to do so. According to Ms. Miller, E. Miller found himself able to keep up with his work while still missing school. “He was pretty caught up by the time he got back to school,” Ms. Miller said. According to Ms. Miller, if E. Miller could not access his schoolwork on Moodle, he
would have been forced to stay after school for help. Additionally, Mr. Weidner remained at home the same week as E. Miller due to illness. “They (E. Miller and Mr. Weidner) talked online a lot,” Ms. Miller said. “He was able to get his questions answered quickly.” The Internet and use of Moodle allowed E. Miller to ease back into attending school the next week. “Even though I wasn’t able to meet face to face with him,” Mr. Weidner said. “I could do the next best thing.” E. Miller said he felt grateful for the ease. “My grades definitely would have suffered if there was no Moodle,” E. Miller said. Not only did Moodle help E. Miller when he stayed at home, but Mr. Weidner also uses it to help any students who have questions. “I have help forums up there,” Mr. Weidner said. “It (Moodle) opens the lines of communication.”
Six days with the most absent students from Oct. 26 and Dec. 11 Number called in with flu like illness
Rank
Date
Number Absent
1
Dec. 9
94
4
2
Dec. 7
86
8
3
Oct. 26 73
20
4
Dec. 10 71
8
5
Dec. 11 69
12
5
Nov. 17 69
10
Infographic by Daniel Brount; Information collected by Luke Sokolowski
What do teachers do to help students keep up during absences?
Infographic by Katie Kalmes Survey by Daniel Brount
Spokesman surveyed 39 teachers Each icon represents three teachers
How sick do you have to be before you decide to stay h “When you start feeling that little itch in your throat,”
“I have to at least be nonstop coughing,”
Alberto Vazquez, freshman
Alexys King, sophomore
7
ocus
Sickness
Inside Scoop: How to
wash hands correctly
Bety Camino
Step One: Wet your hands with warm water and then use soap
Step Two: Rub your hands together to lather and scrub all parts of them Step Three: Continue rubbing your hands for 15 to 20 seconds
Lori Leska, school nurse, takes the temperature of Jorge Martinez, senior, on Dec. 1. That day, 45 students were absent from school, eight of which had confirmed influenza like illness.
Leska strives to slow student sickness Luke Sokolowski News Editor
Stevi Anderson Feature Editor As students enter the health office, they sign themselves in and sit down, waiting to see Lori Leska, school nurse. Finally, when Rose Schranz, health assistant, calls their name, they take their medical information card and enter Ms. Leska’s office with various ailments. After the swine flu epidemic in October, students still come to the nurse’s office with flu-like or other symptoms. Some students stay in the office to lie down for a while before going back
to class, while others call home and leave school early. “If a student has a temperature, it has to be over 100 degrees for them to stay home from school,” Ms. Leska said. WHS has taken many precautions in order to reduce the spread of germs in school. Precautions include hand sanitizer dispensers at school entrances and in lunch lines as well as signs outside of school bathrooms bearing information about the proper way to wash hands. The health office also sends a weekly report to the attendance office to keep track of students who are out sick. However, according to Ms. Leska, even with such
precautions, it is hard for school administrators to control whether or not students come to school while sick, spreading germs to their classmates and fellow students. The school’s block scheduling system makes it harder for students to miss even small amounts of class time in order to regain health. “I know it’s hard with a block schedule (to miss school). Some people show up to school just for one test, but they are still spreading germs to others. The teachers and counselors are doing a great job of giving students extra time to complete assignments and students should take advantage of that,” Ms. Leska said. Cook County requires
home from school? “When my body tells me I don’t feel like it. Also when my mom tells me I don’t have to go to school,”
students to stay home for 24 hours after they no longer show fever or other flu symptoms before coming back to school. The school administration has spread awareness of the dangers of spreading sickness and germs by writing a letter in the parent newsletter in December. According to Ms. Leska, the school is trying to get the word out, but the most important thing is that students take the necessary precautions, such as washing their hands, coughing in their sleeves, and staying home when they are sick. “I think we are doing the best we can in the building, but with a school this large it’s often hard (to control),” Ms. Leska said.
Step Four: Rinse hands thoroughly under running water Step Five: Dry your hands with either a paper towel or air dryer Photos by Bety Camino; Design by Daniel Brount Information from <http://www.cdc.gov/Features/HandWashing/>
Photo Opinion
“When you can’t concentrate,”
Jenny Garcia, senior
Tomás Echeverri, junior Photo Opinion by Jennie Alcantar, Oscar Najera and Daniel Brount
8
La Voz
18 de diciembre, 2009
Estudiantes latinos obtienen porcentajes bajo de criterio La Voz Editor “Muchos de nuestros estudiantes hispanos vienen de un hogar de dos lenguajes, esto atrae un obstaculo mas grande,” Steve Kellner, director asociado para la instrucción, dijo. Este obstaculo prueba ser demasiado grande para algunos estudiantes latinos de WHS y otros de vecinos districtos, el resultado siendo que los estudiantes clasifican en el grupo dos, significado que estan “debajo de los estándares” en los examenes de PSAE (Prairie State Achievement Examination) comparados a esos de otros grupos etnicos. Estos resultados pueden ser vistos en la pagina de web del districto 214. Para poder estudiar o buscar más ayuda, estudiantes de cualquier grado pueden enscribirse en las clases de noche de ACT. Estas se
reunen cada primavera por Una buen iniciativa sería ocho semanas antes que llegue preguntar a los maestros el tiempo por ayuda o usar para que programas de “(Me hace los juniors mentores. El club sentir) mal tomen el latino tiene en por examen de porque hablan medio un programa ACT. mentores ofrecido peor de nosotros de To d o s para todos esos (latinos)más los juniors estudiantes que reciben necesiten ayuda extra. de lo que ya lo una carta Estudiantes como hacen” en el correo Claudia Alvarado, avisandoles senior, y Lizbeth sobre la clase y les dan Roman, junior, son algunos la información en como de los miembros de el club enscribirse, pero los demás latino que serian disponibles estudiantes pueden ir en para ser mentores. el “Assessment Center” y Otros estudiantes latinos preguntar sobre el programa como Isamar Muñoz, a Paula Kruty, assesment sophomore, piensan coordinadora. Los estudiantes que los latinos tienen la latinos no tienen los recursos responsabilidad de motivarse. desponibles para que ellos “Con la motivación (este tomen la iniciativa para pedir problema se mejoraria), si ayuda. piensan lo que pueden hacer, Con programas como lo podran hacer,” Muñoz dijo, estos, el señor Kellner piensa “Si se ponen a pensar sobre que todavia hay más que la el futuro, si no hacen bien escuela puede hacer para estos ahora, no tendran éxito en el estudiantes. futuro.”
Lizbeth Roman, junior
Gaby Najera
WHS: lectura de hispanos
Districo 214: Lectura de hispanos
20
33.7%
Estadio: Lectura de hispanos
Nivel tres 43.4%
48.2%
Nivel dos
Nivel dos
Estadio: Matemáticas de hispanos
3.6%
2%
Nivel cuatro
Nivel uno
Nivel uno
14.7%
17.1%
15.1%
Nivel tres
Nivel tres Nivel dos 48.9%
Nivel cuatro
Nivel uno 25.6%
29.7%
Nivel tres
Estadio: Ciencias de hispanos
1.9%
Nivel cuatro
32.9%
Nivel uno
29.6%
Nivel tres
Nivel dos
Nivel dos
Nivel dos
51.3%
57.3%
Infografíco por Jocelyn Torres
WHS: ciencias de hispanos 60
50
40
Porcentajes
Porcentajes
Porcentajes
30
19%
Nivel uno
44.8%
40
40
Nivel cuatro
19.6%
18.7%
Nivel tres
3.2%
Nivel cuatro
Nivel uno
31.7%
Districo 214: Ciencias de hispanos
3.4%
4.8%
50
50
Districo 214: Matemáticas de hispanos
Nivel cuatro
WHS: matematicas de hispanos
60
30
20
30
Nivel Uno: Alerta Académica Nivel Dos: Bajo de Criterio Nivel Tres: Cumple Critería Nivel Cuatro: Excede Crit-
20 10
10
0
Comparando Resultados
0
1 2 3 4 niveles de lectura
10
0
1 2 3 4 niveles de matematicas
Dos estudiantes reciben becas del latino summit de Haper Oscar Najera Editor-in-Chief
Jocelyn Torres Graphics Reporter El Latino Summit de Harper College premió a Laura Carlos y Natalie Flores, seniors, becas de $500 en noviembre. Para obtener la beca, Carlos y Flores tuvieron que participar en el Latino Summit desde su primer año de high school. Según Carlos, ella fue notificada por Marilyn Medina-Perez, trabajadora social, que era elegible para la beca. Los aplicantes tuvieron que mandar su transcripción de la high school y tuvieron que escribir tres ensayos para la aplicación de la beca. Los temas de los ensayos variaron desde metas después de la high school a obstaculos que se han enfrentado en la vida. “Estoy muy orgullosa de mi misma.
Esto era algo que de verdad yo queria. No solamente el dinero fue bueno, pero también saber que pude lograr algo,” Carlos dijo. Segun Flores, 11 personas recibieron la beca en total y habia alrededor de unos 60 aplicantes. Flores también se siente feliz a saber que recibio la beca. “Estuve orgullosa porque yo puse mucho pensamiento en lo que estaba escribiendo para mis ensayos ,” Flores dijo. Carlos motiva a los estudiantes de primer y segundo año de high school a empezar a buscar becas temprano. Ella agregá que es bueno saber cuantas oportunidas son ofrecidas para las menorias. “Nunca dejes que alguien te diga que no puedes hacer algo. Siempre cree en ti mismo y podras lograrlo,” Carlos dijo. “Hay muchas maneras para conseguir dinero para ayuda financiera(hacia el colegio),” ella agriego.
Recipientes de la beca del Latino Summit de Harper College Natalie Flores, senior
Laura Carlos, senior
1 2 3 4 niveles de ciencias
Infografíco por Jocelyn Torres
Jennie Dice: Estudiantes latinos deberían involucrase Jennie Alcantar A&E Editor
Para algunos estudiantes, ser involucrados en actividades escolares no es muy dificíl. Pero comparando al número de latinos participando al número de estudiantes de otros grupos etnicos, los latinos se quedan atras. Aunque existan grupos como el club latino, se da la imagen que estudiantes no estan interesados en estas actividades que la escuela ofrece. En el club latino, por ejemplo, los miembros de semana a semana no son todos los mismos. Al principio, el número de estudiantes viniendo eran alrededor de 50 estudiantes, ahora el número a bajado a alrededor de 40. Pero algunas caras se enseñan cada otra semana. Lo admito, antes yo tenia la tendencia de ir cada otra semana. Pero, recienmente, tengo la costumbre de ir al club latino cada miércoles. Claro, la carta de “no tengo tiempo” se juega en veces multíples, pero cuando se pone uno a
For translations, check out the web. <wheelingspokesman.com>
pensar sobre las actividades que según hacen las cosas rituales mas dificil, la verdad sale. No es tan dificíl como aparenta ser. También, ¿porque es que los estudiantes que si son involucrados, no se involucran en actividades academicas? La mayor parte de los estudiantes que si estan involucrados aparentan estar solo interesados en actividades atleticas. Si, ya se, el colegio esta todavia muy lejos de nuestro camino, o solo es lo que aparenta ser. La verdad es que la escuela mantiene registros empezando desde el primer año de high school. Las actividades atleticas no siempre son las actividades en que los estudiantes deberían enfocarse. Pero con involucrase con actividades como debate, consejo de estudiantes/WPAC, podrias descubrir que en verdad te gusta y podra ser relacionado con algo que te gustaría proseguir en años despues. Piensa sobre como esto ya te esta afectando. Estudiantes involucrados en solo una actividad, sea atletica o academica, podria ser la decisión correcta para hacer.
Actividades escolares:
Student Council- juntas son los miércoles Debate- juntas son los mártes y jueves Latino Club- juntas son los miércoles Circus-juntas son los miércoles Scholastic Bowl- juntas son los mártes Boxing Club- juntas son todos los días SHADES- juntas son los lunes Auto Club- juntas son los mártes Speech Team- juntas son los lunes Italian Club- juntas son los miércoles
A& E
Released Dec. 11, 2009
To view or not to view? save your $
$1 theaterworthy
$
friday nightworthy
While I heard mixed reviews upon the release of “The Princess and The Frog,” I went in, admittedly, with low expectations. As the sounds of the classic Walt Disney introduction burst out from the speakers, I couldn’t help but feel as though I were six again. Right away the heroine was charming, giddy and hopeful with sparkling eyes and a strong passion, a visible drive that earlier princesses lacked. Princess Tiana has a strong character, similar to recent Disney heroines Mulan and Pocahontas. Unlike other Disney Princess movies, which until this point have had fictional or vague settings such as Jasmine’s Agrabah or Belle’s French countryside, Tiana has a hometown that can be found easily on maps. Other classics lack such vibrant and deeply rooted life which was highlighted well by setting the scene in 1920s New Orleans. Returning to their acclaimed drawing board, Disney completely stayed true to the classic animation popular in the 1990s. Contrary to what I had thought beforehand, anyone can enjoy the movie
see it twice!
Screen test
Bety Camino Photo Editor
and while it could be magical for younger audiences, older crowds can find amusement in the subtle references to other movies. Playing with famous scenes such as the memorable “Stella” scene from “A Streetcar named Desire” and bands’ names like the jazz band in the movie “Firefly Five Plus Lou” hinting at the Dixieland band “Firehouse Five Plus Two,” the animators bring home the atmosphere. Plot-wise it’s predictable and there’s no need to look deeper, considering it slaps you in the face in classic Walt Disney fashion: what you want and what you need is not always one in the same, but something you always need is love. Though dense with a simple plot, producers graciously blessed the film with the simplicity of classic Disney animation, laced it splendidly with endearing characters and with infectious jazz numbers in an appropriate one and a half hour time slot. “The Princess and the Frog” is a movie to be seen if only to admire the visible segments of life beautifully depicted and of course, to appreciate the breadth of the music.
Want to learn more about Orchesis? Check out the pictures at:
http://wheelingspokesman.com/
9
Madrigals, choir host Renaissance inspired dinner party
Dan Malsom
“The Princess and the Frog”
December 18, 2009
Brittany Racky, sophomore, helps place decorations around the cafeteria on Dec. 12 for the Madrigal Dinner. “Seeing Ms. (Kristen) Snelten (choir director) bring her baby was great. She seemed like she enjoyed it. It made things so much better,” Racky said. “Being there, being a part of the Madrigal dinner, was just really interesting.”
Ryan Griesmeyer Sports Editor This year, the Madrigals held their 39th annual dinner at 6 p.m. on Dec. 13 in the WHS cafeteria. Madrigals hosted the dinner for parents, friends and neighbors. Kirsten Snelten, choir director, and Robert Kupon, history teacher who played the part of King Henry VIII, along with both Madrigal and choir students, started
setting up at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 12 for the next day, creating a Renaissance look for the cafeteria. The students decorated the room with Christmas trees, colored windows, candles all over, black tablecloths, brick cardboard walls and gates. “We transform the cafeteria completely,” Natalie Albavara, senior and Madrigals singer, said. “It’s all based on the Renaissance, it’s really colorful...it looks like a little town.”
Throughout the evening, the guests enjoyed different entertainment varying from gypsy dancers to fortune tellers. “My favorite is the Twelve Days of Christmas because we act it out and it’s really funny and everyone has fun,” Albavara said. “But the hardest thing is that we are walking around and it’s not the best way to sing. It’s hard to hear the tone of the other singers.”
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10
A& E
December 18, 2009
Right As the silent movie created by J.T. Teichert, Nate Lichtenberger, juniors, and Aaron Weksler, senior runs on the drop down screen, jazz band I members Chris Schwarz, junior, Mike Taylor, sophomore, Evan Miller, junior, and Teichert play the soundtrack titled “Christmas Jazz Suite.” “It was fun improving the skits with Nate, I think it turned out really well.” Teichert said. Teichert attended the Holiday Extravaganza for four years prior to participating for the last three because his older brother, Curtis Teichert, graduate, was a member of band. “I was able to lead the show last year too because I’d been friends with Rottar (Michael Rottar, ‘09 graduate), and this year Nate and I took over,” he said.
Ninth
Holiday annual
E x t r av a g a n z a
Left Keira Skenandore, freshman, plays in the ninth annual Holiday Extravaganza. “That was my first time being part of the holiday extravaganza and I was there in eighth grade but I didn’t get to participate,” Skenandore said. Above Kylie Gember, freshman, Tony Castillo, and Nate Lichtenberger, juniors Photos by Bety C a mino play during their usual percussion solo. I n f o r m at i o n b y K r i s ta S a n f o r d
Daniel Brount Focus Editor Orchesis organized the 14th annual children’s workshops for children ages three to 13 from 3:30 to 6 p.m. on Dec. 5 in the Robert E. Sang Theater. The children and Orchesis members performed at 7 p.m. that same night. A minimum of two Orchesis members ran each workshop. Workshops ranged from a drama workshop to a Jazz and Hip-Hop group. Most dance workshops held sessions for different age groups. Jenny Belcher, Marco Salvidar, Jon Tracey, seniors, and Katy Heath, junior, worked with the students in the drama workshop, the only workshop without dancing. “We just basically take them to the theater and we play improv games with them and teach them about the theater... Then we took them back to the room and think of ideas of what skit to perform. It’s usually comical, but they always have fun,” Belcher said.
YouTopia Adventure Time
In order to make the kids comfortable, some Orchesis members felt the need to do other activities with them. “Throughout the day we colored with them and got to know them,” Andrea Novak, senior, said. First year members of Orchesis also taught children for the workshops. Kamneev Rai, sophomore, taught boy’s dance for grades four through eight. “We had the four hardest kids because they are four boys at their peak in fourth and fifth grade,” Rai said. Rita Runyard’s, gym teacher, sons have done the workshops multiple times. Her older son took part in the drama group for his third year in the workshops. Meanwhile, her younger son in his second year of the program went to the preschool’s “Tell a Story” workshop. “I think it’s a great exposure to the Fine Arts and it is a well organized and run program and I think it’s good to have the older kids teaching the little kids,” Ms. Runyard said.
Dan Malsom
Jon Tracey
Editor-In-Chief Forum Editor
Bety Camino
Orchesis hosts workshop, performance for kids
Teaching her first Orchesis workshop, Julia O’Brien, junior, leads elementary school students in a Jazz/Hip-hop dance to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” The group performed the dance Dec. 5 in the theater. “I love being able to work with the kids. It made the dancing more fun, because we got to jump around a lot with the kids,” O’Brien said. O’Brien had little professional dance experience prior to joining Orchesis aside from ballet and tap when she was five. “It’s not that I hadn’t danced before Orchesis, I just hadn’t taken classes,” she said.
Runners Up Detective Mittens: The Crime Solving Cat
Incredible Turducken Food Network
The Dark Knight Kills Christmas 2
Work’s not easy for Detective Mittens: The Crime Solving Cat. So when Joe’s Italian gets Mittens’ takeout order wrong twice, someone has to pay. The poor victim never saw the cat’s claws coming.
Start planning for next Thanksgiving today! Paula Deen teaches how to place a chicken inside of a duck inside of a turkey and—ideally— inside of a happy stomach. Deen’s running dialogue with the turkey is equally amusing.
Do not worry about the original. Juxtaposing a high budget movie soundtrack and sound effects with the maybe 12-year-olds and a video camera renders this short clip adorable yet strangely funny.
Top Pick Two things all children can agree upon: the wonderful taste of candy and the fun of adventures. This 12-year-old and his dog star in an adventure featuring an ice king (an oxymoron) and a set of diamond thieves. Together, they play penguins as air guitars, meet Abraham Lincoln on Mars and save the beautiful princess.
Sports
December 18, 2009
11
Wildcat swim, dive team steps up intensity of practices to reach goals Ryan Griesmeyer
Ryan Griesmeyer
Sports Editor
Chris Prelletz, junior, swims butterfly during a practice after school. Prelletz and Shane McDade, junior, were both brought up to the varsity team this season. “This year it’s a lot harder,” Prelletz and McDade said. “We have to go to morning practices and the workouts are more yards and the times are faster.” The boys varsity swim team practices twice a week in the morning and again after school either from 3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. or 5:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The boys swim team also welcomes new junior varsity coach Amanda Magno. This is Coach Magno’s second season coaching a swim team, starting off with the girls junior varsity team earlier this year.
With the loss of four senior swimmers and one diver from last year’s swim team, the varsity swimming and diving team pushes to break records and place high throughout the season. The boys swim team, coached by Todd Schwager, varsity, includes more dry land exercises during their workouts to get the swimmers’ muscles prepared for the races. Some top returning swimmers from the varsity team include Tim McDaniel, senior, Jaron Witt, junior, Nick Modlin and Mike Boom, sophomores. McDaniel said he expects to break the 500-yard freestyle school record and lead the team to accomplish more than years past. Along with McDaniel and Coach Schwager’s expectations, Jessica Haig, boys diving coach, plans on having the divers place at least two out of the three places in every meet.
“This year the boys have a really good work ethic whild still being able to have fun and amuse one another,” Coach Haig said. Clark Jensen, junior, is the only returning varsity diver for the team. Last year, Jensen placed 12th at Conference held at Barrington High School and went on to Sectionals. “I improved a lot last year,” Jensen said. “I really want to score over 185 points this year.” Though the team lost diver Josh Glenn, senior, the Wildcats welcome Sebastien Chomereau, junior, and Caleb Harris, senior, onto the team. Neither of the new divers have any experience in the sport. “They’re fearless so they’ll improve a lot over this season,” Jensen said. So far, the team participated in a meet against Palatine with Jensen taking second place scoring 150 points for the Wildcats on the varsity level. “Overall, the boys have done really well. They show no fear and enjoy learning. I think they’re going to do good this season,” Coach Haig said.
Boys basketball gain experience per minute Burke leads varsity that challenge by constantly working hard every day come in and help each other team with top scores Oscar Najera Editor-in-Chief With a current record of 2-5, the boys varsity basketball team continues to struggle with its young team this season. James Miles, senior and varsity guard, said that the biggest problem concerns the lack of experience the team members have. “It’s the first year anyone on the team has gotten any kind of significant minutes on the varsity level, so that in itself is an obstacle,” Miles said. “I think we (can) overcome
getting after each other. Tyler Shapiro (junior) and I...(get) at each other if we think the other person even for a minute isn’t working hard.” Lou Wool, head coach, said he plans to have a variety of teammates play each game so that each one gains experience and gets more comfortable in playing varsity games. The team also does not have five set starters. According to Kevin Kortum, senior and varsity forward and center, this keeps the team motivated to work hard. “...(It) keeps everyone
in practice to try and earn themselves a starting spot for the next game,” Kortum said. Kortum also said he sees an advantage in having a lot of the team playing each game. “When it comes to playing a lot of people it keeps everyone fresh. You’re able to play as hard as possible when you...(know) someone else will come in and you will be able to rest for a little,” Kortum said. According to Coach Wool, the players on the team have more depth than ever. This allows for the players to depend on one another to
JV joins varsity cheerleading squad in competitive season
Jamie Livingston Staff Reporter
On Dec. 3 the varsity girls gymnastics competed against Palatine and came out on top 116-113. Amy Burke, senior, who had the top score for floor, lead the way with the top scores in every event for Wheeling. “Beam is my favorite event. I like the challenge, and I get a really good feeling,” Burke said. Practices with Bridget Erickson, varsity coach, include running laps around
the cage and lots of practice on the bars and the beam. “One of my goals is to make sure that my girls actually stay on the beam,” Erickson said. The varsity team welcomes a freshman on the team this year, Jessica Livingston. “I don’t feel like a freshman, the other girls have already told me that they see me as an equal,” Livingston said. The varsity girls competed at a home invite on Dec. 4 and won first place out of the six teams.
Are you on the list?
Katie Kalmes Web Editor
The list of people who bought yearbooks!
The list is posted in the main hallway! If you aren’t on the list then you haven’t bought a yearbook, so......
BUY A YEARBOOK! Price: $50 until January 4th Oscar Najera
For the first time in more than the five years that Joanne McNamee, junior varsity cheerleading coach, has been coach, the junior varsity team will be participating at competitions along with the varsity squad. According to Coach McNamee, the varsity coaches (Erin Ejnik and Samantha Szopinski) asked her last year if she would be willing to consider having the girls compete. “We decided to have them compete so they could have better basic (cheer) skills and so they would be more prepared for being on varsity,” Coach McNamee said. Junior varsity began preparing for competition in the summer with by working on their lifts, basic skills and cheers. “It was good for them (to work with us) because we were able to teach them stunts and other skills.... They are a lot better this year then they have been in the past,” Tara Battaglia, senior and varsity cheerleader, said. Along with summer practices, the team practices with a professional choreographer. According to <IHSA.org> site, competition routines have to be a minute and 30 seconds long and must incorporate all members of the team in a skilled routine along with skills and techniques including tumbling, jumps, dance and stunting. “The girls have already exceeded my goals of their skills, now if they can apply those and make the routine clean and tight, I’d be happy,” Ms. McNamee said. The junior varsity and varsity cheerleaders will compete in their first competition of the season on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Rolling Meadows High School in the main gym. “Having the varsity team there will hopefully give the girls a boost of confidence,” Coach Mcnamee said.
during a game. “...Most teams don’t have the depth that our team has, meaning they have about six to seven guys playing the entire game. Playing an entire game becomes tiring, especially when you have no one to back you up so you can catch your breath,” Miles said. “Our team has the depth to give other people breaks without that hindering our team in a severe way.” The boys next game will be held at 7:30 p.m. tonight against the Hersey Huskies at Hersey High School in the main gym.
Tara Battaglia, senior and varsity flyer, hits an extended arabesque during a timeout at the boys basketball game against the Rolling Meadows Mustangs. Jordan Gusterine, senior and varsity cheerleader, and Kate Jocson, junior and varsity cheerleader, base her on the side line. Their first competition will be this Saturday.
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December 18, 2009 Volume 46 Issue 4
Upcoming Events
Veteran wrestlers set standards for novices Brianna Bitout Asst. Web Editor
Wrestling 3:30 p.m. Dec. 18 Glenbrook South Invite Boys Swimming 4:30 p.m. Dec. 18 Away at Rolling Meadows Girls Basketball 7:30 p.m. Dec 18 Home v.s. Hersey Boys Basketball 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 Away at Hersey
Jennie Alcantar
Bowling 8 a.m. Dec. 19 Mardi Gras Lanes v.s. DeKalb
Lady Wildcats fall in tournament title game, jump to 2-0 in MSL East “We’re still working on getting fully committed on defense,” Ms. Wiegel said. Forum Editor “We sometimes get too Starting the season with excited about scoring.” a record of 7-1, Bianca WHS students remain Szafarowicz and Stephanie positive about the team. Kuzmanic, seniors, lead “I’ll go to away games if WHS’ girls’ basketball team. I can,” Taylor Forst, senior, Shelly Wiegel, math said. teacher and coach, designated “It was a thrill going to the Szafarowicz, games (last year) Kuzmanic our girls “...We have knowing and Cannon were really good. to utilize our They’ll be fine (this as the three team year). They have talent and captains three returning work as a at the starters plus a lot beginning of of experienced team if we the season. players,” she added. want to win.” “Steph The team (Kuzmanic) also recently is really the best leader as far scrimmaged the sophomore as what she does and how boys’ basketball team. she coaches the team,” Ms. Although coaches kept Wiegel said. “Bianca also score, the experience gained does a very good job (of against the boys remained the leading the team).” reason for the game. The girls The team lost to Fenwick continue to practice with the High School by 10 points. boys so they can get more “I was upset because we experience on the court. were really close the whole “It definitely helps us a lot time,” Kelsey Maczko, junior, for games,” Ms. Wiegel said. said. “Then fourth quarter, “They’re quicker and stronger they scored a bunch of points than the girls we usually play.” and we couldn’t get the ball,” “I think we have a lot of she added. potential,” Maczko said. “But Ms. Wiegel said one we have to utilize our talent aspect in which the team can and work as a team if we want improve. to win.”
“Bringing our times down, but other than that we’re making good improvements . That’s a challenge for every team out there though.”
“Staying focused during practices since we all get along, we side track a lot.”
Jenna Schwartz and Mayra Ocampo,
sophomore cheerleaders
Question
whs
The Lady Wildcats won 49-37 on the Grenadiers court at Elk Grove High School. Selma Smajlovic, senior and varsity guard, stands in front of an Elk Grove point guard while on defense on Dec. 11. The Wildcats remain undefeated in conference. This made it the Wildcats 19th straight MSL East win. Top scorers included Bianca Szafarowicz, Janelle Cannon, and Stephanie Kuzmanic, seniors. The girls play at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Dec. 18, against Hersey High School at home
What has been the biggest challenge this season?
Joe McGuire, senior swimmer
Bety Camino
Kelsey Maczko, junior
Jon Tracey
S
POR TS
Robert Desio, senior and varsity wrestler, performs a spiral ride against his Rolling Meadows opponent. After placing in the top eight at State last year, Desio said he feels that though there is a lot to live up to from the previous year, it is the team’s ambition that is making the athletes work so hard. “There is definitely a target on our back,” Desio said. However, according to Brian Rossetti, junior varsity wrestling coach, Desio, along with Eddie Scanlon and Timothy Schalz, seniors, and Chris Johnson, sophomore, can “definitely do some damage.” The Wildcats have a Glenbrook South Invite tonight, Dec. 18.
After placing as a team in the top eight at State last year, WHS wrestlers strive to not only meet last year’s standards, but to also surpass them. According to Neal Weiner, varsity wrestling coach, the team lost many good seniors and gained many new kids. “They (the new kids) need to be trained and conditioned to the varsity level,” Mr. Weiner said. Luke Smith, junior and varsity wrestler, said that after 13 years of wrestling, his experience and confidence prove to be his great strengths. However, he admits his confidence sometimes weakens him as well. “I sometimes get complacent when I’m winning by a lot, and I don’t finish,” Smith said. According to Timothy Schalz, senior and varsity wrestler, the intense practices, which consist of strength, speed, weight, technique and resistance training, prepare him for meets. “It is so intense that it conditions you during practice, and then you condition some more,” Schalz said. According to the wrestlers, because of the intense practices, their stats have improved. Smith currently remains undefeated and Mike Smith, junior and varsity wrestler, has lost only once, leaving him with a record of 10-1. “The expectation for us is to do well. This year is difficult because last year we went down to State as a team,” L. Smith said. According to Brian Rossetti, junior varsity wrestling coach, even though going to State might prove to be difficult, the varsity team’s main goal is to go to State. “The top eight is not enough this year,” Mr. Rossetti said.