Spokesman Volume 49, Issue 5

index

news 1-2 arts 3 feature 4-5 focus 6-7 la voz 8 entertainment 9 forum 10 sports 11-12 moves

Musto hosts guerilla fashion show pg. 3

at <wheelingspokesman.com>

news: Video of Orchesis’s flash mob sports: Polar cats work out in winter, stay in shape a&e: International Like “WHS Thespian Society Spokesman promotes theater Online” on

spokesman Peterson improves, up to varsity level pg. 11

Engineering students work on Innovators Challenge pg. 2

Volume 49 Issue 5

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Wheeling High School

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Feb. 8, 2013

Wheeling, Ill. 60090

‘Pack the Place’ promotes school spirit, fundraising

Kristina Piamonte Kristina Piamonte Above left: Michael Forst, Keith Cichowicz and Cameron Forst, seniors, go over the script for the Pack the Place Assembly on Feb. 1. At the assembly, they announced Honor Pack members.

Monica Czuma, senior, was nominated for Italian Club. “I think Pack the Place is fun, and that’s really when the school gets together,” Czuma said. “I think it (raising money) was a good experience, but I regret not raising more.” Above right: Rocio Gutierrez, senior, dances at the assembly, where she and other students incorporated the use of umbrellas while dancing to the song “Singing in the Rain.” Left: Tia Allen, senior, and members of Orchesis perform to the song “Sweet Home Chicago” in a flash mob, which included staff and student participation. Far left: Jeremy Stephani, junior, guards a player on Prospect’s varsity boys basketball team. At the game on Feb. 1, WHS lost to Prospect, 55-54. “Even though we didn’t win, it was an exciting atmosphere,” Stephani said. “We outplayed them (Prospect) most of the game, although I thought the way it ended was Kristina Piamonte unfortunate.”

Rosalie Chan

Rosalie Chan web editor Last week, students continued the traditions of “Pack the Place” week through spirit days, the pep assembly, a basketball game and Honor Pack’s fundraising.

Sports, clubs and organizations nominated students to become Honor Pack members. Honor Pack helped raise money for a WHS family in economic hardship.

Social workers help identify a family in economic hardship. This year, Honor Pack raised money for the family of Karen Delgado, junior, and Perla Delgado, sophomore.

“She’s (my mother) no longer working.

She needs to take medicine,” K. Delgado said. “She hurt her back and neck. She has

to have surgery and take insulin.”

According to Sandra Chico, student council adviser, the tradition of having students raise money for Pack the Place week was already in place when she became student council adviser.

Usually, students raise money for a WHS family, but in the past, sometimes they have also raised money for a charity.

“We try to see if there’s a way to help our family first,” Ms. Chico said.

Lucia Arreola, senior, was nominated for AVID. She raised money by selling candy and asking for donations.

“It felt good. It made me feel like I had the part of a leader for my group, and it was also giving to a good cause,” Arreola said.

“We raised a good amount of money, so I

hope they’re doing well with the money.”

In total, Honor Pack raised more than $6,351.08. Allie Talken, senior, was named “Leader of the Pack” for raising the most money, an amount of $700.

“I worried that we’re going to lose the home we live in because we do not have money to rent the apartment,” K. Delgado said. “I feel more relaxed now; I hope that Wheeling High School can help.”

As for the Pack the Place activities, student council decided to move lunchtime activities into the lunchroom and play music during lunch in hopes of more participation. It also canceled the movie night after the game due to low turnout in previous years.

“I thought it (Pack the Place week) was

fun. I thought the spirit days were fun, but I wish more people did them,” Samantha Rude, senior, said.

The Pack the Place game took place Feb. 1. The varsity boys basketball team played against Prospect. The final score was 55-54, Prospect.

At a pre-game assembly, student council presented Honor Pack members with flowers and certificates.

Rude attended the game for cheerleading and for Honor Pack. She was nominated for her cheerleading team.

“It was nice that I got nominated by my coach,” Rude said. “The game was really fun. There was a lot more people than usual. On cheer, we did a lot more interacting with the crowd.”

District plans improvements in technology, academic programs Megan Jones editor-in-chief During the week of Jan. 15, District 214 approved school and district improvement plans as required under the No Child Left Behind Act; some of the highlights within the plan include improvements in incorporating more technology into the classroom, adding more intervention for struggling students and increased professional developments.

“We have been trying to invest in bringing mobile devices to the hand’s of students that will help their academics,” Dr. Lazaro Lopez, principal, said. “For exam-

ple, we will be holding iPad training sessions for teachers and already hold many iPad pilots throughout the district, which is helping develop digital curriculum and practices to support a connected classroom.”

The plans included new programs such as homework clubs, literacy labs and extra support for non-native speakers.

“In many ways, the District plans are a compilation of Wheeling. We already have a student resource center for English Language Learners to help them be successful,” Dr. Lopez said.

“We provide other interventions to provide support through WHS; we use soft-

ware and additional staff for those struggling.”

District officials hope to recommend more parental involvement strategies and activities to ensure more academic success.

“We hope to bring all parents together, despite their background,” Erin DeLuga, associate principal, said. “I want to bring the leaders of the PTO and the Latino Family Nights together to plan how parents can get more involved in academics.”

While only 11 Illinois high schools made yearly progress last year, all schools in District 214 exceeded the state’s ACT composite score of 20.6.

Career Pathways: A Look into the Future In recent years, WHS has expanded through its use of creating career pathways, such as the medical careers pathway. Currently underway include a communication pathway, which will feature the fine arts department, and a research and development pathway which will incorporate English, fine arts, social sciences and foreign language.

“

I am most excited to see that we have accomplished so much in terms

of pathways to help students look at the school and use it as a step

towards their future. Regardless of your area of interest, I hope students will be able to have the chance to earn an internship, college credit or a type of certification. To be able to add that to your resume can open up so many doors. That might be the quality that helps you get a scholarship.”

-Dr. Lazaro Lopez, principal

Read more online about Wheeling’s specific improvement plan at <www.wheelingspokesman.com> Information gathered by Megan Jones

news

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spokesman

Feb. 8, 2013

news Orchestra gains fourth director in four years flash Robert Perales

a&e editor

The ACT will take place at 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 9 at WHS. The AVID movie screening of “Boys in Peril” will take place tonight.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., and the movie starts at 7 p.m.

Latino Family Night will take place at 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 28. It will focus on FAFSA and scholarships.

Orchesis will perform its show “We Have Arrived” at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, 22 and 23 in the theater. Tickets sell at $8.

Feb. 18 is a nonattendance day, in observance of Presidents’ Day.

Kristina Piamonte Sarah Struebing, Orchestra director, does office work after school. Ms. Struebing was recently named the new Orchestra director, and she works with Orchestra on pieces like “Irish Legend.”

Students plan, design P.E. classes teach vocabulary engineering projects Rosalie Chan

Illinois’s primary elections will take place on Feb. 26.

SADD will hold pledges every Wednesday during all lunch periods to end the R-word as part of “Spread the Word to End the Word” until March.

Spring sports tryouts begin after school on Feb. 25.

Student Council will host its annual crush sales, which take place in the Main Hall from Feb. 4 to Feb. 13. Crushes are $1 each, and each color has its own meaning: orange, best friend; purple, secret admirer; and red, “I love you.” Crushes will be distributed during Block B on Valentine’s Day.

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Orchestra welcomed its new director Sarah Struebing, current Orchestra director, after the departure of Alex Meza, previous Orchestra director, in late January.

With the arrival of a new director, Orchestra welcomed its fourth director in just four years. However, Jami Kahn, senior, felt Ms. Struebing represents “stability and control” for the Orchestra program.

“She really knows what she’s doing and is extremely prepared to take the reigns of the program, which is great because we really just need some stability and control right now. It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I’m definitely expecting great things,” Kahn said.

Despite an abrupt entrance, Ms. Struebing aspires to help students “realize the tremendous potential that they have” during her time at WHS. “We will consistently work hard to create great performing experiences that help us to improve as musicians and people,” Ms. Struebing said. “In the mu-

sic classroom there are a variety of techniques that we can use to improve our musicianship. I look forward to learning new ways to overcome challenges with the students at WHS.” Ms. Struebing is currently preparing for the upcoming Orchestra concert on March 19. As of yet, the set list is to be determined, but according to Ms. Struebing, it will feature a rendition of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida.”

“I’m really excited for the concert. So far, the music we’re playing is really cool and challenging. I’m just excited. We hadn’t begun to prepare for the concert with Meza yet, so she came at a good time,” Katrina Gustafson, senior, said.

Although Ms. Struebing has only spent a few weeks at WHS, she feels “extremely fortunate to be joining the WHS community.”

“I have never worked in an environment where students are as friendly and polite as they are here at Wheeling. The students and faculty all seem to be working together toward goals creating a unique environment that is not found in every school,” Ms. Struebing said.

Christian Galvan, junior, measures the units on the prosthetic knee. For the Innovators Challenge, he works on the prompt for designing a prosthetic leg.

Rosalie Chan web editor Nine students currently work on designing engineering solutions for the Positive Impact – Next Generation Innovators Challenge, with projects ranging from a prosthetic leg to an operating room.

“Part of our project is how we can impact the world, so even if we have the smallest impact, that would be good,” Dan Crabbe, senior, said.

Participating students received problem statements, where they had to design a solution to the problem that followed the prompt’s criteria.

Crabbe and Christian Galvan, junior, received a prompt to create a prosthetic leg.

“We’re building a prosthetic leg for a third world country. Right now, we’re in the design process,” Galvan said. “We’re trying to make it as simple as possible and as durable as possible.”

Kat Dobrowski and Jordan Quiroz, seniors, re-

Kristina Piamonte

ceived a prompt about airflow in a surgical operating room. They have done research about this topic, and they also visited the Children’s Memorial Hospital to examine hospital rooms.

“Right now we’re working on the hospital room and finishing up designs,” Quiroz said. “It’s a good experience. It’s more of a hands on thing.”

HP, Intel and Autodesk sponsor this competition, and students will receive the opportunity to work with supercomputers and simulate their designs.

“It’s nothing that we’re familiar with, so a lot of it is learning the whole process and system,” Dobrowski said.

They will present at the Midwest Research Competition: Positive Impact, which takes place April 12 at WHS. “This is a fantastic example of a relevant high tech application of what our students can work with,” Dan Weidner, physics teacher, said.

web editor In order to help students learn vocabulary, the physical education classes’ curriculum will now incorporate learning commonly used words on the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE).

“As a school we always look at our data, and the one area we wanted to improve upon was reading,” Kevin Muck, division head for career and technical education and physical education, said. “We (the P.E. department) decided to help and came up with the vocabulary plan.”

All sophomore, junior and senior P.E. classes will learn a list of 100 vocabulary words to improve on vocabulary for standardized testing. After reviewing data at the end of the year, the P.E. department will decide whether to teach vocabulary to freshmen P.E. classes.

“I was surprised because we don’t need vocab in P.E. classes. That’s why we have English classes,” Angelica Bahena, junior, said.

At the beginning of the semester, students had to take a pre-test, and for their P.E. final, they will take a post-test about the vocabulary words.

“While it’s unusual to do it in P.E., it’s the only class where everyone has the whole year,” Tim Falconer, P.E. teacher, said. “I think a lot of things we do with P.E. depends on how the teacher intro-

duces it.”

Each P.E. teacher can choose how they want to teach the vocabulary words and reward students for doing well on the posttest.

“Most of us are taking some time out of an activity to go over the words,” Ryan Schiltz, health and P.E. teacher, said. “I do think vocabulary is very important. I think the one issue we’re having is that with P.E. we have a variety of students with different levels of reading and writing.”

Students will learn four words each week. The vocabulary words are also listed on the back of the fitness cards.

“They were hoping P.E. could incorporate College Board’s words and help kids improve vocabulary for lifetime learning and job interviews,” Michael Tice, P.E. teacher, said. “Although many of us feel P.E. should relieve stress, we feel people can learn these words in a fun way.”

In order to promote learning these words, Media Technology plans to develop commercials about the meanings of the vocabulary words. P.E. teachers also plan to play these videos in the fitness center and hang posters about these words.

“I think it’s fantastic that P.E. is involved in this,” Megan Knight, English and fine arts division head, said. “It’s certainly different, but it’s supportive of what happens in English classes.”

WPAC sponsors ‘Jeans for Teens’ Erik Hernandez asst. news editor The Wheeling Political Action Club (WPAC) hosted a Jeans For Teens drive, in accordance with Aéropostale, a clothing store, to collect jeans for teens in need within the township of Wheeling who would otherwise have difficulty purchasing clothing items.

“Even when life may seem stressful, we should be aware of the struggles of others,” Tyler Levy, senior, said.

There were bins set up

in the back and front of the school for whoever would have liked to donate their gently worn jeans from Jan. 28 to Feb. 8.

“It’s a simple and easy way to make a difference in the community,” Isabel Chan, sophomore, said.

Aéropostale’s website states that 1.7 million teens around the U.S are homeless. The program uses celebrities to promote the issue. The jeans donated have totaled up to 2.5 million pairs of jeans since 2007.

Students around the U.S can also be awarded for

their efforts. Aéropostale offers a $10,000 award for whichever school donates the most jeans. It will also give out a $2,000 scholarship to a randomly selected school.

This charitable event is among many that WPAC has hosted. Other events included Shave For The Shore.

“These types of events keep us together,” Omar Joya, senior, said. “It helps us keep true to making a difference in the community and staying up to current events.”

arts

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spokesman

Feb. 8, 2013

Musto, models exhibit fashion show at Millennium Park

Megan Jones

to the other videos submitted.”

Models Kaitlyn Nielsen, Sarah Rabin, seniors, Tegan Reschke, junior, Paige McJess Musto, senior, enlisted her friends Coy and Katia Bryhadyr, freshmen, strugto create a team consisting of models and a gled with the 10 degree weather as they camera-crew to travel downtown and pres- wore tights and skirts, while the camera ent a guerrilla fashion show at Millennium crew focused on filming angles to show off Park. the jewelry.

“The jewelry I designed fit the feel of Mil“She called on so many people, and I lennium Park, and I knew Millennium Park didn’t expect that many to want to come was a public place that out and help in the freezallowed filming,” Musto ing cold. Everyone helped The video will be said. “Not many designers out above and beyond my age would be gutsy their role call, like phosubmitted into WHS’s enough to ask a bunch of tographers were helping own Film Fest and can be people to walk around in out models take off their seen before Orchesis’s sharp jewelry that hurts coats,” Nielsen said. main showcase on Feb. and then wear it out in The crew traveled to 21, 22 and 23. public. I just wanted to do four different locations to something bold.” take shots before heading The video created was to The Bean for a jewelry published on YouTube fashion show. and then submitted to Parsons The New “I was so amazed when I found out she School Competition, a competition that, if handmade all of it,” Nielsen said. “She was won, awards a full ride scholarship to Par- able to fix it on her own, and it looked so sons. amazing. I didn’t expect someone to be able “At first I wanted to film a time lapse of to hand make jewelry like that and still have me creating one of my pieces, but I wanted it look so amazing.” to make a bigger statement,” Musto said. “I On Feb. 20, Parsons will announce the think the video was important for the com- top 20 finalists that are in the running, and petition because it made a huge statement, on Feb. 28, it will call the winners. Musto’s showed what I wanted to do, how I could video has received over 400 hits on Youget it done and was really unique compared Tube. editor-in-chief

VISCOM:

DIGITAL MEDIA FESTIVAL

EVER WANTED TO CREATE A SHORT FILM?

Photos By:Megan Jones

HAVE IT PREMIERE AT A FILM FEST ON THE BIG SCREEN? ATTEND A RED CARPET AWARD CEREMONY?

IT’S NOT TOO LATE!!!

Students have already begun submitting films!

If you want to be a part of the festival, contact: English Department Mr. Uhrik John.Uhrik@d214.org

Visual Arts Mr. Dyer Kent.Dyer@d214.org

Left: The cast of models including Paige McCoy, freshman, Sarah Rabin, senior, Kaitlyn Nielsen, senior, Katia Bryhadyr, freshman, and Tegan Reschke, junior, assembled by Jess Musto, senior, line up for a photo shoot in the stadium.

Center: Nielsen poses next to an elevator while wearing a necklace and an arm brace designed and created

by Musto.

Right: Reschke poses while wearing an award winning piece designed and created by Musto.

Students successfully represent WHS at IMEA Robert Perales a&e editor After an extensive audition process, the top placing students from Band were selected to compete and perform at the Illinois Music Education Association (IMEA) on Jan. 24, 25 and 26 in Peoria, Ill. Five WHS students were selected to compete at IMEA including Ronald Roth, junior, who placed fourth chair in the honor band out of 50 students.

“I’ve played the trumpet for seven years.

I felt great with that standing, but I do wish I would have practiced more. It is harder to make it twice in a row, but I hope I have the chance to tryout again,” Roth said.

Like Roth, Matt Kulczak, junior, performed and placed in the top Honor Band but in the flute category. Kulczak was placed as the first chair flute in the Honor Band.

“I am very satisfied and could not be

more pleased with my placement at IMEA,” Kulczak said. “I think that the success of peers from D214 will encourage students to bring a stronger sense of responsibility and pride to their programs at WHS; the tangible dividends from the hard work of peers and staff alike will urge students to attain similar goals and strive for excellence.”

Three other students also performed and placed at IMEA including Chelsie Coren, Kaitlyn Nielsen and Adam Korber, seniors.

According to Korber, who also placed in the top Honors Orchestra, IMEA helped enforce his plan to major in Music Education and Cello performance.

“Making all-state only solidified my reasoning for doing what I want to do. Working with the director I worked with really showed me how rewarding and awesome it can be,” Korber said. “Sure, music requires a lot of study and work, but it is totally

worth doing what you love.”

Coren placed eigth chair in the honor band out of 84 clarinetists. While she felt “happy” with her standing, she had a different approach toward IMEA. “In the grand scheme of things, making all state will not really matter. Though it’s an honor, there are great musicians that didn’t go. So, the result definitely did not have an impact on my plans for the future,” Coren said. “This year was definitely an up year for D214, and Wheeling in particular.

However, the audition process is pretty rigged, and some student who deserves to go did not get the opportunity. Still, even though people keep working hard and practicing, the audition results are out of their control.”

On that same note, Nielsen was unable to qualify for the Honor Band because her instrument kept her from entering the honor band.

“At IMEA I was the only English horn

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there. I was automatically placed in the Allstate band because they had no English horn parts for the honors group,” Nielsen said. “IMEA did not change my plans for the future. It only reaffirmed my plans for pursuing music in college,” Nielsen said.

In comparison to previous years, WHS continued to excel sending an additional two members to IMEA resulting in five total members.

In preparation for the upcoming year, Kulczak will continue to practice and strive for excellence in order to remain in Honor Band next year.

“In preparations for next year, I plan to continue developing my technique by preparing several concertos and expanding my musicianship by continuing an active role in my youth orchestra, MYA (Midwest Young Artists),” Kulczak said. “I will also start preparing next year’s IMEA etudes promptly over the summer.”

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feature

Frida Valdés feature editor “I like seeing everything from overhead, and I like the experience of doing something different, and seeing the city and everything from up above is really cool,” Kaitlyn Debusk, senior, said. “When you’re in the air you can do whatever you want, go where you want. All you have to do is talk to the control tower and it’s okay.”

Debusk attends flying lessons and works at the Chicago Executive Airport.

“Honestly, I never liked being on the ground. I like adventure, and I live right next to the airport, so I liked seeing it, and I wanted to try, and so I just fell in love with it,” Debusk said.

Her parents took her to an exposition where they found an informational booth about flying, and that was when Debusk’s journey to learn about flying took off.

According to Debusk the first time she flew a plane, “it was an incredible feeling, but I was disappointed because I wanted to go back up,” Debusk said.

4

According to Debusk, flying a plane is almost like driving a car since there are a certain amount of flying hours required, different tests at different periods of time, terms and techniques and several tests with an instructor before flying alone.

In order to fly alone, she will need to get a license and pass all the ground school and flying tests.

“What really surprised me is that flying is easier than driving a car. A plane almost flies itself; it’ll stay going straight and stay doing what it’s supposed to do,” Debusk said.

Windy City sponsors the aviation group, called Aviation Post 9.

Debusk is part of and provides instructors for a group of high schoolers called the Explorers.

There is a $35 fee per month, which covers training.

“Flying isn’t cheap. We actually wash planes to raise money for our group, so we don’t have to pay more for flying. We get credit for Windy City and that’s how we actually fly, which is kind of cool; we have to work for what we

do,”Debusk said.

According to Debusk, the hardest step about flying a plane is the landing, mainly because the wind can be challenging and stressful.

“You have to time it right; otherwise, it can be a disaster,” Debusk said.

Debusk has flown a plane 10 times and a helicopter a couple times, and she plans on enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps.

“Her dream is to fly for the Marines, so I’d love to see her be able to do that,” Pam Debusk, mother of K. Debusk, said.

One time, K. Debusk and her instructor had dealt with irregular motion which caused difficulties while flying.

“We got caught with really bad turbulence, and we dropped a couple feet in a matter of seconds and that was scary. The instructor let me stall the plane, so I just pretty much made the plane go straight up.

Then it just stopped, and it dropped, and then I recovered it, which was fun,” K. Debusk said.

Fred Debusk, father of K. Debusk, was in the U.S.

spokesman

Feb. 8, 2013

Used with permission from Kaitlyn Debusk Dustin Marks, K. Debusk’s brother-in-law, Kaitlyn Debusk, senior, Amy Marks, ‘05 WHS graduate and sister of K. Debusk, and flying instructor check the aircraft. Inset: K. Debusk flies inside a plane at the Chicago Executive Airport with the aid of an instructor.

Army and has always encouraged K. Debusk to do what her heart tells her.

“I would be very proud (if K. Debusk were to go to the U.S. Marine Corps). I was in the army myself from ‘77 to ‘80, and I just tell her she has to go with what’s

in her heart; if she feels the need to do it, she should do it; follow your dream,” Mr. Debusk said.

Additionally, Amy Marks, K. Debusk’s older sister, is in the U.S .Marine Corps and has inspired her to want to enlist in the U.S.

Marine Corps.

“She’s my role model. I want to follow her footsteps and I want to outdo it. She told me to follow my heart and do what I believe and just do whatever I want to do and do the best I can do at it,” K. Debusk said.

feature

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spokesman

Feb. 8, 2013

Homeschooling offers flexible schedules, education, strengthens family relationships

Erik Hernandez Christie Ambrose, freshman, fills in her French 1 workbook during first period.

Ambrose was able to previosuly study French by using Rosetta Stone software.

Frida Valdés feature editor Imagine waking up at 7 a.m. everyday and getting homeschooled. Now, imagine having to wake up at 6 a.m. and get ready to go to high school. It may seem like an abrupt change, but that is what Christie Ambrose, freshman, had to get used to.

Ambrose was homeschooled, and so was her older sister, Audrey Ambrose, junior, from 6th through 8th grade. This is C. Ambrose’s first year in a public school.

According to C. Ambrose, her parents gave her and her siblings the option to attend a public school.

“They let me choose, but I didn’t want to miss high school; it seems like a good experience for most people, and I didn’t want to miss out on that,” C. Ambrose said.

Friends of the C. Ambrose’s family influenced Ambrose’s parents’ decision to homeschool their children.

According to C. Ambrose, one of the advantages of being homeschooled is learning material at one’s own pace and having a more flexible schedule to work with. She also went on more field trips.

“I would do all my school work and get it done for the day and the rest of the day do fun stuff, so we were a lot more flexible because now I go to school, do homework and then go to school,” C. Ambrose said.

C. Ambrose did “co-ops,” which are methods of combining classroombased education with practical experience.

A typical day for C. Ambrose consisted of math, English, history and science for a total of about eight hours, although classes were not

timed. C. Ambrose could get ahead in subjects that interested her the most, and she had the freedom to study a variety of subjects more in-depth.

Like C. Ambrose’s parents, Mike Hurley, English teacher, and Melanie Hurley, wife of Mr. Hurley, homeschooled their two daughters and currently homeschool their son. He plans on attending WHS instead of continuing homeschooling. When both daughters enrolled at Harper College, they were around age 17.

According to Mr. Hurley, Harper did not know how to validate his daughters work due to lack of experience.

“When we tried to enroll them they wanted to see their transcripts, and we showed them our list of classes, and they said, ‘well, we can’t accept this; this is an unofficial school.’ State law says anybody can start taking classes at 16; you don’t have to be home-schooled. Once we ironed all that out, they actually became very supportive and wanted to find more homeschooled students because homeschooled students tend to perform at a pretty high level,” Mr. Hurley said.

According to Mindy Hurley, daughter of Mr. Hurley, she feels she had opportunities she would have missed if she had attended a public school.

“I loved being home and the diversity of activities that it allows as opposed to sitting in a classroom all day,” Ms. Hurley said.

According to Mr. Hurley, most of the material is self-taught.

“A lot of it doesn’t take tutoring, especially at the lower levels of school. Now, when they were in, let’s say 8th grade, 9th grade or around there, math got harder, and I’m not a math person, and my wife is not a math person, so at that point, we said, ‘You know what? We need to find a math person who can really walk them through,” Mr. Hurley said.

Family relationships develop more as a result of homeschooling, according to Mrs. Hurley.

“My girls were the best of friends, and I was incredibly close to them as well. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. We had the opportunity to travel

Viruet pursues acting career

and do a lot of fun things that we wouldn’t have been able to do if they were in public school,” Mrs. Hurley said.

Another positive aspect of homeschooling is that the education provided to the children is more personalized; students learn what they want to learn at their own pace.

“We can also personalize their education so that the learning is occurring in a way that best communicates to that particular child. One of our daughters enjoyed a more literature-based curriculum, while the other preferred more of a workbook and test-taking kind of experience,” Mrs. Hurley said.

Homeschooling provides a one-on-one time with every single concept a child takes until he or she completely understands and masters it.

“Why would we turn the math page until they completely understood the page we were on? Homeschoolers have the luxury of time with a small amount of students that teachers do not have either in public school or private school,” Mrs. Hurley said.

M. Hurley took a few classes at Harper her senior year.

“The great thing about taking classes in high school is that it’s called concurrent enrollment and you receive simultaneous high school and college credit for the classes you complete. I felt totally equipped to tackle my classes. That first year I took chemistry, speech and microbiology and excelled at them all. This also enabled to start the classes for my chosen major sooner,” M. Hurley said.

Although some may think homeschooling “jeopardizes” social skills, M. Hurley says it has enhanced them.

“Being in a high school, you are surrounded almost entirely with your peers all day long every day. And that isn’t good preparation for the real world. Once you graduate and get a job, you will rarely be in a position that you are interacting solely with people that are within three years of your age,” M. Hurley said.

Kras aims for police career despite dangers Graduates early to attend Harper Frida Valdés feature editor

Q & A

with Mike Viruet, WHS graduate of ‘07

Interview by Kelly McKewin

Used with permission from Mike Viruet

What have you been involved in where people may recognize you?

“The 2012 movie Pitch Perfect and the AMC commercial.”

What did you do to get involved in professional acting?

“I auditioned for top agents back in Chicago, did a lot of commercial, print and voiceover work my freshman year in college.”

How did you first get interested in acting?

How did you end up working in Los Angeles?

“My mom is the reason I became interested in acting. I used to watch her do the plays at church, and she was so natural at it. She also used to usher shows at the Des Plaines Community theater and bring my sister and I along to help out.

We watched a production of the musical ‘Tommy,’ and I told my mom, ‘I want to do that.’ Her and my dad have supported my choice ever since.”

“In the summer of ‘08, I worked 90 hours a week and three different jobs to save $3,000.

Once I made all the money, I packed my bags and drove to LA, not knowing a single person in town. I found a great agent and enrolled in school and got a job at a Vitamin Shoppe.

Within the first 3 months, I booked the Coke/ AMC Magic chairs commercial, which is still running. Ultimately, I took a giant blind leap of faith and landed on some pretty solid ground.”

In response to the recent shooting at a school in Conneticut, Amanda Kras, senior, her interest in becoming a police officer increased.

“When I was watching on the news how everyone was there, like police, fire department and ambulances, and that just made me think, ‘Oh that can happen anywhere; it could happen here, and if that was my career, I would be able to be there and help people and investigate,” A. Kras, senior, said.

Ever since Kras went on a field trip to a jail during her sophomore year, she became interested in becoming a police officer.

“Whenever I would see a police officer chasing someone, I always thought that it was so interesting, and I always watched those kind of shows, like ‘Cops.’ I think it’s (being a police officer) really interesting, and I want to be there for people and keep them safe,” Kras said.

Kras graduated WHS early in order to get ahead in her career by taking a criminal justice law class at Harper, as well as to complete English classes.

“I’m glad she figured out what she wants to do for the rest of her life so soon. I think it was a really smart decision for her to graduate early and begin her career path,” Cayla Iwaniuk, senior, said in an e-mail interview.

Kras’s uncle, Konrad Svarlowicv, police officer in Poland, often gives her advice and tells her anecdotes to help her understand the career.

“He doesn’t give me perfect advice because he’s in Poland, but he gives me general advice. He tells me over and over, it’s a dangerous job, and I should think about it really well,” Kras said.

According to Kras, she feels a duty to help others by ensuring people’s safety.

“People like that get put into jail are a danger to everyone else, and I feel like there’s no reason they shouldn’t be in jail because if they’re doing something bad, why should they not be in jail? They need to get punished for that, and I want to keep people safe,” Kras said.

Agnieska Kras, mother of A. Kras, wants her daughter to do what makes her happy; she said that her daughter would have an advantage on becoming a police officer because police departments want to hire female and bilingual individuals.

“I wanted to get a head start because I’d realize that I’d need to start thinking this stuff through and instead of worrying about high school I feel like I need to start thinking what I want to do,” A. Kras said.

However, Mrs. Kras hopes her daughter will change her mind about becoming a police officer after attending Harper College.

“It’s her own life and her own decision, I can’t really do anything about it,” Mrs. Kras said.

“My mom said I should be a pharmacist, but that doesn’t interest me whatsoever at all, and my dad’s just telling me to think it through, but I mean they’re (parents) saying, ‘If it makes you happy, you should just do it,’” A. Kras said.

Pawel Kras, father of A. Kras, feels worried for their daughter’s safety along with Mrs. Kras, but he feels more worried.

A. Kras plans on going to the police academy to receive physical and mental training, but at the moment does not know which school.

“Let’s say I caught someone or there was some really bad fight, and I had to go to help out. Someone could get killed if they have a knife or weapon, but if I went there, by the end of the day I’d feel, ‘Oh, I probably saved a life,’” A. Kras said.

focus

6

spokesman

Feb. 8, 2013

Current gun policy Stephanie’s Cartoon should not be changed

Solinna Chong After the tragic event at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., our nation went into a controversial frenzy over the banishment of certain types of guns.

Back in December, President Barack Obama directed a meeting with a Cabinet group to give recommendations on ways to tighten the gun regulations, according to the Chicago Tribune.

A tighter regulation on guns will only cause more issues.

People often find ways around the law, so what will prevent some hooligans from black marketing guns to civilians? It’s these people who cause laws to change and new ones to be made. One bad apple in the pile will ruin the rest.

According to the 2010 Crime Rate by States, Texas has a smaller violent crime rate than Illinois because its gun policies are less strict than Illinois’.

Since 2012, Texas has had a 0.8 percent decrease in

crimes while Illinois has had a 1.54 percent increase.

If civilians feel safer with legally storing a weapon in their homes, work areas and so on, then fewer people would have the nerve to attack other people.

According to the 2nd Amendment, citizens “have the right to bear arms.” If the House of Representatives passes the bill, which bans up to 150 types of firearms, it will violate the 2nd Amendment.

The Senate hopes to increase armed security in schools and public places through a theory called “more guns for the good guys,” as said in an article from “policymic.”

One can say that guns are the reason why violence exists, but in reality, it’s people who are violent.

If guns are banned, then people will find other ways to rebel against the law.

Today, people can make homemade bombs, which I think is worse than a gun, and people turn just about anything into a deadly weapon.

The banishment of guns is an extreme bill to pass. It will only cause a public uproar.

Although I praise the government for responding to the Sandy Hook shooting so quickly, they need to reconsider the bill and enforce punishments instead.

WHS keeps current security policy Megan Provost asst. focus editor

Kristina Piamonte Dale Thal, security guard, looks up a visitor’s information through a program called Identysis. The program allows the security guards to look up any criminal records or other problems that would disallow the visitor in the building.

WHS has not made any drastic changes in security since the recent school shooting in Newtown, Conn.

“There haven’t really been any changes since the shootings. Everything is the same: we just need to be alert and pay attention,” Annette Ambrus, security guard, said.

Current security procedures include the Identisys program, used when visitors enter the building.

“Visitors need a state I.D. with a picture that we put through a scanner, which uses Identysis to check if the person is a sex offender or has any other offences,” Judy “Mama” Kraus, security guard, said.

“We put down their destina-

6. Red Lake Senior High Massacre in 2005- 8 victims

8. California State University Shooting at Fullerton in 19767 victims

1. The Bath School Disaster of 1927- 45 Victims 3. Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012- 28 victims 9. Amish School Shooting in 20067 victims

Top 10 7. Oikos University Worst Shooting in 20127 victims School Columbine in Shootings 5.199915 victims in U.S History

2. Virginia Tech in 2007- 33 victims

4. University of Texas in 1966- 16 victims

Should the government have/need to intervene with shootings?

tion, purpose of visit and who they plan to see.”

The visitor’s I.D. is kept at the security desk, and the visitor is given a lanyard to wear. This lanyard must be returned in order to obtain the I.D. Everyone, including previous graduates and inter-district administrators must go through this process.

All doors leading in or out of the building are kept on constant lock except for the front and back foyers to prevent unidentified visitors from entering the building.

“People ask me, ‘What would you do if someone broke into the building?’ and I tell them, ‘I’d duck underneath my booth, but first I’d call and alert the police and administration,’” Ms. Kraus said. “My first position is to protect the students and make sure they are safe.”

10. Northern Illinois University in 2006- 6 victims

“This is the government’s country they should protect the people. If we use guns for all this violence, then there will never be peace.”

Josh Diaz, freshman

Infographic by Nycole Garcia Information gathered by Megan Provost

“Yes, because that way parents feel safe with sending their childern to school.

Since school should be a safe haven, the government should try harder.”

Margarita Hernandez, sophomore

focus

7

spokesman Feb.8, 2013

WHS takes action by cancelling annual winter assembly Megan Jones editor-in-chief The annual winter holiday assembly was canceled this year due to the recent scare of the Sandy Hook shooting and student rumors of weapon threats on Twitter.

“It was because of the context during that time. With the devastating incident in Newtown, Conn.; it really had the effect of

putting everyone on edge across the country,” Dr. Lazaro Lopez, principal, said.

According to Dr. Lopez, students at WHS and neighboring schools were tweeting and creating a threat to the school.

“This was not the real case, but everyone was still in a heightened sense of fear,” Dr. Lopez said.

“What I was worried about was that during the assembly, someone would say or do something,

intentionally or not, to cause a panic.”

Dr. Lopez had already planned to increase police presence for the assembly.

“However, many students and staff members were concerned with having the whole school population in the gymnasium at once,” Dr. Lopez said.

WHS was not the only high school to cancel events; Barrington High School, a part of

District 220, canceled its school dance after hearing rumors about someone planning to bring a gun to the event. While no credible threat was found, officials wanted more time to investigate before the dance.

“I was really upset that the assembly was canceled,” Breton Spiller, sophomore, said. “Orchesis had worked really hard on the piece we were going to do, but I do understand the concerns for it

because it was the week right after the shooting, and it started at the same time, so there could possibly be panic.”

Dr. Lopez sent out a mass email to the staff members, letters to parents and ran an annoucement to explain the situation about the gun threats.

“It was an awful decision to have to make, and I feel bad for all students who were preparing to perform,” Dr. Lopez said.

Kristina Piamonte Seniors cheer during the 3-point shootout on Friday, Feb. 1 at the Pack the Place pep rally. In contrast, the winter assembly was canceled on Friday, Dec. 21 due to gun threats during the assembly. Dr. Lazaro Lopez, principal, decided to cancel the assembly because of parent and teacher concerns about a large group of students conglomerating in one place. “A lot of rumors of fear were amongst students and parents. The week of the assembly, students at our school and neighboring schools were tweeting and creating a threat to the school,” Dr. Lopez said.

Q & A

After the shootings at Newton, are there any new rules that the school is enforcing to protect its students?

“No, our policies (at WHS) are already making sure that students are safe. Schools in Illinois are required to have crisis plans; it’s a state law.”

Some schools have enforced a new gun drill, similar to a hard lockdown. Is this something that all schools should practice?

with Adam Sherman, school resource officer, about the current security system at WHS and any changes that have been made after the recent shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

What is the current security policy that is used when guests visit the school?

“Guests have to register with security in the front or back of the school with an I.D. through a program called Identysis. This program makes sure that the guest is not a registered sex offender or has a criminal record not allowing them to enter the school.”

“I think it’s good practice. Hopefully no one would have to go through the drill, but it is good practice to have.”

Why do you think soft and hard lockdowns are important for students to practice and know?

“They are required by law but are very helpful, especially to new kids coming in from junior high. (The lockdowns) It teaches where to go and to be ready in case something were to happen. When students are under stress, they will be able to act appropriately when taught something over and over again.”

“They have to be involved but to the point where it is effective, and they just need to understand that there are other recreational uses for guns.”

Steven Wagner, junior

School’s Weapons Policy “A student who is determined to have brought one of the following objects to school, any school-sponsored activity or event or any activity or event that bears a reasonable relationship to school shall be expelled for a period of at least one calender year but no more than two calender years.” (Student Handbook pg. 9)

The following are prohibited: 1. Firearm: any gun, rifle, shotgun, or weapon as defined by Section 921 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, Section 1.1 of the Firearm Onwers Identification Card Act, or Section 24-1 of the Criminal Code 1961.

2. A knife, brass knuckles, or other knuckle weapon regardless of its composition, a billy club or any other object if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm, including “lookalikes.”

Exceptions: 1. The expulsion requirements may be modified by the Superintendent and the Superintendent’s determination may be modified by the Board on a case-by-case basis.

2. Students in theater, cooking, ROTC, martial arts and similar programs, whether or not school-sponsored, provided the item is not equipped, nor intended, to do bodily harm.

Interview by Solinna Chong

“Yes because it’s becoming a big problem; it needs to become a bigger topic than what the government is making it.”

Mallory Schiferl, senior

Infographic by Solinna Chong

“It starts within the community. First with family, then the community, then the states and ends with the federal government.”

Marcus Thomas, Special Ed. teacher

la voz

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spokesman

Febrero 8, 2013

Juarez aspira a ser chef, trabaja hacia sueño de poseer su propio restaurante Rossy Peralta Asst. Ed. for La Voz Hector Juarez, senior, descubrió su talento en la carrera que quiere, el arte culinario.

Cuando Juarez era joven, su mamá trabajaba tarde entonces él hacía comida sencilla que su mamá le había enseñado.

“Me acuerdo que cada vez mi mamá cocinaba, yo tenía que estar en un escabel porque no alcanzaba a ver,” Juarez dijo.

Juarez continuó cocinando afuera de su hogar,

y tomó niveles uno y dos Foods y actualmente esta tomando Pro Start, una clase que da crédito para Harper College.

Pro Start es una clase avanzada de cocina donde los estudiantes provéen comida para la escuela. Crean su propio menú. “Él siempre está motivado y entusiasmado. Él siempre quiere hacer lo mejor para si mismo y se enorgullece de lo que hace,” dijo Jennifer Cederberg, maestra de Ciencia de la Familia y del Consumidor.

La comida favorita que le gusta cocinar es la comida

asiática, “me gusta comerla y cocinarla. Me gusta la llama alta en donde se cocina y la técnica rápida.”

La mamá de Juarez es su inspiración.

“Mi mamá me ha enseñado todo lo que se. Cada semana nosotros cocinabamos la cena y ahora yo ayudo a mi mamá aprender diferentes recetas de otros países,” Juarez dijo.

El estilo de Juarez es cocinar en vez de hornear comida. Le encanta poner su comida en porciones pequeñas y hacerlas elegantes y tener su comida llena de color.

Juarez planea ir a Harper por su programa culinario y después ir a una escuela culinaria más especializada como Kendall College ó Le Cordon Bleu.

También desea aprender nuevos platos y como operar una cocina porque quiere ser jefe de cocina.

Juarez aspira a algún día poseer su propio restaurante.

“Quiero que la gente sepa que soy hispano y que nací con una mamá soltera y quiero hacer algo que amo como mi trabajo. No es un trabajo si lo amas,” Juarez dijo.

Cambios en legislación sobre inmigración Ocho de Enero 2013: La Cámara de Representantes aprovaron las licencias sin documentación con un voto de 65-46.

Licencias sin documentación solo faltan ser aprovadas por el governador de Illinois, Pat Quinn.

29 de Enero d 2013: Presidente Barack Obama habla en Las Vegas sobre aplicar una reforma migratoria en el año 2013.

Secundaria de Wheeling 21 de Enero: ICIRR vendrá a Wheeling High School para un taller acerca de la Acción Diferida.

Usadas con permiso de Hector Juarez Arriba a la izquierda: Hector Juarez, senior, describe este platillo de pollo a la naranja. “Mi estilo de pollo a la naranja encima de arroz blanco con limón y con salsa picante roja.”

Abajo a la izquierda: Juarez cocinó un platillo asiático con su propio toque. “La otra es carne de res con brócoli y al lado es el pollo frito con arroz, guisantes, zanahorias y elote,” Juarez dijo.

Arriba: Juarez cocina una variedad de platillos con carne y sin carne. “Una ensalada de espinacas con aderezo de aceite de oliva y junto a ella es una hamburguesa vegetariana con espinacas, tomate y aguacate en pan de molde,” Juarez dijo.

Vendran abogados voluntarios a WHS para llenar y mandar las aplicaciónes de la Acción Diferida. Estarán en la escuela desde las 6:00 hasta 8:30 p.m.

Para más información, contacta a Bertha Sanchez, abogada estudiantil.

Sra. Delgado crea el Lopez es aprovada para Acción Diferida Club de Baile Latino Colabora con Club Latino para presentar a estudiantes locales

lar, y ahí puede disfrutar por un rato con sus amigos. la voz editor Actualmente, el club Este año escolar, el Club consiste completamente de de Baile Latino bailar. Los estudifué creado. Elizantes van para diabeth Delgado vertirse sin preocreó el club para cuparse de sus que funcionara clases o tareas. como un des- Me gustaría La Sra. Delcanso para los ver más iniciagado dice que estudiantes. planea continuar “Trabajamos, tiva y que siguiera el club mientras trabajamos, tra- siendo solo para siga recibiendo bajamos toda la diversión, pero la misma cansemana,” la Sra. me gustaría añadir tidad de estudialgún elemento de antes.

Delgado dijo.

De acuerdo a coreografía” “Personas la Sra. Delgado, Elizabeth Delgado, nuevas a veces el club recibe patrocinadora son tímidas. Yo entre 20 y 30 fuí tímido al estudiantes reguprincipio. Trato de larmente. bailar con ellos para que se Jorge Alba, junior, y sientan cómodos,” Alba dijo. miembro del club atiende Alba dice que le recoel club la mayoría de los vi- mienda a todos estudiantes ernes. Alba dice que atiende que deseen aprender a baiel club porque le gusta bai- lar que asistan el club.

Perla Jiménez

“

Perla Jiménez la voz editor Lizbeth Lopez, estudiante de Harper College, llegó a los E.E.U.U. como inmigrante ilegal, y con parálisis cerebral.

Este año, graduará lista para trabajar como asistente de fotógrafo, con un permiso de trabajo legal.

Lopez tiene una hermana mayor que también nació con discapacidades.

Debido a esto, su mamá no pudo proveer para todos sus hijos y puso a Lopez para adoptar.

Desde entonces, sus padres adoptivos han hecho el mayor esfuerzo para sacarla adelante y mejorar su futuro.

Jill Amati, asistente administrativa, ha conocido a

su educación universitaria completa.

Gracias a la Acción Diferida, Lopez puede trabajar legalmente.

“Siempre he tenido ganas de trabajar sin miedo de que me vayan a decir algo,” Lopez dijo.

Su historia sirve como inspiración para varios estudiantes.

Este año, Gabriella Medina y Bertha Sanchez, coordinadoras del Club Latino, tratarán de que Lopez visite al Club Latino para compartir su historia con los miembros.

“Solo siento que ella es toda una inspiración,” la Sra. Sanchez dijo.

La Sra. Sanchez dijo que quiere que Lopez sirva como inspiración para los estudiantes de WHS.

“Muchachos lo toman por un hecho. Esa muchacha era ilegal, tenía tantas discapacidades,” la Sra. Sanchez dijo.

Actualmente, Lizeth está a punto de completar su educación universitaria.

Está estudiando diseño gráfico y fotografía. Su escuela le está ofreciendo un trabajo en diseño gráfico.

Después del próximo semestre, Lopez buscará un trabajo como asistente de fotógrafo.

La Sra. Amati dijo que quiere compartir la historia de Lopez en todas ocasiones.

“Sabes, cuando yo tomé la posición, solo era un trabajo. Ahora siento que fui tan bendecida porque ella estuvo en mi vida,” la Sra. Amati dijo.

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Lopez desde que estaba en el grado ocho, cuando la Sra. Amti fue su “one-onone.”

Esto ayuda a los estudiantes con discapacidades completar los trabajos escolares que no pueden hacer solos.

La Sra. Amati describe a Lopez como una persona quien es trabajadora, perseverante y positiva.

Lopez también tiene discapacidad de aprender, más que nada para las matemáticas.

De acuerdo a la Sra. Amati, cuando Lopez tenía problemas con una materia, se esforzaba hasta llegar a una calificación de una B o A. Debido a sus logros personales, el United Cerebral Palsy of Chicago pagó por

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entertainment

9

spokesman

Feb. 8, 2013

Bieber releases ‘Believe Acoustic’ Picks of the Month Latest release abandons computer enhanced beats for acoustics ALBUM: Robert Perales With the distribution of Justin Bieber’s latest re-release, “Believe Acoustic,” the question of whether or not the original release was good enough to even get a re-release arises. While the answer might be a simple no, “Believe Acoustic,” does much more for its audience than first anticipated.

Although some tracks benefit from the different instrumental breakdowns - “Boyfriend” and “Take You” - the majority of the re-released songs represent dry and depleted versions of the original tracks.

The opening track, “Boyfriend,” is the only track on the album to fully display Bieber’s immense potential through an acoustic track.

The original version uses a majority of computer enhanced synths and beats to create more of a radio friendly track, but the electronics negatively affect the track by making it sound more juvenile and geared toward a much younger age group.

On the other hand, the stripped down acoustic version displays Bieber’s flexibility as an artist as well as his continuous

growth in terms of his maturity. The rearrangement abandons the computer enhanced elements and allows listeners to hear the fragility and tone in Bieber’s voice, which has obviously grown since the release of “Believe” last year.

Aside from “Boyfriend” and “Take You,” the rest of the rereleased tracks on the album fail to make much improvement from the previous versions.

Some tracks have even managed to lose a sense of what has m a d e t h e m special, including their dynamic instrumental beats.

T h e h i t singles “ B e aut y and a B e at ” and “All Around t h e World” perfectly exemplify the tracks that are no longer considered standouts. The original tracks were evidently refreshing tracks to mainstream music, but the acoustic versions abandon their powerful elements.

However, the album is salvaged by the inclusion of three original tracks, two of which are some of Bieber’s strongest

tracks.

The first original track, “Yellow Raincoat,” allows listeners to adapt to Bieber’s evolving sound. Although the lyrics and melody are simple, the track arouses a nostalgic aura.

T h e second track, “I Would,” revolts back to Biebers juvenile at t e mp t at music making. “ I f I could t a k e a w a y the pain and put a smile on your f a c e , baby, I wou l d ,” Bieber sings as the chorus of the song.

The tracks lyrics and instrumental break down, while they’re simple and unflattering, will garner widespread attention from Bieber’s largest fan group, teenage girls.

On another note, the album closes with one of Bieber’s strongest tracks released to

date. The self-penned track, “Nothing Like Us,” is rumoured to be about Bieber’s past relationship with Selena Gomez.

Nevertheless, the track displays Bieber in his strongest element.

As the closing track, “Nothing Like Us” rounds out an overall lacking album and allows it to conclude in the brightest way possible.

Despite lacking in multiple categories, “Believe Acoustic” serves as a major step forward for Bieber’s career as it demonstrates his potential to grow as an artist in the future.

The album debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 with over 120,000 copies sold according to Nielsen Soundscan, which is the tracking system for record sales in the U.S. and Canada.The latest release marks Bieber’s fourth number 1 album on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Bieber will continue to embark on his 3rd worldwide tour, the “Believe Tour,” in order to promote his two previous releases before finally making an appearance in Chicago on July 9 at the United Center.

This event will mark Bieber’s third appearance in Chicago since the release of his debut album “My World 2.0.” His current tour has garnered over 85 million dollars worldwide.

Hollywood lacks originality with movies edy out there today, and now do we have to watch the same three drunkards, and their same stupid antics for yet a third movie?

A plot twist, please.

Paranormal Activity 5 Release date: Oct. 25

Nigel was grinning right in my face. Though out of these remakes, this may be the most sensible because of it’s beautiful undersea 3-D effects. “The Little Mermaid 3-D”, which was set to release in September, has been canceled due to decreasing success in 3-D reissues.

Jurassic Park 3-D Release Date: April 5

Megan Provost What to look forward to in 2013: sequels, sequels and the occasional 3-D remake. Is it the audience’s unconditional love for these movies or the lack of original ideas in the cinematic industry that keep these same titles returning to the box office?

We have to keep up with the times; they’re changing rapidly, and we can’t keep extending the same movies over and over again, especially in terms of movies based on books or shows, such as “The Smurfs.” It was fun to see a familiar story on the big screen, but let’s just leave it at that. Don’t ruin a childhood favorite by wearing it out with relentless sequels.

The Smurfs 2 Release Date: July 31

Tired Plots The Hangover Part III Release date: May 24

The lamp fell, the girl screamed, they caught it on tape and now we’re on movie number five. While it’s true to say that we (especially teenagers) enjoy being scared, these movies have just become bets on which piece of furniture is going to move first.

In Your Face

It was funny the first time... and the second...and the third?

It’s already hard enough dealing with the same relentless plot consisting of drunk friends and crude humor almost every com-

3-D Disney Remakes (“Nemo,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Monster’s Inc.”) Please, just don’t mess with the classics. Belle was just as stunning when her dress wasn’t swooping across the audience, and Boo melted their hearts when she was a figure on a screen. “Nemo” was just as good in 2-D as it was when

Tegan and Sara’s latest effort, “Heartthrob,” combines elements of indie pop, rock and new wave.

The album has been positively reviewed from fans and critics. The album’s singles, “Closer” and “I’m Not Your Hero” are sure to be hits among T&S fans.

APP:

The widely renowned multi-player app, “Fun Run,” follows a group of woodland creatures that must overcome an obstacle course set up by opponents. The App is currently one of the highest grossing apps at the iTunes store.

MOVIE:

After much anticipation, “Warm Bodies” saw a worldwide release on Feb. 1. The film was met with positive reviews for its crude humor and originality. It has already grossed over 88 million dollars, deeming it a box office hit.

TV SHOW: The fate of these remakes rests on the success of “Jurassic Park 3-D,” coming out on April 5. Who knows, just because these beasts couldn’t save themselves doesn’t mean they can’t save Disney’s 3-D endeavor.

...Part 2

“Despicable Me 2,” “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2,” “The Smurfs 2” - I must admit, I am a child at heart, and these movies were cute the first time around. Why risk ruining the first by attempting a second? I feel that sequels to the movies that kids loved the first time only take away from the initial and really, they get old.

I laughed during “The Hangover,” I can’t watch “Paranormal” without hiding my face half the time and I can quote “Finding Nemo” without skipping a beat. Just because the audience responds positively to something doesn’t mean you feed it to them all over again. It becomes bland... Spice things up a little, Hollywood.

If I really have to listen to little yellow Minions mumbling nonsense for a third movie, I might as well spend my movie nights at home with the originals, thanks.

“The Americans” follows a group of Soviet Spies impersonating American families during the Cold War. The TV series has sparked interest from both critics and fans.

The third episode of the series will air on Feb. 13 on Fx. Infographic by Robert Perales & Chris Nush

forum

10

spokesman

Feb. 8, 2013

editorial

P.E. vocab requires retention for impact

While Spokesman commends the physical education (P.E.) teachers for incorporating vocabulary into more departments of the school besides English, the terms need to be incorporated in more meaningful ways and be used more often to create a lasting impact on the students.

The P.E. classes’ curriculum now incorporates learning the 100 most commonly used words on the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE). After looking through WHS’s test scores data, the idea seems genius. Only 42.4 percent of WHS students met reading standards on the PSAE. However, the idea lacks in one major area: overestimating students’ ability of memorization.

Though the vocabulary words

on the announcements are a great better memory retention. idea, they only stay on the screen By adapting more holistic learnfor 30 seconds before flashing to to- ing, the students will hold a better day’s lunch menu. In addition, some retention for the vocabulary words. some P.E. teachers only repeat their Instead of pounding information words right before activities. While into the students’ brains before the short can be deemed “sweet,” it badminton lesson, we should focus doesn’t help in education. on weaving the knowledge into In 1885, Hermann Ebbingother things we already unhaus, psychologist, proved derstand. that we will forget up to 90 The P.E. department 7 out of 8 percent of what we learn has started this promembers of without the use of repcess by hanging postetition and the quality of ers around the gym the editorial memory representation. and printing the words board agree.

Ebbinghaus calls this on the back of fitness the forgetting curve and cards. shows that it helps when However, Spokesman people relate what they know to would like to see more of a something that is important to them bridged gap into incorporating because connecting ideas allows for words into conversations through-

Gang representation creates gray areas, unfair judgment

Jacquelin Camacho For many years, the Chicagoland area has been home to dozens of dangerous gangs. Gang violence and representation has been a recurring concern in our area. WHS has had issues with gangs, and it has maintained a strict dress code to discourage students from getting involved in gang activity.

Like many other high schools, WHS has to keep up with the changing color combinations, numbers and symbols of gangs. Deans and security guards must constantly keep watch to stop students from using certain clothing and reinforce WHS’s intolerance of gang activity and image.

It is not difficult for the deans to identify the people who are involved in gangs.

Shockingly, by the time students become freshmen, WHS’s administration has already been informed of who is involved in what gang.

“We have meetings with the middle schools. Kids rarely get involved in high school; it starts in middle school,” Ramon Williams, dean of students, says.

The deans have a fourpage long, handwritten list describing each gang

and its fashion trends. The never-ending list shocked me; I realized how oblivious I was to a lot of fashion trends that belong to the culture of the area’s gangs.

It is handwritten because it is constantly changing, and it seems that many of the items of clothing that gangs are wearing could be in any student’s closet.

“The kids who cannot wear these things already know. I have meetings with them and their parents, and I review the list with them,” Dean Williams said.

He mentions that he finds it important for the deans and security guards to be proactive about new trends and not leave it up to teachers to recognize trends.

“I want them (the teachers) to focus on their jobs,” Dean Williams said.

It is really important for the administration to remain educated in the fashion trends of gang members to be able to effectively enforce a dress code that does not tolerate gang representation. However, gangs have employed so many color combinations and symbols to represent their gangs that a gray area has been created that the deans and other students must deal with.

“Recently, I’ve caught onto the MLDs using Bulls jerseys to represent their gang,” Dean Williams said.

Not all students are forbidden from wearing Bulls jerseys, but students who have been identified for having been involved in gang activity must follow a stricter dress code.

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“I was told to take off my Bulls jersey once,” Jocelyn Cruz, senior, said.

She was approached by a staff member for wearing a Joakim Noah jersey earlier this year.

“I am not involved in any gangs at all, I am just a huge fan of Noah. I was really mad when I was told I could not wear the jersey,” Cruz said.

Despite Cruz’s claim to not be involved in gangs, she has chosen to refrain from wearing her jersey since then to avoid confrontation with staff members again.

“During Pack the Place week, I saw a couple of people wearing Noah’s jersey. I asked myself why I was not allowed to wear my jersey, but they were. I want to be able to wear mine again, too,” Cruz said.

The misunderstandings between students and staff in regards to gang related fashion trends could result in unfair punishments. In Cruz’s case, she was singled out for representing a gang that she did not even know existed.

Although the administration does its best to only apply stricter dress codes to students who have already received violations, they should also respond to situations like Cruz’s in a different way. Because some of the fashion trends are not obvious to people who are not involved in gangs, like the Bulls jerseys, the WHS staff should be more aware of who has already been identified as a gang member and who is simply rooting for their home team.

Editor-in-Chief *Megan Jones

out the workout rather than just stating them. It is also highly important for students to take learning the vocab words seriously; learning these words could help their future greatly, whether it be incorporating them into cover letters, resumes, job interviews or receiving higher test scores.

The process laid out by the P.E. department has been an excellent step in the right direction to help our school. We have always struggled with lower testing scores, but this gives us a higher chance to improve as we look at vocabulary all throughout our day at WHS. We have had a great start with this new program, but the terms need to be incorporated more for a lasting impact.

Megan Provost

Staff Reporters Antonia Arismendis Katia Bryhadyr Megan Brezka Mike Pink

Graphic Designers Henry Gonzalez Nycole Garcia Adviser John Uhrik

Thumbs Up...

To the Certified Nurse’s Assistants (CNA) who took the State exam during finals. After three years of hard work they finally got the opportunity to get their certification.

To the Wildcat staff and local retailers for contributing $16,156 for the United Way Contribution Campaign for 2013. The amount was more than double any other school in District 214.

To the custodians for taking the extra time to search for Sandra Gruen’s, English teacher, diamond that fell out of her engagement ring. Not only does that require extra work, but the fact that he returned it after finding it is a feat for mankind today.

Thumbs Down...

To some of the athletic coaches for never updating Athletics 2000. The community takes an interest, but is denied updates.

This is the official student newspaper of Wheeling High School, 900 S. Elmhurst Road, Wheeling, Ill. 60090. Written, edited and distributed 8 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.

Letters- Spokesman is a limited public forum and welcomes a free exchange of ideas from all readers. Readers are encour-

aged 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 print any known errors here in the issue following our gaining knowledge of the error.

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CorrectionsNone.

sports

11

spokesman

Feb. 8, 2013

Peterson moves to varsity level, stands as most improved player asst. sports editor

Moving to Varsity

Coming into a team of seniors, Maryssa Peterson, junior, has “fit in well” with the rest of the varsity girls bowling team.

She scored her highest game ever, a 242, a high series of 531 and averaged between a 150 and 165 the entire season.

“That 242, I’m really proud of that. Before my high game was like a 225, so I really did improve,” Peterson said.

This year was Peterson’s first year on the varsity team, and according to Beth Anderson, bowling coach, she has improved immensely.

“Her average from last year went up by 32 pins, so she’s varsity’s most improved player,” Ms. Anderson said.

Peterson says she’s grown closer to the girls this year and met more people, which was one of her goals coming into the season. Ms. Anderson agreed, saying that Peterson fit in really well with the chemistry of the team of seniors.

“It (the season), was fun, and we’re all friends so it was nice,” Heather Hok, senior, said. “Everyone had a good time and enjoyed it.”

highest scorer, with a 1,078 six game series. Hok had a ‘Family Time’ Peterson started bowling 995 series and came in 50th, with her family after watch- while Peterson came in 60th, ing her parents bowl in a with a 982 series for six work league. She has bowled games.

While WHS for eight years had no state now. qualifiers, ac“My family cording to Ms. bowls almost evAnderson, the ery Sunday toseason ended gether, and my on a high sister wanted She’s involved in a note, with lot of stuff and she’s me to bowl (for most girls Wheeling),” Pe- done a really good bowling above terson said. “It job of balancing average. means a lot; it’s everything and being family time and Teachers family is every- there when we need her.” thing to me.” vs.

Peterson’s Bowlers family attends Beth Anderson, For Peterevery meet she bowling coach son though, competes in. the best part “It’s so imof the season portant to me, was bowling and they know it in a match is,” Peterson said. against the teachers as a part of a bet Team Stats they had.

The team’s record this Five of the top varsity year is 3-11, and they placed bowlers (Peterson, Hok, 10th in the MSL league over- Markiewicz, Bardak and all.

Sam Nowry, senior) bowled Cailey Markiewicz, se- against Brent Pearlman, nior, had the highest average football coach, Kevin Muck, of a 155.85. The team placed physical education division 10th out of the 18 teams that head, Donald Rowley, social were at Sectionals. science teacher, Joe WolinAline Bardak, senior, ski, physical education teachcame in 34th place out of er and Rocco Teiri, athletic 112 bowlers and was WHS’s trainer.

“

The bowling team won in a series total of 1,519 pins to 1,329.

“Mr. Pearlman was my gym teacher, and we were in the student activities office.

He didn’t know I bowled, and he said, ‘I challenge you,’” Hok said.

The match took place on Dec. 19, 2012, and a rematch is being planned soon. However, the teachers want to verse the JV team instead this time.

“I knew we were going to kill them. They just became a team and we’ve been bowling everyday,” Peterson said.

Right: Maryssa Peterson, junior, bowls during varsity practice. Next season, she hopes to improve by “increasing my average and getting better with spares.”

She improved her average this year by 30 pins.

Used with permission from Lair

‘Stampede’ stands strong despite school sponsorship

Mike Pink

staff reporter Wheeling, Hersey and Buffalo Grove High Schools “typically” never get along, especially in athletics. Fans taunt opposing players and schools whenever they play against each other resulting in bad blood throughout the conference. That is all forgotten about on the ice.

The three schools have combined forces to make a powerhouse of a hockey team, nicknamed the “Stampede,” which is coached by Bob Wagner, head hockey coach.

The Stampede competes in the IHSL High School Hockey League where its biggest rival is Warren, according to Austin Lockwood, senior and junior varsity player.

“Warren is our biggest rival because they get a lot of penalties, and so do we.

They also like to fight, so

we don’t take it and fight back,” Lockwood said.

Drew Downey, sophomore, and Alex Marriner, junior, make up the WHS section of the varsity team.

“It would feel good if the school would sponsor a team to represent that school because a lot of people don’t really know that the school has a team, and more people would come out and see us play,” Downey said.

The Stampede is a nonschool sponsored team, unlike all of the other Wheeling sports teams. The team relies on profits from donations and players’ parents.

“Things were tough the past couple years moneywise because a lot of our parents struggled, but we are in great shape moving forward,” Coach Wagner said.

While many are now just tuning back into the world of hockey with the National

Hockey League (NHL) lockout ceased, this hockey team has practiced since September.

The team currently stands at 26-1-2 and ranked second in the State bracket.

The Stampede is starting to become a dynasty with the great seasons that they have been having.

The Stampede team from 2010-2011 made it to the Final Four in the state before losing to Rockford.

“John Cappuccitti is our best player by far,” Lockwood said.

John Cappuccitti, junior, attends Hersey and was recently elected to the All-State team along with Andrew Cole, junior, and Josh Guertler, senior, who both attend Buffalo Grove.

“Our future looks bright with young players; we’ve always had enough players for a junior varsity and varsity team,” Coach Wagner said.

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sports Volume 49 Issue 5

Feb. 8, 2013

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Wieder: ‘We haven’t reached full potential’ Jean Pabon staff reporter

Chris Nush

Jason Wieder • Graduated from WHS in 2002

• Attended College at the University of Illinois • Majored in health and physical education • Hobbies: Attending sporting events • Fan of: Cubs and Blackhawks • Previously coached: Eighth-grade boys basketball at Northridge Prep in Niles, high school golf, high school baseball and the Buffalo Grove Bills Youth Football.

• While attending WHS, he was a four-year varsity starter in baseball and also played football and basketball.

• Last year, he coached WHS’s sophomore baseball team with a record of 13-20.

• Last year’s varsity record: 1- 24.

Despite the one game win out of last year’s season, Jason Wieder, new baseball coach, plans to change the whole program and keep a positive attitude for the future and the players.

“The team is made up of some of the best players I believe haven’t reached full potential, and I‘ve also seen great senior leadership and some good underclassmen talent,” Coach Wieder said.

According to David Shapiro, senior and varsity captain, Coach Wieder knows what he is doing and connects with his players.

Coach Wieder also wants to improve the team chemistry and promote leadership in his players.

“He puts team chemistry as a priority, and that’s important for winning,” Shapiro said.

A team Twitter account was made so the players “can be motivated and proud of what they do.” Through the account, Coach Wieder will post practices, team meetings and game statistics.

Ryan Bendewald, senior and varsity captain, thinks that the Twitter account “is great because it relates to us high school students and makes it easier to communicate.”

“I want to build new traditions, a culture based on hard

work and make the sport year-round,” Coach Wieder said.

Ian Gilliam, senior and varsity captain, said that Coach Wieder gets all the players to come together, “work our hardest and push other players to do their best.”

Coach Wieder is not the first to take on a new coaching position this year, he is one of three new coaches, who include, Brent Pearlman, football coach, and Anthony Como, basketball coach.

“It’s been really good for us because we can bounce ideas off each other so that we can turn the programs around, and it’s really been exciting taking on this new role,” Coach Como said.

Coach Wieder has played sports since age 4; he began playing T-Ball and grew to travel baseball. He graduated from WHS in 2002 and played as a four year varsity starter for the baseball team.

“I grew up here, went here, and now it’s great to be back.” Coach Wieder said.

“It’s always been player and team development, so that I can lie down a foundation for future years and for the athletes to look back at their accomplishments and progress over the years.”

According to Coach Wieder, he enjoys that through baseball “you have to think your way through the game.”

Sports scandals shed negative light

Kristina Piamonte Ryan Bendewald, senior, practices his pitching for the upcoming season. “We have a legit chance to compete in any game that we play in,” Bendewald said.

Heard in the Lunchroom: How would you feel if your favorite sports athlete was involved in a scandal?

Mike Pink

MANTI TE’O: The Notre Dame linebacker was caught in a lie after the news spread that his alleged girlfriend (a woman who Te’o said died during the BCS national championship game) never existed. Ronaiah Tuiasosopo admitted to posing online as Te’o’s girlfriend.

LANCE ARMSTRONG: In a personal interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong, a seven consecutive Tour de France winner, admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.

The recent discoveries of Lance Armstrong getting caught for doping along with Manti Te’o getting “catfished” sheds a negative light on the integrity of sports and strays from the true meaning.

In this day in age, seeing a major athlete get in trouble for performance enhancing drugs (PED) is not uncommon. Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds and Shawne Merriman are a few of the major athletes who were caught. The younger generation of athletes are coming in faster and stronger. The older athletes need to keep the competitive edge, so they resort to PED’s. I don’t blame the older generation for using PED’s because the current atmosphere of sport’s leaves no other option but embarrassment.

Armstrong was the best cycler in the world for over a decade; not many Americans liked cycling before Armstrong rose up into the elite ranks. The “Lance Armstrong situation” is the only one that will hurt its own sport. Cycling is going to become forgotten about in the United States.

On the other hand, Te’o was lied to about his online “girlfriend.” I feel bad for the guy even if you hate Notre Dame. The spotlight was on Te’o for weeks and he couldn’t do anything about it. If anything, the Te’o situation will hurt online dating sites instead of football.

The media blew these situations out of proportion. It was annoying to only see stories about Armstrong and Te’o for weeks after they happened.

“I wouldn’t really care, since it’s their life and it doesn’t impact me.”

“I’d feel upset, like he’s not really a good athlete anymore.”

Daisy Guerrero, freshman

Ryan Schatz, sophomore

“I would feel disappointed, like they were lying to me.”

“(My favorite athlete) was Tiger Woods. We idealize sports athletes more than anyone, but we shouldn’t.”

Aaron Jung, junior

Jack Ferguson, senior

Photo Opinion by Jean Pabon, Chris Nush and Kelly McKewin