november chief available - Pontiac Township High School
Transcription
november chief available - Pontiac Township High School
PONTIAC TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL The Chief Online PTHS Hosts Holocaust Survivor November 2014 November 2014 Inside this Issue: Veteran’s Day 2 By Jordan Triplett Student Survey 3 Marion Blumenthal Lazan recently came to PTHS and her message was powerful. Mrs. Lazan reminded us all that we need to be kind and tolerant to each other. Mrs. Lazan told us Inside this issue: Upperclass Acts 4 all how she grew up in a concentration camp and how every day she would try and find four similar pebbles to represent her family; if she found all four then every member of her family Music Dept. 5 had survived the night. She spoke of the terrible conditions she and her family lived under, as well as the German Shepherds that guarded the compound where they were held. To this Reviews 5-6 day she is still terrified of those dogs. As she concluded her presentation, she reminded us that we were the last generation who would be able to hear a firsthand account of the terror Our Voice 7 of the Nazis. Now it is up to us to make sure that future generations know about the concentration camps and the stories of the survivors. Student Poetry 8 I was lucky enough to have been able to get a picture with Mrs. Lazan and to talk with her a bit. Listening to her, you’d never guess that she was prisoner in a concentration camp. She’s been able to put the past behind her and continue forward. She’s truly made the most out of life and she is one of the most cheerful and outgoing people I’ve ever met. It’s aweinspiring that she didn’t become bitter and hide herself away from the world to prevent it from ever hurting her again. The halls of PTHS were filled with praise and exclamations of awe for Mrs. Lazan, whose story is one that will be remembered for years to come. Sports Ask Trippy 9 10 CATCH UP WITH PTHS EVENTS AT HIGH SCHOOL CUBE Click HERE for the War Museum Project Template! For more information on Marion and her book visit: www.fourperfectpebbles.com/ 1 Veteran’s Day Ceremony On Tuesday November 11, PTHS welcomed community veterans to a ceremony held in their honor. The crowded auditorium was filled with students, teachers, Daughters of the American Revolution, and veterans from all branches of the armed forces. Band and Concert Choir performed several songs, including a rousing rendition of “Armed Forces – The Pride of America.” Illinois Studies students presented a new project which would allow one to memorialize the military service of his or her relatives, preserving for the future their sacrifices. Matthew Kreeb, an Army guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery in Washington DC from 2001-2005, addressed students with a speech concerning his experience of remaining vigilant and maintaining “the highest respect for the highest service.” He related stories of standing guard at the Tomb even during the hurricane of 2003 and not flinching even when bugs were crawling on his face. Near the end of the ceremony, Jeanette Wooldridge and Jordan Triplett explained the origin of “Taps” before the mournful sounds of trumpets sounded and shots were fired outside in tribute to our fallen soldiers. Overall, the Veteran’s Day ceremony was a moving event for both students and the community. New Teacher Report: Mr. Bruck Mr. Bruck is a new teacher this year in the Special Education department. This is his third year teaching and loves every second of it. The reason why he went into teaching was because he loves working with kids and he wants to help others appreciate history like he does. Mr. Bruck earned a degree in Social Science Education at Eureka College and a Political Science degree at the University of Iowa, earning a special education endorsement though Aurora University. His favorite things to do are golfing and traveling, and his favorite places that he has been are Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami. His top activities this summer were playing golf, going to White Sox baseball games, and coaching basketball and football. Please join The Chief in welcoming Mr. Bruck to the building! 2 Ghost Hunter Returns to PTHS By Jeanette Wooldridge When you were walking through the school in October, you might have noticed a familiar face in the Social Studies hallway. His name in Adam Selzer and he was also here two years ago in Mr. Treadway’s and Mr. Soares’s classes. Selzer is a writer of a long list of books, a historian, and a ghost hunter from Chicago. He came here to PTHS to talk to Mr. Sweetwood’s Illinois Studies class. The class was learning about H. H. Holmes, a serial killer around the time of Jack the Ripper, and being a historian Adam taught them some things that weren’t in their text books. One of the biggest is that contrary to popular belief, Holmes only killed around twenty people instead of two hundred. He found this out by using primary source documents which he used to lead into his next topic of decision: ghosts. Selzer gives ghost tours of different Chicago buildings and he showed students several of the documents that he has gathered as a ghost hunter. Students were especially impressed by a “ghost recording” that he had on his phone. Every class that Selzer presented to enjoyed it very much and we would love to have him come back again. Read more about Adam Selzer HERE! PTHS on Social Media Check out PTHS on Facebook and Twitter using the icons at the top of our page or click HERE. Speed Dating with Books Student Survey: Favorite Thanksgiving Food Stuffing - Wren Woodburn Macaroni and cheese soul food style - Jeffrey Elem Corn casserole - Rachel Watson Mashed potatoes - Zak Lemke Candied yams - Jeremiah Rowland Mom's homemade cranberry sauce - Becca Lemke Deer stew - Adam Holzhauer Rolls - Jake Ledford Cheesecake - Brandi Mueller Turkey - Blake Whittle Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts casserole - Hannah McCoy Winner! Congratulations to Brianna Chatman, Winner of the Halloween Pumpkin Coloring Contest English classes “speed date” with new books in the Yates Library 3 Upperclass Acts FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Prom 2013 and all of the Homecoming Weeks 3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Food, Math, Shopping PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Play volleyball at Kankakee Community College then transfer to a 4-year university to study Accounting FAVORITE MOVIE: Gone Girl MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera Jordan Grieff ROLE MODEL(S): My mom and dad ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Student Council President, Key Club, C.A.P.T.A.I.N.S., Science Club, National Honor Society, Volleyball Neil Lambert ROLE MODEL(S): Brian Lambert ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Basketball, baseball, Key Club, CAPTAINS FAVORITE AUTHOR/BOOK: If I Stay by Gayle Forman MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Getting involved in Student Council and becoming President FAVORITE BOOKS: Overachievement: The New Model for Exceptional Performance and Mind Gym FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Becoming basketball regional champs. MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Being nominated for National Student Leadership Conference on National Intelligence & Homeland Security in Washington DC by Mr. Treadway. 3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Baseball, computer networking/business, politics PET PEEVES: People having many half-completed tasks and none completed.. PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Play baseball at Arkansas State WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: Competitive, determined and intense FAVORITE MOVIE: Tommy Boy MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: "American Soldier" by Toby Keith FAVORITE TEACHER/CLASS: Mr. Christie/AP US History FAVORITE AUTHOR: Malcolm Gladwell HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? Start up a business with my brother. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? Bat, ball, glove 4 WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: My positive attitude, being smart, and my voice every morning with the pledge HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? I would buy a Range Rover and spend the rest during my broke college years. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? 1. KitKats 2. My phone 3. My snuggie with my pillow pet FAVORITE TEACHER/CLASS: Accounting with Mrs. Mullen NICKNAMES: J-Grieff PET PEEVES: Slow drivers, people who just randomly stop walking in the middle of the hallway LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Follow your dreams, step out of your comfort zone, and live with no regrets. Enjoy these four years, they go by fast.” (P.S. George kills Lenny) LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: "Make your disadvantage your advantage." Look for the print version of The Chief in The Pontiac Daily Leader Music Department Update By Jessica Ping The Music Department has completed a great fall season this year! On October 18th the Marching Indians went down to Champaign-Urbana to compete in the highly anticipated University of Illinois marching band competition. With high hopes, the band finished out a great season by coming in 4th in their class! Congratulations on a successful season! On the October 19th, all of the school’s choir’s put on a great performance at their fall concert. Treble One, Treble Two, Men’s Choir, Concert Choir, the Madrigal Choir and the Barbershop Quartet all did a fantastic job of sharing some great music and entertaining the community. Presently, all the choirs and bands are preparing for our Christmas Joy Concert on December 14th! Also, the Madrigal ensembles have been working very hard to prepare for their performances on December 11th, 12th and 13th! Tickets for the 48th annual Madrigal Dinner are on sale now! Visit the music department’s Twitter and Facebook page for more details! We hope to see you this holiday season Click HERE for the Music Department’s website HEAR YE, HEAR, YE HEAR YE! Tickets are now on sale for the 48th Annual PTHS Madrigal Dinners! You are cordially invited to the 48th Annual Madrigal Dinners! Be transported to 16th Century England and be the honored guests of Lord and Lady Pontiac! Enjoy the beautiful costumes and castle decorations as you hear wonderful music by our Madrigal and Court Singers as well as our Brass and Recorder ensembles. Experience the joy and revelry of the occasion all while enjoying a delicious, candlelit three course meal! Whether you are a returning guest or will be visiting Castle Pontiac for the first time, the Pontiac Township High School Madrigal Dinners are the perfect way to begin your Holiday Season! The Dinners will be held at the Pontiac Elks Lodge on December 10th, 11th and 12th. Tickets are $28.00 and can be purchased by… 1. Picking up a Ticket Order Form in the PTHS front office. 2. Purchasing online at www.pontiacmadrigals.com 3. Printing off and mailing in a form at ticketform.pontiacmadrigals.com PTHS Student Performs at ILMEA District III Jazz Festival Senior band member, Ethan Putnam, was selected by audition to participate st on November 1 in the Illinois Music Educators District III Jazz Festival Festival on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington. Ethan was chosen from students across the central Illinois district. The students rehearsed throughout the day and performed in concert at 3:30 p.m. in the Westbrook Auditorium. Ethan’s jazz band was under the direction of Dr. Don Owens, formerly Jazz Director at Northwestern University. Congratulations, Ethan! 5 Book Review: After by Anna Todd Review by Dena Boatman Tessa Young has had her life planned out since an early age. She has known what college she was going to for a long time. When it is finally time for her to leave, she is ecstatic. She leaves early in the morning with her mother and her perfect boyfriend, Noah. The moment she steps into her dorm room, she knows college life isn’t going to be what she expected. Instead of the long dresses and loose fitting clothes she wears, there are tight clothes with barely any material already in the closet. The band posters hung in the room are definitely not bands she listens to. Her roommate, Steph, who has bright red hair and tattoos is not someone she would usually associate with. Steph tries to include Tessa in her social life, and that includes meeting her friends, which includes Hardin Scott. Hardin is a boy from England with a serious attitude problem. He seems to have hated Tessa since the moment he saw her. Whenever they are together, they are constantly at each other’s throats. When Tessa starts to have more feelings than just hate for Hardin, she throws the feelings away. She has a wonderful boyfriend after all! When Hardin starts displaying feelings for her too, will she drop her perfect life to be with him? Of course she’ll try, because after she met Hardin nothing mattered anymore. The first time I read After it wasn’t even a proper book. It was just some story somebody put up on Wattpad. This online trilogy kept getting more and more popular and now over 200,000,000 have read it! The first book of the series was released last month and the second will come out later this month. The book is also going to be turned into a movie. It is a fantastic romance novel and one of my favorites! Click HERE for the author's website. Movie Review By Cassidy Murphy “Some people get better with age. Vincent is not one of them.” Recently released, and personally one of the best movies I’ve seen this year, St. Vincent tells the story of an often unruly war veteran who is recruited as a babysitter by his new neighbor. Vincent “Vin” MacKenna (Bill Murray) spends his time losing his limited income frequenting the horse tracks and other unproductive activities. Next door, Maggie Bronstein (Melissa McCarthy), a newly single mother, and her son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher) are moving in. Maggie is forced to work long hours at the hospital, so Oliver finds himself paired up with Vin. Soon, an odd friendship begins to blossom between the two. Together, with Daka (Naomi Watts) who is pregnant, the odd threesome continue to visit Vin’s daily stops, which includes a nursing home. Oliver begins to understand that Vin is visiting his wife, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. As he begins to see through all of Vin’s dirt and grumpiness, an idea sparks. Oliver’s school is holding an assembly to pay tribute to all the “saints” in the city. And he knows just who his saint is. stvincentfilm.com/ St. Vincent is definitely a must-see movie this year. I was honestly blown away by the acting in this movie, in particular, Bill Murray. This comedy-drama is probably not what you are used to seeing him in, but he does a phenomenal job. This movie will bring laughter and sadness to everyone who watches, and you will be drawn right into the story of Vincent and Oliver’s friendship. 6 Our Voice Pop Culture Update By Baylee Ritter By Jessica Ping During the month of November there is so much to look forward to, including Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and everyone’s favorite: the November election. As someone who cannot vote, this “holiday” isn’t really of any importance to me. That is until I have to suffer through the countless hours of political campaign ads that flood our TV’s, radios, telephones, and mailboxes. Although the under-eighteen year olds of the United States cannot give our opinion through a ballot, we are still very much entitled to have one about the constant mudslinging of this political season. I surveyed three people under eighteen to get their opinion on the nasty words to win. Taylor Swift has done it again! She has taken the world by storm with her new album, 1989. Her fans are all very impressed with her new and, in some people’s opinion, improved sound. 1989 is a strictly pop album which is completely different from her formerly pop/country vibe. She did note that her music is still very much centered on her former loves. When people hate on her for this common running trait in her music, she in turn accuses them of being sexist. Swift claims it’s not fair because other celebrities like Ed Sheeran and Bruno Mars write about their exes and present girlfriends and no one bats an eye. She has a point. If you’re curious you can check out her new album on iTunes, but don’t even try to check Spotify. The singer/songwriter has just pulled all of her music from the music streaming website. Why? In her opinion, it doesn’t give proper recognition to the people who created the music. Taylor knows exactly what she wants and it doesn’t seem like she is leaving the spotlight anytime soon! According to high school Senior Clair Bammann, “The political campaigns disgust me! They are so dirty and negative that I usually change the radio station or TV channel so I don’t have to listen to them.” She also adds that when she turns eighteen she will most likely vote for the politicians who slam the least amount of people during their campaign season. Taylor Ritter, who is three years away from voting, states that, It is a shame that they spent so much money on these annoying ads when that money could be spent on schools or other debt throughout the state of Illinois.” Both of these girls are very up to date with Illinois politics and they are still floored that so many false accusations and finger pointing claims were put out this election season. I then asked our editor-in-chief, Jessica, to get a third opinion on the subject. She states, “I don’t know where my parents stand politically or anyone else for that matter and I don’t know the significance between Republicans and Democrats, but to be honest I don’t actually care. I believe a national leader should be an ideal leader who is an overall good person and has good intentions for the betterment of society and not which side of a certain spectrum he or she falls under.” She sums up this political season up perfectly. The general consensus is that the badmouthing campaigns have a negative effect on teenagers. We watch them and know that whoever paid the money to spread all of the lies into our homes will not get our vote when it is our time to share our opinion. The winner is ultimately the person who has the best morals and ideals for the state of Illinois and ultimately our nation. Birdy, an Artist to Watch By Grecia Araujo-Torres Jasmine van den Bogaerde, otherwise known as “Birdy,” is a singer/songwriter from Lymington, England. At just eighteen years old, Birdy has accomplished so much. Her first début single, which was a cover of Bon Iver’s famous song “Skinny Love,” made a huge breakthrough all around Europe. This growing success and support led her to release her first album, Fire Within. She has continued to make a breakthrough in the music industry and has landed her own feature in major movie soundtracks like The Fault in Our Stars, The Hunger Games, and the Disney movie Brave. Personally, my favorite songs of hers are “Not About Angles” and “Tee Shirt.” I am certain that Birdy will continue to accomplish amazing things and possibly make a huge breakthrough in America. Check out her official website: http://officialbirdy.com/ Check out a Lyric Video of “Tee Shirt” (featured song of The Fault in Our Stars) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETfC5sidR80 7 Newsflash! Ed Sheeran just got “engaged.” At a recent tour stop, Ed Sheeran was proposed to by a woman with a terminal form of brain cancer. Ed, being the amazing guy that he is, accepted. Sadly, before planning any details of the wedding, the woman, named Katie, passed away. Ed has taken to Twitter to express his sorrow for her death. We hope she rests in peace and her family stays strong through this tough time. “Alex from Target” was just a regular teenage employee up until about a week ago when someone posted a picture of him onto social media expressing fondness of his attractiveness. His picture has now been seen by anyone with a social media account. This overnight star has now been on Ellen and he has gained over 695,000 followers on Twitter. The internet sure is a powerful thing in the realm of fame! Student Poetry: Sonnets "Fall into Winter" by Suchi Patel The leaves under my feet crunch with each step I take The shades of green leaves have been cleared away, I enter the garage in search of the rake, And begin the season, full of good days. The colors of autumn cover the streets I see my breath in the chilling air that surrounds me Children flood in search of sweet treats Candy is important, no matter what the degree. Soon the costumes all clear away And the snow falls freely on the land Now it's time for Thanksgiving Day Followed by shopping for our favorite brands. And suddenly the holiday season is here The lights we hang are crystal clear. "White Hills" by Olivia Batholomew "Beautiful Time of the Year" by Hannah McCoy The snow fell ever so softly, Covering the hills in white. Children sat and ate their toffee, They couldn't believe such a sight. The beautiful time of the year, And the ground is glittered with white, When the cold breeze is growing near, But the atmosphere feels so light. They went to get bundled up, Eager to go play in the snow. The family had a little pup And he really wanted to go. Running out into the cold, They had massive smiles on their faces. In the snow they rolled, The white flurries were better than any beaches. When it was time to come and eat, Nobody fell on their feet. The air is filled with joy, Feelings are good this time of season, Excited when they get their toys, Children love them for some reason. Soft flurries fall from the sky, While families gather together. This happoiness can be a high, And they feel light as a feather. This time of year is the best, But once it's over we can finally rest. FFA Update By Amy Wyant October was a crazy yet extremely exciting time for the Pontiac FFA! We left for Louisville, Kentucky, on October 28th and started the long road trip to the 87th National FFA Convention and Expo. This year’s theme was “Go All Out!” and our members did exactly that as they competed in CDE contests and for the Model of Excellence award. Our Ag Communications team, consisting of Amy Wyant, Jordan Johns, Rachel Lauritsen, and Kaitlyn Mckea, competed at the national contest while at convention and got 26th in the nation! Also, our Model of Excellence team, Lauren Cassady and Chloe Mayback, made a fifteen minute presentation about the highlights of our chapter and presented it in front of a panel of judges. Although we were ecstatic about still being in the top 10 chapters in the nation, we did not receive the overall top chapter award. However, Ponchatoula, Louisiana, a FFA chapter that we have exchanged with before, won the Model of Excellence and we could not have been more excited for our friends! When we weren’t competing in contests our members were able to attend an impressive career fair with schools from all other the country and go to the FFA shopping mall. We also attended a Justin Moore and Eastin Corbin concert and toured several horse racing facilities including Churchill Downs. Finally, we had a great time hanging out with our friends from Louisiana, Florida, Minnesota, and North Dakota and learning more about their chapters. Once again the Pontiac FFA had an extremely successful Convention and we can’t wait for our upcoming events for this year! FFA information can be found HERE. 8 The 2014-2015 Chicago Bulls Project Unify Peers in Action launches PTHS Read for Respect Reading Marathon By Adam Shelton “From Chicago, Illinois, a 6’3” guard…Derrick Rose.” The return (part two) for Derrick Rose has been anticipated since the 2012 playoffs. The past two years have been very hard on D-Rose, who has had surgeries on both knees, keeping him out of play for two full seasons. However, he is back, and so are the Chicago Bulls as a legitimate title contender. They will be competing in arguably the toughest division in the NBA with the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron James, the Indiana Pacers without Paul George, the Milwaukee Bucks featuring rookie Jabari Parker, and the Detroit Pistons led by Brandon Jennings. While the season will be a long grind for Chicago, I project the Bulls to finish 59-21 in the regular season. This will earn them the number one seed and give them great odds to make a deep run into the NBA Playoffs. With Derrick Rose and Jimmy “Buckets” Butler at guards, Mike Dunleavy and former L.A. Laker Pau Gasol at forwards, and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah at center, the Bulls starting five is elite in all facets of the game. The 2015 “bench mob” makes Chicago the deepest team in the NBA also. With “Captain” Kirk Hinrich and Tony Snell backing up at guard, a lot of pressure can be taken off of Rose. With Euro-League transfer Nikola Mirotic and rookie Doug McDermott adding depth in the down low along with sixth man Taj Gibson, this year’s bench may be deeper than the original from 2011. With everything seeming to go right for the Bulls so far, I expect Chicago to go on and beat the Los Angeles Clippers 4-2 in the NBA Finals and win the 7th Championship in franchise history. Keep in mind that all projections are based off the Derrick’s ability to stay healthy the entire season. Hosted by Project Unify Peers in Action and the PTHS Library, participants have from now until April 24 to read books for the race! There are four ways to participate: o Marathon: Read 26.2 books o Half Marathon: Read 13.1 books o 10K: Read 6.2 books o Mighty Miler: Read 5,280 pages · · Race forms are in the library or can be printed off from the Read for Respect LibGuide (linked from the Library webpage). To sign up, please visit the Read for Respect LibGuide and mark which race you plan to participate in. The goal is to get everyone reading o Participants do not have to prove that they have read the books o Participants are encouraged to read with a Peer Partner from Mrs. Baumgardner, Mrs. Mack, or Mrs. Christenson’s rooms, then both students can count the books for the race. o Participants are encouraged to read to younger children (so picture books count)- this is great for the younger child and begins to teach high school students the importance of early literacy. PROJECTIONS: · All Stars: Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, and Joakim Noah Most Valuable Player: Joakim Noah (2nd) Defensive Player of the Year: Joakim Noah (1st) Comeback Player of the Year: Derrick Rose Most Improved Player: Jimmy Butler (1st) Sixth Man Award: Taj Gibson (2nd) Snack parties for participants will be held in the library in December and February with an end of race celebration in April. o Drawings will be held o Medals will be awarded to those who cross the finish line. For more information or to print off race forms, visit the Read for Respect LibGuide , or speak with Ms. Baumgardner or Mrs. Mueller. 9 Attention Teachers! Ask Trippy Check out the revamaped Teacher Resource Webpage @ Dear Trippy, http://libguides.pontiac.k12.il.us/content.php?pid=495677 I’ve been asked to speak at this huge event and This week's @PTHSstaffdev tweets include: 11 TED talks on Science and the Brain Alternatives to College and Career Ready Testing Webinars on the Common Core Video on making learning relevant to students Article on Blended Learning Tech Tools for making Jeopardy style review games and much more... I’m terrified. There will be over 700 people there and I don’t know what to do! The person who asked me to speak gave me what I needed to read but I’m still horrified. I’m no good at speaking in public…especially with that many people! Please help me! Waiting fearfully, Tongue Tied Dear Tongue Tied, I’m going to be ridiculously cliché right now but I hope it at least makes you smile; envision them all in their underwear! Cliché aside, just try and put yourself in a form of happy place. Take deep breaths and find your Zen. Don’t think of all the people who will be there; just think of the message you are trying to get across and focus on it. If you were chosen by these people then they must have some faith and respect for you. Believe that you will do the message justice and channel some of their faith--you’ll do just fine. Good luck and be excellent! Operation Endangered Species – The Alligator Snapping Turtle Project State Farm Advisory Board Yours, Trippy Have a question for Trippy? Send it HERE Click HERE for the Live Turtle Cam! The Chief Staff Happy Thanksgiving from The Chief Online! Jessica Ping, Editor-in-Chief Grecia Araujo-Torres Dena Boatman Cassidy Murphy Baylee Ritter Adam Shelton Jordan Triplett Jeanette Wooldridge Amy Wyant Mr. Soares, Faculty Sponsor 10