tilghman bell - Paducah Public Schools

THE
TILGHMAN
PADUCAH TILGHMAN HIGH SCHOOL
2400 WASHINGTON STREET
PADUCAH, KENTUCKY
BELL
MON. August 29, 2011
VOL. 88 NO. 1
Victorious!
Tilghman Pride: Tradition holds strong at 26-0
The Blue Tornado Football Team rushes McRight Field to warm up before the game against Lone Oak on August 19. See Page 8 for the summary and schedule of the rest of the season.
Photo by Michael Langston
Extreme school makeover takes over PTHS
by Calicia Wilson and Avery Harriman
Due to long, arduous renovations that some
well. A few other obscure changes have been
feared would never meet their deadlines, Padmade within the halls of Tilghman such as
ucah Tilghman students have a new reason to
doors that meet both the fire code and the
bleed blue. Tilghman has undergone an extenAmerican Disabilities Association code.
sive facelift, but underneath its fancy façade, it
Even with all these changes, there are still
is still the same school that we have all grown
many more to come and many that are still
to love. Students found themselves surprised
in progress. Ever noticed the announcement
by the transformation that occurred in the short
boards in the walkway between the lobby
two months of summer. The renovations were
and the cafeteria? Soon they will be replaced
not the only thing we noticed that was differby flat screen TV’s, embracing a new, more
ent about Tilghman; classrooms had been relomodern way of spreading the word. Within
cated according to subject areas. Students were
the next year, upon entering the lobby, one
all freshmen again, scrambling for schedules
will be greeted with beautiful letters spelland searching for room numbers. While there
ing out the name of the school we love. In
have been many adjustments for faculty and
the auxiliary gym, not only is there a fresh
students, both groups are definitely enjoying
coat of paint, but also a wheel chair accesthe new vibe that Tilghman’s shiny new halls
sible ramp. Tilghman’s bike racks, located
irrevocably give off.
behind the boiler room and out of the way of
“On the positive side, Tilghman looks
surveillance, have long been neglected. Just
fresh. It makes the school more modern with- Tilghman’s crest in the front lobby is a proud part of the renovations. Photo by Michael Langston outside the school’s front doors, there will be
out changing the integrity of what it was meant to
brand new ones, similar to the ones displayed
decaying floors and on with the new! Upon enteriing
be. It is a little disappointing that technology is behind
at Bike World. Students will now be able to bring their
Tilghman one will find that the lobby is decked ouwith
(white board, cables still not up yet). It will be nice
bikes to school without fear of misdemeanors.
its new Tilghman seal that adorns the floor. New winwhen those are in place; it will help the construction
“When finished, Paducah Tilghman High School
dows that adjoin The Bell staff’s room have also been
of the classroom as well as the appearance,” remarks
will be one of the finest facilities in this great Cominstalled. “There hasn’t been a surface that they have
Mr. Davis as he related his view on Tilghman’s renomonwealth. The facilities, along with the newest technot painted,” pronounced Mr. Overlin as he explained
vations. Through this face-lift, the core of Tilghman is
nology, will be second to none,” informs Dr. Greene,
that everything from lockers to walls is displaying new
still the same. Although it now sports some ritzy seals
the Superintendent, proudly. Tilghman’s renovations
colors. The Guidance and Dean’s Offices, as well as
and shiny floors, it remains unchanged to upperclasshave added a new dimension to our school’s tradition
Mr. Davis’, have been completely gutted. Along with
men who have found themselves wandering the halls
of excellence. It has drawn everyone’s focus toward our
the new look, the layout creates a more functional enof Tilghman for several years. The essential architecschool’s new design. But in spite of all of these renovavironment for faculty. A seal that resembles the one
ture has been preserved. Not all of the renovations have
tions, Tilghman will always be second to none because
in the lobby has been incorporated into the band and
been made, but the initial step to modernize Tilghman’s
of the people who inspire the spirit that is deeply emchoir room along with new chairs specific for choral
appearance has begun.
bedded within the heart of the school.
instruction. The music library has been refurnished with
What are these amazing, new renovations? For starttowering shelves and fold out cabinets. Some behind
ers, all of Tilghman has new floors. Out with the old,
the scenes electrical and data wiring has been done as
Save the Date!
Beat Mayfield!
From Guidance:
Concordia auditions are Monday,
August 29th, after school.
Monday: Jersey Day
Tuesday: 80’s Day
Wednesday: Hick Day
Thursday: Doomsday
Friday: Blue and White
Day
ACT Dates
Prime Rib auditions are Thursday,
Septemeber 1, after school.
September 10, deadline passed
October 22, deadline
September 16
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T H E
2
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
COMMENTARY
The Do’s and Don’ts of Mayfield Week, celebrate it right
by Olivia Carner, Susannah Wilson, and Alicia Humphrey
Do’s:
1) Participate! - You will not look stupid or dumb for participating; however, your “too cool for school” act does just that. Teachers, this means
you too!
2) Get the days straight! - Children, the teachers make posters for a reason. READ THEM!
3) Wear it all day! - We understand extreme circumstances, but there is
no reason to shed clothes all day long. If your outfit is too much to handle
all day, it’s probably too much in general. (However, don’t forget to bring
extra clothes for after school; you will look silly in a public place if not.)
Don’ts:
1) Don’t make up your own day! – Your petty attempts to come up with
some grand new day really just shows that you’re unable to read the
signs.
2) Don’t take this as an opportunity to stretch the dress code! – This is
not a Mean Girls’ Halloween costume party; there are plenty of fabulous
but appropriate ideas.
3) Don’t be a Debbie Downer! – By doing this you’ve already broken the
participation rule; don’t put down the enthusiastic Tilghman participants
because you don’t know how to have fun.
Tip of the Hat...
by India Allen, Mackenzie Bruce,and Madison Whelan
To our wonderful, newly renovated school! We have returned from
summer to find gleaming floors, freshly painted lockers, new doors, and
an altogether bright atmosphere in our PT hallways. We always love you,
Tilghman, but even more now that you look nice and aren’t trying to kill us
with asbestos filled floors.
To Lone Oak Flash for (finally) having the guts to play us in football,
despite the standing score of 25-0. Their decision to overcome their humiliation and incompetence and brave our mighty Tornadoes deserves a
round of applause (and behind-the-hand snickers).
To the painters who neglected to paint the UP and DOWN signs back
over the stairwells. Now nobody (especially the multitude of freshman)
knows which staircase is correct, causing massive traffic jams. (The one by
the office is UP. The one by Tornado Alley is DOWN. Now you know. Do
not ever go up the down staircase again. And vice versa.)
To the brave new teachers at Paducah Tilghman. Not everyone would
have the mettle to fill the shoes of those that abandoned us over the summer, but we’re sure our newbies will become a part of our Big Blue family.
To the 100th anniversary of the PT/Mayfield rivalry. What other event
gives us express permission to dress up in ridiculous clothes and incinerate hours worth of art students’ work on school property? So support your
school, and join us in celebrating 100 years of some good ole’ fashioned
bird bashing.
...Wag of the Finger
To the many, many freshmen. Why are there so many of you? You
seem to take up entire hallways at once, making it an Olympic sport to get
to class on time. But you are still adorable (sometimes) in your tiny, short,
naive way.
To the mass exodus of beloved PT teachers. Mr. Dietrich? Ms. Hayden?
Mr. Krug? Ms. Byers? Coach Barnett? It seems you have found new and
exciting adventures outside the walls of Tilghman, but you will be missed!
We wish you the best of luck! But you didn’t even give us fair warning!
(Cough, cough, Mr. Krug.)
To the administration for swapping teachers and rooms amidst a massive
renovation. So not only were we unable to recognize our classrooms on the
first day of school, but we had no idea where our beloved teachers were located! Forget helping freshman! We couldn’t even find OUR way to class
on time. Ms. Rasche is in Mr. Ross’ old room, Mr. Ross is in Ms. English’s
room, but Ms. English is in the back hallway? Help!
To the honkers in the front parking lot. You know who you are. And
trust me, whipping out of your parking spaces with your windows down and
screaming while laying on your horn is NOT cool. So knock it off. The
horn is meant for communication and warning purposes, not for your personal enjoyment. It’s obnoxious and you only make yourself look stupid.
To the London Rioters. We know how much fun it is to hate on the
greedy, rich bureaucrats, but there are plenty of other ways to do so without bombing and burning buildings. We suggest investing in a live journal
account, where other unhappy protesters can sympathize with you through
posts such as, “I’m angry! Grr!” Much safer.
“Wag of the Finger” and “Tip of the Hat” are trademarks of Stephen Colbert and his TV show, The Colbert Report.
Neither Paducah Tilghman nor the Bell Staff claim any ownership
of these trademarks.
The Tilghman Bell
The Tilghman Bell, a product of the journalism class, is an open forum for student expression and is
distributed monthly to the students of Paducah Tilghman High School free of charge. No advertising will
be accepted that deals with alcohol, tobacco, or guns.
Editors-in-Chief: Emilee Ayers, Weston Loyd
Business Manager: Olivia Carner
Sports Editor: James Harben
Features Editor: Amber Hussain
Commentary Editor: Emily Page
Photographers: James Harben, Michael Langston
Layout and Proof: Mackenzie Bruce, Kaitlyn Curry, Avery Harriman, Madison Whelan,
Calicia Wilson
Staff Writers: India Allen, Alicia Humphrey, Chandler Smith, Susannah Wilson,
Zachary Winfield, Audrey Withrow
Sports Writers: Megan Cantwell, Alex Boyd, Ngoodoo Itiavkase, Brock Sigler,
Adviser: Susan Hancock
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
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T H E
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
3
Captain America brings justice to the big screen
by Zach Winfield
As has been the pattern for the past few years, an abundance of superhero movies amazing to look at the difference between Chris Evans as the Human Torch and
was released over the summer. Some were good, others...not quite so much. How- Chris Evans as Captain America. If I hadn’t seen his name in the credits, I would
ever, there is one movie which stands out, one which
never have guessed the same man who played “V” in V for
Vendetta also played Red Skull. The actors did an incredible
goes above and beyond the call of duty to deliver a
thrilling blockbuster spectacle which will woo the audijob preparing for their roles, and it shows on the screen.
ence and make one feel proud to be an American. That
The story itself is presented wonderfully. The characters
movie, ladies and gentlemen, is none other than Captain
are quirky, the dialogue intriguing, and the action captivating
America: The First Avenger.
and thrilling all at the same time. There are no big “twists”
to the story, but the combination of witty dialogue, character
The movie stars Steve Rogers (played by Chris Evdevelopment, and action ensure you are never bored.
ans), determined to enlist in order to serve his country
There is but one noticeable flaw throughout the entire film,
during World War II, yet repeatedly rejected for variand it boils down to an editing error. There’s a scene near the
ous medical reasons. Cue Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanend where Captain America, backed up by a US special forces
ley Tucci), who gets Rogers enlisted so that he may
team, assaults HYDRA’s base. As he makes his way through
take part in a top-secret project to create a super solthe soldiers to pursue Red Skull, Captain America knocks
dier. Rogers is injected with the serum and comes out a
a couple of goons aside and swings away on a steel cable
walking hulk of muscle. His first exploit is to catch the
Picture provided by theology21.com hanging overhead. The very next shot, he somehow magically
Nazi assassin who kills Erskine before he swallows cyateleports from the cable into a sprint. For whatever reason, the
nide. Meanwhile, Nazi officer Johanan Schmidt (Huge
Weaving) recovers a Terrasect, a relic of immense supernatural power, and manages editors overlooked the weird transition and left it in. It’s easily forgivable when the
to utilize it to build super weapons which will allow his Nazi division HYDRA to rest of the film is taken into consideration.
Captain America: The First Avenger is without a doubt the best superhero movie
overthrow Hitler and take over the world himself. Eventually, Schmidt and Rogers
meet, and the battle begins between the newly dubbed “Captain America” (Rogers to come out this year. To watch it is a necessity for comic book fans, especially since
the film sets up the Avengers movie that comes out next year, and I highly recomand HYDRA, led by the “Red Skull” (Schmidt).
This movie is almost flawless. Every actor performs his role terrifically, and it’s mend it for anyone who is a fan of the action genre.
Harry Potter does it again
by India Allen
It’s no surprise that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part Two, the final confrontation between Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort, grossed over $348
million. The final installment of the Potter films was, without a doubt, the perfect
end to a tremendous era. Director David Yates stayed true to the final book, cutting few scenes from the novel and barely tweaking details. Part Two opens right
where part one left off, showing the trio’s stay at Shell cottage and goes all the way
through to the book’s epilogue. The final movie doesn’t fail to bring other strong
points of the novel to life, such as the three’s dragon ride to Gringotts, and the final
Battle of Hogwarts. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, and Tom Felton
all stepped up to the darker, more mature mood of the film, each providing their
greatest performance yet. When asked about filming Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows- Part Two, and the films coming to an end in general, Radcliffe replied,
“I know I’ll never see a frame of these films that I don’t connect immediately to a
memory of a place or a time or a person. Even now I can’t fully express how important it’s been to me, but I can say it was a great time and it’s something I will never
be able to recreate.” And though it can be a bit distracting, the movie’s 3D effects
add depth to the overall experience. Those who have grown up with Harry will not
be disappointed at the conclusion of this aspect of their childhood.
Horoscope
What was the worst and best
part of your first day of school?
Eli Nonemam (9)
Peggy Harben (9)
“Food in the Blue Room and time in between
classes!”
“Getting lost and it’s not Paducah Middle!”
by Emilee Ayers and Amber Hussain
Virgo (August 23rd - September 22nd)
You’ve been through the first month of school, and just the fact that you’ve
come out alive is a feat in and of itself. However, the year will not get any easier;
you’ll only become more stressed, angry, and depressed. So take this bad energy
and dump it on someone else! You don’t need to have such negative feelings; it’s
not good for your mental, social, or physical health, and your friends won’t mind,
after all, that’s what friends are for. Unless they just don’t like you. Have a happy
birthday, Virgo!
Yasi Razban (10)
“It’s too crowded and seeing all of my buddies!”
Donald Overstreet (11)
“Waking up and when the final bell rings!”
Leon Jones (12)
“Listening to Coach Shanks talk about
choices and meeting new people!”
Makayla Holt (10)
“Finding my classes and meeting new
people!”
Jorge Royes (11)
“Lunch and Choir!”
Cody Cchultz (12)
“Teachers talking about syllabi and seeing
my friends!”
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4
T I L G H M A N
B E LL
NEWS
Exchange students come to PT
by Ngodoo Itiavkase
Every year for a long time, Tilghman has
been accepting foreign exchange students
in the hallways. Many families have hosted
these foreign exchange students. Japanese,
Korean, Mexican, German, and British are
just to name a few. This year we have a
couple of new exchange students: Benoit
Lemen, Chi Do, and Enka Angarag. To
help get to know these guys, let’s see what
they have to say.
Benoit, also known as Ben, is a 17 year
old Belgian native who is now a senior.
When asked if he misses home, he replied,
“Of course, but I’m happy to be here.” In
Belgium, the main languages are Dutch and
French and he admitted his English isn’t
very good and he has a deep accent. He has
two brothers back home and is hosted with
the Rowton family, so you could also say
he has two American brothers. In Belgium,
his classes start later than Tilghman, 8:30
to be exact, and there isn’t much room for
flexibility. Tilghman was a very big chance
for him, having the freedom to pick whatever class he wanted.
Chi Do, a 16 year old junior from Vietnam, is also apart of the Rowton’s expanded family. He is very into sports, basketball
and baseball, and the New York Yankees
are his favorite team. He modestly says that
he played basketball in Vietnam, but he was
no star. When asked if he was going to play
for Tilghman, he smiled big and simply
just said “No.” In his home town an abundance of languages were spoken, such as:
Vietnamese, Chinese, English, Japanese,
and German. In previous years he traveled
to Thailand and Iceland, so the U.S is just
another stop on his journey. With only 6
classes a day compared to his usually 13,
Chi can kind of lay back and relax knowing
he can go home before 5 pm.
Yunsig Choi, a South Korean freshman, is
also apart of this small group. When asked
what he misses most about his country, his
only reply was food. His English is very
good, but there are still things that confuse
him. When asked if anything funny has
happened to him, he replied “I usually understand [English], but when they tell jokes
I don’t.” He says he doesn’t ask what they
The New foreign exchange students in front of Tilghman. Photo by Michael Langston
mean; he just laughs along and says he
hopes that he learns to understand when
his English gets better. Pizza is his favorite American food, and the kids in Paducah
can compare to Koreans when we say that
we still get in trouble for texting in class.
Enka, nicknamed NK by some of the
students, is a 16 year old that transfers to
a senior. From Mongolia to America, there
are endless differences. In class, teachers change rooms instead of the students,
classrooms are different, and the upkeep
of the school is not very good. Out of everything Mongolian, he misses the weather
the most. He says it’s almost the same, but
there is just something different about it.
What he misses the least is the food. NK
loves American food. I asked him what he
loved most, and he exclaimed, “I love all
the food, very few I don’t like.” He also
recommended for us Americans that Buuz
is a Mongolian food to try. In Tilghman’s
hallways, you can always here somebody
saying, “What’s up, bra!?” and NK is happy to give me the Mongolian equivalent.
While holding back laughter; he repeated
what I said and then told me “ Sain uu??
Hugshunn.” The Hewitt’s are his host family, and he let me know that the U.S. is the
only place he would ever want to visit.
All these foreign exchange students have
their own story and their own personalities.
Get to know them, be proactive, and let
them go back home saying how much they
LOVE Paducah Tilghman.
Tilghman welcomes Lone Oak
seven staff members week recap
into the family
by Mackenzie Bruce
by Weston Loyd
This year, Paducah Tilghman is pleased to welcome
seven new additions, a guidance counselor and six new
teachers. Not everyone will have him or her in class, so
proper introductions are needed.
Chemistry teacher Amy Cox left Tilghman three
years ago but “loves Tilghman so much she had to come
home!” A graduate of Lone Oak High School and Murray State University, Cox wanted to become a teacher to
combine her love of teenagers and chemistry. Speaking
of teenagers, she was “seriously a good kid, one of the
‘smart’ kids.” Sports weren’t her thing as she was “too
clumsy.” Now, she likes to read, play golf, and make
jewelry. For those who went to Clark, Mrs. Carver is her
mom, and Mrs. Sheffer is her sister.
“Teaching is the perfect career,” Spanish teacher Mr.
Morehead said. “I always liked school and kids.” A
graduate of Heath High School and going on to Murray
State University for a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees
and then further to Western Kentucky University for
another Master’s degree, Mr. Morehead is highly qualified. He was a good student in high school and is now
married with two children, Emma, two, and Elyse, one.
“I think Tilghman is a great school,” he said. “I have an
excellent group of students.”
Physics teacher Mr. Morgan became a teacher to help
America prepare for the future. “We really need to step
up our game in science. Science is a wealth generator;
if we don’t lead in this area then we are going to lose out
financially.” Mr. Morgan is a graduate of Ohio County
High School and played football and participated in discus and shot put events on the track team. Mr. Morgan
describes himself as “super mega awesome!” in high
school. He went on to graduate from Union College and
enjoys hunting, motorcycle riding, and hiking. Mr. Morgan “really likes Tilghman, everyone is so friendly.”
Hailing from Orwell, Ohio, Mr. Lipscomb graduated
from Grand Valley High School, Edinboro University of
Pennsylvania, and Kentucky Wesleyan College. He is
a big sports fan, playing football and basketball in high
school and continued his football career in college. He
was a “jock, but not a dumb one!” Mr. Lipscomb wanted to become a teacher to educate and influence learning
and is “thankful for the opportunity to teach here. Tilghman is very diverse and welcoming.”
“Tilghman is great!” Social studies teacher Mr.
Goins gained an interest in history from hearing war
stories from his grandfather. “I wanted to share these
stories through teaching to inspire my students the way
my grandfather inspired me.” He is a graduate of Trigg
County High School and Murray State University and
enjoys bass fishing and chess. He and his wife, Amanda,
were married in April of this year.
Tennessee native Mrs. Morrow is a graduate of Henry
County High School and Murray State University. “I
love Tilghman so far. Everyone has been very friendly
and helpful!” she explained. She has always enjoyed
learning and now that I’m a parent, I want for my own
kids to have good teachers that make learning fun. Mrs.
Morrow was a cheerleader in high school, but geeky at
the same time. “I am a huge sports fan, so I spend a
lot of time following my children’s ballgames, the St.
Louis Cardinals, the UK Wildcats, and now the PT Tornadoes!”
Returning to Tilghman 27 years after graduating,
Mr. Paul is the newest Guidance Counselor. He went to
Murray State University and “wanted to give back to the
teachers that shaped his life.” He is proud that “Tilghman is a place where all students can excel at different
levels.” He played football and sang during his time at
Tilghman and was a “gentleman and did what he was
asked.” Mr. Paul is part of a triplet and is excited to be
part of a rich tradition again.
“Tilghman Pride!,” “Trash the Flash!,” and “Go PT!,” were
just a few of the chants going around our beloved home of Paducah Tilghman High School during Lone Oak week. A new addition to our traditional Mayfield Week at PT, Lone Oak week
gave students the chance to dress up in our best Beat Lone Oak
gear during the three days before the game on August 19th.
Geek Day and Trash the Flash Day led up to Blue and White
Day that Friday, where literally thousands of fans lined up for
one of the most popular local rivalries in years. Students and
teachers alike expressed their excitement and support with
geeky glasses, decorated trash bags, and blue body paint during
the week.
Freshman Will Hancock said, “I think it’s great,” when asked
what he thought about Lone Oak week, while senior Azia Rouse
exclaimed, “It’s the best, we should keep it!”
The week was bursting with excitement and even drama
between the schools, but in the end the Tilghman Tornado celebrated a 46-3 victory against the Lone Oak Flash.
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300 BROADWAY
P.O. BOX 995
PADUCAH, KENTUCKY 42002-0995
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PAG E
T H E T I L G M A N B E L L
FEATURES
5
PT students
attend Commonwealth
Middle
College at
WKCTC
by Megan Cantwell
If you’re a junior, then you might be pretty puzzled during roll call these days. There
have been some names that have been called,
and there’s always that one kid in the back of
the room that yells that the student who isn’t
there has gone to Middle College. So, what on
earth is Middle College, anyway? The Commonwealth Middle College is a program for
juniors and seniors in high school on Western
Kentucky Community and Technical College’s
campus. There, students can attend college
classes and earn their high school diploma at
the same time. Students can earn a minimum
of 36 transferable credits from WKCTC and
can save $4,140 on college classes since the
program is completely free.
Each year, 50 students are chosen from the
applicants to be enrolled in the program. This
year is the first year that students from Paducah Tilghman have been involved in the program. Ms. Bedeau from the Guidance office at
Tilghman commented on the program, “It’s a
great opportunity for the students and I think it
will help students to be more responsible since
they’re on a college campus. It will help them
with real-life things.” These are some of the
students that are in the program: Alyssia Grey,
Kara Smith, Latonya Taylor, Brandon Dodson,
Dustin Shirley, Preston Roberts, Quinn Olsen,
Annie Segebarth, and Sarah Wallace.
Qualifications for enrollment are good attendance, a strong work ethic, and a 2.5 or higher
GPA. Any students wishing to enroll must fill
out an in-depth application. The application
asks questions such as your greatest strengths
or weaknesses, your career goals, areas for
personal growth, etc. Students from Paducah
Tilghman, Lone Oak, Marshall County, Heath,
and Reidland are all eligible for the program.
Though students no longer attend their
original high school campus for classes, they
are still very involved with their original
school. They are still able to play sports for
their school, be involved in clubs, and their
high school diploma will say they graduated
from their original high school. When asked
about the program, Annie Segebarth remarked,
“Well, I really like it so far. It’s so different
from Tilghman because I have so much more
freedom! School doesn’t start until 8:00, and
I get to leave at 1:45. I’m really excited to be
spending the rest of the year here.” Students
do have more freedom at Middle College,
but it’s also still very demanding. The college
classes are taught by certified professors. The
students aren’t treated any differently from the
other college students taking the class and are
expected to do the same work as others for the
class. “They really expect a lot out of you here,
but it’s definitely worth it,” is what Sarah Wallace had to say about her classes there.
Middle College is a great program for anyone who wants to get a jump-start on college,
and for more information about enrolling, go
to www.marshall.k12.ky.us/commonwealthmiddlecollege or talk to your guidance counselor.
Bring in your ticket stub after
Friday’s game and recieve 10%
off!
How to manage your time
by Emilee Ayers
One of the hardest things to do during the school year
(which many sophomores and juniors are quickly discovering) is to efficiently and effectively manage your time.
Between working an after school job, two sports practices,
homework, chores, your dog, texting, hanging out, Facebook, TV, your boyfriend/girlfriend, picking your nose (yes
you, freshman) and all the other to-do’s that go along with
being a teenager, many of you incompetent buffoons have
yet to be enlightened by this article. After you are done, you
will reap the benefits of having extra time
to do things and finding more time to fill
up your schedule with senseless riff-raff.
Once that you have been enlightened, I
would advise you to use your newfound
awareness of the painful amount of time
you waste to good use.
There are several ways you can reduce
the time you spend doing things and get
them done more efficiently. While some
may seem rather ridiculous- hear me out,
and you won’t regret it.
• Use a planner- yep; it’s pretty simple, the school even
gives one to you. As soon as you know about something that
is going on in your life, write it down in your planner. That
includes homework, practices, birthdays, game days and
anything else that may come up in your life. Visually seeing
what is going on in your schedule will prevent you from accidentally planning more than one thing for the same night.
• Set alarms- almost every cell phone, iPod, clock or radio
has an alarm feature. Know how much time it takes you to
get ready for each event in your life. Then set an alarm that
much ahead of time; this way you don’t spend too much
time commenting on your friends’ pictures and missing
your ever so important dinner plans with the president.
• Don’t pay attention to detail- forget the unimportant
little things and leave them behind. Don’t waste three hours
doing your hair; just pull it up and accept the fact that it’s a
bad hair day.
• Study- this one is short. Spending more time studying =
better grades = happy parents = later curfew on the weekends. Also, if you study harder, you might finish your tests
faster, which means you will have more class time to work
on your second period homework, which translates into
more time afterschool to do other
things.
• Get it together- set your priorities
straight. Find out what you need to
do and what you want to do and order them from highest to lowest importance. That way you can know
what order to do things in throughout the day.
• Set your sights- come up with a
reasonable goal and write it down.
Put it in a common place that is visible to you everyday. Seeing your goal and being reminded
of it will give you more incentive to get the work done efficiently to achieve it.
And last, but most certainly not least…
“... reap the
benefits of having extra time
to do things...”
• Read The Tilghman Bell- every month we provide you
readers with super savvy tips, hot off the press ideas, and
a various array of our vastly intelligent minds that we can
only hope you understand half of. Reading our paper is not
only certain to give you a new breadth of knowledge, but
it will definitely be a better worth of your time other than
say… crowding the hallways, freshmen.
Making this school year a great one
by Amber Hussain
So now the school year has begun, you’re feeling…excited? Unprepared? Completely terrified (if you’re a freshman)? If you want this school year to be a fantastic one, the
way to do this is to make sure you’re doing well academically. (So this article isn’t going to help you with your social
life, sorry.)
It seems that it’s not only the seniors who are in this ‘I
don’t care’ mode, when it comes to class work and their assignments. Let me make this clear now: start caring. That
is, if you don’t want your grades to go down the toilet, because it is not easy to bring those grades back up unless you
put in effort, which you should have done to begin with.
One of the best ways to ensure this is staying ahead of
the game. Yes, it may seem nerdy, but trust me, doing an essay early and not having to stay up until two o’clock in the
morning is worth it; you’ll be glad you did it. Also, I can’t
even begin to tell you how satisfying it is to see the procrastinators squirm and scramble to finish. So, if it’s not due
until next week or so, don’t put it off until the last minute.
I’m not saying to do it on the first day, but at the beginning
so that you can focus on other things and not have to worry
about it.
Another thing that most people tend to avoid is getting
help when you need it. Most times we just sit there in class
and pretend to pay attention and act like we understand,
when really it makes no sense to us, but we never raise our
hands to ask a question about it. This leads to failing a quiz
or test, which also could have been avoided if you had got-
ten help. Come before school or stay a little bit after and talk
to the teacher if you don’t like to raise your hand in front
of the entire class. You won’t get anywhere if you just stare
at the textbook and hope for the information to flow into
your brain. Don’t think that you must be an idiot if you feel
you’re the only one who doesn’t understand; chances are,
there are others like you who don’t understand it and are
also shy or afraid to ask.
Probably one of the most dreaded tasks for all students
is studying each night. Dedicate at least fifteen minutes to
each subject, even more to those you need more help with.
When you don’t have any homework what’s implied is that
you study your notes for that class, but “studying” doesn’t
even seem like homework since it’s not written, right?
However, it’s in your best interest to do this and develop
good study habits in high school, because this will help immensely during college. Your professor isn’t going to make
sure you’ve studied the material; it’s your job to make sure
you’re doing that on your own. It’s also known that those
who study a little each night tend to do better on their tests/
quizzes than those who cram the night before.
In order to accept these methods, you have to be willing
to work, to put forth the effort if you truly want to do better
in your classes. You’ll feel completely relieved when you
bring home a B+ to Mommy instead of that D you would
have had before if you had procrastinated or not cared at all
like your best friend did.
“The Race to Nowhere”
by Madison Whelan
There is no denying that homework plays a huge role not
only in our school life, but our daily life as well. Everyone,
with the exception, perhaps, of the freshman, is frequently
burdened with what we perceive as an excessive amount
of homework. It sometimes seems, especially during our
junior year, that we are drowning in papers, terms, and impossibly long math problems. But recent studies show that
homework may not have the positive effects teachers may
think it does.
A recent documentary by Vicki Abeles called “The Race
to Nowhere” highlights the pressure and stress students experience during the school year. The film included a study
that showed that there was no correlation between home-
work and grades in elementary schools and only a moderate
correlation in middle schools. In an international comparison, it was found that students in countries that had little
homework scored better and retained more information than
students who had excessive amounts of homework.
Not
surprisingly, the United States was not at the top of the list
of well-scoring countries. Also, large amounts of homework can limit social interactions and can lead to high stress
levels, which increases the chance of developing depression
and other serious mental health diseases.
It’s what we have been saying all along! The less homework teachers give, the happier and healthier everyone will
be!
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
PAGE
T H E
FEATURES
6
Freshman Burn: Listen up, small children
by Emilee Ayers and Weston Loyd
Attention Tilghman students: there is a plague that has attempted to overtake the
school. It reeks of being naïve in the ways of Tilghman rituals and has a strong sense
of inexperience of navigating the hallways. It hasn’t yet comprehended the difference between the two cafeterias and can’t even begin to understand a pure love for
plywood windows. What is this ineffective, inexperienced, worthless, microscopic
germ that we speak of? Who else? The freshmen class.
Yes, you, freshmen. We seniors cringe at the very mention of you. To keep our
levels of peacefulness high, please abide by the following advice religiously and
pay attention to our grievances about you. We promise that we only have your best
interests at heart.
tion with upperclassmen, especially seniors, should not be initiated by you.
If we can hear or see you, you are doing something wrong. Fix that.
You are unoriginally all the same. Cookie cutter images of the stereotypical prep,
the goth/scene/punk rebel kid, the wannabe jock, and the wallflower have all been
seen before. You’re no one special, even if you are wearing bright neon shirts. A few
tips from the Bell staff – Don’t wear or become carbon copy versions of Weston’s
red pants, James’ personality, Calicia’s perfect hair, Chandler and Olivia’s wedges,
etc...
Clean up your act… or, rather, your smell. Due to all of the renovations, you can
no longer blame Tilghman’s old hallways as a cause of odorous displeasure; therefore, there is only one, quite obvious, source from which this stench radiates… freshmen. Acting like a middle school student is strictly prohibited here at high school.
This means many things such as showering and wearing deodorant everyday. This is
mandatory and very much appreciated. Drawing obscene pictures, carving profanities, or picking your nose and wiping it on desks are not cool either; you will just
have to see it for the next four years. So do us all a favor- keep your actions and your
smell to yourself.
You’re not cool, small fry. You don’t own the school now that you’re in high school.
Actually, you are quite at the bottom. As seniors, we have worked for four whole
years to get here at the top and we don’t want you to ruin it. So clean up after yourselves – there are no waitresses in the blue room to clean up your trays. Cutting in the
lunch line is also deeply frowned upon. Leave us alone and get out of the way – we
don’t want you around; you’re here because you have to be. And last but not least…
pretend that you don’t exist because, honestly, we wish you didn’t.
We are not your friends. You add us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and even
have the gall to attempt to talk to us in the halls. Stop it now. Let us repeat- we are
not your friends. Any accepted request is out of pity for your sad, sad souls, and if we
really come to like you, we will add you ourselves. In short, any form of communica-
You crowd the halls. Being unpredictable is one of your many less desirable traits.
This above all is exemplified in the hallways. Let’s get this straight- you do not have
blinkers to let us know where you are going, not that we care, so stay out of our
way.
There actually is a pool on the third floor. Where else do you think the swim team
practices?
You are small. There is no way you can change this except grow up. So do so
quickly. Until then, accept the truth of the matter.
Shut your trap. Don’t talk yourself up or be overly, annoyingly loud. Go back to the
middle school days…voice level zero is most preferred.
There are many, many more things that we could kindly point out to you to change,
but we fear that your feeble brains could not handle it. So take this article as a chance
to start off your high school years great by listening to our words.
Student Section: 10 simple rules to live by
by Chandler Smith
No matter what you’re doing, everyone likes to hear a
little encouragement while showing their skills, and the
football players are depending on us, Tilghman fans. In
the game against Lone Oak, we all did an amazing job,
but we need to keep it up. Every game is important in
our season, and each game should be treated that way,
don’t let your spirit die just because we aren’t playing a
“rival”. Being a part of the Tilghman student section is
not only an honor, but is also an exciting job! And just
like with every job, there are certain rules you need to
follow.
1. Wear blue. Now I know for some of you this may
seem like common sense, but it never ceases to amaze
me how many people show up to games in the wrong
color. Choosing what to wear is a simple decision; let’s
make sure we make the right one.
2. Cheer. Don’t be afraid, when something exciting happens on the field, enjoy the
moment; clap, applaud,
and go crazy.
3. Spirit fingers. Often times this cheering technique
is used during basketball games, but it is now used in
football as well. Every game during kick-off all students
should raise their arms, and wiggle their fingers. It’s fun
when a few do it, and looks amazing when everyone
participates.
4. Learn Tilghman Stuff. This dance is not complicated and when everyone does it our student section exudes
spirit!
5. Pay attention to the game. You are there to watch,
so please do.
6. Stay positive. No one likes hearing negative comments, so keep them to yourself. We need to always think
we’re going to win, because the most likely chance is
that we will, so even if something starts looking rough,
keep your head up.
7. Stand up. The whole point of the student section is to
look good, cheer, and have a place where high schoolers
can stand without being in others’ way. So take advantage of your reserved area, and stay standing.
8. Don’t be afraid to embarrass yourself. When everyone is into the game, they aren’t watching you, so let
yourself go.
9. Stay sober. You are representing your school and
should do that with the utmost pride and respect. You
also are taking away from others’ experience, because
no one wants to have to deal with a belligerent teen.
10. By far the most important rule to remember is,
have Tilghman pride. We were the best, are the best,
and will always be the best, so get out there and show
it.
A Day in the Life of Ms. Slankard
by Ngodoo Itiavkase and Calicia Wilson
pharmacy at the University of Kentucky. And while
Ever wondered what a typical day in the life
she enjoys her time alone, she has two dogs to keep
of Mrs. Slankard is like? Well, mornings start
her company. Elizabeth Ann and Isabella Ray Sue,
very early. Ms. Slankard is bright eyed and bushy
also known as “Pig,” grace the halls of the Slankard
tailed at 4:30… at least after having her two cups
home. Although she does not indulge them with table
of coffee. While getting energized for the day,
scraps on a daily basis, they do enjoy the weekly treat
she reads the Paducah Sun and USA Today. She
of a hamburger.
is very passionate about her students and makes
While exploring the life of this teacher you will
sure that she can tie in current events with her
find that weekends are not so very different from week
English lesson plans. Having first hour planning allows her time to write the agenda on the
days. Yes, she does switch her gears and find time to
board and get prepared for her students. During
work and mow the yard (while listening to some of
the school day, you will find her teaching English
her favorite heavy metal tunes), but in addition, she
from 2nd through 6th period and often beyond.
always has time for her students.
She loves her students and genuinely cares for Ms. Slankard teaching English. Photo by Michael Langston
A unique fact about her is that she enjoys being
them both inside and outside of school.
able to drive by a home and glance into it. She likes the
A typical night in Ms. Slankard’s home is
warmness of the idea and enjoys being able to see wall
quiet. She enjoys relaxing and curling up with a good novel. The only time you will arrangements and furnishing. And to benefit others in the same way, she leaves her
find the TV on in her home is when she is watching the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) lights on and blinds up until she retires for the night. An evening in the shoes of Ms.
or entertaining company. She does not cook since she lives alone, but she definitely Slankard usually ends around 8:30. She turns off the lights and finally lets down the
makes her share of spinach salads. The halls of the Slankard home were not always blinds after making her coffee for the next morning.
this quiet, though, because she has two children. Currently, her daughter, age 25, is a
teacher in Lexington, Kentucky. Her son, age 22, is also in Lexington studying pre-
PAGE
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7
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
SPORTS
Meet PT’s New Boys soccer preview to upcoming season
Volleyball
Coach
by Brock Sigler
After training for the majority of the
summer, the boys soccer team is back and
ready for a great year! Coming off of a
tough season last year the team is looking
to take a more offensive approach. Coach
Austin Davis will be returning for his third
year and will be joined by the new assistant
coach, Dustin Crane. Crane was a previous
member of the Heath soccer program and
will be a great addition to the coaching staff.
Justin Wynne, Bishlam Pea, Alek Rowton, Adam Holtgrewe, and Justin Hill are
the five seniors that will lead the way this
year. A large and talented junior and sophomore bunch will also be instrumental in
by Megan Cantwell
Paducah Tilghman’s newest addition is Jessie Lopez, the coach of the
girls’ volleyball team. While he’s new
to Tilghman, he’s certainly not new to
coaching. He’s been coaching 18-20
years and has coached volleyball for
7 of those years. When asked about
coaching, Lopez remarked, “I really enjoy seeing the team work hard
and watching them succeed.” After a
chuckle, he added, “But my favorite
thing about coaching is winning!”
He’s optimistic about the team’s
season this year and has a lot of goals
for them. For the Freshmen team, he’s
working with them on learning the basics and building a solid foundation for
their skills. For the Junior Varsity team,
he’s working on engaging in rallies (in
volleyball, this means passing the ball
over the net and making plays with
the opposing team for a considerable
amount of time). For the Varsity team,
his goal, he enthusiastically says, is to
“Crush any opponent.”
With the season underway and with
seven wins for the Varsity team already,
Coach Lopez is excited for the season
to continue. When he’s not coaching
the girls to “crush opponents” on the
court, you can find him managing the
Credit Recovery room, by the auditorium. If you ever walk in there for anything, you’ll notice a slight change in
the room. It is decorated to look like a
baseball field. When asked about the
new theme of the room, he explained to
us that he’s really into metaphors and
that he used this as a way to keep the
students interested and to help them.
“I really want to be able to work with
individual students to help them to be
successful in a regular classroom and in
life,” Lopez remarked about his class.
With the year already started, he says
he is excited about being a part of Paducah Tilghman High School and that
he can’t wait to see what the year will
bring.
the team’s success. Senior Bishlem Pea
says, “Our team is built of all ages, but I’m
expecting to do well in the district tournament and make a run at regionals.” The
boys had their season opening game on the
16th against St. Mary, which they won 3-0.
The soccer team recently took on the
Murray Tigers on August 18th, tying
2-2. They also defeated the Reidland
Greyhounds 4-0 on August 22. Their
upcoming games consist of Lone Oak
on August 23rd, Heath on September 1
and CCA on the 6. Come out and support the team throughout the season!
photo by: James Harben
PT Football expects tough but successful season
by Michael Smith
As school comes to a start, there are a lot of exciting sporting events, especially football. The Paducah Tilghman football
team will play Lone Oak, Evansville, and Mayfield the first three
weeks of the season. These three games are the biggest games of
the season until playoffs, stated PT Head Football Coach Randy
Wyatt. “Mayfield has a strong tradition; their senior class hasn’t
been beaten by us in 4 years. We won’t know how it will end until
the 4th quarter. It will be a classic. It’s going to be one heck of a
football game. I’d love to see us win, especially with the senior
class I have. I’ve been with these guys for 4 years, and I think
they have what it takes to beat them and leave with a victory over
Mayfield,” Coach Wyatt said.
A new addition to Paducah Tilghman Football team, James Hill,
a Defensive Back, Wide Receiver, and Running Back, and who
recently moved from North Carolina, stated, “It’s a rivalry; I’ve
never been around it, but it always seems to be a good, down to
the wire game. I’m really looking forward to playing and winning. Our offense is looking good, but we’re even better on the
defensive side.”
Another transfer to PT football, Tyler Presnell from Lone Oak,
is the Quarter Back and Punter. He loves the wearing the color
blue and says, “Mayfield is going to be a really good game. It’s
the 100th year rivalry, and I’m really excited to play and be a
part of this tradition. It’s also an honor to be invited to play in the
Bluegrass Game in Louisville and be able to play in Papa John’s
Stadium. Evansville is a really good team, and I’m ready to play
them and leave with a win.” In addition to these thrilling games,
we have good regular season games that will be just as exciting.
photo by: Michael Langston
2011 PTHS Football Schedule
8/19- LONE OAK
2/27- Bluegrass Bowl-U of L
9/2- MAYFIELD
9/9- Graves Co.
9/16- CRITTENTON CO.
9/23- Heath
9/30- FORT CAMPBELL
10/14- Northeast (Clarksville, TN)
10/21- Webster Co.
(ALL CAPS- Home game)
“Meet the Tornado” transforms back-to-school blues into school spirit
by Alicia Humphrey
“Meet the Tornado” started
off this fall’s sports and seasonal activities with more school
spirit than ever before. On August 12th starting at 6:00 pm
at the Tilghman football field,
many school sports members
were introduced to the community, as well as participants
in several other extracurricular
activities. The event began with
an introduction of and short
performance by the Tilghman
cheerleaders, who have participated in several camps this summer. Six new freshmen have
been added to the 18-member
team, including All-American
cheerleaders Areanna Orr, Olivia Carner, Kaitlyn Curry, and
photo by: Mackenzie Bruce
Courtney Hawkins.
Next Coach Randy Wyatt,
who was recently inducted into
the Kentucky Sports Hall of
Fame, introduced the football
team. Mr. Saddler put on quite
a show, introducing all 98 of his
Band of Blue members, as well
as the Color Guard, by name.
Austin Davis and the girls’ soccer team came next, urging the
community to come out to the
girls’ first home game at Jetton on August 15th, where they
played Marshall. Boys’ soccer followed, a team totaling
34 members, including new
assistant coach Dustin Crane.
Immediately afterwards came
golf, 11 members total, includ-
ing regional champions Morgan Kauffman, Charlie and
Teri Doss, and Lauren Eicholtz.
Cross country was next, a small
group headed by Coach Hamilton, and finally volleyball,
coached by Jesse Lopez, new to
Tilghman (the volleyball team
could not be present due to a
game at Apollo High School).
After the conclusion of “Meet
the Tornado,” a scrimmage between Tilghman and Hopkinsville followed at 7:30. “Meet
the Tornado” has proven again
to live up to its reputation as a
showcase of athletic and musical talent at Tilghman as well as
an exciting start of our return to
school.
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8
T H E
T I L G H M A N
B E L L
SPORTS
One hundred years strong
and still going
by Alex Boyd, Emily Page, and Audrey Withrow
Through our interview with Lisa Mitchell, secretary to superintendent Dr.
Green, A Century of Excellence by Bob
Swisher and Berry Craig, we acquired
this information.
The Tornado first earned its name in
1924 at a Tilghman versus Fulton Basketball game where the score was a devastating 115-2, and a local writer stated
the Blue and White “Tilghman team
blew through us like a Blue Tornado.”
Ever since that day, the name has stuck
and the Tilghman Tornado has been extremely successful in the region and in
the state.
In 1911, the first Mayfield, Tilghman game was played. One hundred
years later the tradition still stands when
Mayfield and Tilghman “duke it out”
for bragging rights. It’s all pretty vague,
but the first game was said to have been
played in Mayfield and the score is still
arguable: Mayfield fans say it was a 22-0
blowout, while Tilghman believes it was
a scoreless tie. This friendly rivalry is
Lady Soccer kicks it off
the second oldest in the state and has received national media attention multiple
times. When the rivalry began is also debatable, but in the past 100 years Tilghman has won a solid 47 games and only
4 were not played due to Mayfield not
having a coach. The Tilghman-Mayfield
game was first played Thanksgiving
Day, 1911. At this time there was poor
protection and no class divisions and during this game, the Mayfield team added
West Kentucky College players into
their line up. The two schools continued
playing until 1918 when they missed
their second game due to the World War.
Before 1924, Tilghman was known as
the “Blue and White” not the Tornadoes.
In 1925, one Tilghman player is said to
have scored all the points in the game,
including those for the Mayfield team.
How this Tilghman player managed to
do this, no one is quite sure, but ever
since then there has been a Tilghman vs.
Mayfield game.
TILGHMAN EDUCATION
ACHIEVEMENT MONEY
TEAM Donors 2011-2012
by Kaitlyn Curry
Goal! As soccer season kicks off, the Lady Tornado begins with one shut-out
win, a promising tie, and a bitter loss. On August 15th, the girl’s soccer team faced
the Lady Marshals for the first match of the 2011 season. The Marshals have been
known as one of the top teams in the region; therefore, when the Lady Tornado held
them 0-0 for both halves, both players and fans were pleasantly surprised. This
tie demonstrates the team’s ability to make a presence in the region this year. On
the following Thursday, the girls battled with the Murray Tigers, who are known
throughout the state for their talent. They lost 8-0, not able to defend against the
Tigers’ quick speed of play. The Lady Tornado hopes to improve during the season
and meet the Tigers in the Region Tournament with better luck. On the 20th, the
girls’ team played St. Mary. They reigned victorious, scoring six times while preventing the other school from scoring at all. Please come and support your team!
Volleyball starts off with a
SPIKE!
by Ngodoo Itiavkase
Thursday, August 18 was a triumphant day for Tilghman volleyball. They played
against CFS and beat them 25-12. The game started off with a team flip and a warmup. Both teams played with intensity and an enormous amount of good sportsmanship.
Spikes were a common play happening throughout the game and most ended with the
crowd going wild. This game proves that PTHS 2011-2012 Volleyball is going to have
a good season.
TORNADO TEAM
Rhonda and Chris Ash
Lori and Danny Butler
Sid and Justin Hancock
Lisa and Blaine Lasher
Cheri and Richard Paxton
Karen and Robert Petter
Lonna and Shawn Washer
Missy and Kelvin White
BIG BLUE TEAM
Patrick Burba, M.D.
Mary and Brian Katz
TEAM PLAYERS
Carolyn and Guthrie Allen
Cheryl and Vernon Arboleda
Jeannie and Ed Baker
Pamela Benzing
Caroline and Mike Cappock
Laurie and Bryan Carner
Traci and David Curry
Susan and Rowland Hancock
Trish and Jeff Hines
Danette and David Humphrey
Liz and Tom Kohler
Catherine Senn
Ashley and Tom Shadoan
Angie and Kevin Shannon
Susie and Jim Sigler
Karen and Stephen Story
Marcia and Jeff Torbett
Tonya and Rich Archer
TEAMMATES
Mary and Joseph Behrens
Patty and Keith Bickerstaff
Nancy and Chris Black
Amber Braden
Brenda Cantwell
Amy and Alvin Corbett
Mary Jo and Steve Doolittle
Lee Emmons and Alan Noneman
Lynda and Russ Flynn
Rene Futrell
Sandy and George Harben
Julie and Carl Harris
Rhonda and Kendall Holt
Tammy and Mike Holt
Tanya Jones
Samantha and Mark Kettler
Heather and Joe Kauffman
Kelly and Chris Ladd
Holly and Dan Mattingly
Stacey Overlin
Annette Poole-Malone
Tammy and Keith Potter
Sheri and John Robertson
Ro and Will Shelby, Sr.
Allison and Brad Stieg
Mitzi and Brett Stuart
Leesa and Tony Threatt
Kelly and Wayne Walden
Pam and Gene Whelan
Chris and Forrest Wynne
Katherine Zaninovich
Tomi Zaninovich
Thank you for
supporting
Tilghman!