Odyssey December 2007.indb

Homecoming
Court Reigns Over
Festivities
( pages 6-7)
The Odyssey
since 1969
INSIDE
Godspell inspires young actors
Musical based on the Gospel of Matthew
Third grade play wows
audiences
(pages 9-10)
Let’s Hear It For America
brought characters like George
Washington, Ben Franklin, and
Franklin Roosevelt together
under one roof as young
thespians made American history
come to life. Even the Statue of
Liberty made an appearance.
Is Saint James losing too
many student traditions?
(page 5)
Historical traditions are a part
of every high school. But with
every year that passes, students
feel that more and more of the
traditions they know and love are
disappearing.
Saint James students
volunteer to help others
(page 2)
Several high school students
learned how to screen the eyesight of young children, to help
prevent loss of sight. In the process, the volunteers also learned
something about themselves.
I
By Daniel DiLaura
News Editor
Photo by Bob Corley
The followers of Jesus (played by Gannon Love) respond to his inspiring words. The
play will be produced Friday and Saturday nights, with a matinee on Sunday afternoon.
magine a busy soup
kitchen in an even busier
city. Now imagine this
soup kitchen with a modern day
Jesus Christ teaching parables
as he goes about his daily routine. Creating the urban feel of
a busy city, developing credible
characters and perfecting song
and dance routines have been
the theatre and choral departments’ tasks as they completed
work on the musical Godspell,
which opened last night and
continues tonight and tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in the Performng Arts Building. A Sunday matinee begins at 2 p.m.
Godspell, a musical originally performed in the 1970s, is
based on the story of Jesus, as
told in the Gospel of Matthew.
The story begins as Jesus meets
each of the disciples and it ends
with the crucifixion of Christ.
“The original setting of the
play was a circus, but the play’s
director, Mr. Harrison, decided to change it to a modern
city street in the aftermath of
9/11,” senior Tim Lipinsky said.
The Saint James version of the
play takes place in the back alleys of New York City. Christ’s
visit unifies the homeless individuals that live in the area and
helps them become better people.
“Theatre is about telling stories
and finding universal truths within
them. I was very affected by Sept.
11, 2001, and the powerful tales of
heroes and hope of a unifying nation really moved me. I revolved
Godspell around this concept
of telling an amazing story and
bringing many different kinds of
people together,” Harrison said.
“We picked Godspell because
it gave us the copyright freedom
to mold the lyrics, setting, and
lines to fit the Saint James atmosphere,” senior Fred Paul said.
“I think this play is going to
really draw in the audience, and
give them a very modern perspective about the atmosphere
during the time of Christ,” Gannon Love, who plays Jesus
Christ in the musical, said. Love
is a veteran of the Saint James
Photo by Sara Butts
Emma Carpenter and Justin Gallagher mourn Jesus
after he is crucified by Judas.
stage and has appeared in a variety of Saint James productions.
Junior Julio Rios plays the part
of Judas. This is Rios’s first appearance on the stage, but the theatre debut has not intimidated him.
“I am very nervous but I
am also excited about being on
stage in front of lots of people
for the first time,” Rios said.
Godspell ran for over 2600 performances both on and off-Broadway during its original run more
than 30 years ago. The play’s
music and lyrics were written
by Stephen Schwartz, who also
wrote the music for more recent
musicals, such as Wicked and Pippin. The most well-known vocal
number from the show is “Day by
Day,” which is sung by Sarah Beth
Locklar in the STJ production.
Other actors that appear
throughout the play are Parker
Neill, Meredith Dubberly, Laura
Ashley Missildine, Emma Carpenter, Morgan Palumbo, Justin
Gallagher, and Melissa Wallin.
“We worked at this extra hard because it is more
spiritually
demanding
than
most other musicals,” sophomore Meredith Dubberly said.
The technical theatre and theatre production classes began working in late Sept. to perfect the set.
“It takes about 15 minutes
to do 30 bricks. We did about
5,000 bricks in order to create
realistic buildings,” stage manager Molly Freeman, senior, said.
“I think all the hard work
after school is paying off as
the play finally comes together,” junior Parker Neill said.
The play is presented in dinner
theatre-style, with food reminiscent of a modern soup kitchen.
“We wanted to serve food that
went along with the theme of the
play so that’s why the Performing Arts Guild decided to make
many different kinds of soup for
the audience to enjoy while they
watched the play,” Freeman said.
Admission to Godspell is $10
and includes soup, bread and a
beverage.
2
News
The Odyssey
Stock market traders Helping children see a brighter future
look for second win
November 17, 2006
By Coleman McDowell
Sports Editor
By Daniel DiLaura
News Editor
T
he stock market is
confusing and potentially dangerous for
investors, but a national contest
is helping Saint James seniors
learn about the puzzling system.
“The idea behind the game is to
choose a stock, watch its progress
and choose whether you want to
keep it or sell it, and buy something
else,” senior Taylor Arabian said.
The National Council of Economics sponsors the stock-picking contest. The students start off
with 100,000 fictitious dollars to
spend on different companies.
“We go to the computer lab
and do lots of research about what
type of companies we want to invest in. After we have done the
research, we have many different
things to take into consideration
before we buy a particular company,” senior Molly Cowart said.
In every state the contest is held
with 947 teams from across the
nation competing for the top prize.
“The first place prize is $1,000
and I hope that a group from Saint
James will win just like we did
last year. The groups this year are
hoping to achieve the same goals
and win the grand prize for the
second straight year,” economics teacher Cathy Latham said.
“I have learned to invest in
small companies, because people
do not know they make more
M
money, faster. At first I invested
in a few large companies and I
was not doing very well. After
some more research I invested
in small companies and I went
from 67th place to 18th place,”
senior Megan Collins said.
All students learn about the
business side of the “real world.”
“This project has been a challenging life experience that teaches you about real life applications,” senior Neely Ketzler said.
All of the groups consist of
three to five people, and each
member of the group picks at
least one company. Every Friday, the teams fill out a stock
report showing what companies
were bought and during the week.
Except for the stock reports,
which are done in the economics class itself, all work is done
at home. This is the 8th week of
the competition and the teams
are half way through the contest, which ends on Dec. 1. The
contest is required for all members of the economics class.
At press time, Macon East
Montgomery Academy held
the first place spot, but Saint
James students were steadily closing in on the leaders.
“I have learned a ton. At the
beginning I didn’t even know
what the stock market was,
but now I have learned many
things that will help me in life,”
senior Elizabeth Alter said.
ichael
Knowles
wears glasses. He
knows the hardships
and responsibilities that come
with wearing spectacles. That
was the reason Knowles decided
to learn how to screen the eyes of
young children before they suffer damage from vision problems
and are required to wear glasses.
“I really wanted to sign up
so I could get out and help
others who have eye problems like I do,” Knowles said.
Saint James students signed up
for various volunteer sites after
a motivating speech by Stephen
Black, who spoke to a high school
assembly and urged students to
volunteer their service to nonprofit agencies, including the FocusFirst program in Montgomery.
FocusFirst is a program that
trains students to screen the eyesight of underprivileged children
for potential vision problems.
Volunteering
gave
some
students a different perspective on their community.
“I learned that everything is
not about me. It’s about helping others who are less fortunate than we are. Plus, it is always good to see a smile on a
little kid’s face,” Knowles said.
Knowles, along with sophomores Anna Epton, Kindall
Tucker, Sarah Starr, Kendall Wat-
participate in Youth Judicial as an
attorney, witness, bailiff, sheriff,
or as an elected judge. There are
two different ways a team can try
a case, as prosecution or defense.
To prepare and learn about
the trial and the case, students
worked with a professional
attorney who had experience
and knowledge with the judicial
system. An Officer Training
Seminar for Youth Judicial was
also held for the students at
Camp Chandler, on Sept. 21-22.
A total of four teams
participated in the judicial
event. There were three defense
teams and one prosecution team.
Students within each team worked
together and practiced frequently
for the tournament. Many students
participated in Youth Judicial
for the first time this year, so in
addition to learning the case and
practicing for the trial, they were
also taught the basic fundamentals
of the Youth Judicial program
and what was to take place.
“Our team focused on cross-examination questions and exhibits.
We also tried to inform new members on the team about the Youth
Judicial process and what occurs,” senior Taylor Arabian said.
“Saint James had the overall
best team in the Youth Judicial
competition in 2002, winning the
Justice Hugh Maddox Award. My
goal going into the competition
was to win, but my overall goal
was for our teams to make the
top five, and for some students
Photo by Sandra Polizos
Stephen Black, FocusFirst organizer, speaks with STJ students at a Sept. assembly, and
encourages them to volunteer their time with the eyesight screening program.
son, juniors Drew Hoover, Chris
Johnson, Emma Carpenter, Casey
Johnson, Kelsi Caraway, Max Capouano, Chris Lee, Katie Echols,
Katie Curry, Greg Gilbert, Brooke
Struthers, and Matt Burnside, and
senior Liza Pirofsky, volunteered
to screen the children for potentially damaging vision problems.
The students had to train for
the eye screenings before actually conducting a vision test.
“On the screening day, I learned
how to put the camera together,
keep the children busy, how to
take the camera apart, and how to
work the camera,” Knowles said.
On the first day of eye
training, the students learned
many important details of
the eye screening process.
“First, you have to set up the
camera in a dark room and make
sure there are no lights or reflections. Next, you have to keep
the children who are not being
screened occupied. Then you
screen each child to try and detect
any possible problems. Once each
child is screened, you pack up
and send the photographs off to a
lab to be studied,” Knowles said.
Other
non-profit agencies
where Saint James students have
offered
to volunteer include
Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, Montgomery Bible
Institute, and Alacare Hospice.
The eye screenings took
place on Nov. 7, 14 at various Head Start Centers around
Montgomery. The final screening will take place on Nov. 21.
to be selected for the national
mock trial,” Government Club
sponsor, Mrs. Somerville said.
Youth Judicial gives students
who are interested in the judicial
process the chance to experience
and try an actual case. It is an
opportunity for individuals to
become familiar with the country’s
judicial system and how it works.
“Youth Judicial is a great way
for the students to understand and
learn about our judicial system,
our courts, and how they run. It is a
serious tournament, but at the same
time it is a fun, and great learning
experience,” Somerville said.
“I really enjoy Youth Judicial
because I get to learn a lot
about the judicial process, and
it gives me a chance to meet
new people,” Arabian said.
In addition to Youth Judicial, the Saint James Government Club members can also
participate in Youth Legislature
and Youth in City Government.
The Montgomery YMCA organizes these Youth in City and
State government programs.
Students Take Over City Government
By Sam Susock
Entertainment Editor
O
n Nov. 11-13, the
Saint James Government Club participated in the annual Youth Judicial
program. Seven students on the
STJ defense team won second
place in the state. The team members included “lawyers” Hanly
Funderburk, Greg Gilbert, and
Taylor Arabian, along with “witnesses” Elizabeth Green, Megan
Gallagher, Caroline Mitchell, and
Zach Grate. Greg Gilbert and
Elizabeth Green were nominated
for the national mock trial team.
Youth Judicial is a state
government program in which
students participate in a mock trial
and try a pre-written case. Youth
judges then score the students
based on their performance. The
prosecution team and defense
team with the most points wins
the tournament. Students can
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The Odyssey November 17, 2006
Quick
Hits
Newton named “Star
Athlete”
Sports
3
Saint James wrestlers aim to improve record
By Wes Davis
Buisness Manager
W
ith 17 returning
wrestlers and two
returning seniors,
the wrestling team looks for vast
improvement on last year’s record
of 7-16. Led by head coach Craig
Duncan, the team is looking
forward to the upcoming season
with hopes of finishing with their
first winning record since 2002.
“We
have 17 returning
wrestlers this year, so I’m
expecting big improvements from
last season,” Duncan said.
This year’s wrestlers will be
far more experienced than last
year’s team, which had no seniors
and only three juniors.
Frazier Hull, one of this year’s
seniors, has wrestled at Saint
James for four seasons, and John
Neubauer, the other senior, has
wrestled for three.
“We didn’t lose anybody from
last year, and I’m just really
excited about my senior season
and my last shot at state,” Hull
said.
The team also has two
returning state qualifiers with
sophomore Chris Henry finishing
as the runner-up in the 103 lb.
weight class. Henry had a 32-6
overall record overall last season,
and hopes to make another run at
the state tournament.
“We have a lot of young people,
and a lot of people coming back,
so I hope we can have more than
two people go to
state this year,”
Henry said.
Junior Drew
Hoover was the
other qualifier,
earning
third
place in the 191
lb. weight class.
“This season
is really exciting because we
Courtesy of Joe Bailey
have so many Senior Frazier Hull wrestles an opponent during
the 2005 wrespeople returning, tling season. The wrestling season begins on Nov. 28 with a
including
two tournament featuring Saint James, Holtville, and Tallassee.
state placers. We
son with a home dual match against
expect to have a strong showing at state this year,” Hoover Holtville and Tallassee on Nov. 28.
The Lincoln Tournament, the varsisaid.
Both the varsity and junior ty’s first tournament of the year, will
varsity will kick off the sea- be held on Dec. 8 at Lincoln High
School.
Basketball coaches anticipate successful seasons
Senior wide receiver, running
back, linebacker, and cornerback Nathan Newton was
named “Hardee’s Star Athlete of
the Week” for his perfomance
during the week of Oct. 27.
The Trojans were left out of the
play-offs, but ended the season
with wins in three of the last
four games.
Coming Events
Basketball
Nov. 20 - Trojan Thanksgiving Tournament (B)
Nov. 20 - @ Prattville (G)
Nov. 30 - vs. Prattville (G)
Dec. 1 - vs. ACA (B&G)
Wrestling
Nov. 28 - Holtville/
Tallassee
Nov. 30 - @ Auburn
Dec. 2 - Lincoln High Tournament
Volleyball Comes Up
Short at State
Students cheered the varsity volleyball players on
before the State Championship with a parade. The
varsity volleyball team had
a disappointing showing at
state, but a very successful
year overall.
By Daniel DiLaura
News Editor
T
he girls and boys
basketball coaches are
expecting great results
from their teams this year. Head
varsity coach Ken Klinger is ready
to face another very challenging
season.
His team is looking forward
to a promising year with young
players Clinton Freeman, Chase
Eley and Chase Christian moving
up.
Returning players from last
year, John Enslen, Graham Sutter,
Nate Conoly, Norman Westervelt,
and Clark Hankins, are ready
and anxious to begin this year’s
basketball season.
Last year senior Graham Sutter
led the team in assists and free
throws and senior John Enslen led
the team in points and rebounds.
“We have a small team in
height and in numbers but we
are going to work hard and really
challenge ourselves to become
better basketball players,” junior
Clark Hankins said.
With the region rearranged,
the schedule looks different.
Montgomery Academy, Trinity,
and Catholic all promise strong
competition, as all three are teams
Saint James trailed in the Capital
City Conference last year.
Klinger lost seniors Landon
Eley, Jason Soriano, and Tyler
Henry from last year’s team, but
hopes that this year’s seniors will
take on a positive leadership role
and take the place of the seniors
he had last year.
“I expect to see lots of
improvement. We have six
returning players and I am
very excited about the three
sophomores coming up in my
second season as head coach,”
Klinger said.
The Trojans had to move
quickly last year, playing against
much bigger teams. With no influx
of height coming in on the roster
this year, it looks to be a similar
scenario.
Because of the lack of height
the Trojans are going to have to
find other ways to get the ball in
the basket.
“With all the depth in our roster
I am expecting the game to move
very quickly and we are going to
try and run the floor a lot more,”
Klinger said.
The Trojans lost some key
players from last year’s team, but
with a good mix of youth and
experience, they hope to exceed
expectations.
The team is looking to build
on their 4-20 season and a new
region should help them reach
that goal.
The Trojans’ new region
includes Elmore County,
Brewbaker Tech, and Bullock
County.
Coach Katie Barton sees
great potential in the girls
varsity girls basketball team
which is made up of Katie
Bright, Kelly Michelle Lewis,
Taylor Gunter, Casey Johnson,
Morgan Mullen, Amie Vette,
Laura Ostrye, Lauren Henry,
Susanne Treece and Hope
Olszewski.
The first six of these girls
are returning players and the
last four are newcomers.
“I am very excited about the
upcoming season and I hope
we can reach our goals and
make it to the championship,”
Katie Bright said.
The high scorer from last
year was Kelly Michelle Lewis
with 16 points per game. The
second highest scorer was
Katie Bright with 8.7 points
per game.
The team has a good mix
of senior leadership and
underclassman with a lot of
Photo by Sara Butts
Senior Nate Conoly trots down the
court duting practice. The Trojans begin
the season on Nov. 20 with the Trojan
Thanksgiving Tournament.
potential.
“I have ten players that are
hardworking and very enthusiastic
about playing basketball. We all
have the same goals in mind, and I
am very excited about the potential
that this team brings to the table,”
Barton said.
The schedule appears to be pretty
steep for the Lady Trojans.
“The hardest regular season
opponents
are
Montgomery
Academy,
Alabama
Christian
Academy, and Prattville,” Coach
Barton said.
Sports
4
The Odyssey November 17, 2006
2006 Iron Bowl preview
By Wes Davis
Business Manager
There are several great rivalries that take place in college
football, but there is one game
that stands out in the minds of
Alabamians. It is simply called
the Iron Bowl: the annual match
up between the Alabama Crimson
Tide and Auburn Tigers. Considered by most as the fiercest rivalry in the nation, the Auburn-Alabama game is talked about year
round by fans of both teams.
The rivalry has had a great history of games, including the 1972
game in which Auburn blocked
two punts to overcome Alabama
and the 1985 game when Alabama kicker Van Tiffin hit a 52
yard field goal to defeat Auburn.
The overall series has always
been close, with Alabama leading
the overall record 38-31.
This year, Alabama will be
hosting Auburn at Bryant-Denny
Stadium in Tuscaloosa, AL. Both
teams are coming off crushing
losses, with Auburn at 9-2 and
Odyssey Staff
Predictions
Will Fuller
Auburn
24 - 3
Daniel DiLaura
Auburn
30-10
Coleman McDowell
Auburn
20-18
Richard Labovitz
Alabama
17 - 13
Matt Dean
Auburn
27-10
Wes Davis
Auburn
20 - 7
Sara Butts
Auburn
24 - 7
Sam Susock
Michigan over OSU
34 - 24
Alabama at 6-5.
On offense, Auburn has been inconsistent
throughout the season,
with injuries to tight end
Cole Bennett and center
Joe Cope. The Tigers also
lack depth at wide receiver, limiting quarterback
Brandon Cox who was
sacked many times early
this season. Auburn can
usually rely on the running back combo of Brad
Lester and Kenny Irons,
and Cox has been known
to show poise in pressure
situations when he is given time.
On the other side, the
Crimson Tide has also had
very little offensive success, averaging under 17
points per game in SEC
play. The lack of points
is most likely attributed
to the ineffectiveness of
running back Kenneth
Darby, who is averag-
Courtesy of auburntigers.com
Kenny Irons breaks away from the Alabama defense in last
year’s Iron Bowl. Irons finished the game with 103 yards.
Top 10 reasons Auburn
will win the Iron Bowl
fensive category except passing
yards.
ing only 75 yards against
SEC defenses. Alabama
does protect the ball very
well, with the best turnover margin in the SEC.
Sophomore quarterback John Parker Wilson
has adjusted well to the
speed of SEC defenses,
and needs to play well for
Alabama to come away
with a victory.
On the defensive side
of the ball, Auburn has
been fairly solid allowing
only 14 points a game.
Redshirt freshman Tray
Blackmon and converted
safety Will Herring have
both been playing well at
the linebacker position,
while safety Eric Brock
leads the secondary in
tackles and interceptions.
On the other hand, the
Tigers have also been vulnerable against the run,
and give up too many long
yardage plays because of
Top 10 reasons Alabama
will win the Iron Bowl
Tide’s go to receiver, has 56
receptions for 999 yards, leaving
him one yard shy of David Palmer’s single season reception yards
record, and five touchdowns.
5. Cornerbacks David Irons
and Jai Wilhite have shut down
Dwayne Bowe of LSU, Sidney
Rice of South Carolina, Dallas
Baker of Florida, and Jason Hill
of Washington State so DJ Hall
should not be a problem.
Compiled by Coleman McDowell
Sports Editor
1. Alabama has beaten one good
team in the past four years so
why should they start now?
2. Mike Shula didn’t put away
Duke, Vanderbilt, or Hawaii and
has proven he cannot coach in
big games.
3. Kenny Irons is finally healthy
and alongside Brad Lester, they
form one of the strongest running
back duos in the nation. Freshman Ben Tate has proved himself
a worthy backup and a valuable
change of pace running back for
Al Borges’s offense this season.
4. Alabama’s “strongest” part
of the team is their offense.
Auburn’s “weakest” part of
their team is their offense. Yet
Auburn’s offense ranks ahead
of Alabama in every single of-
6. Joe Kines is an above average defensive coordinator, but
Auburn offensive coordinator Al
Borges showed that even when
Alabama’s defense is at their
best, Borges can outcoach him.
7. This year’s Alabama team
is less talented than last year’s
Alabama team, which Auburn
defeated handily.
8. Alabama has no shut down
corner to match up with Auburn
wide receiver Courtney Taylor.
9. Special teams always play a
key role in these games. Auburn’s have been really good and
Alabama’s have been less than
spectacular.
10. Mississippi State did it, why
can’t we?
youth at the interior lineman position.
The Crimson Tide defense has
done well overall, with 13 interceptions this year. Five of those
interceptions were made by cornerback Simeon Castille, who
has been critical to Alabama’s
defense this year.
Overall, both teams have some
of the best talent in the nation.
Alabama likes to use their lack of
scholarships over the past years
as a crutch for their mediocrity,
but they have very talented players on both sides of the ball.
The coaching is the main difference between the two teams.
Mike Shula is generally recognized as inadequate coach and
is on the hot seat. In big games,
coaching wins and Tommy Tuberville is clearly the better
coach.
Both teams are coming off
devastating losses, and the game
will be decided by who can respond the best to adversity.
Compiled by Richard Labovitz
Staff Writer
1. Due to the injuries to starting
center Joe Cope and starting
tight end Cole Bennett, Auburn’s offensive line is weak.
2. Auburn’s rushing game has
been ineffective for most of
the season. Against Arkansas
at home, Auburn rushed for a
total of 60 yards on 31 carries,
averaging 1.9 yards per rush.
Brad Lester and Kenny Irons
both combined for 89 yards on
15 attempts.
3. John Parker Wilson averages 207.9 yards per game,
completing 57.5 percent of his
passes.
4. Alabama’s receivers have
shown their presence against
their opponents. DJ Hall, the
5. Kenneth Darby, a no-show at
the beginning of the season, has
drastically improved his rushes
with 184 carries for 772 yards,
averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
6. Cornerback Simeon Castille
has 61 total tackles and five interceptions.
7. Alabama’s defense is first in
the SEC in turnovers with 15 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries. Three of those interceptions
were returned for touchdowns.
8. Brandon Cox averages 177.3
yards per game and has thrown
nine interceptions, four in the last
game against Georgia at home.
9. Mike Shula is on the hot seat.
Shula is 1-10 versus Tennessee,
LSU, and Alabama and has lost
to Auburn three years in a row
and LSU four years in a row.
10. Alabama is playing for a
bowl berth.
The Odyssey November 17, 2006
Opinions
In defense of Saint James traditions
A
high school student walks
through the gate on Oct.
24 for the Saint James
Fall Festival. To his right, he
spots many elementary school
students on inflatable slides and
moonwalks. Straight ahead he
can see kids going around and
around on a whirl-around ride.
Far ahead and to the left he makes
out small figures scurrying up the
rock-climb wall. Immediately to
the left he spots kids and parents
situated at the Bingo table,
hoping that the next number just
might fill up that fifth space.
With all of these things
surrounding him, he realizes
something. Over 90% of the
students attending the Fall
Festival are fifth grade and
under. He also realizes that
he sees fewer than 10% of the
high school student body there.
“Where is everyone?” he asks
himself. As he takes another
look around, he understands.
Flashback: one year earlier. As
the high school student walks into
the gate of Fall Festival, he sees
over half of the high school there.
To his left he sees many elementary
school kids smiling and laughing
at the Saint James juniors who
are performing in the much-loved
Fairy Tale Theater. The juniors,
dressed up as Little Miss Muffet
and The Three Little Pigs, are
smiling and laughing as well. The
Fairy Tale Theater was one of the
only events at Fall Festival that
involved high school students.
The Fall Festival could be a
great time for high school students
to socialize and enjoy each other’s
company. It could be a tradition
for all of the high school to come
out and enjoy. Instead, the Fall
Festival has become more like
the kiddy ride section of a State
Fair, with Bingo being the only
attraction that older students
might possibly be interested in.
Fairy Tale Theater is just one
item on a list of Saint James
traditions that no longer exist.
School groups used to sponsor
a Street Dance every year, with a
live band and other activities for
all ages. Most of the high school,
along with middle and elementary
students, would come and enjoy
the festivities. The Street Dance
was a wonderful opportunity in the
early spring to enjoy the pleasant
weather and relax with family
and friends. It was very popular
among students, but like Fairy
Tale Theater, it no longer exists.
Having traditions within a
school is very important. When
students leave, they should not
only leave with an education,
but also with the fond memories
of being a part of something
that was special and unique,
with pride about being a Trojan.
Much of this pride stems from
memories of being a part of a
long history of school traditions.
Traditions that students anticipate,
participate in, and then happily
pass on to the class behind
them. Traditions that students
- and later adults - remember
long after they’ve graduated.
As a student, it seems as if
the emphasis on school spirit
and identity are diminishing
more every year. It may be no
coincidence that the feeling of
school pride is diminishing as well.
The Homecoming tradition
at Saint James used to include
five dress-up days and chalk
drawings on the quad. The five
days have now been cut to three
true dress-up days. The chalk
drawings, once proudly created
by different homeroom classes,
have now been eliminated.
Each eighth grade student
used to look forward to the annual
class trip to Washington D.C. This
much-anticipated middle school
trip to study the sights and history
of our nation’s capital no longer
exists, though other area schools
still make the annual visit.
Senior privileges are a rite
that all students anxiously
anticipate. Some of these have
also been curtailed.
Seniors
previously had an hour to enjoy
5
their well-deserved off-campus
lunch.
Two years ago, that
privilege was cut to 30 minutes.
Many seniors complain that they
barely have time to walk down
to the parking lot, get to their
car and to a restaurant before
it’s time to speed back to school.
As a student body and family,
Saint James needs to make sure
that the school retains its identity
beyond its strong curriculum and
beyond its physical structure.
We also need to maintain some
long-held
traditions.
Many
students would love to start
new traditions or bring old ones
back, but they are afraid to ask.
As we look to the future
and work to make Saint James
the most modern and efficient
school possible, we should
also be careful not to strip
away the sometimes silly, yet
fun-filled traditions that have
always made it special.
“On my honor, this pep rally will not be offensive...”
By Bo Ingram
Contributing Writer
C
ertain things are
staples of American
high school culture,
such as Friday night football
games, homecoming and prom.
Another such event is the pep
rally, a large school gathering in
which the students are supposed
to get excited about their school
team, regardless of their success
level. The band plays the fight
song as the football team is
introduced, and everyone
cheers. Following these events
is a skit for the spectators’
amusement. These skits have
various themes, but one thing
they have in common is that they
tend to make fun of a situation.
However, these skits can turn
negative if their creators are
not careful. They can single out
individuals and humiliate them
in front of the entire school.
Although it sounds harsh, this
behavior is a type of hazing,
which is illegal. Because public
humiliation is so horrifying, it
should be avoided at all costs.
In order to prevent public
embarrassment and ridicule of
students, the principal of the
school should approve all aspects
of a pep rally before allowing
one to take place.
Recently, the school chose to
hold a pep rally in preparation
for the Andalusia game. The
theme was “Pirates of the
Johnsonians,” an allusion to our
football coach and the hit movie
Pirates of the Caribbean. When
it started, it seemed like a typical,
boring pep rally. When it came
time for the skit to occur, the
pep rally began to cross the line
between right and wrong. The
skit consisted of two people from
each grade called out to engage
in a mock duel with inflatable
swords. One student portrayed a
Saint James fan while the other
student portrayed a fan from
Andalusia, our opponent. In
order to promote school spirit,
the contest was set up so that
Saint James would ultimately
win. The worst part was that
the people who portrayed Saint
James were the “popular” people
in the grade, while the people
who portrayed Andalusia were
typically considered the less
“popular.” After the last of these
fights, the losers, the Andalusia
side, were forced to “walk
the plank.” This consisted of
stepping into a kid-sized pool
filled with ice water. To me, it
was incredibly surprising that
the school would allow such
a blatant exploitation of high
school social classes. Another
thing that popped into my head
was how ironic this situation
was. Throughout the year, Saint
James has placed an emphasis
on honor. In my opinion, the
administration nullified every
word they have said by allowing
such a dishonorable skit after
emphasizing honor throughout
the year.
On the Saint James website,
one can find a list of the core
beliefs of the administration
of the school. One of these
beliefs reads, “Children should
develop a value system including
honesty, caring, loyalty and
service.” How does that skit
teach honesty, caring, loyalty and
service? If people are loyal, do
they embarrass others in front
of the entire school? If they care
about others, will they put them
through that public humiliation?
The new honor code also
applies to this situation. It, in
part, reads, “I will do my best
to make ethical choices and
to demonstrate to others that
I am an honest and respectful
individual. I will not condone
violations of the honor code by
others and will work to make
Saint James School a stronger
and more just community.” If
the people who were planning
the pep rally had made ethical
choices and acted with honor,
the entire situation would not
have occurred. However, because
they did not demonstrate the
principles they signed their
names to uphold, four people
were humiliated and ridiculed in
front of the entire high school.
I propose a new honor code,
specially made for pep rallies.
The people who plan the events
could sign their names, giving
their word to these principles.
But what should this honor code
say? Here is my proposition:
“On my honor, this pep rally
will not be offensive to anyone
participating in or observing it.”
The Odyssey Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Jordan Chambless
Business Manager
Wes Davis
Section Editors
News
Sports
Opinions
Features
Entertainment
Daniel DiLaura
Coleman McDowell
Coleman McDowell
Jordan Chambless
Sam Susock
General Reporters
Photographer
Matt Dean
Will Fuller
Richard Labovitz
Sara Butts
Advisor
Sandra Polizos
Member Alabama Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) and Journalism Education Association.
Recipient of the ASPA All Alabama Award 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Recipient of the Troy School of Journalism Hallmark Award 2000, 2001, 2003
The Odyssey is published six times a year. The opinions in the Odyssey are the view expressed by individual staff
members. This is not necessarily representative of the opinions of the faculty,
administration, parents, students, or advisor.
The Odyssey welcomes letters to the editor. The letters must be signed and the staff reserves
the right to edit the letter before publication for length.
Saint James School  6010 Vaughn Road  Montgomery, AL 36116  (334) 277-8033 ext. 116
[email protected]
Features
6
Homecoming
The Odyssey November 17, 2006
Homecoming is
where the heart is
By Will Fuller
Staff Writer
Q: How did you feel about the
Powderpuff Game?
A: “Let’s just say, the powderpuff game was intense and extremely violent. I think our group
of junior girls really bonded from
the experience. It was a lot of
fun.”- Kelsi Caraway
Q: How did you feel the Homecoming game went?
A: “The homecoming game
was good. We came out with a
big ‘W’ over Bullock County,
31-12. I even got to play.” -Brett
Lankford
H
omecoming week
at Saint James,
held October 1620, provided a number of
entertainment opportunities
for students. Students were
given three dress up days:
College Day, 80’s Day, and
Spirit Day. The dress-up
days allowed students to be
creative, or support their
favorite team.
“80’s Day was the most
fun, because people wore
creative costumes,” freshman
Hammond Miller said.
Some students, however,
were disappointed with the
dress-up days.
“I was disappointed that
we didn’t have a Hippie Day
or Hero Day, because in years
past we have traditionally had
those days, and I was looking
forward to participating in
them,” freshman Paul Shashy
said.
The friendly JuniorSenior Powderpuff Game
was held on Thursday night,
ending in a 14-7 victory for
the juniors. Junior Morgan
Mullen set the tone by taking
the opening kickoff 75
yards for a touchdown. She
added another touchdown
run later in the game. Senior
Audrianna Archibald had the
lone senior score.
“Even though we did not
practice very much, I thought
all of the junior girls came
together, which pushed us
over the hump of senior
domination,” junior Paige
Kenmore said.
“The entire game was
very physical. Our girls really
played with a lot of heart.
By Jordan Chambless
Our conservative
play calling
was just whatEditor
the doctor ordered
for a victory,” junior coach Will
Martin.
Friday night, the real football
got underway as the Trojans took
the home field for the last time
this season versus the Bullock
County Hornets. The Trojans
struck early on a Will Martin
quarterback sneak, and rode the
momentum of Graham Sutter’s
school record tying 51 yard field
goal, winning the game 31-12.
Sophomore Clinton Freeman
and senior Nathan Newton each
added touchdown runs.
“The team came out and
looked sharp early. The
momentum from the Ashford
game clearly carried over. I am
so proud of this team’s attitude
and the senior leadership,”
Trojan Head Coach Robert
Johnson said.
“After a tough start, we
got things going in the right
direction,” sophomore Chase
Eley said.
The 2006 Homecoming Dance
was held on Saturday night, from
8-12 p.m., in the PAB. The band
Werewolf provided the music for
the students. Shelly Scott was
crowned Homecoming Queen
with Queen’s attendants Lizzie
Blake and Molly Cowart. Grades
9-12 each had one Homecoming
Court representative. The senior
class attendant was Lauren
Markham. Emily Strickland was
the junior class attendant. The
sophomore class attendant was
Alexa Shaffer. Hannah Barnes
represented the freshman class.
“Homecoming week was a
huge success, I want to thank
sponsors Linda McIntyre and
Carolyn Walker for all of their
hard work,” high school principal
John Murray said.
Seniors Molly Cowart, Shelly Scott, Lizzie Blake and Lauren Markham pose for a picture before ha
Queen at halftime. Her court included Molly Cowart and Lizzie Blake. Lauren Markham was the S
Snider, Sara Butts and Jessica Parrish prepare to dance at the Homecoming Pep Rally. (Bottom Rig
Trojans took on Bullock County and came out with a win. (Bottom Left) Seniors Paige Ryan, Alliso
picture during the Powderpuff game.
Photo by Rachel Ward
Q: How did you think the Homecoming Dance went?
A: “The homecoming dance was
so much fun. I really enjoyed
the band Werewolf. They really
made my last homecoming a
blast!” -Kelsey Welch
Photo by Sylvia Kim
Photo by Robertson’s Photography
The Odyssey November 17, 2006
Features
7
Thanksgiving
Talking turkey at the
elementary school
By Jordan Chambless
Editor
R
Photo by Robertson’s Photography
alftime at the Homecoming Game. Shelly Scott was crowned Saint James Homecoming
Senior Attendant. (Below) Junior Varsity cheerleaders Jane Marie Hutcheson, Devan
ght) Junior John Thornton makes the tackle at the Homecoming Football game. The
on Wachs, Melissa Wallin, Molly Cowart, Liza Pirofsky and Elizabeth Green smile for a
Photos by Jordan Chambless
(Left) First grader Maddy Grace
Hunter raises her hand to answer
a question. (Middle) Katie Cobb
and Lucas Lynn dance to 50’s
music on the 50th day of school.
50’s day was one of the preThanksgiving festivities that first
graders celebrated. (Bottom right)
Kamren Gray drinks her bottled
Coke on 50’s day. First graders
were allowed to have bottled
Cokes as well as other treats
including bubblegum.
ecently, the Odyssey
spoke to first grade
students about their
views on Thanksgiving. The
first graders were asked the
following questions: “If you
were an Indian, what would you
serve to the Pilgrims?”; “Why
do you think the Indians served
the Pilgrims turkey?”; “What
is your favorite Thanksgiving
memory?”; “What is your
favorite part of the Thanksgiving
meal?”; and “Why do you
think the Pilgrims and Indians
felt like they had to celebrate
Thanksgiving?” The answers
given by the young students
were as thoughtful as they were
delightful.
The question, “Why do you
think the Indians served turkey
to the Indians?” stumped the first
graders in the beginning. But,
after a couple minutes of hard
thinking, the students surprised
the Odyssey staff with their
creative replies.
“So the Indians wouldn’t have
to hunt animals,” William Grace
said.
“Because the pilgrims wanted
food but didn’t have it yet, so
the Indians wanted to be nice,”
Whitman Kent said.
To the question, “If you
were a pilgrim, what would you
serve?” there was no shortage of
original replies.
“I would give them cookie
dough, because they have never
had it before,” Katie Cobb said.
“I would give them bananas,
fruit, macaroni and cheese, and
chocolate pie,” Kameron GrayBence said.
The third question we asked
the first graders was, “What’s
your favorite part of the
Thanksgiving meal?” The
first graders this time came up
with heartwarming answers
about their family.
“Going to my grandparents’ and making chocolate
pie,” said William Grace.
The final question to the
first graders was, “What
is your favorite part of the
Thanksgiving meal?” The
hungry students wasted no
time in coming up with a
variety of answers about the
different foods they enjoyed at
the Thanksgiving table.
“My favorite part of the
Thanksgiving meal is the
green beans and the mashed
potatoes,” Baylor Belich said.
“My favorite part of the
Thanksgiving meal is the
turkey, chocolate cake and
cheesecake,” said Lucas Lynn.
Not intending to show preference to only first graders,
the Odyssey also questioned
a second grader and a fourth
grader about their family’s
Thanksgiving celebration.
“We go to our lake house
and have a bonfire,” said second grader Colton Alter.
“We have a big family
gathering,” said fourth grader
Price Everett, “with turkey,
mashed potatoes and pie.”
Another fourth grader,
Brooke Pines, shared a family
tradition with the Odyssey
staff.
“My family takes an apple
and makes it into a turkey using different types of candy,”
Pines said.
These thoughtful answers
show that even STJ’s younger
students have deep affection
for this old holiday, that is an
honored American tradition.
Q: Why do you think the Indians
served turkeys to the pilgrims?
A: “I think the Indians served
turkeys to the pilgrims because
they wanted to give them a good
first meal,” said Mollie Haynes.
Q: What is your favorite
Thanksgiving memory?
A: “My favorite thanksgiving
memory is getting to send a
card to my grandfather since we
couldn’t spend Thanksgiving
with him,” said Whitman Kent.
Q: Why do you think the Pilgrims
and Indians felt like they had to
celebrate Thanksgiving?
A: “The Pilgrims wanted to make
good relations with the Indians
because they were meeting for
the first time ever,” Lucas Lynn.
Photo by Sandra Polizos
Features
8
IPRYL Gives Back to Community
I
By Jordan Chambless
Editor
nterpersonal
Relations
Youth Leadership (IPRYL) is one of the few
classes offered at Saint James
where students get to venture out
into the Montgomery community
to help people. This class, composed of seven students, helps the
community by volunteering as
“big buddies.” Being a big buddy
means adopting a child at Vaughn
Road Elementary School to help
them with their schoolwork. Children that are eligible to be a little
buddy have underdeveloped academic or behavioral skills.
“We’re very excited. We’re
just now getting the little buddies. Many of the kids just need
a friend and someone they can
count on. The ‘counting on’ part
is the responsibility of IPRYL,”
Mrs. Rebecca Byard, the advisor
of IPRYL said.
“We observed the class and
Tyler seemed like a good kid. I’m
excited and nervous to get to work
with him. I want him to do well
and I feel like it is my responsibility,” Chris Lee said.
“So far working with my little
buddy, Courtney, has been great.
I’m looking forward to seeing her
improve in reading and math,”
Casey Johnson said.
The seven students in IPRYL
are juniors Matt Burnside, Katie
Curry, Katie Echols, Greg Gilbert, Casey Johnson, Chris Lee,
and Brooke Struthers. To participate in IPRYL, these students had
to go through an application and
interview process, complete with
teacher recommendations, in their
sophomore year. After this process, these students were picked
according to leadership potential,
grades and their ability to work
with others.
To kick off the beginning of
IPRYL, the class took a trip to
Blue Ridge, North Carolina. At
Blue Ridge, the class worked in
groups and studied values clarification with teenagers from all
over the United States.
“One reason Blue Ridge is so
significant is because students are
interacting with teens from all
different backgrounds. That gives
the IPRYL class a chance to get
out of the ‘Saint James Bubble’,”
Byard said.
Another trip the IPRYL takes
is the trip to Camp Chandler.
“Camp Chandler is a leadership retreat. The IPRYL class
learned team building, individual
confidence building and trust,”
Byard said.
All of these activities lead up
to helping the young students at
Vaughn Road Elementary. This
part of the class takes much more
than team building or individual
confidence because IPRYL is actually building a foundation for
the academic careers of the little
buddies. Another important activity for the group is IPRYL’s
participation in the FocusFirst
program.
“If we can do something that
will increase these children’s
odds of making it in society, we
want to do it. If we can take care
of one problem, then maybe we
can help, even if it’s just a little.
It’s a good opportunity, the kind
of opportunity I hope students
will use as a jumping off place to
help others in our society,” Byard
Mole Day sparks students’ creativity
By Matt Dean
Staff Writer
M
ole Day at Saint
James is one of the
only days when
moles are not considered agricultural pests, but rather loveable,
inventive creatures. This year
marked STJ’s ninth annual celebration of Mole Day, and to honor
it, chemistry students brought in
a variety of different and original
moles.
Celebrated annually on October 23 from 6:02 a.m. to 6:02
p.m., Mole Day commemorates
Avogadro’s Number (6.02 x
10^23), which is a basic measuring unit in chemistry discovered
by Amedeo Avogadro. Mole Day
was created as a way to promote
interest in chemistry. Schools
throughout the United States and
around the world celebrate Mole
Day with various activities related to chemistry and/or moles.
Students sewed small stuffed
moles and modeled them after famous figures, well known company slogans, or even fruits and vegetables. They then added “mole”
into the name. Students displayed
their creativity with such moles
as “Eat Mole Chicken,” “ G.I.
Mole,” and the semi-controversial “Osamole bin Laden.”
Bringing in moles for Mole
Day has been a tradition students
have looked forward to ever since
Ms. Carolyn Walker began teaching chemistry at Saint James nine
years ago.
“I really enjoy seeing how
creative the students are,” Ms.
Walker said.
Ms. Walker said that some of
the most memorable moles students have brought in over the
years have been “Molemia” (a
skinny mole stuffed with a couple
of sticks), “The Three Molesketeers” (taken from The Three
Musketeers), and “Holy Moley”
(a mole dressed as a priest).
Photo by Matt Dean
This mole, “Water-mole-n,” was created
by sophomore Bo Ingam.
“One of my favorite moles
was “G.I. Mole” because I liked
to play with G.I Joe’s when I was
little,” Michael Bird said.
Bird’s mole was called “Cos-
mole Kramer,” modeled after the
character Cosmo Kramer from the
popular TV sitcom, Seinfeld.
“I
loved
‘Michael
Mnowles’ because it made
me giggle,” Chris Henry,
sophomore, said.
Russ Parks’s “Michael
Mnowles,” was modeled after junior Michael Knowles.
The mole included a patch of
red hair, rosy cheeks, and under armor apparel.
Many students decided
to make a group of moles
together. “The Gratemole
Dead”, modeled after the
band the Grateful Dead, featured three moles each playing
their various instruments. “The
Night at the Molebury,” which
was modeled after the movie The
Night at the Roxbury, featured
two moles dancing in a club.
The Odyssey November 17, 2006
Sixth graders learn safety
tips from annual Health Fair
By Matt Dean
Staff Writer
O
n Oct. 13, Saint James
sixth graders took
part in the second annual Health Fair in the PAB. The
Health Fair was one of several activities for middle schoolers during October, the national “Month
of the Young Adolescent.”
The Health Fair featured seven
speakers, at six different stations,
who spoke to students about
maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Depending on which station students visited, they learned about
substance abuse information,
nutrition, stress, blood pressure,
exercise, and tobacco. Students
received many pamphlets, flyers,
and magnets with information on
each of these health related topics.
Speakers included Dr. Jack Hataway, the Director of the Chronic
Disease Prevention Division for
the State of Alabama Department
of Public Health, and Mrs. Heidi
Hataway, also from the Health
Department. Dr. Hataway spoke
about the causes and dangers of
high blood pressure. Mrs. Hataway spoke to students about the
importance of proper nutrition.
As part of Mrs. Hataway’s demonstration, students put on a vest
that simulated how it felt to be
overweight.
Alcohol and tobacco were discussed by other speakers at the
Fair. Erin Clifford and Tiffany
Durrah, with the Council on Substance Abuse, talked to students
about the dangers of drugs and
alcohol, while Sherifat Ortega,
from the Alabama Department of
Public Health, discussed the effects of tobacco.
The Health Department’s Ruth
Wilson spoke to students about
the need for exercise and stressed
the importance of getting thirty
minutes to an hour a day. Students
learned that small things, such as
simply taking out the trash, burn
calories.
The speakers had several interactive activities for students.
At the nutrition station, students
were shown the amount of fat in
certain food such as doughnuts
and hamburgers. At the tobacco
station, students were shown a jar
of tar demonstrating the amount
of tar that sticks to a person’s
lungs after years of smoking.
“My favorite station was the
alcohol station because I got to
wear goggles that simulated being drunk. I learned how much
slower your senses become after
drinking,” Walker Woodson said.
Mrs. Cathy Pearson, Middle
School Counselor, helped with
coordinating the Health Fair. Mrs.
Pearson said that the Health Fair
was better than last year’s, and
that she hopes to have a Health
Fair every year because it’s very
valuable to the students.
Other speakers also participated in the Month of the Young
Adolescent. Judge Lynn Bright
talked with the Saint James seventh graders about how choices
and their consequences can affect
a person’s life. Eighth graders
also welcomed Dr. Karl Kirkland,
a psychologist who spoke to students about their stress levels.
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Features
The Odyssey November 17, 2006
Teacher
Spotlight
By Sam Susock
Entertainment Editor
Photo by Sara Butts
Mrs. Ildi Andrews teaches a biology lesson about the
different parts of a flower.
Q: Where are you from
originally, as well as most
recently?
A: I was born in Hungary
and grew up near Philadelphia,
and now I have been in
Montgomery for 16 years.
Q: What is different about
Saint James from where you
taught before?
A: Before coming to Saint
James, I taught college as
a professor at AUM. The
difference between AUM and
Saint James is the age level
among my students. At AUM, I
taught 18-58 year olds, whereas
here I am teaching 15-18 years
olds, which is a much different
age group that I am used to.
Q: What has surprised
you most about Saint James
students?
A: There is so much talent
and a variety of interests among
the Saint James students. I see
so many amazing students
participating in athletics, music,
and drama, as well as academic
activities.
Q: By year’s end, what do
you hope the students will have
gained from your class?
A: I would like for my
students to develop an
appreciation for nature, and how
they impact and interact with
their surroundings.
Q: What new ideas do you
have that may influence Saint
James or the field you are
teaching?
A: I would like students to
read regularly for their courses
and to develop and enjoy a new
learning process.
Q: How did you get into your
field of work?
A: While in the Air Force as
an Air Force officer, I was invited
and had the opportunity to teach
at the Air Force Academy when
it was first opened to women.
Q: What do you enjoy most
about Saint James?
A: It is very amazing to
be a teacher at the school my
daughter went to and to get to
see the inside teachings and life
behind the school.
9
Historical giants come alive in
Jr. Miss readies for final round third grade play about America
By Sara Butts
Staff Writer
A
s Melissa Wallin
awaited the announcement of the 2007
Montgomery County Junior Miss,
she anxiously passed the time by
talking to the escorts and other
contestants. She was somewhat
calmed by the fact that she had no
control over the matter. But what
happened next was anything but
calming, and a moment the Saint
James senior will never forget.
“Winning Junior Miss was
very surreal and unexpected.
There were so many other girls
that were worthy. It was an awesome experience,” Wallin said.
Junior Miss is a scholarship
program that gives senior
girls a chance to meet new
people and compete for a title
and college scholarships. The
overall winner of Junior Miss
is awarded thousands of dollars
in scholarship money. Saint
James’ last Junior Miss winner
was Rachel Pickett, in 2000.
Wallin must now change
her focus from the county
level to statewide competition,
where the Alabama Junior
Miss representative will be
determined. Anticipating the need
for physical stamina during the
upcoming competition, Wallin
is running and walking daily.
The state competition will
be held on Jan.19-20 at Frazer
United Methodist Church, the
same location as the Montgomery County competition.
“I do feel that I have a slight
advantage for the state competition
only because it is being held at the
same place, and I already have a
feel for the stage,” Wallin said.
Two other Saint James girls,
Allison Wachs and Lauren
Carpenter, were also included
in the local competition’s ten
finalists. Allison Wachs was
the overall winner for the
fitness part of the competition.
“It was amazing that Saint
James had so many girls that were
in the competition. We are all very
proud of Melissa for winning, but
we are also very proud of the
time and effort all the girls put
into the competition. We all wish
Melissa the best of luck for the
state competition,” high school
principal John Murray said.
“There’s not a set type of girl for
Junior Miss,” Wallin said. “I had
to be talked into it, and it doesn’t
matter who you are. Everyone
will take something out of it.”
The winner of the statewide competition will go on
to compete at the National Junior Miss Finals, where more
than $121,000 in scholarships was given out last year.
By Coleman McDowell
Sports Editor
He dreams of the bright
lights of Broadway. He dreams
of living in luxury and having
the fame and fortune that comes
with being an actor. Third
grader Charles Painter desires
the life of a performer on stage.
“It is really fun performing
in front of an audience. Being
in class plays the past few years
has made me want to be an actor
when I grow up,” Painter said.
Painter played an immigrant
in this year’s third grade play
“Let’s Hear It for America.”
The play teaches students the
importance of patriotism, the
symbols of democracy, and how
America has developed from
its earliest days as a nation.
This is the second year
“Let’s Hear It for America” has
been produced at Saint James.
Many vital characters in
America’s history such as George
Washington, Benjamin Franklin,
Franklin Roosevelt, and various
Indians were portrayed by
students in the play. The symbol
of America’s freedom, the Statue
of Liberty, was also represented,
played by Emma Heaton.
“The third grade class was
assigned November as their month
for a play and Mrs. Harris and I
wanted to have a play that centered
around patriotism. And with
Veterans Day being Nov. 11, we
thought it would be a good idea to
have an American history-themed
play,” director Kay Newman said.
Parents of the students also
played a vital role in the play.
They made the costumes for
the students and helped their
children learn their lines.
“I played a teacher and had
to teach my students to say
(See “Let’s Hear it for America,”
Page 10)
Features
10
Career week provides memorable
moments for eighth grader Argo
“We feel that it is appropriate
to have the students participate
in the shadowing program before
t was still dark outside
they reach high school so they
when eighth grader Alhave a better feel for what they
lyson Argo awoke. She
want to be when they grow up.
eagerly dressed and headed out
In high school, the stuto the car. She and her
dents have much flexentire family spent the
night in Birmingham to
ibility in their schedules
be close to her shadowso they need to know
ing site. Some eighth
what courses they need
graders shadowed arto take according to
chitects or teachers,
what they aspire to be
but Argo had the opwhen they grow up.
portunity to shadow
We also feel their maher favorite radio show
turity level is greater
duo, Rick and Bubba.
than that of younger
Career week is somemiddle school stuthing each eighth grader
dents,” Cavanaugh said.
looks forward to at the
Another interesting
beginning of their last
aspect of the shadowyear in middle school.
ing experience is the
The chance to learn firstS.C.O.R.E.
program.
hand about several ocS.C.O.R.E. is a marcupations is invaluable
keting seminar where
to narrowing the career
students are given an
path for students. Each
Photo Courtesy Allyson Argo
opportunity to market
eighth grader has two Allyson Argo prepares to enter the Rick and Bubba radio studio.
a product. The eighth
days to shadow four or
graders are divided into
five occupations of their choosing. took pictures, got autographs, and
pairs
and
must work together.
“I really enjoyed shadowing I interviewed Rick and Bubba
Mary
Catherine
Phillips of LWT
my father who is a heart surgeon, about their profession. We said
Advertising
spoke
at an assemsaid eighth grader Matt Kwan. “I good-bye and I thanked them for
bly
that
detailed
the
marketing
knew what he did, but to see it their time. I left the station very
aspect
of
the
business
world.
first-hand gave me greater insight excited because I had such as
Argo
shadowed
Rick
and
on what his job encompassed.” fun experience,” Argo continued.
Bubba
along
with
an
interior
What
do
the
students
Argo’s family members are
designer, a youth minister, a selearn
from
their
individuavid fans of the Rick and Bubba
shadowing
experiences? nior minister, and a news anradio show and listen to it every al
“The students are better pre- chor. But the radio announcmorning on their way to school.
pared
to choose a career path ers were definitely her favorite.
When presented with the oppor“My favorite professionthat
they
might pursue after they
tunity to shadow the radio stars,
als I shadowed were Rick and
shadow
various
professionals,”
Argo jumped at the chance to
Bubba because it was such a
shadow her favorite radio per- Martha Cavanaugh said. Cavasocial environment. I liked
sonalities. Heading to the station, naugh coordinated the shadowtheir interesting discussion topArgo was anxious and excited ing events for the eighth graders.
Why is the shadowing program ics. I got to be on air and met
about the prospect of watching
some really awesome people.”
Rick Burgess and Bubba Bussey directed toward eight graders?
produce their radio show live.
Burgess and Bussey are
known for their pleasant demeanor and being adamant
about their religious views.
“I wanted to shadow someone who was a lot of fun, a good
Christian, and worked in a friendly and social environment. I was
always a big fan of the show and
listened to it in the mornings on
the way to school. I realized that
Rick and Bubba were perfect
and with a little communication, I was able to get a chance
to shadow them,” Argo said.
Argo’s shadowing experi����������������
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ence was unique and interesting.
“My family and I arrived at
���������������������������
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East Fairview 834-7462
the station at 7:00. We were met
by the producer of the show, Don
������������������������������������������
Juan, who took us to the conferKilowilga Bridge- Lake Martin 334-857-2889
ence room to wait until Rick and
Bubba went on break so that we
could go into the studio. Don
Juan walked us to the radio room
and on the way we met Speedy,
another producer of the show. We
sat down in the studio, also known
as the ‘Red Velvet Lounge’.”
There we listened to Rick and
Bubba discuss a series of topics
and heard listeners call-in and
comment on them,” Argo said.
Argo was shown the technology during breaks, and after a few
segments, Argo was put on the air.
I
By Coleman McDowell
Sports Editor
“Around 9:45, Rick and Bubba invited me and my sister, Sadie, on the air. I gave shout-outs
to people in Montgomery and
was questioned about my shadowing and occupational interests.
When the show concluded, we
The Odyssey November 17, 2006
“Let’s Hear It For America”
(continued from page 9)
the pledge. My lines were
hard, but my mother helped
me,” Savannah Elrod said.
Auditions were held for singing
parts in the play. Other parts were
assigned after the students chose
the top three roles
they wanted. One
unique
aspect
of the play was
that one of the
songs was led in
sign language.
“I led a sign
language song
called “The Red,
White, and Blue.”
I have been in
children’s choir
and
performed
before the high school plays so
I’m used to being in front of a
stage,” Elizabeth Buchli said.
The main purpose of the play
was to teach students about the
founding fathers and how America
became the country it is today.
“I
learned
the
phrase
‘vigilance unerring’ means that
we’re never scared because we’re
Americans,” Aaron Fox, who
played Harry S. Truman, said.
Photo by Sara Butts
Elrod, who played a teacher,
said she learned what the colors
on the American flag represent
and that George Bush and
George W. Bush are two different
people because of the play.
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The Odyssey November 17, 2006
Entertainment
11
Santa Clause 3 offers no early holiday cheer Foo Fighters Unplugged
By Sam Susock
Entertainment Editor
T
he 2006 holiday movie
season began with the
release of The Santa
Clause 3: The Escape Clause on
Nov.3. The Santa Clause 3 is
the third movie in the Santa
Clause trilogy. 1994’s The
Santa Clause and 2002’s The
Santa Clause 2 marched into
the theaters with a reasonable
plot line and provided cute
gimmicks; however, the second sequel, The Santa Clause
3, lacks fresh humor and a
well-developed
storyline.
In this installment of the
Santa Clause story, Tim
Allen continues to play the
leading role of Scott Calvin
(a.k.a. Santa Claus). Allen,
as Santa, is worried about
his pregnant wife (Elizabeth
Mitchell) who is about to go into
labor. Scott tries to console her by
inviting the in-laws, (Alan Arkin
and Ann-Margaret) to visit, but
struggles with the risk of giving
away the secret location of the
North Pole. Scott also invites his
own family, which includes his
ex-wife (Wendy Crewson), her
husband (Judge Reinhold) and
their daughter (Liliana Mumy)
to the North Pole for Christmas.
At this point, Santa has almost
too much going on because he
is expecting a child and trying to
keep the location of the North Pole
a secret – all while continuing his
massive workload in making toys.
In the meantime, a new
character, Jack Frost (Martin
Short), offers to help Santa as he
devises a secret plot that would
result in Jack Frost becoming
the new Santa. This evil plan
of Jack Frost causes hysteria
within the North Pole as he
manipulates the toy machines to
create an unsuccessful Christmas.
Throughout the movie, Martin
Short strikes up a wicked and
evil portrayal of Jack Frost. Tim
Allen remains constant as the
struggling Santa Claus, once
again trying to save Christmas.
The movie appeals mainly to
younger ages, especially with
the elaborate toy factory and
well-detailed depiction of
the North Pole. The movie’s
setting, background, colorful
make-up,
and
stunning
costumes do catch the eye
and provide the highlight
of the film. However, the
childish dialogue, and cheesy
antics displayed throughout
the film downgrade this
movie from the previous
two. I recommend waiting
for this movie to come out on
DVD rather than wasting your
money on a seven-dollar ticket.
F
By Wes Davis
Business Manager
oo Fighters broke onto the
alternative rock scene in
1995 when former Nirvana
drummer Dave Grohl recorded
and released 15 songs that would
eventually become the band’s
self titled debut. Since then, they
have made four studio albums,
including their most recent two
disc release, In Your Honor. The
Foo Fighters are now coming out
with their first ever live record:
Skin and Bones. Normally known
for their loud, heavy guitars and
pop-influenced vocals, Grohl
and the Foo Fighters show their
softer side in the new release,
which has an all acoustic set. The
CD also features an expanded
lineup that consists of violinist
Petra Haden, keyboardist Rami
Jaffee,
percussionist
Drew
Hester, and former Foo Fighters
guitarist Pat Smear. All of the
songs on the record were taken
from three sold out shows in
Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre.
Skin and Bones features a
variety of tracks that traces the
band back to its beginnings. There
are several newer tracks from the
second disc of In Your Honor, as
well as slowed down versions of
older favorites such as “Big Me”,
“My Hero”, and “Everlong.”
Possibly the most surprising track
of Skin and Bones is “Marigold,”
a never before played Nirvana bside that was written by Grohl.
All of the recordings are of good
quality, and they all capture the
atmosphere of a true sold out tour.
With fifteen tracks for just
under ten dollars, Skin and Bones
is a good buy, even for the casual
fan. The CD gives the listener an
opportunity to hear a rock band
in an acoustic setting. A Skin and
Bones DVD with five additional
songs and extra features will
also be released on Nov. 28.
12
Photo Gallery
Photo by Robertson’s Photography
(above) Seniors Elizabeth Green, Marie Claire Crepault, Jama Hanna, and Katie Bright await the start of the volleyball parade.
(above) Saint James Board Member Jim Ippolito shows his team spirit before Homecomng, at the Alumni Tent. (Photo by Sandra Polizos)
(below) Chris Johnson and Mary Kat McCurdy pose as Mr. Q and Miss U for the
“marriage of Q and U,” which was performed for K5 classes. (Photo by Sandra Polizos)
(left) Nathan
Newton stands
alongside
Headmaster Dr.
John Lindsell
in their uniform
apparel.
(Photo
by Sandra Polizos)
(right) Tyson
Eley rides the
merry-go-round
at the Fall Festival. Eley is
the last of four
Eley brothers
to attend Saint
James. His
older brothers
include Landon,
Chase, and
Parker Eley.
(Photo by Sara
Butts)
(right) Hanly Funderburk and his
K5 buddy paint pumpkins before
Fall Festival in the elementary cafetorium. Kindergarten buddies are
a Saint James tradition, and seniors
anxiously anticipate the selection
of their buddies at the beginning of
their final high school year. (Photo by
Sandra Polizos)
The Odyssey November 17, 2006
(above) First grader Mary Emily Taylor tries to blow the biggest bubble during a contest at the first grade’s “Fifties’ Day.” The first grade class tasted many different types
of gum and then voted on their favorite flavor.
(Photo by Jordan Chambless)