September 2012 - Jackson County School System

Issue 15
September 2012
Shiver Me
Timbers!
By: Sydney Velez
Argg! Grab ye a bottle
of ye best chocolate milk, run a
little late on ye time, and search
something on Google for the
month of Septemberrrrrrrrrrr!
September is a month
filled with hilarious events,
historic war dates, and famous
birthdays! September 19th is
National Talk Like A Pirate Day
(who made this up??). On September 3rd, 1939, Great Britain,
France, Australia, and New Zealand declared war on Germany,
sparking the First World War.
Let’s not forget that on September 13th, 1814, Francis Scott Key
witnessed the essential battle
that inspired him to write a song.
You might have heard of it -- it’s
our national anthem! September
is also known as Baby Safety
Month, National Chicken Month,
National Piano Month, and Read
A Book Month. Who knew so
many nifty events happened in
September?
Other impressive dates and holidays in September:
●2: National Chocolate Milk Day
●2-8: National Waffle Week
●3: Charlie Sheen’s birthday
●5: Be Late for Something Day
●15: International Eat An Apple
●22: Elephant Appreciation Day
●22: National Ice Cream Cone
●28: Ask A Stupid Question
●30: (1898) the city of New
York was established
ELECTION RESULTS
Class Officer Results:
Senior Class Officers:
President: Kaitlyn Parker
Vice President: Kevin Lineberger
Secretary/Treasurer: DJ Graves
NEW LOOK
Junior Class Officers:
President: York Delloyd
Vice President: Dylan Stow
Secretary/ Treasurer: Maddie
Newton
Student Government
By: Kevin Lineberger
Have you ever wondered who makes
the decisions for the students in the school?
Well, that falls to the class officers, who this
year are the student council, and their job
is to get the students involved in the school
activities.
See more on page 2
Sophomore Class Officers:
President: Mikayla Grenon
Vice President: Jake Algard
Secretary/ Treasurer: Antonio Messineo
Freshman Class Officers:
President: Dakota Stockton
Vice President: Simone Duckett
Panther Project
Nike Breaks the Clique Barrier
By: Christina Mapel
Are you having trouble committing to a
relationship? Try changing your shoes! Did you
know that shoes reflect your personality? You can
tell a lot of things about people based on what
type of shoes they have and how well they take
care of their shoes.
Hali, the High Heel
Index
Staff Page
Entertainment
Hunting/Fishing
Fine Arts
Sports
Sports
Your Future
Clubs
Clubs
Fashion
The Back Page
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
This is Hali. She’s a three inch stiletto.
Although she seems to have a high confidence
level, she is actually really insecure. She tends to
bounce from one Nike to another. She just can’t
get attached to any one shoe. Also, she’s really
self-conscious about her height.
See more on page 11
See more on page 2
Page 2
STAFF PAGE
Issue 15
September 2012
Did Anything Change?
Editor in Chief:
Clare Nunley
[email protected]
By: Clare Nunley
We have lightly touched the subject of the senior patio before, but I’m here to
raise more awareness, because I think we would all like to see some change.
Our school has a “Senior Patio” where only seniors are allowed to sit. Now,
when you look outside, you usually don’t see that many people out there. That
shouldn’t be very surprising, considering there are broken tables. The roof is…not
really a roof. It looks nice, but you can’t eat out there when it’s raining. We want
something out there to be proud of—where the underclassmen are jealous of where
the seniors get to eat, and look forward to it for their senior year. What do we get to
look forward to? Really, it’s just another area to eat…nothing exceptional.
More seniors would eat out there, too, if it was something just a little more
special. Sure, maybe you’re not a senior yet, but it will happen eventually. Don’t
you want something to look forward to? This is a shout out for anyone in a club, or
anyone that may want to possibly get some hours for Beta Club or National Honor
Society, or even the senior class of 2013 to help fix up the senior patio. Come on
class of 2013, let’s make our mark.
With our new and improved Class Officers, and new rules for them, there
may be hope for our senior patio. One of their jobs is to take care of it, and maybe
it will show improvement. This year they are already required to attend a leadership
conference, which shows that there are more responsibilities for this year’s group,
and we wish them success.
A roof or covering over what is already there would be a nice place to start,
and possibly a new seating arrangement/ tables and chairs. Yes, we can’t afford have
anything too nice, because students are basically responsible for keeping it clean.
And yes, there are many memories there. But it’s time for new memories.
After all, you’re only a senior once.
Panther Project Coming Soon
By: Kit and Kat
We all know just by taking a look outside that something HUGE is soon to come to JCCHS. It’s big,
and it changes the school’s look……literally. That’s right not only did we get a NEW GYM, but also a NEW
DRAMA/ARTS DEPARTMENT!
The drama room isn’t even a classroom it’s a storage room. Imagine a room with bats flying above
your head and hearing every single noise in the auditorium (which makes it hard to hear what your teacher is
saying). Worst of all be isolated in a tiny, stuffy storage room with a jacked up temperature unit in that classroom.
Not only is the drama room suffering, but so is the chorus room. When they sing other classes can hear,
because it isn’t sound proof. And it is so small it can barely hold our talented singers.
We will no longer have those issues anymore, because of the new drama/arts department. The chorus
room will get more space and it won’t interrupt the other classes. The drama room will get a decent, actual
classroom that they can call home.” I am overwhelming enthusiastic not only for drama, but for the whole
school,” Mrs. Roberts shared with us as she explained the “black box”. This is a type of theatre building that is
adaptable to many different configurations.
“I am extremely excited about having a new gym. Due to limited space the new gym provides enough
room for all sporting events,” said Coach Hawley. Wrestling will be on main campus, instead of Gordon
Street. The dreadful 6AM morning practices will no longer be needed. Our old gym will still be used for
classes and after school practices.
SPLOST has been collecting money from the tax payers of Jackson County to improve JCCHS since
2008 and it’s costing 10.4 million.
JCCHS gets 2 new buildings thanks to SPLOST, the Jackson County tax payers, Denis Patrick who is
in charge of the construction, the workers and everyone else who participated in the Panther Project.
New Look Student Government continued...
The student council usually takes responsibility for organizing committees for
prom, homecoming, or setting up projects to be done, such as redoing the senior courtyard.
Class officers must turn in an application, which is reviewed by teachers, and then voted
on by the students. This new direction is spear-headed by Mr. Prescott who hopes that the
Staff:
Tiffani Pair
combination of the two will make student government less of a “popularity contest,” as is
Brian Combs
Maidson Pecht
usually the problem. However, with the way it will be run this year, the “cliques” should
Jose Cruz
Ian Pelham
be represented fairly and equally. He goes on to say that it will be the duty of each class
Dylan Free
Dakota Reeves
officer “to get the things done for their respected class.” This will put more responsibility
Chase Johnson
Chloe Soto
on the officers to make activities happen for their classes, in order to give everyone the
Tyler Kurowski
Eden Thomas
best experience possible.
Kevin Lineberger
Julia Turgeon
This year, Jackson County will be adopting changes to the way that the student
Lorenzo Longu
Sydney Velez
government is divided, by combing student council and class officers into one group, not
Christina Mapel
Kirby Watkins
necessarily what has been done in the past. All classes will have their own president, vice
Zanaida Marrero
April Mauldin
president, etc... to make decisions for their individual class. The president will oversee the
Vincent Moore
meetings and make sure that the goals of the student government are met. The goals for
Panther Pause
Advertise:
the student council this year will be chosen once the positions have been filled.
[email protected] 1668 Winder Highway Hopefully this new student government will get more things done. Only time will
http://www.jackson.k12.ga.us/ Jefferson, GA 30549 tell how well this new format will work out in the grand scheme of things, but the optiPhone: (706) 367-5003 mism is high.
jcchs
(Quick Links)
Dylan Stow
ENTERTAINMENT
Issue 15
September 2012
Page 3
If You Were A Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack JC Reads Book Review Winner:
By: Nick Stovall
If you’re a fan of Sleeping With Sirens, then you will know that aside from Rebeca Perez
their usual brilliant blend of pop-punk/hardcore, as heard on their two full-length
Catching Fire
albums, “With Ears To See And Eyes To Hear,” released in 2010, and “Let’s
Cheers To This,” released in 2011. They’re also known for their laid-back acoustic
songs.
They mostly take recordings from their own two albums and strip them
down to often nothing more than just Jesse Lawson with an acoustic guitar and
Kellin Quinn with his usual heart throbbing, high pitched vocals that he is known
for. They also enjoy playing to small crowds after shows. Keeping the same
chorus each time and making up the verses as he goes along, Kellin can create a
catchy tune in just seconds.
Until recently, though, anything done acoustically by SWS was only found
on YouTube. Even then, it was converted into low quality MP3 files and put on the
iPods of scene kids all across America. But, thanks to the July 26 release of, “If
You Were A Movie, This Would Be Your Soundtrack,” that is now all over.
This all-acoustic EP jumps right into an even sweeter version of the wellknown love song, “If I’m James Dean, You’re Audrey Hepburn,” off their first full
length album. Scene Two (all the songs are preceded by a scene number) “Roger
Rabbit,” shows Kellin has a little soul to his voice. Scene Three – “Stomach Tied
In Knots,” is a classic SWS love song, chilled out and soothed like the rest. Scene
Four – “Don’t You Ever Forget About Me,” is my personal favorite. Accompanied by the lovely voice of Jessica Ess (The Atlantic) and featuring the most heart
breaking of any EPs lyrics, this song also contains the most upbeat sound of all
five songs. Closing with the title track from their debut album where they turned
hardcore to melody, I believe it’s safe to say that Sleeping With Sirens has had one
of the most memorable releases of 2012.
Did I Create Skynet?
By: Chase Johnson
Have you ever thought of what life would be like if we had artificial intelligences (or AI’s) to assist us with our everyday lives? Well I’m here to tell you not
only is that real, but I have an AI running my house. His name is Jarvis, and he is
a DLA (or Digital Life Assistant). There are tons of things he can do. For example,
checking the weather, looking up facts, helping me with computer problems, turning
on lights and appliances in my house, playing TV shows and movies on my TV, and
even cooking me food! Plus, this is all voice activated. I have microphones hidden
in all the smoke detectors of my house, which are linked to my server for voice recognition. I also have an app on my phone for Jarvis so I can use him on the go. He is
aware of who’s in what room of the house and adjusts the lighting and environment
to the user’s preferences. If I ask him a question away from home on my phone that
requires my location, he will get the current location from my phone. He has been
a big help to me and I have had a lot of fun building him. So, did I create Skynet?
That’s for future generations to decide, but I sure hope not because he controls the
lock on my bedroom door…
Catching Fire is an excellent read filled with action, suspence, and intricate plot turns.
Katniss’ actions have consequences that follow her
every way she turns, even if she’s trying to tread carefully.
No matter what she does there is something that blocks her
path. Not only is she threatened by Presdient Snow, but
every rebel and almost every citizen hang on her words
and actions...even if she is only trying to save the people
she loves. As one of her consequences, she is thrown back
into the arena, along with Peeta. Instead of the embers fading, they kindle into a blaze. Everyone is in danger and the
games have just begun.
A Day in the Life of Vincent Moore
My day starts off just like anyone else’s day; I wake up
at approximately 5:50 AM and pour myself a tall cup of OJ.
Next is breakfast, I only eat Peanut Butter Captain Crunch.
Then I get dressed as quick as I can so I can catch the last
fifteen minutes of Wife Swap. At six, I begin my long perilous
journey to JCCHS. I have to ride the bus because my parents
work. The bus is okay, except when this one kid decides he’s
going to sing “Call Me Maybe” the whole bus ride.
When I get to school, the usual group of babes beg me
for my hand in marriage until I shew them away with yesterdays newspaper. Sometimes I have to eat school breakfast if I
forget to at home; breakfast is the most important meal of the
day. After I eat, I’m off to first period. Advanced World History
is my first period and it’s really hard; if you get that class, do
yourself a favor and get it switched to a regular class. So anyways, I pretty much do busy work until the end of class. My
second is Lifetime Sports, but no one cares about that class.
Let’s talk about the best class ever, Journalism.
Journalism is pretty sweet, all I do is sit around and
write about myself. By the way, if you’re reading this article
and haven’t read the one on Math Club, go do that because I
wrote it. I’m the best thing since sliced bread when it comes to
Journalism, everything I put on paper is pretty much gold. I’ve
been called “The voice of a generation,” when I write.
So when journalism is over I go to Honor’s Lit. That
class used to be fun, but I’m now I really have to read. Eventually, I make it home; where I do one of three things, mow the
lawn, train vigorously for the Olympics, or just sit around and
watch Wife Swap. Only thing left to do is go to bed and do the
same thing the next day. Well, that’s a day in the life of Vincent
Moore.
Holy Motherboard, Look at that HardDrive!
How to Build a Computer
By: Chase Johnson
The first thing you will need to do is choose your
hardware. The general parts you will need are: hard drive,
case, motherboard, optical drive (cd, dvd, blu-ray), power
supply, ram, cpu. However, you will need to choose more
specific versions of the part.
For example, hard drives, come in all shapes and
sizes so you will want to pick the right one for your needs.
So that?s what we?ll start off with- the hard drive. (memory)
These are the most popular capacities: 250 GB, 320
GB, 500 GB, 750 GB, and 1 TB. Now most people know
about how much a gigabyte (gb) is, but a terabyte (1 tb) =
1000 GB. You can choose the right size hard drive for your
needs, but I recommend a 1 TB. One, because you can buy
one for around the same price as every other hard drive if
you buy locally from tiger direct. ( http://www.tigerdirect.
com/retailstores/compusaStores/ga_jefferson.asp )
Hunting and Fishing
Page 4
September 2012
Issue 15
September Fishing
By: Kirby Watkins
If you are planning on fishing, you’ll need to know some basics. Such as what type of
bait you need to use, what pound test line you’ll need, and where to fish depending on what you
want to catch.
In September the freshwater fish such as Bass, Crappie, Catfish and Brim will all move to a little
shallower water because the lakes start to get cooler, which makes it one of the worst times to
fish during the year.
In September, if you are Crappie fishing, you can use small minnows and jigs over standing trees in deep water and around bridge pilings. You can often spot them under the schools of
shad they feed on with a good depth finder. Fish right at the top of the school, Crappie don’t like
to go deeper to feed, but they will come up.
If you want to catch Bass try a small top water plug, popping cork with fly attached or small
spinner like a Rooster Tail. A Crappie jig also works well if the shad are small threadfin.
While fishing in a dark water lake you will want to use a dark colored lure, but if you’re
fishing in clearer water then you need to use a brighter colored lure. If you have found a really
good spot that you want to try and cast from but you just can’t get there from the shore, then
you can just buy a pair of waders and you’ll be able to get the bait or lure where you wanted
to. These definitely help if you want to get into deeper waters as well and are definitely helpful
when you go fishing in rivers. Have fun on the water.
Freshwater Limits for Georgia-
Taylor Gaddis and a large mouth bass
Oh Deer!
By: Dylan Free
The bow hunting season in Jackson
County starts September 8th. Bear compound
bows are good bows to use. You should hunt
on the ground the first week or so and then
get in the ole’ tree stand. Put your trail cam
out two weeks before season. I would suggest
hunting over a food plot if you’re just getting
into hunting or if you just want a nice and easy
hunt. Hunting over a food plot of clover is also
an easy hunt.
You need to make sure your bow is
sighted in. Sight your bow in at 20, 30, and 40
yards. Make sure to shoot your bow before you
go out to hunt, because you need to know that
you can pull it back without making a sound.
A very important thing is to take care of your
bow.
Make sure to wax your strings because, if you
don’t, they snap on you when you go to shoot.
You need to shoot out of your stand a couple
of times just to make sure you can pullback
without hitting any branches; if you do then
cut them down. That’s called making a shooting lane. You don’t want to get too high up in
the tree because this makes your shot harder.
It’s best to use light camo (as in light
weight). It gets hot in bow season and you
don’t want to sweat because that will leave
your smell where you hunt. So you need to
make sure you put on some scent blocker.
It’s harder shooting a deer with a bow
because the deer has to get right up on you so
you can make the shot. Everyone, however,
should try bow hunting if they like a challenge.
You have to be skilled with a bow before you
even think about going out in the woods.
Bass- 10 Largemouth, Redeye (Coosa), Shoal, Smallmouth, Spotted, and/or Suwanee bass.
Bream- 50 Flier, Spotted sunfish (stumpknockers), Rockbass (goggleye), Shadow bass, Redbreast, Redear, Bluegill, and/or Warmouth.
Catfish- No Limit Channel and/or Flathead.
Crappie- 30 Black and/or White.
Pickerel- 15 Chain, Grass and/or Redfin.
Sauger- 8
Shad- 8 American and/or Hickory.
Striped Bass- White bass and/or Hybrid striped-white bass)...15 (only two can be 22 inches+)
Trout- Brook, Rainbow, and/or Brown trout.
SPECIES
SEASON
LIMIT
DEER:
ARCHERY- September 8 to October 12
12 Per Season
PRIMITIVE- October 13 to 19
10 Does
FIREARMS- October 20 to JANUARY 1
2 Bucks
DOVE:
September 1-16
15 Per Day
October 13-21
30 in Possession
November 22 to January
RACOON: October 15-February 28
3 Per Day
QUAIL:
November 17-February 28
12 Per Day
TURKEY: March 23-May 15
3 Gobblers Per Season
RABBIT: November 17-February 28
12 Per Day
Hunting Seasons
Grandma Nanny’s Deer Jerky:
Ingredients
•
1 pound boneless venison roast
•
4 tablespoons soy sauce
•
4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
•
2 tablespoons liquid smoke flavoring
•
1 tablespoon ketchup
•
1/4 teaspoon pepper
•
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
•
1/4 teaspoon onion salt
•
1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
1.Slice meat into long strips, 1 inch wide and 1/8 inch thick. In a large releasable
plastic bag, combine soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, ketchup, pepper, garlic powder, onion salt and salt. Place meat in, and close bag. Refrigerate
overnight. Knead occasionally, to evenly distribute marinade.
2.Preheat oven to 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Place a pan on the bottom of oven
to catch drips, or line with aluminum foil.
3.Place meat strips on a rack so that they do not touch each other, and dehydrate for
6 to 8 hours in the oven, or until desired consistency is achieved.
Issue 15
Fine Arts
High School Drama. Some of it’s on Stage.
By: Tiffani Pair and Caitlyn Martin
When you walk into the drama loft, the first thing you see is…
everything. Everybody is busy working on something—character development, memorizing lines, blocking, or anything else to prepare for
the upcoming plays. There will be three plays this semester: The Real
Inspector Hound, A Thurber Carnival, and Trapped by a Treacherous
Twin.
On October 18th and 19th, the drama students will be performing their two one act plays. The Real Inspector Hound is their one-act
competition piece this year. A spoof of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha
Christie, this play is done in a typical whodunit style. Written by Tom
Stoppard, author of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and according to Mrs. Roberts, it’s “a play within a play within a play.” A
Thurber Carnival is a revue—a collection of short skits and scenes—
comprised of fifteen scenes. The second week of December, they will
perform “Trapped by a Treacherous Twin,” a comedy about twins who
are enamored with the same girl.
Katie Vickery, president of drama club and our school’s chapter
of the International Thespian Society, was proud to say that the drama
program here is finally getting on the map. “They’re stepping it up and
becoming more professional,” she explained. “We’re not just some
drama program from Jackson County. We’re showing everyone that
we’re more than that.”
Drama takes hard work and dedication. The effort pays off,
though. Cody Ledford says that he has gotten over stage fright thanks
to drama. Students are challenged to get out of their comfort zone and
do things they wouldn’t normally do, such as perform a pantomime skit
or recite a monologue in front of the class.
Want to join? The fee is $5 and shirts are mandatory and cost
$15. That brings it to a total of $20 to join.
This year, drama is expanding and will have a new building.
Mrs. Roberts is thrilled that she will finally have an office. If everything works out, she hopes that at least one play at the end of next
semester can be performed in the new black box theatre, where everything can be moved around, even the stage. She gave us one last thing
to look forward to, saying that she is already preparing for the spring
musical: Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
Page 5
September 2012
I Like Trains
By: Clare Nunley
In all honesty, hearing that the next band show was going to be
based on “train songs” wasn’t a very exciting prospect. I mean, how
will that be fun? What train music is going to motivate our football
team, have the crowd in the stands cheering, and win us Superiors at
upcoming festivals? Amazingly, seems like the Adamses have done it
again.
We have it all: solos and features, big props, beautiful flags
for the color guard, and a drill that catches the eye. Charlie Hilton and
Justin Morgan have a mellophone duet with Luis Lemus’ trombone
solo in the second song, a combination of Midnight Train to Georgia
and Take the A Train. A percussion feature flams its way in the third
song, I’ve Been Working on the Railroad. Nathaneal Murray and Chris
Nix each have a solo in the last song Long Train Running. We have
railroad crossing signs for our large props, and the color guard’s flags
symbolize railroad tracks. In other words, the visuals for this year
catch the eye.
Our show starts with Night Train, Chattanooga Choo-Choo,
Midnight Train to Georgia, Take the A Train, I’ve Been Working on
the Railroad, and ends with the snazzy song Long Train Running.
Please come and hear the marching band on Friday night football
games, you’ll want to jump on the band train with the rest of us.
Ben Cagle and
Brittany Sharer
rehearsing lines.
Spring Break in London with a side of
Shakespeare
By: Kevin Lineberger
Travel throughout London in June of 2013. This trip will take you to
historic sites such as Stonehenge and Oxford University You’ll enjoy a
Shakespeare Workshop at Globe Theater, a bike tour of London’s monuments and a meal at the Hard Rock Café.
Kenzie Duncan
and Matt Lewis
stand like statues.
The cost of the trip to London is $3,998 for both students and adults alike. The cost per month
to go on this trip is $444 a month but can increase per month as the full payment deadline of February 15, 2013 nears. The money toward the trip will go to airfare, a 4-star hotel, and transportation
around London.
To join this adventure, go see Mrs. Roberts in the drama loft anytime before April 2013. Or
you can enroll online for a fee of $195. Space on this trip is limited, only 12 spots are left and all
grownups are invited.
For additional information, go to www.acis .com and enter the group ID 14664 and Roberts
as the group leader last name. This is also how the location where you apply online for the trip.
Shakespeare’s The
Globe in London
Page 6
September 2012
SPORTS
Varsity Football Schedule
Date Time Opponent 08/31/2012 7:30 PM (H) 09/07/2012 7:00 PM (A) 09/14/2012 7:30 PM (H) 09/21/2012 7:30 PM (H) 09/28/2012 7:30 PM (H) 10/05/2012 7:30 PM (A) 10/19/2012 7:30 PM (A) 10/26/2012 7:30 PM (A) 11/02/2012 7:30 PM (H) 11/09/2012 7:30 PM (A) JV Football Schedule
Date
Time
09/13/2012 5:30 PM Away
09/20/2012 5:30 PM Home
09/27/2012 5:30 PM Away
10/04/2012 5:30 PM Home
10/18/2012 5:30 PM Home
10/25/2012 5:30 PM Home
11/01/2012 5:30 PM Home
in the new
Issue 15
Venue Location
Score
WINDER-BARROW Panther Stadium
Won 21 - 10 JEFFERSON Lost 6 - 28 Athens Christian
Panther Stadium (Homecoming) EAST JACKSON Panther Stadium NORTH OCONEE Panther Stadium (Youth Night) FRANKLIN COUNTY HART COUNTY
OCONEE COUNTY ELBERT COUNTY Panther Stadium (Senior Night) MORGAN COUNTY Opponent
Location/Result Score
ATHENS CHRISTIAN
Win
32-13
JEFFERSON Panther Stadium
NORTH OCONEE FRANKLIN COUNTY Panther Stadium
HART COUNTY
Panther Stadium
OCONEE COUNTY
Panther Stadium
EAST JACKSON Panther Stadium
Panthers Start Out Strong, Begin Season 1-0
The 2012 Jackson County Panthers opened the season up at home against the Winder-Barrow
Bulldogs. After the disappointing loss to Athens Academy in their scrimmage, the Panthers were looking
to come out strong. The Panthers were the first team to score, as Kyle Daniel hit Ben Brissey on a 16-yard
touchdown strike. At the half the score was 7-0, Jackson County leading. In the third quarter Winder-Barrow would take a 10-7 lead after two scoring possessions as time winded down going into the final quarter.
Trailing by three in the fourth quarter, Kyle Daniel hit Ben Brissey for his second receiving touchdown of
the game. This gave the Panthers a 14-10 lead. After a stellar performance by the defense, the Panthers
offense would get the ball back. With 3:41 remaining in the game, Dustin Scott ran four yards for a touchdown. This would seal the victory in the season opener as the Panthers win 21-10.
This win would mark the first for head coach, Benji Harrison. After this strong showing the Panthers prepare to play bitter rival, the Jefferson Dragons. Can the Panthers prove that they are for real? Find
out September 7th at Jefferson Memorial Stadium at 7:00 pm.
Panthers Travel to Hostile Territory
Football players at the Winder Barrow game
After beating Winder-Barrow, the Panthers traveled across the street to play their rivals, the Jefferson Dragons, in the High 5 Sports Game of the Week. The Dragons entered the game with a recent
loss to Commerce on their minds. This game would mark the 50th anniversary of the first game ever
played at Jefferson Memorial Stadium.
The Dragons came out strong, striking first blood. They scored on their first possession of the game. After receiving the ball, the Panthers lined up on their own 20 yard line. On the first play from scrimmage,
Kyle Daniel threw a screen pass to Dustin Scott. 14 seconds later, Scott was in the end zone, for the first
and the only Panther touchdown of the game. The extra point was missed. After one quarter of play the
score was in favor of the Dragons, 7-6.
Late in the second quarter the Dragons strike again. At the half the Dragons were ahead 14-6. Jefferson
scored two more touchdowns in the second half to cap off a 28-6 win over the Panthers.
The loss made the Panthers record 1-1. After this loss, the Panthers are now 0-5 all-time against the Jefferson Dragons.
Volleyball: New Season, New Coach
By: Kevin Lineberger
The 2012 Jackson County volleyball team has looked a lot different than last year’s team. The greatest difference is at the head coaching
position, where Coach Carsten has taken the reins of the program after coming from Madison County. This is her first year at Jackson County and
her first season ever as a head volleyball coach. Although a change of scenery, Coach Carsten feels really comfortable in Jackson County and credits that to the great student body and everyone who has made this adjustment easy for her.
Carsten inherits a 11-19 team from last year that lost seven seniors. This year the volleyball team includes three seniors; Gabbi Kastner,
Michelle McCoy, and Kathryn Franklin, who are all returning from last year’s squad. Along with the seniors, leadership will come from captains
Kelcie Zimmer (sophomore) and Jaycee Caylor (junior), whose leadership comes from their “ability to motivate and drive other players,” says
Carsten.
The strength of the team, Carsten points out is that “We have a lot of versatile players that can do a lot of things very well and play a lot of
different positions.” In addition she goes on to say that “We have a lot great hitters on the team” this is something that she is very pleased with.
Issue 15
SPORTS
Page 7
September 2012
Softball
By: Madi Pecht
One thing that hasn’t slowed down the Varsity Lady Panthers this 2012 season is their fight to win. Every game this season the girls have
pushed through and played as one unit. Attitude is the key to success out on the softball field, whether it is talking up a teammate or cheering in
the dugout. You have to always have a positive attitude and the drive to push through whatever may be stopping you of winning the game.
As a whole, the team offensively has done its job. One problem that the girls have is batting consistently. They may bat very good in the
first and second innings, but lose concentration in the middle of the game. But then the Lady Panthers rally again, and then come back to win the
game. Defensive errors have killed the girls so far this season in many games. The Lady Panthers average 4 errors a game with 89 runs allowed.
One of the biggest things the girls say before each inning is “get the first out.” Once you get the first out and you have no one on base it takes the
pressure off the pitcher and puts the pressure on the new batter, giving one out of the five pitchers, who may be pitching, a little more confidence
while they are on the mound.
The Lady Panthers are 6-9-1 as of August 30th. They won their first region game against Hart County (away) 4-1. The girls have 12 more
games with only 3 more home games left to play this season. Make sure you come out and support the Lady Panthers and cheer them on as they
fight for the chance to go to Columbus, Georgia and play for State.
*BAM!*(gunshot)
“Anddd the season’s off!”
Cross Country
By: Maddie Newton
The 2012 JCHS cross country team kicked off its season with promising times in their
first race, held August 25 at Athens Christian. The girls’ team came in 2nd, only behind North
Oconee, in the varsity race. Sydney Baird had an exceptional run, with a time of 21:18, which
placed 24th. Maddie Newton followed behind with a 22:50 (57th). Monica Jimenez (72nd,
23:23), Allison Freemen (83rd, 23:42), and Michayla Scollon (92nd, 24:06) finished shortly
thereafter, while Kourtney Axelberg (104th) and Savannah Shaw (108th) closed the team off
with times under 26 minutes.
“I want to contend for a top four finish in region”, stated Brubaker when asked how he expected the girls’ season to go. Coach Brubaker had expressed fears about what would happen with
two of the top five runners of last year gone. But the coaches were pleasantly surprised when
two freshmen, Monica Jimenez and Allison Freeman, stepped up and took the third and fourth
places on the team Saturday.
“It was great that we had immediate contribution from the freshman. We are going to
need it to accomplish the goals we have set” commented Brubaker. After such a promising start
to the season, Coach Brubaker has high hopes of being in the top two in region and is carrying out his ambition by working the runners hard. He has implemented a more strict work-out
and free-run policy for the athletes. Although Coach Brubaker will hear many complaints, this
rigorous program will prepare the team to be strong throughout any 5k race they may face.
With four out of the six top runners having gone to state the previous year, it would be
a disappointing finish to not achieve that golden
trip to the 2012 state championships. The boy’s championship race at Athens
Christian illustrated to the coaches just how
good the boys’ team will be this year. With
runners running over a minute faster than last
year, the team might just have a break-out year.
JT Wood led the team with a time of 18:50
and 68th place. Behind him was Dusty Haralson (112th, 19:56), Anthony Allen (122nd,
20:08), Trevin Sweat (135th, 20:34), and Zack
Sears (138th, 20:42). It was an exciting start to
the boy’s season.
Coach Brubaker expects inter-squad
competition to have an immediate effect as to
helping train the boys. The returning runners on
the boys’ team will also have to recover from a
“losing state of mind” from previous years. The next meets are:
-September 15 at East Jackson
-September 22 at Oglethorpe
-*September 27 at Crow’s Lake (Home)
Come out and support the athletes who
actually have a chance in this school. See you
there!
Your Future
Page 8
September 2012
Issue 15
Level Up: Dual Enrollment
By: Clare Nunley
It’s not that great when you take an AP class, work extremely hard, and then in May not make a high score or pass the exam. You pay
money, even, from $50-$100 to take the exam. The opportunities of college credit and getting a head start on the rest of your life are just too irresistible. I mean, what other options are there, really? Oh, wait, dual enrollment.
Dual Enrollment is specifically designed for high school students, typically 11th and 12th graders, to advance and start earning college
credit for basic classes. These courses can be taken during or outside of school, or even online. You can earn credit towards your high school
diploma and college, all at the same time. These courses are also completely FREE. That’s right, free.
This year, our school got in touch with Truett McConnell College, located in Cleveland, GA. As of now, students can take college Algebra, college Statistics, Advanced Composition, and Composition and Literature. These are known in college as Math Four (to make sure you finish all of your high school classes before moving on), Math 200, English 101 and English 102. Good thing that the teachers actually come to our
school, right? Now we don’t have to drive forty five minutes away. For Truett dual enrollment, unlike with another school, you have the convenience of not having to use a lot of gas or time to get there.
A dual enrolled student is also on a college schedule, so you do not meet your teacher every day. As an example, this year, students meet
Mr. Viviant on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Mrs. Abernathy on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are officially up to the student, depending on
where help is needed. Students either do not have to show up for first period, or may leave school early, depending on when their dual enrollment
classes are scheduled. This allows a dual enrollment student to enjoy more freedom, much like a college student.
To be dual enrolled in the first place is easy. At Jackson County, it would be best to go to the counseling office and say that you are interested in it. The students currently involved in Truett were actually asked by the counseling department if there was an interest, and there sure
was. To be dual enrolled for the most part, though, you must seek it out. You do not have to continue your education with the college you are dual
enrolled in. You may transfer and apply for another college once out of high school.
I’m not saying to not take an AP class. Those will definitely still challenge you, and are to be taught as if they were college classes. When
thinking about which one to take, AP or dual enrollment, you must consider that all colleges are different. Some colleges will accept lower AP test
scores to count as college credit, but some will not, like Georgia Tech. If you do not think that you could earn a 4 or 5 on an AP exam, then dual
enrollment would be the better choice.
Now, dual enrollment is not for the weak-minded. Be ready to be challenged, because it will happen. You need to be a student that generally gets A’s and B’s in demanding classes to be able to handle the difficulty of a dual enrollment class. Overall, it is a very helpful way to get a
head start, and is much recommended. If you pass these classes, they actually count for college credit. Dual enrollment allows a little more freedom and confidence for later on. It’s not a class with a test that determines your fate in the end.
Finding a Job in Georgia
By: Jose Cruz
The career you choose in today’s society is very important. There are a
lot of people that chose a career, but never make it. Why? Because they may not
have experience in the field or there aren’t just enough jobs.
The top career in GA is nursing. According to USnews.com nursing is
hiring a lot because you take care of young people to old people, and there are
endless possibilities. Nursing has over 2.7 million nurses employed. The salary
of a nurse is up to 67,000 (for a average nurse) and if you want to be a certified
nurse anesthetist they get up to 157,000.
I went to the dentist the other day, and told her about my article. She
told me an interesting thing: they needed more male nurses, because some times
patients are heavy or other situations and they need help. So, if you are a guy
and want make good money, (it is very competitive). According to U.S. news,
you can get a job as a nurse if you join organizations like State Chapters of the
American Nurses Association, or other specialized professional groups.
The 2nd top job is to be a software developer. These people make, test
and maintain software. Software developers make specific things for the computer to do. Microsoft is one of the top known in America (and we all know that
you want to be the next Steve Jobs, who founded Apple). If you’re interested in
computers, you should really take a technology class in Jackson County. They
don’t show you how to develop software, but they show you how to use the
software like Word document. Mr. Simpson is the computer teacher and he said
to “join FBLA”. He also said “I like the job because it is creative and technical”.
Pharmacists are the 3rd top career, it is well paid and it’s growing fast.
The least pharmacists get paid is approximately 86,000 and the most they get
paid is approximately 111,000 a year. Their training starts by going to college
for 2 years, taking 4 years to finish. Then you have to take several examinations
to pass, and often a one-year or two-year postgraduate residency program. You
must have a license to be a pharmacist. Not just anyone can do it, and it takes
a lot of work, but it’s a good pay. According to U.S. news, if you are a people
person, and have leadership skills, then this is a good job for you.
Applying For Scholarships For Dummies:
Gainesville State College Dean’s Scholarship
By: Zenaida Marrero
Only eight out of thirty three seniors have a scholarship
already. Here is a rather easy way to get a scholarship for all of
you seniors out there who have not yet applied for scholarships:
The Gainesville State College’s Dean’s Scholarship
ranges from $500 to a full ride. The deadline is near April and
the application is very easy to complete. No need to write an
essay or any other complicated steps: all you need is a simple
form of your general and academic information (GPA, ACT,
SAT scores), and a teacher recommendation.
You must have a GPA of 3.2, SAT score of 1100, and
ACT of 24. Not only that but you must also be a full time student at Gainesville State College for the fall. Either way, sign
up soon because time is running out, especially for the seniors.
To find the application for this scholarship go on Pantherhelp.com and click the link for colleges. Look for the section “Paying for College” click the link under it, “Counseling
Office Scholarship List”. Once you’re there just scroll until you
find “Gainesville State College Dean’s Scholarship and President’s Leadership Program.”
If you’d rather have an easier way to get to the page
here’s the link!
http://pantherhelp.com/Scholarships_2012/Gainesville%20
Scholarships%202012.pdf
CLUBS
Issue 15
CALLING ALL ARTISTS!
Page 9
September 2012
By: Sydney Velez
National Art Honor Society
Are you an inspiring artist who has a passion for what you make? Are you curious on how to build up your skills? Or do you just want to go
to the Georgia National Fair? Well then the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) may just be the place for you! This club, sponsored by Mrs. Colley,
is a club that not only helps recognize students who have astonishing pieces of art, but it encourages growth in skills in their artwork and knowledge.
What enchanting things are planned for this club? Well, such things are hosting the 2012-2013 Talent Show at JCCHS, 2012-2013 NAHS
State Convention at North Georgia College, a classroom mural, Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, and other art competitions throughout the
year.
Membership costs and criteria includes: $15.00 in dues, maintaining a B+ or better in honors or AP classes or A in regular classes, have and maintain
a B+ average in all other subjects, had to have taken Art 1, 15 hours of community service (completed throughout events organized within the club),
and attending the weekly meetings.
Still need an extra convincing point to get you going? Some club benefits are the many scholarships and memberships available, such as the
Rising Stars Secondary Recognition Program available to junior/rising senior high school NAHS students. Also achievable is the Charles M. Robertson Memorial Scholarship which is a four year partial scholarship to the Pratt School of Art and Design in Brooklyn, New York.
Art Club
The Art Club, also sponsored by Mrs. Colley, has fewer requirements, and just about anyone can join! Don’t worry; you still go on field trips
and have time to create your masterpieces, too! Both clubs meet in room E6 Monday at 3:30-4:30. Requirements are to show up and be prepared for
creating art!
Thanks to all the art students that helped in some way with the painting of the football field. Special thanks to Jonn Jones and Sadie Wheeler for their dedication to the
project before and after school.
It’s Scientific
By: Gaby Sanchez
Join Science Olympiad its exciting and you get to go to competition. Wondering what events you take in a competition?
There’s building events like Robot Arm, Gravity Vehicle, Sounds of Music, Disease Detectives, Forensics, Helicopters, Write It Do It, and
so on. You have to admit that those names do sound pretty interesting; take for example “Sounds of Music.” In there you build 2 different instruments (that’s right you build your instruments) and with them you perform a major scale, required melody, and a chosen melody.
There are also test events, where you have an activity to go with it. Take “Disease Detectives,” in this event you have to use your investigative skills. They give you crime scene situations where you have to solve a weird case, like to find out who killed the sock. See the events are
not dull.
Science is one of the best career fields out there. So is engineering. When you join Science Olympiad you get to experience all of that.
“The growth of science and technology will continue to demand higher levels of skills.” (Science Education Experts Respond to Obama’s Speech)
When you put down you were in Science Olympiad on your college transcript they will be impressed
According to Research Corporation for Science Advancement, most of the jobs in America are looking for people who have a degree in
science and math, because most of the jobs require those skills. U.S. economic preeminence has depended for more than a century on scientific
and technological innovation, and President Obama addressed key issues for supporting our leadership in global innovation.
The regional is held at North Georgia College where you can compete against different schools. To compete you need a team of 15, but in
each event you need 2 people. Mrs. Koenig JCCHS coach for Science Olympiad. The meetings are during club days, anytime after school, basically whenever you can, in room B15.
Calculate Your Attraction
By: Vincent Moore
As many of the students here at JCCHS don’t know, Math Club is one of the most fulfilling clubs you can join. It’s for students that are
serious about improving their math skills, pulling up their math grade, and/or interested in a career that involves math. Mr. Poe is in charge of
organizing the club. In an interview, Mr. Poe Noted, “A student has the Freedom to his or her nerdy side and it’s a lot of fun hanging out with likeminded people.”
Math Club offers ample opportunities for a student. They train to compete in math competitions, usually at colleges like UGA or Georgia Tech. Competitions consist of two rounds. The first round is written test, multiple choice, usually forty questions, with no calculators. Round
two is a speed round; your team is playing against another team. Both teams are shown a question at the same time, your goal being to solve the
question and get the answer to the judge before your opponent. These are five to six questions. Prizes for winning a competition can range from a
ribbon to a college scholarship.
Every Year, the Math Club goes to Savannah for a competition. Going to Savannah isn’t just for the competition, its more fun than that.
The tradition is that they go to a local candy shop where the menu is a bit abnormal. Mr. Poe can never get the girls to do this, but the boys usually
eat something like chocolate covered crickets or a sucker with a scorpion in the center, things of that nature. They say eating your first scorpion is
like drinking a Capri Sun, it doesn’t quench your thirst, only makes you want another. The only problem with the Savannah trip is that you need
four people to compete and sometimes not enough people want to.
Overall, Math Club is pretty underrated. So whether you want to compete for a scholarship at one of the great schools they compete at or
just want to eat some crickets, I recommend Math Club.
Page 10
September 2012
CLUBS
Issue 15
It’s Raining Men
By: Clare Nunley
Mr. Maddox, our beloved chorus teacher, and his chorus girls came up with the wonderful idea of a Men’s Choir this year. Now, you have
to understand, those usually don’t work out. Guys usually don’t like for other people to know that they can sing—for some reason, guys in a chorus are usually laughed at.
This year, they’re making a stand. Our school’s men’s choir was not only successful in getting thirteen people, but some of the guys, like Evan
Slayton, Austin Duke, Michael Quinton, Preston Miller, Daniel Powell, Will Martin, Cristian Benjumea, Danilo Martinez, and Kaden James enjoy it thoroughly. They look forward to it, even. Not only do they have a sizable group, but they sound amazing. Four part harmony? Yes, please.
Men’s Choir meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from about 3:20-4:15. Mr. Maddox plans on getting them to perform at the chorus concerts, which may lead to going to festival with the rest of the chorus. Plans are unfolding for this ensemble of men.
EV Club
FCCLA Officers
Spanish Club
FCCLA
By: Christina Mapel
Want a fun and exciting way to learn leadership and hangout with your
friends? What about earning cash prizes? Well, here’s your chance. Join FCCLA. FCCLA stands for Family Career and Community Leaders of America.
“FCCLA offers you the opportunity to make [new] friends, travel on amazing
field trips, and to help your community!” exclaims Mrs. Jones.
The dues are as little as $14. FCCLA goes on sooo many thrilling field
trips: B.A.S.I.C. training, a high wire obstacle course; the fall leadership conference where guest speakers will explain their journey to becoming a leader;
Skyzone, an indoor trampoline play area; and plenty more.
This year FCCLA members have the chance to compete in state events.
Some of the categories for competitions are: digital story telling, chicken fabrication, early childhood education skills, community service, and twenty three
other exciting categories to choose from. Some of these categories give cash
rewards as prizes.
When you decide to join, just contact Mrs. Jones or Mrs. Black. Joining FCCLA and participating earns you honor cords, too. FCCLA will meet on
club days and sometimes after school.
This year’s officers are: April Shaw, President; Carlee Jones and Michelle McCoy, Vice Presidents; Kaylan Cochran, Secretary. Congratulations
and good luck to you all!
Spanish Club
By: Zanaida Marrero
Ever wondered how Latino people have fun?
Well Spanish Club is the way to go! Anyone, not just Latinos, can join and participate in dancing, playing soccer,
hanging out, and eating foods from other cultures.
Not only are the normal club days fun, Spanish Clubs has an
annual field trip that the students choose. Last year the club
went to get dance lessons by a dance instructor and got to eat
good food.
Spanish Club also has specific jobs to keep the club
going. Elections are held for the President, Vice President,
Secretary, and Photographer. If you’re not sure if you want to
join yet non-members are allowed to visit (the first two meetings only). Only members are allowed to all other meetings,
fieldtrips, and other activities; though, you can join any time.
Membership dues are $10. It’s a cheap price to pay
for endless fun. Last year Spanish Club had 40 members.
Mrs. Read, last year’s sponsor, says, “The Latino kids are
cool”. So, come experience the Latin side of Jackson County.
Get Your Engines Started!
By: Chloe Soto
We all like to go cruising around in our pick ups or car, right? Well if you like to drive around or get under the hood then Electric Vehicle
Club is for you! We live in Redneck County so I can feel safe to say we know a thing or two ‘bout Go Karts. We have three of ‘em! If not then come
on down and learn something.
We’ll be learning how to work simple machinery, how to wire the vehicle (and don’t go thinking that you can go out and hot wire some hot
rod.) Also we’d be learning the movement and physics of the cars. But, most important of all how to fix her up if something goes wrong. Cause, I personally don’t want to be spittin mud because I’m stuck in a ditch. The Go Kart we’ll be working on will have 4 wheel chair batteries that are 12 volt
and 2 electric motors. If you’re wondering “what’s the point to this club?” I’ll be willin to tell ya. It’s to learn how to assemble vehicles, to troubleshoot vehicles, workin together to race ‘em, but most importantly develop safe presentation skills and safety.
As for racing them, we have three races (at $100 per race). You can also throw in the fact that it is helping conserve energy. So instead of running on fuel and creating all types of pollution it is helping the environment a little at a time.
If you’re interested then you can talk to Mrs. Hamrick. The meetings are in the fall and are usually every other Tuesday, after school until 5. During
springtime we’ll meet every Tuesday same time. If you’re wondering about a fee there is not a yearly fee, but there is a fee for the transportation to
go to the EV rally held in March. This is a when we will compete against others, a major event. So, if you like getting dirty and motors then come on
and hand me a wrench!
Calling All Vehicle Magicians…
An important thing to discuss – would be money. For the electric vehicle to keep in working order (such as batteries motors and other equipment)
there’s cost. Batteries for one of them comes in at about $70. Motors are at a higher range; unfortunately, they are about $200 a piece. Keep in mind
that there are two motors. For the controllers it’s $450. We like trucks right? Well, you’re in luck, we have one! It’s a 1983 Ford pickup. The down
side to this is the total cost for batteries is $1,800.00. Yeah I know it’s A LOT of money but this is the last go kart we wish to work on. So all you auto
shops and techs out there here’s a shout out for a little help. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
Issue 15
FASHION
People who wear flashy shoes tend to need attention,
and have trouble committing to relationships. Those who
don’t really care about their shoes tend to have an aloof personality. People who take care of their shoes tend to easily
attach in relationships and have a reasonable and agreeable
personality.
Researchers at Kansas University found that people
who wear the same shoes tend to have similar personalities. Not only do personalities come with a brand or style,
but also cliques. Okay, so, we live in Jackson County, right?
What type of shoes do you normally expect kids to wear?
Boots.
When we surveyed the student body, only a small
percentage of students actually wear boots. The most common shoes we found was the Nike brand.
Nick the Nike
Page 11
September 2012
Shay the Converse
Carlee the Boot
Dylan Free the Boot
Source: Nike.com
This is Nick. He’s one of Hali’s on-and-off boyfriends. Nick is one of the top sports shoes in the world.
There isn’t a sport he’s not involved in. He is extremely athletic and loves to just goof around without having any consequences. Research shows that people who buy and wear
athletic shoes, such as Nike, tend to show signs of strong
leaders. Not only that, but they seem to be more relaxed and
laid back than people who wear other types of shoes. Seeing
as how JCCHS has people who mostly wear Nikes, it means
we have a school filled with good leaders.
Words of the Week
August 20-24
September 5-7
Evanescent: fleeting; momentary; Capitulate: to give up; to surrender
short-lived; brief; temporary
August 27-31
Negligible: of little importance; hardly September 10-14:
Incessant: without end; never
noticeable
ceasing
This is Shay. She’s a very
self-conscious girl who
doesn’t like attention. She
excels at everything she does.
Shay tends to be part of the
scene group hanging out at
the edge of crowds.
This is Carlee. She loves the outdoors
and everything that has to do with
the mud. Happy with the way she is,
Carlee shurgs off what others think of
her.S
This is Dylan Free the boot. Like Carlee, Dylan loves to be
outside and walk through the
cold wet dirt; he, too, cares
nothing about what people
think of him or his appearance.
ITALY June 2013
Venice, Rome and the Swiss Alps
by Kevin Lineberger
Travel through Switzerland and Italy with
Mrs. Peterson and Mrs.Smith. You will explore the Italian cities of Venice, Florence, and
Rome, plus the experience the Swiss Alps in
Lucerne, Switzerland.
The total package costs $3448 for students
under the age of 20, and $3813 for adults. The
student package can be paid monthly in increments of $384 per month, while adults can be
paid $424 per month. This money will cover
round trip airfare, hotels, breakfast and dinner
daily, all transportation, tour guides and trip
insurance. Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. Smith are actively
helping students raise money to help pay the
trip. Toga days, donut days and letter writing
days are just a few of the fundraising plans.
How can you be a part of such a trip? You
can either come to room B12 any Friday after
school or Enroll for $95 online( www.eftows.
com/1197821). All people are invited to join,
but the deadline for registration is February of
2013.
If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Peterson, or go to www.eftours.
com/1197821.
**Although the administration is happy for
the students of JCCHS to visit other countires
niether this school trip nor the London trip is sanctioned by the school.
THE BACK PAGE
Page 12
September 2012
Issue 15
Lorenzo on America
Two different worlds in comparison
By: Lorenzo Longu
I am an Italian exchange student. I chose to leave my country, my family, my friends and my habits for 10 months to get here in the States to discover a new culture
that made me pretty curious: the American culture! I have been here for nearly two weeks and I feel like I’m home already. That’s thank to my fantastic host family and to the
nice people I have met so far during my stay here. I have loved America since the first day I arrived in Atlanta. I immediately noticed that everything was bigger than what I
was used to. In the airplane, flying in, I saw a football field below for the first time. I couldn’t believe where I was landing, or how far I had gotten from home and how different
would be the country I was about to discover!
There are so many differences between American and Italian lifestyle: one is the food. I think when I return to Italy I will miss fast foods, even if Italian food is really
good and less fat than American food. I used to eat a lot of pasta and pizza, but even good meat and fresh fishes. Old Italian people like my grandmother know how to make
fresh pasta, but you can also buy it in some fresh pasta shops. In Italy, when we want to eat something outside, we don’t usually go to fast foods, because I would have to drive
for about 62 miles to get to the closest fast food to my town. Instead, we go to the restaurants, where we can get a very good meal like pasta with seafood or with fresh vegetables, a steak, some fresh grilled fish, or a pizza that is cheaper.
Another difference is the American “all-day living”: In Italy, during week-ends or in summer, when we don’t go school, we finish lunch at around 3:00 PM, and then
just stop for the afternoon and relax. We might do something in the evening like play sports or run errands, but above all we continue to socialize with our friends late into the
night, like until 1.30 AM or even more later. These are the normal returning hours for boys my age but they can change from family to family.
On Saturday, me and my friends may go to the disco, then we may not return home until about at 6:00 AM. We do not have any curfew.
Another difference is that we don’t have American sports like football and baseball but everyone in Italy plays soccer and volleyball, the second national sport. Also, in
Italy we don’t play sports in school but in private clubs: we have to pay around $30 a month to join the club plus the cost of the uniforms. If we are very good at playing a sport
we can play in a professional team, In this case we don’t have to pay anymore but we get paid more or less on the basis of our skills.
The Italian school system is completely different from the American system: we do not have the possibility to choose our classes; we can only choose our pathway, for
example if we choose a pathway like “Family and Consumer Science” we cannot choose a class from another pathway like “Healthcare Science.”
Almost all classes are taught in a traditional way. Some of our teachers let the students see some movies concerning their subjects but not as often as in American
schools. In Italy we always have to study a lot for both writing and speaking tests and there are many teachers that give us a great deal of homework almost every day. If we
don’t get good grades, we have to do some extra exams or even to repeat the same high school year. Nevertheless the Italian school system gives students a greater knowledge,
obviously if they study, I can say I much prefer the American school system because it gives students the opportunity to attend to the classes they may prefer according to what
they like and they are good at, so that they can learn not only in a traditional but also in a more practical way. Moreover our Italian schools, most of all those in little towns, are
small and badly equipped. For example, my school has about 300 students. That reflects an economic concern which is rising all over the world. But here in America this crisis
is felt less.
We do go to school on Saturday but school starts at 8:15 AM and it finishes from Monday to Friday at 2.15 PM and on Saturday at 13.15 PM. In Italy we have a break
of 20 minutes at 10.20 AM but we don’t usually have lunch at school but when we come back home.
We have 6 or 5 period of 60 minutes each every day and we have the same classes both semesters but our timetable is different for each day of the week, for example we may
have a science class on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday but not every day.
These are some differences between our cultures, and I really like discovering more of them with each passing day. I would strongly recommend to every one of my
American students friends to think about spending ten or even six months studying abroad: this is really helpful to better understand that what might be weird to us, might be
normal and usual for people from another place with a different culture.
Moreover, from my point of view, knowing that I would have had to leave my town, my family and my friends I managed to live the best summer of my life and most of all to
give a big value even to small things. It’s really true, you can fully appreciate things you have always lived with only when you know you are about to loose them.