green horn - volume 29, edition 5

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Whats Inside:

Green HornThe Award-Winning Student Publication of Springfield High School and the Tech Center

2 February 2009 Volume 29, Edition 5

Most Springeld citizens would not be able to

estimate the number of homeless people who

live in their town. Some might guess ve, ten,

or perhaps fteen. Additionally, it would be impossible

for them to determine how many unfortunate people live

under cardboard or under bridges or in their cars.

Many people, interviewed for this story,

guessed that about 50 people were homeless in Spring-

eld. However, as one can easily discover through

interviews and research, 660 homeless people are found

in Springeld. Even more signicant, 54% of these

homeless are children.

According to 2007 statistics, there were 356

homeless children in Springeld. And with Americas

economic downturn, the number of homeless wil prob-

ably rise. Imagine being fourteen years old waking up

on Christmas morning with no food, no home, and no

family to share the supposedly happiest day in America.

The holidays have always been a time to give back to

the community, but afterwards this spirit of generosity

quickly dwindles. As the New Year begins, the days

grow colder, and even the best civic-minded citizens

may begin to forget about the homelessness that plagues

Springeld.

Since 1971, The Springeld Family Center

has been dedicated to helping those less fortunate than

others. Our mission is to help families in need become

Overlooked in Springfeld

By Olivia Johnson & Jenny Bradley

The transition from middle school to high school is

not always seamless. For freshmen, the rst term

of high school can be a daunting, an overwhelm-

ing experience. This is not the case at Springeld High

School. Based on informal interviews, the majority of

freshmen enjoyed a smooth transition this year. For the

most part, they like it at the high school.

The high school is a chance for a new begin-

ning, meeting new people and connecting with different

groups of friends. For freshman Reigan Thomas, rst

term was easy. First term was good for me. The transi-

tion wasnt as hard as I expected it to be, said Thomas.

I feel like the upperclassmen arent as intimidating

either.

Another freshman, Molly Goodwin, came

from Green Mountain Union High School and didnt

know anybody. Coming to the high school was kind

9th Graders Make TransitionBy Lauren Sanderson

Reigan Thomas had a good rst term.She felt the transition to high schoolwasn't difcult and upperclassmen

were not intimidating.See Transition page 23

The Family Center, located on Sum-mer Street, provides services forthe homeless and impoverished.Joan Shuffleburg works at theFamily Center stacking food items.

However, in the current time ofeconomic stress, food donationshave left many bare spaces on the

Family Center shelves.

See Poverty page 23

Horticulturepoinsettia sale,p.4

Led Zeppelin, arequired record,p. 13

ObamaInauguration

Views,p. 10-11

Hundreds Suffer Poverty, Homelessness


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Green Horn InterviewBy Jalessah Jackson

.

Simret Hailemelakot

Discusses Africa andHer Life Goals

Jenny Bradley, Anthony Dana, Courtney Downing, Alexis Esposito,Jalessah Jackson, Angelo Jardina, Olivia Johnson, Jef Moore, LaurelPorter, Emily Reeves, Ashley Richardson, Ember Rushford-Emery,

Lauren Sanderson, Sarah Vredenburgh

GREEN HORN STAFF

Editor-in-Chief / Layout

Editor

EditorPhotography Editor

Sports Editor

Tech News Editor

T om Benton........................

A shley Fountain...................

L auren Drasler.....................

H anna Reeves......................

G rant White........................

D even Blais.........................

----------------REPORTERS---------------

Simret Hailemelakot currently attends Springeld

High School. But before she enrolled at the high

school, she lived in Ethiopia. She was adopted at

the age of nine, and thrown into a completely different

country, society, and culture. She immediately began

learning English in elementary school. This learning

process continues for her today. Simret is now a junior

at SHS and intends to break the cycle of poverty in her

culture and improve herself with education. Then she

intends to return to Africa and help her family. Simretrecently spoke about her past and her future with this

Green Horn reporter.

What part of Africa are you originally from, and

what language did you speak?

Im originally from Dire Diwa, Ethiopia, and I spoke

Amharic.

What was it like leaving your country?

Words cant really explain it. I had been living there

all my life. It was a huge surprise, and a very shocking

experience. I never thought that I would be moving to

a completely different country across the ocean.

How did you feel about leaving your family?

After my parents died, my younger sister and I lived

with my uncle in a different town. There they spoke

a different language, and had a little bit of a different

culture. They were a different tribe. I had always

dreamed of returning to my home in Dire Diwa where

my other siblings and family lived. Moving to America

made that dream seem almost impossible. Instead of

being a couple hours away, I was now on the other side

of the Earth.

How was your early American experience?

It wasnt good, because I was angry to be here. I was

nine years old at the time, and I didnt know why my

uncle was sending us here. I didnt know what adop-

tion was.

Did you come with your sister only?

There were a group of kids who came over here. I

thought we were all going to stay together, but we were

separated. I thought by misbehaving that I would get

sent back to Ethiopia with my family. I didnt even

know if my older siblings in Ethiopia were in good

hands, or if they were suffering while I was over here

in America.

How did you go about learning English?

I didnt know any English. At the time my sister and I

spoke two languages because each of my parents had

their own. Thats how my sister and I communicated.

ESL [English as a Second Lamguage program] helped

a lot, watching a lot of movies, and asking a lot of ques-

tions. The unfortunate thing was that I began forgetting

a lot of my language. I now know only one of the two

languages I knew when I rst came here.

At what grade level did you start?

I was supposed to be in 3rd or 4th grade, but they started

me in 2nd grade so I could learn English. Later in my

schooling I wanted to challenge myself. So I wrote a

paper, and had to give a speech to the school board so I

could skip up a grade. I went from 7th to 9th grade.

How did you stay in contact with your family?

At rst, there was no contact. I didnt remember the

address. Five years went by with me wondering if they

were still alive. I had an Ethiopian friend here tha

was going back to Ethiopia. I told him about my olde

siblings, how I lost contact with them, and he said hed

stop by our city of Dire Diwa to try to help nd mybrother. Since I didnt know the address, I drew a picture

of a jail cell that was near my old house. He found ou

house, but wasnt sure if it was the right house. He saw

a man, asked him what his name was, and it happened

to be my brothers name. He then asked the man if h

had any siblings, and the man said he did but he hadn

seen or heard from them in years. He asked the man

what their names were, and the man said Simret and

Aberash. Now we communicate, we write each othe

letters, and he still lives in the same house I was born in

He is now attending college. He is my hero.

How do you like the family you live with?

They are very sweet and caring people. They encourage

me to do well, to work hard, and to be independent.

also live with two adopted younger sibling. They came

over here to America when I did. I teach them Amharic

and that keeps me up on my language. I consider them

my blood, and I can be there to explain things to them

when they have questions.

See Simret page 20

These SHS band and chorus members participated in theDistrict Music Festival in Brattleboro in late November.


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Features

The River Valley Technical Center Horticulture

and Natural Resources class held its Annual

Poinsettia Sale in mid-December. Under the

supervision of Horticulture teacher John Harmer, Level

II students had been growing the poinsettias since Oc-

tober. In this activity, students applied the knowledge

they were learning in the classroom to the plants they

were preparing to sell.

They ultimately learn the how-to of growing

and raising a crop, Harmer said.

When the project began, each student was

assigned to a certain number of plants. Horticulture stu-

dents Leon Parker and Jake Veysey said their daily tasksincluded watering and grooming the plants, removing

any dead leaves, and applying chemicals, with the help

of Harmer, for pest control.

For both sanitation reasons and for market-

ability, it is crucial that the Horticulture greenhouse

remains clean. The students came up with a list of

daily and weekly tasks, Harmer said, and decided

who does what tasks.

Before the sale started, students drafted their

own sales letter. The letter included information about

the sale, the types of poinsettias being sold, and the

cost. Students selected the best letter and posted it in

The Campus Connection, the school store located

in the River Valley Technical Center (RVTC),

held its grand opening for the 2008-2009 school

year in early October. The store is open from 8:15-9:30

on Tuesdays through Fridays and from 11:30-12:15 on

Wednesdays and Fridays.For over 30 years, Springeld High School

maintained a school store, mainly selling pencils, candy,

and soft drinks. However, when the RVTC was built

seven years ago, the Campus Connection was opened.

The RVTC Business and Financial Services

class manages the store. Business instructor Melissa

Connor has a clear vision of the role her students play

in the Campus Connection. Level two students are

involved in the decision-making process," Connor said.

"Level one students learn the process of running the store

so they can manage it next year.

The Campus Connection serves adults and

students from the RVTC and Springeld High School.

On average, we serve about 300 customers daily,

Connor said. However, it is hard to give an exact

number.She continued, It is helpful to have students

and faculty come to the store because it allows the

Business and Financial Services students to practice

customer service.

Additionally, the store allows Connor's stu-

dents a chance to gain business experience. It allows

them to take what they have learned in the classroom

and apply it to real-life situations, Connor said.

The Campus Connection has not undergone

any signicant changes since last year. However, the

business class has added new merchandise to old best-

sellers. We are now starting to add RVTC t-shirts,

along with fresh owers and fresh fruit, Connor said.

Hands-down, our bestsellers are the 100% juice Slush

Puppies. We have two avors, cherry and blue rasp-

berry.Connor explained that although Business

and Financial Services is responsible for managing the

Campus Connection, if a class at the RVTC creates a

product for fundraising purposes, the Campus Connec-

tion is willing to add it to their list of merchandise. The

Horticulture class produces fresh owers and wreaths in

the wintertime, Connor said. Industrial Trades also

produces candle holders, among other things.

SHS Students are welcome to shop in the

Campus Connection. However, it is up to the students

Horticulture Class SellsPoinsettias

Poinsettias were raised by the RVTC Horticulture students and sold as part

of the Horticulture and Natural Resources Poinsettia Sale in mid-December.The activity allowed practical application of principles learned in class.

By Emily Reeves

CampusConnection

EncouragesResponsibleBehavior

By Ember Rushford-Emery

the daily bulletin. To better advertise the sales, students

distributed letters around Springeld High School and

the River Valley Technical Center.

In their letter, students had to include the

who, what, when, where, and why, Harmer said. I gave

them the pieces, and they drafted their own letter.

The poinsettia sale allowed students to learn

how to grow, market, and sell a crop. In the process

Horticulture students learn about soil tests and measur

ing fertilizers. Additionally, they are taught differen

grooming techniques like pinching, a method of prun

ing in which the main shoot of the plant is cut, which

produces many smaller branches with more owers[The poinsettia sale] is horticulture practice for rea

situations in a greenhouse, Harmer said. They get to

use their plants instead of learning from a book.

Harmers goals for the students involves thei

learning how to raise the plants and solve problems on

their own. They are given the framework and are allowed

to ask questions. But the idea is to nd the answers from

each other.

They are learning responsibility and work

place skills, Harmer said. If they miss pieces, that

okay.See Connection page 22


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Personal Essay

The Nutcrackerballet is a perfect holiday delight

for all ages. Its enchanting as it features Clara,

the girl who dreams it all, a fanciful Christmas

tree, an army of tiny mice, wooden soldiers, magical sets

with graceful snowakes, dancers dressed in imagina-

tive costumes, and the Sugar Plum Fairy who greets

everyone in the Kingdom of Sweets.

The original tale, entitled The Nutcracker

and the King of Mice, was written by E. T. A. Hoffmann

as part of a great collection of childrens' stories during

the 19th Century. As the show begins, and the lights

fade, observers escape into a Christmas fantasyland.

The Nutcrackerballet has improved since Hoffmanns

original. From the moment the Christmas tree is lit, and

snow begins to fall, a wintry landscape is created. Intime, the confections and mouthwatering sweets bring

the ballet to a conclusion, leaving the audience in a state

of wonder.

The story ofThe Nutcrackervaries, depend-

ing on how its performed. However, the story line is

the same. The ballet opens with a Christmas party. The

children and their parents are greeted by Drosselmeyer,

a mysterious and magical character. He gives Clara, the

lead of the show, a nutcracker doll. When her brother

Fritz breaks it, Drosselmeyer mends the toy soldier.

After the party, Clara, who should be in bed, returns to

the room to retrieve her nutcracker.

When the clock strikes midnight, Clara

notices everything growing in size, even the Christmas

tree. Clara is frightened, trapped in a ght between

several mice. Her nutcracker has grown to her size and

becomes her hero in a battle with the Mouse King.

This year, Springeld High School junior

Jenny Bradley starred as the Mouse King. I have been

performing in The Nutcrackerfor nine years. Although

Ive gotten the chance to perform in several parts, this

year was exciting, said Bradley. When I was younger I

was cast as a mouse twice. Because I dont currently do

pointe, I hope that I will be able to be the Mouse King

in the production next year.

After Claras nutcracker is killed, Dros-

selmeyer brings him back to life, transformed into a

handsome prince. Clara's prince now escorts her to

new magical lands. At end of Act I, Clara travels to the

realm of snow.

SHS junior Eliza Pennell starred as the

Snow Queen this year. Pennell has performed in The

Nutcrackerfor three years. When I rst started ballet,

the spring recital was the most important performance

of the year, but now I realize that The Nutcracker is

of great importance. Its something to look forward to

every year, said Pennell. My favorite parts that Ive

done, other than the Snow Queen, have been the soldier

doll and Spanish dancer. Next year Im hoping to have

a solo. But I havent thought of any specic role Id

like to have yet.

Dancing in TheNutcracker For 9 Years

By Ashley Fountain

SeeNutcrackerpage 22

A Simply Magical Delight

Scenes of beauty and forms of grace are indelible memories of this year'sNutcrackerperformance in December. Numerous SHS students participated.


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News

The love of reading can be fostered through vari -

ous activities. Librarians play an important role

in promoting a love for reading. They provide

magazines, display new books, and encourage book

recommendations. With these ideals in mind, Springeld

High School Librarians were particularly excited when

a new shipment of books arrived in January.

SHS Librarian Katie Blair, who has been

working in her position for nine years, has increased

reading habits at the high school and enhanced the

librarys popularity by adding hundreds of new novels

to the library's inventory.

Juliet Loutrel, who also works as an SHS

Librarian, has assisted Blair in this buildup of literature.

By looking at our statistics, we can see that girls are

more avid readers than boys," Loutrel explained. "Boys

tend to sign out books with a focus on war, adventure,

and sports. Girls, however, seem to select books based

on ction, romance, and real life problems. When we

select new books we always take student preferences

into consideration.

Over the course of the last 12 months, for

example, 2,107 books were checked out of the SHS

Library. By early January 2009, 192 books had been

signed out.

Many students were especially delighted

when the Twilightseries arrived in the new shipment

of books. Stephanie Meyers books are so popular,

we simply cant seem to keep them on the shelves,

Books, Books, Books

By Ashley Fountain

See Readers page 21

Many people are familiar with the Rotary Club

an international program that affects people

all over the world. For 81 years, the Rotary

Club has been giving back to Springeld. Rotarians

devote their time to raise money for important com

munity projects.

River Valley Technical Center Academic

Coordinator Debra Grant has been in the Rotary Club

for three years. The Rotary Club is a service club. We

do a lot of different fundraising and things for the community, Grant said.

Every Monday the Rotary meets for lunch

where they host different speakers each week. In 2007

the group hosted a Keene Rotarian who informed them

about a program, the Interact Club, that they offer fo

teens who want to get involved with community service

in their town.

Interact encourages teenagers to develop thei

leadership skills and encourages them to give back to

their community. In May 2007, six Springeld High

School students from each grade, recommended fo

their leadership and citizenship skills, were invited to

consider participating in Interact.

Its been a lot of learning, a lot of trial and

error," said senior Laura Chrisinger, who is Interac

Club President. "Which, I think, is common for mosnew groups, but its a good thing to know stepping into

a leadership role.

Last spring the Interact Club promoted their

most benecial fundraiser, the Flamingo fundraiser

This consisted of neighbors jokingly sending a ock

of amingos to one another. The Interact Club plan

on repeating the Flamingo fundraiser sometime in

2009. Though this fundraiser was very successful, the

Interact Club seeks new benevolent campaigns and new

members.

Interact ClubGives Back toCommunity

By Lauren Drasler and Jenny Bradley

See Interactpage 22

RVTC Academic coordinator DebraGrant, a three-year member of the

Rotary Club, guides the Interact Club.

Christmas in January. A new shipment of books, still wrapped in rubber bandsfor packaging, waited to be shelved ealier this month in the library.

Boxes of New

Titles Inspire Readerssaid Blair. Meyers Twilight,New Moon,Eclipse, and

Breaking Dawn were included in our shipment.

Ninth grader Tara Laplante is a devoted Twi-

lightfan. She feels Meyers books are inspiring to all.

For Laplante, they represent a delicacy of literature. I

love the TwilightSeries," said Laplante. "Reading about

vampires and human romance has made me view litera-

ture through a new perspective. Although Ive enjoyed

all four of Meyers books, I must say her second novel,

Breaking Dawn, is my favorite.

Meyers novels are told in the rst person

from the perspective of Bella, the novels protagonist.

Bellas companion, Edward, and his family, remain a

mystery, a mystery that slowly unravels through the

novel. Twilightis written in a beautiful, simple style.

The romance between Edward, a vampire, and Bella is

compelling. The story reaches a peak of excitement as

the love between Bella and Edward turns into a frantic

struggle to stay alive.

Senior Lauren Drasler rst discovered her

inspiration with vampires through the television series

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, her inspiration

didnt end there. Meyers Twilightseries enhanced her

passion for vampires and romantic novels.

I didnt realize how popular Meyers books

were. Now after reading them, Ive found them to be

addictive, said Drasler. Midnight Sun, Meyers newest


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Feature

If a present Springeld High School student were

asked what they plan to do in the future, coming

back or staying in Springeld to live and work

may not be a common response. However, a number of

Springeld graduates have returned to teach and work

at the high school.

I used to teach in this school system, and

then I retired when I had my family, said 1971 SHS

graduate and librarian Juliet Loutrel. I started substi-

tuting and really liked it here.When an opening for a

full-time job at the library came, I took it.

When I was a senior here, there was a class

called Ofce Practice, said main ofce secretary Sandy

Hryckiewicz. I had taken that class, and I was able to

work here in the ofce as on-the-job training. Therewas a job opening as soon as I graduated, and I was

hired.

Its a nostalgic thing, said SHS atten-

dance secretary Lisa Hannan. Its familiar. There are

still teachers here who were here when I was in high

school.

I came back because I love Springeld,

said 2003 graduate and English teacher Kevin Coen.

I think it has aws. But I think we should work them

out instead of ignoring them.

I chose to work here partly out of necessity,

said 2002 graduate and paraeducator Luken Weaver.

Second, Ive always been sort of drawn to education

in some way or another, and I knew it was a good com-

munity here.

I love Vermont and I want to be close tomy family, said guidance counselor and 2000 graduate

Moria Farnswoth. My husband and I both have family

in the area and we just want to be here.

As a student I enjoyed Springeld High

School, said science teacher and 1994 graduate

Amanda Frank. I believe strongly in giving back to

the places that gave so much to me.

I love being here, added Hannan. I espe-

cially loved working here while my kids were here.

These graduates, though unied in their

decision to teach at SHS, have varied reecitons on

their choice of teaching as a career. When I switched

my major to education, all I could think of was to teach,

said Coen. I thought teaching would be a pain, but the

idea kept nagging at me. After a while I thought, Well,

maybe teaching would be fun.I honestly dont know why I thought to

teach, said 1971 graduate and English teacher Ed

Wilkins. It was what I thought of whenever I thought

of what to do.

I tried to resist the urge to teach, but I found

I am happiest in the classroom as a teacher, said Frank.

Teaching runs in my family. Both my parents taught in

Springeld.

It was very welcoming to come back,

added Frank.

I loved working in a school with students,

Back in High SchoolSHS Graduates Working at Alma Mater

By Laurel Porter and Sarah Vredenburgh

Clockwise from top left, SHS guidance counselor Moria Farnsworth, librarianJuliet Loutrel, attendance secretary Lisa Hannan, main ofce secretary Sandy

Hryckiewicz, English teacher Ed Wilkins, and English teacher Kevin Coen.All of these educators graduated from Springeld High School.

but I didnt want to teach, so I took the guidance route,

said Farnsworth. I liked it, and I went back to schoolfor my masters in education and school counseling.

All returning graduates have an opinion

about change at the high school Ill say this: when I

rst came here it was creepy, said Weaver. It was so

similar. Somewhere in me, I guess I was expecting some

grand changes, but when I came back, it was exactly the

same.

As a whole, I do not regret my decision

to come and work here, added Weaver. I have bad

days, obviously, when Im just like, I cant stand these

people, but I do really love it.

I nd it interesting to remember the school

from when I was a teenager, and compare that to what

see now as an adult, said Loutrel. All of the comparisons and contrasts are fascinating.

Its interesting to see the changes in the

school, added Hannan.

The major change is the size, commented

Wilkins. Its much smaller now. I graduated in th

largest class with 240 people.

Theres a different flow to the schoo

because of programs like No Child Left Behind, said

Coen. If were not living up to the standard, were held

accountable now.

See Graduates page 20


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News

The Springeld High School Student Council

is planning activities for the coming year and

beyond.

Were planning for an alternative education

day, said senior Claire Hammond, who is the treasurer

for the group. We would want the teachers to pick

a different subject that they would like to teach, and

then have everyone in the school sign up for different

classes.

English teacher and student council advisorKevin Coen was involved in in the council during his

junior and senior years at SHS. He, in fact, participated

in the alternative education day while in school. They

used to have an intersession day while we were still on

the quarter scheduling system, said Coen. Between

the second and third quarters, teachers would take about

a week off and teach non-core classes.

I think its a good idea, said Hammond.

It will take a lot of planning, but I think we can pull it

off, and that kids will have fun doing it.

We havent talked to any of the teachers or

administrators [about the alternative education day],

said Coen. If were going to do this, well need every-

one on board.

Sophomore Council member Nikka Bactad

said that some council members had suggested thingssuch as science teachers leading a mythbusters activity.

Coen said the classes offered while he was a student

included acoustic guitar and aerobics, as well as more

traditional classes like World War II and Vietnam War

photography.

The Student Council is also considering host-

ing a Spring Fling. Coen said that the idea was suggested

by physical education teacher Ruth Haskell.

It would take a huge amount of planning,

said Coen. Everyone would really have to trust us a

great deal.

Coen said the Spring Fling, while organized

by student council, would be a surprise to the rest of the

school when it came to the exact day it would be held.

We would plan everything, but nobody would know

the day it would be held, said Coen. Everyone wouldjust come to school one day, and we would say Spring

Fling today!.

Coen said the Spring Fling might not be done

this year, but may be planned for subsequent years.

We just want to step back and say, Lets

take a break from formal education, said Coen.

It would be a time to take a break and refresh our

brains.

Were also planning on a Valentines Day

dance, said sophomore council member Emily Say-

Though this academic year may continue until

June, a new year has arrived and with it thoughts

of the 2009-2010 school year. A leaf is being

turned at Springeld High School: the schedule is being

revamped and revolutionized. Instead of consisting of

six periods a day, the new schedule for the fall of 2009

will consist of eight, 42--minute class periods.

The 2008-2009 academic schedule was a

worrisome topic for some staff and students. According

to SHS Principal Larry Wight, the high school runs on

a trimester system to correspond class periods with theRiver Valley Technical Center. Because of this, students

in the high school are often unable to t desired classes

into their schedules. We coordinate with the tech center,

but opportunities for students are diminished, Wight

said.

We find so many students who have a

scheduling conict, Wight continued.

Junior Veronica Whittemore is one of these

students. I had to nd a way to take the rst part of

Russian III on my own," Whittemore said. "I ended up

taking it as an independent study while Yuliya Ballou

taught Russian II."

Some teachers also nd the current schedule

difcult to work with. Because everything has been

reduced to two terms, those students who wanted to take

certain American history achievement tests were unableto do so because theyre behind," social studies teacher

Bob Paul said. "Theyre not able to study the entire

chronology of American history from past to present.

As a result of such difculties, Wight, along

with other staff members, found it necessary to reassess

the current schedule. However, there are many different

systems that could have been implemented. I came

from a school that had a block schedule and we tried it

here once," Wight said. "But it didnt work."

In block scheduling, the school day consists

of four 90-minute classes. It takes a long time to con-

vert to block scheduling, Wight said. Wight explained

that approximately a year is needed to observe other high

schools running on a block schedule system, and total

commitment from staff would have been mandatory.

Wight has found that teachers at SHS arevery receptive to the idea of an eight-period day. About

15 years ago, the same scheduling system was used at

Springeld High School. Many are glad to go back

to it, Wight said. If teachers agree to an eight-period

schedule, in which teachers instruct ve periods a day,

Wight and other staff members will continue with these

plans for next year.

New classes may be added to the 2009-

2010 schedule, including additional drama, journalism,

media, science, and music courses. Wight hopes this

allows more sections of classes for students to choose

from. There will also be more opportunities for year-

StudentCouncil Plans

Activities forNew YearBy Laurel Porter

See Council page 23

8 Periods, More Options

By Ember Rushford-Emery

long classes in an 8-period day.

Although Whittemore was unable to take

all of the classes she wanted to this year, such as pho

tography, she is looking forward to the new schedule

for next year. Hopefully there will be more spots foclasses open with an eight-period schedule, she said.

Paul agrees with Whittemore about the

proposed schedule for next year. I think it would b

so much better for students and teachers. That type o

schedule is so conducive to teaching and learning. Im

a rm believer in year-long classes, he said.

Junior Silas Farrar did not encounter dif

culties with the current scheduling set-up. I had no

conicts whatsoever this year," he said. "It worked ou

perfectly. Farrar has little opinion about any speci

Veronica Whittemore was forced toresort to an independent study in herefforts to learn Russian, due to sched-

uling conicts. Silas Farrar, on theother hand, has encountered no

scheduling problems.

A New Schedule Comes to

Stay Next Year

See Schedule page 19


9/24

nroeG Hner pg

News

Fidgeting with pencils, wiggling in their seats, and

lacking the ability to sit still for long periods of

time are behaviors that doctors look for when

diagnosing children with Attention Decit Hyperactivity

Disorder (ADHD). However, difculties with a mis-

diagnosis may result because some of these behaviors

typify children who do not get enough exercise or sleep,

or do not know how to release their energy when their

body is over-stimulated.

My son was diagnosed with ADHD and

began taking medication before the doctors realized that

that was the wrong diagnosis, said parent Kim Smith.

He really has sensory integration disorder, a malady

where he doesnt know how to release all of his energy

when he is around a large group of people.

According to recent medical studies, about2.5 million children between the ages of 4 and 17 have

been prescribed anti-psychotic drugs to handle behavior

disorders. These powerful medications may leave stu-

dents feeling drugged at the very least and turn them

into walking zombies in the most extreme cases.

Medications may calm the students. But

such treatments could leave them deprived of emotions

while risking severe side effects. After taking their

medication, many of my students have a lack of appetite

or nausea, said Sarah Green, a special education teacher

in the area who works with students who have Attention

Decit Disorder. They also zone-out a lot of the time,

and I feel like Im not really getting through.

Before being prescribed such medications as

Adderall, Ritalin, and Strattera, some students have a

hard time sitting still and focusing. My students have ahard time taking tests, Green said. They wiggle around

in their seats, and tend to either play with their pencils

constantly, or twiddle their thumbs.

Depending on the dosage of their prescrip-

tions, students exhibit much different behavior when

they are put on a medicine regime. If one student has

too low of a dosage, they continue to be hyper. However,

if the same student's dosage is too high, many times he

or she wont eat or sleep. Thus, the most difcult part

of prescribing ADHD medicine involves nding the

correct dosage for the patient.

A lot of the time, students arent pre-

scribed the right amount of medication on the rst try,

Springeld High School nurse Christine Simmons said.

Doctors are still dealing with regulating the dosage,

and depending on how much medication they take, thechildren have different side effects.

According to the National Educational As-

sociation Representative Assembly, ADHD medications

are over-prescribed. This assembly disagrees with the

proposition that students are impossible to teach if they

do not take their medication.

I believe that at certain times, it is the right

choice to diagnose students with ADHD, Simmons

said. However, I strongly believe in trying other things

before prescribing medication.

Fidgeting, Fiddling, and WigglingSchools Deal with Attention Defcit Disorder

By Ashley Richardson

Last year, Springeld High School introduced

Virtual High School in its program of studies.

Virtual High School (VHS) is an online high

school with a wide range of classes offered, includ-

ing challenging, technical, and specialized classes to

students worldwide.

It is an opportunity for students to take

classes that interest them, guidance counselor andVirtual High School Site Coordinator Moria Farnsworth

said.

According to the Virtual High School web-

site, VHS is a non-prot, global organization that serves

over 190,000 students. There are over 319 full-year and

semester-long courses, as well as summer school courses

for enrichment or credit recovery. Both Advanced Place-

ment and Pre- Advanced Placement classes are offered,

as well as gifted and talented classes for middle school

Virtual High School ProvidesAlternative Learning

By Emily Reeves

Dan Kendall and Tyler Albee enrolledin Virtual High School classes which

were not offered as part of theSpringeld High School curriculum.

SHS Nurse Christine Simmons believes that other things should be tried beforeprescribing ADHD medication. She worries about errors made in diagnosis.

See Virtual page 21SeeADHD page 18


10/24

pg nroeG Hner10

Inauguration Views

Speaks OutWhat Should Obama Do?

Keith Cook, senior:

I want to see him improve the economy. Not all the

promises will be taken care of, but the majority of them

should be. I just want him to do his best throughout his

time in ofce.

Cynthia Knight, math teacher:

I would like him to give every single person over

$100,000.

Emily Saypack, sophomore:

End the war. And create world peace.

Ben Sidler, sophomore:

Turn the economy around, pull our troops out gradually.

People won't like it when he raises taxes but that's the

sacrice we have to make.

Jess Watkins, junior:

I want to see him x the economy, create more jobs, do

something for education, and the health care crisis.

Tyler Albee, senior:

Fix our economy and create more job opportunities.

By Alexis Esposito & Lauren Sanderson

On January 20th, the American people celebrated

change in America, a type of change that cutacross every racial line. Millions gathered in

Washington and at home to watch the rst African-

American president sworn in as the 44th president of

the United States. History was made. It is a day that I

will never forget.

Before the inauguration, I spent some time

visiting my family in Newark, New Jersey. In New

Jersey, the atmosphere was completely different than

the feeling in Springeld, Vermont. Not only were

people in Newark excited to have a new president, but

also they were souped (happy) that he was an African-

American. I spent time in a local barbershop where

my father worked. People voiced their deep concerns

about problems they face each day living in the inner

city. These problems include poverty, poor education,

and a high crime rate. Most people described how they

What Obama MeansBy Jalessah Jackson

felt that Barack Obama would not be oblivious to the

plight of the inner cities.In Springeld, people were also excited

about Barack Obama's inauguration. They were ready

for change. But the problems people face in Newark

were more obvious. As soon as one crosses the George

Washington Bridge and gets off on exit 15W going into

New Jersey, one sees the poverty. Crack addicts try to

sell their babys diapers and food for money. Homeless

people approach cars idling at a fast food drive-through

to beg for money.

These experiences make it hard for me to

see how people live in the inner cities. Their inner city

communities seem more like Third World countries.

This is why change is so badly needed, and why people

in the inner cities were overwhelmed and excited about

Barack Obama.

Obama's election represents a victory for

many Americans. But for African-Americans, it is a dif

ferent sort of victory. It isnt just the fact that American

nally have an African-American president. It mean

that having an African-American president suggest

that America is accepting African-Americans. We, a

a nation, are taking a huge step forward.

As I considered Obama's inauguration,

thought, This is the day" and Now is our time.

See Obama page 18


11/24

nroeG Hner pg 11

Inauguration Views

Speaks OutWhat Should Obama Do?

By Alexis Esposito & Lauren Sanderson

Dan Kendall, senior:

Fix the economy. That's the main thing.

Richard Colburn, mental health clinician:

I would like him to restore the rule of law.Sean Whalen, substitute teacher:

If he encourages people to do public service, that'

good.

Ed Wilkins, English teacher:

The most important thing for him is to be open and

honest with the American people. Let us know what

the issues are.

Ryan Gottschalk, sophomore:

I want to see Obama take troops out of Iraq. Fix the

economy. Do what Bush didn't.

Chelsea Howland, sophomore:

I want our country to come together. We need to realize

that one person can't change the world: we have to do

it as the people.

F

ollowing his election to the presidency, Barack

Obama organized his team to confront problems

in America. I have described the ve most seri-

ous problems Obama faces. They must be dealt with

immediately.

Iraq:

Iraq has been pushed to the side as Ameri-

cans struggled with the economy. But Iraq is still a big

problem for President-Elect Obama. The Congressional

Budget Ofce estimates that the Iraq War costs $9 billion

per month. Obama believes this huge amount of money

would be put to much better use at home. Obama plans

to bring the Iraq War to a close through a withdrawal

plan that will end in 2010. The Iraq War helped put

Obama over the top in the Democratic primaries when

he was able to compare his opposition to the war to

Hillary Clinton, who had initially supported the war.

Obama pointedly said: "We're not going to babysit a civil

war." His opposition to the war from the beginning gave

Now the Work Begins

democratic voters condence that he would have the

judgment needed to be President of the United States.

With the crisis in the economy, the Iraq Warwill continue to be on the sidelines. However, I think.

Americans need to pay attention to this money drain and

the fact that the majority of the Iraqi lawmakers want

coalition forces out of their country. Withdrawal from

Iraq should be rst and foremost on Obama's agenda.

We can x our economic problems, but only if we rst

staunch the bleeding that is caused by the cost of the

war in Iraq.

Afghanistan:

During the campaign, Obama described the

importance of the war in Afghanistan. Obama plans to

redeploy troops from Iraq to Afghanistan. As he said:

"It's time to heed the call from General McKiernan and

others for more troops. That's why I'd send at least two

or three additional combat brigades to Afghanistan."

Afghanistan has been left out of the picture for the most

By Sam Hensel-Hunter

See Challenges page 19

part. The war in Iraq has consumed resources that ar

needed in Afghanistan. As a result, the attempts to track

down Osama bin Laden have been unsuccessful. Obam

has been a supporter of the war in Afghanistan from the

outset and continues to support the war. Obama plans

to increase non-military aid to Afghanistan by $1 bil

lion, which would be used to assist ordinary citizens in

Afghanistan and nd alternate work for poppy farmers

in that country. Obama will also crack down on Pakistan


12/24

pg nroeG Hner1

Columns

What You Should KnowRhapsody in Blue

By Jeff Moore

In January 2002, outside a Juneau, Alaska, high

school Joseph Frederick, then 18, unveiled a 14-foot

banner that read Bong HiTS 4 Jesus while the

winter Olympic torch passed by. Fredericks principal,

Deborah Morse, ran across the street and ripped down

Fredericks banner. Frederick was then suspended for

ten days. Morses reasoning was that the banner dis-

rupted the educational mission of the school.

This case made its way to the Supreme Court.

By a 5-4 margin, the Court decided that the bannerpromoted illegal drug use and contradicted the schools

educational mission. This ruling has emboldened school

ofcials to further restrict student free speech across

America. When assessing these types of free speech

cases, the legal ideal described as the "educational mis-

sion of the school" is too broad. It can be interpreted so

that any speech, behavior, or gesture could be conceiv-

ably be labeled as disruptive to the educational mission.

However, some speech is undeniably protected in United

States public schools.

For example, you can wear an article of

clothing that is in direct protest of governmental ac-

tion, such as a black armband protesting the Vietnam

War. Possibly the most famous student free speech case

involved just this situation. Mary-Beth Tinker, John

Tinker, and Christopher Eckhardt wore black armbands

protesting the Vietnam War in 1965. Because of their

courage, the Supreme Court eventually ruled that public

school students have the right to wear armbands as a

silent protest. There is a catch, though. If you decide

to wear an article of clothing that represents political

speech, it cannot disrupt the school day. If your arm-band sparks loud debates in the middle of class, school

ofcials have a right to tell you to take it off.

For younger students reading this, you do not

have to say the Pledge of Allegiance when the rest of

your class does. Patriotism aside, if you prefer not to say

this pledge, you are allowed this exercise of free speech.

You cannot be suspended for such action, though you

may be lectured and called a terrorist by various cliques

in the school. This right was established decades ago

in the courts of the United States.

Finally, despite the restrictions of the last

two Supreme Court rulings on student free speech

(Bong Hits for Jesus and Hazelwood) remember tha

you are generally able to exercise free speech if you do

not disrupt the normal school day, avoid obscenity in

your speech, and avoid libel. These continue to be the

hallmarks of student speech in American public school

no matter how conservative the Supreme Court becomes

or how much change sweeps America.

Ive discovered a new passion: dressing up as a cat

every day and working alongside a man in a purple

wig and stuffed bra.In a few short weeks following Christmas,

I acted and danced in the Opera Theatre of Westons

production ofHansel and Gretel, and it was certainly

one of the greatest experiences of my life. (I played the

role of Safronia, the witchs cat.) Every day was lled

with hairspray and stage make-up, bright lights and

hushed audiences, dressing rooms and pointe shoes,

adrenaline and energy.

I knew I would enjoy myself. I knew Id

be challenged. I knew Id learn a lot. I didnt know,

Finding SerendipityHansel and Gretel, Dont Eat

the Berries!... But Do What YouLove.By Eliza Pennell

however, just how much fun I would have.

I love dancing and acting. I love perform-

ing; its something Im planning on pursuing after high

school. And while I havent had many bona de doubts

of this, its immensely reassuring to do what I love for

hours on end, day after day, and realize, Hey, this is

even better than I expected!

Everyone loves to do something. But it seems

that most of us love to do a lot of somethings. Writing,

dancing, taking pictures, running, drawing, solvingmath problems, playing baseball, cooking, working

with animals...anything. I once toyed with the idea of

becoming a vegan chef someday. So how do people ever

choose one something to chase after? How do people

gure out what they want to do with their lives? How

do they determine what to study in college? How do

they ever decide what to focus on?

After the last few weeks, Id say people

probably decide such things by experimenting and try-

ing things outtrying things like performing inHansel

and Gretel. If Id hated spending so much time in my

constrictive pointe shoes under bright lights, xating

on that arabesque turn, tiptoeing around backstage

scrubbing eyeliner whiskers off my face, praying no

one in the audience noticed my mistakes, performing

the show over and over and over again, day after day

after day.... Well, then Id probably want to rethink my

hopes, dreams and plans for the future. But I loved every

throbbing toe, every hot, bright light, every arabesque

turn, every mistake and quick rush of adrenaline. AndI loved performing the show every day. It was better

every day. It was more exciting every day. It was neve

monotonous. It was never boring. And it was never the

same show. Each performance was unique. (On a side

note, this is why, in my opinion, theatre trumps lm any

day. Your favorite movie will be the same. Forever and

always. The actors cant add, change or improve gestures

or facial expressions with each viewing.) As a bonus, the

See Serendipity page 23


13/24

nroeG Hner pg 1

At the Cinema

Required RecordsLed Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin, 1969By Tom Benton

Heres the thing about heavy metal: paradoxically,

the good stuff sounds pretty nice, but even the

best stuff isnt worth a lot. Notable exception:

Whos Nextby the Who. Even the Who have slipped into

the steely trap of worthless metal on a few occasions,

though. The best heavy metal came from its pioneers:

Led Zeppelin. Led Zep didnt use sweet chord changes

just to have sweet chord changes. They did have long

hair, and they did bang their heads a lot, and yes, they

did have sweet chord changes, but they derived much

of their sweetness from classic blues men like Robert

Johnson. Talk about bittersweet.

Led Zeppelin formed in 1968, featuring

Jimmy Page on guitar, Robert Plant singing vocals,

John Paul Jones playing bass and keyboards, and John

Bonham on drums. At that time, the music scenees-

pecially the English music scenewas obsessed with

supergroups built from already-famous musicians.

In fact, Jimmy Page wanted to create a supergroup

with Page and Jeff Beck on guitars and the Whos

Keith Moon and John Entwistle on drums and bass

respectively. Those plans were dropped like six tons

of metal. Instead, Led Zeppelin was born, and quickly

signed to Atlantic Records on the recommendation of

popular singer Dusty Springeld. Atlantic was known

for releasing blues, jazz, and soul. Led Zeppelin was

hard rock.

But their contract with Alantic wasnt as

unusual as it seemed. Even the most cretinous person

could hear the heavy blues inuences on their self-titled

debut, released in 69. In fact, two of the songs, You

Shook Me on side one and I Cant Quit You Baby

on the second side, are blues standards composed

by legendary bluesman/producer Willie Dixon. And

while Pages guitar jabs and crunches rock-style on the

opener, Good Times Bad Times, the descending roll

of Jones bass on Dazed and Confusedleading into

hell-bound screams of agony via guitaris unmistak-

ably blues. The atmosphere of the album, right down to

the enamed Hindenburg on the cover, is humid, dank,

rough, sharpsort of hellish. But its hellish in the

same way that 1930s southern blues was hellish, and,

cry sacrilege, thats a rockers kind of hell.

It takes about 24 seconds of the rst track

to sense that there was something beatic about PagePlant & co. inLed Zeppelin. Critics in 1969 were les

enthusiastic about the quality of this music. In fact

they were downright critical. Rolling Stone probably

spoke for most when it printed this dismissive state

ment about the album: "The latest of the British blues

groups so conceived offers little that its twin, the Jef

Beck Group, didnt say as well or better three months

ago." In the late 60s, supergroups dominated popula

music, meaning that Led Zeppelin might as well have

been swimming upriver against a raging current wit

See Records page 20

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a lm

that makes you think. It makes you think just

how wonderful Cate Blanchett is. It makes youthink that David Finchers lighting is unparalleled in

modern lm. It makes you think about how strange it

would be to age backwards, and how strange a thing

time truly is.

Above all else, though, it makes you think:

whats missing?

Because despite a fascinating plotline that

should (and does) warrant deep thought, despite a

The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonCuriously Strong-ish

By Tom Benton

knockout cast, despite the stunning work of its direc-

tor, despite the fact that it may have you near tears at

its endtheres something missing from The Curious

Case of Benjamin Button. Just as the lmand its titular

Mr. Buttonbegins at the end, well begin at the end of

our careful cinemagoers checklist and go back to the

beginning. Maybe we can discern just whats curious

about the case ofBenjamin Button.

The last thing one notices in the lm is that

it runs a little long at 166 minutes. There isnt a wasted

moment, though, which means that Benjamin Button

might, in some ways, improve with a second viewing.

Conclusion: length is not the problem.

Shortly before the end of the lm, one might

wonder just how faithful the movie is to the F. Scott

Fitzgerald short story. Not very. But its an adapta-

tion, after all, and adaptations are more than welcome

to take the central concept of the source material and

re-interpret it and/or expand upon it. Eric Roth and

Robin Swicord composed a grand, gothic, strange and

endlessly intriguing screenplay. That mustnt be the

problem.

Its not the special effects. Brad Pitts ag-

ing is completely convincing. In fact, those effects are

amazing. Just as amazing is Cate Blanchetts lineaaging. When her character is 19, Blanchett actually

looks 19. When her character is in her 80s, Blanchet

looks 80. The makeup effects deserve the Oscarso

that cant be the problem.

It certainly isnt the director. Fincher sho

the lm as though it were a classicsometimes a classic

of romantic drama, likeAll About Eve, and sometime

a classic of the mysterious and the bizarre, likeDouble

Indemnity. His lighting is the highlight of the lm

His use of shadows is astonishing. He understand

the material, and, like most of the audience will be

hes enchanted by it. Hes able to communicate tha

understanding and enchantment to the actors and draw

out some amazing performances, on top of breathtaking

photography. Fincher isnt the problem.

What does that leave? The cast? Well, Il

tell you, friend: it aint the cast. Pitt is convincing a

every age. And Blanchett is compelling from start to

nish, a knockout at exuberant 19, a knockout at disil

lusioned 25, a knockout at bitter 45, a knockout even

at 80. Tilda Swinton even shows up for her obligatory

See Cinema page 19


14/24

pg nroeG Hner1

Luscious Literature

The future. It is what we spend our time trying to

gure out. Ask any child, "What do you want

to be when you grow up?" and their eyes will

shine with the brilliance of a thousand suns. Many pass

it off as a standard query, not realizing that they have

given that child an immense gift. They have placed in

that childs hands the notion that we have the power to

create our futures.

We can become who we were meant to be

and do whatever we wish to do. Our lives are what we

make them. We are merely a culmination of the episodes

we have found ourselves in, and our future is determinedby how we dream the days and years ahead of us. We

enter whichever profession we wish to, live wherever

our hearts desire us to live. We love whom we choose to

love and even decide the reasons why we love them.

Nobody ever asked Jane how she dreamed

her future. Perhaps that is why she is so lost throughout

Melissa Banks The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fish-

ing. The vast majority of young people have some idea

of who they want to be. Whether these aspirations--a bal-

lerina, a reghter, a doctor, an astronaut--are childish or

not is beside the point. Jane doesnt have a clue maybe

The Girls Guide to Hunting and FishingLife and Love in an Imperfect

WorldBy Ember Rushford-Emerywriting, maybe editing, maybe, maybe, maybe. Her life

is a compilation of maybes.

Janes wishy-washy personality extends

beyond her professional life. It overcomes her, really.

Every decision is shrouded with a question, every man

she loves with hesitation. And with Janes questioning

comes fear. At rst, it is fear to love. But then it turns

into fear to stop loving. Further, Jane starts to lose hope

that there is a man out there, somewhere, someone she

can, indeed, fearlessly love.

Jane goes about her life wondering if she is

living it the correct way. She does not understand thatthere is no set way to live life. You cannot read a book

on how to live and love. Though many such self-help

books are written, and even Jane tries loving by the

guidelines one sets, do they honestly work? Or do we

have to bravely face the world, humbly admitting that

although we want our lives to be utopian, we live in an

imperfect world?

It is disconcerting to watch Jane as she gets

lost in her own existence. She should know where she

is going, embarking upon her future carrying a well-

planned road map, shouldnt she? In the end, Jane

does not seem odd. Isnt her question,--"What am

here for?"--what each of us asks ourselves? Our lives

are devoted to trying to nd who we are and where we

t in this world. We look for love and acceptance. We

See Literature page 23

At 1:17 p.m. on May 10, 1996, Jon Krakauer

reached the summit of Mt. Everest. He was

climbing as a paying client under Rob Halls

guide service, Adventure Consultants. He and thirteen

other climbers, six clients and seven Sherpas, began

the attack of the summit early that morning in hopes ofgetting back to Camp Four before dark. Their planned

turn-around time was set for 2:00 pm., 2:30 at the

latest if the summit was just a few feet away. Reeling

from the effects of altitude at 29,038 feet, Krakauer

spent little time at the summit, pausing only to snap a

few photographs of people below. As he turned to the

descent, he noticed clouds moving in the distance, but

with little oxygen left in his tank and struggling to get

past a group of people who had created a bottle-neck at

the foot of Hillary Step, he paid little attention to this

rst sign of danger.

By the mid-90s, climbing Mt. Everest had

Book Review

Into Thin AirThe Perils of High-AltitudeClimbing

By Anthony Dana

become a sort of tourist attraction. After Rob Hall had

successfully guided four expeditions to the summit, he

claimed he could take any person in reasonably good

shape to the summit of Everest. The events that occurred

in May of 1996--documented in Krakauer's bookInto

Thin Air--proved that climbing Everest comes withenormous risks that could claim the lives of even the

best climbers within minutes.

Everest requires less technical skills to climb

than other smaller mountains such as Mt. McKinley

in North America or Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. Tha

being said, the mere fact that to reach the summit o

Everest you must spend a minimum of six days above

20,000 feet makes the technical aspect of this ascent a

huge challenge. Because climbing Everest has become

a money-making endeavor for not only guides but also

See Review page 19


15/24

nroeG Hner pg 1

Sports Opinion

Have you ever been walking through the woods

and happened to look down to nd a deer antler?

You just cant help but have your eyes xed to

the ground the rest of the day.

Male deer lose their antlers in January and

February, sometimes earlier or later depending on the

weather. The more stress on a deer, the faster the deer

will lose its antlers. In winter, deer usually yard up, a

process by which larger groups of deer gather together

in thick cover or in large pines to shelter themselves

from the snow.

Searching for deer antlers is commonly

known as shed hunting. Shed hunting is addictive for

hunters studying the woods to nd that glint of ivory on

the ground. However, successful shed hunting involves

locating deer yards.

To nd deer yards, one must locate an obvi-

The Buck Stops Here

By Deven Blais

ous deer trail in the snow and follow the trail into the

woods.

You will know when you are in a deer yard.

It will be like a bomb went off in the woods. Deer tracks

will be everywhere and you will see lots of deer beds.

A hunter must look over the entire deer yard and leave

no leaf unturned. Many deer die in winter but when you

nd blood in a deer yard it may be blood from a deer that

has just lost its antlers. Hunters who follow the blood

and kick around in the snow and in the deer beds, may

be rewarded with a fresh antler. However, if you dont

nd a shed in an area, you should not give up. You can

return in the spring and nd sheds that may have been

covered with snow.

Sheds are challenging to nd. Most of the

time you are only blessed to see a tip of an antler sticking

up, the curve of a main beam, or an odd white shape in

the leaves. However, once you nd a shed that is fresh

or new, your challenge has just began. Each shed antler

has two sides. Many times, that match is never far away.

In fact, the matching side to your deer shed can often be

found ten yards from your original nd. When you nd

a shed, you must zigzag around that area in additiona

searching, because we all know that two is always bette

than one.

Telling a freshly-fallen antler from an olde

one is easy. Newer sheds within a year or two display

a shiny ring around the base where the antler met the

deers pedicel. Over time, that ring will wear away. Dee

antlers are full of calcium so many small animals, like

squirrels and porcupines, chew on them. Therefore

many older sheds will have missing points and are

carved out, bleached out, and cracked. Get those shed

before those pesky squirrels get them, or before someone else nds them.

Shed hunting is actually scouting. Scouting

while shed hunting allows a hunter to get a close-up look

at that buck that got away. With successful shed hunting

you are rewarded with antlers and a peek at the herd o

deer you may hunt in the following season.

Sports OpinionBoys and Girls

By Courtney Downing

When I rst thought about who gets hurt more

in sports, boys or girls, I had no expectations

about answers. In response to this question,

Springeld High School Athletic Trainer Matt Howland

said, To ask 'Who gets hurt more often?' is unfair.

You have to question the dynamics of the sport you

are referring to.

Concerning football, generally considered

the most physically demanding sport, Howland said he

sees crushing injuries, such as fractures and sometimes

breaks. A lot of contusions and a few sprains here and

there. These injuries are common due to the clipping,

tackling, and sudden changes in direction involved with

football.

Soccer is another sport that involves sud-

den jabs and changes in direction. During the autumn,

Howland observes muscle strains, hip exor injuries,

and hamstring injuries. In soccer, there is a lot of Z-Cut-

ting and constant leg use. If an athlete overworks his or

her hip exor, they risk the possibility of straining hip

muscles. Sometimes Howland will see a case of shin

splints from running with cleats. Shin splints are also

very common in cross-country.

The cross-country season mainly involves

running, with some core strengthening by athletes. The

constant running, switching from even ground to an

uphill slant, from pavement to grass, involves a lot of

work for arches, ankles, shins, calves, knees, hamstrings,

and quads. For this reason, runners have to make sure

they have proper shoes with arch inserts. Arch inserts

arent only for cross-country runners. Basketball players

use them, too.

When basketball players run up and down

the basketball court a few times without the proper

footwear, their arches begin to hurt. Along with arch

pain, other injuries bring athletes to the trainers room.

Howland said, With both boys and girls, [it is] mainly

ankle sprains." During basketball, girls are more likely to

acquire knee injuries, such as ACL, MCL, and Meniscus

tears. Sophomore Desmond Dana has a stretched ACL

and a pulled hamstring. She sustained her injury during

her freshman year of varsity soccer. I went knee to

knee with the opposing goalie, Dana said. My knee

cap moved backwards and thats how I hurt my knee. It

denitely slows me way down with my brace and having

to stretch all the time.

Dana is one of a few female athletes with

knee injures. Howland says this is due to the fact tha

some females have an increased Q-Angle. The Q-Angle

is the way one's hips sit over the knees. This Q-Angle

can cause girls to be more susceptible to knee injuries

Howland, however, says there is one thing to keep in

mind in this anxiety about injuries. Dont worry abou

SeeHurtpage 21

Injuries Cross Gender Line

How to Get Those Sheds

Athletic Trainer Matt Howland feelsthat injuries are not gender-related.

They have more to do with thedynamics of a particular sport.


16/24

pg nroeG Hner1

Sports

The Springeld High School bowling club plans to

continue throwing strikes for the fourth ofcial

year this winter. About 25 students from SHS

participate in this club. The group bowls once a week

for about two hours. We really want to win the trophy

back, River Valley Technical Center resource teacher

and club organizer Casey Spindler said. But the number

one plan is to have fun this winter.

Having fun is what its all about when it

comes to throwing strikes, turkeys, and sometimes even

gutter balls. Ive been bowling for about three years,

SHS junior Paige Parker said. I bowl year-round be-

cause I really enjoy it. Its just fun, and anyone can do

it.

Four bowling competitions have been

scheduled against Brattleboro this year, and the winnerof the competitions has the right to keep the trophy that

has been used in this competition. Two of the competi-

tions are at the Springeld Bowling Alley and two in

Brattleboro.

The bowling club wouldnt be possible

without Burl and Audrey Penton, the owners of the

Springeld and Brattleboro lanes, Spindler added.

In the past, the bowling club has only had

one competition. Last year, Brattleboro didnt have a

team. Therefore, they still have the trophy, Spindler

said. But we plan to get it back this year.

The competitions work by having bowlers

By Ashley Richardson

Strikes and TurkeysBowling is Fun

go to the alleys and bowl three strings against the other

team, Spindler explained. These give us our scratch

and handicap scores, and determine the winning team

for that day.

To prepare for these competitions, the club

meets at Springeld Bowling Alley in the plaza every

Thursday. We have a little warm-up time to begin the

practice, Spindler said. Then we bowl three strings to

earn a handicap and average score. After that, I guess

you could call it practice time.

Some students enjoy the sport so much

they participate with the area Springeld bowling team

Once or twice a year I go to competitions, Parker said

At the competitions we go to the alley and register, then

we team up with people from other teams and bowl a

few sets.My little brother is the reason I started

bowling, Parker said. He started to bowl and said h

really enjoyed it, so I started to go. Now, my friends

come with me.

Nationally, bowling has grown from an after

school activity, to something to look forward to every

weekend, to a varsity sport. Many people dont know

this, SHS Civics teacher Dave Slivka said, but bowl

ing is the fastest growing varsity sport in America.

Kids just like to bowl, Spindler concluded

Its a low-stress environment, and its tons of fun for

both kids and adults.

CosmosLose 66-60to HartfordHurricanes

T

he Springeld High School boys basketball team

lost to the Hartford Hurricanes 66-60 on January

9th, at Dressel Gymnasium. After falling behindby 23 points in the rst half, and trailing by 19 at the

intermission, the Cosmos, behind their tough full-court

pressure defense and reversal offense, cut the lead to

two points with one minute remaining. The Hurricanes

hit their free throws down the stretch and held on for

the six-point win.

After a 7-1 start, the Cosmos dropped three straight,

their last a 10-point loss to Mill River on January 13th.

However, after a late-January loss to Mill River, by one

point, the Cosmos stood at 9-5.

RVTC resource teacher Casey Spindlerhopes the bowling club will win the

trophy this year. Bowling clubmember and SHS junior Paige Parker

has been bowling for three years.


17/24

nroeG Hner pg 1

Sports

According to Cosmos athletes, its time to of-

fer more winter sports at SHS. The estimated

numbers for winter sports is somewhere around

65. Sophomore Amanda Farnsworth said, We [the

athletes] need more options during the winter. Things

such as ice hockey, skiing, or wrestling. Farnsworth

plays soccer, basketball and softball. She thinks if there

was a greater variety of winter sports students would

be more productive during the winter and less likely to

get into trouble.

However, other reasons exist for student

athletes to spend the winter season away from sports.

Some students, including sophomore Jenny Allison, nd

it hard to choose between a sport and earning money.

Allison said, I really need to make money. However,

I know its important to stay active, so I am working

right now and playing softball in the spring.

In late December, freshman Kyle Verge

wasn't competing in a winter sport yet. Verge is planned

to play indoor soccer, but he waited for the seasonto begin. Verge says he thinks that the reason there

arent many students playing a winter sport is because

students have too much homework. If there was less

homework, more students would be playing a sport.

There were seven fall sports teams this year,

including both varsity and junior varsity squads. Dur-

ing the winter season, only four teams exist, including

junior varsity. Two of those teams have fewer than ten

participants. Previously, SHS sponsored both downhill

and cross-country ski teams. Two years ago there were

Jenny Allison chose work and moneyover sports this winter, but realizes

the need to stay active.

Students Seek More WinterSports Options By Courtney Downing

See Winter Sports page 22

Have you ever dreamed of being that star quarter

back, that super fast striker, or the rst person to

cross the nish line in that state championship

track meet? To achieve these goals takes motivation

dedication, and discipline. Yet, with winter upon them

most students have a hard time staying in shape in thei

off-season. Everyone knows that winter is the season

when people tend to become lazy. But one particula

option exists for year-round training and tness.

Winter track helps you get ready for the

spring season," said Cosmos athlete Maria Stern

"Youre competing, so youre constantly getting fasterbetter, and stronger."

Winter track is an indoor sport offered a

Springeld High School. We practice in the high

school gym, go to a few meets, and prepare for the

outdoor season, said Stern. This team is not limited

only to students who plan to participate as part of the

track team in the spring. Any student looking to get in

top physical conditiion, or stay in shape, can join.

Stern explained, A typical practice include

abdominal workouts, weight training, plyometrics

Get ReadyFor Spring.

Winter Track

May Help.By Jalessah Jackson

See Winter Track page 21

Kayla Perham, Desmond Dana, andTaylor Thomas team up against

Woodstock on January 6th. Thegirls basketball team fell to Woodstock

35-33. In the rst quarter of the game,Wookstock ran at will against the Cos-mos. After the rst quarter, the Cosmosgirls rallied to make the contest close.The girls team has struggled throughouttheir season, taking home only one vic-tory early in the season against MountSaint Joseph. Still, the girls basketballteam works hard on defense to achievetheir goal of holding their opponentsto 30 points per game. The girls lostto Windsor 68-22 on January 20th in aMarble Valley League contest.


18/24

pg nroeG Hner1

SportsChildren are diagnosed with ADHD based on

their behavior, and although it is recommended, teachers

and parents rarely have a say in the diagnosis. When

parents talk to me about their children being diagnosed

with this disorder, Im not able to respond, Green said

I cannot be opinionated about the diagnosis because

I am their teacher. But many times I agree with th

parents and believe that this common disorder is overdiagnosed.

According to recent studies, attention dis

orders, such as ADHD, ADD (Attention Decit Disor

der), and bipolar disorder, are diagnosed in children as

young as two years of age. ADHD is over-diagnosed

especially in young boys, Smith said. I think the

mis-diagnosis occurs because they [boys] are a lot mor

hyper than young girls.

Studies show that students and children who

take psycho-stimulants and anti-depressants, on top o

the severe side effects they may suffer with, could be vic

timized by increased thoughts of suicide. I dont know

if its worth it to take these medications, Simmons said

In some cases, yes. In others, it just interferes with the

quality of life for that person.

While there are many side effects and different types of biochemicals correcting the brain, stimulan

medication can improve life for individuals. Studies

show that psycho-stimulants may improve athletic

ability and handwriting, and if taken while a patient is

seeing a behavioral therapist, such medicine has been

found to offset ADHD.

According to an article inEducation World

magazine, about 85% of the worlds production o

methylphenidate (Ritalin) is consumed in the U.S. Othe

countries seem to maintain a strategy of intervening

with social support before diagnosing their children

with ADHD.

Society is choosing 'quick x' remedies to

treat ADHD, Simmons said. If they took a little more

time and gured out an alternative to taking these power

ful and sometimes-dangerous medications, there wouldbe a lot less children being diagnosed [incorrectly].

An alternative treatment for ADHD may in

volve increased exercise and easier transitions between

activities. If students got more exercise and took the

time to have a long, intensive stretch before committing

to a task at hand, the hyperactivity and dgeting would

slow down, Green said. If during every class, or even

between classes, students took the time to 'shake it out

and relax, they wouldnt have to be another one of the

millions of children on severe prescription drugs.

ADHD from page 9

After last year's defeat in the state champion-

ship competition, the Springeld High School

dance team is working twice as hard to win

back its title.

Kyla Beardsley has been coaching the team

for ve years. Last year's defeat was hard because I

felt a lot of it had to do with politics, said Beardsley.

Of course we are probably going to be faced with that

again this year.

The dance team added ve new members

this season, including two boys. First we run laps,

stretch, and then we start reviewing and learning new

moves, said senior Josh Bruce, one of the two boys on

the team. Its hard to keep up. Most of the girls have

been trained in dance and I havent.

Senior captain Ashley Fountain has been

dancing since she was three years old and has been a

dance team member since her freshman year. I think we

really have a strong team this year, Fountain said. The

boys have made a huge adjustment [to the team].

Most of the team members take additional

dance classes at The Dance Factory which has com-

plicated the dance team schedule. On Tuesday, dance

practice runs from 6:00-8:00 pm, but a few members

leave to take jazz at 7:10. Junior Eliza Pennell, a 3rd-

year member of the dance team, takes tap and jazz.

I miss one hour a week, Pennell said. At

one point I thought I would have to choose between

modern [dance] and dance team.

Pennell never had to make that choice. Mod-

ern dance teacher Ashley Hensel-Browning moved the

class to Friday from 4:00-5:00 pm, instead of 6:00-7:00

pm in order to accomodate dance team members. All

The SHS Dance Team performed for the rst time at a boys basketball game

on January 9th. The team has three competitions scheduled this year.

Talent, Youth, DriveDance Team Wants Title

By Alexis Esposito

dance team members take a hip-hop class at The Dance

Factory on Friday before dance team practice.

For the 2009 dance season, the team rst per-

formed at a boys home game on January 9th. The team

will participate in three competitions, including States,

which will be held at Rice High School in Burlington

on Valentine's Day.

I have high high hopes [for a successful

season], Beardsley said about this year's team. [It is

a] new and young team, but the talent is there and so is

the drive. The Dance Team competed at Colchester on

January 17th. Team members were dissatised with this

competition, since one of the judges was also a coach

for the Middlebury team.

was nervous and excited as I sat in American Studies on

January 20th and waited for the swearing-in ceremony

to begin. I had great hope for America because Barack

Obama inspires people to be a part of this nation. Barack

Obama presented African-Americans with a sense of

security that they had not felt with any other president.

In fact, besides a sense that we were taking a huge step

forward with this election, I can say that I, for the rst

time in my life, felt like an American.

Its hard to imagine that there was a time

when whites owned African-Americans. Or that there

was a time when African-Americans couldnt eat at the

same restaurants as whites because of the Jim Crow laws

restricting their freedom. Its hard to imagine that, to

this day, great racism and discrimination exists in our

country. Despite these negative thoughts, I was consoled

by the election of Barack Obama, the rst United State

African-American president. Its simply amazing. Thi

shows that when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his

Have a Dream speech he expressed an appropriately

optimistic outlook about the future. His optimism wa

celebrated in Obama's victory.

On January 20th, many people saw wha

most thought would never happen: tthe inauguration

of an African-American president. This inauguration

makes me want to give 100% to anything and everything

I do in life.

Barack Obama never gave up. That is the

key to life. Who knows, maybe Ill be the rst woman

president of the United States? The sky is the limit.

Obama from page 10


19/24

nroeG Hner pg 1

Tibet, Nepal and China, the true difculty of dealing

with the effects of altitude on the human body is usually

overlooked when dealing with clients. Several member

of Halls team were amateur climbers who had little

experience climbing as a group and no experience with

high altitude climbing. Krakauer himself even admit

that he was probably in over his head at that time. Dur

ing their acclimation time at base camp (17,600 feet) the

group took short day climbs to Camp Two and back. On

their rst shortie, two of the members had to be taugh

how to use crampons and ice axes, a skill which only abeginning climber would need to learn. Unfortunately

thanks to the tremendous luck in weather that Hal

had experienced in the past, and his strong record as a

climber, Hall overlooked his clients' inability to perform

higher on the mountain.

Although these amateur climbers might be

physically able to climb such a challenging mountain

as Everest, they did not possess the ability to act in

emergency situations. As Krakauer started his descen

back to Camp Four, the rest of his group was lagging

behind and nearing the turn-around time of 2:00 pm

For some reason, Hall never followed through with

his set turn-around time of 2:00. Instead, most of hi

group never reached the summit until around 3:00 and

Hall, along with one of his clients, never reached the

summit until after 4:00 and didnt start to descend untialmost 4:30. By this time, Krakauer was making hi

way into Camp Four and the storm that he noticed a

the summit had completely engulfed the top of Moun

Everest. Snow and wind caused visibility to be reduced

to only a few feet. Temperatures dropped to minus 100

degrees. Almost all of the climbers were stuck further

up on the mountain. With visibility low, movemen

became dangerous. In such conditions, a person coul

get lost and walk into a crevasse or off a cliff.. Because

of the inexperience of the climbers, the guides were no

able to leave them to seek other help. Everyone was so

mentally and physically exhausted that all they could do

was huddle together and wait for a break in the storm.

Rob Hall was still just above Hillary Step and

had run out of oxygen. He and his client would nd a

place to hunker down for the night in hopes of stayingalive long enough for a rescue team to save them in the

morning. Although attempts were made by rescue team

and Hall himself, these rescuers would go no farther than

the bottom of Hillary Step before lying down to die.

At daybreak the storm let up and one of the

Sherpas was able to make it back to Camp Four and

tell people of the other climbers whereabouts before

collapsing from exhaustion. Two Sherpas and a guide

set out to rescue these climbers. By the time they reahed

these stranded hikers, only two were alive and so nea

death that they could not be saved. A group that started

out as 14 eager and determined climbers ended with six

people alive.

Whether you are the greatest climber in the

world or just a person with big dreams and great deter

minat

green horn - volume 29, edition 5

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