October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. During this month people are encouraged to turn their attention to Dyslexia, the often misunderstood and confusing learning difference. This should be of particular importance to the majority of Fairhill students, seeing as the school was established specifically for teaching students with learning differences.

People from all walks of life have overcome Dyslexia, many of them went on to become great leaders, businessmen, actors, and more. For instance, actress Whoopi Goldberg had to not only cope with dyslexia, but

she had to deal with just about everything else on top of it. Whoopi was a school high school drop out with drug addiction, married her drug counselor, and was pregnant by age 19. Whoopi described her situation in a 1991 issue of Ebony magazine,

“You don’t want to be retarded all your life. I was retarded for a good part of mine, according to all the paperwork, and I just couldn’t handle it.”

Erica Dallas, a graduate from Fairhill’s class of 2011, struggled in elementary school with her spelling and reading.

“She got the skills she needed when she came

to Fairhill,” said Mrs. Lissa Dallas, Fairhill’s Spanish teacher. Erica is now making great strides in college and undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of her.

But what is Dyslexia? The public tends to not know what it is, so they believe it’s some sort of disability or retardation. The definition of dyslexia as defined by Dictionary.com, “any of various reading disorders associated with impairment of the ability to interpret spatial relationships or to integrate auditory and visual information.” Or in other words; dyslexic people have greater difficulty

than most other people learning to read and write.

What’s the difference between dyslexic people compared to people without dyslexia? The brain strikes again ladies and gents! It’s not a difference seen with the naked eye.

“Don’t worry there isn’t a plumb sized crater in your cerebellum,” said Gordon Sherman, Ph.D, former director of the Dyslexia Research Lab at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston Massachusetts, “The differences are on a cellular level.”

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48The Fairhill Talon

Everyone, besides the flowers were happy to see the rain finally fall from the sky!Phto by Nick Orr

Rain comes to North Texas

Happy Halloween!!

by Stuart Sickler

October Marks Dyslexia Awareness Month

Fairhill Celebrates Red Ribbon WeekOn the last week of

October for 26 years Americans have celebrated and participated in the nation’s oldest and largest drug prevention program: Red Ribbon Week.

Red Ribbon Week started soon after Mexican drug traffickers murdered Enriqué “Kiki” Camarena, a special agent working for the Drug Enforcement Administration, in February 1985. He had been on the trail to make a major drug bust. After the death of Camarena, his high school friend Henry Lozano and Congressman Duncan Hunter launched an organization called Camarena Cubs, which helped kids pledge a drug free life.

This caught the eyes of Nancy Reagan, the First Lady of the United States at the time, due to her focus on drug prevention with her “Just Say No to Drugs” campaign. Reagan helped publicize Camarena Cubs. Soon after, community organizations encouraged wearing red ribbons on the last week of October to symbolize peoples’ commitment to be drug free.

Fairhill School has participated in Red Ribbon week for over a decade and often invites speakers such as victims of drug and alcohol abuse, law enforcements officers, or family members of drug abusers to share their experiences and knowledge with students. The speaker or event changes each year. A few weeks before Red Ribbon Week, Fairhill’s Student Council planned events for students to participate in daily, hoping to motivate Fairhillian’s to commit to be drug free.

Show your Fairhill School and drug awareness spirit by participating in Fairhill’s Red Ribbon Week themes!

Monday

• “Orange You Going to Say No to drugs?”

• Wear an orange printed shirt with regular school uniform pants and shoes

Tuesday

• “Say Peace Out to Drugs”

• Wear a tie-dyed shirt with Wednesday jeans and shoes

Wednesday

• “Smarties Don’t Do Drugs”

• Dress up as a geek and wear Wednesday jeans and shoes

Thursday

• “Get Red-y to Say No to Drugs”

• Wear a red hat or bandanna with regular school uniform and shoes

Friday

• “Black Out Drugs”

• Wear a black t-shirt to school with jeans or black pants. Wear Wednesday shoes or black shoes

by Nick Orr

Largest Number of Students Inducted into the National Honor Society

by Stuart Sickler

National Spanish Society Inducts New Members

National Honor Society is a program recognizing high school students sophomores through seniors in the U.S. and several other countries. The National Honor Society gives credit to students who have showed excellence in the areas of grades, leadership, service, and character. On October 18th, Fairhill had the 2011 National Honor Society Induction Ceremony, which had the largest group of not only new inductees but eligible candidates. All candidates were handpicked by a council of staff members who based their choices on the student’s

grade point average, teacher recommendations, and the student’s application. The new students inducted on October 18th’s were:

Stephanie Sims , senior, Nick Gierczak, senior Katie Gorman, junior Rickie Huang, juniorJames Black, juniorAlexis Levine, juniorTim Cheatum, sophomore

Being a member of the National Honor Society has numerous benefits to students that are inducted. These include: local recognition for outstanding achievements, membership in a nationally

recognized Honor Society, chapter activities providing students the opportunity to cultivate leadership ideals within themselves, their schools, and their communities, chances to participate in L.E.A.D conferences, which enhance local leadership training opportunities and allow students to meet and share ideas and experiences with other outstanding students, and numerous national scholarship programs recognizing students for their leadership and scholarship achievements. So the name says it all. It really is an honor to be in the National Honor Society!

The Spanish Honor’s Society recently gained several new members. Spanish students flooded room 204 to see the student’s induction. Several students gave speeches during the induction. Stephanie Sims, President, gave a speech followed by Nick Gierczak, Lori Mayo, Sam Wieland, and Emily Latham. All congratulated and welcomed the new arrivals. Inductees signed the membership list and lit

a candle, symbolizing their transition into the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica. They gave an oath in Spanish, which the majority of the attendees couldn’t understand, because well… it’s in Spanish!

Then the flames were extinguished. Students celebrated their success with their parents following the ceremony, and the rest of the student body went back to class.

by Nick Orr

Don’t TurnAround

It was a cold and windy October night, lit only by the fading moon. I couldn’t tell you now what I was doing, for I don’t remember what brought me outside to begin with. It may have been the sky, so foggy yet without clouds; it may have been a noise from the wind blowing the tree branches across the window, scratching and screeching. Maybe it was something else. After all my recollection of that night is hazy.

I found myself walking down the street over towards a shady, brick wall with a perfect glow from the moonlight that cast my shadow upon it. I had never taken the time to pay any attention to reflections before, especially that of my own shadow. I stood watch, slowly moving, making my shadow dance across the brick wall.

I began to move slower and watched my

shadow’s every move very closely, and that’s when I first noticed it. My shadow wasn’t in tune with my movements. When I pulled my arm left, my shadow took longer than it should have to move with it. When I stopped, it did too, abruptly and

unclean with my motions. I began to question it as being my own shadow more and more to the point that I was jumping up and down, flailing my arms and stomping my feet. By the time I began shouting like a mad man, my shadow had stopped moving completely.

Scared, I began to back away from the wall, and right before I turned to see if there was somebody else behind me, maybe somebody

else just messing with me, I heard a voice.

The voice whispered a quick and cold hiss “don’t turn around.”

The voice told me not to do exactly what I did, I spun around as fast as I could turning my back to the wall and as soon as my eyes were fixed upon the nothing-ness in front of me, I was pulled against the wall, where I hit my head against the brick , held there by only the wind.

There’s a shadow behind you during the day and during the night. You don’t always see it, but when you do, that’s when you need to be the most careful. Don’t watch for too long. Please do not stare. Don’t pay any atten-tion to the rhythm of your steps or the wind blow-ing through your hair. I beg you. Please don’t make the mistake that I did, don’t turn around.

by Nick Orr

by Shae Kiely, 9th Grade

Once upon a time there lived a monster named Norm. He lived in an abandoned castle just outside of a small village in England. He sometimes walked around the village at night, roaming the streets. Everybody was scared of him because he had a frightening voice that sounded like he would eat them, and he was as tall as a five story building. Norm had thick, gray skin that had warts and puss

oozing out of his face. He also stunk like a sewer.

One morning a woman woke up to find her four year old daughter missing. There was puss all over her window sill and bed. The townspeople knew it had to be the monster, Norm. The police were too afraid to look in the abandoned castle, but the mom knew she had to go find her daughter.

When the mom got to the castle, she went

inside to find skeletons sitting on the spider-webbed furniture. She walked through the castle very afraid. She turned a corner and out jumped Norm. He took her into a dark hallway with a window and threw her out the window into the moat.

“I ate your daughter!” he shouted.

The mother and daughter were never found by the police and neither was Norm.

Watch for Monsters

The Fairhill Talon Sta�

Editor-in-Chief:Nick OrrPhoto/Graphics Editor:Tim CheatumCopy Editor:Stuart SicklerAdvisor:Mrs. Karen Boozer

The Fairhill Talon acceptsall readers’ responses. Any questions, comments, or stories you would like to see in the paper, feel free to send them to room 215. Please notethat The Fairhill Talon reservesthe right to correct all grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

Visit our website:my.hsj.org/dallas/tx/fairhill

by Kristi Clark, 8th Grade

Falcon Beats: Topics from our Reporters Falcon Beats: More Topics

Yet again, Halloween is upon us, and we are being repressed! We won’t get to have all night to cause chaos around the neighborhood. We won’t be able to go to that party, and we won’t get to stay up as long as we like! What for? School. Again school is taking something fun and making it an insignificant event. One we can’t fully enjoy because we have to get up early to continue our weekly monotony. Don’t most schools know what it is like to have fun and be adventurous, or what it’s like to sleep in? Tonight everywhere kids will be turning out for some spooky fun! What are the kids from Fairhill up to? Are they going to trick or treat? A few students shared:

Alyssa Lowery: “I am going to a party.”Harrison Stone: “I’ll be at a party.” Carson Olivarez: “Going to a epic party.”Jake Hensley: “I’m staying at home.”Bobby Morris: “Party!”James Black: "I'm working at the Fall Festival at my church."

Tyler Bronson: "I can't tell you that."

Hopefully everyone will have fun on Halloween no matter what happens or what they do! Now think what are you going to do? Are you going to go out to trick or to treat? Maybe that’s a bit too juvenile for you. Maybe you embrace Devil’s night more than Halloween night itself; perhaps you prefer to trick? Maybe, instead of going around the neighborhood asking for candy, you and your devious friends will sneak about, under the cover of night, causing mischief. But perhaps you’re the sensible type of person who realizes that day is the same as every other day, only with annoying little kids pounding on your door. You know that just because of Halloween school won't go away. You know that you need to finish your homework, study for that big quiz, finish that big project you procrastinated on, or sleep. Regardless of how you choose to celebrate October 31st, we at The Fairhill Talon wish you a happy and spooky Halloween!

Stephanie Sims, senior, aids in the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica ceremony by lighting the candle before the new inductees sign their name in the membership notebook.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

New Inductees: (from left) Matthew Bagley, Andrew Bitterman, Katie Gorman, and Lindsey Williams.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

Rickie Huang receives her NHS pin from Mrs. Melinda Cameron, Head of Upper School.Photo by Nick Orr

NHS members and adviser: (from left) Mrs. Jennifer Allen, Matthew Bagley, Adam Neifach, Nick Geirzk, Tim Cheatum, Jack Black, Thomas Hodges, Sam Wieland, Andrew Bitterman, Katie Gorman, Rickie Huang, Alexis Levine, Stephanie Sims, and Devon Taylor.

Mom’s Day Brings Activities

Mrs. Marci Orr visiting on Mom’s Day.Photo by: Nick Orr

Mr. Wade Mercer, Science teacher, worked with Ryan Baldelli and his dad on Mom’s day setting up Ryan’s trebuchet.

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween

Alex Gregory taking a goal kick during the alumni game.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

Fairhill Homecoming 2011 was a colorful, neon frenzy, hypnotizing and energetic, perfect for dancing the night away. Glow sticks cast colors of light on and around attendees. Almost everyone, grades 8 through 12, showed! The night was filled with intense music and dancing, Trevor Johnson, junior, jockeyed the discs as the DJ for the night.

Sadly, the night carried with it a little drama. An I-phone disappeared, and the whole attendance was forced to search for it. The outcome - the found phone.

The student body voted Stephanie Sims and Alex Gregory as Homecoming Queen and King for 2011. Many gathered by the DJ booth for the announcement, and cheers erupted throughout the gym.

The Fairhill School Homecoming Court:

11th: Trevor Johnson, Kirsti Jack 10th: Fritz Foster, Alyssa Lowry 9th: Shae Kiely, Max McKinney 8th: Hannah Howard, Nick Sewell

Tables untouched, aside from the drinks and glow sticks, party goers flooded the dance floor swaying to the music throughout the night. Sometimes only the occasional cluster of friends paused for a moment before charging, glow sticks in hand, to the dance floor.

Student Body Names 2011 Homecoming Court

by Nick Orr

Every year during Fairhill’s Homecoming Celebration, we have our annual Alumni soccer game. Former students, who have graduated from Fairhill in the past, come to visit and to play a game of soccer with the Fairhill Varsity Soccer team!

It’s lots of fun for everybody and very

entertaining to watch! Some of the alumni from the class of 2011 that visited to play in the annual alumni game were Ari Disraeli, Miles Lyon, Caleb McCandless, and Tina Vint. Owen Harry, from the class of 2010, and numerous other alumni played balls as well.

Fairhill Continues Homecoming Tradition

by Stuart Sickler

James Black, escorted by his mother, joins the court as a Homecoming Nominee. Photo by:Stuart Sickler

The upperclass Homecoming Nominees. Connor McNeil (left), Trevor Johnson, Michal Martinez, Alex Gregory, and Ryan Baldelli.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

The Fairhill Band playing music to pump up the crowd at the pep rally.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

The Fairhill cheerleaders pump up the crowd for the Homecoming game.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

Carson Olivarez advancing on an alumni to block the shot.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

The Fairhill Cheerleaders pumping up the crowd at halftime.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

Fairhill alumni attempting to block a shot on goal.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

Coach Tom Weimann pushing forward for the alumni’s team.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

Jake Hensely taking control of the ball at the alumni game.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

Stephanie Sims (left) and Alex Gregory are all smiles after winning Homecoming Queen and King.Photo by:Tim Cheatum

Carson Olivarez (left) and Harrison Stone preparing a syncronized dance during the Homecoming Dance.Photo by: Tim Cheatum

Katie Osten, escorted by her mother, joins the court as a Homecoming Nominee.Photo by: Stuart Sickler

50/50 Moves Viewers More Than a Comedy

Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the stunning prequel to the original Deus Ex. Taking place in a futuristic Detroit; Human Revolutions’ story line does not fail to please. You play as Adam Jenson, a disgraced former SWAT team member. He is now employed as head of security at Sarif Industries, a biological

augmentation company. Long story short the facility is attacked for its new military augmentation. While attempting to rescue Dr. Megan Reed, the head researcher at Sarif. Jenson is fatally wounded by one of the mercenaries, and this is where the story takes off. Jenson is found in time to be stabilized and

undergoes augmentation surgery. This is where the fun begins. Deus Ex: Human Revolutions gameplay is very open. Players can go about dealing with a situation anyway they please, whether that be sneaking around an enemy or charging in guns blazing. The game has many stealth mechanics

and even recommends trying to avoid enemies altogether. This is countered by the fact players basically play as a much darker Robocop with amazing weapons and insane augmentations giving them a range of abilities such as super strength, X-ray vision, jumping huge heights, and the ablility to launch grenades in a three hundred and sixty degree arc. As players go through the game they earn experience points and can use these to upgrade their current augmentations. Leveling is very slow so when players earn enough points to level up a feature, it is a big deal. Some augmentations have tiers to them such as the strength augmentation which allows players to pick up heavy objects and allows for more precious inventory space. After players beat Human Revolutions, playing it a second time is still fun because they can change the action or what the player said to one AI. The players can see how they react and alter the story or just play through it in a different manner. Let’s say the last time they played Deus Ex as a good cop, but next time they play they can change up the story playing as a bad cop. In Deus Ex: Human Revolutions, it is all up to the players.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Stuns Gamers

by Stuart Sickler

Entertainment September 11th, 2011 has indefinitely shaped the teenagers and young adults of America who witnessed that tragic day ten years ago. Most of us were just kids, babies, and teenagers when it happened. Not only has it shaped our generation, but it has affected the generations to follow. Everybody respects the victims of the 9/11 attacks and mourns over them to this day, but the attacks were only the start of what was to become an unrelenting bombardment of death, violence, sorrow, and a new generation of patriots. It’s hard for an American to fall short of being patriotic when remembering the 9/11 attacks, but everything that followed such as wars, fear, major economic issues, and what some feel as an impediment of their freedoms drastically affect us now and will in the future. Our generation has and is growing up in a world of fear. Sure, we have lots of things that we don’t have to worry about

that past generations had, such as nuclear war with the Soviet Union, World Wars, etc. But it seems as if our generation feels more vulnerable, and it’s completely understandable. By the time the Afghanistan and Iraq wars started the majority of

us were young. Even though we comprehended our nation going to war, we usually shook it off as if it was no big deal to us. In reality, everything that happened as either a direct or indirect result of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 has affected us to this day. We grew up in a society

built on post- 9/11 fear, patriotism, war, and other horrible events. We turn on the news to see the same old thing every day; a few soldiers died, a school was shot up, the economy is going down the drain, some embassy has been bombed, the terror threat level is raised, Iran has nukes… The list goes on and on. The events that unfolded on Sept. 11th, 2001 still affect us today and will do so for decades to come. Is our generation built up on fear? Are we going to grow into a more secure and prepared society, or a fearful and paranoid one? What about all of the above, or something different? I can’t decide on my own. We, the young men and women of America, must take action and responsibility to decide the outcome of our generation and the ones that follow.

People often argue about the security measures that have been established in the post-9/11 America. The citizens of the United States (and the world) unarguably feel safer with the TSA despite the massive controversy of their methods and amount of spending, but are we safer now than before Sept. 11th 2001? The Transportation Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security have been taking measures such as full body scans, pat downs, scanning shoes, turbans, “random” security checks, sky marshalls, banning certain items such as containers of liquids (usually large water and shampoo bottles), and much more. I feel safer now than I did earlier in the last decade, but I think I would’ve felt much safer flying in a pre-9/11 world, even when there wasn’t as many safety measures. There weren’t constant threats and risks of attack at the time, at least before the 1990s. Unfortunately we can’t avoid the dangerous world that we currently live in, and we have to deal with threats from terrorists. We have to take security measures to protect people that use vulnerable transportation methods. Although, the only safety measures enhanced and updated

as a result of the Sept. 11th 2001 attacks do not all have to do with public transportation. There are also more efficient evacuation plans implemented in most skyscrapers and large office buildings around the world, especially in New York City. Whether new skyscrapers that have been built post-9/11 are physically safer than the World Trade Center is a different issue. Some architects say they have been built safer than ever, but as we saw on Sept. 11, 2001 the unpredictable can always happen. “The best we can do is design buildings that can stand long enough for people to (get out),” says New York architect Barbara A. Nadel, the editor of Building Security: Handbook for Architectural Planning and Design. But in a world where we have increased safety measures taken to prevent collapse, we also are developing more technology and things that can bring them down, such as larger and faster aircraft. In the end, we can’t rely only on scanners and pat downs to do the job of preventing or stopping attacks, we’re going to need to rely on the vigilance of the common men and women, not only in the United States, but around the world.

Screenshott of the new Deus EX: Human Revolutions Photo by Nick Orr

by Nick Orr

September 11 Shaped the Lives of Students

Safety Measures: Do They Make Us Feel Safer?

Berlin, Germany- German President Christian Wulff, German Foreign Minister Guido, US Ambassador Philip D. Murphy, and others attended a service on September 11 in Berlin to remember the victims of the 9/11/01 terrorist attacks.

New York, N.Y.- The World Trade Center’s Visitors Center opened for free.

National 9-11 Museum & Memorial opened, dedicated to victims. It opened to the public September 12th

Shanksville, Pa.- Flight 93 Memorial dedicated.

Arlington, Va.- Arlington County 5K Run and 9-11 Tribute Event.

Simi Valley, Calif.- Ronald Reagan Foundation 9/11 Rememberance.

Tokyo, Japan- Mourners gathered at a piece of enclosed steel from Ground Zero to remember the 23 Fuji Bank employees who died that day.

Sept. 10

Westlake- The Westlake Historical Preservation Society held a 9/11 memorial service that included planting a red oak tree and placing a bench adjacent to a reflection pond.

Weatherford- The Tea Party of Parker County hosted a tribute to the victims of 9/11 and honored the first responders in Parker County in an hour-long event filled with patriotic music and tributes.

Sept. 11

Euless- The city of Euless held a ceremony to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

Grapevine- A Remembrance Day ceremony took place at a new 9/11 sculpture, titled Valor Commitment Dedication. After the ceremony, Boy Scouts from the area and from out of state took up posts for 30-minute intervals around the memorial to stand guard for the day.

Arlington- Arlington’s Patriot Day Memorial Service included a bell ceremony and rifle volley,

Mayor Robert Cluck delivered a proclomation with remarks by police and fire officials.

Fort Worth- The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History hosted a 10th anniversary 9/11 tribute to honor the strong American spirit in a free community event and opened a new exhibit, titled 9/11 Tribute, featuring the largest artifact in Texas from the World Trade Center.

Grand Prairie - Performed the Spirit of America Musical with a salute to the first responders

on 9/11 and the military.

Fort Worth- First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth offered a Service of Hope.

Southlake-Southlake Baptist Church and the Southlake Department of Public Safety will hosted a day of remembrance. City leaders, police officers and firefighters were on hand for the ceremony.

Grapevine-Hosted the One-mile Remembrance Run/Dog Walk

Allen-Memorial services were

held by the Muslims for Life campaign, which also included a blood drive at the mosque.

Cleburne-Remembrance service. Members of the Johnson County fire department, law enforcement, and military attended.

Colleyville-Church and civic groups participated in a “Where were you on 9-11?” discussion including firefighters, pilots and police officers. Attendees were encouraged to bring nonperishable foods to donate to the Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange.

DFW Area Celebrates September 11

US & Others Celebrate the 10th Anniv.of 9/11

Where Were You 9/11/01?

by Stuart Sickler

by Stuart Sickler

what was to become an unrelenting bombardment of death, violence, sorrow, and a new generation of patriots

Questions?

Comments?

Be SureAndEmail us:

kboozer@fairhill.org

We want to hear from you!

Mrs. Melinda Cameron , Head of Upper School, paid her respects at the New York World Trade Center memorial recently.

“I was in 12th grade at cheerleading practice when I first heard the news.”

-Miss Sarah Kadey, teacher

“I was in Austin, Texas going to school when I received notice of the school closing.”

-Mr. Joe Bruno, History teacher

”I was teaching in my room when students came in and started telling me about it. I thought they were kidding.”

-Mr. Tim Brewton, History/Government teacher

50/50, a dramatic feel-good comedy, is based on a true story about a young man’s fight against cancer, his friendships, and his love life.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays 27-year-old Adam, a Seattle radio producer, who learns that he has a malignant spinal tumor.

Viewers prepare to watch the movie for the first time expecting a flat out comedy, most likely because the movie’s trailer included mostly humor-ous scenes. Also, the fact that Seth Rogen, who plays Kyle, Adam’s best friend who tries to help him through his ordeal, is known for having a major-ity of his appearances in hilarious comedies.

50/50 offers great comic relief, and the director and editors knew exactly when and where to put it into play, such as one scene where Adam is talking about how he won’t be able to get girls. Kyle mentions, “Chicks dig guys with cancer.”

50/50 has a deeper meaning than some de-pressing movie with comic

relief thrown into it. It’s a story of true friendship and love. The movie draws viewers to the idea that the people closest to them are the ones that matter in the end.

“I was in my classroom waiting for Advanced Drama.”

-Ms.Deni Kington, Drama teacher

“I was at Keystone Academy teaching grades one through eight.”

-Mrs. Jan Kirkland, teacher

Illustrationsby Tim Cheatum