iPad learningStudents and staff share their

reactions to the new iPad pilot program.

Green machineThe new student-run Green Club

focuses on environmentally-friendly changes.

page 7 page 7

f Like us on Facebook! Become a fan of The Pacer on Facebook for information and opportunities to get your name in the newspaper. t Follow us on Twitter! Search @rmhsPACER for live updates.

Ni haoMandarin students share their

experiences from their class trip to China over the summer.

PACERThe

Rolling Meadows High School 2901 Central Rd., Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 September 14, 2012 Volume 42 Issue 1

page 9

Allergic

State-wide allergy policy implemented in District 214Brittney FrazierEditor-in-Chief

As the number of students with severe food allergies increases each year, a state policy has gone into effect that requires each school to have an allergy policy in place. One nurse from each District 214 school came together to be proactive and create a food policy for the entire district.

The policy states that hallways and classrooms must now be completely food free. The cafeteria is the only place where food can be eaten. Whether or not students can have drinks in the classroom is left up to each individual teacher.

“The state in 2010 came out with a 78 page document that said how the schools have to implement the new state law regarding the aller-gies,” school nurse Mary McCarter said, “so the following year the nurses went through the 78 pages and brought it down to 12-14 of what we

thought were the most important for our schools, and then the administration reviewed it and from there the policy was developed.”

The key component of the policy is keeping students safe while they are at school.

“We want to make sure the environment, so the air that you’re breathing, is safe,” Assistant Principal Nathan Aslinger said. “Also, we don’t want anyone with an allergy to feel bad that they can’t participate, so the idea is that this applies to everyone. We just need to be aware and sensitive of difficulties some students might have.”

Freshman Brendan O’Brien understands this first hand. The allergy policy works in his favor because if a student seated next to him is eating nuts, O’Brien’s peanut allergy can put him in dan-ger.

“I like and appreciate the new food policy because I think it makes students with severe food allergies, like me, feel safer and more com-fortable,” O’Brien said. “Although the new food policy may seem annoying or unfair to some, I feel it is very helpful and reassuring to those with allergies to know that the chance of having a life-threatening reaction during class is being severely reduced.”

While student safety is always the first prior-ity, the district still understands that food can be a part of classroom learning.

“If there is a world language class where, cul-turally, food is part of the experience, we don’t want to prevent students from having this food. We just want you to have it in the cafeteria so maintenance can easily clean it up afterward,” Aslinger said.

For social science teacher Patrick O’Connell, the allergy policy really hits home. O’Connell’s two sons, Daniel, eight, and Colin, six, have sev-eral food allergies, the most severe being to dairy products. Both of his sons have been hospitalized due to allergic reactions.

“As a parent, I am concerned with my kids safety and I would not want them exposed to anything that could physically be a problem for them,” O’Connell said. “The policy is still new. We’ve had students with allergies here for quite a while and I don’t know if it has made a big dif-ference with any students so far. I have not had a student in my class have a serious allergic reac-tion before, or this year, so the policy is working to that extent.”

Students and staff have dealt with the change well so far.

“I haven’t heard any negative feedback at this point, so I think it’s been effective,” Aslinger said. “The nurse and I will work through any situation to try to find the best protocol for each individ-ual.”

SNACK TIME IS OVER: Due to an increasing number of students with allergies each year, the state now requires every school to have a food allergy policy in place so scenes like the one portrayed in the photo illustration above will no longer be allowed.

ARC update

SOLVING PROBLEMS: Math teacher Mike Concialdi helps students with homework during seminar in the ARC. He usually helps multiple students at one time.

A look into the reactions, effects of this year’s new seminar systemBrittney FrazierEditor-in-Chief

New to seminar this year is the Academic Resource Center (ARC). After transforming the library to this new system, the ARC is a one-stop place for students to get help in any subject during moving times in semi-nar. Students can go to ask a single question or work on a project the entire time.

“I really enjoying working here,” science teacher Eileen Senteno said. “It gives students an opportunity to get help in multiple subjects at once. The help is more pointed than before. For me, because I am not helping and

also watching a seminar, it’s a better environment and been successful so far. It’s only the beginning of the year, but I really think it’s been help-ful to students who have come down and taken advantage of it.”

Overall, much of the staff believes in the new system and its potential to help students in the school.

“There have been really positive responses,” Principal Eileen Hart said. “As I always say, it’s going to be a work in progress. It really went off smooth. We had about 109 students in the ARC on the first day and 129 the second day.”

Continued on page 3.

Bite sizepolicy review

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reaction

news briefsThe Pacer’s news editor Sarah Deitelhoff compiles short pieces of upcoming events in the Rolling Meadows High School community.

Days Off September, 17: Non-attendance day September, 26: Non-attendance dayOctober, 8: Columbus DayOctober, 29: Institute Day

Smile!

Coffee with the principalOn Sept. 20, parents will have the opprotunity to meet with Ms. Hart and discuss students and the school.

College VisitsToday: High Point University- 9:309/18: Xavier University-9:459/18: Elmhurst College-12 PM9/18: Washington University in Saint Louis-1:309/19: Texas Christian University-9:159/19: Illinois College-1:459/20: Northern Michigan Univesity-8:45 9/20: University of Rochester-2:00 9/21: Illinois Institute of Technology-10 AM

School pictures this year will be taken on Sept. 18 and 19 during lit-erature classes.

Back to successSaturday, Sept. 22 marks the first Saturday Success Academy of the new school year. The Saturday Success Acadmey is for students wanting more help or tutoring on Saturday mornings.

News Rolling Meadows High School2

Gabe CastroStaff Writer

Though teens aren’t usually known as safe driv-ers, some are slowing down when it comes to getting their driver’s license. In the past year, the number of teenagers getting their driver’s license has dropped. Last year the number of students who bought park-ing passes was 285; so far this year the number is 192.

There are several reasons why teens are waiting to get their driver’s license: some must wait another year until they are sixteen, and others just don’t have enough time to practice. “It’s kind of embarrassing

that I don’t a license, but I just don’t have enough time. Between everything I do, I’m always busy,” se-nior Amanda Torres said.

Some teens’ parents have their child meet cer-tain requirements beforehand. “A couple days before I was able to get my license, my parents made up a rule about getting it: I need to have a job before I can get my license,” junior Mitchell Carlson said.

There have been several law changes for teens this year as well. Teenagers require a learner’s per-mit for a minimum of nine months instead of the pre-vious three months required, and the night restric-tions have been shortened by one hour. Teens can no longer use supervised driving on driving simulators

and ranges for the required six hours for a driver’s li-cense; it must be done on actual streets. The price for a school parking lot pass at Meadows has increased $10 from last year. The parking lot pass now costs $185, and parking passes for spots along Barker Ave. cost $75.

When 150 juniors and seniors were surveyed by The Pacer, 60 said they did have a driver’s license while 90 said they did not. More than half of those surveyed who said they did not have a driver’s li-cense said they had a learner’s permit. Teens are ap-plying for learner’s permits but have a few barriers in their way of getting a driver’s license.

LOOKING FORWARD: Principal Eileen Hart talks to juniors Katie Shewmon and Jenny Watson.

As the new school year gets underway, Editor-in-Chief Liam Brady sat down with Principal Eileen Hart to chat about goals, policy updates and future plans.

Heart to Hart

Q. How has the new allergy policy gone so far, and how is the school going about enforcing it?

A. “Safety for students is always a concern, and long term it’s a lot safer for students. It is the board policy, but we’re going to work through it to see how we can make it more manageable for staff and students.”

Q. Any last words for the RMHS community as the year begins?

A. “I’m excited that it’s year two together. I think that there has already been such great strides at this high school and what I like most about year two is that I know more about the high school and the community outreach. We’re going to be working together collaboratively with students and parents to see what’s working well and where can we still grow.”

Q. What advice would you give to the incoming freshmen?

A. “I asked the freshmen at their opening day, ‘Are you going to be in-volved?’ Because being involved in the high school with any cocurricular starts to have them meet new people, starts to broaden their horizons and knowledge, starts to have them just see what they can do, what can they ac-complish whether it be for a sports team or debate team. We are an academic institution absolutely, first and foremost, but those cocurriculars also help define us and build our interests. I would ask every freshmen to find some-thing, connect to something, so Rolling Meadows High School will be more than something you’re at everyday from 7:25 to 2:45.”

Putting the breaks on teen driving

BACK TO BIKES: Lately fewer students are taking the time to get their driver’s license. Many students have certain requirements they have to meet before they can drive, such as securing a job or maintaining grades.

Q. What are the school district’s goals for the year?

A. “Well we clearly follow our district’s goals of EPAS growth [Education Planning and Assessment System, which involves Explorer and ACT scores], increasing student success, and the third [goal] has to do with AP testing. But in addition we want to create multiple pathways to help students through programs like PBIS [Positive Behavior Intervention System], ARC [Academic Resource Center] and AVID [Advancement Via Individual Determination] to get them both career and college ready.”

A. “Our goal was not to create anything new but focus on our academia support and anything we need to do for cocurriculars. What we have continued to improve on is our technology. This is the first time ever Rolling Meadows will have 100 percent of its staff with laptops. Also after having zero iPad pilots last year, we now have the most in the district. We have to keep housing tech and find out what we need to do so it’s efficient and effective for students and staff.”

Q. Are there any new changes to the schools infrastructure that you hope to implement this year?

Q. How was your summer?

A. It was a really great summer. We had summer school, so it was busy here in the building. Our maintenance custodial team did a phenomenal job getting the building cleaned up in time.

Q. What are the goals for RMHS this year?

A. “The other goal that I don’t talk a lot about yet is to build different business partnerships. If we can get classes like Project Lead The Way (an engineering course), A+ Computer Repair, ProStart and other courses be more connected to the business community and connected better to Harper that would be significant.”

Q. What was your favorite summer reading book?

A. I ended up reading a number of them, but “Jantsen’s Gift” by Pam Cope was my favorite. It’s such a great story of hope.

Pacer/Sara Schoen

NewsSeptember 14, 2012 3

On the other hand, some students do not think the ARC can be used to their advantage.

“The freshmen in my (Mighty Mus-tang Mentor) seminar told me that it’s awkward for them to get help because they don’t know the teachers so they don’t go,” senior Nicki Deren said. “And the fact that the computers are now only available for students getting English help is a huge disadvantage for people like that want to get other things done on the computer and that is the only lab available to do it in.”

The ARC system was organized to prepare students for their future edu-cation as well. Students who visit the ARC not only have the opportunity to get help from a teacher, but can also work with and help each other, too.

“I think it is a very helpful setup,”

science teacher Tim Patterson said. “It feels like a college union or a library on a college campus with groups of students working together at tables. The environment is academic and re-laxed.”

The switch from a library setting to the ARC has been a smooth one for the librarians as well.

“For me, everything is more orga-nized as far as students getting help and using the library as an academic resource. In the past in has been a hangout center, so supervising was a nightmare,” librarian Joyce Sevarino said. “Right now the system is still growing, and after each seminar we discuss what we can change or what we shouldn’t change, but overall I think it’s a good idea to have a tutor-ing center. I hope the students find it

useful and are patient because we are trying to make it work for everybody.”

Students have expressed concerns of overcrowding in the ARC, but the system is still growing and looking to improve.

“So far, (overcrowding) hasn’t been a problem,” Senteno said. “When we brought that up at the beginning of the year, Ms. Stanley and Ms. Hart re-sponded by saying that as things come up they would be more than willing to help whether it be more space that’s needed or something else. Whatever students or teachers need, they just need to ask and it can be solved.”

As for the future of the ARC, even-tually students who need extra help may be able to be tutored during the first 30 minutes of seminar.

ARC update The staff

Bumps in the road: Speed bumps, more signageinstalled in the parking lot

SLOW DOWN: Safety precautions in the parking lot this year include speed bumps and extra signage. There have been mixed reactions to the changes.

Alex GueliStaff Writer

Speed bumps were installed in the parking lot over the summer. The in-tention was to get students and staff safely in and out of the parking lots by discouraging speeding.

“I think in a parking lot situation it helps because it creates awareness for people to slow down,” security of-ficer Ed Amato said.

Unfortunately for the speed de-mons, the speed bumps were made extra durable. Every summer a cer-tain amount of money is set aside from Forest View to make repairs.

The main purpose of the new speed bumps is for student safety in the parking lot after an increase in student traffic incidents.

“If the parking lot is full, it be-comes very difficult to drive around the speed bumps. With 2,000 people leaving the school at the same time,

this is just athing we’re trying to do to keep our school safer,” Associate Principal Kent Nightlinger said.

The speed bumps are slowly but surely becoming a normal part of life at school.

“I find the speed bumps are re-ducing the number of students who speed. It’s annoying for lower cars but really has reduced incidents. Some irresponsible people still drive around them, but overall it’s a lot bet-ter,” senior Matteo Rodriguez said.

“People feel that the traffic pat-tern is slower, and since students are coming earlier because of the tardy policy, it’s helping defuse the traffic. I think it would have been too much at one time last year to say ‘here’s the tardy policy and here’s the speed bumps,’” Principal Eileen Hart said.

Besides the speed bumps, the new tardy policy increased students’ arrival to school on time in the 90th percentile.

Julia DacyManaging Editor

All Mighty Mustang Mentor (M3) participants left their original seminars and were placed in mentor-only classes. The hope was that this change would improve communication and pro-ductivity, and so far it has been well-received by both the mentors and teachers.

In years past, mentors met together during a training day in the spring but did not have the opportunity to get together regularly during the school year.

“Now that we are able to see each other on a regular basis, we can improve the execution of the plans with the freshmen. It will also give us an opportunity to grow as a program and our involvement in the school,” M3 advisor Ann Sy-

versen Bullis said.Giving up the seminar they have been with

since freshman year was a sacrifice for several of the junior and senior mentors. However, the decision has paid off for many.

“Surprisingly, I love the seminar part. I have made a lot of great friends in my seminar, and even though I miss my old seminar I like this one too. I also like being a role model for the freshman,” junior Jackie Clark said.

Each seminar, all mentors spend the first 30 minutes of class either meeting with freshmen or discussing their goals for the week.

“We have a schedule of sorts. During the first seminar of the week, we write our game plan on the given topic for the next seminar,” Syverson Bullis said. “During the second semi-nar, the mentors go to the freshmen seminars.

If there is a third seminar of the week, we talk about ‘big picture’ mentor topics like what we can do to grow our program.”

Being together in seminar has helped the mentors exchange ideas and discuss ways to make the program better. “It would be so much harder to communicate if we weren’t able to be together during seminar,” junior Kirsten Amundson said.

Each group of mentors is able to share ac-tivities that were well-received by their freshmen seminars such as measuring each freshman’s height. They will be able to repeat this each year to see how much they have grown since they were new to the school. Mentors also advise the freshmen on topics ranging from the Academic Resource Center(ARC) and block scheduling to how to get involved in school activities and

Homecoming Week. “I think that having the mentors together in

a seminar is helping the program because now we have regular meetings together and this re-ally helps communication between the mentors and the supervisors,” Clark said. “We also give each other ideas on how to handle certain situ-ations when were in the classrooms with the freshmen.”

It is Syversen Bullis’ hope that they will be able to continue the new M3 seminar system in the upcoming school years.

“I know that the administration is very sup-portive of our program so we’re hopeful; howev-er, with all of seminar being in a growth model, it really is too hard to predict,” Syversen Bullis said.

Fresh start for mentors

Here’s who is in the ARC during seminar

MathDawn BoddenMike ConcialdiDaniel Jones

Robert MeyerLaura Snyder

ScienceTim Patterson

Eileen Senteno

EnglishMike Kic

Kelly LussowMark MaxwellBrittany Suson

Social SciencePat Thorburn

World Languge English

Sharon Horwath

PE/HealthMatt Wrobel

“I haven’t gone to the Arc because I feel like it won’t help me. I would rather get help from my actual teach-er. Also, I feel like the teachers that are in there won’t pay much attention to me because they have to help other kids,” senior Rafael Romero said.

“I haven’t gone to the ARC because I feel like there would be a long wait and I would rather have my teacher explain it,” sopho-more Gabi Jedrzeiwska said.

“I went to the ARC for help with AP U.S.History during seminar and it is beneficial academically, but it was too chaotic. I felt rushed because there were so many students want-ing help for the same thing. I noticed the same situation going on for other teachers,” junior Alyssa Lothery said.

STUDENTSOUND OFFInitial thoughts and reactions to the ARC

Photo Illustration/Sarah Deitelhoff

This year Mighty Mustang Mentors seperated into their own seminars

lcontinued from page 1

Food for thought

New allergypolicy deserves

a chance

Opinions Rolling Meadows High School4

Join the club:

Sitting at my desk during seminar, I hear a familiar message on the announcements. “It’s

not too late to join the ‘blah blah and blah’ team or the ‘so and so’ club is meeting after school today, all are welcome.” It’s that time of year again: Just as we are set-tling into a new year of school, the bombardment of recruiting starts. Like many of you, I’m a little skeptical when I hear these announcements, even if I think the sport or activity may sound fun. I’m unsure if I will know anybody else in it, if I will have time for it, or wonder what people will think of me joining. Nevertheless, looking back on my three years at Rolling Meadows I have come to appreciate how much the activities I’ve been involved in

(soccer, Interact Club, NHS, Speech team and of course, The Pacer) have taught me and how much I’ve been shaped by them. I’m sure a lot of you are already involved in the school in some way or have a job that keeps you busy during the week. However, it seems like each year there are people who fall through the cracks and miss out on the opportunity to be a part of the full Meadows community. I remember a specific instance about half-way through last year when I was talking to a freshman girl. I asked if she had got involved in any extracurricular sports or activities so far at the school. She replied half-jokingly, “No, after

school I just go home, do my homework and sleep.” While we all have homework and many other obligations, I think by not getting involved we miss out on so much of the high school experi-ence. For the $50 activity fee, you can get involved in as many groups as desired. With 28 sports teams and more than 50 student clubs and ac-tivities, there is no denying that Meadows has something for everyone. So if you do happen to have some free time on your hands, why not take a risk and try something new? You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it.

The Pacer is produced by journalistic writing classes at Rolling Meadows High School. The paper is published nine times during the school year.

The Pacer is a designated public forum for student ex-pression and for discussion of issues of concern to its read-ers. Its content is not reviewed or restrained by school or District 214 administrators but is expected to fall within the curriculum and academic guidelines of the English/Fine Arts Division at Rolling Meadows High School.

Since The Pacer is a designated public forum for stu-dent expression, the editorial board, which consists of the Editors-in-Chief and respective section editors, will determine the content of the newspaper and all unsigned staff editorials; therefore, material may not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of District 214 or Rolling Meadows High School officials. The views stated in edi-torials represent that of a majority of the editorial board.

No single member of the editorial board can be held re-sponsible for editorial content decisions. Signed columns or reviews represent only the opinion of the author.

The Pacer welcomes letters to the editor, guest col-umns and news releases from faculty, administrators, community residents, students and the general public. We ask that letters to the editor and guest columns be 300 words or less, contain the author’s name and address, and be sent to thepacerstaff@gmail.com, or dropped off in Room A111.

The Pacer editorial board reserves the right to with-hold a letter or column and return it for more information if it determines the piece contains items of unprotected speech as defined by this policy. Letters will be edited for spelling and grammar and checked for verification.

If you wish to advertise in or request ad rates for The Pacer, call (847) 718-5755 and ask for Peter Timotijevic.

The

September 14, 2012 Volume 42 / Issue 1

Editors-in-ChiefLiam Brady

Brittney FrazierManaging Editor

Julia DacyNews Editor

Sarah Deitelhoff

Entertainment EditorJoe Salvato

Sports EditorSeth Bachman

Editorial CartoonistCelina Chiodo

Business ManagerPeter Timotijevic

Opinions EditorAnna Peterson

Features EditorAllie Petrick

Las Vistas EditorAmerica Cordero

TranslatorJairo Jimenez

Photo EditorSara SchoenFood Critic

Mark SchmidCopy Editors

Mia HarperTony Sarussi

Staff WritersGabe CastroAlex Gueli

Charlie MetzgerGreg Off

Rhonda ProsserAdviser

Stan Zoller, MJE

PAC ER

After becoming accustomed to eat-ing during class or in the hallways, it can be difficult to quit snacking cold turkey. Though unpleasant to adjust to, The Pacer staff thinks the new al-lergy policy is beneficial not only for our fellow students but also for our school overall. The no-food-in-the-classroom pol-icy keeps students with severe aller-gies safe. The rule is both progressive and socially inclusive, and it should be treated as such. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, allergies are becoming more common and more severe. Nearly six million kids have

allergies, and the new policy en-acted by our high school attempts to prevent these students from hav-ing reactions. Reactions can range in intensity from mildly irritating to life-threatening, including difficulty breathing and constriction of the throat. No student would want to trig-ger a potentially fatal allergy attack because they ate their peanut butter crackers a half-hour before lunch. Those thirty minutes may seem like an eternity at the moment, but in the long run it’s barely a blip on the ra-dar. Everyone, including members of The Pacer staff, have moments

where it seems impossible to contin-ue without having a quick bite. We’ve heard plenty of people com-plain about the rule, but is this mild inconvenience really worth the seri-ous repercussions that could come with breaking it? Not only does the new rule keep fellow students safe in the class-rooms, it also keeps unwanted pests at bay throughout the entire school. Meadows has a little problem with mice; it’s common knowledge. Stu-dents leaving food in classrooms is one of the reasons these critters are here in the first place, and the potato chip crumbs ground into the

carpet make a fine meal for a rodent. “I think banning food from class-rooms is ultimately a good idea,” social science teacher Tim Waters said. “However, my furry friend isn’t as happy. He hasn’t come to visit as frequently as he used to.” With the new policy, there will be nothing left behind for the mice to bother with, and a potentially mouse-free outcome is far better than the one we currently have. Thinking on an empty stomach is tough. As everyone with B lunch ad-justs to snack-free classes, there may be a bit more grumbling and growling than usual. It will pass.

12For Against

8

Editorial Vote

Is The Pacer staff for or against the banning offood in the classrooms?

Getting involved in school activitieswell worth your while and your money

Liam Brady

Editor-in-Chief

Cece Chiodo

OpinionsSeptember 14, 2012 5

A new driver’s license comes with a hefty price. The cost of insurance, gas, and possibly a car itself adds up quickly for the family of a new driver. Add in a $185 parking space each year at school and the cost of driving becomes even more astronomical. The application for a parking space at Rolling Meadows requires students to acknowledge “I understand that my sticker is non transferable and can only be used by me in my car.” To ensure this, the parking passes stick to the windshield of each student’s car. This discourages students from carpooling and splitting the cost of the

pass. It also creates an issue of convenience for families with multiple cars. Sharing parking passes would benefit the environment. The organization GreenYour, which is run by environmental researchers and promotes eco-friendly alternatives to ev-eryday tasks, suggests carpooling as a way of cutting down on gas emissions. According to their website, “Twenty percent of US green-house gas emissions comes from vehicle gas-oline consumption.” If students were able to split the cost of a parking pass and switch it between their cars, they would be protecting the environment as well as cutting down the amount of money their families spend yearly for a piece of concrete in the school parking lot. On my street alone, there are four Roll-ing Meadows students who drive their own cars to school each day. This means that the school is collecting $740 a year from the fami-lies on just my block. Each morning it occurs to me how ridiculous it is that all of us, living

only feet apart from each other, pull out of our driveways at the same time to go to the same place in four different cars. If we were able to buy two parking passes among us and rotate drivers during the year, we would split the fuel consumption as well as cost of gas and parking in half for each family. The non transferrable parking passes also create a problem for families with multiple cars. Many students share cars with parents or siblings. For me, there is no guarantee which of my family’s two cars will be avail-able to take to school. Unfortunately, the parking permit is permanently stuck on the windshield of only one of our vehicles. The school compensates for this issue by offering a temporary pass for students driv-ing a different car. The pass costs an addi-tional five dollars a day. The administration should seriously consider revising the system to encourage environmentally-conscious and cost-effect thinking among students.

Managing Editor

Julia Dacy

Parking passes present problemsStudents upset over cost and restrictions of vehicle permits

ONE SIMPLE SOLUTION:a grade saver

Opinions Editor

Anna Peterson

Do you think your teacher is mean? Does your teacher yell at you? Has your teacher sent you to the Dean’s Office mul-tiple times? I’ve got a solution for you. Shut up. It’s that simple. Turn your atten-tion from your unimportant conversation and shut up. According to Merriam-Webster diction-ary, the definition of school is “an institu-tion for the teaching of children”. Does it say that school is a place for social net-working? No, it doesn’t. You’re allowed to hang out with friends at lunch. Lunch is not a graded school subject. I know it’s a surprise. I realize you’re disappointed that the time you consumed your pizza isn’t added onto your GPA. Math, science, literature, and foreign language are graded subjects. The reason that your teacher is sending you to the deans so much could be caused by exces-sive chit-chat. What do you choose to label them? Crazy, mean, strict. All adjectives that I’ve found untrue for most teachers I’ve ever had. They don’t want to yell or punish you. They hate it. Some have been teaching high schoolers for years, I’m surprised they could handle us that long. They get tired of year after year, talking and ignor-ing repeated over and over again, just like the words in that sentence and the “they” in this paragraph. So they get a little frus-trated which, in turn, makes kids think that everyone should beware. I’ve come to this conclusion: Teach-ers don’t send you to the office if you’re quiet when they’re teaching and answer when they call on you. It blows your mind, doesn’t it? I know that it may be hard for some of you professional, hardcore chit chatters, but you’ll be okay So if you don’t want to any conflict, hold the conversation to during your lunch hour.

We have a lot of academic options at school. We get to choose our electives and the variety of courses we take. However, in-stead of offering classes at all levels in the core subjects, students are either put in a regular class that is far too easy for some or thrown into an AP class that they can barely understand. For instance, sophomores are only offered regular world history or AP world history.

“Last year I moved down from AP world to regular world,” junior Claudia Ladzik said. “Once I moved down it was okay for a while, but then it got too easy. If there was a class in the middle, it would be challenging but not too easy. I’d give me a better opportunity to succeed.” To me, math makes zero sense. Eventually I always understand what I have to do, but I have to work really hard to grasp the concept in order to pass the test. After I take the test, the information leaves my head immediately. This begs the question: I got the test score I needed, but did I truly learn anything? In areas such as math where course com-position levels are very polarized, there are extremely limited options available to stu-dents. Upperclassmen are especially stifled because of the overall more difficult curricu-lum. In addition, history classes throughout the school are only split between AP and reg-ular. There should be an honors level course

to balance the field. If the test scores matter so much to the district and to the state, this would be a simple solution to solving this discussion amongst the board. If students are actually understanding the materials they are told to study, the results will be better. The extra levels would assist the students who are struggling through the classes that are just a little too high for their abilities, al-lowing them to learn the material at a pace that’s just right while actually remembering how to do that complicated equation or how to properly write an essay without having to look at the guidelines over and over again. Overall, the school wants us to succeed. If students are struggling to get a D in an AP course but can pass a regular class without having to do a single sheet of homework, then something must be missing: the middle ground.

Staff Writer

Alex Gueli

When AP push comes to shoveSchool and state place too much emphasis on AP classes

Anna Peterson

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Las Vistas Rolling Meadows High School6

Brittney Frazier Editora en Jefe Nuevo para el seminario este año es el Centro de Recursos Académicos (ARC). Después de transformar la biblioteca en este nuevo sistema, el ARC es un lu-gar único para los estudiantes para obtener ayuda en cualquier tema durante el tiempo de movimiento en seminario. Los estudiantes pueden ir a hacer una sola pregunta, o trabajar en un proyecto en tiempo. "Yo realmente disfruto trabajando aquí", la pro-fesora de ciencias, Eileen Senteno dijo. "Le da a los estudiantes la oportunidad de obtener ayuda en varios temas a la vez. La ayuda es más aguda que antes. Para mí, porque yo no estoy ayudando o viendo un semi-nario, es un medio ambiente mejor y ha tenido éxito hasta ahora. Es sólo el comienzo del año, pero real-mente creo que ha sido útil para los estudiantes que han llegado y se han aprovechado de el." En general, gran parte del personal cree en el nue-vo sistema y su potencial para ayudar a los estudiantes en la escuela. "Han habido respuestas muy positivas", Principal, Eileen Hart dijo. "Como siempre digo, va a ser un tra-bajo en progreso. En realidad, se fue sin problemas, tuvimos alrededor de 109 estudiantes en el ARC en el primer día y 129 el segundo día. " Por otro lado, algunos estudiantes no creen que el ARC se puede utilizar en su beneficio. "Los estudiantes de primer año de mi (Mighty Mus-tang Mentor) seminario me dicen que es difícil para el-los conseguir ayuda porque no conocen a los maestros y no van", dijo estudiante de quarto año, Nicki Deren. "Y el hecho de que las computadoras ahora sólo son disponibles para los estudiantes que reciben asistencia en Inglés es una gran desventaja para la gente que quiere hacer otras cosas en la computadora y también porque es el único laboratorio disponible para hacer-lo." El sistema ARC se organizó para preparar a los estudiantes para su educación futura también. Los

estudiantes que visitan el ARC no sólo tienen la oportunidad de recibir ayuda de un maestro, pero también pueden trabajar e ayudarse unos a otros. "Creo que es una gran ayuda," el profesor de ciencias, Tim Patterson, dijo. "Se siente como una unión universidad o una biblioteca en un campus universitario con grupos de estudiantes que traba-jan juntos en las mesas. El ambiente es relajado y académico." El cambio de la creación de la biblioteca al ARC ha sido un cambio fácil para los bibliotecarios tam-bién. "Para mí, todo es más organizado en cuanto a los estudiantes obtienen ayuda y el uso de la bib-lioteca como un recurso académico. En el pasado ha sido un lugar de reunión central, por lo que la supervisión fue una pesadilla ", bibliotecaria, Joyce Sevarino dijo. "En este momento el sistema está to-davía en crecimiento, y después de cada seminario se discute lo que podemos cambiar o lo que no se debe cambiar, pero en general, creo que es una buena idea tener un centro de tutoría. Espero que los alumnos consideren que es útil y sean paciente porque estamos tratando de hacer que funcione para todos ". Los estudiantes han expresado su preocupación de hacinamiento en el ARC, pero el sistema sigue creciendo y buscando mejorar. "Hasta ahora, (hacinamiento) no ha sido un prob-lema", dijo Senteno. "Cuando mencionamos eso al principio del año, la señora Stanley y la Sra. Hart respondieron diciendo que a medida que las cosas están así estarían más que dispuestos a ayudar, ya se trate de más espacio de lo que se necesita, o algo más. Cualquiera que sea estudiantes o profesores necesitan, todo lo que tiene que hacer es preguntar y se puede resolver ". En cuanto al futuro de la ARC, con el tiempo los estudiantes que necesitan ayuda adicional pueden ser tutelados durante los primeros 30 minutos del semi-nario.

CENTRO DE RECURSOS ACADEMICOS: Estudiante de segundo año, Kasey Jauch, trabaja en su tarea de matematicas durante el seminario en la ARC.

Brittany Fraizer Editora en Jefe

Habrá un cambio en el tiempo alrededor de la escuela en el futuro cercano. Los re-lojes digitales de doble función en las aulas y los pasillos están siendo reemplazados. Rolling Meadows fue el primero en el distrito para recibir los relojes digitales cuando la escuela se inscribió en un pro-grama piloto. Ahora que el piloto ha termi-nado, los relojes actuales fueron revisados y se decidió que serán reemplazados.En este momento, los relojes tienen difi-cultad sincronizandose a los calendarios de campana, así como otros sistemas de la escuela. Una nueva marca fue seleccionado y será instalada y supervisada por la eficien-

cia antes de comprar los relojes. “Son similares a los relojes que tenemos ahora”, Director Asociado de Operaciones de Kent Nightlinger dijo. “Ellos son de doble propósito, por lo que son los relojes digitales, así como centros de mensajes, por lo que puede disparar mensajes a través de la pantalla. El nuevo producto es un poco más fiable y funciona mejor en nuestros sistemas actuales en cuanto a la sincroni-zación con las campanas y tal. “ Instalación de los relojes comenzará este mes en las áreas comunes en primer lugar para que los estudiantes y el personal serán capaz de usar los relojes durante el periodo entre clases, y en tiempo todos los relojes se instalaran en el edificio.

¿Es cierto que la escuela recibirá nuevos relojes?

El nuevo sistemaaplicado este año

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Se Rumera Que

Sara SchoenPhoto Editor

In addition to the classic purple and gold, two Rolling Meadows students are trying to bring a little green to the school. Senior Cece Chiodo and junior Mary Col-lins have started the Green Club which will focus on making the school as environmentally conscious as pos-sible. The club is sponsored by biology teacher Stephen Traphagen. “Mary and I were just sitting around in Starbucks and we were saying, ‘why don’t we have a green club? Why don’t we have a big emphasis on something like recycling?’ We’re a pretty big school and I feel like we should just be responsible,” Chiodo said. The idea is to help people in the school become more conscious of their actions towards the environment. The club wants to be able to not only help the people but also the environment around the school. “When we come to school there’s not many flowers or green,” Collins said. I think that’s kind of disappoint-ing, especially with a school like us. We could go really far. “There are so many people, and I think that we want to make this a club that encompases the entire school.” Chiodo and Collins want to stress the science aspect of the club. “We have environmental classes, we have biology classes and with all of them the same cohesive idea,” Chiodo said. By implementing such things, students can have a better understanding and a new way of thinking about the environment. Not only does the club want to educate students about being ‘green’, it also aims to emphasize school initiatives that are already happening. One issue that they are trying to resolve and promote understand-ing about is the mixing of trash and recyclable products in the recycling bins. “Increasing student awareness about some things that are already happening will make a big difference,” Traphagen said. “Our school is already doing some things, but a student club could make it more

successful.” The Green Club is looking into doing projects to help bring people in the community and in the school into helping out. One of these projects includes selling reus-able grocery bags at places like football games. With the money raised from this, the club is looking into purchas-ing landfill stickers. “We want to put landfill stickers on all the garbage cans, so that way you have this constant reminder that you know where this is going, that you’re not forgetting, its just easier to do a habit when you have a reminder just saying, ‘this is going into a landfill don’t put it here,’” Chiodo said. Collins and Chiodo also hope to do an electronic drive. They will collect old electronics and find a place that will dispose of them for free. One of the main goals of this club for the year is to change the garbage bin to recycling bin ratio from 2:1 to 1:2. Students can join at anytime of the year. They can contact either Chiodo, Collins, or Traphagen. The club plans on making a website later in the year for updates on things such as projects. “This is a great time for peo-ple to really have a voice in what the clubs are like this year,” Traphagen said.

Allie PetrickFeatures Editor

Students who once dreaded the laborious task of taking notes in a spiral notebook are finding a light at the end of the tunnel: an iPad. A pilot program in District D214 is providing around 800 students with iPads to use for the school year, and in the early stages of the program, the project is a success. Students find that the iPad is easier to take notes on because it is right at their fingertips and al-lows them to type spoken notes or record them and review later. This makes it easier to study for quizzes and tests. “I like the classes that I get to use my iPad in because it is really accessible,” senior Emily Hattory said. If you need to look something up, the answer is right there for you. You can also contact your friends easier to ask them home-work questions. Some people don’t have the luxury of using an iPad, and with it I think that it is just more efficient.”

Most teachers that have the iP-ads in their class use the app iTunes University. Within the app there are downloadable worksheets, lists of materials needed that day, stu-dent posts, and the ability to check off completed tasks. “I love itunes U; it enables me to have the daily agenda available for students. Within this agenda, I can share documents, apps, web-site links and assignments,” phys-ics teacher, Katie Page said. “Stu-dents have everything they need for class right at their fingertips.” Teachers find it easier to plan lessons because they don’t need to worry about making copies for everyone. Interaction between stu-dents has gone up because they can send notes between each other and study together using FaceTime or Skype. Students also have the access to Dropbox, an app used to back up notes or homework assignments. They can also send homework to teachers to get feedback. “Staying organized with an iPad is easier because you always

have everything saved onto your iPad instead of having to hold onto your handouts,” sophomore Mike Priller said. “Using apps such as Reminders and Notes can keep you on track with doing your homework by making checklists. It makes studying a lot easier be-cause you have everything saved in one spot instead of digging through your binders.” Like most new technology there are some drawbacks on the iPad. Teachers cannot always get through their entire lessons be-cause of glitches in the system like wifi accessibility and Apple ID failures. “The iPad can sometimes be a time-sucker because when you have the whole lesson planned out and something fails, it doesn’t just take one minute to fix, it takes five to ten minutes,” English teacher Michelle Marconi said. “I look forward to the break of my iPad classes because sometimes its a lit-tle stressful to fix all the problems during class.”

iLearn: New technology thrives in classroom

Pacer/Sara SchoenAT WORK: Junior Flavia Sandu utilizes her seminar time working with an app to do her homework on her iPad.

“The iPad is a seamless ad-dition to the learning pro-cess in Physics. We use it for eveything from taking notes to collecting data. I don’t know how we lived without it.” -Katie Page Physics Teacher

thinkWhat they

Opinions of the people who useiPads everyday.

“There is total engagement in class activities, whether we are watching a tutorial video to learn a new app, anno-tating an article in Spanish or exchang-ing iPads to read each other’s summa-ries. On a daily basis we bring authentic research from the Spanish speaking world into our classroom. There is no way AP will ever be the same.” -Heidi Huck Spanish Teacher

Faculty and students take advantage of iPad technology in select classrooms

Going GreenNew student club focuses on environment

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“I love the iPads because it holds all my notes and there are so many apps that can be used for school. I can make flashcards and concept maps or just look up a word really fast. They’re the best thing the school ever gave us.”

-Senior Sam Chalupa AP Spanish Student

FeaturesSeptember 14, 2012 7

Features Rolling Meadows High School8

SophomoreJudith Huerta

FreshmanKevin Gamboa

SeniorJessica Federkins

JuniorNick Rios

Staff memberJoe Di Silvio

MEET YOURMUSTANGS

What is the last thing you ate?

What is your biggest fear?

What is the first word that comes to

your mind?

A sandwich and Cheez-Its

Being kidnapped

Cats

Chinese rice

Bees

Party

Doritos

Heights

Avenged Sevenfold

White rice covered in butter

Dolls

Potato

Taco Tuesday

Heights

Purple

Liam BradyEditor-in-Chief

Walking the halls of Rolling Meadows, it’s not unusual to see the smiling faces of stu-dents looking back at you. However, this year you may notice more of that than usual. Over the summer, approximately 400 pictures of stu-dents participating in different sports and activities were placed on previously empty walls across the school. “It warms the building a little bit and for me it really creates and sends the message people come to our building from the outside that they get to see our students in action,” Princi-pal Eileen Hart said. “You’ll see more coming up in the future months.” The man who had that tedious task of put-ting up frames was Roel Acevedo of the build-ing maintenance staff. “It was a lot of measuring out and leveling; it was a process,” Acevedo said. “It does a great

good adding to the school atmosphere. It’s a lot better than empty walls. The student reaction to the photos has been mixed. “I like them ‘cause I get to see what my other classmates are involved in,” junior Colin Liametz said. “I didn’t even know some people did that stuff until I saw the pictures.” Sophomore Paige Smith disagrees with the value of the pictures. “There’s too many of them, it’s just too much,” Smith said. “And like half of of them are graduated alumni.” Meanwhile, English teacher Susan Bubola appreciates how it recognizes students from all areas of the school. “It is a privilege and a pleasure to look at all the students and see them active, especially in fine arts,” Bubola said. “I think the pictures of the sports have always been up, but it hasn’t been true for theater and music as much. I’m glad to see everyone gets more recognition.”

New photos showcase student involvement

Pacer/Sara Schoen

Julia DacyManaging Editor

The start of the school year means new classes, new teachers and, in junior Kimberly Schulte’s case, a new country. Schulte is a foreign exchange student from Bielefeld, Germany studying at Roll-ing Meadows for the next ten months. She has been living with a host family in the area since August. So far, Schulte says she enjoys the differences between Rolling Meadows and her hometown. In Germany she lives in the countryside surrounded by fields where her family’s horses live. “It’s different here. I like that we have neighbors. In Germany I live on a street

with only two houses,” Schulte said. Schulte was originally surprised by the differences between her school in Ger-many and RMHS. She enjoyed choosing her elective classes and was impressed by the variety of courses offered. “I like the relationship between the stu-dents and teachers here,” Schulte said. “I also like that you can choose your classes. In Germany we don’t have classes like photography, foods and world history.” Another new experience for Schulte are passing periods. In Germany, students remain in the same room the entire day while the teachers move from class to class. Schulte was paired up with a host fam-ily through a foreign exchange student

agency. “We were able to tell the agency what kind of criteria we were looking for.” Schulte’s host parent Kathleen Campo said. “We wanted a girl, someone who spoke english well and liked kids. We were able to read through the profiles of students that matched well with us and we chose her.” The Campo family has enjoyed learn-ing about another culture while hosting Kimberly. “It’s been a good time. She’s been fun. We’ve learned about her country, and I think she’s learning about the United States,” Campo said.

SAY CHEESE: Pictures of students participating in a variety of in-school and after school wactivities now line the hallways.

Pacer/Sara Schoen

A long way from home

GET SCHOOLEDGet to know new staff in the building. Check our website rmhspacer.com for a complete list of teachers and quotes. Alison Deberge

English/Fine Arts

What made you interested in teaching?I had an incredible Englishteacher in high school that made me realize I wanted to do the same thing.

If you could do any other job besides teaching, what would it be?I would be a chef. I love to cook and eat delicious food!

Cheryl BergquistScience

What is your initial reaction of RMHS?The most wonderful students and staff I have ever worked with.

What do you like to do in your free time?I just ran the Chicago 1/2 mara-thon, soccer mom and spending time with my family.

Ryan KirkorskyEnglish

What college did yougraduate from?The University of Illinois.

What is your favorite quote?Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.

If you could do any other job besides teaching, what would it be?Sports radio host.

German foreign exchange student Kimberly Schulte shares her thoughts on life in America

DANCE: Schulte performs a routine in Orchesis. “The music we dance to is very dif-ferent back home. It’s a lot faster than the slow piano music in Germany,” she said.

Peter TimotijevicBusiness Manager

Biology and Physiology teacher Angela Rawal may not be new to the school, but she is the new NHS sponsor.

This is her second year at Meadows. Rawal knows what being an National Honor Soci-ety (NHS) member is all about because she was one in high school.

NHS is an organization for sophomores and juniors of ex-ceptional academic standing. Students must possess and maintain a high GPA and they can apply for membership in those respective years.

Academics is only part of what NHS is all about. Students must also take an active part in their community and volunteer during their time in NHS. Raw-al realizes this important aspect and hopes to get more students active in their volunteering.

One of the volunteer op-purtunites that NHS offers is working concessions at home football games. This activity has garnered positive feedback for Rawal and the chance to work

with peers.“She was very into the game

and loved the fact that so many people volunteered,” junior Klaudia Nieckarz said.

“I hope to encourage stu-dents to be active in commu-nity service and in doing so become young leaders of their community. I already know I am working with such a won-derful, dedicated group of kids and I cannot wait to see what great things we do this year,” Rawal said.

Rawal also looks forward to interacting with students and

staff. She hopes to hear lots of new ideas for ways to improve NHS and the experience that comes with it.

“Another reason I decided to become sponsor of NHS was to be able to interact with stu-dents outside of in class. I value communication and am always willing to listen to new ideas,” Rawal said.

Rawal wants to continue to provide opportunities for all those involved in NHS as well as make NHS a prestigious mark students can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

FeaturesSeptember 14, 2012 9

RumorHas It

Brittney FrazierEditor-in-Chief

There will be a change in time around school in the near future. The dual-function digital clocks in classrooms and hallways are being replaced.

Rolling Meadows was the first in the district to receive digital clocks when the school signed up for a pilot program. Now that the pilot is over, the current clocks were reviewed and it has been decided that they will be replaced.

Right now, the clocks have difficulty syncing with the bells schedule as well as other systems in the school. A new brand

was selected and will be installed and moni-tored for efficiency before purchasing it.

“They are similar to the clocks we have now,” Associate Principal of Operations, Kent Nightlinger, said. “They are dual pur-pose, so they are digital clocks as well as message centers, so we can shoot out mes-sages across the screen. The new product is just a little more reliable and works better with our current systems as far as syncing them with the bells and such.”

Installation for the clocks will begin this month starting with common areas first, so students and staff will be able to use the clocks during passing periods, and eventu-ally replacing all the clocks in the building.

Is the schoolgetting new clocks?

Sara SchoenPhoto Editor

Over the summer Mandarin students from District 214 were given the opportunity to visit China. 18 students from Rolling Meadows, Buf-falo Grove, Prospect and Hersey went on the trip. They visited the cities of Beijing, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai.

The students participated in many cultural activities. They visited the famous Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City which was once home to the Chinese Emperor.

“Going to Beijing and seeing the Great Wall, Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven were some of my favorite things because it was then

that I realized the amount of detail and work that was put into creating these places,” junior Natalie Bueno said. “Not only was the architec-ture amazing, but so was the environment sur-rounding these places.”

Adjusting to life in a different country was a challenge for some. Students had to break the habits they have in America and transition to the living styles of China.

“While in China, I came to realize many things that had never crossed my mind in the States. In America we take basic things such as public sanitation or driving regulations for granted every single day,” junior Emily Drake said. “It was interesting to see how another country is run.”

While there the students visited the Olympic Village from the 2008 games.

As well as gaining an appreciation for differ-ent cultures, the students were able to work on the language skills that they have learned dur-ing their high school careers.

“It was great to hear real Chinese speaking and realize that while we are not experts at the language yet, we are breaking down cultural barriers by being able to communicate at all,” junior John Leinonen said.

Perhaps the most lasting impact the trip made on the students was the bonds they formed while they were there.

“I loved China because I got to experience it with my best friends. They made my trip.

Even the people I didn’t know before the trip, I became friends with.” Bueno said. “It’s really surprising how much you get to know a person by spending two weeks with them in a foreign country.”

Each destination brought new opportunities and lessons for the students. Communicating with people from not only China, but all over the world, proved to be a challenge. Eating Chinese cuisine and bargaining for items while shopping in the small markets were all different experiences.

“Words cannot describe my time in China. No matter what the situation was or how cultur-ally diverse our encounters were, China will be a trip never forgotten,” Drake said.

Halfway around the worldFive Mandarin students traveled to China with their class for complete cultural and linguistic immersion

SIGHTSEEING: While in Shanghai, the students toured several Chinese gardens. “They were so beautiful and serene. I would like to have such a peaceful place in our city,” junior Natalie Bueno said.

BIRD’S NEST: Students visited the iconic track and field stadium from the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The Opening and Closing ceremonies were also held at the Bird’s Nest venue.

FORBIDDEN CITY: Juniors Julia Dacy, Emily Drake, Natalie Bueno and Prospect student Kathleen Daorerk pose outside the Forbidden City which was once home to the Chinese Emperor.

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SPONSOR: Science teacher Angela Rawal instructs a freshman Biology class. Rawal recently took over as the sponsor for the National Honor Society.

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National Honor Society welcomes Angela Rawal as its new sponsor

Entertainment Rolling Meadows High School10

Joe SalvatoEntertainment Editor

When a movie can’t even think of an imaginative name, it’s hard to believe any-thing on the screen will be fresh.

“The Possession”, simply put, is a par-ticularly bland exercise in the exorcism genre that will soon be forgotten by all who see it. It’s a movie that breaks rule number one when it comes to true horror:

Never reveal too much.The film revolves around a di-

vorced father named Clyde (Jeffery Dean Morgan) and his two daugh-ters Em (Natasha Calis) and Hannah (Madison Davenport). The mother of Em and Hannah is Stephanie (Kyra Sedgwick), who is concerned with the way Clyde takes care of the kids.

One day Em discovers a mysteri-ous box at a garage sale. After clue-lessly purchasing this random box from the homeowners, does Clyde ask ques-tions? No, that would be ridiculous.

So of course the box is opened, Em in-evitably becomes possessed by the demon within the box and Clyde must do every-thing in his power to prevent the demon from taking her over completely.

The problem with “The Possession” becomes apparent in the first scene and frequently interrupts viewers throughout the rest of the movie.

Any time a scene involving the demon show-ing off his powers (from just a box, mind you) the film loses all working sense of atmosphere.

Basically the films graphic climax and many other scenes meant to scare often be-come laughably silly and utterly ridiculous. This happens because physically showing things take away from the suspense and

imagination that a horror movie should contain.

In its early parts the movie has a great, tense buildup. The look, feel and aesthet-ics of the movie are effectively creepy, and the way it’s filmed is often quite elegant.

The chills from the girl’s stare, the subtle music in scenes of intensity and the open layout of Clyde’s new house are all captured beautifully.

Shame it can’t deliver the horror. With an exorcism movie, it really isn’t that

hard.Exorcism movies are the

kind of movies that are truly un-limited in their ability to depict frightening images. Bodies can bend, heads can spin and people can float. So why is it that the images shown in “The Possession” simply didn’t phase me at all? The fact that they replaced good old-fashioned scares with special effects, it just isn’t acceptable.

An exorcism movie that isn’t scary is something that shouldn’t exist on this earth. It’s a difficult subgenre to mess up when the laws of physics don’t apply to a possessed human being. Your possibilities are almost endless, yet we get this over-produced blah of a film that builds itself to a climax that doesn’t pay off.

It’s frustrating because although the movie is well-made and the family dynamic scenes work on a dramatic level, I can’t see the point in recom-mending a horror movie that isn’t

scary. Between the CGI effects, the ludi-crous death scenes and the overall lack of scariness I find it hard to believe that “The Possession” was an effective piece of horror.

Overall the film walks a fine line be-tween eeriness and failure. In the end it leaned towards the failure. There wasn’t even a moment where I covered my face with my hands. And I scare easily, too.

The PossessionStarring: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Kyra

Sedgwick, Natasha CalisReleased: Aug. 31

Joe’s Rating: /

PG-13

Entertainment Editor Joe Salvato reviews a movie playing in theaters each month. This issue: The Possession

Salvato on cinema

Alex GueliStaff Writer

Last night, cast members took to the stage for their very own, student-directed skits in One Acts.

“Each scene is very different from each other. What you see in one performance isn’t what you see in another. I love being in One Acts because it gives a rare opportunity to learn from your friends,” junior Sarah Rosenberg said.

The One Acts vary from an internal conflict on a date night to being late for a wedding to a full blown comedic event. Not only is there a range of perfor-mances but also different stu-dents in each skit.

Due to the small size of each performance, the students got the opportunity to practice with their specific group scenes over the summer, unlike the traditional theater event with 30 or so students in the pro-duction. This gives them an advantage because by the time school theater rehearsals begin, the cast is already familiar with the scripts.

“Directing One Acts this year gives me a really new take on being a part of theatre. Instead of acting in a show, I get to see the other side of it and actually direct my peers. It's a really re-warding experience that gives me new insight on the different roles in a production” senior Brian Stumph said.

The students directors were not only in charge of creating their individual acts but were taught an additional Directors Act by Mary Luckritz in order to learn directing techniques. The student directors learned their specific techniques by being in their own director’s show. This new aspect of One Acts gave students the oppor-tunity to be in every aspect of theater.

“You can’t put on a produc-tion unless you work well with your team. That’s your cast mates, directors, lighting and make-up. It teaches the kids a lot and it is very much a learn-ing experience for myself and them,” Drama Club sponsor Kathy Connolly said.

The Actor’s NightmareIn the midst of a nightmare, George awakes on stage to find he is the understudy of an

actor who has recently died in a car accident. However, George struggles to keep up with the constantly revolving plot. It truly is the actor’s

nightmare.

ACTION: Seniors Aiden Dolik and Cassie Rynott, juniors Julia Palmer, Alex Beck and Sarah Rosenberg, and senior Christine Jaballas prepare for a one night with last nights student-directed “One Acts”.

One night only: Student-directed skits take the spotlight About the acts

Anna & August The lives of two best friends are turned upside down when their relationship turns romantic.

The Intervention A group of people gather to help their friend who is struggling with a problem they don’t

know how to approach.

Awkward Silence A groom’s friend and sister are running late to his wedding. All sorts of things go wrong as

they try to get back on track.

12:21 pm A man and a woman are set up on a blind date. Their inner thoughts are voiced throughout the

production.

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EntertainmentSeptember 14, 2012 11

World Music Festival Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the World Music Festival is showcased throughout the city at multiple venues and spans eight days. The festival will feature musicians from all over the world with traditional and contempo-rary music from diverse cultures.

When: Sept. 22Where: Cultural Center of ChicagoTime: 6:30 p.m.Price: Free

Downtown BreakdownThe Pacer’s picks for upcoming events in Chicago

MDNA Concert The world’s biggest pop icon, Madonna, is performing for two nights in Chicago as part of her 2012 worldwide MDNA Tour. It is rumored that Madonna will be touring with members of the cast of Glee. The concert will feature classics like “Vogue” and newer hits like “Give Me All You Luvin”.

When: Sept. 19-20Where: United CenterTime: 8 p.m.Price: $65-$355 per ticket

Crypt 5K Run & Walk The Rosehill Cemetery is holding its first-ev-er Run or Walk event to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Participants are treated to the scenic Victorian-era design and archi-tecture while also enjoying the Halloween-like atmosphere advertised. At the gate, greeters will be dressed in Civil War attire.

When: Sept. 29Where: Rosehill CemeteryTime: 7 p.mPrice: $35

Mark’s Food Frenzy

10 RANDOM

10

Compiled by:Joe Salvato & Sara Schoen

Adapted with permission from mental_floss magazine.

Louis Armstrong played the trumpet so much that he got callouses on his lips. He

cut them off with a razor blade.

9Overall U.S. comsumption of poultry has doubled over the last 25 years, from 18

million pounds to 35 million pounds.

8Wilbur and Orville weren’t the only

Wright Brothers. They had two older brothers, Reuchlin and Lorin, plus a

younger sister, Katherine.

7The total number of golf courses in

America take up as much land as Rhode Island and Delaware combined.

6Horses cannot breathe through their mouths. If their nostrils become ob-

structed, they could suffocate.

5Ferbies were banned by the National Security Agency (NSA) because it was feared that they may repeat national

security secrets.

4The elephant is the only mammal physi-cally unable to jump. This is because of

their enourmous weight.

3Trees do not grow higher than 130 meters as it is physically impossible for

water to rise higher.

2February is the only month that can pass without a single full moon.

1An estimated 15% to 20% of people who receive gift cards never redeem them.

One warm summer afternoon I was headed to Costco to buy gratu-itous amounts of groceries in bulk, and to enjoy all the free samples that they give out. In the parking lot of PetSmart at the corner of Meacham and Golf Road I spied with my little eye something pink. Not only was it pink, it was also a truck that happened to serve cup-cakes.

I am a big fan of food trucks. There’s something oddly fresh about knowing that the food you’re eating likely isn’t fresh and sani-tary because it was prepared in the back of a truck. Also, there’s a feel-ing of convenience associated with food trucks even though they are typically overpriced and are signifi-cantly less convenient than a drive-through. Alright, so while food trucks are far from the greatest thing since sliced bread, they are a novelty and I am still a huge fan.

GiaVia Sweets is slightly differ-ent than the average food truck be-cause they serve cupcakes, which is

a huge relief. Instead of watching an overweight, scantily clothed, hairy man drip sweat into your food, you are greeted by friendly people who need only reach into a fridge to re-trieve a cupcake for you.

The cupcakes are delicious. They typically have about six types of cupcakes available at the truck on a given day, ranging from red velvet to salted caramel to coco-nut curry. I have had the majority of the cupcakes they sell and have

found they follow a similar trend. The frostings are incredible, with-out a doubt the best part of the cupcake. They are smooth and have rich flavor. The fillings in the filled cupcakes are good, but they don’t go deep enough into the cupcake; rather, they sit only about a quarter inch deep. The cake is actually the weakest of the three components but still deserves a passing grade (a solid “B”). I cannot describe it as dry, but it is less rich and more

crumbly than I have grown accus-tomed to in my 17 years of semi-professional cake eating.

The one true downside is that these cupcakes are on the expen-sive side. They cost $3.25 apiece, and while there are cheaper alter-natives at local grocery stores, keep in mind that these cupcakes are sold in a bright pink truck. These are sold in tube containers of six in both original and Asian flavors and are quite tasty. Orders can be made ahead of time through their website, any of their 37 flavors are available as long as at least six of each flavor is ordered.

If you are not a cupcake fan, which would be silly, they also of-fer macaroons.

The truck can be found in the parking lot of PetSmart on Satur-days between 11 and 2 and is cer-tainly worth checking out if you enjoy cupcakes and bright pink food trucks.

FACTS

The Pacer’s very own food critic Mark Schmid uses his bluntly honest remarks to review a restaurant each month. This month’s pick: GiaVia Sweets.

Crusing to the cupcakes

Not W

orth

It

EhhhEnjoyable Scrumptious

Life-changer

The Frenzy Meter

Photo courtesy of GiaVia Sweets

Sports Rolling Meadows High School

Briefs Sports

GIRLS TENNISStarting out strong, the

girls tennis team is 5-1.After a good season last

year, finishing fourth in Conference with a record of 8-13 (2-3), the team is setting its sights high and hoping to win Conference.

“Because we have ten of 11 players returning this year, we really think we can win conference,” returning varsity player

and sophomore Caroline Czulno said.

Returning seniors include Amber Tenuta, Shannon Kulpins, Brittany Khayet, Sarah Bohac and Elizabeth Staffa. They are joined by juniors Jackie and Allie Kemph, Erin Barry and Czulno.

Tomorrow the team heads to the Hersey Invite.

12

GIRLS SWIMMING

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Changing Lanes Closing of AMF bowling lanes causes team to move practices and meets to Mount Prospect

Liam BradyEditor-in-Chief

When the AMF Bowling alley in Rolling Meadows closed july third due to financial problems, few groups were more impacted than the girls bowling team. The team not only practiced there but also held all the Mid-Suburban League Conference meets in the facility.

“I was absolutely shocked when I heard it was closing,” senior Catlin Wooton said. “I was on the way back from a fourth of July Parade and one of my coaches texted me saying it was closed and we had to get our supplies out of there within the next two weeks.”

The sudden closure even sparked doubt amongst players if the season would occur at all.

“It was really depressing when it closed,” senior Angela D’Astice said. “Not only did

we practice there, but it was one of the last things open in Meadows for everyone to do. I kind of thought that we might not have a bowling season anymore. I didn’t know where we would go. Even other bowling teams like Fremd and Conant bowl there so I was a little sceptical.”

Fortunately, replacement venues have been found for both practices and meets. The girls will head to the Brunswick Zone in Mount Prospect for practices and to Arlington Lanes for conference meets.

One issue that still needs to be addressed in the coming months is how the team will make the approximately 15 minute commute to the Brunswick Zone every day.

“It has its own little challenges because before people could just drive there or walk there or take a white bus. Now we have to look at alternative ways,” Assistant Principal of Athletics Lisa DaRocha said. “It could be a yellow bus having to take kids to and from

competitions and practices and then back to school, things we’re still all trying to work out.”

The change in venue may be inconvenient for the players, but not for Head Coach Karen Ellingsworth, who owns the Pro Shop at Brunswick Zone.

“It will be great because I’ll be able to have any training aides or video devices to help with practice,” Ellingsworth said. “They’ve also went out of their way to give us lockers and equipment there, and it’s a state-of-the-art facility.”

Senior Sarah Caprio is also optimistic about the change.

“I think it’s going to be good because [Ellingsworth] really knows the lanes,” Caprio said. “I think we can overcome the inconvenience and bowl really well at the Brunswick Zone.”

GUTTER BALL: New bowling alley causes changes in the teams routine.

Since the end of last year, the girls swim team has only gotten faster. Just a few weeks into the season, returning varsity swimmers are already breaking their personal records from last year’s closing meets.

The team is 1-1, with seniors Neeka Szacilo, Meaghan O’Brien, Jessica Dykstra and Angela D’astice, and juniors Maggie Feikes and Rachel Renz leading the way.

“The leadership of

our four seniors and two juniors is so strong. They know that they are as good as they are only because they all bust their butts,” head coach Monika Chiappetta said.

With the addition of freshmen Bailey Rowley, Anna Frantom, Lizzie Hardt and Jessie Ligenza and sophomore Erin Pletch to the varsity squad, the team hopes for a very successful season.

Although the girls cross country record of 0-2 may not be the best, they have a talented team.

With four seniors leading the way, the team hopes to have a successful season. Seniors Madeline Hume, Melissa Whowell, Rebecca Rodriguez and Mariah Heck will show the younger runners the rules of racing. Junior Vanessa Sanchez will also

be returning to the varsity squad this year.

“We would like to finish in the top six or seven at Conference this year,” coach Kevin Young said.

The team’s leadership should be a big factor this year with sophomores Zoe Frantom and Kadie Daniels and freshman Gabi Sanchez along for the varsity ride.

DRIVE : Sophomore Lauren Hattory tees off during practice at the driving range.

Mark SchmidFood Critic

The girls golf team came out strong this season despite landing in the rough amidst their confer-ence.

The team is currently sitting with a 5-4 record. Though strug-gling through conference play, the golfers have established themselves by remaining undefeated in non-conference play.

With just two weeks left before conference, head coach Paul Fraser says that the goal is to shoot for .500.

“Things are going well in terms of having fun and getting things done,” Fraser said.

The feeling is mutual for senior Emily Hattory.

“Everyone gets along really well and we can only keep improving,” Hattory said.

Develpoment will be key as the Mustangs prepare for conference. Anchoring the team are seniors Hattory and Jacquie Ingolia. They are also Fraser’s hopes for a post-regionals.

Ingolia believes that the past is to be forgotten as they pick up steam heading into the final days.

“We had sort of a tough start to the season, but we are continuously improving,” Ingolia said. “Our main focus now is just to prepare for con-ference in two weeks.”

The team has back-to-back home meets coming up; first they take on Buffalo Grove today at 3:30 p.m.. Then, they face off against Maine South at 4 p.m. for the team’s se-nior night. Both games are at Ar-lington Lakes Golf Course.

To find out about the boys golf season, check our website, rmhspacer.com.

Girls golf team ‘having fun and getting things done’ on the course with 5-4 record

*Flash your Rolling MeadowsID and receive a 10% discount*

-All reporting by Tony Sarussi

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SportsSeptember 14, 2012 13

Seth BachmanSports Editor

After starting off conference play with two wins, a tie and a loss, the boys soccer team is eying the Mid-Suburban League East title.

“We have been underestimated. We would like to get into the Mid Suburbam League championship and shock some of the other schools,” senior Noe Zarate said.

The season started off with a loss to Glenbard North High School 3-2 and then with a tie against Elk Grove High School.

“We felt good about our chances and our effort, but we know we need to keep our focus and intensity up for 80 minutes. We haven’t done that yet,” head coach Peter Mikulak said.

Going into their third game against Prospect High chool the team had a bad break. Senior goalkeeper Kevin Murphy dislocated and slightly fractured his left middle finger during pre-game warmups.

“Kevin has missed a game and [senior] Alejandro Camarillo came in and played pretty well. We don’t know how long Kevin will be out, but we have Alejandro who can play and [senior] Peter Nickle can play some keeper as well if we need him.” coach Mikulak said.

They overcame the loss of Murphy and went on to beat Prospect 2-1. Goals were scored by Noe Zarate and senior Freddy Zarate.

“It honestly felt amazing after last year’s game losing 6-2. I told myself that I didn’t want to see that happening again. The team did an amazing job getting the victory,” Freddy said.

The team followed the Prospect win with a 3-0 victory against Conant High School but lost against Palatine High School 2-1 this past Tuesday.

Although the boys soccer team is playing on the new artificial turf in the stadium, its not much of a change given the fact they play on turf for most of the games.

“The turf will allow us to practice more often if the Park District fields are unplayable due to rain,” Mikulak said. “With the turf we see the ball roll straighter and the game is faster. We were already seeing turf fields in over 50 percent of our games and will see it more now so, I don’t think it will change the game for the athletes.”

The team looks to add two more wins to their tally with back to back games next Tuesday and Wednesday. They play away against Hoffman Estates High School followed by a home game against Barrington. Both have 6:30 kick off times.

Heading to the topBoys soccer team starts well, aims for MSL East title

HEADER: Senior Freddy Zarate, number 22, and junior Cal Skwerski number, 13, go for the ball while protecting the Mustang net against Conant. The mustangs will play non-conference rival Hoffman on Tuesday when they try to improve their record. Meadows will also play conference rival Hersey on the following Tuesday as they look to climb up the MSL standings before the playoffs.

Soccer at a glance:

Pacer/Sara Schoen

Date

9/189/199/259/2710/2

Oppenent

Hoffman EstatesBarringtonHerseyWheelingFremd

Time

6:30 p.m.6:30 p.m.4:30 p.m.6:30 p.m.7:00 p.m.

Location

At HoffmanHomeAt HerseyHomeAt Fremd

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DAILY SPECIALGrilled Whole Chicken w/ Rice & Beans or Cole-slaw & Macaroni, Grilled Jalepenos & Onions,

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SPORTSPacer DRIVING HARD

Senior Danny Wojtowicz (right) has led the boys golf

team to a 4-4 record.

Artifical turf field completed Liam BradyEditor-in-Chief

Tonight will mark the end of the beginning. Before the varsity football game, the the new artificial turf on Robert A. Hoese field will be dedicated in a ceremony starting at 6:20 p.m. This will mark the conclusion of a eight month process starting with the announcement of the turf at a February school board meeting. The construction of the turf field took place over the summer and was completed on July 27, just in time for the start of fall sports. “It was actually finished a month ahead of schedule which was unbelievable,” Assistant Principal of Athletics Lisa DaRocha said. “For-tunately, though it was a very hot summer, we didn’t have a lot of rain which helped.” Fall sports teams have been practicing on it since early Aug. and have been impressed with the surface. “I think it’s great, really high quality,” Head Football Coach Matt Mishler said. “Also if it’s raining at all, the turf makes a huge difference. There is very little slipping whereas on grass it’s a nightmare.”

The boys soccer team also appreciates the new turf. Before, all four levels of the program had to go across the street to the Rolling Meadows Park District soc-cer fields. Now the varsity team is able to prac-tice on it multiple times a week.

“It’s been nice. We’ve been able to get on it a lot, even the couple times it’s rained this month,” Head Coach Peter Mikulak said. “It’s also good to give the park district fields a rest, and it gives the lower level teams more space at the Park District fields when we

[the varsity team] are on the turf.” Along with the sports teams, the field has been met with great enthusiasm from P.E. class-es which use it every block of the day. “The weather’s been really nice and we’ve been able to come out here every period,” gym teacher Jim Lindeman said. “I think the kids re-ally like it and it’s benefited us greatly.” However, the group that could be benefitting most is the school marching band. Along with being able to practice on the field every Wednes-day night, Band Director Chris Buti has found that it makes a big difference during their per-formances. “It’s nice to have a smooth surface. We don’t have to worry about potholes, sinkholes or mud. Also because of that we can see the lines better. It helps our kids march better,” Buti said. “And the other thing we noticed after the first game is that because it’s so vibrantly colored, it helps the uniforms and flags and all that pop even more. We are just thrilled with it.” With the turf expected to last ten to 12 years, the school will hopefully enjoy the field for many years to come.

NEW LOOK: The recently installed artificial turf will be dedicated tonight before the varsity football game. The project finished a month ahead of schedule and since the installation, multiple sports and activities have found the turf to be beneficial.

Lining up for a playoff run

Seth BachmanSports Editor,

After getting knocked out of the playoffs in the first round last season, the Mustangs are striving to prevent it from happening again.

“Our goal as a team is to win the East,” Head Coach Matt Mishler said. “No matter what happens, we will be in a good spot in the playoffs.”

In the Mustangs’ first game they played non-conference rival the York Dukes. After last year’s 50-49 home victory, the Mustangs visited York’s

home turf expecting a battle.“We weren’t sure what we were

going to get out of York, but we had anticipated a fight,” Mishler said. The Mustangs defense handled York’s offense and created turnovers and good field position. Senior Danny Malnati had an interception and senior Adam Pavlakis lead the team with four tackles and a sack on the way to a 42-0 victory.

“Last year was our first time working with the new system on defense. We were just a lot more comfortable in the system this time around,” Mishler said.

On the offensive side, the team also

stepped up with seniors Jack Milas and Steven Royster combining for six touchdowns.

Although the team was happy with the performance, coaches made it clear that this was only the first step in a big process of the team’s goal.

“I told the team that we need to make drastic improvements from week to week,” Mishler said.

Meadows added another win in their first game on its new home turf against the Barrington Broncos, 41-7. Meadows played suffocating defense, including a fumble returned for a touchdown by senior Jakub Syzlack.

“We know how to play as one: we play faster, more physical and play with the will to win,” senior defensive end Raul Cortez said.

The team also piled on the points, finishing with senior Andre Campbell leading the team with three touchdown receptions all tossed by Milas. For the second week in a row, Mishler took out the varsity quarterback to give back-up junior Bobby Sucheki a chance to get some in-game reps.

The Mustangs took their first loss of the season against Conant in a 41-34 battle. The loss moved the

team’s record to 2-1. However, the team felt that they made mistakes and there were ways to fix them.

“The team can improve by doing the little things,” senior Matt Barry said. “We won a few of the games, but we made plenty of mistakes that can be fixed with hard work and by watching film. We can never be satisfied with ourselves. We can’t overlook a team and be cocky. Getting off to a good start is crucial.”

The Mustangs have a home game against Fremd High School at 7 p.m.

Seth BachmanSports Editor

After last year’s record breaking season as a junior, Jack Milas was offered the chance and has made a verbal commitment to play football at Ball State University.

Even with the entire senior season to play, Milas jumped at the opportunity to become a Cardinal. Milas is expected to announce his final decision in February when the National Signing Day is held.

“I talk to Jack all the time about it,” coach Matthew Mishler said. “We kind of knew who had been looking at him. Ball State was looking at him and they were the first guys to come watch him throw. He always had been excited about it and when they came in with an offer it was a no-brainer for him.”

Milas’ teammates are impressed and think that he will have a great game at the college level.

“I’m proud of Jack. He’s worked really hard to get to where he is and it paid off for him. I can’t wait to watch him play there,” senior Matt Barry said.

“Jack deserves it. He has put in the work neede. His stats show what he can do with the ball and the great things he can do,” senior Raul Cortez said.

Ball State, located in Muncie, Ind. is part of the Mid-American Conference. Schools include Northern Illinois University, Ohio University, Miami of Ohio, Toledo, Akron, Buffalo, UMASS, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, University of Buffalo and Bowling Green.

Ball State BoundSenior Jack Milas commits to college football

SNAP: From left Seniors Matt Barry, Alexsis Rojas, Mark Schmid and juniors Billy Golaris and Matt Long. The team has a 2-1 record and has a home game tonight at seven against Fremd High School.

Student SoundOff

“The quickness of the turf helps the speed of our play and it helps since most of our games are played on turf.” -junior MikeD’Aquisto Varsity Soccer

“In the past, a few people have wiped out and as amusing as that can be for other people, it’s also kind of dangerous and now we don’t have to worry about it.” -senior Joe Tam Marching Band

“On the turf you can definitely play faster. Your feet move quicker and there’s less resistance than the grass.” -senior Adam Pavlakis Varsity Football

“The turf helps gym class because before there would be dirt and people tripped and got hurt more often.” -junior Chloe Swindells Gym student

See full story at rmhspacer.com

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