Weather conditions affecting school life

By Delaney Smith, Melanie Parrish, Bessmah Elashawah, and Emily Stock

Icy weather, slippery roads, and snow piling in drifts along the road are two-hour delays waiting to happen. These weather conditions pose a threat to the safety of driving students on their way to school. Two-hour delays give the salt trucks time to clear the roads and make them safer, but  delays and especially snow days do have their bad points, and can affect schedules for days.

“I think that sometimes they [delays] are helpful for students to arrive at school safely,” said English teacher Karen Lehman.

Although the conditions are dreadful, some students still enjoy having snow days and two-hour delays.

“I think snow days are fun for the first few days, but after that I don’t like them because they cut into our summer and the days we are supposed to have off,” said junior Kristina Foster.

Some teachers agree.

“I enjoy them [snow days] but I don’t find them helpful. I like to have a day off but it doesn’t help my teaching,” said math teacher Melissa Neal.

It doesn’t only affect teachers’ schedules but students’, too. It can affect plans and mess up schedules for in or out-of-school activities. If we have too many snow days then we could have makeup days and not get as long of breaks or days off for smaller holidays.  We have two official build in snow days.  After those two are used it pushes back the end of the school year.

Neal said, “Snow storms never really bother me and my schedule, it might mean a test be pushed back. It doesn’t affect me, it affects students.”

“Snow days usually affect the rest of the week. I try to plan (in detail) a week or two in advance, so after a snow day I have to decide to remove any activities to stay on track and move all of the activities back a day. A two-hour delay doesn’t usually affect me, I just have to do everything a little faster than planned,” said Spanish teacher Carly Bruce.

It affects pep band because it can take away practices and time from fundraisers, said freshman John Thwing.

These days can also be very positive effect on schedules for students. It can help with last minute homework, projects, and tests.

“The one snow day that we had this year I was supposed to have like two or three tests that day and I was able to study for them, I don’t know what classes they were but it was nice to have extra time to study,” said Foster.

This can also make time for fun activities with friends and family. Sledding and drinking hot chocolate on a cold snowy day can be a perfect time to de-stress and get ready to face the rest of the school week and all of its craziness.

“Snow days lower my stress level. Two-hour delays add to it because everything goes so fast during the rest of the day. Everything seems more hectic,” said Lehman.

 

 

Yearbook Cover “Let’s Talk About”

By Sydney Sears and Claire Watkins

Our yearbook theme is “Let’s Talk About.” We chose this theme because it displays what a lot of high school is about; communication. It also represents what a yearbook is supposed to do, which is allow people to talk about and reminisce about the past year. Our color scheme decisions were based on the thought that we believe white would stand out because white is not often used, and the blue and purple are a nice contrast and add a nice pop against the white.

FC students struggle to demonstrate school spirit

By Quinn Fitzgerald, Reina Torres, Natalie Allen, Yuriko Tashiro, and Kyra Pumphrey

Spirit week is supposed to be full of school spirit demonstrated by the students, but the spirit is nowhere to be found.

The student council of FC occasionally plans a week for the students to really show their school spirit by dressing up in crazy get-ups. Unfortunately, there are more students who would rather enjoy their yoga pants and raggedy t-shirts than join the tradition. The real question is: does spirit week really show school spirit?

One student, sophomore Amber Branch, does participate in spirit week but she does not think it shows spirit.

“If people did it [spirit week] than yes it is. But no one does it so no; it does not show school spirit. I love doing it because I do have school spirit.”

Another student, freshman Analise Book also thought it lacks the spirit in spirit week.

“Kids just want excuses to do stupid things,” said Book.

To make things interesting, junior Sierra Uhl saw a different way of analyzing the situation, sharing how she feels about spirit week overall.

“I feel that it is a great thing to have spirit week. It gives students to get involved.”

Such plans are made for spirit week including the dates, the promotions, and most importantly, the themes. The most recent spirit week contained themes such as Ugly Sweater Day and Fancy Friday.

Uhl and Branch both said that the themes are fun. Uhl added that they are really goofy and that she can see the students who participate generally have a great time.

Book said, “They’re a cool incentive to do something, but sometimes they do go too far.”

There could be many reasons as to why students don’t participate in showing some school spirit. Junior Jerry Lacross and freshman David Shepard shared their thoughts.

Lacross said that it is because students think others will make fun of them while Shepard thinks it’s because people don’t put the effort into it and their friends won’t do it.

Spirit week was created to let students show their spirit of the students here at FC, but unless people actually start participating, spirit week will cease to exist. It’s not the theme or idea of spirit week that provides the school pride; it’s the students.

 

More than just tape

This yearbook cover was inspired by duct tape. The colors represent our school colors. The black lines are going to represent strips of duct tape. The logo “Sticking to Our Future,” was created upon the idea of the job of duct tape in keeping things together.

The reasoning behind putting the question,” Have you stuck?” on the back was to make students contemplate about their high school career.

What If…? yearbook front and back cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the front cover for the 2014 yearbook, What If…?     This is the back cover for the 2014 yearbook, What… If?

What If…? was chosen as the theme for this yearbook because it has a lot of potential for branching out into sub-themes. It challenges the reader to ask themselves “what if” and to discover the answers within the yearbook. Also the cover is pretty cool looking. On the spine, it’s black and in silver lettering says “Floyd Central High School, Baritzan, 2013-2014, vol. 47”.

Dance marathon coming to FC

Dance marathon committee students practicing Thursday morning for their performance during the pep rally later that day. The actual Dance Marathon event will occur Feb. 16. Their goal is to raise 25,000 dollars this year. “Revealing the total makes it all worth it,” said senior Anna Boone. Photo by Ashlyn Anderson.

By Amber Habron and Blake Stewart

On Feb. 16 2013, Floyd Central will hold its third annual Dance Marathon to raise money for Riley Children’s Hospital.

“It’s actually not a dance; it’s a six hour standing where we have games, food, hot air balloon rides, and sports.  We get people to come in and tell us their story, and every time we learn a section of the dance.  At the end we put the dance together,” said Dance Marathon sponsor Jessica Broady.

According to Dance Marathon sponsor Tiffany Stansbury, 250 people attended the first year and 400 people attended last year.  Senior Anna Boone shared that the goal is for 500 people to attend on Feb. 16 of this year.

Freshman Aysha Omar said, “It’s a very good program for freshmen and sophomores because it’s a fun way to get involved with helping others.”

Stansbury said the money raised at the Dance Marathon goes to Riley Children’s Hospital because FC is an Indiana school and Riley is a nonprofit hospital for Indiana residents.

“They do miracles for children in the state of Indiana.  It wouldn’t matter if I didn’t have insurance versus having insurance; I know that they would take care of my two babies the same way,” said Broady.

$17,572 was raised the first year, $24,503 was raised last year, and the goal for this year is to raise $25,000.

The money is, “really all from the kids who come to the dance, so we’re really grateful to them,” said Boone.

The Dance Marathon Committee also holds fundraisers throughout the year for Riley, including a chili supper, silent auctions, and bake sales.

The Committee also has ‘Miracle Minutes’, where they “pass red buckets throughout the crowd to collect as much money in a minute during football and basketball season,” said Stansbury.  They usually raise around $500 from the Miracle Minutes.

Stansbury said the idea for the Dance Marathon came from principal Janie Whaley, whose sister works for the Riley Foundation.

“It’s a great cause because we’re helping kids,” said freshman Samantha Christiani.

Some last advice was offered to any interested students by Stansbury.

“Just come out and register.  On Riley Wednesdays, anyone who wears a Dance Marathon T-shirt that day can come get a free soft drink or cookies.  Registration is for 3 weeks.  It’s $35; all the money goes to Riley.  Ask for donations and collect money.”

Student Council reviews last year and looks to the future

By Michael Bolus and Will Huston

An exciting clamor developed behind the doors of FC’s auxiliary gym on the afternoon of Jan 24, 2013. Roughly 1600 student voices transcended the gym’s brick walls while the pep rally took place, which was organized by the Student  Council.

The Student Council is a non-profit organization at school that plans activities for FC students to partake in. The Student Council is tasked with organizing fundraisers, events, and inciting school spirit.

“I chose to be in Student Council because I wanted to be a part of something great and student council is a way I can help my community,” said senior Hannah Merk.

Students join Student Council for various reasons of their own: self beneficial reasons or those out of selflessness. “I joined Student Council because I really enjoyed it in elementary and middle school, and I wanted to keep it in my life. Plus it looks really good on college applications,” said freshman Lydia Kotowski.

Already Student Council has organized two fundraisers to help their community: the Walk-a-Thon that took place last October, and the Holiday Baazar in December. There will also be a dance marathon taking place on Feb 16, in which the donations will go to Riley Children’s Hospital.

“We want to raise 10,000 dollars for Riley Children’s Hospital, and we also want to improve school spirit,” said Kotowski.

The members of Student Council seem to enjoy everyone’s presence, allegedly welcoming for new additions and caring. “The Student Council gets better every year, and there’s a lot of new people every year that bring new ideas to the table,” said sophomore Rachel Nguyen. Student Council also does not lack potential leaders among itself as many students are seeking to rise in the ranks among each other. “I joined Student Council to help the school as well as expose myself to more than one type of leadership to better myself,” said freshman Tyler Crowl.

Of course, at the end of the year, some would be left thinking, “How could I have made it better?” Many make specific statements promising to do this or that, but out of all of that comes a general statement. Freshman Bailey Creighton sums it up as: “Try and get more involved.”

Students call out reality TV

By Emma Howie and Alivia Harbison

In this fine day and age, America is known for many things. Socks with sandals, McDonald’s, skinny jeans, and perhaps most prominently, our creepy obsessions with the lives of celebrities. In fact, we no longer just pay attention to every little detail of the lives of celebrities. Now, normal people can be under public scrutiny, just for being different.

It’s borderline psycho. I know a girl who knows the number of the hospital room Justin Bieber was born in. How is that anything but creepy? If somebody knew that much about me, I would go into hiding, or at least invest in some extra security. It’s understandable for people to want to know about celebrities, but some things just cross the line between interested and stalking. And now it’s not even all about our actors and actresses, but normal people.

The Amish, for example. They were perfectly content to stay on their farms, in their communities, with no technology. Then we brought in our camera crews to document how they react to being taken to New York. The fact is, Amish people are Amish because they shun technology. So obviously, the few who agreed to be on TV aren’t your typical Amish people. What’s more, the entire Amish community is now going to be stereotyped because of those few people, who may not be a good representation of their community at all.

“Toddlers and Tiaras” is another show that makes me embarrassed to be an American. Quite frankly, I think it’s a form of child abuse. Girls grow up to be insecure enough as it is- why start them at an early age? Most of the time they don’t even have a choice in it, and now it’s being glorified on public television. As much as I’m sure the girls enjoy being treated like dolls, and having any semblance of normality in their lives ruined, it seems unfair.

Honey Boo Boo not only shows the lifestyle of a young pageant girl, but exposes just how redneck, obnoxious, and loud her family is. Between the farting contests and glitzy dresses lies a world so absurd that it entertains us. This television show resembles just how low our society has dropped. “Honey Boo Boo’s mom has a boyfriend, and you’re still single. That’ll keep you up at night,” is the only phrase you need to hear to understand just how bad this family is.

There is no denying that television has sunk to new lows. Without new ideas for shows, producers turn to “reality” that entertains the masses at the expense of degrading and annoying the people involved. While most people may think it’s funny now, what would happen if you starred in a TV program that showed every detail of your life, whether you wanted it to or not? That day may be closer than you think.

‘The Silver Linings Playbook’ has no silver lining

By Mikaela Click

Bradley Cooper…words escape me when I see him on the big screen. The man is gorgeous, and “The Silver Linings Playbook” did a fabulous job of showing him off. Between him working out and showing his softer side at therapy sessions, I really thought the movie was going to be a success. The sad thing is, it was a flop.

The story is about Pat Solitano after he moves back in with his parents after he was put in a state institution for attempting to kill the man his wife was having an affair with. Upon getting out of the institution, he starts working out and goes to therapy so his “wife,” Nikki, will take him back. In the process of getting back on his feet, he meets this woman Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) who is also messed up just like Pat. All the while, Pat’s father is betting on the Eagles (pro football team) and he’s convinced that Pat is his good luck charm.

I have to say that I hated it. I mean, it’s the typical comedy/drama that we’ve all seen a thousand times. And there’s no meaningful story. Pat Solitano gets out of the institution, goes home and enters a dance competition with Tiffany, and he goes to a football game. The movie didn’t add any value to my life in the two hours that I spent watching it. I actually watched the movie on my laptop and had to split it between two days because it was that boring. I would be ticked off if I spent almost $10 to see this movie.

Now I won’t ruin the ending but it’s abrupt, I’ll put it that way. The movie doesn’t move anywhere so you literally will have to force yourself to finish it. The acting was great, but it doesn’t matter how awesome it was. If the script sucks, the script sucks. Plain and simple. Definitely not a movie that I will be watching again.

FC students express their school spirit through spirit week

by Chloe Wassom and Kacey Hagan

Roaming through the halls of Floyd Central High School are a large handful of students that are easier to spot out than others. At first glance, one might think that the Floyd Central student body just has a particularly bad taste in sweaters, but then will realize that the peppy students are only showing their school spirit. It’s spirit week at Floyd Central.

Freshmen Summer Slepski said, “Something I really like about spirit week is how it seems to lighten the mood at school. Everyone is laughing and enjoying the week!”

So spirit week seems to make school more fun and enjoyable for the students. But how exactly do the teachers think of it?

“I think it’s a great way for students to get involved in the school and have fun,” said English teacher Jim Lang.

English teacher Tim Romig said, “I like coming to school and seeing all the outfits the students come up with, but I think sometimes they lose what the week is for.”

However, senior Shelby Reynolds has not lost what it’s for at all. “I have never participated in spirit week before this year, but I really want to show my school spirit and have fun my senior year, so that’s why I’m participating this year.”

photo by Aidan Holt
Sophomore Mikaela Click shows her school spirit on elderly day.

Slepski, who along with Reynolds really enjoys participating in spirit week this week said, “It seems to bring the whole school together as a big family!”