Day in the life of: Josh Robinson

Photo by H. Watson; Sophomore Josh Robinson holds the position of weatherman on the school announcements and is actively involved in choir and Best Buddies. Freshman Josh Robinson, 16, is well known around the school for his ever-ready smile and cheerful attitude. Many people make an effort to offer him a hello and a smile in the hallways, or stop to have a chat with him.His position as the weatherman on the school announcements adds to his recognition. He is enthusiastic as he reports the highs and lows, and often throws a little joke in at the end. “They needed a weatherman and they asked... Read more

Surreal Alice in Wonderland novel surpasses the recent movie

Watching the old movie version of Alice in Wonderland as a kid, I was completely unaware of it being based on a book (or, more precisely, two books). When I did learn this, I put it on my “I-should-probably-read-this-sometime-but-will-likely-never-get-to-it” list. With the recent Alice movie and the Johnny Depp/Mad Hatter craze, I figured that now would probably be the best time to read it. If you have seen the Disney version of the movie, or even the newer one, you’d be surprised at what they changed. Some of the events are left out, as always happens when literature is transposed to the... Read more

Take the anti-insult challenge

If you stop to think about it, you hear insults so many times on a daily basis that you couldn’t ever possibly keep track of it. High school is a constant wave of negative language, so much so that most people have developed “selective hearing” in regards to the majority of it. How many times has everyone heard (but not really listened to) the expressions, “That’s so gay!”  or “Don’t be such an idiot!” or “Shut up, nobody loves you?” Probably far too many. I know I have. It’s tiring to hear such an immense amount of negativity—and many don’t even realize it. When... Read more

Disney’s latest is something different

This time, the Disney princess isn't a princess at all. Illustration from www.disney.com After watching The Princess and the Frog, I was a little befuddled. Yes, befuddled. Isn’t it supposed to be a Disney movie? It wouldn’t be surprising if the viewer forgot this fact. Where’s the majestic castle setting, the 100% happy ending, the Barbie-pretty princesses, the guy falling all over himself to win the affection of the girl? Not in this film, apparently, and I find that a marked improvement. In a throwback to classic children’s films, it’s not computer-animated, but an actual hand-drawn... Read more

Photo club clicks into existence

A new club is beginning to take root, drawing interested artists with the lure of the camera. The Photography Club gives young photographers the chance to capture pictures in an artistic way. “This is an opportunity for students to enhance their creative side through the camera,” art teacher and club sponsor Craig Helming said. Members of the club attend bi-monthly meetings, display their work each semester, participate in photo contests, attend discussions held by guest speakers, and tap into their creativity through photographic mediums. A 15 dollar fee is charged to cover the cost of supplies... Read more

Polo team sparks intrigue

Rumors of an underground Polo Team have circulated recently through the halls of the school.  Everyone seems to ask, over and over again – water polo? Horseback-riding polo?  Marco Polo?  The answer to all is:  none of the above. So many questions are posed, and yet the answer is the simplest one available, the most obvious one.  Members don’t play water sports or have an odd fascination with deceased explorers. They just wear polo shirts. “We don’t play it, we wear it,” senior Patrick Stroud said.  “It’s mainly a joke, really.” Another conflict is whether they are... Read more

Halloween classic provides terror, not blood

With Halloween soon approaching, signs of the spooky holiday are all around us. Stores are jam-packed with bundles of skeleton wall hangings, talking door knockers, cotton spun spider webs, and plenty of movies fit for the occasion. Unfortunately for those with a low tolerance for horror, it is becoming increasingly difficult in this rush of blood and gore to find a movie that leaves you with goosebumps rather than nightmares. The good news is that there is still a handful of movies for those in the Halloween spirit who are simply looking for an excellent movie. Sleepy Hollow, directed by the infamous... Read more

Don’t judge a book by its cover

When I picked up the girl who stopped swimming, I thought it was going to be one of those books in which a competitive athlete (in this case a swimmer) gets injured, and a the rest of the plot revolves around the girl’s emotional woes as she sits on the sidelines, watching her team go on without her. This was not the case at all. I could tell that from the very first line—“Until the drowned girl came to Laurel’s bedroom, ghosts had never walked in Victorianna.” So if you expect a clichéd sports novel, you are not going to find it here. You will find the furthest thing from it. Laurel... Read more

The essence of homecoming

Right now is the time of year when the homecoming frenzy starts to begin. Everyone rushes around looking for dates and buying tickets for the dance, arrangements are made for rides to the football game, and things just take on a sense of urgency. It all gets pretty hectic for high schoolers around this time, and I believe we get lost in all this chaos. We get too caught up in homecoming issues; we just plain get overstressed. We lose the essence of homecoming. Not many people stop to think about this, what the essence of homecoming really is. I think it’s really about the inner child. Everyone’s... Read more

Beginners to prepare for 1st guitar concert, vocalists needed

For those who have yet to pick up a guitar, the concept of performing in little over a month is positively terrifying. Even those who have some experience feel slight trepidation. Students in Guitar 1 class, instructed by music teacher Jason Jasper, must face this fear while playing at their first concert on Tuesday, October 13 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. The Guitarists will play a selection of songs learned in class and practiced outside of it. Some students have already familiarized themselves with the guitar and are taking the class because they would like to learn more about the instrument.... Read more