by Serena Wells
Paris Cooperative High School offers students a chance to get college credits during high school by taking Dual Credit classes through Lake Land Community College. Lake Land and Paris Cooperative team up and offers this to students with above a 4.0 GPA on a 5.0 scale. While taking these classes you are a Lake Land student as well as a PCHS student. Most of the classes are worth 3 college credits a semester as well as a half of a high school credit. The college credits can be transferred to different colleges depending on that college’s requirements. We have over 13 classes offered to us through Lake Land and there will be even more offered next year.
I talked to a few of this year’s seniors about what they think of their Dual Credit classes that they are currently taking or have taken as juniors. Sarah Sablotny says “They are what every class should be like. We learn a lot more and it’s more interesting.” A lot of the Dual Credit classes are more detailed then high school classes but still able to be passed by a high school student. “These classes are very helpful because I know I can get certain college courses that I have to take out of the way before even graduating high school at a cheaper price.” says Sarah Gross. Most of the classes cost $100 a semester when in college they can cost twice as much if not more.
Knowing we have these classes offered to us is very helpful and hopefully many students will take advantage of the great opportunity.
Monday, November 22, 2010
FFA Dairy Foods Competition
by Meredith Penczek
Recently, the Paris FFA Chapter sent six freshmen students to the Dairy Foods Competition. The participating students were Bailey Lawson, Cole Shonk, Shaylyn Phillips, Dustin Eslinger, Deveny Gill, and Dalton Hall. The Dairy Foods Competition judges the participants ability to taste different cheeses, grade quality, and tell between actual dairy products and imitation.
Out of the six participants, four placed in the top ten individually. Paris got second overall. They got second by eight points to Georgetown. Dalton Hall (pictured above) placed second individually. Deveny Gill placed third. Cole Shonk tied for sixth. Dustin Eslinger got eighth. Dustin was able to get all the types of cheeses right. The team was supervised by Miss Lindsay Hewitt.
The team met after school to practice. Practice consisted of tasting the cheeses and other dairy products. The team would then guess the cheeses. There were fourteen cheeses ranging from Colby to Mozzarella. The team also had to tell the difference between soy milk, almond milk, whole milk, and skim milk.
The team celebrated with pizza in Ms. Hewitt’s room a few days later at school. All in all, the dairy judging team had a good run this year and is hoping to place first next year.
Friday, November 19, 2010
A Day in the Life of a Computer
by Olivia Underwood
“Come on, Della,” mutters Mr. Aydt to his Smartboard, in the hopes that “Della” will respond by working correctly.
Mr. Aydt is giving his computer a personality just like most of us who have ever been frustrated or amused by our own computer. But what if the computers really DID have feelings? What would it be like to be that computer for a day?
Determined to find out, I came up with a list of questions and taped them to one of the desk in the library’s computer lab. Coming back the next day I expected to find answered questions, but I found out something shocking. Only one person used that computer all day! T.J. Waltz, a 10th grade student at PCHS, was the only person all day to use this slightly outdated computer.
T.J. enjoys his history class and plays baseball for fun and when asked who would win if Winnie the Pooh and Tinkerbell fought, he chose Tinkerbell, “Cause Tinkerbell has powers.”
Let's imagine for just a second how this computer must feel. The computer is a little older with a big moniter and a slow hard drive, it isn’t as new as it once was. It sits through homeroom, first, and second period with no one using it or paying attention to it.
Finally in third hour T.J. comes along and uses it for a single period, the highlight of the computer’s day. For the next five periods it sits alone, waiting patiently for someone to move its mouse and wake it up, but no one comes. At the end of the day it is left awake and alone in a room full of other computers.
Aren’t you glad you aren’t a computer?
“Come on, Della,” mutters Mr. Aydt to his Smartboard, in the hopes that “Della” will respond by working correctly.
Mr. Aydt is giving his computer a personality just like most of us who have ever been frustrated or amused by our own computer. But what if the computers really DID have feelings? What would it be like to be that computer for a day?
Determined to find out, I came up with a list of questions and taped them to one of the desk in the library’s computer lab. Coming back the next day I expected to find answered questions, but I found out something shocking. Only one person used that computer all day! T.J. Waltz, a 10th grade student at PCHS, was the only person all day to use this slightly outdated computer.
T.J. enjoys his history class and plays baseball for fun and when asked who would win if Winnie the Pooh and Tinkerbell fought, he chose Tinkerbell, “Cause Tinkerbell has powers.”
Let's imagine for just a second how this computer must feel. The computer is a little older with a big moniter and a slow hard drive, it isn’t as new as it once was. It sits through homeroom, first, and second period with no one using it or paying attention to it.
Finally in third hour T.J. comes along and uses it for a single period, the highlight of the computer’s day. For the next five periods it sits alone, waiting patiently for someone to move its mouse and wake it up, but no one comes. At the end of the day it is left awake and alone in a room full of other computers.
Aren’t you glad you aren’t a computer?
Paris Cooperative Has Talent!
by Kayla Foushee
Imagine your first step on the stage. Imagine the lights and the heat on your face. Imagine all of your friends and peers waiting for you to show your talent. PCHS is having a talent show for you to show case your amazing talent, singing, dancing, juggling, or telling jokes. Whatever your talents are come and show it off. “I’ve never been able to share my poems and have them recognized out loud.” Erica Sheeran said.
The PCHS talent show is a chance for all of us students to show off our talents. Mr. Lynch is in charge of the talent show which used to be a tradition at PCHS, but this is the first in a while. This talent show is giving students chances to do and show off things they’ve never felt or been able to do.
Talent shows have actually become a big part of American lives. Everyone knows that Americans like watching other people show case their crazy and amazing talents. Some examples of the “talent” shows we watch today are American Idol; America’s got talent, The X Factor, and many more. We as Americans participate in more “talent shows” than we realize. We participate in karaoke, and we show off to our friends and so much more.
Mr. Lynch has brought this American tradition to our own PCHS. Mr. Lynch is giving everyone in the high school a chance to show off without being called a show off. “I am trying to provide opportunities for kids to do something fun outside the normal class schedule.” Said Mr. Lynch. Hopefully this talent show will spark something in us students so Mr. Lynch can keep this talent show a tradition at PCHS.
Come on everyone. Now is your time to shine, every one grab your talent get on that stage and show us what you have got.
Imagine your first step on the stage. Imagine the lights and the heat on your face. Imagine all of your friends and peers waiting for you to show your talent. PCHS is having a talent show for you to show case your amazing talent, singing, dancing, juggling, or telling jokes. Whatever your talents are come and show it off. “I’ve never been able to share my poems and have them recognized out loud.” Erica Sheeran said.
The PCHS talent show is a chance for all of us students to show off our talents. Mr. Lynch is in charge of the talent show which used to be a tradition at PCHS, but this is the first in a while. This talent show is giving students chances to do and show off things they’ve never felt or been able to do.
Talent shows have actually become a big part of American lives. Everyone knows that Americans like watching other people show case their crazy and amazing talents. Some examples of the “talent” shows we watch today are American Idol; America’s got talent, The X Factor, and many more. We as Americans participate in more “talent shows” than we realize. We participate in karaoke, and we show off to our friends and so much more.
Mr. Lynch has brought this American tradition to our own PCHS. Mr. Lynch is giving everyone in the high school a chance to show off without being called a show off. “I am trying to provide opportunities for kids to do something fun outside the normal class schedule.” Said Mr. Lynch. Hopefully this talent show will spark something in us students so Mr. Lynch can keep this talent show a tradition at PCHS.
Come on everyone. Now is your time to shine, every one grab your talent get on that stage and show us what you have got.
Theater Arts Presents The Twilight Zone
by Madison Gates
Paris Cooperative High School’s new class at this year is the Theatre Arts class. This class is taught by Mr. Dan Lynch, the drama coordinator. This Theatre Arts class is for juniors and seniors only, and helps them improve their acting skills. They’ve recently been working on making a recreation of the Twilight Zone.
All of the students were assigned parts from the original Twilight Zone script. Millie Arp, a senior, was one of the main characters, Jessebelle. Gretta Patrick, a senior, played Elewyn. Drew Harper was Billy Ben. Rachel Givins played Ossie. Thomas Welsh, also a senior, played Luther. Hannah King, a junior, played Maddie. Olivia Underwood played Granny Harts. Eric Piper, also a junior, was the sound guy.
Those were just some of the students who participated. They took the old scripts from the original Twilight Zone, and they practiced their parts, then they recorded themselves doing it.
“It was harder to do the Twilight Zone, rather than act in a play, or musical because they have to stay focused more,” said Millie Arp a senior in the class. The Twilight Zone is mainly about Jessebelle, the main character. She goes to Granny Hart for her to put a spell on her so that a boy, who she likes, will fall in love with her.
“It was fun to recreate,” said Issac Staub, a junior in the class.
The videos the recorded will also be on the school website soon, on Mr. Dan Lynch’s blog.
Paris Cooperative High School’s new class at this year is the Theatre Arts class. This class is taught by Mr. Dan Lynch, the drama coordinator. This Theatre Arts class is for juniors and seniors only, and helps them improve their acting skills. They’ve recently been working on making a recreation of the Twilight Zone.
All of the students were assigned parts from the original Twilight Zone script. Millie Arp, a senior, was one of the main characters, Jessebelle. Gretta Patrick, a senior, played Elewyn. Drew Harper was Billy Ben. Rachel Givins played Ossie. Thomas Welsh, also a senior, played Luther. Hannah King, a junior, played Maddie. Olivia Underwood played Granny Harts. Eric Piper, also a junior, was the sound guy.
Those were just some of the students who participated. They took the old scripts from the original Twilight Zone, and they practiced their parts, then they recorded themselves doing it.
“It was harder to do the Twilight Zone, rather than act in a play, or musical because they have to stay focused more,” said Millie Arp a senior in the class. The Twilight Zone is mainly about Jessebelle, the main character. She goes to Granny Hart for her to put a spell on her so that a boy, who she likes, will fall in love with her.
“It was fun to recreate,” said Issac Staub, a junior in the class.
The videos the recorded will also be on the school website soon, on Mr. Dan Lynch’s blog.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
PCHS Student Speak Out In Any Way They Can--I Sing the Body Electric
Each year the students of high schools all over the state of Illinois are asked to contribute to I Sing the Body Electric. I Sing the Body Electric is an arts project that celebrates and encourages the students in making good decisions as well as offers support and help to those suffering the aftermath of poor decisions. This year Paris Cooperative High School students are having the opportunity to add to the program led by teacher Mrs. McFatridge. Some of the PCHS students who will be involved this year in I Sing the Body Electric are Shane Hawkins, Katrisha Sexton, Brooke Hunter, Millie Arp, Stewart Arp, and Rebecca Sexton.
Mrs. McFatridge says that the students in I Sing the Body Electric “When we go through and view the final presentation the kids really get the message of all the projects. I think teens have a very difficult time with decision making. They get a lot of mixed messages.”
This program works hard to have a clear message to help teenagers make the right decisions. This program helps students express themselves on the topics of drinking, drugs, self image, and sex. The students can help to make others aware of the effects that often result from these actions and they have the opportunity to break stereotypes about the kinds of kids who engage in these illegal activities. Many of the most moving pieces of art come from students who have had the misfortune to have lived through the tragic events that drugs and drinking and driving can cause.
Mrs. McFatridge says that the students in I Sing the Body Electric “When we go through and view the final presentation the kids really get the message of all the projects. I think teens have a very difficult time with decision making. They get a lot of mixed messages.”
This program works hard to have a clear message to help teenagers make the right decisions. This program helps students express themselves on the topics of drinking, drugs, self image, and sex. The students can help to make others aware of the effects that often result from these actions and they have the opportunity to break stereotypes about the kinds of kids who engage in these illegal activities. Many of the most moving pieces of art come from students who have had the misfortune to have lived through the tragic events that drugs and drinking and driving can cause.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Tweeting In Class
by Rachel Kenderdine
The traditional classroom does not include social networking. But at Paris Cooperative High School, several classrooms have integrated social networks, such as Twitter, into their curriculum.
Among those classrooms is Mr. Doughan’s, an English teacher at PCHS. During his Advanced Placement Literature class, students use Twitter as an open classroom discussion.
“I’ve tried to use it as a classroom discussion within a classroom, where Twitter is open during class and we get to see what people are Tweeting,” Mr. Doughan said. “I’ve seen it become another way for students to participate,” he added. “The quieter student now has a way to participate.”
Junior Cayla Higgins, a member of the class, agrees. “It is a way for the more shy students to get their opinion out there during class and might lead them to join in,” she said.
Students, Mr. Doughan said, seem to adapt to the use of Twitter in a good way. “It doesn’t seem to me like anyone feels left out,” he said. “It seems like the people who do want to be a part of it are and the people who can’t or don’t want to be a part of it aren’t bothered by it. They don’t feel like outcasts or like they aren’t a part of the class.”
Some students, on the other hand, enjoy Twitter, but with certain reservations.
“It’s not necessarily the best tool for inside class,” Erica Sheeran, a junior AP Literature student. She added, “It’s great for outside class though.”
Hannah King, a junior who is also an AP Literature student, felt the same way. “I think Twitter is helpful in appropriate situations. It shouldn’t rule the classroom because it gets distracting and it overpowers the teacher. However, out of the classroom it is a wonderful tool.”
For Cayla, though, Twitter is the perfect tool to work with. “I think it is useful when there is so much to say so that you don’t forget your point,” she said. “I think it is a good way for students to communicate and get their thoughts out there.”
The traditional classroom does not include social networking. But at Paris Cooperative High School, several classrooms have integrated social networks, such as Twitter, into their curriculum.
Among those classrooms is Mr. Doughan’s, an English teacher at PCHS. During his Advanced Placement Literature class, students use Twitter as an open classroom discussion.
“I’ve tried to use it as a classroom discussion within a classroom, where Twitter is open during class and we get to see what people are Tweeting,” Mr. Doughan said. “I’ve seen it become another way for students to participate,” he added. “The quieter student now has a way to participate.”
Junior Cayla Higgins, a member of the class, agrees. “It is a way for the more shy students to get their opinion out there during class and might lead them to join in,” she said.
Students, Mr. Doughan said, seem to adapt to the use of Twitter in a good way. “It doesn’t seem to me like anyone feels left out,” he said. “It seems like the people who do want to be a part of it are and the people who can’t or don’t want to be a part of it aren’t bothered by it. They don’t feel like outcasts or like they aren’t a part of the class.”
Some students, on the other hand, enjoy Twitter, but with certain reservations.
“It’s not necessarily the best tool for inside class,” Erica Sheeran, a junior AP Literature student. She added, “It’s great for outside class though.”
Hannah King, a junior who is also an AP Literature student, felt the same way. “I think Twitter is helpful in appropriate situations. It shouldn’t rule the classroom because it gets distracting and it overpowers the teacher. However, out of the classroom it is a wonderful tool.”
For Cayla, though, Twitter is the perfect tool to work with. “I think it is useful when there is so much to say so that you don’t forget your point,” she said. “I think it is a good way for students to communicate and get their thoughts out there.”
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Annual National FFA Convention
by Meredith Penczek
A few weeks ago the Paris FFA Chapter took eleven members to Indianapolis for the 82nd Annual National FFA Convention. Among the attending students were seniors: Mitch Stone, Logan Hale, Kacey Hamilton, and Alexis Barnes, sophomores: Kelsey Fuqua, Will Ormiston, Jeffery Robinson, Kayla Hoffman, and Sarah Kenderdine, and freshmen: Elliott Kauffman and Meredith Penczek. Over 40,000 FFA members were present at the Convention. Members came from all the fifty states as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The theme of this year’s convention was Infinite Potential. During the first session, members listened to motivational speaker, Josh Shipp, who gave them a unique insight about how to take on the challenges that the world presents you … and a goat. When asked what he thought about the speaker, senior Logan Hale answered, “I hadn’t heard about him before so I wasn’t expecting anything too exciting, but he was actually pretty funny and was definitely different.”
On the first night at the convention, all the members gathered at the Lucas Oil Stadium to listen to Easton Corbin and Lady Antebellum play. The concert was closed to only FFA members and their chaperones. On the second day of sessions, members were able to walk around the convention center and look at the different stands that were set up. There were stands from organizations and companies like Ford, U.S. Army, GAC, Cornfed, and AKC (American Kennel Club). The Paris members were able to listen to Brett Eldridge play at the GAC stand and get pictures and autographs from Brett. The Foundation paid for one meal of the Chapter’s, and they chose Buca De Beppo.
“There was a meatball bigger than a baseball… and Logan ate a whole one after two plates of Alfredo,” joked Elliott Kauffman.
The second night was spent at the rodeo. Members were able to watch bareback and saddle horse rodeo as well as bareback cattle. The third day was spent walking around the hall listening to the Creed recital finals and Parliamentary Procedure finals (both are contests through FFA).
At the end, all the members were sad to leave, but ready to go home. They all met new people and made memories that will last forever.
A few weeks ago the Paris FFA Chapter took eleven members to Indianapolis for the 82nd Annual National FFA Convention. Among the attending students were seniors: Mitch Stone, Logan Hale, Kacey Hamilton, and Alexis Barnes, sophomores: Kelsey Fuqua, Will Ormiston, Jeffery Robinson, Kayla Hoffman, and Sarah Kenderdine, and freshmen: Elliott Kauffman and Meredith Penczek. Over 40,000 FFA members were present at the Convention. Members came from all the fifty states as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The theme of this year’s convention was Infinite Potential. During the first session, members listened to motivational speaker, Josh Shipp, who gave them a unique insight about how to take on the challenges that the world presents you … and a goat. When asked what he thought about the speaker, senior Logan Hale answered, “I hadn’t heard about him before so I wasn’t expecting anything too exciting, but he was actually pretty funny and was definitely different.”
On the first night at the convention, all the members gathered at the Lucas Oil Stadium to listen to Easton Corbin and Lady Antebellum play. The concert was closed to only FFA members and their chaperones. On the second day of sessions, members were able to walk around the convention center and look at the different stands that were set up. There were stands from organizations and companies like Ford, U.S. Army, GAC, Cornfed, and AKC (American Kennel Club). The Paris members were able to listen to Brett Eldridge play at the GAC stand and get pictures and autographs from Brett. The Foundation paid for one meal of the Chapter’s, and they chose Buca De Beppo.
“There was a meatball bigger than a baseball… and Logan ate a whole one after two plates of Alfredo,” joked Elliott Kauffman.
The second night was spent at the rodeo. Members were able to watch bareback and saddle horse rodeo as well as bareback cattle. The third day was spent walking around the hall listening to the Creed recital finals and Parliamentary Procedure finals (both are contests through FFA).
At the end, all the members were sad to leave, but ready to go home. They all met new people and made memories that will last forever.
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