Andover Shield November 2009

Johnston makes music in the classroom > B1

Coach Rick Reed prepares for the upcoming season > C3

shield

4200 Andover Rd, Bloomfield Hills MI 48302

November 2009

Actress adjusts to high school Freshman Chloe Greenfield balances acting and academics Melanie Greenspan life page editor

After being Eminem’s sister and John Stamos’ daughter, Chloe Greenfield says she is just like everyone else.

“I want people to know I am just a normal person,” says Birmingham child Chloe Greenfield actor and now Andover freshman. “I am not the kind of person who if you hung out with me I would talk about acting every five seconds. I would be the person who talks about [acting] the least.

After a while it’s not that interesting.”

With four feature films rounding out her resume, this 14-year-old’s road to Tinsletown started when she was 6 years old. “My aunt was listening to the radio and she heard about an open casting call in downtown Detroit. My mom actually didn’t want to go. We didn’t expect anything,” “The casting director of 8 Mile came out and asked my mom if I could do a screen test and my mom said, ‘that’s fine but she doesn’t have any experience.’ At that point I didn’t really know what was going on; I was only 6 so to me it wasn’t a big deal.” “(When) I got a phone call from Universal Pictures offering the role of Lily to Chloe.

I said, ‘it sounds very interesting, but my child is not for sale,” explains her mother and manager Kim Greenfield. “I went from just being a regular mom to being put into a situation when I’m dealing with the acting world with no knowledge about it except wanting see ACTING to protect my child.”

State-proposed budget cuts in education Assistant Superintendent for Business Tim Weeks discusses impact at the high school level Gabe Menchaca business manager

As part of measures to combat falling state revenue, Governor Granholm signed into law a new budget which included measures to cut a further 52 million dollars from Michigan schools. This comes on top of statewide cuts of $292 per student earlier this year.

“This is fairly historic. We haven’t seen

this level of loss in state funding for schools ever in Michigan,” says Tim Weeks, Assistant Superintendent for Business at BHS. “Every district has seen several rounds of cuts.”

“What they did now,” says Weeks, “is cut the 20J funding from the highest funded districts, which amounted to $119 per student here in Bloomfield Hills. It erodes somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.3 million dollars from our revenues.”

This amounts to about 3.5% of an 80 million dollar budget which constitutes “a tremendous revenue loss,” he says.

He adds, however, “Through aggressive

fiscal policies we’ve pursued here over the past 12 months, we will be able to absorb most of this deficit.”

“Think of it as a three legged stool: first we have school consolidation which saved us 2 million dollars alone this year.

Second, we have the privatization study we conducted for our support staff which ended up bringing the cost of our current staff down to the cost of private companies.

Third, we saved money through collective see CUTS bargaining with the teachers.

> A4

the

> A6

Plauqes are located throughout hallways.

$165/student $127/student $119/student

TOTAL: $411

challenge

Challenge Day leader Jake gives instructions before volleyball game.

A pat on the back, words saying well done, and even certificates of achievement.

However, the ultimate of congratulations for extra cirricular achievements for Andover students past and present can now be found on the walls throughout school.

Walking through the halls she saw their pictures, where the nameless faces spoke to her. “Last spring, I was at Portage Northern High School for a conference and noticed that they had students’ pictures of their state champion forensics teams on the wall. Then, I saw the individual pictures of those kids winning first place. I took a picture with my cell phone and I thought to myself that we could do something like that.” Miss Christina Hammitt English teacher explains.

“On the drive home, I started going over the idea with Mr.Durecka. Then back at Andover I showed Miss Harsh (the forensics’ coach) the pictures and then Amy Cardin and Jan Frank (forensics parents). Then, it just started to get a life of its own.”

Principal Robert Durecka elaborates on why it is important to have the walls of fame. “So many good things happen within our student body. Walking through the halls did not share much about the kids.

By adding these boards, it will draw more prospective students by showing them see HALLS all of the wonderful accomplishments they can achieve.

-three successive public education cuts were made

On November 10-11, 200 students participated in the first ever Challenge Day at Andover. > A6

Past students receive recognition of their achievements

life page editor

October state-wide school budget cuts

rising to

> A4 Hallways of fame

Sara Smoler

Volume XLVII Issue III

KYLE KAVANAGH/Shield

Michigan Merit Exam mandatory for graduation -replaced the MEAP in 2007 -given in the spring to all Michigan high school juniors

Betsy Erikson

High school juniors will be required to take the Michigan Merit Exam to graduate from Bloomfield Hills Schools effective with the Class of 2011, according to new policy adopted by the Board of Education.

The change was prompted by the state of Michigan’s Annual Yearly Progress

grading system, which blocks schools from an “A” grade despite academic success if a minimum number of students do not take the test. Thus, the new policy will ensure that at least 95% of students are tested in the junior year.

“We want to ensure that our schools are fairly assessed,” said Dr. Steve Gaynor, superintendent. “A school should not receive a poor result simply because some

Campbell’s contest to save farm Charles L. Bowers farm is in the running to be one of top five national farms to be refurbished

-Recognizing bias in the news A3 -Meditiation at Model B2

Emma Reidsma life page editor

Campbell’s soups have long had the slogan of “possibilities.” Now, Campbell’s could be uncanning new possibilities for the Bowers Farm.

Barn manager and Bowers Academy teacher, Holly Glomski, is in charge of one of the ten barns in the running for a barn restoration.

“Campbell’s Soup Company has designated an amount of money to support the future of agriculture in the United States,” Glomski says.

“They have designated money to help fund green houses and help support various barn restoration projects. Bowers Farm is one out of ten barns in the running for a barn preservation (grant). The top five barns will get work done on their farms this spring.”

The Help Grow Your Soup project was thought up and put into motion two years ago.

“We really wanted to focus on reacquainting our

students choose not to take the MME.” For two consecutive years, Lahser High School has received a “B” grade because it was unable to test the required number of students in the original testing window or the makeup window.

In Oakland County, 19 of the 28 school districts require participation on the MME as a graduation requirement.

-Junior Natasha Amin struggles with epilepsy B2 -Colbie Caillat’s new CD B3 Turkeys of Bowers farm mingle with the chickens.

consumers with the quality of ingredients that goes into Campbell’s Soup,” says John Faulnker.

“These are folks that grew up with campbells soup and have memories attached to it. We wanted to bring to life the ingredients in our soup. We started to advertise the ingredients more prominently in commercials and ads; then we reached out to an organization that see FARM helped grow our ingredients, the National FFA Alumni Association.”

> A6

-The cost of varsity sports C4

news

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Our turn

When the time does not call for cell phones In some situations, phones should be left at home

The Federal Highway Safety Administration has issued various statements regarding the danger of talking or texting on cell phones while driving, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forbids cell phone usage on airplanes. There should be a Federal Ettiquete Administration to make cell phone use in other situations illegal.

This first and least offensive of these situations is texting during a movie. Even if the movie itself is pretty boring, nothing can make the entire experience more annoying than a neighbor with a brightly lit cell phone that occasionally beeps and makes other noises. The light itself disturbs everyone’s eyes, but not as much as the nagging curiosity to find out what the stranger next to you is saying.

It is worse when you are texting while you’re with your friends. When you are with friends, enjoy each others’ company. You don’t need to take out your cell phone and talk to another person—a secret, hidden conversation. If you want to talk to that other person, call or text them, but wait until after you’ve left your friend. And as an added note, texting during heart-to-heart conversations with friends should be illegalized.

While your friend might internalize his or her feelings towards your texting addiction, your parents will not hesitate to chastise you while you text away at the din-

ner table. In fact, they will probably scream at you, then take your cell phone away. Beware; the consequences can be dire. Family dinners should be times for you to talk with your family, not friends.

Research shows that eating together increases the communication and well-being of the entire family. According to a study from Harvard University, family dinners are the most important family events that help children develop language skills.

While all of these are pretty minor cell phone offenses, the next one is possibly the largest breach of cell phone etiquette ever: using the phone on a date. While you may think it’s necessary to give your friends the play-by-play instantly, it’s ridiculous to neglect your date sitting across from you. Just turn the thing off and pay attention to the person you’re with. It’s simply rude to divide your attention between them and the person you are quietly chatting with.

Cell phones are everywhere in people’s lives, but don’t let them take over your life. Sometimes, you have to just say TTYL.

Sometimes, you just have to say TTYL.

staff Editors-in-Chief: Jake Gordon Bridget Sanders Managing Editor: Jessica Ranke Senior Advisors: Saloni Godbole Lauren Hendrickson Andrew Weiner Junior Advisor: Rachel Rohr Web Editors: Lauren Hendrickson Kyle Kavanagh Graphics: Kyle Kavanagh Copy Editor: Alex Chudler Photographers: Madeline McIlhon David Yu Business Manager: Gabe Menchaca Distribution Manager: Chelsea Jolly News Page Editors: Talia Goldman Pamela Pensler Alana Tabak

JOSH LONEY/shield

Your turn:

When is it inappropriate to use cell phones?

When you are in a conversation with another person. Face to face should be more important.

-Elliot MacNeille, senior

I don’t like when kids share a text they sent or recieved with other people they are with but not the whole group.

-Hannah Klayman, freshman

Editorial Policy

It’s rude when people keep cell phones on during performances after they were told to turn them off.

-Dennis Kwasny, faculty

The Andover Shield is a student publication distributed free of charge to all Andover students with a total press run of 1,500. We strive to inform, entertain, and serve as a limited but open forum for students, parents, administrators, and members of the community, while continuing a tradition of journalistic excellence.

Have an opinion? Letters to the Editor can be dropped off in Miss Hammitt’s room, 306, and may be edited for content and/or space.

Sports Page Editors: Emily Langnas Lauren Lewis Matt Luckoff Life Page Editors: Melanie Greenspan Marley Kalt Emma Reidsma Sara Smoler Staff Illustrator: Josh Loney Staff Writers:

Jarred Bratley Sam Gordon Ashley DuBois Nicole Kiester Emma Enache Kaya Koscielny James Feuereisen Summer Krinsky Audrey Fotouhi Andrew Pan Joudeh Freij Derek Wolfe Michael Georgizas Anna Zambelli Elizabeth Glenn

Advisor: Christina Hammitt

Check out The Andover Shield at www.andovershield.com

news

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In Tim Should teenagers be Weeks allowed to stay out late?

I trust Con

Pro

James Feuereisen

Alana Tabak

staff writer

news page editor

Every student in driver’s ed learns that driving is a privilege not a right.

Contrarily, teens often learn that staying out late at night is a right.

If staying out late is a privilege, curfews should exist for teens.

There are few teens who will say that they enjoy curfews. However, it is imperative to understand that curfews exist for the well being of young adults.

Curfews prevent teenagers from driving late at night. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 100,000 crashes are result of drivers falling asleep behind the wheel every year.

When curfews are implemented, the problem of fatigue behind the wheel is diminished. A study from the National Safety Council showed that from 1996 to 2007 the number of teens involved in deadly crashes after midnight has gone down as much as 50 percent.

The same study explains that during that time period, state law curfews became more strict.

With curfews, teen are also exposed to the importance of responsibility.

In its guidelines for par enting, the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that enforcing curfews on teens is extremely important for teaching kids responsibility.

A report from MSNBC on the psychology of teenagers stated that teenagers are prone to volatile emotions, often focus on short term gains, and are very impulsive, all of which make responsibility an important lesson to teach during these years.

The importance of obeying one’s superiors is also learned through curfews.

A recent USA Today article discusses how current generation teens entering the workforce are less likely to respond to the demands of their employees, which upsets the employers immensely.

However, with curfews, teens learn that it is necessary to obey superiors in the real world, at an early age.

Another benefit of curfews is that teenagers are home more often. This allows them to be closer to their families, which is a family value that is lacking in our society.

Studies from Columbia University have proven that students who perform actions as simple as eating with their family are more likely to stay off drugs and do well in school. Building off this idea, students who spend more time at home will be able to focus more on their school work.

Teens need to come to the conclusion that they will survive with curfews. Not staying out until two in the morning won’t ruin their social lives. No matter what, curfews are the best option for teenagers in the long run.

The importance of obeying one’s superiors is learned through curfews.

Quick Facts -Murray graduated in 2009 - Murray is the youngest person ever to run for school board -for more info visit www.danieljkmurray.com

I’m a good kid. I don’t misbehave, I don’t have a drug or alcohol addiction, I maintain a good grade point average and I take all of my responsibilities seriously. Did I mention I don’t have a curfew?

I have never had a curfew because my parents trust I can make good decisions on my own. If I ever think that I might be out late, I call home and let my parents know where I am so they don’t worry. I’m learning responsibility this way.

Teens like me are examples that show that teenagers do not need curfews. According to studies from the Cleveland Clinic, those who are over-protected as teens will have a lack of confidence which can cause psychological problems for them as adults.

Teenagers need space to learn and parents need to trust that their teens are able to make good decisions. Over-protecting them can only lead to problems down the line. There is no better time to make mistakes and learn from them than during adolescence. After all, learning and growing from mistakes is the definition of growing up according to Kidshealth.com.

My parents know being too overbearing can make teens rebel now or in the future. According to Parentteen.org, suffocating teens mediates anxiety, which can lead to the development of the same behavioral problems that parents are trying to avoid by setting curfews.

Take for instance, in Napa, Florida on October 6, 2004, 18-year-old Carlos A. Veita-Perez was killed in a car accident at 11 p.m. while racing home to meet his curfew. Without this curfew, Perez could still be alive today. What if this was an Andover student?

Setting a curfew does not help a teenager to mature. It does the opposite.

It shelters teenagers from the real word. I learned this from personal experience. Since I have never had a curfew I’ve gained a sense of maturity. I know when it is an acceptable time to come home and I do it by myself without my parents telling me.

Also, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, 66 percent of teenagers attend college after graduating high school. Parents cannot enforce curfews in college. If a teen is not used to staying out late, making their own decisions and having the responsibility of taking care of themselves, college could be very dangerous for them.

Letting teens come home when they please and make their own decisions teaches responsibility. It also gives them that much needed room to make mistakes and learn from them.

Teenagers do not need to be sheltered. They need to be out there, living their own lives and learning responsibility. It worked for me and it can work for many others too.

I believe that freshman and seniors should have a different set of rules and responsibilities but if parents and t h e i r teens talked about curfews together and came up with an understanding of what is acceptable then many other teens can be good kids without curfews, just like me.

Murray bids for board spot Hey Barons & Bloomfield Hills Residents!

Wow. Has it only been five months?

Less than half a year ago I was still an Andover student, walking those spacious hallways— completely immersed in high school life.

Little did I know that there were much larger things than those hallways like, um, a college campus?

And I’m proud to say that’s where I am now: studying locally as a full time student at Oakland University.

What I’m even more proud to say is

that because I am still in the district, I am now an of ficial candidate for Bloomfield Hills School Board in 2010.

My entrance into this race warrants a new age in local politics. An age where school board members can understand not only what district taxpayers want, but what students want as well.

I am the youngest candidate to ever pursue this of fice and I feel like I can bring a lot to the table, but I need your help.

I need your help to make my campaign all that it can be.

That is, a campaign suppor ted by all the people I will ser ve in this district— from taxpayers to teachers and from homebuyers to students.

I know I can count on you because being a former Andover student, I know that when asked Andover students deliver and always in an exemplar y way.

Always, Daniel J.K. Murray

Recognizing bias in the news Andrew Weiner senior life advisor

As I attempt to write a news-analysis column, I start to wonder: Do I actually know the news?

I consider myself an informed person; at least in respect to the news (AP Biology is a different story). But, if I stop and think about it, all my sources are mildly to ridiculously liberal. Objective journalism is harder to find lately, news bias is rampant.

When I’m watching Rachel Maddow, Keith Olberman, or reading the New Yorker, I know I’m getting visions of American politics through the left eye only. The thing that really bothers me, however, is that I don’t care. I’m just used to it.

News bias is not a new problem, but in the Internet Age it has reached a new level. Any random opinion a person has can be Googled, and there’s bound to be some person who agrees and started a blog about it. For a person at every level of socialism, conservatism, liberalism, and Bob-Sagetism there is some news source somewhere that they can agree with.

Because these blogs have no journalistic restraints, they can publish fake research, write conspiracy theories as fact, and link to other web sites with similar viewpoints.

But its not just fallen-through-the-cracks blogs that are horribly biased. MSNBC is to the liberal’s liking and Fox News is conservative crack.

I know this, yet I try to finish my homework before 9 every night so I can catch my favorite liberal lady, Ms. Maddow, for a gluttonous helping of Republican smashing. On the rare night I watch Olberman, Maddow, and Bill

Maher (three very liberal programs) in succession, it’s hard to see through my liberal rage.

We pick the news that we agree with and use it to validate and intensify our preexisting opinions. It is too much effort to listen to objective news and come up with our own opinions? Instead, we take the easy way out and watch news that report the news and opinions on it.

Luckily, there is not much to worry about.

Most college-age Americans only news source is what is parodied on Saturday Night Live, the Daily Show, and the Colbert Report. The older generation groans that John Stewart and Steven Colbert are not valid news sources, they are only entertainment.

I can recognize all of this, but it isn’t going to change. I’m still going to read Rolling Stone, threaten to quit the gym if they don’t turn off Fox, and love every minute of it.

Quick Facts -Biases can be found all over the media -Many do not know when they are reading or listening to something biased - The internet has contributed to biases

Tim Weeks improves Bloomfield Hills School District’s finances

Jake Gordon

co-editor in chief In Tim Weeks I trust.

Okay, for the most part I trust people who have college degrees from Yale. Not only did Mr. Tim Weeks, the assistant superintendent in charge of finance, earn his Masters of Business Administration from this Ivy League university but he did it without spending a dime of his own money.

These reasons alone are enough to trust him but the biggest reason of all is that this guy knows what he’s doing.

Hailed by many (at least all the people I talked to), he is the sole financial savior of Bloomfield Hills District. Because of his expert maneuvering of our budget through the thorny field of the economy, our district could continue to operate as is until about 2013 on what has already been saved. However, we cannot continue to wait for some massive change that will allow for our district to bounce back into the black.

While I have the same pride in being a Baron that I am sure many alum and current students have, it is time to face reality.

Although the automobile companies began flailing years ago, the effects are only beginning to be felt by our bubbled city of Bloomfield.

In the middle of October, Governor Jennifer Granholm approved a budget cut of more than $400 per pupil. However, according to Weeks , this could be only the beginning. He predicts that these cuts could reach as high as $550 per student by the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

Reaching into his metaphorical toolbox of plans, Weeks believes that he has found one of the final pieces to counter the budget cuts. Weeks predicts that by consolidating to one high school our district would save more than three million dollars per year.

However, inconsistent with many beliefs, the biggest savings would not be from the cutting of instructional staff. Only one job would be lost (a media specialist). Instead, savings would be from paying one utility bill instead of two. This means Bloomfield Hills students would still receive the same quality of education while saving dollars that will go toward improving the high school experience as a whole.

While speaking to Weeks, it was clear that he is as hesitant to consolidate schools as anybody else. However, he also realizes that the Bloomfield

Because of his Hills we live expert maneuvering in now is not of our budget through the same Bloomfield the thorny field of the Hills as in economy, our district the ‘90’s. could continue to And he operate as is until about doesn’t see 2013 on what has it changing already been saved. back to the way it once was. Ever.

Weeks, however, is not pessimist by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, he is a realist. While listening to him explain the different options of how the school district could maintain its goal of providing the best educational experience possible to all of its students, it became quite evident that consolidating schools is the most efficient way.

The three million dollars that we could save is approximately the cost of running the entire transportation system for an entire year. Or, approximately the cost of the district’s entire extracurricular budget.

Or, more than three million double stacks from Wendys.

It is time to stop waiting around for the recession to end and for the economy to bounce back. It’s time to stop waiting for a time when we can economically maintain our ridiculously small high schools that are operating on an incredibly inflated budget (allowed only because of the ingenious Weeks) It’s time to swallow our pride as Andover Barons and Lahser Knights and regain our old pride as a Bloomfield Hills district.

It’s time to listen to the man who could talk circles around anyone in our district when it comes to economics. It’s time to listen to Tim Weeks.

news

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ACTING: freshman balances career and academics Since 2002 Chloe she has done a few small films such as Project 313 and 21 Carbs. From 2006-2009 she played Sarah Riley, a trouble maker , on 24 episodes of ER. While the expereince was exciting, Chloe explains it was a bit hard on her family as they were driving back and forth from Michigan to California.

“Six times we drove across the US,” she says.

“One time in the Rocky Mountains we blew a tire. Then, the show ended. I had mixed feelings because I was to be a part of a great show and upset because the run would be short.”

After deciding to move out West, the family was faced with another challenge. “We were living in Simi Valley, my agent thought it was better I was out there. Then the writers’ stike hit and there weren’t any jobs,” she says as the reason why her family moved back to Michigan.

“My parents always planned for me to goto a regular high school and I’m happy about that because I was missing some things. Its kind of tough because people tend to make assumptions about people they hear about before actually meeting them. On one hand its nice being with everyone else having normal experiences but on the same hand I love acting so its hard to put it aside and try to balance a regular life on top of it. Acting makes you feel stuck in that inbetween feeling where you are detatched from both a normal life and your acting life. You have to

from A1

CUTS: Over $400/ student It’s really a win-win, because the staff still has employment, but the district is saving money.”

Rob Durecka, principal at Andover High School, explains that “what’s important to us is [the students’] education; we don’t want to have a negative impact on that, because that’s why you’re here and it’s why we’re here.”

“At this point in time, we’re not looking to cut any support for sports or the musical or other extracurriculars,” he goes on to say.

Although that’s not to say that there won’t be changes.

“A big part of our plan in the future is really dependent on what happens in Michigan. However, we’re obviously looking at ways to save more money, like consolidating the high schools. But, right now we can’t be sure where we’ll be in a year,” says Weeks, “we really have to wait and see.”

prioriotize and put things on hold and sacrifice things like dances. People assume its all glitz and fun and amazement, but its a job for a reason. I never had a stable friend group and now I do. For the most part people are pretty accepting, especially here [at Andover ]. “ Her mother adds that Chloe’s current career “isn’t something we planned for as parents,” she says. “I think the most important thing is Chloe has learned to find a healthy balance between her personal and professional life.”

While settling in this 5’4” Bloomfield Baron made it on the cheerleading team. “I was always known as the jock playing soccer. It’s the family sport. I wanted to try something new.”

Varsity cheerleading head coach Erin Cervi says, “When she came in and we said ‘you made the cheer team, are you going to have any conflicts in the near future?’ she said I’m doing a movie over in Europe and that will probably be in the spring time so it wouldn’t affect. So I mean she is just very down to earth. I think she will balance [cheer leading and acting] well.”

Because Greenfield’s latest film, director Miguel Cruz Carretero’s Deauville, is in preproduction she she’ll fly to Europe when her part is being filmed. “I’ll be back in two weeks.

It shouldn’t interfere with school or other activities.” Not only only is she happy about the timing of the film but also the story’s setting.

“Deauville is set in my favorite time frame in history. So it will be fun, “ she says. “[The hardest part] is just being normal

and still preparing for Deauville and going to Europe for the first time. I have to look nine so I’m not to sure about that, but it’ll all work out,” Chloe says of the film which stars Lara Flynn Boyle (Law and Order, Men in Black II) and Isabella Rossellini (30 Rock, The Accidental Tourist).

When looking at the list of famous actors such as these Chloe says “At first I get star struck. You see these people forever and I feel like anyone else would. Then when you’re with them for a while they are like your uncle.”

Besides traveling from the midewest to the west coast and back again, adjusting to high school while another daughter is is at Wayne State University, the Greenfields have had some other tough decisions especially when deciding which path to take.

“Chloe’s agent is the same agent Miley Cyrus has. There were tracks that people would have liked [us to follow]. Chloe would have gotten on more of a celebrity pop star-ish track rather than true acting. We understand there is some value to Disney, but it was just not a choice for our family.”

“We weren’t shooting for the fame thing,” Chloe adds. “ Disney would have been more fun and I would have met some more big stars but we were shooting for acting that has more consistency.”

This attitude has served Chloe well as roles like that of the 2003 Cheaper by the Dozen part fell through at the last minute. “Had I gotten

that role things would be a lot different. Looking back I’m not angry. Once you are labeled a certain way it is hard if not impoassible to change that image. I prefer the more serious roles like that of Lily.

[Although] at the premiere of 8 Mile, my mom would just say, ‘plug your ears and close your eyes’ when the bad parts came on. It was kind of graphic for a little kid but for the most part I was sheltered from it. Now, I embrace it [because] those are the roles people remember.”

The one thing that Chloe and her mother both agree that is surprising is the financial side of the business.

“Chloe has been very successful in this business but a lot of people have this allusion that there is this automatic millionaire status,” her mother says. “[But,] there is a a law that there is a percentage of the child’s earning has to be put into a trust fund and they can touch it when they become eighteen. When she goes to college, she will have that money to go to any college or university. We have tried to maintain as normal of a life for her as we can. Our philosophy has been that there is no money that can buy back a childhood.” Chloe has all the tools to go as far as she wants in this business. But, in the long run fame, fortune, and notoriety doesn’t guarantee happiness,” Looking toward her future Chloe says, “I want to travel. I plan on continuing with [acting] but it’s not something I would plan my whole future on. I haven’t really planned on being the next big thing.

I am just doing all of this because I love it.”

’I’m ’ 19’’.

I’m a published researcher.

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It means my library opens up an undiscovered world.

At Gale, value to the library equals power to the user. For more than 50 years, Gale has been a true library champion by delivering high-quality content in innovative ways.

Š 2009. Gale, Cengage Learning, is a registered trademark used herein under license. GAD08410 VK/SM 11/09

GAD08410 Andover Sheild.indd 1

1.800.877.GALE | www.gale.com

11/16/09 12:10 PM

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From our globally-acclaimed International Baccalaureate programmes to our technology integration to our Advanced Placement and honors courses, Bloomfield Hills Schools offers students comprehensive education at its finest.

Visit www.Bloomfield.org to learn more about what makes BHS outstanding.

Do other schools measure up? Use this checklist to find out.

Top TesT scores (meAp) smAll clAss sizes:

>90% ďƒź 18-22 23-25 18 24 ďƒź

K-2 3-5 6-8 9-12

world lAnguAges High schools Middle schools Elementary schools

world lAnguAges Begin BAnd And sTrings Begin progrAm Assuring every sTudenT is chAllenged nATure cenTer fArm gifTed services Elementary schools, Middle schools High schools

comprehensive Technology in All clAssrooms % of fAculTy wiTh AdvAnced degrees ncA AccrediTATion

8 4 1 Preschool Fourth grade Maximizing Academic Potential (MAP)

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news

A7

FORENSICS? Attention old and new Forensicators!

Auditions are almost here: Monday, December 7th Tuesday, December 8th After School in Ms. Harsh’s Room 222 Upcoming Events: (All dates are tentative and subject to change) Forensics Team Try-outs - December 7 - 8 Parent Meeting - December 14 Workshop - January 23 Lock-in - January 30 Forensics Night Showcase - February 9 Birch Run Invitational - February 13 Lock-in - February 27 Dexter Delight Invitational - March 6 “Grover” Invitational (Groves/Andover Hosts) at Groves - March 13 Walled Lake Western - March 20

Judges/Prospective Judges: Initial Training Workshop - Jan. 23 at Henry Ford High School Renewal Workshop - March 20 at Walled Lake Western HS

Questions?

See Ms. Harsh in Room 222 or Ms. Hammitt in Room 306 for more information.

news

A8

Campbell’s contest to save farm

The only two Llamas on the farm, Cinnamon and Sally, graze outside during meal time.

Built in the 1920’s and bought in 1966 by the Bloomfield Hills School District, the Charles L. Bowers School Farm has been a place of agricultural education.

from A1

FARM: Campbell’s The National FFA identified ten barns that needed to be refurbished.

“This year we opened this process up to barns across America,” says Faulkner. “The National FFA had a nomination process through their alumni organization. Since the alumni are the ones who own the barns, it made sense to work through and with the alumni association.”

Out of thousands of barns across the country, Bowers Farm made the cut.

Besides providing a sense of “country” to Bloomfield Hills, the Bowers Farm grows local produce, supports Bowers 4H club, and holds the annual October corn maze.

“At Bowers farm, that money will pay for some exterior boards to be replaced on the barn, and it will also pay for two coats of red paint and one coat of white trim paint,” says Glomski. “It’s a really big help.”

Glomski started the process for entering the barn in Help Grow Your Soup this summer.

“I had to submit a grant proposal first, then Campbell Soup Company selected ten barns to represent the nation’s allotment of barns. From that point forward, they decided to leave the decision and voting in the hands of the general public,” says Glomski.

Glomski and others associated with Bowers Farm are putting their full effort into assuring that Bowers Farms is one of the top five barns.

“Now we are doing daily voting on the Help Grow Your Soup website to choose the barn that we want to see funded,” says Glomski. “We have a lot of great clubs and groups that work with the farm and we are using word of mouth and email to let the community know that we need their votes. You can vote every day till January 5.”

Eric Jaros, Bowers 4H club president, has worked promote voting.

“During the corn maze, I and other ‘4Hers’ would hand out little slips of paper with the voting website to every person at

the corn maze. I have continued to hand out these slips of paper to my friends, family, and any person who will take one,” says Jaros.

Supporting Bowers’ Farm is only a few clicks away.

“All they need to do is go to the Help Grow Your Soup website, click on Bowers Farm, and just vote. They can vote once a day on one computer. I’ve got five computers within my reach everyday and so I’m constantly voting,” says Glomski.

Along with Bowers Farm and other barns across the nation, Help Grow Your Soup is also assisting the National Future Farmers of America Association.

“The National FFA Alumni Association is sponsoring this project as well. As part of this program, Campbell has designated $50,000 that they will donate to the National FFA Alumni Association, says Glomski. “The FFA is an association that supports the leaders of tomorrow in an agricultural format. So by supporting the National FFA Alumni Association they are supporting the future of agriculture in the United States.”

So many, many reasons it’s so... M’m M’m good, possibilities.

Latte, one of three milking goats, wanders outside after eating a meal. Goat meals at the farm typically consist of grain and corn.

Dozens of the Bowers Farm ducks splash around outside after a short shower.

H1N1 Scare: Taken Texting while driving to the extreme?

Langnas shares views on athletes advised to avoid handshakes

Emily Langnas news page editor

The swine flu is infecting sportsmanship as we know it.

Absurd as it may sound, more and more athletes are being trained to fear the handshake. As a result of the H1N1 virus, teams are now resorting to alternative methods of the ever-so-common handshake and high-five.

Along with minor league hockey teams, who now shake with their gloves on, the Ohio State football team, Sweedish Soccer Association, and Canadian Olympic Committee are all urging athletes to practice new greeting gestures such as the fist pound and the elbow bump.

As fear of the virus spreads, these precautions are a simple, yet clever--but not necessarily effective--way for athletes to reamain healthy in order to compete.

The World Health Organization has even

been an advocate of these seemingly silly gestures ever since the avian flu pandemic in 2006.

High-fives are things of the past. And just as I was finally learning how to give one...

Now, I’m not saying that I am going to start “elbow bumping” my friends, nor do I expect two captains to elbow bump instead of shaking hands before a big football game, but I do believe this idea is quite clever in theory.

I mean, elbows must be one of the cleanest body parts. If you don’t agree with me on that just try sneezing, licking, or wiping your nose with the tip of your elbow.

Yes, it is smart for athletes to be proactive to stop the spread of germs, but come on, is this really going to work?

Athletes still come in contact with one another, touch the same surfaces, and even huddle together, which all defeat the purpose of eliminating high fives and handshakes.

Even with the escalating amount of alternatives, the truth is that nothing is ever going to replace the traditional handshake.

Instead of an elbow bump to prevent the spread of germs, all we really need is soap and water.

Nothing is ever going to replace the traditional handshake.

Texting while driving is becoming the newest driving danger in the 21st century Derek Wolfe staff writer

Typing LOL while driving could lead to an emergency SOS. In fact, according to the New York Times, texting while driving increases the risk of crashing by 23 times, becoming the newest driving danger.

According to Sgt. Craig Shackleford of Bloomfield Township, the reason this is so dangerous is the fact that most drivers feel they actually can multi-task while controlling an automobile.

“Multi-tasking is a myth,” Shackleford says. “If your car is moving, and you’re texting, you’re not driving. It’s not possible. You’re doing a bunch of things at one time in rapid succession. When your car is going down Telegraph at 50 mph, you’re traveling at 75 feet per second, and for every second that you’re texting, your car is moving without your full knowledge and attention.”

According to CBS News 46 percent of teens admit to texting while behind the wheel.

“I text at the wheel because I want to communicate with others,” senior Alan Mcgee explains. “Sometimes, I can not wait the 15 minutes it takes to get home to respond. In a world like this, instant communication is necessary and expected.”

In August, a British Police force created

an extremely graphic video visually. depicting the hazards of texting while driving in order to hit home the message. The video shows a group of friends in a car and when the driver texts their car crashes into another, and a slew of other cars begin to be part of the accident. This PSA has not been shown in the Unites States; however, despite the lack of Americans seeing the video, Shackleford says many states have taken action against texting while driving “The toughest state in the U.S. is Utah,” says Shackleford. “A first offense is a $70 fine. A repeat offense can result in a suspended license or even jail time.”

Currently, Michigan does not have a ban against texting while driving, but there’s a bill that would ban it that is now in the Michigan House of Representatives.

Called house bill 4394, it would impose a civil infraction against the violating driver.

The bill states that, “a person shall not read, write, or send a text message on a wireless two-way communication device that is located in the person’s hand or in the person’s lap, including a wireless telephone used in cellular telephone service or personal communication service, while operating a motor vehicle that is moving on a highway or street in this state.

It would seem impossible to tell if texting was responsible for an accident, but Shackleford says, “If you get into a bad accident, (the police) will pull all of your phone records. Everything has a date and time stamp on it.”

Texting while driving is extremely dangerous, and can ultimately be fatal. So the next time you type TTYL in the car, there might not be a later.

TWD Facts -46 percent of teens admit to texting while behind the wheel.

-Currently Michigan does not have a ban against texting while driving -Bill 4394 is now in the Michigan House of Representatives -Texting while driving increases the risk of crashing by 23 times -Texting while driving has become the newest driving danger

from A1

HALLS: Showcasing past students’ accomplishments Halls of Fame

-The walls of fame credit the clubs and activities of Andover - English teacher Christina Hammitt came up with the idea

“This was a great investment for our school,” he says.

Hammitt says the first two walls to go up were the forensics hall of fame and publications wall.

Harsh shares the qualifications for the leaders showcased on the forensics wall of fame. “The qualifications for the students to be on the wall is that they must have placed first in the state competition.”

While Amy Cardin was a contributor to the forensics wall, Senior Saloni Godbole who is on the newspaper wall for her editorial page design in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, started on

the wall highlighting those students in yearbook and newspaper.

“I sent letters to Andover graduates and got thier pictures and information. Then, I was able to get my community service hours completed through my efforts on this project,” Godbole says. “It will be interesting for new kids tos ee recognized members of the [Newspaper and Yearbook] staffs. The goal is to keep adding to it with more awards won by students each year.”

Hammitt adds, “The walls easily allow you to put a name to a facem and it allows students to see their friends’ accomplishments. Trophies are nice but

they really do not express the person behind them. Schools are about kids, they are the reason we teach, and whom we focus on.”

Senior and Varsity Forensics Captian Dana Fenster is one of the many faces that will be seen on the Forensics Hall of Fame.

“It was a very surreal feeling to win states.

I am glad that they have installed the Hall of Fame for Forensics to showcase our achievements.”

After seeing the three walls others were inspired. Varsity Volleyball coach, Robert Hurtle adds, “For Volleyball Hall of Fame we are going to go back from the year

1977, and include anybody that has been an outstanding captian, great helpers, or all state players. It will really showcase all of Volleyball’s accomplishments through the years with the contributers that made our teams a success.”

Another group inspired by the two original walls was Student Leadership, who as the sponsor Krista Laliberte explains will be comprised of two boards. “We will have two boards on our Wall of Fame.

One is going to be a wall with plaques and pictures of the past senior year presidents from the year 2000 to present. The second will be for the senior class officers.”

BC Meditation makes Model

life

Andrew Pan staff writer

Sophomore expertly solves Rubik’s cube

A Hurricane Katrina victim remains optimistic

After 33 seconds, he defeated the infamous six-faced beast.

“It started last year because I had a twelve-hour bus trip to a hockey tournament in Calumet [in the Upper Peninsula] and needed something to do,” sophomore Michael Calvas says. “[The Rubik’s Cube] came with a little booklet that helped, and I ended up going to YouTube because there were faster ways

Andrew Weiner senior life advisor

-Opened October 1 -Offers dine in and carry out -Open seven days a week for lunch and dinner -On Hamilton Row in downtown Birmingham -Popular dishes include: Glass Noodles, Shrimp Tempura, and Honey Chicken Salad -Open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. SundayThursday and from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

to solve it, but I also learned some of it intuitively. It just took a lot of practice.”

Calvas was one of three students in Giorgia Anderson’s three Honors Geometry classes who were able to solve this 80’s icon. He even topped Will Smith’s 55-second cube record in the movie The Pursuit of Happyness.

“It’s an awesome talent,” says Theodora Calvas, Michael’s mother. “It shows he has a detailed mind and he’s able to solve complicated issues and matters. He can even solve 5x5 Rubik’s cubes.”

“It deals with a visual-spatial part of your brain and is such

a good way for kids to learn and visualize things,” Anderson says. “With the Rubik’s cube, you are observing patterns and making generalizations. When he took on this Rubik’s cube, [we saw] a whole new side of the quiet, shy Michael. He was so involved and passionate about it that he motivated a lot of other kids to start thinking [about it.]”

“It’s just sort of fun to show off, to be able to go, ‘I can solve a Rubik’s cube and you can’t,’” says Michael. “In the end, it’s something to pass the time; it’s something fun to do.” sophomore Michael Calvas

PROFILE

Motivation through music

Johnston inspires her students through guitar Jessica Ranke managing editor

H

is fingers slowly pluck across the strings, struggling to match the tune for the Beatles song “Blackbird”. His class sits engrossed in their seats, listening to every note junior Andrew Dershem strums out of the borrowed guitar. His teacher stands next to him, guiding him through the music, encouraging him at every mistake throughout the performance.

“She kept trying to reassure me I was doing well even though I knew she was better than I was,” Dershem says of

the experience. “I mean it was just cool because the reinforcement she was giving [to me while i played the guitar]—it’s kind of like what she’s doing in the classroom— it’s like she knows you can do better so she’s just going to keep pushing you and pushing you to do better.”

Government teacher Vivian Johnston, who began playing the guitar about seven months ago, has recently brought her guitar into the classroom to motivate her students.

She hopes that after seeing her struggle to learn new material, her students will begin to feel more comfortable participating during class and will make more of an effort to turn in their assignments. “[By bringing in my guitar and playing in front of the class] I was trying to motivate some of my students,” Johnston says. “I was telling them that I knew learning this material was a challenge for them. They had some bad test scores, or some of the kids did, and I said that I knew how that can be -- I’m sure it is very demoralizing and frustrating.”

Because Johnston has personally struggled with her effort in learning how to play the guitar, she thought that modeling her preservance with the instrument would show the students that giving up is never an option.

“I don’t want [them] to give up because things are struggles in life and you have to find that the struggle is worth it.”

Bringing in her Ibanez Acoustic Electric guitar, Johnston explains her goal to show the class that, “I do not play that well. But if I am asking [them] to raise [their] hand and take a risk of asking a question and maybe feeling stupid because [they] don’t know that answer, then I will also take the risk of playing the guitar in front of [them] poorly.

“I guess I wanted them to see that I really do understand them. I’m in their shoes. I get the butterflies. I get choked up like they do see JOHNSTON when they are taking one of my tests or I ask them a question,” she says.

>

B3

Vivan Johnston plays guitar for her seventh hour government class. she is currently working on mastering “Blackbird” by the Beatles.

Quick Facts

-Johnston teaches Government and Economics -She plays an Ibanez Acoustic Electric guitar -Johnston began playing guitar seven months ago -Playing guitar has been her lifelong dream

JAKE GORDON/shield

New Birmingham restaurant rolls out sushi Birmingham Sushi Cafe delights diners Alana Tabak

news page editor

I consider myself a sushi connoisseur. I have sampled a plethora of different sushi restaurants in Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, and even São Paulo, Brazil. Even with great restaurants all over the world, one of the best I have tried is at Birmingham Sushi Cafe.

On October 1, Birmingham Sushi Cafe opened its doors for the first time in downtown Birmingham on Hamilton Row. After passing by the front of the restaurant before its opening, I was excited to try it.

When I first walked in, I was taken back by the restaurant’s decor. I was not expecting it to be so chic. The little cafe had a rustic ambiance with modern hanging lamps illuminating the tables. There were dark mahogany wood columns separating the booths and modern art pieces on the walls.

Usually in sushi restaurants I am overwhelmed by the grandiose oriental decor and music. Birmingham Sushi cafe had small Asian accents like the oriental banner over the sushi bar and soy sauce pots on the tables, but the feel is modern overall.

Looking at the menu I was overwhelmed by the various choices in sushi and other entrees the restaurant offered. Some of the entrees included bibimbap which is assorted vegetables, beef, eggs and rice in a hot stone bowl with sweet spicy sauce ($13.95), chicken teriyaki ($12.50), salmon teriyaki ($15.95), shrimp and scallop teriyaki ($19.50), filet mingon terkiyaki ($21.95) and lobster ravioli, which is lobster mousse over a lobster creme sauce with a lobster claw ($25.95).

I ended up ordering a crunch California roll ($6.50), shrimp tempura roll ($7.50), a crazy roll ($6.50) and some edamame ($3.50). Although these prices are slightly higher than Tokyo Sushi’s (also in downtown Birmingham), the rolls are much bigger and are made with higher quality ingredients.

First the edamame (salted baby soybeans) came. It was at the perfect temperature; not cold but not too hot and it was perfectly salt-

ed. They were delicious.

Soon after finishing the edamame, my waiter set down a large white platter of sushi. Each order was covered in eel sauce, a sweet brown sauce, which is normally an extra charge at other restaurants.

Hands down, this was some of the best sushi I have ever had. All of the fish and other ingredients tasted extremely fresh. The rolls were much bigger than I am used to, so I was full when the meal was over.

My favorite roll was the California crunch roll (crab and avocado inside, tempura crunch and eel sauce outside). The tempura crunch on the outside was perfectly crisp but not too greasy. The perfect blend of crab and avocado also added to the roll’s great taste.

The service was just as incredible as the sushi. My waiter, Kevin, was very helpful in determining which rolls to order and was always there to fill my glass as soon as it was getting low.

Overall, with a great atmosphere, delicious food and prompt service, I’d roll on over to Birmingham Sushi any time.

EMILY LANGNAS/shield

Quick Bites

> B2

Calvas conquers cube

Human spirit overcomes

Katrina forced her out of her house. Her elderly mother and granddaughter relocated to Tennessee, unable to return without a house to go back to. The contractor she hired stole $80,000.

Undeterred, she pulled together what was left of her savings and invested her hopes in another contractor. This time, not only did the contractor take $40,000, he significantly sunk the home’s foundation and stole several large appliances. She spent nearly $120,000 and ended up with her house in worse condition than when she began and no place to live.

This is where I met Patrcia Armant, or as she asked us to call her, Ms. Pat. As part of the two weeks I spent in New Orleans this summer I worked construction on her house.

The home was finally n e a r i n g Seeing someone c o m p l e t i o n when I with such a positive a r r i v e d , outlook on life after thanks to volunteers having such horrible a n d luck for several professionals Pat had years is incredible Ms. once again and humbling. put her faith in. My group had the pleasure and privilege of surprising her with the news that her home would be ready in less than a month.

Jaded from her previous experiences, she hadn’t seen the house in over a year and didn’t want any updates.

We had heard so much about her, finally meeting her in person was incredible. At our meeting with Ms. Pat, I was inspired by how vivacious and happy she was, you never would have guessed the hardship she had been through.

She called us all “my babies” and even sang us a thank-you song. Seeing someone with such a positive outlook on life after having such horrible luck for several years is incredible and humbling. She happily told her story, getting emotional occasionally, but with a smile a majority of the time.

Watching Ms. Pat break down and cry tears of joy at the news that she could give her landlord notice that she would be returning home is indisputably one of my most unforgettable memories. After she had put her trust in so many people, her optimism and faith paid off.

In addition to the joy, I have the understanding that this is only a tiny piece of the problem, one house of 890,000 destroyed, and that more work needs to be done. But Ms. Pat’s house stands.

curriculum

Sushi chef John Kim makes a rainbow sushi roll at Birmingham Sushi Cafe

B2

life

Meditation at Model Health

Model incorporates a different style of learning Saloni Godbole

senior news advisor

According to AP Psychology teacher Vivian Johnston, Reading, writing, ‘rithmetic and…meditating?

“Research suggests that meditation over time reduces “Meditation is part of the class Health Psycholstress, which may reduce heart problems and immune ogy, where we look at techniques that connect the disorders. There are definitely mental benefits which mind and body to take care of both at the same carry over into physical benefits.” time,” Andrea McCoy, Health Psychology teacher Since incorporating this new form of instruction, Mcat Model High School, explains as the reason why Coy and Kezlarian have noticed a change in their stustudents meditate in her class. dents.

“At Harvard Medical School and other mind-body “It’s really nice to see my students meditate in class,” institutes, they teach the ‘relaxation response,’ says McCoy. “I’m leading them, so I’m watching them, which is a type of meditative technique that kicks so I look at their breath and see who’s really down and in the opposite of the fight or flight response. [Rerelaxed and who’s falling asleep and who’s not relaxed. laxation response] is basically what the hospitals A lot of my students are integrating medicall meditation so that people aren’t intimitation into their lives on a daily basis, and dated by the word, and is a different type they feel a lot calmer, they feel more foof treatment.” cused.”

This practice is also used in Model’s Phi- Research suggests “For Adventure English, we have an losophy class, taught by Bruce Kezlarian, that meditation over who thinks it is especially important for time reduces stress, overnight at a mountain,” says Kezlarian.

“We meditate there by lying down on the young adults of today. which may reudce forest carpet and doing some breathing “I think there are far too many deexercises, and we listen to the sounds mands that are placed on students. heart probelms and and try to focus on what’s happening. InI don’t think there’s enough time for immune disorders. evitably, the students are very alert and young adults to be by themselves. receptive. I do stay in contact with my From a very early age, there’s this push VIVIAN JOHNSTON former students, and I find that meditato be involved in sports or music lessons or AP Pyschology teacher tion has opened them up to a new way whatever. Not that that’s a bad thing, but of life - one that is more centered on the they are made out to be more important present.” than they are, and there should be no Johnston says that there is a rational related stress.” explanation behind these benefits.

Senior Hunter Cooper believes that “ In terms of brain waves, EEG readings have shown meditation is strongly connected to his that during meditation, alpha and theta brain waves psychology class. are dominant. These brain waves are associated with “When you actually experience a state of deep relaxation or even light sleep. In terms something, instead of just reading of general physiology, heart rate, the intake of oxygen about it, it can connect you to the and the release of carbon dioxide all slow down.” cultures behind the idea in a deeper “In fact, there was a study conducted in 2001 on Tisense. I think kids actually take it very betan monks whose lives were spent meditating,” conseriously.” tinues Johnston. “When their brains were analyzed, For both McCoy and Kezlarian, the objectives are there was more activity seen in the prefrontal cortex, similar. which is associated with attention. Also, there was an “This is an important concept because it can help abnormally low amount of activity in the parietal lobe, students not get held up on minor setbacks and which controls awareness of the body’s position in stay focused on their larger goals, all while mainspace. It makes sense that the study’s findings support taining a positive and healthy state of mind. The big that meditation allows for intense focusing and being thing is to make an attempt to empty your mind, able to be less focused on your surroundings and more and that’s what we focus on in class, and it’s kind focused on internal thought processes.” of a hard thing to do. It’s the idea of ‘dying every Cooper comments on how learning to meditate has second’, that we need to leave things where they’re affected his life. at and move forward,” says “I enjoy meditating on my own time after learning Kezlarian. how to in Philosophy class. It’s a very different experience that has taught me how to focus and stay relaxed.”

Freshman, Eve Sherbin, practices unique yoga positions, including the tree pose (top), the standing bow pulling pose (left), the triangle pose (middle), and the half moon (right). Students can learn these moves and othersin Model’s Philosophy class and Health Phsycology class.

“It is what it is”

Hendrickson muses on overused cliché

Lauren Hendrickson

senior sports advisor and web editor

“It is what it is.”

Wait – what is “it?”

Typically used to express acceptance of the seemingly inevitable, we have all heard this meaningless cliché hundreds of times. This phrase is extremely dismissive and little more than an excuse to avoid answering a question or taking responsibility, and that is exactly why I dislike it.

“I made a mistake, so it is what it is, I guess,” said Britney Spears after being caught in 2007 driving with her 16-weekold son on her lap, rather than in a car seat.

If her son had been seriously injured in a car accident while positioned in Spears’ lap, would this pop star have used the same excuse? I can only imagine the public reaction if Spears were to say, “Well…my son is extremely injured. It is what it is, I guess.”

In a recent October 2009 national Marist Poll, “It is what it is” was voted the third most annoying phrase to hear in conversation behind “whatever” and “you know,” as the top two most irritating. The This phrase is ex- survey contremely dismissive cluded that and little more than 11 percent of Americans, an excuse to avoid approximateanswering a question ly 33,446,569 or taking responsibil- p e o p l e , ity, and that is exactly loathe hearing this statewhy I dislike it. ment as the answer to a question or an excuse for a mistake.

After being pestered in 2006 about former Vice President Dick Cheney’s embarrassing hunting accident, White House press secretary, Scott McClellan said, somewhat petulantly, “We went through it thoroughly yesterday. It is what it is, and I think it’s time to move on.”

Last time I checked, that is not an answer. The “it” – the fact that Cheney carelessly shot Texas attorney Harry Whittington while quail hunting – “is what IT is.” What does that even mean? What’s done is done, and cannot be changed?

Where’s the sympathy for Whittington in saying, “It is what it is?” It is almost as though McClellan was suggesting, “so what?”

Those five, trite words merely provided an “easy out” for a busy political aide, who did not have the time or desire to respond to a question he could not answer without embarrassing his boss.

Maybe Mr. McClellan, along with many others, should be reminded to “say what you mean, and mean what you say.”

Of course, that has its problems, too.

Whatever, I guess it is what it is.

Struggling through seizures Facts about epilepsy

Andover junior tells the tale of how she lives with epilepsy

-Epilepsy is also called a seizure disorder

Talia Goldman

-Seizures can last from a few seconds to a few minutes -About 3 million people in the United States have a form of epilepsy -Source: Epilepsy Foundation

news page editor Natasha Amin wanders down the aisle of her neighborhood grocery store. Suddenly, without warning, she falls to her right and begins to shake violently. For this Andover junior, these seizures are a fact of life.

“I don’t have a trigger,” Amin explains.

“I don’t have to worry about lights, or stuff like that. [My seizures are] completely and utterly random. The only time I know it happened is when it’s done, because I’ll wake up somewhere unusual, and my head will be throbbing. I’ll have a migraine, and my body will feel like every muscle has tensed up and weakened. I’m incapable of moving on my own. A lot of times my father or my brother will have to carry me to my bed or paramedics will have to put me on a stretcher.”

Because Amin has grand mal tonic clon-

ic epilepsy, her seizures are sporadic, oc- I tell them. If you meet me one day and curring when a brief surge of electrical you hang out with me, you won’t be able activity affects her brain. to tell.”

“It was pretty devastating, very heartAlthough others may not be able to tell breaking,” her father, Dr. that Amin deals with a seizure Mohammed Amin exdisorder, her parents worry plains.

“In the beginabout her leading them to take ning I thought maybe [her The only time I actions trying to protect her. seizures were something “Freshman year, [my parknow it happened is ents] thought it was necessary that] only happened once. when it’s done, be- to have someone follow me Then it happened a second time. It didn’t go away. It cause I’ll wake up around, watch where I go and just kept coming more and I do in case anything ever somewhere unusu- what more. Finally, we went to happens. It was terrible; I hatal, and my head will ed it. I tried to get away from a specialist and starting working on it and [have her all the time,” tells Amin. be throbbing. been] ever since.”

However, Amin recently had Since her seizures began an experience affecting her NATASHA AMIN when she was nine years perspective. old, Amin has been work“It was about two months ing with doctors and othago the first time I watched ers to overcome the various problems another person in real life actually have accompanying her situation. a seizure themselves, and it was really “In middle school, people called me reflective,” she says. “It kind of made ‘seizure girl,’” Amin says. “That was very me understand why my parents are so troubling for me; I took it very harshly. scared, or why people call an ambulance.

But now, people don’t really know unless It’s an experience. When you watch it, it’s

so different.”

As Amin saw, there are physical risks involved when having a seizure, such as the victim falling on a hard surface and injuring themselves. Because of this, Amin has to take precautions.

“There are many things I can’t do,” explains Amin. “I have to be really careful when I’m in class. I cannot drive, which doesn’t work out so well.”

Dr. Amin describes how his daughter handles the disease.

“It’s obviously pretty depressing for her. Her friends can do a lot of things she cannot. But she very strong-willed and has a strong personality, [and] she has accepted it very strongly. I’m very proud of my daughter. ” According to Dr. Amin, his daughter has had epilepsy symptoms for several years now, but the possibility exists for her not to have the disease as she grows older.

“We are hoping and we are praying that one day she’ll outgrow it,” says Dr. Amin.

“Hopefully there will be a brighter future for her.”

life

B3

Calliat’s new CD breaks through Breakthrough is a worthy successor to Calliat’s first

Kaya Koscielny staff writer

Browsing through Best Buy’s Pop section, something caught my eye.

Without hesitation I grabbed Colbie Calliat’s latest CD Breakthrough. Even though it came out in August, I knew I would instantly like it since I fell in love with her first album, Coco (2007).

In contrast with Coco, the 12 track Breakthrough sounds like it has been written from deep inside Colbie’s soul.

It has a sensational blend of songs dealing with her love and loss. Coco has songs dealing with love and loss but they lack a distinct flow. The songs are longer than on her first album and have more depth.

The best is the four minute “You Got

Me”. Lyrics like “I can’t imagine what it’d be like, living each day in this life without you...” make me feel surrounded by warmth. The song “Bubbly” in the first album is light hearted, but the song “You Got Me” sinks deeper into my soul because the words have more emotional depth. The album Breakthrough makes me feel like being on a white sandy beach, located on an uncharted island, far away.

While most songs in the latest album are enjoyable, there are two that I do not like: “Runnin’ Around” and “I Never Told You”. The first song has touching words but I do not like the melody because it doesn’t merge with the words or wrap you in any particular feeling. Also, the chorus is repeated too many times throughout the song which is boring.

“I Never Told You” is also one of my least favorite songs because the chorus

is so repetitive that I begin to lose track of the song’s meaning.

Both albums have deluxe versions, which are just versions with a few new songs as well as remixed versions of songs from the original albums. Breakthrough’s recently released deluxe version can be found for $5 on sale on Amazon.com.

The problem with buying a deluxe edition of any CD is that you don’t always like the extra songs. If I wanted the extra songs I would listen to them online and download them from sites like Amazon and iTunes.

Mainly targeting teenage girls, Breakthrough is the perfect play-list addition to help drone out the chaos of Thanksgiving preparations. It’s also the perfect album to entertain guests with because the lyrics in these love songs are touching, enlightening , inspirational, and clean.

Breakthrough Facts

- Follow-up to 2007’s Coco - Released August 25 - Noteworthy songs include “You Got Me” - Available on Amazon for $11.49 - Deluxe versions available with five bonus tracks - Tracks dealing with loss and love

JOSH LONEY/shield

Loney ‘Toons

Happy Holidays $2.00 off any 1 “Meal in a Cup” Smoothie With this coupon and a Andover Student ID

Beyond Juice Gift Cards are available in any denomination and make great stocking stuffers. This year remember to give the gift of good health.

270 West Maple, Birmingham 248-5947080 A healthy alternative to fast food Offer Valid thru December 31st 2009

from B1

JOHNSTON: guitar

“I think it has made some kind of connection and they see me as a human who is trying to struggle just like they are trying to struggle with something.”

Dershem believes hearing Johnston play has been an effective method of motivation for not only completing assignments but also for studying for the tests.

“The motivation of having a day where we are just chilling out and listening to her play the guitar -- that is motivation enough to do the work,” he says. “I think in the future if she offers to play [guitar] more, people are going to try to earn that privilege of listening to her play [by doing their work].”

Another of Johnston’s students, senior Joel Mitter, appreciates that he is able to see Johnston as more than just a teacher.

“I like it that it shows a different side of her. When she’s teaching economics we don’t see the artistic or creative side [that we see when she plays guitar],” Mitter says.

“I play a bunch of different instruments so I know how hard it is to learn something new. I can relate to how difficult it is to start playing an instrument so I respect her for pursuing something new.”

Not only has playing the guitar motivated her Government class, but it has also helped Johnston achieve her one of her lifelong dreams.

This dream was fulfilled last spring when she went out to lunch with good friend, Ed Spilker. Spilker, who plays in a band, asked to stop in at a guitar shop while they were out. There, a guitar caught Johnston’s eye. After Spilker tested and approved the guitar, Johnston purchased it and began learning to play soon after.

After practicing everyday and nearly 20 hours every week, Johnston admits to sometimes feeling frustrated with her lack of progress. However, remembering her goal -- to play for her own enjoyment and not to pursue it professionally--helps alleviate her frustrations and encourage her to continue.

“I think there’s something relaxing about [the guitar].

That’s what’s h e l p i n g I think there’s me not get something relaxing fr ustrated,” about [the guitar]. s a y s Johnston.

That is what’s “ W h a t

helping me not get h a p p e n e d that really frustrated. encouraged me, my VIVIAN JOHNSTON father and social studies teacher mother were not well this past spring. I went up north [where they live] with my guitar because I was having to do a lot of sitting around,” she says. “I just started playing these chords that I was learning - no songs, just practicing chords and the fingering -- and my dad sat down next to me and said ‘I just want to sit here and listen to you’ and he said ‘it sounds so beautiful’ and I was just playing the C chord and G chord.

I was doing nothing but my dad found it really relaxing and sat down next to me.”

The progress Johnston has made since the spring is impressive, according to Spilker.

“I started playing when I was 12 years old and it easily took me well more than a year to get anywhere near where she has gotten,” says Spilker. “As a guitarist, she has a natural ability. Considering the length of time she has been playing, she makes me want to go home and throw all my equipment away. It is unfortunate that she didn’t discover [these skills] years ago.”

Johnston recently took up the guitar because is is something she has wanted to do since she was age “ten or twelve. If I wanted to do something for over 40 years, I don’t have a lot of time left to not follow through, so I’m going to follow through.”

5829 West Maple, Suite #127 West Bloomfield, MI 248-737-2880

life

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life

B5

Bringing changes to socia Breaking barriers crossing lines and popping bubbles Sam Gordon Staff writer

I had no idea what I was getting into as I entered the field house on Tuesday morning.

Seeing my teach-

ers, counselors and other adults making a Soul Train dance tunnel, I realized I walked into a dance party. While some became excited with this realization high-fiving the adults, I became uncomfortable, instantly deciding I would stay inside my “personal bubble” for the rest of the day. I was not yet ready for this experience. I was not ready to be challenged.

However, that didn’t last long and my “bubble” slowly deflated after weird games where we danced butt-to-butt, sat on one another’s lap and played beach volleyball where the adults cheered us on by standing on chairs and making human pyramids. After all the silliness, it was time to “get real.” we did this with the line game.

This is where my bubble popped.

Jake, one of our Challenge Day leaders, started the game by explaining what oppression was and we had a pleasant conversation about those who are oppressed. Obvious answers such as people’s skin color, weight, and religion were provided. Then Jake taped two blue lines on

the floor. As we stood on one line. Ka other Challenge Day leader, read off a s statements. If it applied to you, you s over the line facing the other side. Qu ranged from religion to race to abuse t to suicide. As each person who cros line, my respect for them grew.

As the activity continued it became ph laborious to step over the line. I watch teachers, my classmates, my friends and I didn’t even know, struggle to walk o line. As they stood looking at us we rai hands showing the international sign o you.” The hardest question for me was have ever been made fun of for your please step over the line.” As I stepped o line the suppport of the others hand fortified me. I stood up taller and strong feeling was of complete caring and frien The line game exposed our proble did not solve them. The healing proces within our small “family groups.” My was totally gone now and instead of feel

Road to the

Challenge

Nicole Kiester and Ashley Dubois Staff writer

“If you really knew me...”

“If you really really knew me...”

On November 10 and 11, approximately 250 students and faculty lowered the waterline keeping it real during the first ever Challenge Day at Andover.

“To me, (this) is an opportunity to bring together the notion that we are more alike than we are different,” says principal Rob Durecka, who participated on the second day. “To do that in a self-contained setting would work excellently for our school.”

Katie shares her story with the rest of the participants

After a year of planning, Dureka, along with psychologist Dr. Ronda Diegel and a steering committee of approximately thirty faculty and staff members finally saw their hours of meetings come to fruition.

“I was a little nervous and a little worried if the kids would take this opportunity seriously or be ‘oh I get out of school for a day,’” says committee member and participant Mary Blair. “(In the end) I was really proud of the students and the staff. I had never seen that side of some of them. It’s one of those things that is an experience and even for an English teacher it is hard to put into words.”

Orginating 22 years ago, Yvonne and Richard Dutra-St. John co-founded Challenge Day and the Be the Change Movement as a service to schools with students grades 7-12 and other organizations and companies. Since the first Challenge Day in 1987, the Dutra-St. John’s vision has been in more than 450 cities, 45 U.S. states, five Candaian provinces, Japan, Germany and Australia.

“It is difficult to really put into words how the day impacts each individual, so I have borrowed from the Challenge Day website to help explain their mission,” explains Dureka “The primary focus of all Challenge Day work is to end the fear, separation, isolation, and loneliness that is the root to almost every destructive behavior.”

Dureka continues to explain that the 6 1/2hour program designed for 100 students per day is a day-long, interactive program providing teens and adults with tools to “tear down the walls of separation, inspiring participants to live, study, and work in an encouraging environment of acceptance, love and respect.” The Dutra-St. John’s believe “that our schools are a microcosm of the larger community. People often ask what inspired us to do the work that we do. The bottom line is that we are parents.

When we created Challenge Day, our kids were ages one, two, three and four and we did not want them to go through the pain we did growing up.”

Diegel explains that although “Andover isn’t a

school where there is a lot of physical violence, which I’m really grateful for, the bullying and the way people felt separated and put down, was more relatable. There is a lot of gossip, excluding and talking behind people’s backs, so we wanted to do something that created a more inclusive environment where people see what we all have in common, break down some of the barriers that exist between cliques.”

As stated on their website, Challenge Day and the Be the Change Movement was featured in Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul and highlighted as part of two different nationally televised documentaries: The Teen Files: Surviving High School, which won an Emmy Award in 2000, and “The Bully Solution”, which aired across Canada and won The Gold Ribbon Award from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. Challenge Day caught the attention of Oprah Winfrey who experienced the power on her show entitled Oprah’s High School Challenge, in November 2006. In front of millions of people she tearfully declared, “This is how we change the world. I believe this show represents the very idea of Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream fulfilled. It is the dream of giving hope a chance, giving peace a chance, giving love a chance.”

Even before the day began, several faculty members like social studies teachers Ken Cameron and Blair attended a similar program at Sterling Heights High School in order to experience a Challenge Day for themselves.

“Keep in mind I was taking part in this with a bunch of high school kids I didn’t know,” Cameron says. “Yet I could tell it was positive and I

was able to make bonds with them. I thought we should bring it to our high school. It seems that we lack school unity at times and this seems to encourage that and helps get people on the same page.”

After researching the program, Dureka and his committee faced the financial costs.

“We were able to fund about half of it with grant money and about half came out of our construction budget, which both contributed about $5,000 (of the $10,000).” Dureka who when looking back says, “I definitely think it was worth it.”

Many students agree. “I really think it was worth it,” says sophomore Chelsea Lewis, who participated on Wednesday. “It was an eye opener and a wake up call. Everyone should do this, because it really has made a positive change.”

Led by Challenge Day leaders Kate and Jake, the day began with a Soul Train type tunnel formed by staff members cheering the day’s participants.

“I quite enjoyed Challenge Day. It really made me learn about my friends and about myself,” says Tuesday participant, sophomore Candace Calloway.

“I know this vision is idealistic, but I am sure the Andover community can begin to make this vision a reality. With this end in mind, you will soon hear about additional details for a new club named the Be The Change Team. Several students who attended Challenge Day have already signed up, and it is open to all students.

It’s the goal to have about 85 percent going through the program, considering our population of about 950 kids and 200 kids per day, we would want everyone to go through Challenge Day before they graduate,” Dureka says.

“If you are interested in helping to change the culture of Andover, please consider being a part of this group.”

the 6 1/2- hour program designed for 100 students per day is a day-long, interactive program providing teens and adults with tools to “tear down the walls of separation”

life

al climate

ate, our series of stepped uestions to death ssed the

hysically hed my d people over the ised our of “I love s, “If you weight, over the gesture ger. The ndship. ems, but ss came y bubble ling em-

barrassed, I was excited to share. In that small family, I was ready to share with people what I had trouble with. The words rushed out of my mouth. I spoke of social issues mainly. But what I said was not important, the importance of the activity was the feeling of complete freedom and safety within your group.

To be honest, I believed Challenge Day would be a corny way to get out of school. I was shocked to find myself leaving that gymnasium with a higher self-esteem and the knowledge that I am not alone in my problems. I knew I was not alone because for every time I had to step over that line, a group of people came with me. That feeling of belonging was extremely important for me.

Challenge Day was just the beginning of a school wide change. And the only way to make a true difference is “To Be The Change”. The challenge that I have given myself is to think before I act. School life at Andover high school will be better if people think about how their actions will affect others.

B6 Left: Challenge Day Leader Katie holds up her hand as she asks for volunteers to demonstrate the proper technique in giving a hug.

Top Right: Joe Abrash, 10, and health teacher Lisa Reiter lock arms and pretend to drive a car together. This was part of a set of challenges that were presented in the beginning of the day in order to get people out of their comfort zones.

Bottom Right: Participants of Challenge day hold up the international sign for “I love you.” The sign was used throughout the day.

Letting the tears flow Emotional day brings Kiester to tears Nicole Kiester Staff writer

When I was first given the permission slip for Challenge Day, I read that we were going to bond with our fellow classmates and about 50 other people I didn’t know. I threw the sheet away. I pictured hundreds of students packed into the gym listening to a speech we’ve all heard countless times before about how we were all supposed to get along. There was no way I was going to miss a day full of my hardest classes to sit in the gym and do trust exercises.

The day before the permission slips were due, my counselor called me down to her office and asked why I hadn’t turned in the permission slip.

She convinced me to give it a try and handed me another. I reluctantly took it home for my parents to sign.

As the week went on, I heard stories about how people had actually grown closer to one another and even made friends.

I’ll be the first to admit it, I cried all throughout the day. The exercise that spoke to me the most was when we all stood behind the line as the Challenge Day Leader read off categories, feelings and situations that anyone can go through.

As I watched my peers walk across the line, I was shocked at how much people go through; their struggles and fears, many of which I had in common, and how we all support one another.

In one day I’ve never been even close as compassionate towards another human being; I felt as if I’d grown closer to everyone.

If I had just thrown away that sheet of paper and if my counselor had just dismissed the fact that I was uncomfortable with the activity, I would have never realized the similarities I have with everyone around me.

Below: As the day began, everybody participating in the day sat in a circle, listening to the instructions for the day.

However, the sitting did not last long as almost immediatly the group was dancing and playing games.

Not just another conference Jones made better person by Challenge Day Max Jones Staff writer

JAKE GORDON/shield

Right: As one of the leaders, Jake helped to facilitate the day.

Challenge Day, an eye-opening experience, or just another anti-bullying conference? I’m sure I wasn’t the only person asking myself that question as 119 other students were pushed through the gym doors.

Teachers formed a tunnel encouraging us through, whilst screaming, jumping up and down. Right then and there I knew- Anti-bullying conference. Boy was I wrong.

I was put into a “small family group” and told to give them my life story in about two minutes.

Skeptical, I looked around my group and saw I knew no one. It’s one thing to pour your heart out in two minutes, but an entire different situation to complete strangers!

Once we got the ball rolling, what I heard amazed me. It wasn’t the fact that people could tell everything about them in two minutes, that wasn’t even important. What was important was all the hurt my “family” had gone through.

Truly life changing is the only way I can describe it. I thought in Bloomfield Hills a lot of people had pretty good lives, but at the end of the day, I saw half the gym was crying.

In my opinion, none of the crying was bad at all.

It symbolized that people could be sympathetic to others, regardless of whether what they’ve gone through has ever happened to them.

If you get a chance to go to Challenge Day, take it.

The things you see, do, and express will change you, enlighten you, and most importantly, make you a better person.

life

B7

Far left: Math teacher Jane Briskey plays leap frog with the other teachers as inspiration while the students play giant volleyball during the first day of Challenge Day which took place November 10 and 11 in the Andover gymnasium. To win the game, each team not only had to volley the gigantic plastic beach ball, but had to have the loudest cheer section.

The teachers acted as cheerleaders making pyramids, playing leap-frog, yelling and clapping.

Left: Hooking arms, history teacher Ken Cameron and Hailey Lefkosky (11) get out of their comfort zones. The activity helped people feel comfortable with one another by dancing back to back. The goal of the activity was to break down the barriers between the students and their mentors.

Left: Between activities, the Challenge Day leaders would tell stories, explain activities or ask others to share. Students spent almost as much time in the circle discussing as they did doing activities outside the circle. Students discussed issues at Andover and how to make it a more united student body.

challenge day

200 students and faculty get together to learn about similarities and differences.

Above: Anthony Jarbo (11) reaches up to hit the giant volleyball. All students were supposed to stay seated and pass the ball from one side to the other. Students tried to score points, much like volleyball, but the team awarded the point was the team that had the most cheering (helped by the teacher cheerleaders).

Above: “If you have ever stepped in dog poop move over three chairs to the right.”

Students and faculty like Rachel Pad (11) and Lisa Acton would move over the amount of chairs dictated by the Challenge Day leaders. They had to sit in the chair, no matter how many people were already there. In the end, the goal was to make the biggest pile up on one chair.

Right: Challenge Day leader Katie tells her personal story. Stunents gathered around as she introduced the “If you really knew me...” activity by telling her own. In this activity, students and faculty gathered in small groups and told their own personal stories.

Photos by: KYLE KAVANAGH/shield, CHELSEA JOLLY/sheild, and JAKE GORDON/shield Design and Text by: MADELINE MCILHON/shield, ASHLEY DUBOIS/shield

Right: Max Jones (10) raises his arm with others in the international sign of love.

Throughout the day, students would raise their hands in this sign to cheer others on silently, such as during the line game where people would cross the line of you fit a described situation.

Baxter conquers Scoliosis

sports > Reaching for new heights C3

Statistics from 2008-2009 season

Max Nathan #33 Guard 30% 3pt FG

The boys’ varsity basketball team looks to prove doubters wrong by improving from last season with an experienced starting five

Danny Weiss #32 Center Led team in total rebounds

James Feuereisen staff writer

Rubin’s boys are ready for a rebound.

“This season, our team has lots of potential,” says varsity head coach Jeff Rubin. “I think we can win 14/15 games, be competitive to win our league and get to the district playoffs. Each player has a year of varsity experience under me as a coach, so they know what it takes to compete day in and day out. Last season this was not the case, as 13 players were playing varsity for the first time, which is a reason we did not do so well. I feel experience will be the key factor that contributes to our success.”

Athletic Director R.J Guizzetti shares a similar outlook. “I expect the team to be in the running for the league championship. Their experience will be of great benefit. Coach Rubin has a history of doing well when there are many returning seniors, two years ago being a good example, as that season contained many returning seniors.”

Both agree this experience lies in the hands of six key players. Looking at the 2008-2009 season stats, three of these returning players’ contributed to the team’s offense, Matanya Kidron, Dean Herzoff, and Danny Weiss. Last season Kidron averaged 13.6 points per game, and scored 272 points for the team, while Dean Herzoff was the team leader in assists. Finally, Weiss led the team in total rebounds.

“Adam Howes and Jimmy LaHood are important for defense and being the tough players. Finally, there is Max Nathan who, being captain, is the floor leader for the team.

In addition, there are a handful of juniors who have been playing basketball for a long time,” says Rubin.

Rubin feels another advantage is the team’s chemistry. “Many of the returning players

have been playing with each other since they were freshman and all of them were on the varsity team last year. In addition, they have played with each other during the off season, whether it being actual games or just seeing each other in off season conditioning. In fact, last summer our team played 55 games around the area. We maximize the opportunities during the summer.

Playing more often allows for chemistry among the players to really develop, which is one of the top three conditions of having a good team. Most other teams do not have the chemistry we do.”

Along with the experience, Rubin acknowledges the team’s abilities.

“Although not as talented as our team was two

Alex Chudler copy editor

Two students look to advance to Junior Olympics for fourth time Allison Brooks and Dana Goldberg are ready to do it again.

“I really want to make top 10 this year,” Brooks says about competing in the Junior Olympics for rhythmic gymnastics. “The closest I’ve ever gotten was 13th. Someday I want to make the national team, which is the top 10 girls in the whole U.S, not just the top 10 girls in my level.”

Goldberg adds, “There’s definitely more pressure [with] more people looking at you, and it affects whether your coach thinks you can move up to the next level.”

For the past three years, this sophomore

and freshman have been two of nearly 500 of the best rhythmic gymnasts from across the country competing in the Junior Olympics. According to Brooks, going to the Junior Olympics, held in Chicago from June 18-22, is a really big deal.

“When you go to regionals, which anyone can go to, you have to place in the top 10 in your level to qualify for the Junior Olympics,” Goldberg explains.

These two have practiced at the Oakland Rhythmics gymnastics club for the past seven years. Brooks explains that unlike regular gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics includes the events of balls, clubs, ribbon, rope and hoop.

“My best [event] is either floor or clubs, because on floor you don’t use any equipment and I like clubs so it’s easy for me to do,” Goldberg says. “My worst is ribbon because it’s hard. There are some ballet parts that I don’t enjoy, but it’s part of what you need to do because there’s a lot of dance involved.”

The gymnasts see GYMNASTICS explain that there is much preparing that

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Adam Howes #20 Forward 86% 2pt FG

Photos: JAKE GORDON/shield; Design: MATT LUCKOFF/shield and JAKE GORDON/shield

Keeping the rhythm

years ago, which had a few college level players and went undefeated in leagues, I still feel that any team can be good as long as the team has the ability to take talent from individuals and mold that into a team. In addition, compared to last year, our leadership is much better, which will guide our team well. The lack of leadership last year was one of the reasons we did not do so well. Players were often misguided and only by putting their individual goals aside can we have group success,“ comments Rubin, who’s c o a c h i n g see BASKETBALL v a r s i t y basketball for the fourth year.

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Foot Notes * Levels are in order from 1-10 based on skill * Scoring system is based on a scale of 10 points, with 30 points being the maximum *Competitors recieve point deductiions for errors in boh technique and skill

Dean Herzoff #21 Forward Led team in assists

Jimmy Lahood #11 Forward 77% FG

Pursuing common goals Matt Luckoff sports editor

Athletic program receives a boost from bigger faster stronger program Andover head football coach James Dewald brings in the professionals.

On Friday November 6 and Saturday November 7, the national program Bigger Faster Stronger came to Andover to help improve the athletic program both physically and mentally.

“Bigger Faster Stronger is a national company known for coming in and bringing high schools together, unifying their athletic programs both in the weight room and their attitude,” explains Dewald The program was split into two days, Friday working on the mental aspect and Saturday devoted to the physical.

“Friday was what is called being an 11

seminar, which is basically is a motivational seminar. They talked about on a scale of one to ten where you would be, we want to be an 11. Whether that’s making decisions with your friends in a social setting, making decisions in the weight room, or making decisions in the classroom you have to choose how hard you want to work and how well you want to do, and we always want to push for that 11,” says Dewald.

“Saturday was the actual weightlifting instruction where they went through the six core lifts, auxiliary lifts, dot drill, showing everything it will take to be a successful athlete,” he says.

While this program is new to Andover, it is far from new across the nation. Bigger Faster Stronger has been around for 28 years, helping athletes train in many different ways. The founder and CEO, Greg Shepard has worked as a strength and conditioning see BFS coach at Oregon State University, University of

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Andover runners excel at states

Spinning:

The new cycle of life?

Two cross country runners participate in state championship Marley Kalt

life page editor

Community member participates in a weekly spinning class at LA Fitness on Telegraph Road. Classes are held every day at 5:45 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

Working out on a stationary bike is this generation’s new method of getting fit and staying healthy AUDREY FOTOUHI/shield

Audrey Fotouhi staff writer

Six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has brought cycling to the masses, and everyone is hearing his call.

More and more people are flocking to their neighborhood gyms for a new type of workout. Spinning instructor at LA fitness in Bloomfield Hills, Erin Fox, says “spinning has become very popular here; our classes are always full.”

This workout, called spinning, incorporates a stationary bike with simple sets of movements and different hand positions on the handlebars. The instructor helps the class monitor their heart rates with heart rate monitors and their RPM (rotations per minute) with a stopwatch. To distract from the intensity of the workout, the instructor usually blasts loud, pumping music.

Spinning was founded in 1994 by Mad Dogg Inc. “Spinning” is patented term referring to the Mad Dogg Spinning classes and Spinner stationary bikes. But nowadays, spinning is a term that refers to any indoor stationary bicycling class.

Most gyms offer spinning classes like LA Fitness’s Spin Zone and Bally Total Fitness’s small group Spinning. These classes are offered as part of membership to the athletic club; membership prices vary depending on season and club.

Fast Facts In recent years, spinning has become a popular form of exercise among all types of people.

Many celebrities, such as Will Ferrell and Hilary Swank, are spinning in addition to everyday people. “I loved my spinning classes although they were at five in the morning. I always left with such a feeling of accomplishment,” says Kathy McDonald, Bloomfield resident.

“Spinning is an excellent way to burn calories and fat, increase endurance, and tone up,” says Fox. “It’s especially efficient [when done in] intervals, so you can burn the most calories.”

One only needs to do it three times a week high intensity and once a week low intensity to keep in shape. In the last several years, the ever-growing exercise has become a fitness phenomenon for people wanting a great workout in a shorter amount of time; a 60-minute class can burn more than 600 calories according to Sparkpeople.com.

Spinning works the glutes, hamstrings

and quads while keeping the upper body relaxed. But since it works only the lower body, it is most efficient when coupled with lower back and core exercises. “It is great for people of all ages and body types because, unlike Zumba and running, it doesn’t put impact on the knees or increase joint pain,” says Fox. And spinning isn’t just good for your outer beauty; according to Fox, it increases the VO2 max (lung capacity), builds endurance and increases strength all over. Andover sophomore Eric Enache says “I have felt such an improvement in my leg strength since I started spinning classes.”

“Spinning is not just a ‘hard-core’ fitness program for elite athletes. Instead, this high-energy group exercise integrates music, camaraderie, and visualization in a complete mind/body exercise program,” says Holly Little, personal trainer and blogger on Sparkpeople.com.

“Spinning is a great all around exercise,” says Fox . “Everyone should try it.”

Spinning is an excellent way to burn calories and fat, increase endurance, and tone-up.

ERIN FOX

spinning instructor

-Instructor takes class on all types of terrain -Spinning bikes allow you to adjust resistance -Using a spinning cycle will give you the aerobic burst needed to boost heart rate -Jonathan Goldberg developed the concept of indoor cycling in the 1980s

Racing along the course in front of hundreds of cheering people, Lise Devits was looking at the ground.

“There were so many people screaming, but I wasn’t looking,” Devits says. “Runners were falling like crazy. I was only looking down to make sure I didn’t trip over anyone. It was very scary.”

Sophomore Devits, along with sophomore Alexis Sinclair, ran at the girls’ Cross Country State Finals on November 7 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. This was the first time in three years that girls have run at the State meet.

Out of 250 runners, Devits came in 81st place with her fastest time all season, 20:32, which beat her previous best by 20 seconds. Alexis came in 109th place with a 20:52.

Alexis is an Academic All State runner, which means she finished in the top half of the state and has a grade point average of 3.8 or higher.

“It was really exciting,” says Alexis. “I work really hard for my grades. I think it’s important that athletes try to get good grades [while also being good at their sport].”

This season, Alexis entered the top ten Cross Country record board for Andover, with a 19:58 for 3.1 miles (5K).

She is currently in seventh place on the board.

“It was one of my goals to be on the board this year, and I was really happy to make it,” explains Alexis. “Last year, I Girls’ cross country runners didn’t even do compete in a race at the state Cross Country, tournament. The tournament because I didn’t was held in Brooklyn, MI. like running. But this year I decided to try it, and I love it.”

Devits had to face a medical challenge to make it to States, and even to finish the season. “[Devits] battled through three major stress fractures in her legs last cross country season,” says Beth Sinclair, girls’ cross country coach. “She has overcome a lot of adversity with her running to be where she was [at the State race]. I am very proud of her.”

This cross country season, the girls’ team showed improvement from last year. “[At the Regional meet] our team finished fourth out of eleven complete teams and a few partial teams. Last year we were in eleventh place,” Beth says. “The top three teams go to State Finals, so we just missed it as a team. However, it was a tremendous success for the program. Next year, I would like to take the whole team to the state finals. I would also like to see Alexis move down on the record board and get some other girls up there.”

The 2009 State race was Devits’ final meet. She will be moving from the United States at the end of the school year.

“Going to States was a very nice goodbye.

I have been here for three years, but this is my last year in the United States because I am moving back to Belgium, where I was born,” explains Devits. “There is no cross country there. When I finished [the race], there were so many people screaming and cheering, it was amazing. I felt so good; I was like, ‘yes!’”

Goldman gains insights from her running career

Parallels found between running and academics inspire important observations

Talia Goldman news page editor

Slowly I break into a jog, then pick up the pace to a run. Running up the dirt road, I see the once-green leaves are now yellow and orange as I breathe in…and out.

The hill is coming closer. Preparing to pump my arms, I dig my toes in as I head up freshman year hill.

My high school career is parallel to running down a long road.

Like the hills on the road, there are many challenges throughout the time in high school.

That hill was unforgiving; there is no rest or downhill afterwards.

Luckily, it was just the beginning and my breathing is only starting to pick up now. I coast along a stretch of flat ground.

Joining sports teams, such as cross country, help me find a place. It brought a confidence in during sophomore year. But the rest of the year holds no surprises, and I begin to get bored. I plod along, telling myself that I

just have to just push through this part to get to the end.

The steepest hill so far came up fast. Junior year was like a mountain ascending into the sky. I’ve heard about the horrors of running up it before, and I have prepared grimly.

The biggest obstacle on my way up the hill is the ACT. The hard work and competition loom before me, compounded by the pressure that my score could determine my future for college. I begin to push up the hill. Adjusting to the new work load, trying the ACT for the first time, working to improve my score, continuing to research universities and trying to make a big decision present

I have begun to coast down the senior year hill now.

a challenge for my already tired legs. But some things help me get up the mountain a little easier: improvement in cross country and track, a solid group of friends, and seeing my hard work pay off. These things just get me over the top of the hill and I begin to descend.

I can feel I’m approaching the end of the route. It’s no different then a swimmer approaching the end of a lap or a soccer player racing down the field to finally shoot a goal.My legs are tired and have begun to ache. But I’m so close, I can’t stop now. I have begun to coast down the senior year hill now, the only slight bump I have to get over is the work of applications. But after that, I can lengthen my stride and fly down the hill, reaching the end of my run and graduation.

Did you know?

-cross country running is a fall sport -there are no tryouts -the girls’ team had a winning record of 4-2

sports

from C1

STUDENT PROFILE

BASKETBALL: Preview

Rubin is hoping to change this lack of leadership this season. For this season, the captain is Max Nathan, with another captain to be named when the season starts. However, Rubin expects all of his seniors to be leaders and to be put their individual goals aside in games.

Nathan, a varsity starter who made 30 percent of three pointers last season, feels ready for his role as captain.

“I was named captain for my skills as a player and my dedication over the years. As captain I want to pass on my skills and level of dedication to other players. Specifically, I will try very hard to ensure players attend all practices and workouts, even if they are over breaks. Additionally, I want to ensure our team is mentally focused, which it lacked last season. A big component of basketball is all in your head, so a mental focus is a must for any successful team.”

Another new aspect for this year’s basketball team is their playing style.

Rubin discuses that their offense will be more guard oriented, as they simply do not have the players to play other styles.

For example, they lack a tall center, their tallest player (Danny Weiss) being only 6’4’’ which makes it difficult to be aggressive in the key. Their defense will remain the same but there will insistence on consistency, even when playing high power offenses. Additionally, there will be an emphasis on playing more intelligently as the margin for error is very slim.

Specifically Rubin is focusing on a reduction in turnovers and an increase in shots.

The team’s first game will be on December 8 against Highland Park.

“No matter what happens this season, I want the players to take away with them a hard work ethic and a respect for everyone. Overall, I want to develop the young men into men,” concludes Rubin.

from C1

GYMNASTICS: Olympics they must do before competing in the

regional championship. “I get ready by practicing a lot and seeing how I do in competitions before that to see where I am in the country,” Goldberg says. “Also, it helps to see if I need to change my routines in any way so I can do better in competition.”

“At each meet you have to impress the judges and show them during your routine how you deserve the spot,” Brooks adds.

Besides getting the chance to travel and compete among other top athletes, Goldberg sees additional advantages of gymnastics as well.

“I think it helps me be more wellbalanced,” Goldberg says. “I have to get all my schoolwork done, and I know that school always comes before gymnastics, so if I have too much homework or a lot of tests coming up I don’t go to practice.”

“I fall behind in school a lot,” Brooks says.

“When I get home I just automatically start my homework, and then I go to practice, and then when I come back I just do it again. But I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I really like how it’s different than what most people do, and I really like the people on my team.”

Laura Goldberg, Dana’s mother, sees how gymnastics has made her daughter more focused, but says the downside is that she misses out on other high school experiences.

“She doesn’t have an opportunity to get involved with other stuff at school,” she says. “I would love for her to be able to see what Andover has to offer that she doesn’t know about because her life is so focused on gymnastics. It’s great when she wins because I know she’s happy. I know she’s never going to make it to the Olympics; I don’t think she really wants to make it that far, but while she’s having fun that’s all that matters.”

“I’m not necessarily going to hope that I place well because there are so many people and they’re all the top in the country,” Goldberg concludes. “It’s just really exciting to be going.”

from C1

BFS: Athletes

Oregon, Brigham Young University, and for the Utah Jazz.

Andover’s athletes that attended can now be added to the list of hundreds of thousands that Sheppard has helped first hand, explains senior varsity football captain Michael Smith.

“Bigger Faster Stronger taught me the proper technique to both prevent injury and maximize my workout, which translates to a better performance on the field,” says Smith. “It also showed that the phrase ‘Attitude is everything’ is really true.”

“Bigger Faster Stronger exceeded my expectations,” says Dewald. “I was very pleased with the way they presented the material. I thought Friday night was a great message to all kids regardless if you play a sport or not and it will positively affect all athletic programs.”

C3

Overcoming All About Scoliosis -Scoliosis is the sideways curving of the spine -Scoliosis is more common in girls than in boys -The spine of someone with scoliosis is shaped more like a “S” or a “C” -Scoliosis is reported to affect 2%-3% of school-age children -Treatment for scoliosis include bracing or surgery

Sophomore Jane Baxter continues competing after surgery on spine Anna Zambelli staff writer

For the most part, junior Jane Baxter appears just as any other girl on the swim and ski team. But what one would never know about Baxter is that when she hits the slopes, she is going to be using two extra poles. The two titanium rods that are in her back.

Baxter had surgery for scoliosis during her sophomore year. The surgery included inserting two metal rods on the sides of her spine.

“I can’t really feel them. If I’ve had a really hard swim practice or I have a really long day, I feel tension in my spine,” says Baxter.

The doctors took action when Baxter’s scoliosis was first discovered.

“I was diagnosed with scoliosis going into my freshman year. I was put in a brace right away,” says Baxter. “Even though I just got diagnosed [freshmen year], I probably had it much longer. They caught it very late.”

When the braced failed to help, Baxter and her family realized a more complex option was necessary.

“When I was first diagnosed, my doctor made it pretty clear that I would probably need surgery. Around the beginning of my sophomore year he said it was for sure and we started planning the dates,” says Baxter.

“Because I knew about the surgery for a long time, it helped me be prepared but also gave me a lot of time to think about what was ahead and worry. I was really

Scoliosis

scared of what was going to happen to her,” says Grace, Baxter’s younger sister.

Most people with scoliosis don’t need the surgery. Only if it reaches a certain amount of curvature will doctors operate.

“They don’t do the surgery on very many people. It has to be over a 50 degree curvature. Mine was about 52. That’s really bad. The average person may have about ten,” says Baxter.

Baxter had the surgery in June of her sophomore year.

“I went in really early one morning.

They put me under anesthesia. They cut me open and all I know is that when I woke up, I had two titanium rods in my back and nine of my vertebras were fused.

To me it seemed like two seconds, but it was really six hours,” says Baxter.

As if the extensive surgery wasn’t hard enough, Baxter then faced a long recovery with many restrictions on what she could do.

“The recovery was actually pretty complicated. It’s supposed to be a three month full recovery but I had a lot of complications. I was in the hospital for longer than I should have been. My recovery was about three and a half months,” says Baxter. “It was really hard. I couldn’t go out of the house. I needed help doing the easiest things. I still to this day can’t even put on a sock.”

Even with the limitations caused by having poles in her back, Baxter is still an active participant on Andover’s swim team and ski team.

“I can’t get down for my start yet,” says Baxter, talking about diving off the block during swim meets. “Flip turns are also harder. I can’t get into as tight of a ball. A lot of people before the surgery said that

MADELINE MCILHON/shield

I had a “wiggle” when I swam. Now the wiggle’s still there because I’m used to the movement, but it’s different because my back is straight. I’m just really awkward this year. I can still contribute a couple points a meet to the team, but it’s really frustrating that I’m not nearly as good as I was.”

While she struggles with these difficulties, Jane’s participation and extra effort is recognized by those around her. “[Coach Zulkiewski] is not nearly as hard on me. He understands that it is really difficult for me this year and that I’m frustrated. I still do all of the workouts though. I don’t get out of stuff,” says Baxter.

With the ski season quickly approaching, Baxter fears how the surgery will affect her abilities and performance.

“I’m really nervous, but the doctor told me I’d be fine. I explained to him many times that when you’re skiing in Colorado you fall and don’t stop falling for a really long time. He said I have no restrictions, so I guess we’ll see,” she says.

Baxter explains how just less than a year later, the surgery no longer affects many aspects of her life.

“It doesn’t affect my life too much anymore, but there are the little things,” says Baxter. “I don’t carry my books around. I have a set in the classrooms and a set at home. When I’m driving it’s hard to see out my back window, I don’t really twist like that. But other than that I can do pretty much everything.”

Baxter’s worries with scoliosis are over now that the surgery has happened.

Reed prepares for a successful season Hockey coach Rick Reed gives insight to 2009-2010 season Jarred Bratley staff writer

The hockey team ended last years season with a winning record. Rick Reed, the new varsity head coach, is expecting similar records, but he is also expecting better things from the program including the expansion of the team and improvement of players. In order to reach his goals Reed is willing to give his all and he is expecting the same from his players.

By some standards, last year’s hockey season could be considered successful.

Matt Andonian, the captain of the varsity hockey team explains that, “it felt really good to have some success and win a lot of games”, but Rick Reed viewed it as a “dismal failure.” His view of a successful hockey program is not based entirely on the number of wins.

Reed explains “At the varsity level by record alone, last season was deemed a successful year. But I would not consider that successful.” Reed continues “you could have a really great record like 24 and 3, which the team had last year, but it was a complete cluster. They couldn’t even turn out enough kids to have cuts.”

Reed’s view of success is based on the development of players and the expansion of the team. Reed believes that his program will attract more players to the team, while also bringing more talent to the program.

“I want to institute a productivity based environment where kids have to compete for their ice time. Not necessarily against each other, but against their own capacity, their own personal best. I also want to implement a very strong developmental quotient to the team,” says Reed In order to implement these changes to the varsity hockey team Reed is expecting certain attributes, qualities, and skills from his players.

“I want the players to focus on what they can control which is self discipline, work ethic, attitude and trying their best to get

out of themselves as close to 100 percent of what God gave them.” According to Reed just these characteristics are not enough though. “You need to have skill to go where I want to take the team, which is eventually through the state championship.”

Both the varsity hockey players and Coach Reed himself are very enthusiastic towards the start of the 2009 and 2010 season and feel that it will be the start to a new, more aggressive program.

Reed expresses his confidence towards the program he is shaping. “I really have either started a program or have taken over a program that was brand new and I was able to implement things that were able to act as change agents.” He says, “It all hinges upon leadership, not just from the coaching level but from the players. I have had over a decade of teaching leadership development and that is directly relevant to sports.”

Andonian says, Coach Reed “Has got a lot of energy so that will be good for the team.

He also has a lot of new ideas which will rejuvenate everything. He is really invigorating the team.”

Hockey Team

-Last year the boys hockey team had a 24-3 record -Reed hopes to attract more players to the team -Varsity players and Reed hope that this season will be a start to a more aggressive program

Support Barons and the Bottomless Toy Chest!

Bring a new toy donation to the Andover Basketball game Tuesday, December 8th and receive free admission The Bottomless Toy Chest, a charity based in Birmingham, collects toys and items to help occupy the time of cancer-stricken children in the hospital for extend periods of time.

Please help the Barons support this great cause!

sports

C4

Uncovering the * hidden cost of pursuing your passion

by Kyle Kavanagh and Bridget Sanders

Each year, 456 Andover students particpate in varsity sports. Student athletes and their parents are required to pay large sums to cover the expenses of their respective sports. From costly shoes and pads to basic booster fees and

ice time, varsity sport expenses can quickly add up. At a minimum of ten pieces of expensive equipment just to compete, varsity skiing costs about fifteen times the

THE BREAKDOWN

cost of varsity soccer.

But what about the other sports? The Shield exposes the true cost of some of the most popular varsity sports played at Andover. $180 Schutt

$30 Brine Phan-

$10 Speedo

$20 Under Ar-

$15 Speedo

tom Soccer Ball

Helmet

$15 Mouthguard $130 Schutt

Cap

mour Shinguards

$195 Adidas

F50i TUNiT Shoes

Shoulder Pads

Vanquisher Goggles

$25 Reebok

$160 Speedo

$35 McDavid

$225 Booster

$25 lower-body

Gloves Girdle

FastSkin II

$100 Booster Fees

pad set

Fees

TOTAL:$345

TOTAL:$410

$60 Bauer Helmet $90 CCM Shoulder pads

$55 CCM Elbow Pads

$175 Warrior Pants $90 Mission Shin Pads

$100 Bauer Skates $100 Bauer gloves $80 TPS Response Stick

$1000 Ice Time

TOTAL: $1750 *Total costs do not include the BHSD $150 participation fee

$80 Nike Cleats $155 Booster Fee

TOTAL: $645 $150 POC Skull Helmet $205 Oakley Crowbar Goggles

$500 Spyder GS Race Suit $150 Hestra Padded Gloves

$125 Scott Shin Guards $750 Fischer RC4 Race Boots

$250 Fischer RC4 Bindings $1200 Fischer Giant Slalom Skis

$1200 Fischer Slalom Skis

$555 Pine Knob Season Pass

$125 Booster Fee

TOTAL: $5310