Des Moines North High School by Ben Graeber

The

north_high_school_501_holcomb_ave._des_moines,_ia_50313 March_2013._issue_5._A_PUBLIC_FORUM_FOR_STUDENT_EXPRESSION

Oracle north high’s

north high alumni's

winter

Where are they now

nhs

oracle

f o r m a l pgs. 6-7

club

updates pg. 12

#NhsAwkwardmoments

PG. 8

pg. 10

Movement

515 pg. 4

spotlights Griselda Sandoval mike vukovich

pg 11 The oracle’s own

harlem shake see inside cover

THE

? o e h t is d l r o w e h t In e r e Wh s for spring an pl r ou y e ar t ha W , fun, excy n fa re he ew m so g in go break? ith you and take citing? take the oracle w own landmark! kn l el w a to t ex n e ur ct a pi t edition of the ex n e th in be d ul co ou y north high oracle!

Table_of_contents Opinions 3 HARLEM SHAKE Role Models The Oracle’s Thumbs Up & Thumbs Down

arts & Ent. Movement 515 What’s On Your Music Device?

6-7

4-5

middle spread A look at the NHS Winter Formal

8-9

feature

Awkward Moments @NorthHigh Triple Threat- A look at three related students here at North High

10-11

feature

A look at a few NHS Alumni’s NHS Spotlights: Mike Vukovich / Griselda Sandoval

club updates Academic Decathlon Anime!

Recently we here at The Oracle decided to put our spin on the rising viral sensation known as the “Harlem Shake”. Check it out on YouTube -> Search -> “DMPS Harlem Shake”

LINKS: https://www.northhsoracle.com follow us at: @NorthHighOracle On The Cover: Tanna Jones(9th Grade) and Isaac Barrera(9th Grade) at the NHS Winter Formal. Photo by: Hannah McNichols

Opinions

Teen teen Role role Models models

Who Do Teens Look Up To?

By Hannah McNichols Staff Reporter The people teenagers look up to as their role models matter a great deal in determining the shape and substance of the next generation of churchgoers, consumers, and citizens. There are many reasons for a teen to look up to someone. Many young girls look up to “skinny” celebrities because they want to be thinner or prettier. Either their nose is to big, or they’re not skinny enough. These small imperfections cause teens to look at these people and envy their looks and bodies. When asked why teens look up to famous people, freshman, Sofia Rossi, said, “To become a better person, have a good mindset of who they want to be, and have the right motives to be who they wanna be.”

I think most teens look up to the wrong people. Some “fan girl” over One Direction or Justin Beiber. Why would you look up to a group of boys who sing “Tonight lets get some, and live while were young.” What is some? Skittles? There’s also Bruno Mars who sings, “Your sex takes me to paradise.” Is that really what you want someone you look up to singing about?

Now don’t get me wrong, most of their songs are catchy, and most of them can sing, but when I look into a lot of their lyrics, they have a lot to do with sex, drugs, or alcohol. I wouldn’t want my kids looking up to someone who sings about that. A lot of teens have other reasons they look up to someone. They’re successful, made something of themselves, or they would like to be them. Rossi said she looks up to her older brother

Mario Rossi. “He always makes people laugh and brightens my day. He also has a strong faith in God that I look up to.” Maybe you could look up to Michael Phelps; Phelps worked and trained hard to earn 22 Olympic gold medals which lead to him being the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time. They could look up to someone because of what they have done. Whether they have done something little in their community, or donated the time or money to a large charity. For example, Ellen DeGeneres. She works with a lot of charities like The Gentle Barn or Stand Up To Cancer. DeGeneres is a stand up comedian and has her own show. Whoever you look up to has to have some effect on your life. They have either had an impact on your life or believe in something that you also do.

Kids always look for someone to look up to. Who they see is who they look up to -it can be a parent, an athlete or someone on TV like Ellen DeGeneres (above). Graphic by Jerson Valenzuela.

Staff Editorials: Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down Fruit and Vegetables We, The Oracle, give a thumbs down to mandatory fruits and vegetables that comes with every school lunch. It is wasteful because half of us throw them away. And what if someone dislikes the selection of fruits and vegetables? Why should they eat something they personally dislike? This policy is unnecessary. 3pm Dismissal We, The Oracle, give a thumbs down to whomever made it so we have to be out of the building by 3:00pm. Sometimes it is freezing, raining or snowing and we’re waiting for our ride to show up when we get kicked out. Not everyone has a cell phone so not everyone has multiple options for a ride home. Student Success We, The Oracle, want to give a thumbs up to the Rifle Team for finishing second in the nation in their recent competition in Utah. [See page 12] We also want to congratulate these students for competing in the State Individual Speech Contest: * Mikolina Lowe (Junior) in Poetry (Straight “1s”) * Leah Waughtal (Junior) in Poetry (Straight “1s”) * Taylor McDaniel (Junior) in solo musical theater (Straight “1s”) * Bao Luong (Junior) in Solo Improv (Straight “1s”) * Savannah VanDeBoe (Junior) in Storytelling * Michael Colon-Ramos (Junior) in Storytelling * Rebekah Ostermann (Sophomore) in Solo Improv * Esperanza Vargas (Sophomore) in Acting

Pep Assemblies for Extracurricular We, The Oracle, feel that we need more spirit/pep assemblies. There’s so much potential! Robotics has their shuffle bot and their robots. Why not have a demo/performance? Why not have the Gospel Choir sing? Why not have the drama kids act out a scene of a play? North High cherishes their sports (which are not always our strong suit) and sometimes overlooks robotics, drama, choir, and other activities. Pep Assemblies for boys’ basketball and all sports We, The Oracle, believe we should have had a pep assembly for our last basketball game of the regular season. The team finished with a 13-10 record and we were third in the Metro Conference. We give a thumbs down to the lack of pep rallies. The last one we had was all the way back in football season for the Homecoming game. Maybe if we had them more often, kids would seem more enthusiastic and enjoy the pep rallies more and they would attend more events for all of our teams. Winter Formal We, The Oracle, would like to give Student Council a thumbs up for having the Winter Formal outside of North High. We think it was a creative idea. Last year we were all crammed in the gym and it wasn’t much fun. So the idea for it to be somewhere away from North was great -- Also, providing bus transportation was a good idea.

news

Inspiring poets from Harding and North share up-beat and honest reflections By Jessica Jensen Co-Editor-in-Chief The Drake University Performance Hall housed Movement 515’s ‘Share the Mic’ event on Friday, February 1st. Having never attended a poetry event, I was a little hesitant as to what to expect. I walked up the steps into the building hearing hip-hop music that initially caught me off guard. This classical hall had been transformed into an arena of young, free voices ready to speak. The entire room was packed full of Harding Middle School students, teachers, Russhaun Johnson, North High, and Kristopher Rollins, and other attendees that decided to teacher at Harding Middle School. Both are MC-ing. check out what Movement 515 was all about. felt great being up there with Mr. Rollins, because he is the best teacher I’ve ever How It Started had.” said Johnson. “Movement 515 gives Movement 515 is a poetry group composed of student poets across the city teens the ability to express. Poetry makes Movement 515 feel free.” of Des Moines. Emily Lang and KristoThe performees were students and pher Rollins, leaders of the group, are teachers from Harding and North. The both teachers at Harding that noticed the most memorable speakers were our very potential of many students within their own Hatte Kelley, Leah Waughtal and classes. Mikolina Lowe. Their passion visibly “Movement 515 really started out by poured out through their words and their being inspired by the Brave New Voices body language. The flow of words instilled International Team Poetry Slam in San passion, so much so that you just couldn’t Francisco, CA. On the steps of the Opera help snapping in agreement. House the night of the 2012 finals Ms. The performees were students and Emily Lang and myself began teachers from Harding and North. The brainstorming ways to truly bring the most memorable speakers were our very culture of Brave New Voices to Des own Hatte Kelley, Leah Waughtal and Moines, we the best way to be successful Mikolina Lowe. Their passion visibly was to open up a writing workshop to all poured out through their words and their DMPS middle and high schools in order body language. The flow of words instilled to gauge interest”, Rollins said. amazement, so much so that you just couldn’t help snapping in agreement. W h e r e I t ’s A t Student and teachers “We wanted to facilitate a spoke on relationships, love, workshop where students could attitudes, and issues that suruse spoken word poetry to round them, issues that have discuss issues in their life and impacted their lives. community”, Lang said. These students are given a The atmosphere in the perpen and paper and allowed forming arts hall was pumped to let their creative juices up and everyone was ready flow. Most students didn’t to hear some amazing poetry. even know they had this abilLet me tell you, they were not ity, to put words together in disappointed. Rollins and freshsuch a way that touches the man, Russhaun Johnson MCd human heart. the event and introduced the 32 They have a voice, a voice performances. Emily Lang, a teacher at that now reaches hundreds “I started in 7th grade with Harding Middle School, of people. Who knew they Movement 515 and this is not performed a poem of her the first time I have MCd. It own at the Feb. 1 event. could affect such change? They did. The teacher’s that

that capacsurround them and the stuity the idea dents that support them know then is to have their potential. They knew middle and they could effect change, and high schools they did. SLAM against Rollins and Lang knew each other Movement 515 would impact similar to how our community. schools com“I think we definitely envipete against sioned having a significant imeach other in pact with Movement 515 on sports,” shares the community but we didn’t Rollins. believe it would happen as quickly as it did. Anytime you create or form something new Juniors Mikolina Lowe and Leah Waughtal I n T h e perform about stealing happiness. it takes a while to truly catch Future on but after our second year of Movement attending BNV (Brave New Voices) with 515 is growing at an exponential rate and six of our strongest poets from workshop they have what it takes to take their prowe showcased their talents at Hoyt Shergram to the next level. These students are man and word spread like wild fire so the so talented and ready to tell the 515 who writing community really expanded and they are and what they’re all about. interest grew exponentially,” Rollins said. The leadership of both Rollins and As the group continues to grow, so do Lang has guided these students on a path expectations and goals of both the student to success and there doesn’t seem to be a and leaders. Lang hopes, “A future goal stop anytime soon. of ours is to add theme-based workshops April 4 marks Movement 515’s first to our programming, as well as have stuannual Des Moines Teen Poetry Slam. dents who have been a part of the workStudents between the ages of 13 and 19 shop facilitate their own. Movement 515 in the Des Moines Public School district is dependent on the students and their are allowed to compete against each other voices, and we would love to pass the for a spot at the next Brave New Voices responsibility of leading a workshop to competition the summer of 2013. our students who have the most invested The 16th annual Brave New Voices in the program,” Lang said. competition is run by the University of The group itself will hopefully expand Chicago and will take place on campus and encompass more students in other from August 7-11, 2013. schools. “Our goal with Movement515 is Come out on April 4 at the Hoyt Sherto continue expanding to the point where man Place and support these students! enough interest exists at each middle and Hoyt Sherman is located at 1501 high school that they can create their Woodland Ave (on the corner of 15th and own writing workshops. Once we build to Woodland). The show starts at 6:30pm.

Hatte Kelley, sophomore, shared: “If you were to create the blueprint to a poet, it would be called the red-print because that’s more original. You can start with any teenager, but the broken ones are best. So any of them really/You start with their heart, you have options on your course of action here. You can tell them to give it to someone else to break it for you, you can have their family and friends chip away at it until its just below critical mass, or you can pump pain through their veins until they start interrogating their wrists for answers.” Mikolina Lowe, a junior, who spoke on power to the people and freedom: “Yet somehow out of years of egotistical turmoil our trunk grew stronger making us one with the promise of equality photosynthesizing our dreams/The never ending branch of freedom hit with the whispers of the wind engraving our words in the vains of its leaves/The outward crooked branch of our right to bear arms instantly gets shorter as an innocent trigger is pulled.”

music What’s on your electronic device?

The amount of time spent using Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram By Javier Solis & Antonio Tello Oracle Reporters Have you ever wondered why students spend so much time on their electronic devices. Have you ever asked yourself any of the following questions: “What are all these student listening to with their headphones?” “Why are these kids always touching and playing with their device?” or “What is this app everyone is talking about?”. We went around and asked students a couple simple questions regarding what they do when they are using their device. We asked them anything from what their favorite song is to how long they use their device per day. Pedro Mier (Freshman) 1. What song are you addicted to right now? I like a lot of The Weekend songs 2. What’s an artist you would never delete? The Weekend 3. Other things you use your device for. Facebook 4. App you are addicted to/use a lot? Fun run 5. How long do you use your device per day? 3 hours

Bryan Aodrich (Junior) 1. What song are you addicted to right now? Shot in the foot again- Skream & Example 2. What’s an Artist you would never delete? The Beatles 3. Other things you use your device for? Games 4. App you are addicted to/use a lot? I don’t think I have one right now 5. How long do you use your device per day? All day on and off

Jackie Navarro (Senior) 1. What song are you addicted to right now? Oh dang I’m addicted to a lot of Goodness De La Ghetto songs! 2. What’s an Artist you would never delete? Something I’d never delete would be Backstreet Boys! Cause I grew up with them! I’d never let them go! 3. Other things you use your ipod/device for? I only use it for music 4. App you are addicted to/use a lot? Since I only use it for music I’m not addicted to anything else besides music! 5. How long do you use your device per day? I use it all day! I can’t go a single day without my music. It’s what keeps me going all day!

Eric Rivas (sophomore) 1. What song are you addicted to right now? I can’t decide I listen to a lot of songs 2. What’s an Artist you would never delete? Drake 3. Other things you use your device for? Fun Run 4. App you are addicted to/use a lot? Twitter 5. How long do you use your device per day? I use it all day on and off

Victor Colemon (Interventionist) 1. What song are you addicted to right now? I can’t choose, there are to many songs to choose from. 2. What’s an Artist you would never delete? R. Kelly 3. Other things you use your ipod/device for? I Tweet and I use the internet 4. App you are addicted to/use a lot? I just downloaded Pandora last week, so I would go with that. 5. How long do you use your device per day? 3 hours total

Follow The Oracle on Twitter @northhighoracle

Top things to have on your device: *Fun Run *4 pics 1 Word *Temple Run 2 *Twitter *Facebook *Ruzzle *Instagram *Tumblr *Pandora *Draw Something *Angry Birds

north high school 2013

winter formal

A group of friends having fun at the dance.

By: Tyler Lowe and Arin Botkin

ou’re standing in a crowd of people, everyone is dancing and smiling. You can feel the energy vibrating in the air as the music plays. You look to the person closest to you, and are amazed by how beautiful they look. You’re standing in the middle of the crowd at a North High School dance. But how did you get there? How did you get that person to go with you? These events cause girls to go out and spend money on a new dress and heels, so they can spend hours getting their make-up and hair to look perfect. Guys take ten minutes to take a shower, comb their hair, and put some dress clothes on just so they don’t feel left out. Some people just buy a flower and say “Hey will you go out with me?” and others just say “Lets go.” Not very romantic and not very exciting. But then there are people who go that extra step and do something different. They make a plan to be a little more romantic when they ask. Forrest Mathison, a junior, asked Rachael Nash, a sophomore, to this year’s Winter Formal in a new and innovative way. According to Mathison, chocolate milk is one of Nash’s favorite things, and one evening Mathison showed up to a Drama event with a carton of chocolate milk for her. On the the carton were the words, “Will you go to Formal with me?” and he gave it to her as a gift. Another romantic story is between the couple of Corbin Mitchell, a senior, and Sammi Linebach, a sophomore. Linebach had told Mitchell that she would be the one asking him out to the formal since he asked her to homecoming. So she went home one day and drew out 29 letters spelling “Will you go to Winter Formal with me?” She kept Mitchell in suspense for an entire week before finally, one day at his house, Linebach locked Mitchell out of his room. She grabbed the tape and put up every letter on his wall. After 5 minutes, she let him in and hid from him. Mitchell walked and the first thing he said was, “How long did that take you?” he didn’t answer at

Natasha Moore (9th) and Tytiaunna Johnson (9th) pose.

Mariama Corneh (Senior) Formal Queen

first, but in the end he said yes. He has kept the letters on his wall to this day. Haley Haskell, a sophomore, got asked out in a different way and it was to Prom. She and her boyfriend, a senior named Clark Reimers were on a date at a chinese restaurant. At the end of the night, Reimers handed her a fortune cookie. When Haskell opened her fortune the little paper inside read, “Someone would be very happy if you went to Prom with them,” and then Reimers asked. She said yes and now they are scheduled to spend a night at Prom with their other friends. I myself have asked a girl out on a date to winter formal. I asked Candy Granados to be my date. Granados has been my friend since seventh grade at Harding Middle school. I was a nervous wreck the entire day. My hands where shaking and I was sweaty. I was convincing myself she would say “yes.” I didn’t do ask her alone though. I asked her sister Karen Granados and our friend Brandon Moreno for help. They helped me by making sure that Candy did not leave the building for any reason. While they refrained her, I went outside and found her car. I lifted the windshield wiper and put down a small little note card that on the front said “This is serious! -for Candy,” and then I went back inside and acted as normal as I possibly could. I made up an excuse to meet her after school. I told her that I had something I wanted to talk about. This got me the chance to talk to her alone. We talked all the way to her car, I was saying nothing but exaggerated truths, till we got to her car. I looked at her car and said “Hey looks like someone left you something,” she picked it up read aloud the front, flipped it over an read the back it said “Will you Candy, give me the honor of being your date to Winter Formal?” at first she laughed and she turned to me and said “Yes, I’ll be your date!” Later that night I received a text message from Candy saying “that was the nicest thing someone has done for me.” Every year stuff like this happens.

Miranda Young (9th) and Cris Hidalgo (9th).

Tabitha Hernandez (9th) and Mario Juarez (11).

Aerias Heckman (9th) and Blake Pahl (10th)

NHS WINTER FORMAL RECAP

One student Co-Dj’ing at the dance.

THEME: Ice Ice Baby LOCATION: Doane’s Park Youth Center WINNERS: (9th Grade) Tanna Jones & Isaac Barrera (10th Grade) Melissa Sosa & Michael Colon-Ramos (11th Grade) Chanbopha Sam & Calvin Lovan (12th Grade) Mariama Corneh & Logan Neads

Jessica Ebersole (9th) and Devon Facuiri-French (9th)

Features

#AWKWARDMOMENTS AT NORTH HIGH By Marina Song & Chanbopha Sam

Waiting, waiting and more waiting. Checking

through your text messages on your phone, and you realized that you never sent the text. Then you quickly begin to tweet to twitter “That #AwkwardMoment when you wait for a text but you realize you’re the one who didn’t reply.” Even if you don’t have a Twitter to share your awkward moments, let’s be honest, we’ve all had at least one of them that make us want to crawl into a hole and disappear for years on end. If we are going to be really honest then we’d have to admit that this happens on a daily basis, well at least it does for us.

- That #AwkwardMoment when you’re talking to an

acquaintance, there’s this short silence, and then you both start talking the same time making it more awkward. - That #AwkwardMoment when you’re in class in with your friends & you’re talking. The teachers calls on you & you don’t know the answer. - That #AwkwardMoment when you try to throw something at your friend, but it ends up hitting someone else. - That #AwkwardMoment when you’re late to class & when you walk in, everybody stares at you like you just killed someone. - That #AwkwardMoment when the class is quiet and a thug in your class is listening to some girly love song.

- That #AwkwardMoment when you’re sitting at a table with people, and your foot accidently touches the foot of the per- That #AwkwardMoment when a teacher bends down to talk son across from you. to a student and their butt is all up in your face. - That #AwkwardMoment when you just meet someone and - That #AwkwardMoment when your friends are standing in a they can remember your name but you can’t remember theirs. cirlce and you can’t get in. - That #AwkwardMoment in class, when you raise your hand, - That #AwkwardMoment when you’re waiting at a teachers then get called on, only to forget what you were going to ask/ desk and he or she is finishing something. So you just wait say. there for a lifetime. - That #AwkwardMoment when the class is all silent and your - That #AwkwardMoment when you’re shaking your leg and the whole row of desks notices. stomach makes noises. - That #AwkwardMoment when you’re making a weird face - That #AwkwardMoment when the class is quiet and you across the room and somebody else thinks you’re making it at blurt out a cuss word. them. - That #AwkwardMoment when you have a coughing attack in the middle of class. - That #AwkwardMoment when you can’t read your own handwriting. - That #AwkwardMoment when your music is on blast and you’re talking louder than you should. #Awks - That #AwkwardMoment you make eye contact with someone you are trying to avoid.

CHECK OUT OUR AWKWARD MOMENTS VIDEO ONLINE!

- That #AwkwardMoment when you’re not paying attention and you run into something.

Just go to: https://www.youtube.com/NorthHighOracle

Features

Triple Threat: The Polar Bear Siblings Marlicia Williams Age: 17

By Derek Young Shantell Cortez Oracle Reporters Some people know what it’s like to have siblings that go to school with you, but could you imagine also playing the same sport as them? We asked them what it’s like, Sam and Neico are both varsity boy’s basketball players, along with their sister Marlicia who is a varsity girl’s basketball player. They were all pretty close growing up, going to the same school, they all find it comforting, but not such a big deal as many people make it seem With Sam and Neico playing on the same team, the connection is there, and they seem to find each other open. They get along great which makes playing much easier. “It’s great, we have great chemistry. It seems like we always find each other open, having him on the court makes it much easier to play,” said Neico “Having siblings at school feels like their there but they’re not, I don’t talk to them as much. But its nice to know their there if you need them” said Mar. “It’s crazy, as brothers there is already chemistry, he always seems to be in the right spot at the right time,” said Sam. We can’t forget about Marlicia or “Mar” as most people know her. She plays varsity basketball and tries to stay pretty close to her brothers. She can’t help but stay close to Sam, they’re twins. Marlicia doesn’t really think the whole twin thing is such as big a deal as everyone makes it out to be, “We’re fraternal, nothing special, we’re just normal people.” We asked Neico what he thought about having siblings who are twins. “it’s crazy, you would never think they were twins, they are exact opposites.” Sam said he finds having a twin to be kind of weird. “Mar is probably the closest person to me, but she gets on my nerves more than anybody.” A twin will know exactly how to push your buttons after spending your whole life together.” One family, one sport,. They have nothing but love for the game and eachother.

Grade: 11th Current Position: Shooting Guard Favorite NBA team? Miami Heat Favorite NBA player? Lebron James

How long have you played? “3 years, all at North.”

One word to describe your brothers? ANNOYING. What’s it like going to school with both your brothers? “It really

Neico, Marlicia, and Sam in the gym. Photo by: Saleena Lovan

Sam Williams

Age: 17 Grade: 11th Current Position: Small forward Favorite NBA team? Los Angeles Lakers Favorite NBA player? Kobe Bryant One thing Neico can do on the court that your jealous of? “He’s nearly

perfected the crossover, it handles people.”

What’s it like to go to school with Mar and Neico? “It’s alright, I don’t find

it to be a big deal. This is really the first year I’ve had class with Mar.” Your future aspirations? “ I want to be a Motivational Speaker or a Teacher. I want kids who grow up with no dads to know it’s not over. You can always make it in life.”

Neico Greene

Age: 16 Grade: 10th Current Position: Shooting guard Favorite NBA team? Oklahoma City Thunder Favorite NBA player? Kevin Durant How long have you played? “I’ve played organized

ball since 3rd grade, but ever since I was a little kid I loved to play.”

One thing Sam can do on the court that you’re jealous of? His dunking ability. What’s it like to go to school with the twins? “It’s

cool, I can see them at school and when we go home. We get to spend a lot of time together and that’s a good thing.” Your future aspirations? “I see myself attending college and playing basketball. I’d like to play in the NBA but if that doesn’t work I want to get my degree in Mathematics.”

feels like they’re not there because we dont get to talk much, but it’s good to know they are if I ever need them.” Your future aspirations? “I want to go to Depaul University and become a Social Worker. I want to get married but NO KIDS, my little sister bugs the hell out of me”.

Features

Coming Out of the Shadows

Paul Michael, a 2004 graduate, faced many hardships due to his citizenship status.

By: Mariah Gibb

26-year-old Paul Maciel was the ideal student who had a successful life ahead of him, if only he was the owner of a social security number.

Maciel flew to the United States from Mexico City as a young boy. His parents overstayed their visas and this decision ended up impacting Maciel’s entire life. He attended North High School, which he graduated successfully from in 2004. He was the Homecoming King and a member of many groups: soccer, football and JROTC. He explained that his favorite high school memories came from North’s JROTC program, “That is the reason I am who I am... It molded my character.” He was the battalion commander at North. After high school, he could have done big things with his life, but came to realize how difficult living illegally was. Instead, he couldn’t attend college or become a Marine. “It’s a life long journey...” Maciel said. Although life in the United States has

10 been tough for him, Maciel still loves his life here. “The United States is very unique...the lifestyle that I live is something to be grateful for.” Maciel has a different outlook on life, he doesn’t believe in having regrets, or complaining about how life has been. “I don’t like to look to the future, I force myself to live in the present because the present is all we have,” he said. To listen to him speak, is great inspiration. When asked about his advice towards teens, he spoke of what his inspiration is: “Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” Throughout his journey, Maciel has become a legal resident of the United States, and that is enough to make him proud. “It’s good to come out of the shadows,” he said. He currently works as an interpreter.

K C A R E S

North High Alumni reflects on her Polar Bear days By: Autumn Klootwyk Ever wonder what it would be like to be at North High School in the 60’s? Back when North and East’s rivalry was at its peak, when synchronized swimming was actually popular, or when creepy rumors of the tunnels holding dead bodies crept through the school. Well, Connie Cook has all the answers. Cook spent the average years that any kid would in school. Elementary, to middle school, to high school. But every kid has a history and hers was deep. Oldest of 11 kids she left her siblings and parents to care for her sick and injured grandmother while her uncle was at work. Yet she was okay with this, took it rather well, and still enjoyed life. North in Cook’s eyes was just as diverse and integrated as it is now, kids came from all different backgrounds but in the same way they were all too alike. She grew up with the rumors, like the thought that under the school was a dump site for the dead bodies of murdered people. Yet, she went through life the same as any high school student, making friends, trying to work hard, and surviving the embarrassing, hard and crazy moments of life.

“The most embarrassing time, I remember, was when I was with my synchronized swimming team that I did with five other girls. The theme was “On the Ocean Front. And, we

were rats. On our break went to go get something to eat, and got pulled over by a police while in the uniforms, wet and tired and hungry. We had to go have someone at school vouch for us,”

Connie Cook, a 2012 Hall Of Fame inductee, was a principal at many DMPS schools, including Brody, Meredith and Hoover. She recently visited North to reflect on her days as a student here.

laughed Cook. Yeah, that’s right, she was almost arrested for being a water rat (costume). Even though Cook survived high school and those weird moments, instead of getting out of there as soon as she could she went back to the school to be the Vice Principal. She enjoyed being there but soon she found herself facing a change in her life. In ‘82 Cook won a raffle tickets and got $1000, she decided to spend it on a trip that would alter the way she saw the world. She spent the money on flight tickets to Cali’ and went to a conference called “Beyond War”. With her eyes opened to such new ideas, doors had opened that were full of opportunity. Cook took a leave from the school and was elected for city council. But even after going through that, she had to come back to the school. She couldn’t stay away. School was her life, so she became the associate superintendent and patrolled the schools. She watched out for people and was kind to everyone. She lives up to her own advice of “Being good at communication skills, and to doing all the schooling first, and having a good sense of humor.”

Features

Griselda Sandoval: Sights Locked on Higher Education By Kelsey Ambrose

researching the field she learned that it took the same amount of time to With the 2012-2013 school year coming to a quick earn a degree in medicine. The Uniend, North High seniors are counting down the days versity of Iowa has a very extensive before they are officially graduates. While some are medical program, which is planning out for college, and bringing home first semester report cards, senior Griselda Sandoval has some very costly. Sandoval is also in ROTC, she more exciting news to bring home this year. started in her freshRecently, 18 year old “My freshman year wasn’t good. I didn’t man year when one of her friends Griselda Sango to class and things were just not all brought it to her doval received attention that if she that good. A few of my teachers helped a scholarship ROTC she from the me a lot, they got me to go to class, get joined could get double the University of my work done and start doing better. ” credit for gym. Iowa which “I’ll really miss will pay for ROTC once I graduate because I’m her college tuition. “I could’ve jumped up and down, I not going to continue it when I go was really super, super happy,” she said. into college.” She describes herself as Lots of hard work, good grades and a really good responsible, loyal, and tactile. Three transcript helped Sandoval receive this scholarship. big important things when you’re a Since she was little she really enjoyed school, she doctor! “I’m really loyal. I take pride always had straight A’s and was a good kid. In high school her grades started to go down a little. She really in what I care about and what I do,” Griselda Sandoval, North High senior who recieved a full-ride scholarship. said Sandoval. wasn’t sure if she would have received the scholarship Outside of school, everything else for because of her grades in previous years at North. her family comes, goes home and eats, showers, and Sandoval revolves around drawing, science and music. Next year that Sandoval will attend The University of then finishes up her homework. A typical night for her is getting out of school and Iowa she plans on studying medicine. She isn’t quite Sandoval is a great example of how hard work really going right to the shooting range to either shoot, or sure what branch but, for sure medicine. pays off. If you work hard enough towards getting supervise. After that she gets picked up by whoever in At first, she wanted to become a biologist. But after what you want in life, you will accomplish it.

By Arin Botkin

Vukovich: Memories, Life, and Struggles

to amputate his leg, causing him to never be able to play in various school programs. Vukovich has played a A full moon reflects in the water of Lake Raven, in baseball professionally or even substantial role in making “(North) needed higher expecta- this happen. Northern Georgia. A nineteen-year-old college stuat a college-level again. dent is treading water. A boat has just come at him at Being the son of the famous tions... If you don’t meet them, we’ll Although he believes that about 60 miles per hour. He reaches down and feels his Major League Baseball player teachers are the real reason still love you and care about you, for a lot of improvements, leg and his hand immediately gets pricked. He knows George Vukovich, who helped that this is the bone sticking out of his leg. When the the Phillies win the 1980 World he has helped guide the but you’ll be held accountable.” ambulance arrives, a paramedic tells his friends, “I Series, this was tough news to teachers in the past few hope you've said your good byes, because he's not swallow. He recovered from the years. going to make it.” After two hours in ambulances and incident and went on to become a Social Studies teacher He said, “I have just been there to help them when a lot of blood loss, he arrived at the they need me and help our building stay on track.” hospital, where the doctors told him Vukovich added that, “The teachers have been he had about a 1% chance of survivable to set high standards for students... They give ing this accident. students every opportunity to succeed and will acToday, that nineteen-year-old cept nothing short of success.” He said that when he college student is our very own vice started at North, “A lot of our students didn't believe principal at North High School, in themselves. North High has been traditionally Michael Vukovich. At the time, bad, and so bad test scores were the norm.” Vukovich was a freshman baseball The solution, he believed, was that, “(North) player for Southern Illinois Univerneeded higher expectations...If you don't meet them, sity who was playing summer-ball in we'll still love you and care about you, but you'll be Northern Georgia. held accountable.” This way of thinking has definitely He had spent the fateful evening helped our school progress in the past few years. tubing with his friends. He fell off The school has also put itself on the map in regards of the tube he was on, and a second to our Fine Arts programs, Academic Decathlon, boat hit him. When Vukovich saw Robotics Team, and our Athletic teams. the danger, he tried to swim under- Michael Vukovich, our vice principal, water tubing with his daughter. His hobbies, when he has time outside of school, neath the boat, and the blades caught are watching football and spending time with his him. This incident caused him to be in the hospital for for seven years, and spent two years working with Acawife, Alyson, and his three children- Regan (age 8), around two months. He says this experience opened demic Intervention. Avery (age 6) and Weston (age 2). He said they enjoy his eyes. He has spent some of that time coaching high school playing soccer and softball. In his free time, he likes “I found out who my real friends and family membaseball. He has now been the VP at North for three to takes Regan and Avery to North to work on their bers were,” said Vukovich. This accident left him with years. In the past three years, North has seen significant softball and soccer skills. And even after the boating his leg broken in 75 places. The doctors were forced improvements in regards to test scores, attendance, and accident, he says, “I tube every summer.”

spotlight Academic Decathlon

Academic Decathlon is an academic competition composed of 10 subject areas: Lang Lit, Math, Science, Super Quiz, Economics, Music, Social Science, Art, Speech, and Interview. Speech and Interviews are given in the evening and the other subjects are tested the next day. Teams are made up of a total of 9 people, 3 people in each section – Honors, Scholastic, and Varsity, with one or two alternates. Each section is divided based on grade point average. Highest GPAs in Honors and lowest in Varsity.

Julius Tembe

Cody McKeehan

Mariama Corneh

Jake Sanderman

Brian Schulz

Jessica Jensen

Charles Overton

North High ROTC Rifle Team North High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC Rifle team competed in the Marine Corps National Air Rifle Championships in Salt Lake City, Utah from 21st to the 23rd of February. Qualifying for the National Championships began in November and December of last year with 307 teams from around the United States competing. The Top 22 Teams advenced to the championship round, which were simultaneously held in Anniston, Alabama and Salt Lake City, Utah. Over 2 days the 22 teams shot 2 3x20 matches which consists of 20 rounds in the prone, 20 standing and 20 rounds in the kneeling position for a total of 2400 points possible per match. Tuba City, Arizona was the National Champion with a 2 day total of 4255, followed by Des Moines North with 4253. The top 7 schools advanced to the JROTC National Championships which will be held in Anniston, Alabama 21-24 March and will comprise the top 7 teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps Champion-

Sara Crampton

7th ll Overa

• Role: Shooter • Years on Team: 3 • Average Score: 542/600 • Most Recent Competition: National Championships at Salt Lake City, Utah

ships.

Other Top Gunman C.O. Graselda Sandoval, 9th overall X.O. Jackie Navarro, 14th overall

Dakota Lupkes

2nd ll Overa

Scoreboard

Silver: 2, 1, 2, 1 Bronze: 1, 1, 1, 1 Julius Tembe: Won 6 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze Cody McKeehan: 3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze Mariama Corneh: 2 silver Brian Schulz: 1 gold, 1 bronze Charles Overton: 1 bronze Jake Sanderman: 1 silver Jessica Jensen: 1 gold

• Role: Shooter • Years on Team: 4 • Average Score: 550/600 • Most Recent Competition: National Championships at Salt Lake City, Utah

Courtney Wright

4th Overa

• Role: Shooter • Years on Team: 3 • Average Score: 535/600 • Most Recent Competition: National Championships at Salt Lake City, Utah