TheReflector
December 18, 2014
O F F I C I A L N E W S PA P E R O F M I L F O R D H I G H S C H O O L
Volume 81, Issue 2
MHS partners with the community to give back Abigail Baughan Opinion Editor abigailbaughan@mevsd.net
Milford High School is all about giving back during the holiday season whether it’s giving donations, spreading positive attitudes, or giving their time to those less fortunate. This year, organizations within our school, such as DECA, Making a Difference, Key Club and National Honors Society, are coming together to insure that members of our community have some comfort for the holidays. One of Milford High School’s newest clubs, Making a Difference, has been spreading holiday cheer and positives attitudes around the school by setting up displays throughout the hallways encouraging generosity. Each includes a display of gifts laced with a ribbon marked with the word “Generosity” to remind students to give this holiday season. Milford Key Club participates in Pennies for Patients during the winter months. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society created
the project in 1994 where all proceeds go towards research for blood cancer cures and therapies. Schools across the nation participate, and Milford High School is proud to be one of them. Each year, Milford’s DECA chapter works with the Mary Miller Fund Drive and Wrapping Clermont Together, which are foundations that provide families in need with food and gifts for the holidays. Mary Miller was a lifelong Milford resident who started the foundation in 1952, and DECA has been bringing in most of their collection since 1970. Students collect donations that range from large checks to spare change as well as canned food. Senior, Xander Johnson, served as the project manager and led to class to collect nearly $3,000 this year. Wrapping Clermont Together is partnered with Landmark Baptist Church in Amelia. Every year, the church provides Christmas gifts for about 150-200 families, most of which have three to four children each. This year, Milford
Photo courtesy of Abby Baughan
The Giving Tree outside of the main office for students to donate to on their way to class. DECA exceeded their goal of 600 gifts and ended up collecting over 650 gifts for needy families in Clermont County. Seniors Abby Baughan and Shelby Kirk served as project managers and also had the opportunity to get their classmates to join in on the holiday spirit of giving by encouraging them to volunteer
at registration, set up and distribution for the gift drive. Milford High School sent nearly twenty students to help families in need register for the gift drive on December 7th. Students assisted in directing traffic, registering, and collecting coats from the coat drive. Some even assisted
in giving recipients emotional, spiritual and financial assistance. Wrapping Clermont Together is expecting around twenty three volunteers on December 19th for set up and twenty five volunteers on December 20th for gift distribution.
MHS Principal plans a return to the Tis the season to work classroom for the 2015-16 school year during winter break Kara Buck EIC karabuck@mevsd.net
Mark Lutz, the current High School principal, is finishing up his last year in this position. Being the principal, he is the person with the highest authority within a school. This new change has been something Lutz has been thinking about for the past couple months. Lutz has been a building administrator for 14 years. He was an assistant principal for 5 years here at Milford, before serving for 4 years as the principal of Deer Park Jr/Sr High School, and has spent the last 5 years as the principal here at Milford. Lutz decided to become an administrator because he said “ Administration is an interesting facet of education.” Lutz was once a teacher and “at the time that I made the decision to leave the classroom, I felt that I was ready for a new challenge.” Now however, the situation is reversed. The decision to retire from his position as principal was one he thought of on his own. Lutz said, “this was my decision. Some of the time commitments required to be the principal are in conflict with my family commitments.” Lutz plans on returning to the social studies department. Rumors have it that Lutz may even be
Katelyn Snider EIC katelynsnider@mevsd.net
Source: www.milfordschools.org
Mr. Mark Lutz and Mr. Tom Willson accept award for outstanding AP performance. the new AP government teacher. And Lutz does not plan on going back to being a principal anytime soon, and he plans on staying with teaching until the end of his career. He became inspired to become a teacher with a bundle of positive memories from his childhood. He had some wonderful teachers when he was a student who inspired him to pursue a career in education. Another example was that Lutz had wonderful opportunities
to work with high school ages students while he was in college. Lutz said this experience desired him “to work with young people”. One thing Lutz will miss from being the principal is working directly with the administration team here at the Milford High School. “Milford is such a great place to live and work” Lutz said. With all the new technology used in the classroom now Lutz is excited to start the next school year after 14 years of being in the office.
Christmas vacation is a time for rest and relaxation alongside family members. A time to unwind from the hectic schedules that teachers bombard their students with before break. However, for a few individuals at Milford, the holidays take on a different connotation. While some students sit back and turn on Netflix, others are at jobs over their “time off”. Milford junior, Jack O’Toole, is required to work New Year’s day at Texas Roadhouse. O’Toole is a new employee and has only been working at the restaurant for a month. As a consequence, he is given the less desirable time slots to work. O’Toole accepted the job because he needed money for Christmas gifts and other activities. “Sometimes work conflicts with things I want to do, but it’s worth it in the end,” O’Toole said. Surprisingly, O’Toole is not mad that his holiday break is cut short. He welcomes the opportunity to earn more money so that he can spend his future weekends participating in fun activities with his girlfriend, Caroline Kerber. The couple plans to go ice skating the next week to compensate
for Jack having to work on the holidays. Kerber is also planning on visiting Jack at Texas Roadhouse throughout New Year’s day. Milford junior, Aunjela Latham, also works at Texas Roadhouse and has to work on Christmas Eve. Having been there for over six months, Latham is considered part of the senior staff and has to shoulder more responsibility. “Christmas Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year for us. You never really know how good of a worker you are until you’re faced with a family of twelve at eight o’clock at night,” Latham said. While she does have to work the night of a major holiday, Latham also has the rest of break off to compensate for the inconvenience. Latham, while not particularly thrilled about working Christmas Eve, understands that it is part of being a responsible young adult. “I know that this experience while only make me a stronger person,” Latham confides. While most students do not have to work over break, those who do have accepted their responsibility. For them, it is about working hard to get what they want. At a young age, students are learning what it means to be an adult.
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SECOND NEWS
December 18, 2014
MHS family recognizes two countries as home Katelyn Snider EIC katelynsnider@mevsd.net
December 10, 2014 marks the day when the Dalziel family household finally becomes united under one nationality. Barb and Tom Dalziel were born in Canada, but moved to the United States due to a job transfer. Mr.. Dalziel currently teaches entrepreneurship and is the head of the business department at the University of Cincinnati, and therefore is legally allowed to be in the country. Mrs. Dalziel took the citizenship test two years ago so she would have the opportunity to vote in elections. Furthermore, college tuition is a lot cheaper for an American citizen, which is helpful for the Dalziel’s house full of five children. The youngest of the Dalziel clan, Stewart and Gerry, were born in Arizona and therefore are automatic dual citizens because their parents are Canadian. Having dual citizenship means that they are a citizen of the United States and have the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities as any other citizen, but that another country also recognizes them as a citizen of that nation.
Since the three oldest children, AnnE, Carolyn, and Tommy, were born in Canada, and had to go through the naturalization process. With their green cards expiring, the kids had to go to the federal building downtown to be sworn in as Americans. They took an oath of allegiance to the United States and signed “a ton of paperwork,” said family member Tommy Dalziel. AnnE Dalziel has already taken advantage of her dual citizenship and decided to spend her senior year of high school living in Canada with extended family. Now that she has citizenship in both countries, she can go freely between the two and call both places home. Carolyn Dalziel, while unsure what she wants to do, is “very excited for a future so full of possibilities.” Becoming American citizens has allowed the family to bond in another way, although the family has been living in the U.S. for eleven years.
Starting 2015 Off With a Bang Kara Buck EIC karabuck@mevsd.net
New Years Resolutions
Photo courtesy of Carolyn Daziel
Tommy Dalziel holds his new passport with pride.
Holiday Recipe Hannah White Sports Editor hannahmwhite@mevsd.net
Devon Johnson(12): My New Years resolution is to finish my senior year with a 3.7 GPA. Alex Nice(12): My New Years resolution is I’m going to start doing a devotional. Kailey Reed(12): My New Years resolution is to make a stranger smile every day. Bailey Bell(11): My New Years resolution is to keep up with my grades and keep doing my best in school. Alex Gooding(11): My New Years resolution is to eat healthier and workout more. Nick Glasgow(10): My New Years resolution is to get good grades and study harder. Hannah Coursey(10): My New Years resolution would probably be to try and understand myself more and become happier; less complaining and more smiling. Tina Vance(10): My New Years resolution would be to stop procrastinating and eat healthier. Emily Stevens(9): My New Years resolution is to have a good year, make new friends and to keep a 4.0 GPA. Tristan Woster(9): My New Years resolution is to not drink pop.
Source: www.amittenfullofsavings.com
INGREDIENTS:
Grinch Kabobs
24 green grapes 1 large banana, cut into 24 slices, or as needed 24 hulled strawberries, tips removed 24 miniature marshmallows 24 toothpicks DIRECTIONS: Thread 1 grape, 1 banana slice, 1 strawberry (narrow end facing up), and 1 marshmallow onto 1 toothpick to resemble the Grinch’s head in his red hat. Repeat with remaining grapes, banana slices, strawberries, and marshmallows.
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SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES
December 18, 2014
College athletic signings
Source: www.milfordathletics.org
Megan Creager recently signed a NLI to play golf at Youngstown State University. L to R Front: Dan Creager (Dad), Megan Creager, Angie Creager (Mom) L to R Back: Sandy Garrison (Head Girls Golf Coach), Dax Creager (Brother)
Taking a new step in pep band Hannah White Sports Editor hannahmwhite@mevsd.net This year, Milford welcomed back former director Ms. Jodi Smith. Ms. Smith taught here from 1999-2007 but has always been willing to help with Milford’s Band program. While she really only teaches at the Jr. High, she is a big influence of Milford’s high school pep band. Ms. Smith helps teach the 6th graders as well because she loves to see the progression of growth that occurs with the younger grade levels both musically and physically. In preparing for this pep band season, the band has done nothing differently than in past years. The band held two after school rehearsals so everyone would be able to learn the music required to play at the basketball games. The only difference between this year and last is that the previous requirement to attend three games has been lifted. When asked how interest was going to be kept up for pep band, Ms. Smith said that the “students involved in the band program understand that community involvement and promoting school spirit is a very important component of what is expected of them. Many times people only see the band at basketball or football games, and have no idea what going to one of our formal concerts is really like.” Ms. Smith believes that going to pep band should
be fun for the participating students and that students can choose to get involved. The first pep band game was held Friday, December 5 and a good sized group showed up. Ms. Smith hopes to have an average group size of 50 students performing on different instruments. Ms. Smith’s primary concern is that, “the instrumentation is balanced for each game so the pep band still sounds good.” Ms. Smith hopes “the students have a good time hanging out with their friends and that they enjoy playing tunes that are of a little lighter fare than they normally play, all while supporting the boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. We have a demanding program with high expectations. Pep Band is a different atmosphere for the band students, which is important to maintain balance within the program.” The students who reach a minimum of eight of twelve of the basketball games receive a pizza party as an incentive. It is important for pep band to maintain a balance of hard work and fun within the band program. Another change in the pep band schedule is they have expanded the games they attend to include the girls’ basketball games as well. In the past, the pep band would attend one or two of the girls’ games but now the girls are receiving just as much credit and support as the boys.
Source: www.milfordathletics.org
Cameron Roth committed to play baseball at Ohio Dominican University. L to R, Front Row: Brett Roth (Dad), Cameron Roth, Theresa Roth (Mom) L to R, Back Row: Jim DuPriest (BB Asst. Coach), Tom Kilgore (BB Head Coach), John Mason (BB Asst. Coach)
MHS dive team opens season Kara Buck EIC karabuck@mevsd.net Milford is starting off a new dive season with head coach Jennifer Van Roekel. This 2014-2015 includes five high school divers and three junior high divers. The Milford diving season runs through a span of time from November to February. Their main goal this year is to place high at the ECC championship and make it to districts. Roekel is the only high school coach for the dive team. Roekel decided to coach around 10 years ago. “My favorite thing about coaching is watching the divers improve and learn new dives” Roekel said. Roekel started diving when she was around 9 and went to the University of Alabama on a full athletic scholarship. After college she traveled nationally and internationally as a member of the United States dive team. Roekel starts by teaching the team basic jumps and works
their way up to more advanced dives. She said that all the divers “work really hard and push each other to learn harder dives at each practice.” Zach Lorenz, a junior, started diving this year because “I thought I would be good at it from all the years of learning flips on my trampoline.” Lorenz’s favorite thing about diving is flipping through the air. Joel Adams, freshman on the team, is a level 9 gymnast and a diver. He does the most difficult dives on the team with a front double, back double, reverse double, and a front flip with no twists. Adams started diving around age 9 because it looked interesting to him. While diving does not have any huge school rivals, that does not stop them from trying to do their best and make it to districts. They wish more people would come out and join the team. Help them in their journey to be champions. Go out and support the diving Eagles!!
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Van Roekel
Pictured above: Zach Lorenz, Nolan Nye, Cole Dunham and Tommy Dalziel
December 18, 2014
OPINION
PAGE 4
“Studentitus”: Infecting the entire student body? students. Too cold outside to go defrost your car in the morning? Just sleep in. Forget to study for the big biology test Frequent today? Just stay home. tardiness. Skipping The mentality of high class. Unexcused school students is that Absences. These sometimes, staying in are symptoms of a condition often referred bed is more beneficial than being in class. to as “senioritis.” The Sure, mental health condition typically sets days are acceptable in for seniors in high school halfway through here and there. But having a blemish in the school year after your attendance once a they have already been week is unacceptable. admitted into college Studies show or have smoothed out that, despite how we their post-graduation may feel, the morning plans. It has presented hours of school are the itself in Milford High hours in which students School in previous are the most attentive, years, but during this so being tardy causes 2014-2015 school year, it seems to be affecting them to miss out on the opportunity to absorb students of all ages. important information. Seniors are no longer Tardiness can also be the only ones at risk. distracting to students, It seems that causing them to not be these days, going to able to focus once they school for a full five arrive. day week is nearly We have to impossible for some Abby Baughan Opinion Editor abigailbaughan@ mevsd.net
Photo by Hannah White
ask ourselves why attendance is such a big problem at Milford High School. Are teachers providing an environment for students that they want
to be in? Or is the problem completely based on the lack of motivation from students? Either way, the high number of tardiness and absences
is an issue that must be addressed, for it is a bigger problem this year than it has ever been in the past.
Change in exams doesn’t yield positive results
Photo by Katelyn Snider
Katelyn Snider EIC katelynsnider@mevsd.net They say that change is a good thing, but students at Milford High School tend to disagree. For the first time, semester exams equate to only 10% of a student’s grade and there is an all new test schedule.
What use to be an hour and a half long exam block has morphed into a forty five minute test that is crammed to the brink with a semester’s worth of information. Most students agree that a forty five minute test is not enough time to properly assess what they have learned through the course of the year. Instead of breaking it up into
multiple sections that ask specific questions for each chapter, teachers are forced to ask only overview questions that do not delve into the material deeply. This is especially troublesome for AP classes that use the semester exam as an indicator of what students will get on the actual test in March. By not allowing a full hour and a half to test, the school district is cheating students out of further learning and reviewing to help them succeed later in the year. Even the change from the exam being worth 20% to 10% has people outraged. For those of us that are borderline between grades, we rely on semester exams to boost our grades to the desired scores we want. While it puts less pressure on our exam grades, 10% is not enough to make a big impact if we wish to move up a letter grade. The way the exam schedule is set up also is causing an uproar. Subjects are being grouped together on specifics days (example: Monday - Math and Foreign Language, Tuesday - Science). This places added stress on students that are taking multiple classes of the same
subject. With the traditional exam schedule, there was an even number of tests on each day because it was done by periods instead of subjects. It is unfair for a person taking multiple classes in the same department to be punished for their interests by taking four exams on the same day. The vote is in and students want to revert back to the old ways. This dumbed down exam schedule does not properly prepare us for the hardships and high expectations of college. Nor does it prepare us for our finals if students are only motivated to do a cursory overview of their test material because they know 1) nothing they do will drastically affect their grades and 2) the teacher will not be able to ask specific questions over the chapters.
EIC EIC Opinion Ed. Sports Ed. Advisers Newsroo, Phone Email Web
Kara Buck Katelyn Snider Abby Baughan Hannah White Mr. Joe Claus Mrs. Jennifer Goff B28 513-576-2248 reflectormhs@gmail.com http://issuu.com/mhsreflector