Issue 4 -- Feburary 2012

Echo VOLUME 78 - ISSUE 4 Feb. 22, 2012

AVON HIGH SCHOOL 7575 EAST 150 SOUTH AVON, INDIANA

Drumline aims for success

Avon’s World Drumline hopes for second State title, high score at Nationals

By Rachel Fischer

Last year, Avon’s World Class Drumline won the Percussion Association State Finals with their show “Any Way You Want It.” The drumline scored 89.075 points to take the title, but its members hope to improve their score in the upcoming State Finals in March. This year’s show, “Prime,” is about an ancient race of robots that tries to conform to human life, but when some are reluctant to conform, a war breaks out.

This year, the drumline members say they are excited about the overall show and its appeal to the audience; members think that the show will exceed expectations.

See WORLD DRUMLINE, Page 8

Inside

5 Student Government approves GSA 13 Riley kids’ family, friends share their stories 14 Bullying impacts Avon students 15 Webb celebrates 43 years of teaching

2 News

February 2012

State adopts new standards Avon accepts RISE document, changes to teacher evaluations

By David Allspaw School charters and vouchers led to protests before the Indiana General Assembly last year, but changes to teacher evaluations may have a bigger impact on Indiana’s public schools.

RISE, Indiana’s new system of teacher evaluation and development, tries to “paint a fair, accurate and comprehensive picture of a teacher’s performance,” according to “RISE Indiana” Online. It gives teachers one of four performance-related distinctions: “ineffective,” “improvement necessary,” “effective” and “highly effective,” and it links teacher pay and promotions to student performance, according to “Indianapolis Business Journal” Online.

“The [Avon] district has accepted the RISE document as our evaluation tool for next year,” principal Michael Swank said. “The RISE document is fairly comprehensive and well-researched.”

Teachers, administrators and other education leaders from around the state worked together on the Indiana Education Evaluation Cabinet for over two years to create the new system, according to the Indiana Department of Education’s website.

“The RISE document will be different than our previous evaluation tool: it’ll be weighted differently,” Swank said. “It will focus on different things and bring different points of emphasis to the table. There are four domains that the staff will be held accountable to: planning, leadership, professionalism and instruction.

The instructional domain is about 75 percent of this portion of a teacher’s evaluation, which makes sense because teachers are paid to deliver instruction to their students. Those domains are different from the tools that we’ve used in the past.”

With the RISE system, there will be two or more evaluators assigned to each teacher in order to collect evidence for use in the teacher’s assessment, according to “RISE Indiana” Online. The primary evaluator is the one most responsible for collecting evidence, and the secondary evaluator helps him or her to do so. Each teacher may have more than one secondary evaluator. According to Swank, the evidence will center significantly on “students’ outcomes rather than teachers’ actions.”

Swank described one difficulty the new evaluation method presents.

“There are staff members whose jobs don’t necessarily fit nicely into what the RISE document is doing,” Swank said. “When you look at guidance counselors, media specialists [and] instructional coaches, those positions don’t fall cleanly into the RISE document and evaluation tool. We’ve had to spend quite a bit of time looking at those positions and aligning their evaluation tools with what they actually do.”

Swank described the impact of the new system on teachers’ tenure, a status principals grant to experienced teachers under the evaluation system Avon currently uses.

“Once teachers had tenure under the old system, it was very difficult to get rid of them, whether they were ineffective or not,” Swank said. “The new system basically takes that protection away, so teachers need to be in the ‘effective’ or ‘highly effective’ range to ensure employment.”

German teacher Lisa Richardson is fine with the new system’s elimination of tenure.

“I don’t think eliminating tenure is a bad thing as long as it’s done in the right way,” Richardson said.

“Teachers having tenure do not make them good or bad teachers. How well do you keep up with things?

How well do you adapt as things change? Those are the things that should really matter.”

Senior Abby Flajs is a cadet teacher for Chris Kates’s fifth-grade higher-ability class at Avon Intermediate School East.

“I don’t think as much emphasis needs to be put on test scores because if a kid doesn’t want to do well, he’s not going to do well,” Flajs said.

Swank said the Avon district has been working on preparations for the new system since October.

“The focus is making sure that people are comfortable [with the new system] and that they understand what the expectations are,” Swank said.

Richardson described Avon’s commitment to the new evaluation system as a “team effort.”

“It’s all for the good of the students,” Richardson said. “We have to keep the students in mind.”

News Briefs Scene Night The Avon Center Stage Performers will put on their annual production of Scene Night on Thursday, Feb. 23, Friday, Feb. 24, and Sunday, Feb. 26.

Admission is $5.

Dodgeball Tournament The National Honor Society (NHS) will be hosting its annual Dodgeball Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. in the Auxiliary Gym. Admission is free for spectators.

Live for Tomorrow Concert The Hendricks County Fairgrounds will host the Live for Tomorrow concert to raise awareness about teen suicide on Saturday, March 3.

Admission is $4.

School Board Meeting The ACSC School Board will host a meeting at Maple Elementary School on Tuesday, March 6, at 9:15 a.m.

New Grading Period The fourth grading period of the school year will begin on Monday, March 19.

Indiana shifts to Common Core Standards New math, English standards to take effect in Indiana schools by 2013-2014 Math English

Increased emphasis on reading comprehension All students must read works from many categories of literature, including global literature, historical U.S. documents, American literature and Shakespeare  More research projects in the classroom  Both formal presentations and informal discussions to improve writing skills  Will develop these skills using media and technology  

Source: “Common Core State Standards Initiative” Online, “IN.gov”Online

Stress understanding and not just memorization In high school, stress real world application and innovation in the classroom to prepare students both for college and for future job situations  Emphasize mathematical modeling  Hands-on learning in geometry, algebra and probability and statistics  Use what works well in countries with high math scores  

Miriam Thomas

News 3

Page Design: Ben Brown & Anna Wray

Anti-piracy bills generate controversy, protests Internet users, corporations contend over copyright laws; major sites block access to fight legislation

By Jordan Coffman On Jan. 18, major websites like Google, Wikipedia and Reddit participated in the Internet’s first-ever “blackout” to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect IP Act (PIPA). These bills, meant to prevent online piracy and copyright infringement, “would disrupt free expression and harm the Internet,” according to Wikipedia’s explanation of its own blackout. The “Internet strike” was intended to draw attention to the bills.

“I knew [the blackout] was going to happen, but I didn’t really support or oppose it,” senior Daniel Eccles said. “I forgot the day of the blackout, though, and was slightly annoyed to see Wikipedia not working.”

Some Avon students protested the bills by changing their Facebook profile pictures to an anti-SOPA and PIPA image.

“I felt that my rights were being infringed upon by such a heavy ban,” senior Austin Moore said. “I agree that the web needs some control, but the level of suppression [that would be] enforced by SOPA was unreasonable, so I changed my Facebook picture to support anti-SOPA notions.”

What do you think of SOPA, PIPA?

Students share opinions on SOPA, PIPA “I don’t think you should censor the Internet, but illegally downloading is wrong. I just think there’s a better way than [SOPA and PIPA].”

Users accessed Wikipedia’s page about SOPA and PIPA at least 162 million times over the 24-hour blackout period, and over eight million people used Wikipedia to look up their representatives’ contact information to write them about the bills. The Senate’s official website was unable to handle all the contact forms.

“I think activism in [Internet] policy will be very effective because it’s highly visible, and these issues have become very important to Americans on a dayto-day basis,” government teacher David Ball said.

“For example, if I ask my government class about any other issue, they will be clueless, but they know about [Internet issues].”

According to “Pro Publica” Online, before Jan. 18 there were 80 supporters and 31 opponents in both the House and Senate for the bills. After Jan. 19, there were 65 supporters and 101 opponents from both major parties. On Jan. 20, SOPA’s lead sponsor, Representative Lamar Smith, said that markup in the bill would be postponed “indefinitely” until Congress reaches a wider consensus. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid also said that “in light of [the blackout], I have decided to postpone [Jan. 24’s] vote on PIPA.” According to Representative Smith, SOPA enacts “legislation that protects consumers, businesses and jobs from foreign thieves who steal America’s intellectual property.”

“Piracy is an important issue; if we don’t protect intellectual property, it will discourage the music industry,” Ball said. “Intellectual property is one of the most important types of property we have.”

SOPA and PIPA had many provisions that sites like Google called “dangerously limiting [of] free speech on the Internet.” Such provisions include

Censored Due To: SOPA, PIPA

Erica Metzler, 10

“I don’t like [SOPA and PIPA] because I’m for less government in society.

It’s just my political and economical view.”

Maria Fey, 12

“I don’t think [SOPA and PIPA] should happen because the Internet should be a place to chat.

There should be some things, like spamming, that are censored, but not other things like social sites.”

Megan McIntosh, 9 Source: Interviews, January 2012

Kaylie McCoy

requiring websites such as Youtube—which has users uploading 48 hours of video every minute—to “sufficiently” police user-contributed material or face becoming blocked from access. The bills also allowed corporations to track and block Domain Name Servers (DNS) working in a manner that the Department of Homeland Security said would “pose a real risk to cybersecurity and yet leave contraband goods and services accessible online. . .and [would put] next-generation security policies, such as the deployment of DNSSEC [a security system for DNS systems], at risk.”

“Couldn’t they hire people to work against piracy?”

Eccles said. “We need to do something to prevent businesses from losing their money.”

While Congress has postponed both bills, there are other pieces of legislation, such as the AntiCounterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), that have stirred up Internet controversy. ACTA, an agreement between the European Union, United States, Japan, Canada, South Korea and Australia, aims to prevent international piracy with a “three strikes” policy and Internet filtering policies. These policies, according to “Stop ACTA” Online, “alter the very Internet as we know it by putting an end to Net neutrality” by “bypassing the democratic process.”

Proponents of ACTA, however, point to problems with international piracy. Many popular pirating websites are hosted outside of the United States and thus are not subject to national copyright laws ACTA is an attempt to end loopholes like this.

“Trade agreements are a good start,” Eccles said. “We need to beef up security and just keep on blocking the illegal sites—the current system works just fine and just needs a little expansion.”

Facts behind controversial anti-piracy legislation bills What are SOPA and PIPA? SOPA and PIPA were two bills going through Congress that, if passed, would give the government the ability to censor the websites on the Internet that show copyrighted or pirated content. The bills essentially had the same content but different names: SOPA was the bill passing through the House, and PIPA was the bill passing through the Senate.

What would happen if SOPA and PIPA pass? SOPA and PIPA would restrict online piracy, which costs industries billions of dollars. The government would block websites showing copyrighted content, such as Wikipedia and Youtube. However, due to a web-wide protest, Congress shelved SOPA and PIPA indefinitely.

Pros: Those who support the bill believe the amount of illegal online activity, such as counterfeit products and piracy, would go down as a result of SOPA and PIPA. Cons: SOPA and PIPA’s opposition believe that the bill would restrict online rights of many citizens and that the government would block websites many people use.

Source: ‘MSNBC’ Online

Kaylie McCoy

4 News

February 2012

Political Update

with Rachel Fischer

Senate Bill 89 allows creation science in class

On Jan. 31, Indiana passed Senate Bill 89.

According to the National Center for Science Education (NCSE), Senate Bill 89 originally stated that the governing body of a school corporation may require the teaching of various theories concerning the origin of life, including creation science, within the school corporation. However, the Indiana Congress amended the bill. The new, signed bill says a school corporation may offer instruction on various theories of the origin of life. The curriculum for the course can include theories from multiple religions, including Christianity and Scientology.

Congresspeople changed the wording of Senate Bill 89 to clarify that there can be different religious teachings in Indiana schools, since the original proposal did not include anything about religion and its teachings. The bill took less than 20 minutes to sign, according to the NCSE. The sponsor of Senate Bill 89 is Dennis Kruse. Kruse is an Indiana Senate member from Auburn, Ind., and is on the Board of Trustees at Trine University, a nonreligious, private university. Kruse said he proposed the bill so schools could focus more on other aspects of life than evolution.

Previously, evolution was the only origin of life theory that public schools could teach, but with Senate Bill 89, public school science classes are allowed to teach religious theories on life’s origin.

According to “Indy Star” Online, there is some opposition to the bill among politicians and lawmakers. Kevin Falk, the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana’s legal director, said that the bill “is clearly unconstitutional” and “when lawmakers propose legislation they clearly know will end up in the courts, it wastes time and resources.” Even though Senate Bill 89 passed through the Indiana Senate, there are still people trying to take it to the Supreme Court, but as of Feb. 13, it has yet to reach the Supreme Court.

Dr. Ogle retires from ACSC

Former ACSC superintendent Timothy Ogle leaves Avon for Arizona Principal Mike Swank said Ogle’s biggest impact

By Ben Brown On Jan. 27, Dr. Timothy Ogle retired as was maintaining construction and academic superintendent of the Avon Community School achievement as the population grew.

Corporation (ACSC), ending his seven years as “[Dr. Ogle’s biggest impact] was the construction of Avon’s superintendent and 35 years working for buildings, [such as] the AALC and the Middle School public schools around Indiana. After his retirement North, as enrollment exploded,” Swank said. from Avon, he moved to Arizona to become the As superintendent, Ogle oversaw changes in the executive director of the Arizona School Boards corporation, from new schools and additions like Association (ASBA), a non-profit organization that the AALC to population growth and an increase in supports public schools in Arizona and around student diversity. the country. “[ACSC] has changed so much,” Ogle said.

Ogle became the superintendent “Enrollment has grown 24 percent, and for ACSC in 2005, coming from five new schools—plus the Advanced a superintendent position at a Learning Center—have been added to the smaller school district in Indiana. corporation. Student achievement has grown He began his career as a high in every sector.” school economics teacher and Assistant Principal Stephanie Bode said then went to work as a financial she remembers that before she was a advisor for two years at Merrill principal at Avon, as a parent, she heard Dr. Lynch before returning to Ogle state his intentions for the future of education as an associate principal ACSC to be one of the top school corporations and principal at several Indiana in the area. high schools.

“I remember when I was just a parent, he Stephanie Bode, “I was a superintendent at said there was no reason Avon couldn’t be the Assistant Principal a smaller district in northern finest high school in the Midwest,” Bode said.

Indiana; [I came to Avon] because “At that time, nobody had thought about that of all that Avon had to offer,” Ogle said. “There’s just yet. Up until then, Avon was just a suburb.” not a better school corporation in Indiana. I always Ogle said he believes the next goals for the saw myself as an upward mobile type of person in my corporation will be to continue to maintain academic career, so when a position opened up here, I took it.” excellence while the town grows and to incorporate Ogle arrived at Avon during a period of change more technology into the curriculum. and transition for the town and school system as “I think we’ve established ourselves as one of the Avon’s population grew. Ogle said as superintendent, premier school corporations in the Midwest,” Ogle the biggest challenge was “managing growth while said. “I’m proud to be part of that. I think we will increasing expectations.” continue to improve on that. I think we are doing “That was a challenge I accepted when I took the more and more with technology and cooperation with job,” Ogle said. “It is a real magic trick.” mainstream universities.”

“He said there was no reason Avon couldn’t be the finest high school in the Midwest.”

VOTE School board officials’ responsibilities, functions

School Board President Kim Woodward discusses campaigning, Dr. Ogle’s retirement, budgeting Members earn their positions. “We campaign just like other politicians,” School Board President Kim Woodward said. “I’m finishing up my second term right now. I am planning on running again, though.

I love being on the School Board because I feel like I am serving kids in the community. I just like to serve where I need to serve.”

School Board participants work with the superintendent to make decisions about students. “We are basically the boss of the superintendent,” Woodward said. “Now that Dr. Ogle is retiring and leaving us, we are holding interviews for his position.”

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Members decide how to spend school funds. “The hardest part of my job is trying to use limited funds to do as many things as possible for kids’ enrichment,” Woodward said. “We have to pay for the heating and electricity of the school building and then decide how much each club should get.”

Source: Interview, February 2012

Shelby Brown

News 5

Page Design: Miriam Thomas

Avon adopts Gay-Straight Alliance as new club

Student Government votes to add GSA to Avon clubs; sponsors, students discuss goals, consequences

By Katie Brewer On Feb. 3, Student Government voted to accept the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) as a club at Avon.

“I think that a GSA club is important to AHS because there is much confusion among the entire school concerning the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population,” GSA co-sponsor Jamie Gleissner said. “GSA will strive to educate individuals in a respectful, professional and caring way through meetings, community service projects, outreach sessions and much more. We are not out to make the school agree or disagree with a person being gay. We are simply asking for the respect and common courtesy for everyday life.”

Sophomore Catrien Egbert is one of the co-founders of the GSA. The founders began trying to start this club last year.

“I wanted to start the club mainly because Avon was the only major high school in Indiana that didn’t have one,” Egbert said. “The fact that a school with 2000plus students didn’t have one kind of perturbed me.”

Mooresville High School is one of many Indiana high schools with an active GSA. “A GSA provides an environment where LGBT students can meet and be treated equally, whether they feel comfortable socializing or not,” Timothy Cox, an active participant in Mooresville’s GSA, said. “In my own experience, students who fear socialization overcome that fear when meeting in a GSA regularly.”

The process of trying to start a GSA included finding Avon teachers to sponsor the club.

“The idea originated with students,” GSA cosponsor Dawn Fable said. “Lots of AHS students have wanted to start a club over the last few years, but this is the first time a group really did the work to get the job done. They planned out what they wanted, collected signatures on petitions and asked Mrs. Gleissner and I to be sponsors or help in some way.

We both were excited about the opportunity to help from the very start.”

While Egbert is “ecstatic” about the new club, she also has her concerns.

“I worry mainly that people won’t join out of fear,” Egbert said. “I’m not so worried about people not accepting the club. I mean, people are going to have a

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How to start a school club Procedures for starting a new club

1. Meet with Assistant Principal Kellie Rodkey to discuss details of the new club 2. Meet with the teacher who will sponsor the club 3. Collect 25 signatures of students who support the club 4. Present a constitution which states the name, purpose, membership requirements, list of officers and their duties, list of committees, activities, meeting times, amendment procedures and laws and dues 5. Turn in 25 names and constitution to Rodkey 6. Student Government must vote to accept the constitution 7. After Student Government has accepted the constitution, the club should have a meeting to select officers and decide on meeting dates

Source: Interviews,February 2012

problem with it either way, so we might as well have a club for the people who don’t have a problem with it and use it as a chance to educate those people. I’m afraid that those who are LGBT, and even those who are straight, won’t join for fear of being made fun of.

What people need to understand is that the GSA is a club for everyone. Joining won’t label you as gay, straight, pansexual, questioning, bisexual or whatever.

It will label you as someone who is concerned and willing to support those who are. I think that’s my biggest worry—that people won’t get that.”

Gleissner also shared her personal concerns about the club.

“The first concern that I personally have about starting this club is that it will not be taken seriously by some of the members and non-members at AHS,” Gleissner said. “One of the main focuses of the club is anti-bullying, and it is my hope that students will show their love and support to students in the group, and if they do not, then I hope they simply stay quiet and keep any hatefulness to themselves.”

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While Cox believes that a GSA is beneficial to a school, he has experienced its negative effects.

“A GSA fuels the fire for hateful students, or bullies,” Cox said. “When a school recognizes the existence of LGBT students and gives them a place to meet, bullies believe they have the right to target the entire group of GSA members rather than just a specific LGBT student. It’s also common for bullies to harass allies—straight students who support LGBT friends and the GSA. The best thing a school can have is a zero-tolerance bullying policy.”

Egbert feels that the benefits of a GSA at Avon will outweigh the negative effects that Cox mentioned.

“I think that, in the world we live in today...we have to worry about everything—what we dress like, who we befriend, and how we act,” Egbert said. “I don’t want anyone to feel out of place because they’re attracted or not attracted to a certain gender. Basically, I wanted a place where people could realize that they’re not going to be bullied or hated for who they are and that they’re not alone. No one is.”

6 Sports

February 2012

Tasha Rollings

Softball tournament takes AHS players abroad Mathieu, Sarkine talk about upcoming global trip to Taipei, Taiwan with hitting coach to play softball

By Tasha Rollings On Feb. 17, senior Jess Mathieu and sophomore Savannah Sarkine left for Taiwan to play in a softball tournament. They will return on Feb. 27. Their hitting coach, Cara Johnson, invited them to play in the tournament. “[Johnson] is kind of popular in the softball world,” Jess said. “[She became] involved in tournaments and put a team together.”

Johnson picked Jess, Sarkine and other girls for their batting talents.

“Our hitting coach chose 16 girls she thought would be best,” Sarkine said. “We are the best, and we go to her for lessons.”

The players will fly into Taipei and play around the area. Jess will play catcher and might play outfield and first base. Sarkine can play any position except pitcher and catcher.

Johnson asked Jess in November if she would like to go to Taiwan.

“She sent me a text saying, ‘I have a spot open if you would like to come play,’” Jess said. “Of course, I couldn’t turn an offer like that down.”

Before the girls left America for the trip, Sarkine said she worried about being in another country and facing more talent.

“[I am] really nervous because I’ve never been in a foreign country and don’t want to go and suck,” Sarkine said. “[I’m nervous about] going and not knowing anybody.”

Jess says she will miss her family but is looking forward to spending time with the team.

“There are a lot [of girls] from different schools and some from Ben Davis,” Jess said. “[My family and I] are going to Skype while [I am] there.”

The team has to pay for only a fraction of the trip, which made Jess’s decision a little easier.

“Since [the tournament] is over there, it’s an honor [to Taiwan],” Jess said. “[Taiwan’s leader] is sponsoring the tournament. The only thing coming out of our wallets is the plane tickets, souvenir money and extra hotels for the extra games we chose to play.”

Jess traveled to France over the past summer and learned plane rides scare her.

“I’m dreading the 14-hour plane ride,” Jess said.

“France was nine hours, and I hated it.”

Jess’s mother, Connie Mathieu, has mixed emotions about her daughter going to Taiwan.

“I’m just so excited for her,” Connie said. “This is a wonderful experience for her. Of course, I’m a nervous wreck, too. Anything can happen, so I hate not being there with her. So lots of emotions: excited, nervous

and proud. I look at it this way: I made it through her going to France, and I can make it through this, too.”

Avon softball coach Jenny Shayotovich is proud of both girls. “[Jess and Sarkine] both work hard, and this is a great opportunity to get cultural experience, represent the American spirit and play softball,” Shayotovich said. “Not many get to do that.”

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Sports 7

Page Design: David Allspaw &Jennifer Haller

Avon institutes new program support fee Athletic Director Brad Holsinger explains uses of $50 fee for athletes, reason behind new fee

By David Allspaw This year, Avon High School implemented a $50 program support fee. With about 800 student athletes competing on school-sponsored sports teams at Avon, this means the school will bring in over $40,000 this year just from the fee alone, which has led some athletes and their parents to ask where the money goes.

The answer: to the central offices at the Avon Community School Corporation administration building so that administrators can pay athletic bills as they arise.

“We thought we would hear from a lot of parents, but I went to each sport’s preseason parents’ meeting and explained to the parents there where the money from the fee will go,” athletic director Brad Holsinger said. “I told them that there’s good news and bad news—the bad news was the program support fee, but the good news was that we aren’t raising the ticket prices or prices for the all-sport passes.”

The administration implemented the program support fee after the referendum failed last year.

According to Holsinger, the fee covers any additional bills the administration cannot pay, such as bus trips to schools two or more counties away, maintenance fees and both indoor and outdoor facility costs.

Junior Justin Dunham is a varsity baseball player.

“The indoor facilities allow us to practice during the winter months,” Dunham said. “The money [from the program support fee] makes us a better team.”

Some Avon students try out for teams but fail to make them. Those students do not have to pay the $50 program support fee, which was not the case with the previous $20 athletic fee that was in place five years ago. In the past, all students had to pay the $20 athletic fee before they could try out to cover insurance and medical supplies in case of injury.

“Money is tight, and $50 may be a lot for some families,” girls’ track and field coach Stephanie Chenoweth said, “so it makes sense to delay that payment until an athlete actually makes the team.”

Avon’s program support fee does not compare to the fees of some other schools. For instance, the Zionsville school district charges $150 per student per sport at the middle school level and almost $250 per student per sport at the high school level.

“A lot of our parents have kids that play in travel leagues for baseball, basketball and soccer,” Holsinger said. “Compared to what they are shelling out for those leagues, $50 is not all that bad.”

Holsinger said that the athletic department alone pays for things such as uniforms, balls and officials.

Sports boosters donate over $20,000 per year, and the department uses that money for various things.

Avon’s sports funding Student fees support athletic department l 800 student athletes play sports at Avon l Each athlete who makes a team pays a $50 program support fee, which goes toward transportation and facility maintenance l The school makes roughly $40,000 per year from athletic fees l Students who try out for teams but do not make them do not pay the $50 athletic fee l Other schools, such as Zionsville, charge up to $250 per year for an athletic fee l Avon Sports Boosters donate over $20,000 per year to the athletic department Source: Interviews, February 2012

Miriam Thomas

Senior Brian Lindsey plays in All-Star game Lindsey competes on South Stars High School Hockey club, starts as goalie in All-Star game

By Tiffany Lanteigne The coaches of the South Stars High School Hockey Club, Head Coach Rod Newhouse and Assistant Coach Michael Spayd, nominated five of their players for the National Hoosier High School Hockey League All-Star Game. Then the Hoosier High School Hockey League picked South Stars Blue’s goalie, senior Bryan Lindsey, for its All-Star Game. “[Being picked for the All-Star Game] is a big honor,” Lindsey said.

The All-Star game was a “fun” and “relaxed” environment, not an actual competition, according to Lindsey. Even though Lindsey received the opportunity to participate in the All-Star Game, his team lost four to six.

According to Spayd, he and Newhouse only pick key players to play in the All-Star game. The players have to be upperclassmen and must be in the top players on their team. Lindsey was the goalie for one of the All-Star teams. “[Lindsey] is a very dedicated and extremely skilled goalie,” Spayd said. “He’s our number one goalie.”

One of Lindsey’s teammates, Brian Tidd, who first met Lindsey back in seventh grade when they both played on the Perry Bantam All-Star team, thinks it was “pretty cool” that he was nominated.

“I think it was a great honor for him to represent our team and his school,” Tidd said.

Lindsey plans to go to Indiana University.

“I don’t plan on playing [hockey] freshman year, but I might play sophomore year,” Lindsey said.

Tidd thinks Lindsey is a “great” hockey player and would likely make it in college hockey. “[Lindsey] has great leadership and brings a great attitude to the team,” Tidd said.

Spayd thinks Lindsey is a “brilliant student athlete” and “a team leader.” He also thinks that if Lindsey were to play junior hockey first, he would be more likely to be recruited to play college level.

“Hockey players are smarter athletes,” Spayd said.

“They have to make quick, smart decisions for the team to succeed in the fastest full-contact team sports.”

Lindsey’s best friend got him interested in hockey.

He began taking skating and hockey classes to enhance his skills. When he entered fifth grade, he tried out for the goalie position for the Perry Bantam All-Star team with Tidd and has played goalie ever since. Goalies like Lindsey have to be “quick, athletic and mentally strong,” according to Spayd.

“There is never a boring moment [on the team],” Lindsey said.

Later, Lindsey joined the South Stars Blue team when he was a sophomore. He continues playing hockey because it is “different” and “fast-paced.”

There will be 33 teams in the state tournament in March; South Stars is ranked eighth in the State and fourth in the 4A division.

Alexa Adamson

Senior Bryan Lindsey, of the South Stars hockey team, plays goalie against Evansville on Jan. 28. The South Stars won with a score of six to five. “I like hockey because it challenges me to do my best,” Lindsey said. “It also relieves a lot of stress.”

“It is a great accomplishment coming up for state,” Tidd said.

Lindsey said that his deceased cousin, John Goddard, inspired him. “[John] motivated me to be a better person,” Lindsey said. “He was the best person he could be.”

8 Sports

February 2012

Rachel Fischer

Junior Shannon Dorris plays a song from the World Class Drumline show “Prime” during practice on Jan. 27. This is Dorris’ favorite show since she began doing World Class Drumline. “The surprise ending to the show is my favorite part,” Dorris said.

World Drumline Continued from Page 1 “The show is really awesome because the whole theme and design [of the show] is just superb,” sophomore Will Buetow said.

According to junior Shannon Dorris, the drumline prepares for the intensity of the show by practicing Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Drumline also holds occasional section practices to clean up specific parts of the show. “[The practices] help us condition and get into shape so we can perform our show to the highest ability,” sophomore Hannah Baute said.

Since there is a state title to defend and a national competition to compete in, the drumline members began planning and practicing for the show months earlier than they have in previous seasons.

“We all show up to practice to work really hard, so we can be even better in the end,” Dorris said.

“This year, almost everybody gets along, and there’s no drama to hold us back. Since the show is really exciting this year, I think everybody is going to work twice as hard to make it awesome.”

According to various members, even though there is more stress added to drumline with the increased practicing schedule, drumline members have high hopes for the show and season and believe all the extra work will pay off in the end.

“It’s a cool show,” percussion coordinator and battery designer Jeff Queen said. “We’re taking a different approach to it than we used to; we used to use classical, or legit, music that was more from a symphonic background. This year we’re using contemporary club [and] dubstep type music, which

Rachel Fischer

Rachel Fischer

Seniors Dondre Marble and Jackson Read take the third place trophy at the Franklin Central Invitational on Feb. 11. “Indoor drumline season is going to be great because we are doing things that we haven’t done before,” Marble said. “‘Prime’ will be one of the top shows this year.”

Sophomore Elijah Heath performs at the Franklin Central Invitational on Feb. 11. This is Heath’s first year on World Drumline, and he thinks it is a good experience. “World Drumline is like [the game] Angry Birds,” Heath said. “You just can’t stop doing it.”

opens up the opportunity to drum a bit more than the classical genre. The show is able to feature all of the sections, and we’re doing a prop that I have never seen done before. For everyone, it’s more about WGI Nationals for us this year. Placement isn’t what I’m looking for, though. I’m looking for the last show of the year to be one of the best shows of the year. If we can succeed there, the rest will take care of itself.”

Along with other drumline members, Buetow believes that the “Prime” show will score the drumline a high rank at the State competition this year and will also give them more success at WGI Nationals, which will happen later in the drumline season.

“I think we’re in the top five drumlines [in Indiana’s Jared Otto, 12 participating drumline competitors],” Buetow said. “I think we could be better than last year and have a chance at [succeeding at the national level during WGI].”

“Prime” features the songs “Divine Moments of Truth” by Shpongle, “Cracks” by Flux Pavilion and a “party” song by Britney Spears for the last part of the show, according to Buetow. Typically, songs that are used in drumline shows are classical music, but the Avon drumline instructors chose a different path with their music so it can be more recognizable to the audience and so it will flow better with the show’s theme and story.

“The music is all dubstep-based, and our show is actually cool [this year],” senior Jared Otto said.

Drumline instructors asked Otto and senior Jackson Read to make a Youtube series about “Prime” to get the word out about the show. They are still working on producing the series.

“[Read] and I plan to make a web series depicting the plot of the drumline show, but in a much more comedic way,” Otto said. “It’s about two of the robots trying to conform to society and failing.”

Aside from the winter drumline season, a few students were able to perform with other percussionists in the Indianapolis Super Bowl halftime show. They performed with celebrities like Madonna, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A. and Cee Lo Green.

The students selected for the show were either in the winter drumline battery section or were seasoned drumline members from the marching band season, so not every drumline member was able to participate in the performance.

“The opportunity for the students was crazy,” Queen said. “I think, for those kids, it’s something they will never get again in life. The big program with all the logistics of the Super Bowl performance was something they have never experienced before, and the chance to be next to those stars was probably a once in a lifetime experience for the students.”

Senior battery member Jordan Reed was “enthralled” with the Super Bowl halftime performance and thought it was a great experience.

Reed has been a part of World Drumline for two years, and this year alone, he was able to perform with Madonna at the Super Bowl half time show and traveled to Pasadena, Calif., with the marching band to march in the Rose Bowl Parade.

“This year, being my senior year, has been an absolutely outstanding one,” Reed said. “Winning all of the titles and medals [during the marching band and drumline competitions], and the results from the competitions have paid off tremendously. The Rose Bowl was an awesome experience, and I loved every second of it. My newest once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is being able to perform in the Super Bowl halftime show. To be in front and watched by millions of people just blows my mind.”

“The music is all dubstepbased, and our show is actually cool [this year].”

Sports 9

Page Design: Grace Kelly and Katie Brewer

Score Board 12-5

Boys’ Basketball

5-15

Girls’ Basketball

11-8

Wrestling

8-2

Boys’ Swimming

Olivia Price

8-2

Girls’ Swimming

Upcoming Games Feb. 22: Boys’ Basketball vs. Martinsville Feb. 24: Boys’ Swimming at State Feb. 25: Girls’ Basketball at Semi-State Feb. 28: Boys’ Basketball at Sectionals March 10: Boys’ Basketball at Regionals March 17: Boys’ Basketball at Semi-State

Alexa Adamson

Tiffany Lanteigne

Kenzi Barnes

Anna Wray

Athletes of the Issue

Ashlee Gerig, 12

How does it feel to be a basketball player for Avon High School?

It feels good to play at Avon High School because it is such a big school, and I am glad I am able to play and be part of the team.

What is your favorite memory?

My favorite memory was last year when I scored the last-second, game-winning three-pointer at the last game of the season.

What makes a good player?

A hard worker, someone who is coachable and competitive [makes a good basketball player].

Quinn Harris, 9

Would you encourage others to try wrestling? Why or why not?

I would encourage people to try wrestling because it will make you physically and mentally tougher.

How do you set your goals?

I set them high but [make them] something that I am still capable of.

Do you have a saying you live by?

Yes. Once you have wrestled, everything else in life is easy.

What do you currently do in training that is key to success?

I keep showing up to practice and go hard to make myself better.

Olivia Price

12 Feature

February 2012

Avon students discuss ways to be healthier Americans eat healthier, adopt changes to combat rising obesity rates in the last fifteen years unflavored milk, increasing fruits and vegetables and

By Maria Khan minimizing trans-fat.

With a 29.1 percent obesity rate, Indiana now “The policy] reflects the seriousness of the issue of ranks as the 15th most obese state, according to “F obesity,” agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack said. as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future While the standards show an effort to improve 2011.” Fifteen years ago, the obesity rate was at 18.3 obesity statistics, they do not affect percent of the population, which made vending machines or school stores.

Indiana the second most obese state in Sophomore Melissa Jones noticed the nation. Not only do the numbers a change in the food served in Avon’s reflect Indiana’s 60 percent obesity rate cafeteria over the years. increase but also the nation’s changing “I definitely notice a difference between view about eating and being healthy. school lunches from elementary school Americans are generally stereotyped to now,” Jones said. “For one thing, they as being overweight and obese. use wheat bread as much as possible.

According to the Center for Disease They also have reduced the amount of Control, one in three Americans is chocolate treats.” obese, putting them at high risk for Freshman Erin Pool feels differently. heart disease, type two diabetes, high “It is good that they offer salad, milk blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer and stuff like that every day, but they also and other health problems. display all the unhealthy food and have “Obesity is a problem because eating it out there and looking very appealing,” unhealthy is easier and faster, so people Pool said. with little time to preapare meals With America’s obesity publicized eat out often,” sophomore Cameron heavily for the past couple years, people Sickbert said.

Erin Pool, 9 have started making individual efforts to With so many risks to obesity, improve their lifestyle by eating healthier many organizations have taken action and watching their diets. against it. In January 2011, the U.S. Department of “Healthy eating is fairly important to me,” Jones Agriculture raised the nutrition standards for schools said. “I often eat homemade fruit salads and fruit for the first time in 15 years. The policy directed smoothies. Since I don’t eat vegetables, I also drink V8 lowering sodium in meals over 10 years, decreasing V-fusion to compensate for that. I think it’s also good starchy vegetables, establishing calorie maximums to stay hydrated, so I drink a lot of water.” and minimums, serving reduced fat, one percent or

“The media and world views make us want to eat healthy by portraying skinny models and other things like that.”

Healthy Diets

Tips for choosing what to eat Pack some snacks Eat small portions of food throughout the day, rather than eating only a few large meals.

Balance your food choices Do not eat too much of one food group.

Mix it up Do not be afraid to mix it up and try new food. Eating healthy does not mean being bored with what you eat.

Avoid refined foods Foods like white flour, white rice and refined sugars have been stripped of their nutrients. Try whole grains, beans or fresh produce instead.

Media influences the society’s view on health as well. In a survey of 9 and 10 year old girls, 40 percent had tried to lose weight, according to a study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

“The media and world views make us want to eat healthy by portraying skinny models and other things like that and make us feel that it is more socially acceptable to be healthy, but commercial advertisements for fast-food and candy greatly outweigh promotions to be healthy,” Pool said.

According to “Fast Food Facts” Online, 17 percent of regular menu items at fast food areas qualify as healthy choices. Furthermore, the average amount of calories in desserts and snacks was 1500: 200 to 300 calories more than the recommended amount of calories in snacks for active teens by the American Dietetic Association.

“The media promotes healthiness the wrong way,” Sickbert said. “Often, fast-food chains promote their food as healthy when we should actually try to stay away from eating fast-food all the time.”

Some people turn to diets when attempting to be “healthy.” While many diets involve limiting a person’s intake to select foods, “Health Guide” Online suggests not thinking any food is “off-limits.”

They also recommend practicing moderation, eating smaller portions, thinking of exercise and water as food groups and eating with others.

“I think that this healthy kick in America is amazing,” Jones said. “It’s so great that Americans are realizing the need for change and are slowly eliminating the American stereotype.”

YMCA offers new classes for members Schedule, descriptions of fitness classes available at YMCA of Greater Indianapolis

Monday

Tuesday

10:15-11:00 a.m. 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Cycle

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Zumba

6:00-6:55 p.m.

Turbo Kick

BOSU Body

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

5:15-6:00 a.m.

9:30-10:30 a.m.

5:15-6:00 a.m.

Cycle

Zumba

6:00-6:55 p.m. 10:45-11:45 a.m. 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Cycle

Step Interval

Cycle & Pump Beginner Yoga

7:05-7:55 p.m.

6:00-6:55 p.m.

7:00-7:55 p.m.

Zumba

Turbo Kick

Zumba Cycle

6:00-7:00 p.m. 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Zumba

Sunday

9:00-10:00 a.m. 11:30-12:30 p.m.

12:15-1:00 p.m. 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Zumba Cycle

Saturday

Step Interval

Zumba

1:30-2:15 p.m.

Beginner Yoga 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Cycle

BOSU Body- Workout focusing on balance, core, stability, sports conditioning, agility and flexibility Cycle - 45 to 55 minute cardiovascular workout set to music Cycle & Pump - Indoor cycling and muscle strengthening routines Step Interval - Step combinations fused with intervals of upper and lower body strengh segments Turbo Kick - Fuses martial arts drills with dance-inspired moves Beginner Yoga - Focus on basic level poses and breathing techniques Zumba - A Latin, dance-inspired aerobic workout *Schedule changes every few weeks

Source: “Fitness” Online

Jennifer Haller

Source: YMCA Activity Sheet

Katie Brewer

Feature13

Page Design: Kaylie McCoy & Maria Khan

Riley Dance Marathon helps Avon families Avon hosts second annual Riley Dance Marathon to help patients of Riley Children’s Hospital

By Miriam Thomas According to Brandon, the girls’ experience has impacted the entire family.

Last year, Avon’s first annual High School Riley “It has made us extremely close as a family,” Dance Marathon raised over $10,000 to help treat Brandon said. “We’ve had several close calls over the Riley Children’s Hospital’s patients. This year, the years, where we’ve almost lost one of the girls, and we goal is higher. The fundraising committee seeks to support the thousands of children who receive medical have had to rally together as a family to get through those tough times.” attention at Riley Hospital. For many students, these For other Avon students, Riley children are not just faces; they are family has been important to their members and friends. families, but it has also impacted Senior Jami Dendler, the head of the Riley their own lives directly. Some, like Dance Marathon’s Riley Family Committee, senior Jefferson Rollings, were said that two Riley kids she knows have Riley kids themselves. “impacted my life more than anyone.” These “When I was four and a half, girls are Amanda and Mallory Alcorn, who I was really close to losing my are 15 years old and will be freshmen at Avon kidneys,” Rollings said. “They next year. disintegrated in my body. St. “They both have cerebral palsy, and Vincent’s [Hospital] didn’t know Amanda has autism,” Dendler said. “When how drastic the situation was. you see them smile, you can’t help but smile.

[Doctors from] Riley Hospital The smallest little things make them smile. I came to check it out and said, ‘We realize I take those things for granted.” need to get this kid out of here.’

Amanda and Mallory spent the first couple I was within four hours of death months of their lives at Riley Children’s when they moved me [to Riley].”

Hospital, where, according to their brother, Although his kidney transplant senior Brandon Alcorn, they were “fighting to was over a decade ago, Rollings stay alive.”

Brandon Alcorn, 12 shared the few memories he has “Mally and Amanda have had a huge impact of his experience at Riley. on my life,” Brandon said. “They’ve basically “I remember actually being at the hospital just made me who I am today. Seeing everything they’ve before my transplant,” Rollings said. “All the doctors been through has made me extremely mature and has involved were all really nice.” also made it hard to ever feel sorry for myself. They Now Rollings plans to go to college and get a have definitely made me a lot stronger as a person.” writing degree so he can “write stories and try to raise Now Mallory and Amanda return to Riley about awareness for kidney disease.” once a week to visit different doctors like neurologists Rollings said that Riley has been an important part and physical therapists. of his life. “[The Riley staff is] the best in the world, without a “I don’t have many connections to places like I do doubt,” Brandon said. “They’re also some of the nicest with Riley,” Rollings said. people we’ve ever met.”

“[The Riley Staff is] the best in the world, without a doubt.

They’re also some of the nicest people we’ve ever met.”

*Indiana University dancers were required to raise $500 in addition to their registration fee. ** Includes $390,000 from partner High School dance marathons. Avon partners with Purdue University.

Sources: Interviews 2012, “Indy” online, “Firstgiving” online

Maria Khan

Rollings has helped plan this year’s Riley Dance Marathon and is “eager” to see how it turns out.

Brandon said that although Mallory and Amanda will not be present, Avon students should attend the Marathon because “it’s a great time.”

“They should also go because it’s a great way to give back to a hospital that has given so much not only to Indiana families but families all over the world,” Brandon said.

According to Dendler, many other Riley kids will have the opportunity to share their experiences at the Dance Marathon.

“They’re from all different walks of life,” Dendler said. “I feel like I may complain. You meet some of these kids who are so happy despite going through all that. It’s an eye opener. I don’t have it as bad as I sometimes think I do.”

Student and Staff Profiles Nathan Fry, Study Hall Supervisor

Do you own anything that you are embarrassed about?

I own two clothes irons—it’s dumb, especially for how little I iron my clothes.

Do you avoid students in public?

Depends on the student.

Have you ever witnessed a crime?

I saw my brother get shot by a BB gun when I was 12.

What kind of mustache would you like to grow?

“The Dali” because I’m a big fan of Salvador Dali, and I’m eccentric.

Amber Monroe, 11

As president, what is the first thing you would do?

I would fill up a room with gummy bears, and I would eat them all.

Who is your favorite hero?

The Crimson Chin because he has a massive chin, and I like chins.

What is your favorite TV show from the 90s?

The Powerpuff Girls because I have a crush on Mojo Jojo.

What would you do if you were an octopus?

I would squirt black ink at all of my enemies.

Megan Medellin

14 Feature

February 2012

Bullying issues impact Avon students’ lives Students, staff share experiences with bullying, give tips for bullying detection, prevention at Avon

By Anna Wray “I walked onto the bus after school, and no one would let me sit with them,” Melissa* said. “I could not figure out why. When I finally got to sit down, three girls and two guys turned around and started laughing at me. They called me fat and other names because of my sexuality. When I got home, I went straight to my room and cried myself to sleep.”

According to “Bullying” Online, 77 percent of students who are in high school have admitted to being the victim of some type of bullying or harassment.

“Who hasn’t been bullied?” junior Caitlin Mahler said. “[Bullies] made fun of my weight in middle school.”

According to “Bullying Statistics” Online, 14 percent of high school students have considered suicide after being bullied, and seven percent of those who consider it have actually attempted suicide.

“People do die from [being bullied],” Sarah*, who bullied a peer her sophomore year, said. “Most people laugh about it, but it is not something to laugh about even for a minute. You do not know what the person you bullied does after school.”

It is estimated that six out of 10 high school students witness bullying at least once a day, according to “Incasa” Online. According to “Bullying Facts” Online, students are afraid to tell teachers or parents about bullying because they do not want to be accused of being a “tattle-tale,” and the victim feels too powerless to stop the abuse.

“Teachers are observant and step in when necessary, but they do not always catch it,” geometry teacher Steve Drabyn said. “I think sometimes students are sneaky about doing it, so it is hard to stop.”

Most people can spot when someone is being physically bullied, but there are other common forms of bullying. Verbal, social, psychological and cyberbullying are the four main types of bullying.

“I was bullied at my old school in second and third grade,” sophomore Jay Nawrocki said. “Kids said I was different from everyone else, and one kid constantly verbally made fun of me for it.”

One of the most common reasons students bully each other is that it gives them a sense of power, according to “Bullying Facts” Online. According to “Bullies” Online, bullies might be victims of bullying who then pick on others to make themselves feel stronger.

“I did it to fit in,” Sarah* said. “Then I remembered how I was bullied, so I stopped. I really felt bad because I’m not anyone to judge someone else on who they are.”

According to Indiana laws on bullying and harassment, schools must have policies in place that prohibit bullying on school grounds before, during and after school hours or at any other time in which the school is being used for educational or athletic reasons. Schools must also prohibit bullying at school activities. There are no laws or policies that have an effect on cyberbullying.

“When I was younger, I looked the other way. But now when I witness [bullying], I step in and try to stop it,” Drabyn said. “When bullying is reported in a classroom, [the report] is sent to the counselors or principals for further punishment.”

Each day, 160,000 students in the United States do not attend school because they are too afraid of the harassment and aggression they face from peers, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. “[Teachers] honestly do not do enough to stop bullying,” sophomore Jake Hail said. “They just sit back and do not do anything about it most of the time.”

According to “Bullying Facts” Online, there are ways to deal with bullying and harassment. The first thing a victim should do is talk to a teacher or trusted adult.

Victims of bullying tend to think that they should talk to their friends about it, or deal with it themselves, but that could make the bullying worse.

“I think [bullying] is a problem [in school] because some people commit suicide from how much they are bullied,” Mahler said. “Schools need to inform the students about how hurtful bullying is. I also think that [officials] should make bullying against the law completely.”

Kaylie McCoy

According to “Kids Health” Online, the best way to help students who are being bullied is to listen to them and let them know that you are there for them. If the victims are too afraid to talk to a teacher or adult, go with them or talk to an adult yourself. According to “Bullies” Online, victims feel alone; being there for them can help them deal with their struggle.

“Bullying is a huge problem,” Nawrocki said.

“Teachers need to be stricter about it and stop acting like it does not exist. It does, and it hurts.” *Some names have been changed to let students have anonymity.

Have you been bullied or bullied others?

Survey shows many students are bullying victims, perpetrators

200 150

Yes

138

No

109 91

100 62 50 0 Source: Survey of 200 students

Have been bullied

Have bullied others

Katie Brewer

Feature 15

Page Design: Megan Medellin & Mandy Packnett

David Webb

celebrates 43 years

of teaching at Avon

Mandy TashaPacknett Rollings

History teacher shares decades of classroom experiences

By Ben Brown History teacher David Webb began teaching at Avon in 1968, during Lyndon B. Johnson’s presidency. He is the longest-serving teacher in the history of Avon High School. In fact, he earned his Master’s degree from Indiana University in 1972, before some of Avon’s teachers were even born. Former principal Rick Adcock was in 8th grade at Ben Davis Junior High when Webb began his career there in 1966.

Webb came to Avon in 1968 as the only geography teacher. Now there are five teachers teaching both honors and regular geography courses.

“Back then, gym was not co-ed, and it was scheduled with geography,” Webb said. “Each semester, I had either all boys or all girls.”

Webb said the biggest change he has seen during his career is the growth of Avon as a community and town. “[The biggest change is the] size; the school has grown so much,” Webb said. “[Avon] is a major metropolitan school now. When I started, it was more a rural country school. Surprisingly, the kids haven’t changed that much. Everyone says how much kids have changed, [and] I find it funny because I have changed more than them.”

Webb has taught about 9,000 students over his career in three different social studies courses: geography, U.S. history, and world history. Webb says he teaches history because it is his “passion.”

“U.S. history is what I most enjoy,” Webb said. “[It is] my area of expertise. I enjoy history. I just made my hobby my career.”

Webb says he enjoys history because it is about Webb actually taught at Avon during most of the human life and emotion.

Vietnam War. Kern also remembers a project she did “History covers all ranges of human experience and for Webb with her grandparents, which became very emotions,” Webb said. “[That can be] easy to overlook important to her recently. with all the facts, but I try to emphasize that.”

“We did a project where we had to interview Webb tries to instill a passion for history in his someone, and I interviewed my grandparents,” Kern students because, to him, it is the most important part said. “Both of my grandfathers were World War II of his job. veterans, and I learned about life in that “[I want my students to gain] a era from my grandmothers. I recently love of history,” Webb said. “I fail if I reread the interviews because they don’t get them to like history. [That passed away, and it was interesting to is] more important than anything for see what they said, to learn about them.” me. That’s key. I try [to do that by] However, history is not Webb’s only making it alive, making it interesting. passion. When he is not teaching, he If I can’t do that, I’ve failed.” sails his boat on Lake Michigan.

Webb’s students, both current “I am a sailor,” Webb said. “I love and former, enjoy his dedication to sailing. I love the Great Lakes. There is teaching and history the most. a lot of stuff to do there. I’d like to be “I liked geography because of Mr. there more, but I need more Webb,” sophomore Emily Allspaw David Webb, Social time and money.” said. “He is a different kind of Webb said he enjoys the beauty and Studies teacher teacher because of the way he jokes scenery of the Great Lakes area. and interacts with students. I would “I love the water. It is cool up [in the sign up for another class [with him] because he made Great Lakes] and pretty country,” Webb said, “I like everything more interesting. He made me the boats, water scene and smell. It would be a good like geography.” place to retire, even in the winter.”

Science teacher Lisa Kern, who graduated from Though Webb enjoys sailing on the Great Lakes, his Avon in1993, remembers her junior U.S. history class passion remains as a history teacher at Avon, which with Webb because of his teaching style. he believes to be one of the best schools with the “I wasn’t looking forward to [U.S. history], but I best students. found it really interesting. I thought he was a good “The best thing about Avon is the students,” Webb teacher,” Kern said. “One thing he did differently said. “I’ve always felt that. You hear about all kinds with my class was to start in the present and work of stories from other schools and districts, and I look backwards. My dad was a Vietnam veteran, and it was around and see that I just don’t have any problems really interesting to learn about that.” with my kids. I get along with all of them.”

“I fail if I don’t get them to like history.

[That is] more important than anything for me. That’s key.”

16 A&E

Madison Rief, 12 Graphite Drawing “Although coming up with a unique idea can be frustrating, being able to finally create it is really fun. Being able to make som ething so unique and different that people like is a great feeling.”

February 2012

Jared Sanford, 11 Oil Painting “I like how paint allows you to create shapes in many different styles.”

Gabrielle Mill er, 12 Digital Paintin g “If I had to pi ck a medium to stick with the rest of m for y life, it would most likely be photography or digital pain ting. There’s much you ca so n do with thes e two medium that the poss s ibilities are en dless!”

at AHS

Kennedy Reed, 10 White Charcoal “I am a perfectionist. I won’t say something is finished until I feel it is acceptable.”

e, 12 Courtney Beng g tin in Oil Pa m. I really yle is] Surrealis st e rit vo fa y M “[ I’m visiting es me feel like like how it mak thing.” t an everyday dreams. It’s no

m

Emily Young, 12 Digital Photography “[Photography] allows you to do a lot with Photoshop. It allows you to be creative.”

4X

Zo o

Sources: Interviews, 2012

Page design: Alexa Adamson

Page Design: Jordan Coffman & Alexa Adamson

Avon participates in ISSMA competitions

A&E 17

Band, choir members perform solos, ensembles at local level, prepare for state level exhibitions The judges for Choral Solo and Ensemble are from

By Jenn Haller On Jan. 28, choir students from around central different schools around the region. They judge based Indiana participated in the Indiana State School on certain requirements for each ensemble. For Music Association (ISSMA) solo and ensemble example, each student must concentrate on certain competition hosted at Avon High School. ISSMA holds categories such as diction, tone quality, breathing, competitions in four main categories of school music: accuracy and overall technique. In addition to Choral Solo and Ensemble, Jazz Band, Concert Band performing at ISSMA, Avon choir students could and Marching Band. Avon choirs and select bands volunteer to be a judge’s assistant, runner or an perform at ISSMA. “information” volunteer.

The formation of the first music “Judge’s assistants help the judges association in Indiana occurred in figure out the scores,” Gamble said.

1935 due to a large participation rate “Runners pick up the score sheets and at Indiana state music festivals. Later take them to the office. Information on, two separate music associations volunteers help by telling people times of formed in the Northern and Central events and directing them where to go.”

Indiana regions: the Northern Indiana The Concert Band ISSMA event is set School Band, Orchestra and Vocal up the same way as the Choral Solo and Association (NISBOVA) and the Ensemble event. The Concert Bands Indiana School Music Association are already preparing for the upcoming (ISMA). These associations developed ISSMA event on April 28. The four bands and sponsored music festivals for all from Avon that will attend ISSMA are high school bands, orchestras and the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, choirs. In 1981, the two associations Concert Band and Freshman Black Band. joined to form ISSMA. In 1999, “ISSMA is not a competition against ISSMA became an independent, nonother bands,” Assistant Band Director profit organization.

Matt Harloff said. “We look at it as ISSMA sponsors high school music a concert.” festivals and competitions across All the students in these four bands Meghan Gamble, 11 Indiana. According to “ISSMA” are required to attend the ISSMA Online, ISSMA’s mission is “to provide competitions. The Wind Symphony is educationally evaluated music performance activities the only band that will compete to qualify for the State for the students and teachers of the State of Indiana, Championship. The State Championship is on May to assist in the development of performance oriented 5. The Drumline took part in an ISSMA-sponsored assessment of state and national musical academic competition on Feb. 11. Junior David Bourne standards, and to offer educational support to fulfill participated in the event. this mission.” “[Drumline] practiced three times a week for ISSMA participants can choose to perform either ISSMA,” Bourne said. “I think the opportunity that alone or in an ensemble. However, students are not [ISSMA] gives kids to get better is something worth limited to one solo or ensemble. Junior Meghan going every year for.”

Gamble participated in the Choral ISSMA event with ISSMA allows students to be judged to see what more than one solo and ensemble and received gold they need to improve on, without having the stress of medals for each. competing against other bands or choirs. “[ISSMA is] more of a competition with yourself “It’s always valuable to perform in front of judges,” and something to help you see how you are using what Harloff said. “This will let them get more experience with you’ve learned,” Gamble said. performing as well as with playing their instruments.”

[ISSMA is] more of a competition with yourself and something to help you see how you are using what you’ve learned.

 The

off

scoring is broken into three groups: gold, silver and bronze.  The lower the score, the better the performance.  The gold group ranges from 9 to 13.  The silver group ranges from 14 to 22.  The bronze group ranges from 23 to 30.  Those who score higher than 31 receive a participation ribbon.

Source: Interviews 2012

Jennifer Haller

Seniors Andrea Oakes and Brandon Eaton sing at the 2012 Choral ISSMA Solo and Ensemble event. Avon High School hosted the event and welcomed choir students from across the region. “The judging is based on your tone quality, diction, accuracy, breathing and overall technique,” Eaton said.

ISSMA Solo & Ensemble Scoring, performances of 2012 ISSMA contest for choir, band students

 Individuals

from Avon High School Choir attended ISSMA on Jan.28.  There were 17 ensembles: 14 received gold, 3 silver.  There were 20 soloists: 19 received gold, 1 silver.  Individuals from the band attended on Feb. 11.  The Avon High School band will attend ISSMA on April 21.

Grace Kelly

18 Opinion

Bastion

Critical Hit

One of the With Jordan Coffman struggles of being a gamer is finding the right game to show first-time players. An easy game with no real story makes potential players feel like games cannot have the depth and richness of other art forms, but a complex and difficult game will just scare them off when they play like they have flippers for hands. “Bastion” solves the problem masterfully. It is a game with a rich and immersive world, a deep and interesting story, and fast and fun gameplay that even the least dexterous of dolphins can enjoy.

“Bastion” is a post-apocalyptic game of a different color—colors, really, because unlike the brown-and-gray color schemes of most apocalypse-based games, “Bastion’s” world is as colorful as the aftermath of a paint factory explosion. The game tells the story of the Kid, one of the few survivors of the Cataclysm, an event that literally tore the world into pieces. The Kid sets off to find and rebuild the Bastion—the last remaining safe place in the world—with the help of anyone he can find.

The story’s presentation sets the game apart. A deep-voiced, melancholy narrator tells the story. The Narrator has a comment for everything. Dodge a bullet? “Too bad the Kid can’t dodge his past.” Fall of a ledge?

“Floor gets slicker than a smooth-talker once the rain starts.” Make a sandwich? “Kid’s got a hunger in him: a hunger for justice.” Alright, that last one was mine. Anyway, the narration really sets the tone of the game and pushes the player to find out more and more about the backstory of this now-destroyed world.

“Bastion” is an action-roleplaying game with an emphasis on mixing and matching different weapons, like a frozen yogurt shop that dispenses bullets, fire and pointy things. New gamers can go through the game without worrying too much about many of the different mechanics and combinations, while more experienced gamers can try out every possible pairing of the hundreds possible.

“Bastion” is the best $15 purchase I have ever made, and that includes my Kidz Bop CD collection.

February 2012

Flick Fights

The Mission With Tasha Rollings Impossible series is filled with many action and fight scenes. Tom Cruise draws a big crowd with his constant success as Agent Hunt. Although his fighting techniques are successful, he does not use any specific martial art style. He does not use fancy techniques found in kung fu or karate like in other movies. He uses the basic techniques that one learns in any style of fighting, like punching and kicking. His basic defense can prove that one doesn’t have to use fancy techniques to defend oneself. In the newest movie, “Ghost Protocol,” however, I was impressed with the accuracy of the weapon defense.

Throughout the movie, the main characters are constantly faced with knives and guns.

When a man with a knife attacks Hunt’s teammate, Agent Carter, the first thing she does is jump to the side and grab his arm with both hands. She pulls his arm straight across her body and keeps the weapon far away from her opponent. She uses a judo move to twist his arm and stab her opponent with his own knife. This judo technique is a common move that is easy to do and has good results.

Judo is common in weapon defense, and a huge component of judo is throwing weapons to the side of the body and using them against the opponent. Cruise demonstrates this very well while battling the main villain over a suitcase. The villain tries to hit Cruise with a suitcase, and Cruise jumps away and catches it. He twists it between the villain’s arms and uses it like a lever to push him away. He defeats his opponent with his opponent’s own weapon.

There is only one part where one agent takes a gun straight on. When facing weapons, one should never think they are made of steel, so one should always step out of harm’s way as quickly as possible. This movie did an amazing job of showing how to handle weapon attacks.

All the defenses used would be successful if used in real life, and I was really excited to see the similarities between what I saw in the movie and what I have experienced with weapon defense in class.

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol

Rotating Review Indian Wedding

The Bucket List

I was born With Miriam Thomas in India, but aside from my high tolerance for spicy food and a rudimentary grasp of Tamil insults, I am not very culturally aware. So when my mother told me we would be attending my cousin’s wedding in India, visions of elephants and henna tattoos danced in my head. I was excited to get to cross “Attend an Indian wedding” off my bucket list.

When the bride entered the church on her father’s arm, I knew my view of Indian weddings was wrong. As one of my cousins put it, “Reuben had the most American wedding!”

As most American weddings I have attended are conducted in English, I am not sure how true this is. Since I do not really understand the formal Tamil language used in these ceremonies, I amused myself by taking pictures of people getting bored.

However, the wedding did adhere to many Indian traditions, like holding an engagement ceremony prior to the wedding. At this ceremony, the groom’s family members bring the bride traditional presents, like jewelry and baby coconuts. This tradition is most definitely happening before I marry anyone.

Indian wedding receptions are huge social events. My cousin’s reception started out with family members offering toasts to the couple, during which the master of ceremonies regaled us with interesting tidbits about the history of toasting. After the program, 2,500 guests each had a chance to personally greet and deliver presents to the bride and groom and have their picture taken with the newlyweds. This took four hours. I enjoyed watching the groom pretend to recognize unknown distant relations like he saw them every day.

I got to meet the little old lady who used to help my parents take care of me when I was a baby in India. My mom got to see extended family she had not seen since we moved to the States. Indian weddings are not just about celebrating the union of two people but are also about celebrating a multitude of reunions.

The wedding was a fantastic experience, but I am still disappointed about the lack of elephants.

I came across With Mandy Packnett my very first memes at age 14. Many of these memes were just cats with bad grammar, but these pixelated purr machines turned me into a meme addict. I constantly browse memes like Hipster Kitty, O RLY Owl, Annoying Facebook Girl and Rage Faces. This Internet phenomenon is so compelling because I never quite know which exact memes I will find, and I know I am due for a good laugh.

Even though some people feel like memes do not make sense or are too offensive, I disagree. If something makes me laugh (no matter how terrible the grammar or subject is), I will love it because laughter can truly make my day better. I also love how memes are not only very accessible to browse and view but are also fairly simple to create.

Memes allow us to make other people laugh, no matter where in the world they are.

Knowing that there are countless memes to discover makes them so much more addicting because I know that no matter how many I see, there will always be more to brighten up my day.

After spending many hours browsing memes on Google Images, cracking up in laughter at them and then posting memes to Twitter and Facebook, I came to realize that memes are not only a new form of comedy for our generation but are a way of expressing our interests, our political views and our emotions.

I see my Facebook friends and Twitter followers filling up my newsfeeds with memes communicating controversial ideas. Many social media enthusiasts express their views indirectly through memes, instead of using their own words. Memes help us express what we may not be brave enough to say.

I love creating and posting meme images because whether they are harmless or offensive, I cannot help the way they make me giggle. Memes are one example of the way comedy is becoming much more prevalent on social networking sites, not just on television shows like Comedy Central or in comics in the newspaper. I have no complaints about this ever-changing source of humor.

I can haz

MEMES?

Editorial: Internet piracy laws restrict students Possible future Internet conditions infringe on First Amendment rights The Internet is a place for citizens and businesses to post their work and exercise their First Amendment rights. According to “CBS” Online, the time Americans spend on their e-mail accounts is a third less than the time they spend on social media websites.

While on these websites, web-users can easily access, save and re-post different sources of media on their own personal social networking pages, on their computers or on their documents. The Senate considered an anti-piracy bill known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA). The House of Representatives’ version of the anti-piracy bill, named the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), protects copyrighted information and images and threatens Internet-users’ freedom of speech by restricting copyrighted material.

SOPA and PIPA aim to decrease copyright infringements by restricting services and websites that host or facilitate the trading of pirated content.

Originally, SOPA’s main goal was to stop overseas websites that provided pirated content to its users. However, websites such as Wikipedia, Reddit and Google felt the proposed acts threatened the integrity of their rights. SOPA and PIPA did not pass, but similar acts will more than likely be proposed in the future if Internet piracy continues.

The Echo staff believes that while there should be actions against piracy, the proposed SOPA and PIPA acts are too restrictive, and anti-piracy acts proposed in the future may violate our First Amendment rights. We need to find a balance between increasing protection and preserving our freedoms. Opinions and thoughts will be greatly restricted if website users are not allowed to post certain material such as images containing logos or trademarks.

These First Amendment rights must be protected, and strict anti-piracy laws can potentially take these rights away from Americans. If acts similar to SOPA and PIPA pass, who knows what precious values will be taken away next?

Information is nearly limitless with websites such as Wikipedia and Reddit.

However, if a strict anti-piracy act passes, knowledge that we often obtain from websites will be limited. Tasks we now see as simple, from looking up information for a research paper to reading a news story, will be much more complicated and timeconsuming with limited Internet access.

Echo

Opinion 19

Page Design: Shelby Brown & Tasha Rollings

Our society prefers speed, and the growth of accessible knowledge may have to halt in the near future if the federal government approves bills like PIPA and SOPA. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is another government-Internet interaction that is affecting more than just the United States. ACTA is an agreement that establishes international standards for intellectual property rights. Like other acts, ACTA targets copyright infringement, but it also aims to control counterfeit goods, generic medicines and other illegal activity that takes place online. Thirty-one countries worldwide have signed this agreement that may strictly control the amount of crimes and stolen information on the Internet. ACTA is another example of how the government has affected the Internet not only on a national basis but also internationally.

The Echo staff feels there should be more restrictions and protection of intellectual property, but it should not come from the proposed acts. We believe that these new proposals are too strict, but certain protection of a lower caliber would be useful to preserve the integrity of copyrighted and trademarked logos, images and written information on the Internet.

to the LetterEditor Although old time classics are being released into theaters, they are not all that they are made out to be. It is true that they have nostalgic ties to the viewers who want the younger generations to experience what they did as young children.

However, they are little more than a stunt by producers to make profit from old-time classics.

Something is clearly off when people have to pay twice as much to see a movie they already own or have watched multiple times.

It would appear that the entertainment industry is running out of ideas. Their recent attempts at box-office hits have been from past plotlines and stories. Take “Avatar” for instance.

Although it is a well-loved movie, its basic plot has few differences from Disney’s “Pocahontas.”

If people were to start noticing the mediocre scripts and demand more originality, America’s entertainment industry would be able to come back to its original glory.

- Dhara Patel, 11, and Zita Erbowor-Becksen, 12

Editorial staff Adviser

Susan Hoffman

Editor-in-chief Managing Editor Belle LeBeau

Rachel Fischer

Design/Photo Editor Mandy Packnett

Copy Editor Miriam Thomas

Copy Editor Jordan Coffman

Staff members Alexa Adamson, David Allspaw, Katie Brewer, Kenzi Barnes, Ben Brown, Shelby Brown, Tristan Fitzpatrick, Jennifer Haller, Grace Kelly, Maria Khan, Tiffany Lanteigne, Kaylie McCoy, Megan Medellin, Olivia Price, Tasha Rollings, Anna Wray

About the Echo The Echo exists as an open forum through which its readers can express concern and gain insight into local, national and international issues as they relate to Avon High School students or teens in general and as a place for student journalists to work in a professional environment. The Echo holds the viewpoint that no subject is too sensitive to discuss if done so in a responsible manner. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and of the press. The Echo recognizes that with this freedom comes responsibility. Journalistically, this means accurate, fair and objective coverage.

A.) The purpose of the Echo is to inform, to entertain, to create interest and to evaluate.

B.) The Echo does not express the views of the administration, faculty members, or the like, except in quotations or letters to the editor. The views of the Echo are not necessarily those of Avon High School students, parents, administrators or staff.

C.) The Echo does not condone censorship or any policy of prior review.

D.) The Echo will respond to complaints about accuracy, fairness and completeness of copy. When a report is found to be wrong or misleading, a correction will appear in the next issue of the Echo.

E.) Letters to the editor are welcome provided they are signed. Under special circumstances, the Echo will withhold the names. However, the Echo will not protect the identity of the writer should a lawsuit occur. The Echo reserves the right to edit letters for libel and defamation, obscenity and copyright. The editor may also edit for length and correction of expression.

F.) The Echo will be distributed in a manner to be determined by the editorial team. The Echo student subscription price will be included in book rental.

G.) In the occurrence of a death of a student, faculty member or school staff personnel, a standard size obituary will run. It will be a short feature and include a photograph, if one is available. Cause of death will not be reported.

Senior Michelle Flores, junior Edgar Jara, senior Maria Herrera and junior Melvin Portillo practice for the Latin portion of the African Diaspora Black History Month Program. The Black History Month Program is on March 1. “[The reason for the program is] to show different cultures in the show,” Herrera said.

Stephanie Bode, the ALC’s new assistant principal, monitors the forum during passing period. “Avon students, especially the seniors, have been great,” Bode said. “It’s also very good to be back with several faculty members from when I was here in the 90s.

Plus, the staff members new to me have also been awesome.”

Senior Sasha Mehringer uses chemicals to test fake blood in Intro to Forensic Entomology. “I like this class because it is so different than any other class I’ve taken,” Mehringer said. “It’s interesting because not many courses cover these topics.”

Science teacher Cynthia Whyde’s corn snake, Gary, wraps around a student’s arm.

Whyde’s friend gave her Gary, who is a type of constrictor. “[Last Thanksgiving Break], he got into my printer,” Whyde said. “I’m glad he didn’t get hurt.”

Sophomore Taylor Madison practices after school on Jan. 25 with other show choir members. The show choir’s first show was Feb. 18. “I am really excited because I am one of the two sophomores to get into show choir,” Madison said. “It allows me to be with the seniors before they leave.”

Recycle me

Or pass me to a friend

Cover & back page design: Rachel Fischer Cover photos: Rachel Fischer Back page photos: Grace Kelly, Maria Khan, Mandy Packnett, Tiffany Lanteigne, Megan Medellin