SIDNEY LANIER HIGH SCHOOL’S
The Blue & White Entering ‘The Castle’, Hectic or Helpful?
December 15, 2017
Special Edition Inside this issue:
The students, however, have a different view of the new Students at Sidney Lanier High School check-in system. They appear enter school before the morning bell more content and less worried differently this year. The girls enter from about their belongings getting the back of the school, while boys enter misplaced or stolen. This the side of the school. made a big impact considerA lot of students wonder why last school ing this was one of the major concerns of the female stuterm 2016-2017 everyone entered the front of the school, but why not this year? dents. By Ashley Caldwell and Shakasa Oliver
Keepin’ It 100:
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The story behind LHS, its namesake
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Poets, politics, and the precinct
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How the West was won: ‘The Classic’
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Former pro athletes score with faculty, students
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The principal, Dr. Antonio Williams, said the decision to split up the two sexes would be a better choice for safety and efficiency. Female officers and teachers search the girls, while male officers and teachers search guys.
LHS weighs in on academic takeover
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“We want to separate the girls from guys so that the process would be quicker, and less congested.” Dr. Williams said.
Poet Style: Lanier’s ‘mane’ men Highlights from LHS Homecoming 2017
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Assistant principal Lovell Seals added, “This new checking system solves a safety and search issue which makes the students feel more comfortable.”
“The girls feel more secure with females searching their bags especially when they have personal products.” said Mary Gray, a Career Tech “I feel like this checking system is worse teacher, who conducts morning security than last year’s,” senior Kesiye Gulley checks. told The Blue & White. “It takes up too much time.” Library media specialist Yolanda Huntley, who also works the check-ins, added: No one denies that this new system is less “I see more students going to their desig- stressful. Most agree that they are more nated area.” comfortable getting checked by their same-sex administrators. While that may be true, some students say not being able to enter the same door is sometimes an inconvenience.
Maya Dalton A ‘Tweet’ Sensation Mr. Dalton has friends that try to have their kids paint and they just don’t measure up.
By Jamarious Fulks and Emko Pash “Did that!” toddler Maya Dalton exclaims every time she sees her finger painting on her bedroom wall.
Don’t Forget ! • Dec. 18 –Jan 1: Christmas Break • Jan 2: PD (Teachers Only) • Jan 5: Magnet school applications posted on MPS website • Jan 11: Report Card Day • Jan 15: King/Lee Birthday • Feb. 19: President’s Day
“Yeah, my friends would have their kids paint and then show me,” he said. “I might be biased, but they just don’t do as good as Maya does.”
Also known as “Lil Maya,” this two year old is unknowingly like a pint-sized Picasso. Her talent began to showcased after her parents, Ryan and Raniece Dalton, decided to let her have at it in designing her own room. Maya’s work has caught the attention of social media, too. “When we moved from Brooklyn to Montgomery, we bought our first house,” explained Mr. Dalton, an inclusion teacher at Sidney Lanier High. “ We wanted Maya to have a role in decorating her own room.” After taking her outside and giving her bowls filled with different colors of paint and a canvas, she had her way with the white space. “She would paint a little then get bored, “ Mr Dalton said, “ so I would walk her around the backyard and take her back to the canvas and she would get back to it.”
Maya Dalton Contributed photo
— and it went viral. Even Buzzfeed, a digital media company that tracks viral content, did an article on Lil Maya’s art. All of a sudden, a few of Mr. Dalton’s family and friends wanted paintings from Mya. “Some paid like $50,” he said. “Others paid more.” Political figures even noticed Maya’s art. Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Hillary and Bill Clinton, and author of the book, She Persisted, has also expressed interest in Maya’s art and purchased one. She currently has a painting of Maya’s in her office in New York.
Maya’s pretty small, so her arms could only reach the perimeter, leaving the inside blank, which became her art.
“I love this so much,” Ms. Clinton tweeted. “How best to be in touch so I can soon hang this on my wall. And make a contribution to Maya’s college fund. Thank you.”
Mr. Dalton posted a series of photos and videos of Maya’s creations on his Twitter account
Apparently, Lil Maya’s style is hard to beat.
Lil Maya even imparted her art onto a Starbucks cup that her dad was drinking one day. “I sat it down beside me on my desk and she was already painting so she came by and made the cup her victim,” he said jokingly. Right now, Lil This is 2-year-old Maya’s Maya knows painting that hangs in that she made Chelsea Clinton’s New York the painting, but office. if she ever forgets and wonders when and where it became “a thing,” her dad will say that she did that.
High Schoolers Kneeling: How Far Will the Movement Go? By Andre Lamonte
Colin Kaepernick took his first knee during the national anthem in August of 2016 and had previously sat alone in his protest. Now, however, his wave has extended far beyond himself. He not only inspired his teammates, but other teams in the NFL and even players in the MLB. Pros such as Devin McCourty and Martellus Bennet have been vocal about the movement since its genesis and knelt alongside Colin soon after he began to protest. Since then entire teams have sat down, stayed in the locker rooms or have shown other types of protest against the anthem. The movement has become so strong that it has extended from professional sports to the amateur ranks. There have been high school ball players to show their allegiance to the cause by kneeling before games, roughly to the same mixed criticisms and results.
real change in the way we are being treated. They’ve got the attention, for how long, though, is a major concern. The era of social media has never been a problem in the past for movements of this scale. With the speed at which messages are being delivered to the people, coupled with the timing of it, day after day the movement is becoming less potent. There are national tragedies happening left and right, making it hard for the people to prioritize their attention. If people are kneeling on one side, getting shot at a concert on another, and hurricanes wiping out entire islands on the third, where are the people going to turn their heads? With the way the country is progressing socially, I don’t think movements such as this will ever have the same potency as those of the past. With the president speaking in only tabloids and controversial headlines, hurricanes hitting the America from all sides, and terrorists on our own soil it’s hard to stay focused. There are simply too many distractions.
When the movement first began Kaepernick stated, “This stand wasn't because I feel like I'm being put down in any kind of way. This is because I'm seeing things happen to people that don't have a voice: people that don't have a platform to talk and have their voices heard and affect Players from schools like Auburn High change. So I'm in the position where I can I hope someone will take this chance and School in Illinois and Desoto High in do that, and I'm going to do that for peo- run with it. But maybe that is the issue. Texas have had players peacefully protest. For every three people reacting to the ple that can't.” After the major protests that the NFL have world, there is someone like me analyzing been showcasing every Sunday, school With the de facto leader of the movement it and remarking on how it is flawed, but systems have had to face these issues be- having his purpose be for speech, it seems there only comes one or two special peofore they expanded. he is playing a sort of servant or speaker ple in a generation to take the chances role rather than that of action. The move- given to us and turning it into something Houston Independent School District had ment began as him being a vessel for peo- to change it. We need more of those peoto issue a notice to their football players ple to use to make the issue be known, but ple, but there I go again. We need to BE beforehand stating “HISD protects the all the people are doing is rallying behind those people. constitutional right of student-athletes, as him. No one is capitalizing off of it. set forth explicitly in HISD Board Policy FNA (LEGAL), not to participate in that The movement needs improvement, actradition." tion behind these noble intentions. After taking the knee, these players are still This movement is expanding at an getting on the field to play. We are talking admirable rate but I believe, as many have about how we want change while pointed out, it is getting lost in translation changing nothing but the volume at which along the way. People seem to believe that we are expressing our desires. kneeling itself is the sole purpose of the movement, showing awareness of the Everyone from your neighbor next door to injustices in the justice system and the the President watched all those players police force. take a knee, formed their views, commented on it and so forth. The awareness has been raised long ago. People don’t Colin did not set out on a mission of acneed to be told what is what anymore, tion in August of 2016. He made it clear they already know. that it was a form of speech, expressing to the people how he felt about the state of These are the times where revolutionaries the country as far as race relations and like Malcolm, Martin, Huey, and so on police brutality go. would put the people to work on affecting
“We are … changing nothing but the volume at which we are expressing our desires.” ~ Andre Lamonte
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The Blue & White
99 Problems … The Squad Can’t Be One Despite the rocky start, we are a team from here on out. We’re all It’s hard being the only male in learning different life lessons a predominantly female sport. and striving for the same goal. As of now, Lanier’s squad con- That’s the main reason I became a cheerleader. sists of 26 girls -- and me. By Javonde Robinson
With all the unnecessary drama As we go on this journey, with that has happened, trying to stay all the learning, together we are positive has been difficult. It is a force. just ridiculous how we are supposed to be young adults in a high school, but too many of us act like middle schoolers. I choose to be the mature one. Not too long ago, a couple of the girls were being disrespectful around and to the coach. This is not the first time.
“We’re all learning different life lessons and striving for the same goal. That’s the main reason I became a cheerleader.”
Since my first year, there has always been a problem between some on the squad and the cheer coaches. But we came together when it was time to perform.
Lanier Cheer Squad Nearly Tumbled By LaShawn Herring and Ragan Purter
It’s been a crazy first semester as the focus has been on troubles faced by Sidney Lanier High School’s cheerleading squad. The cheerleading scandal has been the topic of discussion, so much so that they almost missed the big game between Lanier and Jefferson Davis High Lanier High Cheer Team because of the rift that has happened ment. between the team and their lack of cooperation with each other. But there are other cheerleaders that have other opinions. One cheerleader, Jabriel Some members felt the cheer coach, JasLee, told a different story. mine Holloway-Pate, unfairly targeted them. A few felt the coach’s tactics were a “The coach acts like a child [and] she’s bit aggressive. It seems there was always very unprofessional … ,” Lee said. drama among the team. Turns out Jabriel Lee is one of the main Some cheerleaders feel like the team is cheerleaders who has had problems with changing for the worse and could involve the cheer team and its coach. She quit the the squad coming to an end, but Coach team, due to disagreement between her Pate has a different perspective. and the coach. “There will be changes but changes for the Jabriel said there is more to the story that better,” Coach Pate said. When asked should be told. She feels like the coach about the “changes,” she declined to com-
shows favoritism to her cheerleaders, but why? “The team is messy,” the former cheerleader said. “They get into their own groups and gossip about the other cheerleaders. We were supposed to be one big family.” Some members of the Junior Varsity feel that the Varsity members are the ones causing the problems, while the Varsity feels that it’s the Junior Varsity. It seems that the catalyst of the problems is a mystery to Coach Pate. “I can’t put my finger on it,” Coach Pate said. “I don’t feel like it’s one squad or the other. I think both teams have their part in it.” Within due time, team members collectively hope the situation will die down and the cheerleaders will get it together.
Reporters Shagarian Lane, Tondrea Bryant and Shimiracle Patterson contributed to this story.
Lanier High Has Withstood Tougher Times By Imani Lott and Taylar Meredith
Have you ever wondered the history behind this building we call our school? This location, 1756 South Court Street, is not the first Sidney Lanier High School here in Montgomery, Alabama.
Today's Lanier has the motto of "Reclaiming The Castle" spearheaded by our principal Dr. Williams, to return to its former glory. The school’s namesake — the late Sidney Clopton Lanier — was born in Macon, Georgia, February 3, 1842. He became a poet, novelist, composer, and critic.
The first Sidney Lanier High School was located on McDonough Street. It existed from 1909 to 1910 with it being the first co-ed public high school in Montgomery.
Lanier’s works display a love of the land, as well as his worries over turning down values and commercial culture in the Reconstruction South. Some of his writings praise highly the rhythmic natural world and the religious vision Sidney Clopton Lanier it introduces. Lanier was known as a charter Due to Lanier being overcrowded, The Board of Education decided to construct a new build- Many famous entertainers performed there and member into the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame in 2000. ing for the extra student body. it also served as a movie theater during that time as well. The school opened in September of 1929, a He graduated from Oglethorpe University, in few days before the stock market crashed. It In 1956, racial tensions with the Montgomery 1860 with high honors. When the Civil War was coined "The Million Dollar School" bebegan, he wanted to serve in the Confederate Bus Boycott pushed the envelope of school cause of its huge budget during that period of integration in Montgomery, Alabama. Army. In 1864 he was held as a prisoner of time. war for four months in Maryland. Due to Lanier being an all white school ever During The Great Depression, Lanier suffered since it first opened in 1929, it caused many During his time there he contracted tuberculosome due to the high expenses of keeping the parents to start pulling their children out of sis that placed him on death row the rest of his school running and cuts in teachers salaries by school. This caused Lanier's funding to delife. the Board of Education. crease. When the funding decreased so did a He studied law and worked in his father's legal lot of programs. With the “white flight,” the Even though Lanier was suffering , the enroll- neighborhoods surrounding Lanier that were office in Macon in 1868 to 1873. ment continued to grow. Distributive Educamajority white became majority black. tion and Diversified Occupation courses develDuring his years in Baltimore, he worked on oped during this time gave students the oppor- In hopes of drawing students in and increasing English literature and soon became a speaker tunity to work and go to school at the same at the Peabody Institute. funds, the Lanier Academic Magnet Program time. The ROTC program expanded when was added to Lanier. After fifteenth years, World War II broke out, giving students inLAMP relocated to the former Loveless Mid- Lanier's health continued to worsen. On Sepvolvement in the war effort. Former students tember 7, 1881, he died, in North Carolina, dle School. lost their lives in battle. But those who surwhere he had traveled in hopes that the climate vived returned and continued their education at The student demographic changed once again. could cure him. Lanier. At that point, there were only six white students out of the 1,100 student body. Funding On a lighter note, Lanier's auditorium, which has continued to decrease cutting out many was the second largest in Montgomery, programs that were available to students such served the community. as French, Simulated Driver's Education, etc..
“My school will be what I make it!”
Poets Sign Up for a Role in Democracy “Also, it gives you a voice for the future.”
By Denise Ringo and Andre Lamonte
In September, a group of women came to Sidney Lanier High School with a special task in mind: to register 18-year-olds to vote.
Next we decided to ask a student their thoughts about registering to vote. A young lady in an ROTC uniform straightened up, obviously done registering, and responded.
More than 40 registered, and the majority of them participated for the first time in December for one of Alabama’s biggest elections. It was the race for the US Senate between Republican Roy Moore and Democrat Doug Jones. “I felt like I had a voice,” said senior Ashley Shavers, a first-time voter in the December 12 Senate race. Shavers
Roughly 35 percent of ballots were cast by voters between the ages of 18 and 44, with Jones winning six in 10 votes from voters between the ages of 18 and 29, the Democratic National Committee reported.
Haigler
For some, the most recent election had a learning curve. Dominique Haigler quickly learned that it wasn’t the same as voting at school for Homecoming Court.
“Everyone’s opinion matters,” says Tatianna Parks, “and the youths speak out” when they cast ballots. Tondelier Ashford, a 1970 Lanier alumnae, assisted in a recent voter registration at LHS.
As many have learned from the recent election, it is those electoral choices “My voting experience was something now that affects the future of this nation. I didn’t expect,” recalled Miss Haigler, who also had to vote in the state Senate race. “The first time went by swiftly, but the second time took a “Because little longer because of the lines.” Members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority plan to return to Lanier and register more students. Those who turn 18 in an election year can register to vote. Registering to vote “gives them the ability to start exercising their right as a citizen, and it teaches them responsibility,” explained Gloria Howard, an AKA volunteer and Lanier graduate.
everyone’s opinion matters, and the youths speak out.” -Tatianna Parks
LHS Registered Voters! Taylar Meredith Charquan Lewis Prenice Murphy Kendrick Harris Lee Hyde Alandas Brown Zakiyla Ellis Dea'correan Gilchrist Aaron Bethune Chauncey Blackburn
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Jaderrian Thornton Kyesha Robinson Le'Kirkland Davis Jaylan Jones Desirah Short Breanna Mooney Alexis Johnson Ashley Shavers Amiracle Hampton
Casrella Franks Alexandria Caphart Michael Belser Quantavious Washington Kyra Young Dante Helms Raven Minnifield Algarian Benson Tatianna Parks Quinten Bowe
Special Edition
‘Who Really Runs The West?’ By Makaylah Harris and DeAndre Reeves
Sidney Lanier and George Washington Carver high schools have been rivals for decades, but it all started during the 1950s. Carver was an all-black school and Lanier was an all-white school, but during the 60s the city’s public schools started to integrate. Therefore, students who went to Carver but were zoned for Lanier could actually go to Lanier. From those years on, Carver and Lanier have been archrivals. Later on a big event which goes by ''Westside Classic'' was established in the late 70's or early 80's.
tion because this could be the first or the last time he gets to play his original school, Carver. Mr. Wade knew that he had to do his best as a football player going against his former teammates.
The Westside Classic is when Carver and LaWade nier go head to head in football to see who really run the Westside. But throughout the In recent years, though, the teams didn't play years, roles have changed. Former Carver football players have been transferring to La- each other because they hailed from different divisions. At the time, Lanier was considered nier for a chance of victory. 5a and Carver was considered 6a. A former Carver student, Jurand Wells, said he had something to prove against Carver, because they gave him a shot. But they didn't look at him as much as he expected them to. Mr. Wells said he wasn't Wells thinking about his old teammates. He had his mind set up to not only think about former teammates, but to win the game. Jacoby Wade had a choice to decide to choose between Lanier or Carver. He was thankful for a once-in-a-lifetime situa
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Now that the game is back on and “poppin” the feud has reignited. Not only do we have students who transferred over to this rival school, but we also have teachers who are alumni from Carver. One teacher said “Although I am a proud Carver alumni, my heart is with Sidney Lanier because I teach here and my son plays for the team”.
Newsletter Title
Ex Pro Ballers Score with Lanier Faculty By Cornelius Wright and Zaria Murphy
Stevie Holloway’s Reasons Why
Henry Tellis’ Choices
Most people may know Steve Holloway for being a former NFL player, but there are many things that people may not know about his life after the NFL.
Henry Tellis is a popular history and economics teacher at Sidney Lanier. Before LHS, he was an NFL athlete.
Holloway, who teaches 9thgrade English-Language Arts, played for Tennessee State in college, then was later picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987. However, Holloway was later released from the team after the ‘87 season. After that, he later wanted to follow his mother’s footsteps in the profession of education. With his mother and grandmother being educators, the choice was very clear. “She was just always talking about education,” he said about his mother. Education was not the only thing that Holloway was interested in. After playing in the NFL he coached girl’s basketball, Football, and currently is coaching girl’s softball here at Sidney Lanier High School.
Standing near 7 feet, he had to make a few simple choices growing up to get there. In his teenage years, Tellis chose to play sports. He said, “I had had two choices, either go to the military or be good at sports, so I played sports.” After playing sports in high school, Tellis went on to play at Troy University. Behind his good years at Troy, he was looked at by the NY Jets. Tellis later on signed with the Jets. When Tellis was released by the Jets, he decided to come back to Montgomery and support his hometown in a big way. His contributions range from launching a foundation and hosting football camps to supporting school systems. By doing these simple things he have encouraged and supported many kids in a positive way here at Lanier.
Brian Williams’ Global Experience Brian Williams is one of the most glorified basketball players to come from Montgomery, AL. If there is a conversation that is talking about basketball, there is a major possibility that the name Brian Williams will come up. He was a student that came out of high school being a McDonald’s All-American, and also being one of the top recruits that was chosen to attend The University of Alabama. Williams was considered a very productive player in the league. Unfortunately he had to retire from the foreign league simply because of injuries, with Russia being his last stop before having a knee injury that cut his career short of what it could have been. After retiring from playing basketball professionally overseas in Europe and the Middle East, he decided to come back to his home town to pick up coaching high school basketball. “Lanier was the first school to give me an opportunity to get into coaching” he said. Currently, Coach Williams has had multiple successful seasons in the past years being back-to-back Area Champions. This has changed the culture of Lanier basketball. The past years with his coaching has been a escalator ride, because it seems like every year was better than the last. With winning an Area Championship with the 2016-17 boys there is no telling what the 2017-18 season will behold. Shagarian Lane and Javonde Robinson also contributed to this story.
Volume 1, Issue 1
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Lanier Weighs In On Academic Takeover result of what teachers are not doing is “Unless someone like you cares an aw- unfair because you can’t hold the teachful lot, nothing’s going to get better, it’s ers solely accountable for a student.” “Sometimes it's the not.” ~ The Lorax Yolanda Huntley, Lanier’s library meMost teachers at Sidney Lanier High dia specialist who also has classroom student’s choice. School believe what is being labeled as experience said that sometimes teachers They just quit. I “academic intervention” is necessary, can be blameworthy for student failure. though with the effort of both students “Sometimes it's the student’s choice. don’t count that as and faculty, LHS can be removed from They just quit. I don’t count that as a the state’s failing schools list. failure,” Mrs. Huntley explained. “You a failure. You just Students have a more cynical view on just fail to reach the students, or maybe fail to reach the the matter, as faculty cannot make stu- you didn’t teach them in a format bestdents do anything they don’t want to. suited to teach them, or maybe you just didn’t give them your best.” students, or maybe Academic intervention is a strategy used Educational analysts say that building you didn’t teach to teach a new skill, build fluency in a relationships, a good lesson plan, and skill, or encourage a child to apply an being available to teach are some ways them in a format existing skill to new situations or set- to help students achieve higher goals. tings. The important question is, how do best-suited to Said Ms. Phelps: “Teachers have to first we get out of it? and foremost come to work, and we teach them, or When asked if she believed academic have to be excited to be here, and … intervention was necessary, AP Chemis- formulate relationships with our stumaybe you just try teacher Sharonda Phelps answered, dents where they are, not just academi“Yes, I do believe that academic inter- cally, but mentally.” didn’t give them vention is necessary in order to ensure One Lanier student, who preferred to your best.” that all students are successful.” remain anonymous said that everyone is Mrs. Phelps believes that academic in- responsible, so the state takeover is wartervention could have been prevented, ranted. “The kids here don’t want to “but in order for that to have happened, learn,” the student said in an exasperatother resources would have had to been ed manner. “You can’t make them, and provided to teachers in order to ensure they know it, so they take everything for that we wouldn’t need academic inter- granted.” vention.” From the outside looking 1st 9 Week Grades For instance, Ms. Phelps explained that in, Officer Hart believes the school district wants teachers to in- half the battle’s fought 9th grade: 52% A/B 16% F tegrate technology in lessons. just by students being in 10th grade: 52% A/B 13% F class. “In order for us to do that, we have to 11th grade: 63% A/B 7% F have the resources,” she said, “so it’s “If you can get these impossible for us to integrate technolo- students into classrooms 12th grade: 55% A/B 9% F gy with our lessons if we don’t have the instead of [them] wanmoney to buy those types of resources.” dering the halls, the Schoolwide: 784 Fs school would be much When asked if she believed that when a better. They need to fo- Disciplinary Actions student fails, it’s also the teacher’s fail- cus more on their inure, Ms. Phelps vehemently shook her structional periods.” 9th grade: 126 infractions head. In the end, whether or 10th grade: 83 infractions “No, because students fail for different not academic intervenreasons. It’d have to be a case by case tion stays or goes, it is 11th grade: 46 infractions basis,” the teacher said. “Sometimes really up to how much 12th grade: 20 infractions when the child fails it is the teacher’s Lanier as a whole cares. failure, but to say as a school or a disNOTE: Most referrals were for disobedience and defiance. trict that the children are failing as a By DeAundre Phelps and Denise Ringo
Source: Dr. Antonio Williams, principal
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Special Edition
‘Bun-ificent’! Bros Wear ‘Buns’ Too By Amiracle Hampton
The “bro bun” has made its way to the halls of The Castle. Often called a “man bun,” this style is where brothers pull up or pull back their hair in a bun. This style started gaining popularity around four years ago. According to the style experts, there were many other names given for the bro bun. The Hipster. Mun. Dude bun. Whatever name you call it, the bro bun isn’t just an ordinary hair style. Tavaris Pettus, a ninth grader here at Sidney Lanier High School, sports dreads pulled up to the top of his head because, “It often gets hot sometimes.”
to pull it up into a cascading pony tail, similar to R&B artist The Weekend. Mr. Stephenson says he just wanted to “switch up” from his natural low haircut. With his bro bun, he says it takes 15 to 20 minutes to put all his hair up into a bun.
He says that his journey – or the length of time to grow his dreadlocks – to about five years. To perfect his bro bun, Mr. Pettus says it takes half an hour to style his hair.
Ezekiel Dudley Cargill, a senior, sports an Afrostyled bro bun. He says he decided to grow his hair after a girl played in his hair, “so she made the decision.”
Some students, like Lanier junior Marcus Hooks, have been ahead of the trend. Mr. Hooks has pulled his long, naturally wavy hair in a bun or a ‘fro’ for nearly 16 years.
Now it has been four years since Mr. Cargill has grown his hair. He maintains it by giving it a two-hour wash before putting it up into a bun.
Whatever the style, these Poets While in middle school, he wore give a new definition to “mane” braids. He wanted to try something man. different in high school. To maintain his bun, Marcus washes his hair every week. He says it takes him about 20 minutes to put up his hair. However, Mr. Hooks adds that when his mom does it, it takes three minutes. Caleb Stephenson, an LHS junior, wears dreadlocks dyed red, green and brown. While his “journey” to date has been two years, he is able Page 9
Special Edition
Honors in ‘The Castle’ De’asia Walker
Tyriana Rudolph
Alyssa Grant
Ashanti Goldsby
Brooklyn Whittle
Jared Shelling
Lundyn Gray
Dominique Haigler
Joshua Williams
Canaya Simpson
Diamond Harris
Jasmine Hall
Renard Williams
Angel Smith
Shakereia Hawthorne
Maria Harris
Protasha Wright
Destinee’ Smith
Tamera Holt
Tavaris Harris
KaMarrie Dorsey
10th Grade
Kadresha Smith
Tia Holt
Lekeria Howard
La’Tresia Gaddis
Shakari Blankenship
Keyana Smith
Marcus Hooks
Mercedes Mitchell
Elizabeth Gaston
Jordan Bowman
Jaliyah Stokes
Kobe Horton
Breanna Mooney
Takymbria Golson
Labrea Cain
Kerri Stovall
Lanier Johnson
Jasmine Green
Antonique Ford
Ja’Darius Temple
Alexis Jones
Katelyn Guilford
Rongie Gordon
Eldon Thomas
Chassity Jones
Timisha Hall
Ke’asia Hall
Omarius Thomas
Ron’Drell Jones
Mary Trawick
Brandon Lowery
Alexis Treadwell
Ambria Mcdaniel
Camry Willis
Jacory Merritt Terence Mickles
9th Grade Charles Beamon Jimirika Bell Traniya Blakely Shayla Davis
Andrea Jackson
Karisma Hall
Desmond Jackson
Mariunna Hill
Destiny Jackson
Alesia Holt
My’Tia Jordan
Jasmine Jackson
11th Grade
Johnathon Lamar
Kendarrius Jackson
Frederick Ballard
Zakayaa Maddox
Rakiana Jackson
Johnny Blakely
Antwaniece McCall
J’Naya Johnson
Tynija Blue
Shaniah Mitchell
Amaiya Jones
Niccay Boston
Zicoreya Palmer
Cayla Lewis
Tristen Broadnax
Zyasia Palmer
India Lewis
Scottrell Brooks
Justin Ponder
Ta Kari Lewis
Tashara Cunningham
Daray Roberson
D’Andre McBride
Jederrian Davis
Daylon Rogers
Antalesia Parks
Tierra Davis
Jameria Russel
Mikaila Patton
Kejoco Dorsey
Nikya Smith
Kenderll Powell
Zykeria Sweeney
Latesha Roberson
Cassandra Thomas-Hall
Justin Rudolph
Amber Richardson Jaterrika Roberts Taylor Strother Kayla Stuttles Alfred Thomas Delancey Tolliver Talisha Webster
Denisha Murray Deaundre Phelps Camryn Rogers Chyna Rowell Makiya Salter La’Metria Shackleford Camron Smith Jakeria Smith
12th Grade Glenn Adams Bernicia Ballard Jo’Shanell Crum-Brown James Foster Charity Glover
Special Edition
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New Royalty Entering ‘The Castle’ This is like second nature so I don’t have to adapt at all because so far all of my students are really kind and very nice they’re open and they’re eager and that’s what it’s all about.”
By Bernincia Ballard and Jasmine Trawick
New teachers at “The L” say that they believe in the students, respect the leadership, and admire the direction Sidney Lanier High School is going.
Mrs. Ellison said she discovered that teaching was her calling while studying communications in college.
Shonda Tolliver, the Librarian media specialist/ building test coordinator , used to teach math and coach girls basketball at Sidney Lanier.
“I wanted to be a reporter, a newscaster, and be on the radio. And all of a sudden right before I began to pledge [Delta Sigma Theta], I went to a school and had to read books to some little children and I captured their attention, not because I was reading the books because I put myself in character to be the people in the book that I was portraying.“
“Home is where the heart is” said Mrs. Tolliver, adding that it has been easy to adapt to Lanier.
“Not a lot because most of the babies I’ve had them since the 6th grade,” explained Coach Cunningham, who noted While there is a perception that students that the interviewers are former students. “I know their character and what here are troubled because it’s an old their parents stand for, I know all the building and mostly black from neighkids that are here, it really doesn’t affect borhoods people think are bad, Mrs. “After that they swarmed to me and they Tolliver said, “Children are children no me”. asked me when was I coming back, and matter where you’re at.” Coach Cunningham, who said he is giv- I could never detach myself from that ing students a chance to become sucfeeling. That’s when I knew teaching Before she became a librarian, she cessful in the future, has a few hidden was my calling.” taught math for 14 years. Before teachtalents and interests. ing, she tutored and learned then that When Mrs. Ellison isn’t teaching, she is teaching was her calling. In his spare time he likes to play domi- a lead vocalist with a band and performs noes, and he loves to study history. almost every weekend. “I had a family of educators, people of the law and engineers,” she recalled. “I had to tutor someone and I loved how I could teach them things they didn’t know… that’s when I knew teaching was my calling.”
“It’s exciting to learn things that have happened before the early 20s,” said the winning coach, who believes it is very important to understand the past so history won’t repeat itself.
When asked about hidden talents or something that no one knows about her, the librarian said that she is very artistic, loves to write and draw. She even plays instruments. She played the clarinet, and the piano sometimes.
Angela Ellison, the theatre director, stated that she didn’t actually choose Lanier. She actually thinks Lanier chose her and thinks it is a good match because she loves children.
Coach Marvin “Cut” Cunningham said Lanier was his choice of interest because of the school’s new direction. “I chose Lanier because I like what Dr. Williams is presenting at Lanier,” he said, “and how he is bringing the athletics to another level. I just wanted to be a part of it.”
Mrs. Ellison is a mother herself so she is always aspiring and willing to educate children in every area. “I am capable of not only teaching theater arts, but by being encouraging as well,” she said.
How did she find herself having to adapt to the students? She really didn’t have to How did he find himself having to adapt adapt because “I have been in their shoes before. I’ve been a high school to the students here at Lanier? student, I’ve been in the public school system so it’s not a new thing for me. Page 11
Special Edition
Scenes from the LHS 2017 Homecoming
Page 12
Special Edition
Royal & Loyal Patrons
Cubie Rae-Hayes
Gregory Barnes
Dr. Quebe Bradford
Jomarlan Ford
Roberto Reed
Clayton Hutsler
Jasmayne Robbins
Cassandra Ford
Annette Ammons
1st Sgt. Tyrone McFadden
Fannie Harris
Porsha Redd
Stevie Holloway
Laquasha Stokes
Tashunta White
Lt. Col. Gregory Harris
Preston Boykin
Vicki Keith
Royal & Loyal Patrons
Tislam Ellis
Chicketta Smith
Rose Penn
Dr. Antonio Williams
Jasmine Pate
Nicholas Dalton
Candice Petty
Latae Pickett
LaToya Patterson
Henry Tellis
Annice Jessie
Yolanda Huntley
Dr. Aundria Green
Annie Mathis
Lovell Seals
Staff members of Blue & White Productions are grateful for our Loyal and Royal Patrons, one of the major key funding sources to offset printing costs, repair equipment, and to operate the school-based multimedia outlet, which includes the full launch Poet Vision. Again, we thank you for your support.
Special Edition
Page 15
Lanier Journalists Win Top Awards at J-Day The Sidney Lanier High student newspaper, The Blue and White, won the 2017 Hallmark Award for best student publication and three other first-place awards at Troy University’s J-Day media workshop and competition. This is the second straight year that the newspaper has won the top award at J-Day. The paper also won awards for Best Writing Quality, Best Newspaper Coverage and Best Layout and Design. More than 500 students from 27 public and private high schools took part in J-Day. “This newspaper is lively and interesting in both design and content,” a judge in the competition wrote. “It addresses issues that touch students’ lives and does not shy away from controversial topics.”
The judge also noted the paper’s attention-grabbing headlines and an effective use of narrative, paraphrases and direct quotes. The stories the staff submitted for the contest included an article on the high cost of student parking decals and questions about a high court ruling on transgender bathrooms. Second-year students on The Blue and White staff are Kamryn Young, Andre Lamonte, Ebony Allen, Jamarious Fulks, Emko Pash, and KenShaun Gipson.
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Special Edition
The Blue & White
Sidney Lanier High School 1756 South Court Street Montgomery, AL 36104 Dr. Antonio Williams, principal
The Blue & White is a student-run publication printing at least 4 issues annually. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Submitted materials, which must be signed, may be delivered to room 113 or given to any staff member, or placed in the box in front of The Blue & White (Room 115). Anonymity will be protected, if requested. The staff reserves the right to edit submitted material.
Phone: 334-269-3726 E-mail: ken.spear@mps.k12.al.us
MPS T he pen i s mi g hti er t ha n the
Editorial opinions expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper staff or school administration.
swo r d .
Ebony Allen
Lashawn Herring
Shimiracle Patterson
Malik Stinson
Bernicia Ballard
Jeremiah Howard
Deaundre Phelps
Jasmine Trawick
Tondrea Bryant
Kenneth Isaac
Ragan Purter
Teranisha Treadwell
Ashley Caldwell
Andre Lamonte
De’Andre Reeves
Cornelius Wright
Tatiyanna Campbell
Shagarian Lane
Denise Ringo
Kamryn Young
Serenity Dorsey
Imani Lott
Ja’ Vonde Robinson
Jamarious Fulks
Brianna Mays
Makiya Salter
KenShaun Gipson
Taylar Meredith
Simmone Slaughter
Joseph Haigler
Shakasa Oliver
Isaac Smith
Amiracle Hampon
Emko Pash
Caleb Stephenson
Advisor: Ken L. Spear Co– Advisor: Yolanda Huntley
For a second consecutive year, Sidney Lanier High School’s Blue & White newspaper captured The Hallmark Award for best student publication, along with a string of other firstplace honors, at Troy University’s J-Day media workshop and competition. Other awards were Best Writing Quality, Best Newspaper Coverage and Best Layout and Design.