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“I think it’s ridiculous that you have to pay. It’s already enough of a problem that you have to walk across campus.”
DANIEL ABELENDA
drums,” sophomore Caroline Bosworth said.
The sound of the printer filled the room and students looked up from their tests to see a teacher rush in to pick up the papers. The interruption was a commonality as stringent printing policies allotted one printer per hall. The changes made to cut energy costs proved more of a nuisance than an improvement, as classroom time was disrupted and necessary printing became a tedious task for teachers. Another change to printing involved progress reports. Rather than printing and distributing the reports, administration used the connected phone system to call homes and remind parents to check ProgressBook for current grades. Some teachers feared this could potentially reduce grade awareness for parents. “Since the school isn’t printing progress reports, they can save paper and put money back into the student body. Plus, I respect the school attempting to go green,” sophomore Michael Hill said.
A line wrapped around the gym as students waited to purchase a locker. Previously, lockers were free and teachers received a limited amount to distribute among their fourth period class. The new system allowed students the flexibility to decide where their locker would be rather than their fourth period dictating it. While the lockers were $5 for the year, students who forgot their combination saved money because they did not need to replace the lock. In years past, custodians spent time cutting off locks for students who couldn’t remember their combination or could not get it to work. The school had the combination and a key to every locker, which made it easier to access them if need be. Unlike before, any unissued locker remained locked to prevent students from using them without permission While there were those students who did not like this change, others thought charging for lockers and prearranging locks would be beneficial. “I think the locker distribution will really help the school raise money,” sophomore Madison Reidy said.
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As the sound of the morning tardy bell neared, senior Cameron Black urgently scanned the student parking lot for his assigned parking spot, eventually giving up and parking in the closest one available. “First week of school there was a lot of confusion in the parking lot. People without decals parked in other people’s spots. Someone parked in mine twice,” Black said. The first come, first serve basis parking in the underclassmen lot shifted to a numbered system where each student issued a decal had a permanent spot for the year. The extension of the assigned lots, previously exclusive to seniors, received positive reactions from the
go green
photo/Madeline Trybus
will pay for locker
“My favorite tradition is the day of the Edgewater versus Boone game. I love walking through the halls and hearing the
“I don’t have a locker but I think it helps the school earn more money.”
COURTNEY BENSON
page 10 traditional
“Personally I don’t like the new locker method. I had issues with my lock and it was just a hassle.”
DANIELLE MCGONIGAL
10
what do you
think about the new locker system?
[taylor hall and taylor keefer]
Upon returning from summer break, students discovered there were new rules and policies to abide by. From assigned parking to a required GPA to attend school dances, the changes were noticeable.
changes photo/Caroline Coleman
ticket please. For the upcoming homecoming dance, junior Jessica Dreiling buys her ticket. “I think [the 2.0 rule] is a good idea because it encourages students to keep their GPA up and keep working,” Dreiling said. Dreiling had a high GPA so the new rule did not affect her.
“I don’t like assigned parking because I wanted a spot closer to the school,” senior Gabrielle Pellett said.
Yes: 65%
No: 35%
“It’s just nice because I have something to base my timing on so I know when to get to school,” junior Garrett Burden said.
What do you think of the new assigned parking in the student lots? students polled on Oct. 19
ASSIGNED PARKING
page 11 campus changes
In an effort to encourage students to prioritize academics, Orange County Public Schools instituted a new rule that all club members, including athletes, had to maintain a 2.0 grade point average. The rule also stated that all students had to have a 2.0 GPA to attend homecoming or prom. “As a part of SGA, my job is to get as many people to participate as possible. I think that the 2.0 rule will exclude some students and decrease school involvement,” Sophomore Class president Brendan Francis said. According to principal Margaret McMillen, the rule was set in place to get students to make an effort to work harder and send a positive message that school comes first. “We need to find a balance between passing classes and being a part of activities that are meaningful to you,” Dr. McMillen said. Part of the student body, mainly those not affected, thought the rule would encourage students to do better in school. “I think that the 2.0 rule will get kids to focus more on school so they can hang out with their friends that have a 2.0 or above,” freshman Amanda Bordonaro said. Ultimately, the majority of the student body agreed with Dr. McMillen, seeing how the rule could benefit the campus. “I believe that Boone is striving for the highest degree of academic excellence,” Francis said. Of the 2,831 students on campus, 87% had a 2.0 or higher and were eligible to attend homecoming.
COUNTY EMPHASIZES GPA
[1] all clear. To get a decal, junior Hunter Monn gets an obligation form signed by Media Specialist Francis Guiessubel. “Unlike last year, you don’t have to fight anyone for a spot,” Monn said. [2] right here. At Braves R Back, SGA sponsor Jamie Hoffmann shows a student where his spot would be. [3] focused. Helping sell decals, senior Daniela Reina labels parking spots. “It was a team effort to sell the decals,” Reina said. This was Reina’s first year on SGA.
students who had convenient parking spots. “I love the spot because you don’t have to rush to be the first one at school and fight for a spot,” senior Yazmine Ramos said. Despite confusion, administrators and students insisted the rule would discourage students without decals to take the risk. “I like them. It’s nice to get there late and still have a good spot,” senior Ricardo Jones said. As with any change, the initial response was chaotic, but as students became comfortable with the arrangement, the ultimate result featured a more organized and efficient parking system.
names and numbers
photo/Sarah Berlinsky
HO I C A TC 2
photo/Taylor Keefer