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Don’t forget to check out The Sailors’ Log website, thesailorslog.com. Each day, a new story is posted.
Homecoming Today Students will attend all classes while wearing blue and white for Homecoming.
Friday, October 11, 2013 Volume 52 • Edition 2
LOG
Mona Shores High School • 1121 Seminole Road • Norton Shores, Michigan 49441
At 2:05 p.m., students will be dismissed to the Sailor Center for assembly.
Making a Pledge
At 4:30 p.m., students participating in the parade will assemble at the Baptist church. Parade begins at 5 p.m. Tailgate is from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Tickets are $5.
“I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,with Liberty and Justice for all.”
Tomorrow The dance takes place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the cafeteria.
athletics Today • Boys’ and girls’ cross country City Meet at University Park GC • Football home vs. Zeeland East at 7 p.m.
gmail accounts All students must start using their gmail accounts for communication purposes. You will not receive necessary information without doing so.
yearbook news 2013-14 orders can be made by going to jostensyearbooks.com. Cost of the yearbook is $60 until Nov. 4, when the price increases to $65. Senior pictures are due to adviser Warren Kent III by Thursday, Feb. 13. All photos must be in color and need to be submitted via email at kentw@ monashores.net. Senior ads are due to adviser Warren Kent III by Friday, Dec. 20. To receive a contract, please email kentw@ monashores.net.
next paper Next month’s edition will be delivered Nov. 15.
index p. 2-3 – editorial p. 4 – entertainment p. 5 – profile p. 6-7 – center section p. 8-9 – feature p. 10 – news p. 11-12 – sports
State law provides opportunity for all to honor America By Katie Beemer Staff Writer
To pledge or not to pledge, that is the question. On Nov 10. 2011, the Michigan State Senate passed a new law. This law required Michigan schools to provide an opportunity for all students to say the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. It was a year later that Governor Snyder signed the bill on Oct 5. 2012, and he said that the bill would not take effect until the 2013-2014 school year. Michigan was the 43rd state to pass such a law. For Shores, complying with the law means that Shores shows a video of the Pledge of Allegiance being said to help lead the students. The video is shown attached to announcements every morning during second hour. “Saying the Pledge of Allegiance every morning is a paradigm shift in the way high school students function,” assistant principal Walt Gawkowski said. “It is something that we are used to saying every morning in elementary school, and it is something that is new for high school.” Despite being among many states to require an opportunity to say the Pledge, the issue is controversial among students and teachers. Some students said it is a mistake to say the Pledge. “It’s my legal right to not do it. I’m not fond
Cafeteria hosts first Food Prize By Sam Morse Staff Writer Food Prize, Shores’ first major inschool art contest, is set to happen later this month. The idea came to Food Services Director Caryn Elam after she realized her love of art could be delineated through her career in a fun, exciting way. “I was always very much into art,” Elam said. “I have always been an aspiring artist, and I also like the idea of promoting the cafeteria in which students get to earn something.”
of the recent acts the U.S. has done – especially Syria – which could potentially lead to all-out war,” senior Brooke Martin said. “The U.S. is not a free country. When all people have equal rights, I will stand up.” Another student noted that having students separated by giving them a choice of whether or not to stand up is wrong. “School should be a non-discriminatory setting,” senior Hannah Cater said. “If I don’t stand up, someone gives me a dirty look, just as I might accidentally look down on them for standing up. It gives students an opportunity to judge others.” Yet, some have different viewpoints. They said that saying the Pledge gives them an opportunity to honor America. “I feel that our generations tend to forget our country,” junior Machaela Isacson said. “We get so prioritized with our electronics, and we forget about the place we live in and the freedoms that brings. The Pledge of Allegiance isn’t just a poem we learned in kindergarten; it’s a symbol of what America is and what we stand for.” However, it does not necessarily matter how students and teachers feel about the issue. According to the law, it is the student’s choice whether or not to say the Pledge, but the teacher must provide the opportunity. Yet, 100 students were asked in the cafeteria the week of Sept. 16-20 if their teachers have given them the opportunity to say the Pledge
IMPORTANT DATES
Oct. 17 – Artwork due by 3 p.m. to the cafeteria Oct. 21 – Grand Opening of Gallery, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 25 – Voting ends Oct. 28 – Winners are announced Oct. 31 – Artwork taken down and given back She said she hopes the students and staff will become enthusiastic about art by entering pieces about the eating experience (due Oct. 17 to the cafeteria), and she’s giving away prizes to the winners. Potentially this includes a pass to all high school events and definitely a card that grants access to one free cafePlease see FOOD, page 10
at least three times since the beginning of the school year, and the results were surprising. Forty-two percent of the students said they had not been given the opportunity to say the Pledge. Social studies teacher Jeremy Andres said it was important for students to be given the opportunity because it encourages “citizenship and patriotism.” “It is important to say the Pledge because it encourages unity,” Andres said. “However, some people could perceive it as a violation of the First Amendment: the government infringing on our rights.” The administration is aware of the student controversy when saying the Pledge, and they stress that students need to respect each other. “We are required to provide an opportunity for students to say the Pledge of Allegiance,” Gawkowski said. “I understand that there will be students who choose not to – and that is their right. It would be my hope that students would respect one another’s right to either choose or not choose to participate.” Regardless of whether students participate or not, Superintendent Dave Peden, who has helped to be a liaison between the school and the government in this situation, said it is important that Shores offers the opportunity. “(To say the Pledge is) very important, and it’s an appropriate part of the day, but the legislature didn’t need to tell us that,” Peden said. “We are a patriotic district.”
School introduces new entryway security system By Mandy Versalle Co-Editor-in-Chief Shores began to buzz in the 2013-2014 school year with the implementation of a new security system on Monday, Sept. 9. With this new system, doors to enter the high school are no longer open all day. In fact, the doors are rarely unlocked when staff and students are in the building. “School hours are for staff and students and for anyone that has appropriate business being in our school,” security personnel Ray Baker said. In order for anyone to enter the school during regular hours, he must first go to the main entrance. The process then is as follows: Please see SECURITY, page 10