today
the
Students will attend all classes while learning the P.R.I.D.E. matrix. At 2:15, students will be dismissed to the Sailor Center for the annual back-toschool assembly.
sports calendar Today • Boys’ soccer home vs. Grand Haven at 6:45 p.m. • Girls’ golf at GR Union at 3:30 p.m. Tomorrow • Boys’ tennis home vs. Reeths-Puffer at 4:30 p.m. • Volleyball at East Kentwood at 4 p.m. Thursday • Boys’ soccer home at Holland at 6:45 p.m. • Girls’ swimming at Spring Lake at 6 p.m. Friday • Football at Spring Lake at 7 p.m. Saturday • Boys’ tennis at Holland Invitational at 8:30 a.m. • Boys’ and girls’ cross country at Muskegon Invitational at McGraft Park at 8 a.m.
yearbook news 2012-13 yearbooks will arrive by Friday, Sept. 20. Please pay attnention to announcements. 2013-14 orders can be made by going to jostensyearbooks. com. Cost of the yearbook is $60 until Nov. 4, when the prioce 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 on Oct. 11.
index
p. 2 – editorial p. 3 – photos p. 4-5 – center section p. 6 – profiles p. 7 – feature p. 8 – sports
Tuesday, September 3, 2013 Volume 52 • Edition 1
LOG
Mona Shores High School • 1121 Seminole Road • Norton Shores, Michigan 49441
Sailors set to sail into new year By Mandy Versalle Editor-in-Chief
Ride with Pride gets facelift
By Shayna Hoch Staff Writer
This school year will continue with another shot at winning a new car. The Ride With Pride giveaway is back and bigger than before. “Last year, we had a fantastic outcome with our partnership with the Norton Shores Police Department,” principal Jennifer Bustard said. “We received a reduction in detentions and offenses out in the community and on the road.” Last year was the first year of Ride With Pride where juniors and seniors could enter to win a new car by signing a pledge to stay out of trouble. Senior Paige Wisner was last year’s winner. Also, iPad minis, gift cards, and certificates were given out from a drawing from Pride Pass receivers from all grades. The idea of Ride With Pride and the rewards were accepted greatly by all. “(Ride With Pride) is a good way for getting kids to behave in and outside of school and not into as much trouble,” junior Tyree Jackson said. This year, there will still be a car for junior and seniors to win as well as prizes. Different from last year, a moped giveaway will be available for freshmen and sophomores. “It’s a cool idea that the school is trying to get everyone involved and make sure that no one is left out,” sophomore Kaitlin Maycroft said. In order to qualify, students must sign a pledge to stay out of disciplinary action and not break the rules of the pledge before the end of the school year. After that, school personnel will draw 10 lucky students names. On the day of the assembly, each one of the 10 students will be given a key, and whichever key unlocks the car is the new owner. “With this year’s Ride With Pride, we hope to accomplish more awareness of driver’s safety, and even better academic achievement from our awesome students,” Bustard said.
P
Principal Jennifer Bustard said the 2012-13 school year will be a tough one to beat. A few highlights: introduction of the P.R.I.D.E. matrix; one student winning a free car; multiple successful sports teams, including the girls’ golf team winning a fourth straight state title; and a national merit scholar. “What I realized was that our school does not need a new theme,” said Bustard, who begins each school year with a specific theme. “We just need to keep on sailing and to make ourselves even better than what we were last year.” Bustard said she made that realization in February. It was then that she began the process of revamping last year’s theme, “Sailor P.R.I.D.E.,” to create this year’s theme, “Sailor P.R.I.D.E…. That Is How We Sail.” “The P.R.I.D.E. acronym was the beginning of the introduction of good behavior in every aspect of our school community,” said Bustard about the letters that stand for Personal responsibility, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, and Engagement. “The skills accounted for in the P.R.I.D.E. matrix are not only needed for success in high school, but they will stay with students so that they can use them for success the rest of their lives.” Bustard said she realized the P.R.I.D.E. theme does not just apply to students. In fact, she noted that it starts with the staff. “The entire theme stems on teachers modeling the numerous expectations for students,” Bustard said. “It just goes to show how critical common language is in the building, not just among staff, but among students as well.” Bustard said both the staff and students quickly and fully embraced the school’s new expectations last year, far exceeding the hopes she had for the matrix. “We, as staff, have a great passion for our students,” Bustard said. “We hope and wish for their success, and we ensure that all of their goals are met each year. We are never afraid to dream big for them. Together, we make one incredible sailor nation. That is how we sail.”
ersonal responsibility
R espect I
ntegrity
D
isciplined
E
ngagement
Junior loses battle with rare blood disease By Mandy Versalle Editor-in-Chief Joey Hekkema, who would be a junior this year, always had a smile on his face. “His joy was infectious,” said Ruth Hekkema, mother of Joey. “He never wore his disease on his sleeve. He never played the sick card. Joey just wanted to be normal.” Joey was diagnosed with chronic neutropenia at nine months of age and hyper IGM syndrome at two years of age. In other words, Joey had a rare blood disease and lacked an immune system to fight off everyday illnesses. The slightest thing could put him in the hospital. On May 29, 2013, Joey underwent a bone marrow transplant, but things turned awry when he contracted a virus. After years of battling multiple
complications, Joey passed away on Aug. 15 in the presence of his family and his dogs. “We always said that we would fight as long as Joey would,” Ruth said. “His body gave out before his spirit did.” On the day of his death, Joey was heavily sedated. The family was not able to wake him to say their goodbyes, but they say he went peacefully. “We lost the battle, but Joey won the race,” Ruth said. “He beat us to Heaven.” Even those not related to Joey knew how wonderful he was. “Joey was special,” said Michele Koeller, Joey’s lifelong Hematology nurse. Koeller said that having a patient like Joey is rare because she usually does not get to take care of someone for his entire life. Please see JOEY, page 3
Joey Hekkema, who would have begun his junior year, died Aug. 15 died from a rare blood disease. (Courtesy photo)