LMHS Student Newspaper Nov 2017

*Thanksgiving holidays, Monday, Nov. 20-Friday, Nov. 24

*Wednesday, Dec. 13, midterm exams begin *Thursday, Dec. 14-Monday, Dec. 18, early dismissal following exams *Christmas holidays begin Tuesday, Dec. 19-Tuesday, Jan. 2

“A school like no other”

The Lee patriot Lee Magnet High School student newspaper, Baton Rouge, La. – Fall, 2017 Photo at right: Lee Magnet High School seniors-from left to right-Brianna Helm, Jared Galmon, Anthony Jones, Faith Royal, Roman Seymour, Victoria Riley and Malik Johnson dress as senior citizens or children, as part of Red Ribbon or Spirit Week, which ran from Oct. 2327, in the school’s campaign against drug abuse. The week culminated in the annual Fall Festival.

Announcement: Lee Magnet High School’s Winter Formal is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 2, in the school dining hall. Tickets and other information can be found on the school website, Leemagnet.com Winter Formal is Saturday, December 2 beginning at 7 pm and ending at 11 pm in the Dining Hall. The theme and ticket prices will be decided this week.

La. Legislature wrestles with TOPS changes; cuts possible

By S. Caristin, P. Elias, K. Haynes, J. Williams, J. Willis Louisiana lawmakers are considering changing TOPS requirements for high school students in spring 2018 to decrease college dropout rates and save state funding, which is in the middle of a historical financial crisis.

TOPS is the state student scholarship to attend Louisiana colleges, and costs nearly $300 million per year.

An average of 28 percent of students with TOPS have dropped out for low grade point averages (GPA), and has doubled in cost since 2005. Lawmakers are considering changing the GPA from 2.5 to 2.75 and increasing the composite ACT score from 20 to 21 to ensure students sent off to college are going prepared.

Closer to the truth, the state has simply run out of money. TOPS payments to Louisiana colleges were suspended Feb. 11, making current college students believe they would pay for the entire 2017 spring semester. One week later, the state agreed to continue TOPS payments up to 80 percent forcing colleges to pay for the remaining balance, a cost they could not afford.

“It is very important to be familiar with the current amount of money awarded to assist students in financing their education,” Lee Magnet High School senior guidance counselor, Danielle DuVall said.

Baton Rouge Magnet High School senior counselor Sean Borders said, it was important to remind students a TOPS GPA is different from a cumulative GPA, as many grades earned in electives do not count toward TOPS. “There is no way to fund (TOPS) fully,” Borders said. “The only way to keep TOPS is to raise the standards.”

LMHS student newspaper reborn and renamed; potential controversy avoided

By Dean Caputa, Lee Magnet High School journalism teacher When I was hired to be a teacher at Lee Magnet High School in early May, I wanted to name this newspaper for tradition. Lee has been educating students since August 1959. I knew there had been a newspaper at Lee long before I arrived. I learned the name of that paper was “The Traveler,” named after the horse of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, for whom the school was originally named. Being a history teacher, I embrace tradition. I am not a fan of changing it.

However, given the political climate and the movement toward removing images of Confederate heroes, I thought it best to rename the newspaper. Yes, “Traveler” is a horse, but who needs the controversy?

Having been a newspaper reporter for years, I know many early American newspapers were named “Patriot” for their Revolutionary War heroism. I thought the change may be best for the school going forward. I hope you approve.

Photo at left: Lee Magnet High School JROTC Sgt. Maj. Curtis Davis physically spun a sophomore student dizzy and asked her to locate him while blindfolded to show cadets what it’s like to be impaired. JROTC hosted a class in September to educate students on the effects of drugs and alcohol. Davis said he told students “not to get into a car with anyone who is drinking because your life is at risk.”

Davis said it is a message JROTC will continue throughout the school year.

One Lee Magnet High School student still campaigning for school name change

By Sarah Caristin, Prisila Elias, Jada Williams, and Jenesis Willis Lee Magnet High School junior Charlie Stephens wants to change the name of his high school because he said it represents Confederate Army Gen. Robert E. Lee, a man tied to the Civil War-South.

Stephens gathered 480 signatures demanding a name change, about 25 from LMHS students, and sent it to the East Baton Rouge Parish school board.

Stephens spoke with Lee Principal Sharon Sims about the issue and was informed of the process to change the school name. Stephens said he is not interested in which “Lee” reflects the name of the school, if another person with the same name is eventually chosen.

“Students don’t like to talk about this issue because their parents probably do not agree with a name change,” Stephens said.

Lee opened in September 1959 and was expected to be named Southdown’s High School, but while under construction in 1958, the school system changed the name to Robert E. Lee. The school system again considered a name change when the new Robert E. Lee campus opened in August 2016, but the name was simply changed to “Lee” to avoid controversy.

For the school to change its name, the school board would have to vote to do so.

Michael Gaudet, a member of the school board representing District 7, said he was not a part of the school board when the recent decision was made.

“I do not have any of the background around the discussion and reasons for the decision,” Gaudet said. “I will say that, right now, the Board has many other items of concern, including recovery from last year's flood event…and improving the scores of all of our schools.”

Worth Quoting: “If we (Louisiana) don’t engage in (STEM), not only are we going to be left behind, we are going to get run over…The world is not going to stop and let Louisiana catch up.”

Commissioner of Louisiana Higher Education, Joseph Rallo, commenting in mid-September on the state’s alarming need to better compete in STEM-science, technology, engineering, and math. Rallo said the latest ACT results prove only 10 percent of the state’s high school seniors are prepared to meet the demand for STEM in the workplace.

2017-18 American College Testing dates ACT dates Registration dates Dec. 9, 2017 Nov. 3, 2017 Feb. 10, 2018 Jan. 12, 2018 April 14, 2018 March 9, 2018 June 9, 2018 May 4, 2018 July 14, 2018 June 15, 2018 Visit: www.ACT.org for further details. Testing sites include: Baton Rouge Magnet High School, Catholic High School, The Dunham School, St. Joseph’s Academy, LSU, and Parkview Baptist High School.

Congratulations to LMHS 2017-18 Teacher of the Year, David Woods and our Student of the Year, senior Juliane Ding.

Drawing above: Sophomores Emma Hamilton and Pratina Pinepalli sketched the above drawing of the nation’s Founding Fathers, former U.S. President Alexander Hamilton, in August, as part of Blaine Bertrand’s American government class.

Bertrand said the idea for the assignment was to “create the idea of past leadership having to deal with modern–day issues.”

Upcoming LMHS girls’ basketball games: Nov. 18-Catholic-Pointe Coupee H.S. Nov. 28-at Livonia H.S. Dec. 1-Deridder H.S. at Lamar-Dixon Complex

Above: Two unidentified Lee Magnet High School students fight with padded pugil sticks as part of the Fall Festival celebration Friday, Oct. 27.

Fact: Louisiana high school students rank 43rd in the

nation on the American College Test (ACT) when figures were released Sept. 7, from a report called “The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2017” of Iowa City, Iowa. State officials on Aug. 9, announced Louisiana public high school students earned a composite score of 19.6, an improvement from 19.5 last year. The U.S. average is 21 and the state average is 20. The ACT measures how students perform in core subjects. A perfect score is 36.

LSU changes residence requirements for freshmen next year

By Jada Williams and Jenesis Willis LSU freshmen will be required to live on campus, beginning in fall 2018, and the new policy could place nearly 80 percent of those students on campus. LSU officials said research proves students who live on campus their freshman year perform better academically.

LSU anticipates a freshman class of around 5,000 in fall 2018.

There are exceptions to the new freshmen rule, including if a student lives within 50 miles of Baton Rouge they can chose to live at home.

As of now, LSU has about 65 percent of freshmen living on campus.

Campus USA-News from around the nation campuses

By The Patriot newspaper staff

A 15-year-old University High School (UHS) sophomore volleyball player died three days after a late September match at Ascension Catholic High School in Donaldsonville, La. When UHS played their next match against McKinley High School, everyone in attendance honored the passing of that player and wore purple, her favorite color. Players from six other schools in the Baton Rouge and Lafayette area also attended. The story was covered by the Baton Rouge Advocate.

The Katy, Texas, school system built a $70 million football stadium, which opened in August and all teams in their school system of 70,000 students will use .The stadium has new and improved locker rooms, hospitality rooms, and a high-definition scoreboard. To give the story perspective, Lee Magnet High School cost $55 million to construct.

Principal Waylon Bates of Parkway High School in Bossier Parish (La.) said players could be removed from sports teams if they refuse to stand during the national anthem at games or other school events. Bates stated the demonstrations against the flag are a "disruption."

High school reporters at Pittsburg High School in Kansas, led an investigation forcing the resignation of the school principal, who claimed to have a degree in fine arts from the University of Tulsa, which does not offer that degree. The principal resigned five days after the student newspaper was published in April. The school system is now updating their hiring practices to make certain this does not happen again. The student-reporters are still gaining attention nationwide.

Male students at San Benito High School in Hollister, Calif., protested on the first day of school against a new dress code for girls banning off-the-shoulder shirts. The protest led to dozens of boys wearing bare off-the-shoulder shirts to support the girls.

The frustrated school principal agreed to meet with the Associated Student Body to plan a new dress code for next year.

The Chicago public school system agreed to a new graduation requirement for high school students. Seniors must prove they have found a job, joined the military or plan to go to college. Some believe the school system is doing what is necessary to ensure success for students after high school, but there is a strong debate about whether the school system has the right to interfere into a student's life.

A Mattoon High School (Illinois) teacher saw a male student firing gunshots in the school cafeteria in mid-September.

Physical education teacher Angela McQueen disarmed the student as others fled. One person was hit by gunfire and survived.

A Pennsylvania Parkland High School, Ben Tetzlaff, recorded two holes-in-one in the same round of golf in August.

New Orleans Ben Franklin High School junior Kirsten Brown decided to help the school football team connect on extra points following touchdowns since no male player on the team could. Brown, who is also a girls’ varsity soccer player, made two extra points in her first game in September.

Profile of LMHS teacher, Nicholas Glueck Hometown: Baton Rouge High School attended: Catholic High College attended: LSU, for a bachelor’s degree in psychology and the University of Phoenix for a master’s degree in education Favorite TV shows: “Scrubs,” “Turn,” and “Seinfeld” Most interesting place visited: “New York City just after the (Sept. 11 terror) attack.”

Favorite sports teams: LSU Tigers and Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox Something people do not know about you: “I just had my first daughter, Sutton (born Aug. 15.)”

Lee Magnet HS announces 2 state National Merit Semi-Finalists By journalism teacher, Dean Caputa

Louisiana’s National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists were announced in midSeptember and Lee Magnet High School placed two students on a list numbering 16,000 nationwide.

Seniors Zixuan Wang and Juliane Ding represented Lee as part of over 200 selected from the state.

“I felt extremely honored to be part of a great and distinguished award,” said Wang, who plans to attend LSU next year.

Ding said the honor was “unexpected” and she was likely to attend college in the northeast U.S.

“I was blown away by the award,” Ding said. “It is an honor to represent Lee High School.”

Lee senior J. Dornier was National Merit Commended.

In the Baton Rouge area, Episcopal High School and Baton Rouge Magnet High School led with eight semi-finalists. Catholic High School followed with five. New Orleans Ben Franklin High School had 23 semi-finalists and New Orleans Jesuit High School led the state with 35.

These semi-finalists will compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships totaling more than $32 million available in spring 2018.

Above: Lee Magnet High School seniors Destiny Nguyen and Mel Adolfo are performing a thermodynamic lab experiment in mid-October at LSU with Dr. Daniel Kuroda, as part of a field trip with LMHS AP chemistry teacher Jonathan Wilson. Wilson said he wanted his students to learn to work in a college environment.

Above: Seniors Zixuan Wang and Juliane Ding, LMHS National Merit Semi-Finalists.

EBR deputies make Walker High School homecoming emotional

By Sarah Caristin, Prisila Elias, and Ki’Shaian Haynes Walker High School sophomore Delaney Anderson was selected as her school’s Class Maid and needed an escort to the Homecoming football game in September. Her father, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Deputy, Lt. Shawn Anderson, was not able to escort his daughter because he was murdered March 18, after attempting to question a suspect in Baton Rouge.

In order to support Delaney, several deputies, and her date, walked her onto the football field during Homecoming festivities. The story made headlines in many state newspapers.

Remaining LMHS boys’ basketball schedule

Profile of LMHS teacher, Blaine Bertrand Hometown: Ridge, La. High School: Acadian High School, Lafayette, La. College: University of Louisiana at Lafayette Degrees: Bachelor of Arts: Secondary social studies education Years teaching: Four Favorite food: Cajun Favorite bands: “Anything 1970's through early 2000's.”

Favorite Sports team: New Orleans Saints Hobbies: Taking care of plants Favorite TV show: “Modern Family,” “Baskets,” “Golden Girls” Most interesting place visited: Chicago Something people don't know: “I have a parakeet (“Eva”) that I found during the flood.”

Bertrand is also a black belt in karate.

November 28 at Broadmoor HS 30 Walker HS December 5 Baker HS 7-9 at Episcopal HS Tourney 12 at Glen Oaks HS 14-16 at Madison Prep Tourney 26-29 EBR Parish Tourney at McKinley HS January 3-6 Denham Springs Freshmen Tourney 5 at Central HS 9 Runnels HS 11 Southern Lab 15 Madison Prep 19 Parkview Baptist 23 at Woodlawn HS 26 Lutcher HS 30 at Plaquemine HS February 2 at Family Christian Academy 6 at Tara HS 9 at St. Michael the Archangel 13 McKinley HS 15-17 District 6-4A Tourney at Woodlawn HS

Roster includes: Sidney Hearns, 6-1, senior forward; Jeremiah Willis, 6-5, junior forward; Kevin Shen, 6-3, senior guard; Timothy Kullman, 5-7, sophomore guard; Malik Johnson, 5-10, senior guard; Zavier Sims, 6-1, freshman guard; Jared Galmon, 5-9, senior guard; Tayshun Johnson, 6-0, senior guard; David Weber, 5-10, freshman guard; Josh Wilson, 6-4, senior forward; Myles Gordon, 6-0, senior forward.

Above: LMHS senior Jeffrey Wheeler takes the time to speak with Marine recruiter, Sgt. Nicholas Prue, about the need to “look for a challenge after high school.” Any student interested in the Marines can contact Prue at: nicholas.prue@marines.usmc.mil

Bowling team looking for players

Boys’ basketball notes: Lee Magnet High School

LMHS social studies teacher and head bowling coach, David Faerber, believes his sport is one of the fastest growing in the United States and he wants more students to be part of it. Faerber, who is in need of more female bowlers, said students do need not any prior skills, just good grades and a desire to learn and play. The season runs from midJanuary through March and the team does not practice during the holiday season. Practices are on Monday from 3-5 p.m. at All-Star Lanes on Airline Highway. See Faerber in 301C or email him at: Dfaerber@ebrschools.org for more information.

head basketball coach Brandon White has been speaking with his varsity team in the last week about the need to practice with more urgency. The LMHS boys’ basketball team has been working tirelessly on the practice court and in the weight room as they prepare for the season and challenge for the District 7-4A race.

White, in his second year as coach, has two starters returning in shooting guard, senior Sidney Hearns, and junior forward, Jeremiah Willis, from last year’s squad that finished 9-24 overall.

White said his team is also gaining some talent from players who had to sit out last year due to transfer rules that “makes us look forward to the competition.” LMHS plays in a district featuring St. Michael, Parkview, Plaquemine, Lutcher, Tara and Woodlawn high schools.

LMHS students and parents have opportunity Freshman story for June 2018 visit to Costa Rica

By Ki’Shaian Haynes and Jenesis Willis

Lee Magnet High School Spanish teacher Caitlin Dever is planning a trip to Costa Rica, June 4-13, 2018.

Only LMHS students and their parents can participate. Parents who want to travel must pay the full tour fee of roughly $3,108 and includes flights, food, lodging and more.

Those choosing to go will explore the rainforest in Tortuguero Park, bathe in the hot springs in Arenal, and zip-line through the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

They will also visit a Costa Rican school, cook an authentic meal, and learn dances.

Email Dever at: cdever@ebrschools.org or look at the full tour details at: worldstrides.com/enroll.

The username is: “Patriots18” and the password is: “Dever”.

Profile of LMHS teacher, Kerry Decker Hometown: Watson, La. High school: Live Oak H.S. and Jimmy D. Long Sr., La. School for Math, Science and the Arts College: Southeastern Louisiana University Degrees: English education Music: Nicki Minaj and Korean-Pop Favorite food: Andong chicken Favorite TV show: “Game of Thrones” Hobbies: “Going to the gym and reading.”

Most interesting place visited: Valparaiso, Chile Something few know about you: “I played soccer when I was 10-yearsold, but my parents took me out after I kicked the ball into a boy’s face.”

Announcement: The LMHS Student Government Association recognized Fall Festival was such a success in late October, there is discussion about another Festival sometime in spring. Details may be

released at a later date.

68 Lee Magnet High School students achieved a score of 3 (out of 5) or higher on 107 Advanced Placement exams taken in spring 2017. Those students are: Mel Adolfo Meesum Ahmed Jada Barber Ron’Janiele Bruce Kayla Conner Caleb Cooper Kassandra Crissman Leigha Daliet Juliane Ding Ella DiResto J. Dornier Joline Fontenot Sulmi Gomez Myles Gordon Bing Guan

Isaac Hadwin Emma Hamilton Railon Harrell Jameson Harrington Tyari Heard Aries Henderson Moriah Howard Keyvon Jackson Reyla Jackson Eden James Kiara Johnson Long Le Wanqi Liu Hanna Lu Yasmin McCray

Georgette Metrailer Darlene Miranda Grace Montgomery Zipporah Myles Reagan Naghavi Perry Newman Wenlin Ng Daniel Nguyen Destinee Nguyen Ty V. Nguyen Marwan Okeil Ranna Okeil Chyna Page Aylesha Patterson Brandon Persica

Khanh Pham Pratima Pinnepalli Taniyah Porter Grace Qian Fiona Roberts John Rollins Tashfia Shehzabin Yuxuan Kevin Shen Katherine Skiles Asarel Smith Samantha Smith Assaad Stephens Erin Stephens Margaret Stewart Maria Stuebner

Claudia Suire Pacco Tan Ryan Thomas Alan Thurman Rachel Tullier Neil Walsh Zixuan Allen Wang Jeffrey W. Wheeler Evonne Yang Ariana Zerangue

The Patriot newspaper Opinion Poll

228 Lee Magnet High School students were asked in mid-October: “Do you think LMHS should have a football team for students to cheer for on Friday nights?”

The results: 192-Yes or 84% 36-No or 16% Quotable from students: “The introduction of a football team will undoubtedly be profitable to the school over time, and would only promote our already prominent sports presence.”

Sophomore Joseph Curtis

Response from 30 members of the LMHS faculty and staff concerning adding football to the school sports menu:

11-Yes

19-No

“If we had a team I would play on it, because I've played my whole life, but when I got into this high school I could not continue.”

Sophomore Javon Bethley

Where LMHS students are most likely to watch a football game?

In order of popularity:

"A football team will attract future students for the wrong reasons.

Many of those students might not meet the requirements to stay at Lee. I don’t think the football team will ever be good because the team’s players won't be reliable.”

Senior Alexis Allen

1. Scotlandville (54 votes) 2. McKinley (27 votes) 3. Belaire and Tara (tie, 7 votes each), 4. Broadmoor (4 votes) 5. St. Michael (3 votes)

Student editorial-

Is a high school complete without a football team?

We don’t think so

By Sarah Caristin, Prisila Elias, Ki’Shaian Haynes, and Jenesis Willis A high school is not complete without a football team. We may be a magnet school with strong academics, but our students are missing out on Friday night football games and the bonding time, spirit week, homecoming, and pep rallies that come with the sport.

Many Lee Magnet High School students are so tired of going to the football games of other high schools. We are Lee students, but on Friday nights we sit in the bleachers and watch Scotlandville, McKinley, St. Michael and Tara high school students waving at their friends, wearing their school colors and dancing with the marching band. Football games build excitement among students and faculty, but on our weekends, we can only look forward to that homework due on Monday.

For those who think football distracts from academics, they are wrong. Football is a discipline system for some students. One member of our newspaper staff attended New Orleans Carver High School, where their football coach required at least a 2.5 grade point average of the players, and many of them exceeded it.

Sure, the sports we have are exciting, but Friday nights in September and October are boring.

Lee students are missing out on an important part of high school culture.

Writing this won’t make the Lee school administration consider a football team, but it would be fun for the whole school and might bring us closer.

Profile of LMHS teacher, Valencia Wilson Hometown: Baton Rouge High school attended: Capitol High School College attended: University of La. at Monroe Degrees earned: Kinesiology Favorite music: Hip-hop and R&B Favorite TV show: “Power” Most interesting place visited: Paris, France Something people don’t know about you: “I hate talking in front of large groups of people.”

Photo below: LMHS varsity player, sophomore Tim Kullman, blocks out in the paint as senior Josh Wilson attempts a rebound from behind.

Madison Moore and Devin Hampton look on during a late October practice in the school gym.

Parents visit LMHS during Open House to consider future academic home for their children

By Jada Williams and Jenesis Willis

Parents of potential students of Lee Magnet High School walked the campus and looked into classrooms during Open House on Oct. 26, to learn about the schools different programs, faculty, and students.

Student ambassadors and National Honor Society members escorted over 400 parents around the campus and answered questions in efforts to recruit their children.

Deandara Dorscy, who has a child attending Southeast Middle School, said LMHS wasn’t her first choice, but since visiting she appreciated how the school was more hands-on.

“My biggest goal in life is for my child to succeed,” said Dorscy, who looks forward to her child attending LMHS. “The staff was very welcoming.”

Chelsea Johnson, the parent of an eighth-grade Westdale Middle School student said, “the campus looks even better in person.”

Alisha Commodore, the parent of a tenth-grader attending Tara High School said Lee “has surpassed my thinking of a high school.”

Profile of LMHS teacher, Katherine Norton Hometown: Baton Rouge High school attended: Episcopal High School (Baton Rouge) Currently teaching: Latin, Greek honors, and world history College attended: Samford University (Ala.), Florida State University and University of Florida Degrees earned: Bachelors and masters in classics, and “working toward a doctorate in Latin and Roman studies.”

Favorite foods: Greek and Mexican Favorite TV shows: “Diagnosis Murder,” “Murder She Wrote,” and “The Incredible Dr. Pol” Hobbies: Reading, knitting and crocheting More interesting place visited: “I studied in Rome, Italy, and rented an apartment outside the walls of St. Peter’s Basilica.”

Favorite sports teams: Florida State Seminoles, Florida Gators, LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints Something people don’t know about you: “I am training for my first half-marathon (running) at Disney World.”

LMHS boys’ soccer squad more experienced, ready to prove it

By Sarah Caristin and Prisila Elias

The 2017-18 Lee Magnet High School boys’ soccer team are returning eight seniors and eight starters from last year’s squad.

Those returning starters are senior Meesum Ahmed, senior Aidin Arasteh, junior Albert Cho, sophomore Jordy Esteban, and senior Ben Lynam, who made First-Team all-district last year. The rest include senior Denis Menjivar, team senior captain Jo Moore, and Second-Team all-district sophomore, Ryan Thomas.

LMHS boys’ soccer team will have its first home game on the new campus against Catholic High Pointe-Coupee on Nov.18, at 1 p.m.

“I am excited to get started this year,” said head coach Aubrey Lee. “We have some great guys back from last year's team and a few promising new guys due to transfers and incoming freshman. It will be tough jumping up to Division-II, but I think the team is ready for the challenge.”

Last year's record was four wins, 11 losses, and three ties.

“Even though the competition is going to be tougher this year, we are still working on making the playoffs,” said Lee. “The only place to go is up.”

The squad will be playing district games verses Woodlawn, Belaire, Live Oak, Broadmoor, Central, and Plaquemine high schools.

Profile LMHS teacher David Woods Hometown: Fort Ord, Calif.

High school attended: South Lafourche High School in Galliano, La. College attended: LSU and SLU (Southeastern La.) Degrees earned: B.S. in math, emphasis on engineering. B.A. in French, master’s in natural science.

Favorite band: The “Beach Boys” Favorite food: Pineapple upside down cake and enchiladas Favorite TV show: “NCIS” Most interesting place visited: Madagascar, Africa Something people don’t know about you: “I was an Eagle Scout.”

Photo above: The Lee Magnet High School Jazz Ensemble poses outside the downtown Baton Rouge River Center to see jazz musician, Victor Goines, Oct. 18, to further experience what they learned during class. LMHS band director Clarence Johnson said the atmosphere was “very intimate, and everything went well because we were the only school to attend.”

The cost of being a high school senior more expensive than ever

By Prisila Elias, Jada Williams, and Jenesis Willis

The only significant stress a high school senior should face is studying and testing as they prepare for life. Over the years that has changed to include financial pain, according to a report from the Newark, N.J., Star-Ledger newspaper.

The report states it costs over $5,000 to take part in a high school senior year.

For example: *The average high school yearbook ranges from $30 $150. *Senior pictures can cost from $40 - $500. *ACT and various test prep classes can cost between $300 - $1,000. *Advance Placement tests cost closer to the $100 mark. *As much as $1,000 for college applications and visiting. *Each high school field trip can cost $50 - $100. *Prom can average from $500 - $3,000 on dresses, shoes, hair appointments, tuxedos, limousines, dinner, private parties, and dance tickets. *Athletic events, sports camps, special training, equipment and physicals could average in the thousands of dollars for athletes. *Not everyone has a car, but insurance can easily cost over $3,000 annually. Maintenance and gas can cost hundreds of dollars more.

Guest Editorial

By LMHS English teacher, Kerri Decker

It was 3 a.m. when the house started to shake. Lee Magnet High School students Editorial were in Santiago, Chile, enjoying their last week of the exchange program, and my eyes ripped open. After what seemed like an hour, I was finally able to lie back down. What time was it? Would I have time to get more sleep? Fortunately for me, most schools in Santiago do not start until 8:45 a.m., and I was able to sleep in. Had this earthquake happened in Baton Rouge, this would not have been the case.

Students in our state must be allowed the benefits of waking up during a reasonable time of the morning.

At Lee, I have morning duty and I see stumbling, shuffling, zombie-students with eyes glazed over. In contrast, in Santiago, I also had morning duty and the difference both in posture and facial expression was easy to see. Students hurried in smiling, bright-eyed and well-fed.

Of the proponents for our early rising time, many claim that getting to school later would take away afternoon extracurricular hours, in turn taking away homework hours, and still keeping the late-to-bed cycle.

What this position fails to consider is teenage sleep is a necessity.

The National Sleep Foundation stresses that adolescent’s battle changes in their “internal clocks,” making them feel awake late at night, regardless. What this means is that, even though they could try to sleep earlier, their adolescent cycle keeps them awake. Therefore, even with our current, early start time, which gives earlier hours for extracurricular activities, we cannot alter the biological burden of a student’s “internal clock” pressuring them to stay up late.

As everyone struggles against the rising pressures in education, can we truly afford to ignore what their bodies are telling us?

LMHS choir excelling at district and state level

By Sarah Carisitin and Prisila Elias

Lee Magnet High School’s Advanced Womens’ Choir, “Sorelle di Canto,” auditioned for the Louisiana All-State Choir on Saturday, Oct. 14, at Pineville High School.

Sorelle di Canto will compete again at the Louisiana Music Educators Association Conference in Baton Rouge on Nov. 25.

Seniors Rachel Seneff and Sarah Wagner, who auditioned for the Louisiana All-State Choir, both made the All-State women's chorale and will be singing with the top choir students from across the state in November.

“All 17 girls who auditioned for the District Honor Choir this year did an outstanding job,” said LMHS choir director Katie Potts. “With four of our 17 who auditioned for the District Honor Choir, two of them going to All-State.

I'm very proud to be their director.”

Lee Magnet High School JROTC visited Mooyah’s restaurant with St. James residents Nov. 2, after their visit instructed senior citizens on how to use their smart phones. One resident said the visit by students made her feel “warm inside.”

Fun Fact: Students in Finland do no attend school until age 7. In India, some schools are requiring boys to learn the need to respect women. In North Korea, students are taught to hate Americans. In South Korea, students are expected to remain after school and help clean the campus. In France, lunch shifts last between one and two hours. In Argentina, summer vacation lasts from December to January.

Profile of LMHS teacher Rosemary “Rosie” Courville Hometown: Columbus, Ga. High school: Columbus High School Favorite food: Pizza College: Wesleyan College and LSU for a master’s and Phd. Favorite music: Show tunes from “Wicked,” “Les Miserables,” and “Spring Awakening” Hobbies: Cooking and reading Most interesting place visited: Amsterdam, Holland, and Rome Favorite teams: LSU Tigers and Georgia Bulldogs Something people do not know about you: “I am a rabid college football fan.”

Profile of LMHS teacher, Michelle Haynes Hometown: Baton Rouge High school attended: Baker High School College attended: Southern University Degrees earned: B.S. in health and physical education, master’s degree in education, administration and supervision Favorite food: Seafood Most interesting place visited: Cozumel, Mexico Favorite sports teams: NBA San Antonio Spurs, New Orleans Saints, University of Alabama Something people don’t know about you: “I’m shy.”

The 2017-18 Patriot newspaper staff. From left to right: Juniors Jenesis Willis, Prisila Elias, Ki’Shaian Haynes and Jada Williams.

Not pictured: Sarah Caristin and teacher, Dean Caputa.

Lady Patriot soccer team has sites set for playoffs, coach said team has ‘confidence’

By Jada Williams The 2017-18 Lady Patriots’ soccer team returns eight starters, nine seniors, and their best scorer from last year, junior Nikayla Dabney. Their overall record last year was two wins, 14 losses, and two ties.

“We have every confidence that we’ll continue to progress and have our sights set on the playoffs this year,” said LMHS math teacher and head coach David Woods.

LMHS plays in a district with Central, Live Oak, Plaquemine, and Woodlawn high schools.

Players making the squad include: Heidi Aceituno, Ella Calhoun, Nikayla Dabney, Amanda Dardis, Aysha Davis, Lauren Dengler, Helen Elias, Maria Elias, Prisila Elias, Emma Hamilton, Madison Harmon, Keonne Harris, Jayla Herd, Samantha Heston, Elyssa Lavignette, Dejah Marsh, Brael Martin, Lorena Nunez, Yoslyn Prudencio, Ja'Carejah Putman, Italia Ravasio, Trinitra Rivers, Nyah Sanders, Samantha Smith, Victoria Stewart, and Genevieve Terito.

Lee Magnet High School would like to sincerely thank our many sponsors for having such a caring and giving heart, because without their generosity, many school events may not have been possible.

S. Sherwood

Siegen Lane location

Highland Rd. and S. Coursey