BACK to MAC: The McIntosh Trail vol 38, issue 1

welcome

BAtoCK MAC The complete back-to-school guide for theMcIntosh Chiefs

MCINTOSHTRAILSTUDENTNEWS

what 's inside Q& A WITH COACH SMITH a nd his pla ns for Chiefs footba ll

PARK LIKE A PRO

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senior advicefromthe classof 2022

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STAYING BALANCED

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g r a d e- level g uid e to a str ess- fr ee yea r

10-11

JOINUS:MHSCLUBSANDORGANIZATIONS4-5

AUGUST 2022 Vol. 38, Issue 1

McIntosh HighSchoolPeachtree City,Ga.

2022-2023

2intro

The McIntosh Tr a il has been publishing student news relating to McIntosh High School since 1984, producing award-winning stories and photography and consistently publishing transparent, honest reporting to the community. My goals for this year are to improve our scores at state and national level scholastic press associations, continue our ethical writing, and build a strong bond between the students and the staff. The Trail would like to thank the PTSO for their financial support of this back to school edition to bring the student body valuable information about the 2022-2023 school year. Inside our very first back-to-school issue, you'll find plenty of information about clubs and organizations, an interview with new Head Football Coach Derek Smith, a map of the building, and so much more. I am extremely proud of the hard work the outgoing staff and editors put into this print edition. You can contact us by commenting on our website mhstrail.org, emailing us at mcintoshtrail@fcboe.org or through our Instagram @mcintosh.trail. Please feel free to get in touch with the issues that matter to you - the Trail staff wants to hear from you.

LET T E R fromthe

EDITOR

TOPTIPSFOR

"Joining club s a nd or g a niza tions is a b ig p a r t of the hig h school exp er ience. You m eet new p eop le who tur n into your b est fr iend s a ll while d oing thing s you enjoy, lik e a r t or volunteer ing."

fromseniorswhowerefreshmenonce

1

"Playing on the softball team freshman year

"Once you enter McIntosh, academically you start completely fresh. Whatever grades you may have earned in middle school, colleges aren't ever going to see. So make sure you understand that even freshmen year, your grades will matter."

Morga n Green, cla ss of 2022

?Do your wor k , d on't p r ocr a stina te a nd d on't let sm a ll ob sta cles g et in the wa y of you g etting stuff d one.?

2

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Rebekah Bushmire MANAGING EDITOR/ FEATURES EDITOR: Lulu Vitulo NEWS EDITOR: Savannah Hayes OPINIONS EDITOR: Marjorie Smedley ADVISER: Shanon Woolf, CJE

Emma Bellantoni, class of 2022

joinasport

gradesmatter - startingnow

makeschool apriority

3 4 5 joinactivities

FRESHMEN...

Faith Miller, class of 2022

RebekahBushmire, Trail Editor-in-Chief

helped me form friendships that I might not have formed before and now some of my teammates are my best friends.?

Abbey Terry, cla ss of 2022

takeadvantageof everymoment The yea r will fly b y so q uick ly a nd b efor e you k now it, you will b e g r a d ua ting. Ma k e sur e to live in the m om ent a s m uch a s p ossib le.

Pa r ticip a te in ever y a ctivity tha t is offer ed .

You will ser iously r eg r et it if you d on?t ta k e a d va nta g e of ever y m om ent.

Jordyn Mobley, class of 2022

Contributing Trail Editors of the Class of 2022: Jordyn Mobley, Landon Wilde, Zara Morgan, Max Lawson Trail Staff Contributors: Morgan Green, Estrella Jones, Alise Morawsky, Talia Morley, Chloe Torrechilla, Audrey Zimmerman

The McIntosh Trail is published digitally at mhstrail.org as a limited public forum for student expression for McIntosh High School, in Peachtree City, GA, by the student members of the newspaper staff, under the direction of a faculty adviser. This issue is published as the back to school issue and is distributed to the student body at no cost thanks to the generosity of the PTSO and local advertisers.

The McIntosh Trail's website is mhstrail.org and publishes stories and photographs daily. The McIntosh Trail has an active Instagram (@mcintosh.trail) and Twitter (@mcintosh_trail). where followers can keep up with school events.

Signed editorials represent the opinions of the writer and should not be interpreted as representing those of McIntosh High School, Fayette County Schools, the administration, the faculty, or the student body. Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of a majority of the McIntosh Trail editorial board.

Advertising rates are available; please call (770) 631-3232 or email adviser Shanon Woolf at woolf.shanon@fcboe.org.

The McIntosh Trail is a member of the Georgia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association. As a scholastic publication, it subscribes to the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Letters to the Editor are encouraged. Letters must be signed; names will be withheld only in exceptional cases. The staff reserves the right to edit all letters to the editor. Letters can be sent via email to the mcintoshtrail@fcboe.org.

The Fayette County Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in educational programs, activities and employment.

timemanagement

it'sonlya

2

tipsforbeingmoreproductive a ndusingtimetoyouradvantage Story and Graphic by Lulu Vitulo, Features Editor

MATTEROFTIME As the new school year begins, it?s important to start it right and with a plan.

One of the biggest challenges will be the amount of homework. Especially freshman year, the workload can get overwhelming, and assignments can start slipping by. ?The [hig h school] wor k loa d is a lot m or e tha n it wa s in m id d le school. [T]her e wa s less of it, a nd it wa s ea sier ,? sophomore Gerardo Perez said.

Starting homework in any extra class time, and finishing up at home is a better plan than waiting to do it all after school.

Starting homework right after school or waiting to start after dinner will really depend on whether or not you play a sport or have a job. Waiting until too late at night can lead to a slippery slope that pushes into the time you should be sleeping. ?I m a na g ed [m y wor k ] b y honestly just sta ying up r ea lly la te, b eca use it wa s so m uch,? junior Jenna Paynter said. There?ll be a lot less stress being able to wind down after eating and getting in those eight hours.

Grading doesn?t change a lot from middle school to high school, but knowing your teachers?grading policies is really important. At McIntosh, core subjects have department policies that are the same for every teacher in that department, like math, science, or

foreign language. Some departments won?t take late assignments, and others leave their policies up to individual teachers. Always remember to communicate with your teacher, who may be willing to give extensions if you communicate difficulties ahead of time, or they can help you sort out the problem. Telling a teacher about reasons why work was late after it?s already late won?t do much to help the situation.

Besides homework, balancing extracurriculars and free time can be difficult. It?s not impossible, but keep in mind what you?re prioritizing. Having extracurriculars can even provide structure. ?For m e, I find tha t I m a na g e m y tim e b etter whenever I a ctua lly ha ve other a ctivities a nd extr a cur r icula r s g oing on. If I d on't, m y b r a in just d oesn't wor k tha t wa y,? senior Rachel Slepicka said.

However, while McIntosh sports and club offerings are extensive, don?t overfill your schedule beyond what your academics and other commitments allow. ?[Hom ewor k ] wa s ha r d to d o d ur ing la cr osse sea son; I would sta y up until lik e two a .m . ever y sing le nig ht b eca use of how m uch it wa s,? Paynter said.

4clubs&orgs

mindif I

JOINYOU?

Members of the French Club at the 2021 Homecoming parade. Photo submitted by Sarah Arriola

Members of the Knitting and Crochet Club at a spring 2021 meeting. Photo

by Camilla O'Connell

There are a lot of clubs to join for McIntosh students who would like to contribute to making their community better.

The Unity Project, Beta Club and the Key Club are three such service-based clubs at McIntosh.

During the 2021-2022 school year, Th e Un i t y Pr oj ect worked with various community service organizations including the NAACP, Healing4Heroes, Keep Peachtree City Beautiful and the Midwest Food Bank. All are welcome to join the club at any time.

The club strives "to provide a medium to connect students from McIntosh High School with non-profit organizations in the community," said Tracy Guo, class of 2022 and the former president of The Unity Project.

WHAT

"Every member of our club is dedicated to bettering our community and devoting their time to causes such as alleviating hunger, supporting veterans and wounded animals, conserving our city and spreading civic engagement,? Guo said.

Last April, The Unity Project volunteered alongside the Midwest Food Bank. Through their efforts they were able to feed over seven thousand people.

The club also hosts Kindness Matters meetings, where members take part in arts and crafts projects. The purpose of these crafts is to write positive messages for others in a creative way.

The best way to attend a meeting, Guo said, is to "pay attention to the posters around the school that provide information

meetinglike-minded peoplecanhelpyoufeel connectedtowhat youlove

democracy.

Information gathered from the official MHS extracurricular website at www.fcboe.org/ Domain/ 551

Fellowship of Chr istia n Athletes To promote fellowship, worship and discipleship among Christian athletics and students.

TOJOIN

Envir onm enta l Club To maintain the school-wide recycling program affiliated with the town.

A Thousa nd Lives Book Club To foster in students a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure.

and art related service for the school and community. Anyone can join Art Club.

Fr ench Club To promote interest in and enrich student understanding of the French language and culture.

Aca d em ic Tea m competes in meets throughout the year.

Members practice regularly to increase their knowledge in a variety of topics.

Bla ck Stud ent Union To provide a safe space for Black students to learn, give back and participate in their community.

Ger m a n Club To promote interest in the German language and culture.

Child r en's Liter a tur e for Am b a ssa d or s work with Child r en To educate and inspire students who are new to MHS to club members about children's help them make a smooth literature so they will help collect transition. Our Ambassadors often and share books with provide new students and their underprivileged communities. parents with their first impression of Deb a te Club To develop the McIntosh. skills of debate to build a Ar t Club meets for studio time foundation for participation in

Glob a l Citizens Club To promote greater awareness of the global community.

GSA To provide a safe place for students of all genders, religions, race, and sexuality to bond, participate in fun activities and create friendships.

Guita r Club To engage new and

experienced players, enthusiasts, or those seeking to learn more about guitar playing.

HOSA: Futur e Hea lth Pr ofessiona ls to empower its members ?to become leaders in the global health community through education, collaboration and experience.?

Inter a ct Club To bring together young people and develop leadership skills.

Inter na tiona l Thesp ia n Society To promote participation in and appreciation of theatre arts.

Ja p a nese Cultur a l Club To educate and immerse members in Japanese culture.

Key Club To promote community service.

Knitting a nd Cr ochet Club To provide hands-on opportunities to learn new skills and make a variety of projects.

clubs&orgs

5

McIntoshhasawidevariety of clubs&activities that cankeepyouconnected Story by Alise Morawsky, Trail staff

about meeting dates," she said.

Guo also advises upcoming first-year students not to "be afraid to join service clubs and explore the opportunities that clubs have to offer."

Much like the Unity Project, the Bet a Cl ub encourages students to partake in community services. The Beta Club "combines service and academic excellence" former English teacher Alysa Johnson, the sponsor for the National Beta Club, said.

The Beta Club incorporates both community service and academic excellence.

Students who want to join must sustain at least 10 service hours per year and a 3.7 GPA in order to remain in the club. Students that meet these conditions are welcome to join the Beta Club at the start of their

sophomore year.

"It looks good on your college resume and there are leadership opportunities,? junior Christan Clarke said.

The Key Cl ub has similar goals as The Unity Project and Beta Club. Much like Beta Club, the Key Club offers leadership opportunities to students willing to join the club.

"Key Club is a very unique and special service organization because of its international impact, involvement, and outreach," senior Mahika Patel, president of the Key Club, said.

The opportunities that the Key Club provides are brought by the Kiwanis Family connections and participation.

scan here for a complete list of MHS clubs and organizations, their sponsors, and how to contact them

Kor ea n Am er ica n Stud ent Associa tion To give students of all backgrounds an opportunity to experience and explore the Korean culture and to share and celebrate Korean heritage.

La tin Club To meet with other students that share an interest in Latin and to promote the study of Latin and classical antiquity.

Ma th Tea m a nd Club To develop math skills to prepare for competitive events. m isCHIEF Liter a r y Ma g a zine To create a lterary magazine that showcases the many talented writers and artists at MHS. McIntosh Aer ona utics To

Members of The Unity Club at the April 2022 Midwest Food Bank. Photo by Tracy Guo

cultures and languages.

provide opportunities for competition in the design, construction, operation, and application of drones.

Stud ent Gover nm ent The Student Government Association plans student events such as homecoming and prom and we raise money for school improvements.

Multi- Cultur a l Club To promote an increased understanding of diverse cultures through exploration and celebration of tradition, language, and heritage.

The Leg end Yea r b ook uses journalism, photography and graphic design to create and design the award-winning McIntosh High School yearbook.

PALS All students may join and experience friendships at MHS. Club members may be allowed to volunteer at Fayette County Special Olympics in the spring if they meet requirements of participation and grades.

The Society for Socia l Eq ua lity To promote intersectional equality and raise awareness and funds for select non-profit organizations to help aid our community, with a focus on women.

PTSO Club To aid and support the PTSO and to operate the Outpost (school store).

The Tr a il Stud ent N ews Site converges print, photography and digital media to tell the stories of MHS students and community at their award-winning news site mhstrail.org

Sp a nish Club To engage in activities designed to enrich student understanding of Hispanic

The Unity Pr oject is a club whose purpose is to engage in and initiate volunteer projects within our community.

Wor ld Ling uistics Club To learn about languages that are not provided in the FCBOE curriculum Wor ld Relig ions Club To learn about and embrace the significant characters and stories of the many religions of the world.

Young Dem ocr a ts To advance the ideals of the Democratic Party by discussing relevant issues and supporting Democratic candidates Young Lib er ta r ia ns To provide a forum for the promotion and discussion of libertarian ideals and to honor our founding fathers and their creation of the Constitution of the United States Young Rep ub lica ns To advance the ideals of the Republican Party by discussing relevant issues and supporting Republican candidates.

6seniors classof 2023: howtohavethe senior year of your dreams Story by Jordyn Mobley, class of 2022 Photo by Caroline Franklin, Legend Yearbook Photography Editor

Seniors, if you don?t have any idea where to start preparing for your senior year, the entire process can seem daunting. However, these tips will set you up perfectly for graduation - and beyond.

Sta r t Ap p lying for Colleg es Ea r ly

If you have no idea where you want to go, it may seem stupid to just randomly applying to colleges. ?The advice I have for upcoming seniors is to start your college applications early because the deadlines approach faster than you expect,? Anna Duvall, class of 2022, said. Most colleges give out scholarships in the fall semester for students who apply before the priority deadline. As long as you are not committing to that college with early decision, there is no harm in applying during the early application pool.

Ap p ly to Multip le Colleg es - Do N ot Rely on One Pr og r a m .

Many students have their mind set on their dream school and they completely overlook colleges with better opportunities. If you have the financial ability to attend your dream school, that?s great; if you can?t, do not feel dismayed.

There are so many great schools across the country that will give you the same (if not better) resources that your dream school can give you.

Ap p ly for a s Ma ny Schola r ship s a s you ca n

There are many websites such as Scholarships.com and Scholarship Owl that aid you in finding scholarships that are specific to you. It is important to apply to multiple scholarships because you never know how much money you could receive. The $500 scholarships and the $1000 scholarships will start to add up. Eventually, you will end up with a lot of money if you search. ?Definitely get scholarships and start looking for these as soon as possible. Definitely don?t slack off. You?re so close, so don?t give up now," Sanaa Wright, class of 2022, said.

Did n't Get the Scor e You Wa nt? Keep Tr ying

It is important to try and get the highest score possible for you on the SAT or ACT; especially if you are going to college in Georgia. If you are eligible for the Zell Miller Scholarship, it requires you to have at least a 26 on the ACT or a 1200 on the SAT. It is essential to get these scores because that secures free tuition for any public school in Georgia. If you do not plan to go to a school in Georgia, it is still necessary to get a good ACT/ SAT score because you can earn scholarships from out of state schools with your ACT/ SAT scores.

Do N ot Let Senior itis Get to You

Slacking off is not in your best interest. It is essential to keep your grades up because colleges still look at your grades during senior year. "Just because it?s your last year doesn?t mean that you can slack off. Keep trying like you previously would and appreciate it,? Javier Peralta Carillo, class of 2022, said.

Even if you are accepted into a college during the first semester, colleges have the ability to retract your acceptance if your grades slip significantly. "Definitely don?t slack off. You?re so close, so don?t give up now," Wright said.

2023 classof

newheadfootball coach Q: Wha t ?s your fir st g oa l for the Chiefs?

have this desire. I wa nt k id s to exp er ience

A: "The first goal is going to be to win football

tha t b eca use I wa sn't r a ised think ing a b out colleg e. I wa sn't r a ised with two p a r ents tha t went to colleg e. I had military parents

games. Win every darn one of them. That's no doubt as I want to win. I want to win our region.

Get every one of these guys that want to play college football, find them a way to play college football. That's my goal too. And my third goal is pour that energy out to other sports I love. I love going to baseball games. go to girls lacrosse games. I've been the track meet. I didn't miss any home basketball games for boys and girls. I want to push that energy onto other coaches and other students because to me, family is family. The fa m ily is McIntosh a nd I'm p a r t of this fa m ily. I'm no g r ea ter tha n a nyb od y on this ca m p us. I'm just a p a r t of this ca m p us tha t wa nts to- g o ener g y a nd ener g y is infectious. Positive energy is infectious. And if

I'm in a room showing positive energy, you're gonna be shown positive energy and we just rub off on each other and keep showing positive energy and make everything around campus get better.?

Q: Wha t else is on your a g end a for the tea m this yea r ?

A: ?Tackling is one one of the things that saw

from [watching] film. I saw the fundamentals and conference side of the ball were there. I thought they were run well, just the style [of] offense wasn't conducive to scoring a lot of points. So when you fell behind as a team, you couldn't catch back up because it was a slow, methodical offense, but it was run well. [I]f you line up wrong, [it] doesn't matter what your physical capability is, you're already wrong by alignment to the tackled average instead of great. In d efense, the num b er one end r esult is ta ck ling ; it d oesn't m a tter how well you g et to a b a ll. If you d on't ta ck le you've wa sted your tim e a nd tha t wa s a fund a m enta l tha t I sa w tha t la ck ed .?

Q: Any other g oa ls for Chiefs footb a ll?

A: ?The fundamental concept of winning.

Winning has to be taught. Your winning mindset or winning attitude is taught. You ha ve to ha te losing with the sa m e intensity. I wa nt m y p la yer s to feel the sa m e wa y. Tha t they will d o ever ything in their p ower to b uild them selves into a winning tea m b eca use they d on't lik e tha t feeling of losing. That's

got to be taught in the kids. COVID is a perfect example. How many individuals - men, women lost their jobs during COVID. And then they had to do what they had to do to find the way to put food on the table, pay for the bills. So it's an attitude that will increase you in the future. As a college student, you're going to have a hard class, it's crunch time and you got to study and everything in your mind?s gonna be like, ?I don't want to study, I want to do this,?but you got to

that were stripers; I didn't have very much money. And I never really thought of the word college until my senior year when college coaches started to go, ?This kid can play football,?and because of college, I have the capability come to work every day and I'm not gonna say work. I come to a career every day. I still get to enjoy my career every day and hang out with youth and have fun, do what I'm doing, because of college, b eca use som eb od y p ointed m e in the r ig ht d ir ection a nd I wa nt to d o tha t for the a thletes tha t a r e in this p r og r a m .?

Q: Do we need to a ttr a ct m or e p la yer s to the p r og r a m ? Wha t is your p la n to d o tha t?

A: Well, the first step is not to lose players. Kids

leaving the eighth grade that are supposed to be McIntosh kids. You don't want to see him going to Trinity because they think it's a better product or going to Starr?s Mill because they think it's a better product. So that's the first thing, making sure you keep our kids. It's just like anything, give a good product, that the product is there. My product has to be a winning product. And it's not going be, ?Oh, he's good. He's nice coach. He's friendly.?

Bottom line is we want to win. You guys want to see as the student body: wins. You want to go crazy in the stands, you're not going go crazy with losses. You'r e g onna g o cr a zy with wins - offer tha t p r od uct. And now you'll get outside people that want to be part of the product.?

7

NewHead Football Coach DerekSmithtalks family,energy andwhat it takes towin ?If you give a good product, if that product is there, people will want that product? My product has to be a winning product.?

New ChiefsHead Coach Derek Smith

Q: Ar e ther e a ny p la yer s you?r e excited to see this yea r ?

A: ?I'm excited to see the defense with some

really good coaching because they're all out there and excited. But there's no one player that I'm not excited to see. I'm excited to see them all but they're showing enthusiasm. I think they've g ot this r ejuvena ted ener g y to wher e I think we'r e g oing to shock this county, let a lone the sta te of Geor g ia with a lot of wins.?

Editor's note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. The Chiefs' first home game is a scrimmage against Whitewater High School Fri. Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m.

NEWCOACH

WITHANEWMENTALITY Interview by Landon Wilde, class of 2022 Photo by Rebekah Bushmire, Editor-in-Chief

8act &sat

Taking the ACT and the SAT can be a defining moment for high school students.

For decades, students have taken either one of these college entrance tests since 1926 for the SAT and 1959 for the ACT, and since then, both exams have been a huge part of a senior's preparation for college and getting into higher education.

The Ba sics Both exams are considered to be "predictor tests" of college readiness rather than be general knowledge exams. What many students do not know is that they are two different testing companies; according to its website, the ACT is a non-profit organization. The SAT is owned by the College Board, the same company behind AP courses and tests.

In Jan. 2022, the College Board announced the SAT was moving from the traditional paper/ pencil format to fully online. According to National Public Radio, in a Jan. 2022 article on the change, the test will "shrink from three hours to two, include shorter reading passages and allow students to use a calculator on the math section."

While during the early years of the pandemic, some colleges and universities waved a student's SAT/ ACT scores for admission and some schools are still "test-optional," many post-secondary schools require at least one of these exams for admissions. Visiting the websites of the schools you plan to attend to see what they required is the first thing seniors should do before signing up to take either exam.

comparing

The Differ ences According to the College Board's website, the SAT is made up of three sections: reading, writing and language and math. The reading test takes 65 minutes with 52 questions, a 35-minute writing and language test with 44 questions and an 80-minute math section with 154 questions. That's a three-hour exam. ?I wa s not exp ecting it to b e tha t long. I thoug ht it wa s g oing to b e lik e two p a g es a nd then I wa s g oing to b e out,? sophomore

ACT SAT t he

&

Ava Flores said.

The ACT's website, on the other hand, lists the exam at having four sections: English, math, reading and science. The 35-minute reading test has 40 questions, the 45-minute English test has 75 questions, the 60-minute math section contains 60 questions and the 35-minute science test has 40 questions. The ACT clocks in right under three hours.

The ACT also has an optional writing test, which runs for 40 minutes. Checking with the colleges you want to attend to determine whether or not to take that section is best, considering it costs more to take.

Costs of Testing According to both exam's websites, there are exam costs, but also charges for making changes, so planning ahead is key to saving money and taking the test as few times as possible.

The full ACT with no writing costs $63 and they will allow you to send your score to up to four colleges. If you take the writing portion of the ACT, the price jumps to $88. Should you need to send your score to more than four colleges, the ACT will charge you $16 for

whichtestisbestwhenit comestocollegeadmissions?

Story by Marjorie Smedley, Opinions Editor Graphic by Lulu Vitulo, Features Editor

act &sat adding a fifth and sixth college to the list.

Registering late for the ACT will add $36 to the cost of the test.

And what happens if there's a last-minute change in your schedule and you need to change your testing date or location? According to the ACT's website, that will set you back $40 in addition to the test itself.

Is it better to send a college your results before you see them, or is it better to wait until you've seen your results? Whatever you decide, know the ACT will charge you an extra $10 to place test release information after the test is taken, where if you order the results before you take the test, it's only $30.

At the College Board's website, the SAT fee is $60, and there are fee waivers for eligible

Getting a rush report for your SAT scores costs $31.

?The m a th p or tion wa s d ifficult,? Hom a n sa id . ?I would n't sa y som eone with g ood a lg eb r a sk ills would find it tha t d ifficult, thoug h."

Test Pr ep a r a tion

Additionally, the PSAT is used to determine the National Merit Scholarship Program; students There are many ACT/ SAT prep classes, some who earn qualifying scores win thousands of of which are free online and some preparation dollars to apply to the college they're attending. courses offered by the same organizations At MHS, freshmen and sophomores will take administering the tests. There are dozens of the PSAT on Oct. 12 for free to get them started ACT/ SAT prep manuals available online or in on preparing for their college journeys. book stores. These preparation courses can help students get a feel of how the test will be, how it will look like and how to better prepare Scor ing for it. ?I d id a little b it [of p r ep a r ing ] b ut I Both the ACT and the SAT will show your could ha ve d one m or e. Kha n Aca d em y is scores in different ways. g ood p r a ctice,? junior Kate Homan said.

Your ACT results will fall between 1-36. The

slig htly shor ter

no essa y section

op tiona l essa y

shor ter r ea d ing p a ssa g es

ACT

SAT

m or e sections

long

slig htly m or e exp ensive

no ca lcula tor m a th section lots of fees for cha ng es

lots of fees for cha ng es

students so reaching out to your MHS guidance counselor to find out more is best.

Part of that test fee includes sending your SAT scores to four locations as long as you order them within nine days of your test date.

Ordering after the nine days has passed will incur more fees, according to the College Board's website. Planning to send your scores to five or more schools will cost you $12 per report.

Students with SAT waivers can send their scores to an unlimited number of schools.

Waiting until the last second to take the SAT is going to cost an extra $30 if you register after the regular deadline, and they will also charge you $25 if you need to change your test center location or if you need to cancel your test registration.

Paying attention to college and university deadlines is going to save you money and stress.

9

Khan Academy is the official SAT practice site and all of their resources are free including full-length practice tests.

Another way to help prepare for the test is going over old material, especially in subjects that will cover a wide variety of material, such as math. Going over old notes and tests can help refresh the memory of old coursework and what might be covered in the ACT or SAT.

SAT's scale ranges from 400 to 1600.

How you will know if your score is "good" will depend on whether or not you know what the minimum score is to apply to your college or university.

For example, the University of Georgia's incoming freshmen class of 2021 had an SAT score range between 1350-1480 and an ACT range of 31-34. ?I felt lik e I k new m ost of the thing s on Georgia State University's SAT range listed on it. Lik e, it d id n't feel tha t ha r d to m e,? sa id their website lists 1030-1220 and an ACT range Flor es. ?The only thing tha t wa s k ind of between 20-26 as the minimum scores needed ha r d for m e wa s when it g ot to socia l for entrance. stud ies tha t wa s k ind of lik e, wha t is this??

No matter which test you choose, the first step Finally, another way to prepare for the SAT is to check with the college you're planning to is by taking the PSAT. It?s a test styled after the apply to to see what they require. The second is SAT, and your score on the PSAT can be scaled to check the deadlines with those colleges and to determine what your likely SAT score might sign up for the test in advance, which will also be. save you money.

10gradelevel to-dolists

for freshmen(classof 2026) Fr eshm a n yea r is exciting a nd new. For som e, the cha ng e is ha r d a nd for other s, b ecom ing a fr eshm a n is not m uch d iffer ent fr om b eing a n eig hth g r a d er.

1.

Get involved . Getting involved

during high school is the best way to get to know people, make connections with students and teachers, figure out things you do and don't like, and show colleges that you care about being in the community. ?Get involved and find your niche and your people, where you fit,? Guidance Counselor Diana Lee said. Finding where you belong among so many students can be hard but finding these people is important so you can have a

highly recommended to be taken as they show colleges or future employers initiative and organization skills.

support system, people to talk to, people to ask for help and to have fun with.

2. Ta k e school ser iously. ?Make sure to have passed all your classes,? Lee said.

Applying to colleges means they'll only see your freshman, sophomore and junior years on your transcript.

This means colleges will see your freshman year grades to determine if you get in, so every class counts.

Taking courses of rigor can help boost your college application especially if you start taking them during Freshman year. Some courses of rigor are required, such as algebra and biology, however, the ones that aren't required are still

3.

Get to k now your counselor.

Meeting with your school counselor and finding out about graduating requirements is important to know how you will proceed next year and the year after that. Staying organized and having your school counselor help you stay on track can be really beneficial.

astep-by-stepguide togettingthisyear's important milestones organized, accomplished andout of theway Story by Estrella Jones, Trail staff

for sophomores(classof 2025) Sop hom or e yea r is a cha lleng ing yea r m ost often b eca use of wha t is ca lled the ?sop hom or e slum p .? In r ea lity it is a vita l yea r , esp ecia lly for ea r ly colleg e a d m issions.

1.

Know g r a d ua tion r eq uir em ents.

According to guidance counselor Lisa Love, students should ?be familiar with graduation requirements and have an idea of classes they want/ need to take for the next two years.? This step is crucial for organization purposes.

Being familiar with what a student wants to do during their high school years helps with planning and executing important things such as

getting a job or taking a certain class that is required for college and even taking important tests like the SATs. 2.

Join or continue in a club or a fter school a ctivity. Actively being a

part of a club shows colleges your initiative and leadership qualities as well as your being engaged in the MHS community.

3. PSAT. Taking the PSAT is one thing that all McIntosh freshmen and sophomores will do for free. PSAT Day is Oct. 12, 2022. Having a PSAT score will give you experience with the SAT format and an idea of how much you may need to raise

your score if you're thinking of attending a particular college to see if your score meets their minimum entry requirement.

4.

Resea r ching or ha ving op tions for colleg es at the end of

sophomore year is important because junior year can be dedicated to more research, visiting campuses and applying to those colleges. ?Should begin thinking beyond high school? start exploring the options such as twoand four-year colleges, technical college, apprenticeships, military options, and the world of work,?

Love said.

gradelevel to-dolists

for juniors(classof 2024) Junior yea r is the la st com p lete yea r to g et g ood g r a d es b efor e colleg es sta r t look ing a t them - a nd g et your GPA up to b e HOPE- elig ib le.

1.

hesitate to reach out to teachers or your guidance counselor for help. "Many students are afraid to ask questions for fear of appearing less than smart.

However, the whole reason you come to school is to learn.

Paying attention and asking questions is the only way to clarify confusion and solidify the concepts in your brain,? guidance counselor Lisa Love said.

Ta k ing AP cour ses a nd d ua l enr ollm ent can boost your

transcript as well as show college admissions that you can be accountable. Note that your grades in DL classes affect your HOPE eligibility.

2. Ta k ing the ACT a nd the SAT is also something that most colleges require and should be taken by the end of junior year. See our story on page eight and nine about which test may be right for you.

3. Up d a ting your r esum e as you participate in service activities, organizations and clubs. Teachers will ask for this to help them write letters of recommendation for you.

4. Ask q uestions. When you're confused or under stress, don't

5.

for entering the workforce. It also allows you to add experience to your resume.

7. Ha ve a sup p or t networ k . Junior year is stressful and can be extremely difficult socially and mentally, but having a support system can keep you balanced.

Fans in the MHS Student Section, August 2021. Photo by Audrey Zimmerman

Extr a cur r icula r lea d er ship .

You've participated in clubs and organizations on campus junior year is the time to stand out by taking an active leadership role. Colleges will want to know how you will add value to their campus; show them how you added value to MHS. 6. Consid er a job as it teaches you soft skills and prepare you

for a str ess- fr ee year

YOURGRADE'S TO-DOLIST for seniors(classof 2023) For som e, senior yea r is sentim enta l a nd for other s, it is not. Ther e a r e a few thing s tha t senior s should 've d one b efor e g r a d ua ting to ensur e enter ing a colleg e or the wor k for ce is a s sim p le a s p ossib le.

1.

going to be very strict on deadlines,? Wooden said.

2.

in to your first choice doesn't matter if you can't pay for it.

Complete the FAFSA early in your senior year and in the fall semester apply for financial aid and scholarships. Male seniors need to know that the Department of Education requires students applying for Federal Financial aid to register for the Selective Service when they turn 18.

Get or g a nized . ?Because the

senior year can be overwhelming, [seniors] definitely need to come in with a game plan and be organized," Head of Guidance Jennifer Wooden said.

Organization to ensure that all these last-minute tasks are completed is vital. ?Make sure [seniors are] meeting deadlines?

Because college applications are

FAFSA a nd Fina ncia l Aid . Getting

3.

Letter s of Recom m end a tion.

?[Seniors] need to talk to their teachers to see who will be willing

to write letters of recommendation,? Wooden said.

It is important to remember to choose teachers who know you well academically and personally, who will recommend you positively. Most colleges ask for two to three letters to see how the student behaves and treats others.

4. Milita r y op tion. If a student is contemplating going into the military instead of a college, Wooden says contact a recruiter as soon as possible to talk about the process.

5. Com m it a nd p a y the fees. Near the end of spring semester, most seniors have accepted to the college they are going to and paid the fee to hold their spot for housing and tuition. Once accepted, checking their college emails is another thing seniors need to do to make sure they are not missing anything from their school.

6. Avoid Senior itis ?A lot of times seniors will get senioritis but they need to make sure that they finish strong because sometimes colleges can take back their acceptance.? Wooden said.

11

12self-carefor school stress. Exercising, getting enough sleep and spending time with your loved ones are all great ways you can regulate your mood when you become stressed out. ? Avoid p er fectionism . Have a huge High school students are notorious for not project to worry about? Focus on getting enough sleep and the Centers for spending more time gathering the Disease Control suggest high school-aged components that are absolutely necessary students get eight to ten hours a night. for your project instead of focusing on Going to bed earlier and getting the sleep smaller details. Remembering the "big ? Pla n your sched ule week ly. Investing you need could provide an attitude boost. picture" and noticing if you're getting in a small planner or even using resources caught up in the details is one way to ? Red uce p hone use when you have such as your notes app is an organized keep perfectionism at bay. downtime. Instead of spending your way to keep all of your weekly goals/ plans downtime scrolling endlessly on social in one space. ? An incr ea se in a nxiety. media, use that time to maintain a Unmanagedanxiety can cause a toll on ? Setting d ea d lines a nd g oa ls. Being a physical interest or hobby. your personal life as well as work life, and student, it is very easy to get overwhelmed is often caused by ongoing stress. If you by schoolwork, especially if you have a ? Cr ea te ha b its for self- ca r e. Turning notice you are starting to feel more job or extracurriculars to attend to. every-day activities into something you anxious than usual, try to do an activity Creating mini-deadlines for yourself in actually look forward to is possible if you that comforts you. Talking to a parent or order to complete assignments and have a good mindset going into it. For trusted adult about your concerns is projects is the best route to go if you want example, buy yourself new products for another way to help you mediate stress. to avoid procrastination. For example, if when you shower so you have something you have a test on Thursday, start studying ? Mood iness. If you have noticed you?ve new to try. Peachtree City has a variety of at the beginning of the week and set aside been hostile towards your friends or family public spaces, so taking time to get out more study-time as the week progresses members as well as having intense into nature can provide you with a way to until your test, rather than staying up far emotions, that is also a sign of having recharge that doesn't cost you money.

highschool canbe overwhelming: knowing yourself isthekeyto your success

too late the night before to cram, which will also leave you feeling tired the next day.

NEWYEAR,NEWGOALS:

Story by Audrey Zimmerman, Trail Staff Photo by Samantha Cornett, class of 2020

KEEPINGLIFEBALANCED

PTSO

13

14hoco

WHATTOKNOWABOUTMHSHOCO

Story by Max Lawson, class of 2022

Homecoming week is a celebration of McIntosh, with many students and staff participating in events such as dress-up week, parade floats, the football game and dance.

There are a handful of things, however, that can make getting involved in Homecoming week and student culture as a whole much easier. ?I wa s a b it confused when [Hom ecom ing a ctivities] sta r ted , b ut it wa s just som ething new, a nd it end ed up b eing fun,? senior Za nd er Ha selwood sa id .

Many students have had similar experiences, with one of the simplest ways to become more involved being through clubs and extracurriculars. ?[Being on Cross Country] definitely helped, but I already knew a lot of people, and it was a fun week because of them,?

Haselwood said.

One of the most well-known traditions of MHS Homecoming week is the dress-up week. ?I was really confused by all the costumes at first,? sophomore Jayden Wadlington said, ?It ended up being a good conversation starter anyway." ?Someone dressed up fully as a foot,? Cole Wiese, class of 2022, said.

The pep rally is another tradition that is held before the Homecoming football game each year. For the 2020 and 2021 Homecomings however, it was not held due to COVID-19 restrictions, and whether or not there will be a pep rally.

MHS Students on Character Day during lunch for Homecoming 2021. Photo by Rebekah Bushmire, Editor-in-Chief

said. ?[The pep rally] would definitely get a lot more people to come to our games or get them informed about our athletics, or really any school event that they would have no clue about,? Wiese said.

Another staple of Homecoming week is the A 2022 Hom com ing p ep r a lly is som ething Athletic Dir ector Leon Ha m m ond dance. It happens on Saturday night following sa id he is "wor k ing to m a k e it ha p p en."

Homecoming week. ?I think it?s a good tradition that should be ?I was excited to get to hang out with my continued,? Carter Hudson, class of 2022, friend group and go to eat, it was my favorite

part of the dance,? Hudson said.

The best ways to get involved in MHS Homecoming week and its culture are often the simplest. Information about Homecoming is shared throughout the school on social media, Schoology, the morning announcments, and mhstrail.org.

C AMPUSPARKINGDRIVESUSCRAZY so you have a golfcart or a car - now where do you park it?

threatened to tow my car. From there on I never parked on campus again, knowing that they will actually go through with it.

Some students that do not have a parking pass will either park across the street in the parking lot behind Sprouts, or they will park in the church parking lot. There is no assurance that your vehicle will not get towed if you park there, and there are signs behind Sprouts indicating they will tow unauthorized vehicles.

If you're lucky enough to get a parking pass, that doesn't necessarily guarantee you an actual parking space. The parking lots fill up very quickly in the morning, so if you are pulling up at 8:30 you may struggle finding a spot on or off campus. Even having a parking pass doesn't guarantee a space. Be sure to get to school early to be able to find a parking space and get to class on time. ?I love the p a r k ing lot exp er ience.

Ther e's a lot of p eop le out ther e, a nd you ca n ta lk to a ll your fr iend s in the m or ning , b efor e your d a y sta r ts. And a fter school, you ca n just ha ng out in the p a r k ing lot a nd ta lk a b out your d a y,? junior Brandt Adams said.

Story and Photo by Talia Morley, Trail staff

McIntosh parking passes are limited, and they sell out fast. If you've come back to school hoping to get a parking space, make it a priority. ?We have 350 car parking spaces.

However, that's with us overselling taking into consideration the number of students who opt in and out throughout the day, whether it be COI courses, Southern Crescent courses, or just opt out for work or opt in to school late.

So now since fourth period being an opt out period, it has opened up a few more spaces because they have vacancies throughout the day,? Assistant Principal Leon Hammond said. ?I ha te how fa st p a r k ing sells out. I d id n't g et m y p a ss until a fter the school yea r sta r ted so I wa sn't a b le to g et a p a r k ing p a ss. I wa s stuck r id ing the g olf ca r t a ll yea r ,? Lucia Maceda, class of 2022, said.

So you can't get your hands on a parking pass - what's the worst thing that can happen if you park on campus anyway?

If you park on campus without a parking pass, the first time you get caught you will get a warning. If you continue to get caught parking on campus without a pass, further disciplinary action will be taken, and the potential risk of your vehicle getting towed surfaces.

Longtime McIntosh staff member Jerry Prince is the parking attendant and rides around the parking lot everyday and checks the parking passes on cars and golf carts. If he sees a vehicle without a parking pass he reports it to administration, and they will find the person whose vehicle it is.

In my personal experience of getting caught parking on campus without a parking pass, an administrator spoke to me personally and

Hom ecom ing 2022 is the week of Oct. 10- 14, with the p a r a d e sched uled for Thur s. Oct. 13 a nd the footb a ll g a m e set for Fr i. Oct. 14 a g a inst Cha r les Dr ew Hig h School.

gettingaroundmhs

15

MAPPING

it out

Story by Savannah Hayes, News Editor

Students new to McIntosh often have a hard time navigating the building. Built in 1981, with two major additions in 2015 and 2019, MHS is a big school with confusing, long hallways and a second story. To help students better navigate the building, changes over the past few years have helped make the building easier to get around.

McIntoshcanfeel largeand confusing- usethesetipsto get yourself around

Knowing where you are going before the bell rings means not being tardy to that class and walking in after the bell rings.

SPECIALTY CLASSROOMS

Graphic design, engineering, health occupations, band and orchestra are past the cafeteria and the chorus room. Also in this area is the Athletic Office, so VILLAGES In addition to grouping all the subjects together on if you're an athlete you will probably have a need to the same hallway (there are some exceptions, like Fine head that way.

Arts), each hallway has a name after a specific village COURTYARD in Peachtree City. An example is that all the English McIntosh students will find the courtyard is a teachers' classrooms are downstairs in Wilksmoor versatile space - some teachers use it to hold their Village. Math classes are upstairs in Wilksmoor. classes when the weather is nice and it's an easy way to When teachers or administration reference the get to the science classes from the English department hallways of the school they sometimes use the village in between classes.

It's also a popular spot for lunch, name. English (downstairs) and math (upstairs) are even through some of the colder winter months. located in Wilksmoor Village, social studies (upstairs) ?I don't eat in the courtyard, but I used to eat there. I and CTE (downstairs) are located in Aberdeen Village, science classes are located both up and downstairs in stopped having lunch there, I think it was around the Braelinn Village. Foreign language classes are upstairs fall when it was rainy for a long time," junior Julia Varga said. in Braelinn. The other CTE hall and the cafeteria are located in Glenloch Village. The gym and auditorium are located in the section of the school called Kedron THE GYM Freshmen are tasked with taking PE their first year at Village.

McIntosh, but some upperclassmen have to take it as ASKIN G FOR HELP well if they did not get the chance their freshman year, Many students use the map MHS gives out when as it and Health are a requirement to graduate from trying to locate their classes. Check out the back page MHS. of the Trail to find a copy of the McIntosh map.

Advice for freshmen taking gym?

"I started by going over my schedule and kind of ?Find people you know and do stuff with them,? memorizing it and then I looked up a map of the sophomore Joey Masserini said. school and mapped my way out with a highlighter," "I thought it was gonna be a lot harder especially junior Ali Ermolaev said. because in the movies they like make up all this stuff One worry many students have is not being able to about climbing a rope and having to do all this hard find their way around, however, MHS students are stuff. But it wasn't hard and I was with a bunch of considered helpful to one another when asked where a friends," Ermolaev said. teacher or a room is.

"It is really as not as bad as the media makes it out "I would probably give them the map that I have to be. It's a very fun relaxing class. I would just say and then show them where their room is on that map. make friends [and] enjoy it," Mayes said.

If they needed further help I would give them Since the gym is located across campus from all the directions," junior Lana Mayes said. academic classrooms, the fastest way to get to it is use Even seniors may not know where every teacher's the first floor and heading toward the auditorium. Once classroom is, so using the map and asking friends if you've passed the auditorium the hallway automatically they know where a particular room is is common. continues to the gym.

mapof mcintosh

16

totheauditorium andthegym

EN GLISH

FIN E ARTS, EN GIN EERIN G, HEALTH OCC

LIBRARYENTRANCE

thecourtyard

CTE & ART

FIRSTFLOOR MAINENTRANCE SCIEN CE

MATH

SECONDFLOOR SOCIAL STUDIES

FRONTOFMCINTOSH SCIEN CE & FOREIGN LAN GUAGE