News DECEMBER 2011 l PIRATE PRESS l 03 Alum attempts to raise awareness of cancer to teens Pattonville class of 2009 graduate survives cancer at a young age, varsity teams hold events to raise money for more research
By Camera Thompson and Donald Burnett
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n the United States, over 12,000 children under the age of 21 are diagnosed with cancer every year; approximately 3,000 of them will not survive the disease. Daniel Wright, a 2009 Pattonville graduate, is a cancer survivor and is now trying to raise awareness to others. “I was in disbelief when I was diagnosed,” Wright, then 19, said. “Telling my family and my girlfriend wasn’t easy and it was a reality check to myself.” Wright was diagnosed with Stage 3 testicular cancer on June 28, 2010. Three months earlier, he noticed symptoms but did not seek
any medical attention due to lack of awareness. The cancer then spread to his lungs and shut off his right kidney. On Nov. 9, 2011, after 4 cycles of chemotherapy sessions, Wright celebrated his one-year anniversary of being cancer-free. But his battle against the disease has only started. Wright has since teamed up with “Besties with Testies,” an organization Colorado, that sells awareness wristbands to raise TC awareness. “I use Facebook where I make daily posts about how important it is to know the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer and encourage young men to not be afraid of talking about testicles,” Wright said. Wright encourages students to
help spread the message by liking the “Besties with Testies” Facebook page and visiting BestiesWithTesties.com for more information. Many Pattonville varsity teams host charity games to raise money for cancer research. The varsity girl’s soccer team hosts a “Kicks for Cancer” game every season and charge admission to the event and sell T-shirts to raise money. Players also sell raffle tickets for different prizes and honor loved ones battling cancer during halftime. “Our Kicks for Cancer is a great way for promoting cancer awareness,” head coach Tom Iffrig said. “Last year alone we raised over $4,000 for cancer research.” The team presented that dona-
tion check to the David C. Pratt Cancer Center at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center. The donation benefitted the children’s cancer unit at the center. “The girls get really excited about being able to help the cause,” Iffrig said. All of this helps patients like Wright defray the costs of treatments. In addition to family contributions, fundraisers at Remington Traditional where his sister, Samantha, attends, and benefits at Lion’s Choice, his employer, really helped when he was in need. At Pattonville, over 50 faculty and staff members participated in the annual Lee’s Denim Day on Oct. 6 to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.
Financial secretary Joan Mason, diagnosed with skin cancer in Oct. 2010, and Teen Connect adviser Sara Delaney, who lost her grandmother to breast cancer, both participated. Wright spreads words of encouragement to those were diagnosed with cancer. “Stay positive,” Wright said. “Having a positive attitude will help out the most.” Wright, now 20, will be graduating from St. Charles Community College in December with an Associate’s Degree in business administration. Wright will be transferring to UMSL in the spring to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science in accounting. v
Day to help students A day in the life of a POS student plan for future courses Students spends a day in POS to really understand the difference
Students might have more flexibility in scheduling electives
By Joey Schneider
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ach year Pattonville has a specific day in which teachers and counselors help individual students decide which courses to take for the upcoming year. This day, known as Stop Day, occurs on Jan. 17, 2012. The planning process for next year will begin on Jan. 12. Students will receive two forms regarding class credits in their Pirate Connections class. The first is a credit sheet, which their counselors organized. It shows which required and elective credits students have already passed, as well as which classes the students should be taking in upcoming years. The other sheet is an individual career pathway sheet. As students fill these out, they will again be shown the classes they have taken so far. Both of these will be turned in to the students’ Pirate Connections teacher that day. The info compiled from these forms will be used to help students decide which classes and electives are needed in order to graduate and build their education. Throughout the day on Stop Day, teachers will recommend specific courses for individual students and will disucss class options for the 2012-2013 school year. The classes chosen on Stop Day will not be a permanent lock-in for next year, according to Pattonville counselor Stacey Leonard. Until students become seniors, they are usually required to take
four core classes in the math, English, history and science departments every year. Classes such as physical education and personal finance are required before graduation as well. However, there is usually room in most schedules to take some interesting electives. “As time progresses, [one should] take the challenging classes to extend knowledge in a certain area,” Aaron Landgraf, 11, said. Most colleges also like to see modern language credits when you apply. Although these electives are not required to graduate, each provides the opportunity for students to learn how to communicate in unique ways. Multiple fine art classes are offered throughout the school as well. Students with musical talent may consider taking an elective such as choir, piano or guitar. Others with artistic skills may look forward to taking Art Fundamentals or drawing courses. Beginning Jan. 18, counselors will meet with students through their social studies classes to enter their selections electronically. “In March, we will make sure they have the credits they need,” Leonard said. “Then, we will send a copy of request home so the parents can see them. After this, they’ll have a week to call us if they want to change anything.” Each student has some type of particular talent, and electives are a good way to put it into use. v
What electives may you want to take in the future? Why?
Compiled by Joey Schneider “Some elective classes I may take include computer classes, Child Development, Art, and Youth and Law. I want to take art to learn how to draw and Child Development to learn how to deal with a baby.” Liz Ethridge, 9
Brianna Johnson, 10
“An elective that sounds challenging is Forensic Science. Personally, I want to be one when I grow up, and it gives you so much information from a small thing. Engineering also sounds fun.”
“I would like to take TV Production because you learn a lot behind the scenes in the entertainment world. I also like operating cameras, and making shows.” Aaron Landgraf, 11
By Abby Kieffer and Kyleigh Ambrosecchia
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n the G-wing behind the big green doors, is a place where most students just walk right past. This is Pattonville Positive High School. Positive School is an alternative school that features small classes and more personal instruction from teachers. Students choose to place themselves in this alternative school opposed to the rumors of them being burnouts or dropouts. Most kids are in there to better their education, behavior and attitude. Students become a lot closer with the teachers and everyone around them. They become high school graduates.
Classes
“I think kids find themself being successful here in Pos,” counselor Pat Eagan said. The students in Pos are found to be more successful than they would in high school. “Kids come up here wanting to make a change,” Eagan said. “Kids take a parallel curriculum with the same diploma and graduation requirements” as the tradional school. Students take the same classes as those in the high school, but are in need of more help and time.
During breaks, students in POSITIVE School come together to hangout and relax before returning back to class. Photo by Abby Kieffer Each class is 85 minutes long. On Monday through Thursday, students are dismissed at 12:05 p.m. Students who don’t have a ride home can stay after school and go home on the 2:13 p.m. buses. On Fridays, students can be dismissed at 11:05 a.m., unless they have Academic
Lab. An Academic Lab helps students catch up on their absences and makeup work. Absences do count toward grades in Pos. If a student has 1 to 3 absences, they can earn their deserving grade, but with 5 or more absences, students don’t earn any credit. If a student records 0 absences Dominique Rigdon, 10, and April Neville, 12, work and has a grade of C with Robin Woodrome on their project during art or better, students class. Photo by Kyleigh Ambrosecchia can earn an exempin Pos try their best to keep them tion from final exams. interested. For example, they read In Pos, there isn’t any classificabooks as plays where each student tion for students’ grade levels, such has to interact with the group and as freshman, sophomore, junior and explain the piece in a simpler way. seniors. Students’ grades depend The class is more involved. Typion the amount of credits they have cally students in regular high school earned. classes are quiet and just wait for The schedule allows relationships the teacher to answer the question, to be built by having an advisory but Pos students want to be inevery day and 85-minute class pevolved in the discussion. By raising riods. After the time spent in class, their hands, giving the teacher their students have 10 minutes in the full attention, and asking questions hallway to just relax. if they don’t understand something, students become an important piece Relationships in the learning process. “Some kids go into Pos for the When a student would become wrong reasons, like to get out of tense or was unaware of the answer, school early or have easier classes,” the teacher would make a joke to Jackee Lyons said. “I’m up here to clear the air and make class comforthave more one-on-one time with able for everyone. the teachers, and teachers up here seem like they care more about our Relationships education.” Every student has a different With our experience and observastory of why they are there. tions, teachers and students have a Either it being behavior probbetter bond than they would in the lems, learning problems, or just high school. home problems. “When I taught at Hazelwood But Pos students feel closer to I was never able to get close and everyone around them. really interact with students. I was Many teachers said to us that overwhelmed with students there,” “Pos is sad at times,” but in Pos, Robin Woodrome, Pos art teacher, all the students and teachers are said. “Now that I teach in Pos, so close that if someone is upset there’s a smaller group of kids that I or hurt, it affects everyone around can really get close to.” them. Teachers really get to know Lee McMillan said, “We all up students and what interest them here for the same reason.” to make the learning environment The reason is success and Pos easier. Some students have a harder students leave with a high school time paying attention. The teachers diploma just like the rest of us. v
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