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BRYANT HIGH SCHOOL • 200 NW 4TH ST. • BRYANT, ARK. 72022 • VOL. 23, ISSUE 5 • MARCH 20, 2015

THE

PROSPECTIVE

SARAH SMITH, 11

@sarah_smith2 “Do you ever get really excited in 3rd and 4th block bc it means you’ll be home soon? Cause that’s me everyday.”

DYLAN WOLF, 12

@Dwolf_22 “I did see people working on Mi Ranch today, so happiness is on its way BHS, I promise.”

MATT CLANTON, 11

@evenlessfatmatt “Girl, are you the e flat scale? Because you’re BAE.”

KAYLEE RAWLS, 10

@rawlskaylee “ATTENTION. I apologize for anyone who knew me in 9th grade that was a bad year for everyone. I don’t want to talk about 14-year-old me.”

ALEXIS TANK, 12

@alexxistank “What’s better than a snow day? A snow day on an A day.

Hashtag blessed.”

BROOKE ALDRIDGE, 12

@brrooooookkee “If the whole college thing is a bust, I think I’ll just become a beekeeper/gardener and sell delicious honey and strawberries to all.”

SYDNEY CALVERT, 9

@sydvixious “Yo, BHS. Teach Latin and make more science classes available to sophomores.”

CARSON MOLDER, 10

@carson_bm “I’m just gonna accept that I’m never gonna appear in the social buzz in the newspaper. Congrats y’all.”

AT A GLANC E SPRING BREAK WHEN: MARCH 23-27 CAPS CONFERENCES WHEN: APRIL 9 PROM WHEN: April 25 WHERE: Bishop Park

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04 | NEWS | PROSPECTIVE

DECREASE THE DROPOUT

Administration hopes to close gap with new strategies in place JULIA NALL | STAFF WRITER

One goal of the district has been to

raise the graduation rate and Principal Dr. Jay Pickering believes that the class of 2015 will be the one to do just that.

Last year, 89 percent of the senior class graduated, leaving an 11 percent unaccounted for. This, however, is not the “dropout” rate, because when students transfer, their graduations at different schools still affect Bryant’s rate. This means that if a student moves schools and drops out, the school he moved to will report it, leaving a gap in the numbers. Students do slip through the cracks, leaving campus for homeschooling or abandoning the education system altogether.

However, Dr. Pickering believes that gap of the unknown is closer to closing.

“I think the graduation rate this year will be higher than it has been, for several reasons,” Dr. Pickering said. “One, we’ve put more processes in place to monitor student attendance, monitor students’ grades and monitor students’ progress on our APECs, which is our credit recovery program.”

While Dr. Pickering predicted this senior class to have a higher graduation rate, several issues continue to hold them, along with every class, back.

Credits are a leading factor when it comes to the graduation rate. The set-in-stone

requirements are unavoidable. Because of this, when a student gets behind in credits, dropping out is seen as an escape.

“There’s a plethora of issues with graduation rate or dropout rate. Some students are so far behind in credits that they just flat out feel that they can’t do it, and they give up,” Dr. Pickering said.

Among motivational issues, students deal with difficult home situations, a problem that cannot be solved by credit recovery.

“You have students where it’s somewhat burdensome to come to school when they need to work to take care of family members, whether it’s a sick mother, or siblings, or even children. It can be a problem,” Dr. Pickering said.

Here is where the solutions become more creative.

“What we’re trying to put in place with some new programs is to allow students to take some classes virtually and go through a pilot program that would help some of those situations. For instance, students, instead of coming to school at the normal 8-3 p.m. like we do at the high school, would be able to come in maybe either in the morning, first and second block, and take classes in the afternoon, or vice versa to allow them to work and to be able to take care of business at home. We’re really trying to look outside of the box to help our students’ individual needs,” Pickering said.

The proposition of further developing the online courses was discussed during CAPs on March 4 and are available for viewing in the CAPs book. These classes may minimize the numbers of students leaving the education system.

As for the ones who leave, options become more limited. Receiving a high school degree equivalent is an achievement that a shrinking number of people reach.

“The GED is increasingly difficult. There’s no doubt about that,” Dr. Pickering said.

With unfinished high school education and no degree, students could attend the adult GED center in Little Rock or pursue jobs.

Jobs are an undeniable issue.

“Students are wanting to work… and they don’t see the end gain. They’re like, ‘I need to work, I need to create money for my family and my individual situation.’ So they don’t see the benefit of coming and getting all of their classes, or basically coming to school,” Dr. Pickering said.

Finances, similarly, are a concern of many high school students, especially when they feel that school interferes with their work schedules. The furthered online program has the hopes of addressing this as well. The offcampus approach will allow students to adjust more to their work or home schedules.

Ultimately, school is beginning to move away from campus to keep its students within its programs. Administration will start a

| Photo Julia Nall flexible approach, allowing students to begin to structure their days as needed while gaining the credits required to graduate.

Dr. Pickering said he believes communication is the key to keeping students on track.

“What it boils down to, is that if a student feels they are overwhelmed and feels the need to drop out, it’s extremely important that we open up communication with administration, with counselors and parents, and with that student. All four of those entities need to sit down and try to develop a plan to really help out that student,” Dr. Pickering said.

VIRTUAL SCHOOL CLASSES Students enrolled in online courses learn self-disipline

JOSIE HILL | NEWS EDITOR

Required only for current freshmen

Drawing her future. With a sketch, sophomore Alejandra Blake designs clothes in her fashion merchandising online class.

“The experience and knowing that I can do online classes for college is the best part about virtual school,” Blake said. | Photo Amalia Eddings

for graduation, online courses are a new ingredient to add to the curriculum’s melting pot.

Virtual courses are computer-based programs that give students access to a variety of 30 different courses. Because the course is taught through a computer, students don’t have to be in the same location as the instructor or other students.

Counselor Amy Oury oversees the virtual courses. She serves as a liaison between the instructors, facilitator, students and parents when needed.

“Online courses open up several elective choices to our students beyond what is offered on campus,” Oury said. “It’s very likely that students will take an online course at some point in their future. Taking an online course now with a facilitator helps our

students prepare for their academic lives after graduation and life-long learning.”

Virtual classes have been around for a few years, but began to be a part of Arkansas’s curriculum in the 2015 school year. The school began offering courses after the Arkansas State Legislature passed the ACT 1280 that requires students to take a digital class before graduation. Current freshmen are the first group to whom the act applies.

“It puts more on you to actually learn the stuff because you don’t have anyone there to lecture you constantly, you just have to figure it out by yourself,” junior Taylor Robinson said. “I think the best part is that if I miss a day, I can get all my work done at home, late work is never a problem since my classwork is more of a weekly thing than a daily assignment.”

Robinson takes international travel, but said if there was a way to take a regular course

of it, she’d be in it.

“I prefer having more people to talk to about stuff, if I get hung up on something. I could talk to other students and we could help each other. But I can’t get that here.”

Sophomore Kaylee Rawls took abnormal psychology and psychology the fall semester.

“You have to be very self-disciplined to be able to do the work by yourself,” Rawls said. “Some teachers allow you to go at your own pace, but it’s somewhat similar to regular classes.”

Rawls said that though it allows students to go at their own pace, she prefers regular classes over virtual courses because she would get more help from others.

Virtual courses open up several elective choices beyond what is offered on campus.

“It gives students a chance to experience with a format [Blackboard] that is very common at colleges and universities,” Oury said.

SENIOR PARCC DAYS

03.20.15 | NEWS | 05 Alternate Schedule during PARCC for 10-12

Q&A with coordinator answers how testing affects seniors CARL RATLIFF | AD MANAGER

PARCC testing began March 16 for the ninth grade, and students, primarily seniors, are still not sure what they will be doing March 31, April 1-2, 6, 7, 30 and May 1.

Seniors are slated to be in the auditorium/classrooms four times during PARCC testing to either train for CPR or work on English assignments.

Seniors will also have a college visit/community service day April 2 (B day).

Testing Coordinator Evelyn Butler answered many questions concerning this new testing method.

Will seniors be able to miss all day April 2?

“The answer is yes if referring to the college visit/ community service day on April 2. The seniors will be allowed to miss all day on the specified college visit/ community service days.”

Seniors will not come to school at all on the college visit/community service day.

Are students who are already CPR certified or have taken Janet Watson’s or Brixey Schimmel’s human anatomy CPR course be able to have another college visit/ community service day? If

not, then what will those students be doing?

“The seniors already CPR trained will be required to attend those days. If they are absent, they will be counted absent. The students will be in their assigned location that day until the PARCC test is over, and then they will be in normal classes the rest of the day.”

How will the school keep track of if students actually visit a college or perform community service?

“We are going to have forms available in all of the offices for students to pick up - similar to exemption forms.”

What does the school consider acceptable community service?

“Any volunteer work, mentoring, job shadowing etc. that a student chooses to do with a community business/service or employer will be acceptable. There are no strict guidelines. If a student is unsure if his choice is acceptable, he can always ask his teacher, principal or counselor.”

How will students who have no means of transportation be able

to complete community service or visit colleges?

“It is our hope that parents will plan to use those days for college visits and/or help students plan some type of service ahead of time so that transportation can be worked out.”

Are students forced to perform community service or visit a college or can they have the option of coming to school?

“The students will not be allowed on campus because every staff member will be involved in testing. There will be nowhere for them to go.”

Is it true that Gov. Asa Hutchinson has the authority to dismiss all schools from taking the PARCC test? If so, when would this come into effect?

“There is a bill in committee to do away with PARCC testing; however, it must pass in both committees and the governor has to sign it as an emergency bill for that to happen. Even if that all happens, there is a 30-day waiting period which means the first PARCC testing window will have already happened. It is very unlikely

Who’s in auditorium, who’s in classrooms?

March 31, April 1

Classroom: All of Smith and Comp. II, Nossaman 2A, 3A, 4A, 3B, 4B, 1B AP students, McGohan/Halbert AP students, McGohan 1B, 2B, and EvansStone AP students.

Auditorium: Nossaman 1B, Evans-Stone 2A, 3A, 4A, 2B, 4B, Halbert 2A, 4A, 1B, 3B, 4B, and McGohan 3A, 4A.

April 6, 7

English classes:

Students will flip to either a previously stated classroom or the auditorium.

Math classes:

Classroom: All of Sadler, Harrison 1A 2A, 4A, 3B, Bullock 3A, Sanders 4A, 2B, 3B, Martin 2A, 1B, and Wooten 1A Auditorium: Bullock 4A, 2B, 4B Old library: Harrison 1B and Martin 3B

that we will not have to test this year. The governor is creating a task force of teachers to review all aspects of the test. Changes for next year will probably come from this task force.”

Are there any circumstances to where students have the option to opt out of taking the PARCC test?

“No, it is a state-required test which means if a student is enrolled in a public school (BHS), then the student is

required to take the test.”

What will happen if students fail PARCC? “The students who do not make a passing score will be required to have remediation next year in that subject area. The state has not established the remediation guidelines so we don’t know exactly

11

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10

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One 10-12 lunch

9 11:13-11:51

1st block

8

11:58-12:40

4th block 2:22-3:06

2nd block 3rd block 12:47-1:26 1:33-2:15

7

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5

what the students will be required to do at this time.”

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3

03.20.15 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | 07

COMING SOON!

Whether you’re 3 or 30, a good movie never disappoints. And in this decade, movies are reaching heights entertainment has never reached before, creating a lot of hype for the upcoming movie releases.

MITCHELL REEVES | STAFF WRITER

Creating the most hype at the school is the seventh addition to the “Fast and Furious” series:” Fast 7.” After Paul Walker’s (Brian O’Connor’s) death in Late November of 2013, the anticipation for the final movie in the series exponentially grew. Expected to release April 3, students count down the days. “I don’t even like cars that much, but I love the racing scenes, and the cars do look pretty sweet,” senior Drew Tipton said.

Holding its own with the “Fast and Furious” series is the sequel to “Pitch Perfect:” “Pitch Perfect 2.” Senior Jayla Anderson said she fell in love with the first movie. “The songs are always so catchy and I always love to laugh, so this series is perfect for me,” Anderson said. “Pitch Perfect 2” is expected to release May 15, and its trailer left fans with high hopes of another hit movie.

The third most talked about movie is the longawaited seventh addition to the classic Star Wars series: “Star Wars Episode 7: The Force Awakens.“ However, there is a new company behind this film: Disney. This fact has lots of loyal fans worried. Junior Tanner Melton is one of those fans. “Honestly, I feel like Disney is going to make it a fairy tale,” Melton said.

“I don’t like the idea of Princess Leia being a Disney Princess. I feel like Disney is going to take away from the seriousness and actionpacked dynamic of the original series. I mean, their lightsabers in the commercial look like swords, not lightsabers. hat alone worries me.”

New family. Henderson family: Yerik, Leah, DaVonta and Ellis.

‘GENTLE, YOUNG MAN’

FINDS NEW FAMILY HAVEN KANAI | EDITOR

Being born and growing up in a house

with a mother and father who love each other is a normalcy that many people don’t have. In Arkansas alone, there are around 4,000 children in foster care at any given time. One of those was senior DaVonta Henderson.

DaVonta entered foster care when he was 8-years-old, and from the beginning, being adopted was never in his plan.

“I didn’t want to be adopted because my plan was to move back with my family after I turned 18 and catch up with them,” DaVonta said.

Nearly a decade after being placed in foster care, DaVonta was introduced to youth pastor Yerik Henderson.

“I met DaVonta in 2013 at Family Church in Bryant. He was enrolled in Second Chance Ranch, which is a ministry within FCB. My wife and I would take the African American young men to get their hair cut whenever they entered into the ministry, so when DaVonta first came to SCR, he was in need of a haircut, so I asked him if he wanted me to take him to my son’s barber for a haircut, and he agreed,” Yerik said.

Yerik said DaVonta was different than the other young men from SCR, which caught his attention.

“He was very quiet and to himself. He didn’t say very much, but he had a smile that

would make you smile. His smile is big,” Yerik said. “He didn’t walk around acting all big and tough, like he didn’t want or need anyone to help him. He was a gentle, young man.”

Still set on not being adopted and sticking with his plan to return to live with his original family, the heartbreaking reality that DaVonta said changed his plans is his original family didn’t care if he came home or not, which was hard for him to deal with.

DaVonta said he never thought he would be adopted, even when he was younger, but not only because it wasn’t apart of his plan.

“I was a bad kid, and I didn’t think anyone would ever want a bad kid,” DaVonta said. “I disrespected [the foster parents]. I frequently left the house, ran away I guess, and I cursed them out.”

Through his three years at SCR, DaVonta said he is a different, better person than he was.

DaVonta was not only the only one who entered into the foster care program from his family. He is the older brother of three sisters ages 16,13 and 11. The youngest two have been adopted, but the oldest sister is still in foster care. It has been two years since he last saw them, which he said has been hard for him.

After a year of knowing DaVonta, Yerik said he and his wife, Leah, considered adopting him.

“Haircut meetings turned into him coming

over to the house every other weekend, and that turned into my family mentoring him,” Yerik said. “Over the time we spent with him, we developed a relationship that blossomed into love for him.”

The decision to adopt DaVonta came after much prayer, and the prompting of their younger son, Ellis. “[Ellis] had asked Leah and I if he could have a brother. Leah and I told him that he needed to pray to God for that request because the only way he would receive a brother is if God gave him one,” Yerik said.

“DaVonta had become part of our family over the time that we were mentoring him.

We prayed and asked God for guidance on adopting DaVonta. He gets along with Ellis just like a brother, and I wanted to give him something that I believe all kids should have, and that is a family.”

DaVonta seemed to be a part of the family before the adoption process began, but the final decision was made from something greater than a want for a brother.

“We decided to adopt DaVonta because we love him, and God loves him,” Yerik said.

After over six months of waiting on the adoption process, March 5, 2014, Ellis got the brother he prayed for, and DaVonta was officially the son of Yerik and Leah Henderson.

“The best part to me was when the judge announced his name, DaVonta Va’Shon

Henderson,” Yerik said. “He, Ellis and I have the same middle and last names. My name means a lot to me. It reminds me of how God adopted me into his family. Before I knew God, I was lost, but now that I am his child, I have a different meaning of life. I am glad that DaVonta gets to experience the part of life that he should have gotten when he was a baby. A mother that cares for him, a father that provides for him, a brother that looks up to him and a family that loves him.”

After moving in with his new family, DaVonta said the transition was the most difficult part of the process.

“I had to move away from a place I really liked to some persons I didn’t really know,” he said. “All the kids (at the Ranch) were in the same situation I was in, so it was fun getting to know them.”

One thing DaVonta said he enjoys now that he couldn’t at the Ranch is freedom.

“I can go out and hang out with my friends, and I can drive places. I couldn’t really do that at the Ranch,” he said.

Overall, DaVonta said the adoption is good.

“Way worth it. It’s a new start for me,” he said.

The moment DaVonta felt that the Hendersons were his family was one Friday night during family night.

“We just sit and talk, and that’s when I realized that this is what I want and that they were my family,” DaVonta said.

THE

PROSPECTIVE

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