A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924
in This
Red‘n’Green
The
Issue
VOLUME 44, ISSUE 4
DECEMBER 23, 2011
• Who’s That Teacher? • Cyber Crime Series • Boys Swimming
Iraq war ends, National Guard troops continue training by
Peter Schrader
With the official end of the Iraq war on Dec. 15, many soldiers in the U.S. Armed Forces came home for the holidays, and most of the troops should be home for good by the end of the year. Even though they knew the end was near, many National Guard troops came to Berlin to continue training and drills from Nov. 3-5. Soldiers traveled from all around the state, as well as from Tennessee and Minnesota. “This training helps soldiers maintain their readiness for any future deployments,” Lieutenant Colonel John Morgen said. “The training focuses on basic soldier skills: marksmanship, combat, first aid, physical fitness, weapons familiarization and collective tasks that help to operate a Tactical Operation Center more effectively.” Morgen is part of a very small, highly regarded military organization called the 332nd Rear Operations Center (ROC). It is composed of a select group of 44 individuals who bring a wide spectrum of military and civilian skills into one unit. “The 332nd ROC’s mission is to develop excellent solutions to the most challenging problems and circumstances,” Morgen said. “We have served in Japan, Korea, Afghanistan and Iraq. We have an impressive his-
Photo Submitted During drill weekend in Berlin, members of the 332nd ROC stand in front of the Berlin Armory sign. Their mission is to develop solutions to challenging problems. tory of being the organization with the best answers.” Lieutenant Colonel Gerald Eastman is also a soldier in the National Guard. He has been home since July 3, except for a few two to three week oversea training missions. “I am very happy to be back home, no matter if it is for a short or long period of time,” Eastman said. “When soldiers are overseas, it is hard to keep in touch with our families. We usually use e-mail or Facebook.”
New phones
The National Guard soldiers are also missed by their real families. Sophomore Ryan Eastman, son of Lieutenant Colonel Eastman, is always excited when his dad comes home. “I am happy when he makes it back home safe,” Ryan Eastman said. “When he has been gone for a long time, I am grateful that I get to spend time with him and we can do stuff together.” No matter how long the soldiers were gone, or where they were, it is difficult com-
Pros
Easier to manage Enhanced communication Entire district on same platform Safety
Cons Price
put district on same line by
Hailey Prachel
For five years the district has been using an outdated telephone system. “There have been frequent disruptions at the middle and elementary schools that have resulted in limited or no phone use,” district superintendant Bob Eidahl said. The school board approved the purchase in October utilizing an interest free Key Government Finance loan of $125,000 that will be paid off in the next five years. “The timing of the change-over this fall became even more important as the phone systems have worsened,” Eidahl said. The Strategic Planning Com-
mittee wanted to increase parent/ teacher contact. It also got the entire district on the same phone platform. “A nonfunctional phone system was a drawback to improving the partnerships between the schools and parents,” Eidahl said. The main difference between the new and old phones is that the new phone system is an Internet Protocol phone system. Internet Protocol is when phones transmit calls over the Internet as opposed to the Public Switched Telephone Network. “The calls run over our data network now instead of the old phone lines,” District Technology Specialist David Wojtowicz said. “The new system is much more flexible and scalable for future use.”
Difficult adaptation Although the high school was not as desperate for new phones, the teachers still appreciate the upgrade. “They’re just like my phone at home,” English teacher Margaret Guertler said. “They’re so easy to use.” The new phones also offer school safety and emergency response, which will be reliable if there ever is an emergency situation. It also will be easier to maintain. “The middle school has been without classroom phones since May 2011 and without voicemail for two years,” Wojtowicz said. “The new phones will diminish this problem and make the elementary and middle school’s telephone system problem free.”
ing home and learning about what they have missed since they have been gone. “What really saddens me is all those family events I could not attend such as sports, birthdays and Christmas,” Eastman said. “And plus, when I get home I am usually tired and worn out from traveling so much.” Conditions can be difficult for soldiers deployed in other countries. They rarely get to see their families, and there are many things they have to cut back on. “Soldiers generally have plainer living conditions when we are deployed,” Eastman said. “Sometimes, we may not have TV, radio or the Internet. Generally, meals are served in a cafeteria, but occasionally the base may have a Taco Bell or Burger King.” The conditions for soldiers in other countries is not all bad, though. They are surronded by people that care for them. “The National Guard is like a second family to me,” Eastman said. “I truly enjoy the people I work with. We have all shared experiences together and look out for one another.” Although Ryan misses his father when he is gone, he sees that his father enjoys his job. Ryan plans on going into the military as well. “The military is a life that I know and understand,” Ryan said. “My dad loves his job, and being so much like him, I think I would like to try out the military, too.”
Newsbriefs
Students give blood at drive on Dec. 16
The Key Club held their blood drive on Dec. 16. Key Club Advisor, Sarah Gietzel says that despite the lack of students at the informational meeting, it was still a success. “Not a lot of students attended the meeting, but 46 students checked in at the drive and there were over 18 first time donors,” Gietzel said.
Recall Efforts continue since November
Protesters are gathering signatures for a petition against Governor Walker. History teacher Bob Prellwitz thinks the efforts are logical. “I feel the people are simply exercising their rights to act,” Prellwitz said. “The recall centers on the governor’s new policies toward collective bargaining for public employees.”
Singers perform with excellence at concert
Choir Director Lisa Utecht is proud of all the choirs that performed on Dec. 5 at the concert. “We had some special small groups perform and they did an excellent job,” Utecht said. “We had many positive comments and compliments regarding the format of the concert as well.”
Concert Ensemble pleases audience
The concert band performed on Dec. 13. Band Director Ben Ruetten is pleased with the performance. “We had a lot of movement on stage and with all the shifting, everything went very well,” Ruetten said. “I was also pleased to see a large audience which was also very receptive.”
Mascot Update “We are getting a committee to pursue the process of the mascot change,” Principal Lynn Mork said. The new committee will design surveys to gather ideas for a new mascot. The surveys will be either hand copied
or online. Anybody in the Berlin School District will be allowed to vote or be part of the committee. Mascot suggestions can be submitted to the business or high school office.