A BERLIN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT OPEN FORUM SINCE 1924
The
n Red ‘n’ Green
VOLUME 45, ISSUE 2
October 31, 2012
in This
Issue
Pranks pg. 4-5 Football pg. 7 Volleyball pg. 8
Fredricks lose home, gain support by
Lauren Schmidt
Home is where the heart is -a saying that many have heard and understand. Home is where a person can feel safe and loved, but what happens when that home is suddenly and unexpectedly, taken away? On Sept. 3, the day before school started, the Fredrick family was at a Labor Day picnic, about five miles from their house, when a neighbor arrived and told them that there was a fire at their house. “When I first heard, I had a hard time believing our house was on fire,” Julie Fredrick said. “I just prayed that it was something small.” When the Fredricks arrived at their house, they quickly saw that was not the case. There were about seven fire trucks, rescue squads and an ambulance. “We were mostly worried about our dog and cat,” junior Emily Fredrick said. “Our dog was in the garage, so she was fine because the fire started on the other side of the house.” However, the Fredricks’ cat, Luna, was inside the house when the fire started and they were not able to get to her in time. “Losing Luna was the hardest part about the fire,” Jim Fredrick said. “Everything else we lost was replaceable, but losing Luna hurt.” No one is sure how the fire
Photo Submitted After the fire that took their home, the Fredrick’s stayed with Julie’s parents for about a week and then rented a house near Berlin.“We would like to thank all of the different sports and clubs that gave us donations and helped us out so much,” Julie Fredrick said. started, except that it started at cause the night of the fire she took few days earlier, so fortunately he thought she would make a great the back of the house. me shopping, since school started had many of his things out of the pet.” “I wish we could know what the next day and all of my clothes house already,” Julie said. The Fredricks hope to start rehappened,” Emily said. “It would were destroyed,” Emily said. Since the fire, the Fredricks building in the near future. bring us closure.” Almost everything in their have gotten a new cat, Penny, and “It’s hard having to start over,” The Fredricks are very grateful home was destroyed. However, a are still trying to get back into Julie said. “But it’s something we to all of their good friends that few things have been taken out by their normal routine. have to do.” have been generous with their a restoration company and were “Having Penny is great,” Emily The Fredricks would like to gifts and donations to help get able to be cleaned. said. “She was a stray cat that was thank everyone that was so genthem back on their feet. “My son, Paul, had just moved always at my uncle’s house and erous and supportive through this “I am thankful for my aunt be- to Platteville to start college a she was very tame, so my parents tough time.
Newsbriefs Food Service class sponsors academic breakfast
Whitney Fude’s Food Service class, along with some assistance from her other classes, served the meal that they had prepared for the academic breakfast on Oct. 17. “The students arrived by 6:30 a.m.,” Fude said. “It was a lot of work, but it truly showed them all the effort that goes into being part of Food Service.” Not only do the students prepare and serve the food, but they also prepare the menu and clean up everything afterwards. Fude and her class received many compliments on the breakfast. “There are always many people who come up to us during and after, complimenting us on the breakfast,” Fude said. “It means a lot to my class and to me to get that positive feedback from the attendees.”
Red Ribbon Week comes to BHS
During the last week of October, the STAND facilitators sponspored Red Ribbon Week at BHS. “Red Ribbon Week is a week to celebrate people being drug and alcohol free,” Guidance Counselor Ann Ragus said. Throughout the week, the STAND facilitators hosted numerous different activities in their classrooms to promote the importance of drug and alcohol awareness. “The ultimate goal is for students to be more aware of their own drug and alcohol use and to find out what they can do to promote their drug and alcohol free life,” Ragus said.
Federal lunch program: more nutriton, more complaints by
Becca Wenig
This year, the hot lunch program underwent several changes, icluding an increase on servings of fruits, vegetables andiwhole grains. This is all part of the federally mandated Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. The act allows the opportunity to improve the nutrition and food safety for millions of students. This means students are required to take one half cup of fruits and/or vegetables. Even though this has helped students receive more nutrition, it has caused some controversy across the nation. Some school districts say it is a beneficial program because it helps cut down the obesity rate. Also, with the increased nutrition they are receiving, students perform better academically. However, Food Service Director Peggy Seaman has major
Photo: B. Wenig As part of the “Healthy HungerFree Act,” students are required to take more fruits and vegetables, and less meat and bread. concerns about the program. “I am concerned about the calories the students are receiving. I disagree with the fact that an eighth grader only gets 50 more calories than a kindergartner because teens are growing during that time,” Seaman said. “Also, I feel the bread and meat portions are too low because students need more protein.” Since the lunch program has cut back, students have noticed that the
lunch has been less filling. “I do not think we get enough food,” freshman Taylor Wallace said. “When I would go to football practice, I would be starving.” Even though the portions have become smaller and less filling, it does not mean the prices have decreased. “From the federal program, we were forced to raise the hot lunch prices,” Seaman said. “This is another concern because it will be harder for the lower income families to afford it.” A freshman girl, who wishes to remain anonymous, is part of the free hot lunch program. Although the financial aspect does not phase her family, she thinks the hot lunch is satisfying. “I get full easily from lunch. It satisfies me,” she said. Though the national program has received negative complaints, they will continue with the changes.