Volume 48 Issue 8 - June 5, 2013

Seniors leave with some final words

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a student newspaper

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the Talisman

Sheldon High School 2455 willakenzie Rd., Eugene, OR 97401 vol. 48

Issue 8 June 5, 2013

Springfest leaves students wanting more There seems to be something missing from Springfest, but studetns and staff enjoy the lighthearted event nonetheless Cya Silva opinions editor Springfest has been a long-standing tradition at Sheldon High. Everyone has end-of-the-year-itis, and we all need a moment to acknowledge the sunshine.

Although several days have been set aside for the springtime activities in the past, due to schedule changes, what remains is one single extended lunch period.

But that didn’t stop students and staff from making the best of it.

Walking through the courtyard on Thursday, it was clear to see that the Irish were enjoying the event. The full hour of free time following a positive springrecognition assembly gave students the

opportunity to spend time with peers.

Senior Haley Powers said, “I was at the GSA table hanging out with friends.” Powers said that Springfest was fun, but she said that, if the event went for multiple days, “I think it would have been more fun. You really need [Springfest] to be longer in order to experience what it has to offer.”

Similarly, English teacher Ms. Tierney said, “It used to be a lot less stress-filled. When there’s an entire week of things like this, it’s different.”

Regardless, senior Brandon Hawks and his crew were rocking out on the courtyard steps, helping to create a festive atmosphere. The inflatable obstacle course was a draw for those willing to give it a go, while the jousting ring gave spectators some very good entertainment.

Micah Tamasaka photo

Sophomore Keegan Nolan, senior Justin Graff, and senior Brandon Hawks set the tone for Springfest with their jams as students crowded around in the courtyard.

Sheldon will face big changes and unknowns Proficiency grading, Smarter Balanced testing, 3x5, and the list goes on

and faculty. One of the main drawbacks is the necessity of more testing in order keep the accessible information up to date. It will attempt to better assess the critical thinking aspect of a student’s learning experience, as well as implement a more “computer adaptive” system into the schools Grant Schmaedick (thought to produce a more accurate snapshot of knowledge staff writer and ability of a student body as a whole). In essence, this change represents the further standardization of curriculum One thing is for sure: Sheldon will be different next year. and learning. This new testing system that will be used to Talk of change has clouded the air and made its way into gage the progress of students is yet to show concrete evinumerous articles in the Talisman and other publications; dence of a positive effect in other states where it has been however, many of the details of these changes are yet to implemented. Once it is implemented at Sheldon during the come to light and are shrouded by the rumors and emotions 2013-2014 school year, the effects will become more obvious of all those involved. The changes include a new schedule as they are witnessed first-hand by the faculty and students. and a new grading scale, the latter being less commonly unAside from the issue of testing, actual grading policies are derstood but just as profound in effect. A’s and B’s will be being altered in a nation-wide push for “proficiency-based harder to come by, and tests will play an even more promi- grading.” As defined by the Eugene School District, the new nent role in the classroom. As new details arise, our image grading rubric includes evaluations such as “Highly Profiof what school will be like next year will become clearer, cient,” “Proficient,” and “Nearly Proficient,” which will be but one thing is sure: Sheldon will be different next year. used to determine the letter grade earned by a student. AcThe omnipresent obstacle of standardized testing is also cording to the district, “In order to earn an A, the student undergoing changes. The previous OAKS testing system must be highly proficient in most content learning targets.” that has been in place for a number of years is being reAnother relatively unrecognized change coming Sheldon’s placed by a new system, namely the Smarter Balanced As- way next year is the replacement of school health-centers, sessment Consortium. This new system of testing is sup- which will be replaced by a single school nurse. Together, posedly more comprehensive and accessible to the students the health centers of Churchill, Sheldon, North Eugene, and

South Eugene require a budget of approximately $800,000 dollars per year in district funds. 4J denies that money is the only factor behind the shutdown. In an interview with KVAL, 4J Support Services’ Cheryl Linder said, “By reallocating those funds and increasing our nursing services, we can lower [the nurse-to-student] ratio to one to 1,400 kids.” Because the ratio is still so uneven, its relevance in explaining why 4j decided to make the change is often questioned. The district will save $100,000 by closing the clinics, which appears to be the true motivation for the shift.

While nearly all of these changes will affect the staff at Sheldon, a change to the attendance program appears to have the most benefits. The Synergy Student Information System is expected to be a more whole, effective system than the previously implemented eSIS program. When asked about the problems related to the current system, attendance clerk Mary Livermore said, “The biggest problem with the current system is that it is no longer supported by the software company that developed it.” This means that when problems occur with eSIS that cannot be resolved by on-campus technicians, the problem often cannot be fixed at all without the help of the development company. This flaw compounds errors that occur every day—an extreme hindrance to the efficiency of the attendance office. The new Synergy system looks to correct the problem and further stream-line Sheldon’s attendance and grading procedures.

Juniors have mixed feelings about siblings Gain some insight into the lives of Sheldon students who share the halls with their siblings Sammie Tracewelll staff writer Each year, quite a few Sheldon students attend the first day of school with their freshmen siblings by their side. To the bystanders in the hallways, it may seem as if the siblings can tolerate each other. What is it really like, though, for the siblings themselves? Some siblings are best friends, while others feel beyond embarrassed when they are seen together in public. With summer just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to discover what students may be feeling about attending Sheldon next year with their younger brother or sister.

Junior Morgan Bailey is most looking forward to her sister being on dance team with her this coming school year. Although Bailey is extremely close with her sister, she doesn’t want her to be, ‘the annoying freshman’ next year. Bailey also noted that she’ll probably take her sibling

to lunch a few times. One piece of advice that Bailey has for her sister is, “Don’t ruin your GPA freshman year like I did.” Next year should be a pretty exciting one for the both of them, especially since they get along very well.

Junior Cody Blakenship currently has a brother in eighth grade, and plans on, “making his first year (of high school) a little miserable,” said Blakenship. Although Blakenship may be set on this idea, he also noted that he’ll “play hacky sack with him, and maybe take him to lunch once or twice.”

Caleb Patrick photo

Junior Mckinley Patrick and her eighth grade brother, Solomon Patrick, look forward to next year.

Blakenship also said that his younger brother is looking forward to the transition between schools because he can eat better food. Another thing that Blakenship’s brother is most looking forward to about high school is taking AP chemistry.

Lastly, Blakenship does indeed believe that his sibling will act “too cool for school” this upcoming school year.

Two things that junior Mckinley Patrick likes most about her younger brother are that he is very responsible and punctual. Patrick is excited for her sibling to attend Sheldon next year because “he’ll probably do cross country, so that’ll be fun to be on the same team together.” Patrick also said that she will definitely acknowledge her brother in the hallways by screaming whenever she sees him. Patrick noted that she and her brother get along great on a daily basis. Lastly, Patrick is looking forward to her brother going to Sheldon with her so that she can “see him at school every day.”

Many siblings get along fine and enjoy being around each other, but there are also some who absolutely cannot stand each other. Several Sheldon students will be joined next school year by their siblings, and most are looking forward to it. From being on the same sports team to going to lunch together, current Sheldon students are looking forward to making new memories with their incoming siblings.

2 June 5, 2013

News

the Talisman

New class schedule results in divergent opinions Facing new 3X5 schedule, students and staff express mixed feelings Marin Radloff staff writer A big change is approaching all 4j schools next year—a new schedule. This schedule will consist of three trimesters with five classes and will take effect at the start of the 2013/2014 school year. This schedule has brought many mixed feelings to students, staff, and parents all around the district. The schedule definitely has its pros and cons, but nobody really knows how it’s going to affect the education program.

Will it have a positive effect or take a turn for the worst?

Freshman Emily Potucek believes that there are no positive aspects to the schedule. “I hate it,” she angrily said. “Students won’t have any time to do activities before and after school, and it’s going to make it really hard to double up on classes.” She thinks that the 70 minute

classes will make it harder to get a whole lesson in each day and that the new schedule will also affect the teachers negatively. “I don’t think the schedule will improve the education at 4j schools, and I already know I’ll miss the old schedule,” Potucek added. Many other students also have negative feelings about the schedule. “I don’t like that we’ll have to balance five classes, and I also don’t like that they will be shorter,” said freshman Tailynn Cokan.

These negative thoughts would be assumed to change the district’s minds on changing the schedule, but that is not the case. The district thinks that this transition will overall have positive effects. The schedule is supposedly going to save the 4j school district money and better the education system. The schedule is also supposed to put all 4j schools on the same schedule, but this isn’t necessarily true. Unlike the other high schools, North Eugene High School will have an Alpha and Omega schedule, meaning students will have different classes each day. Also, different high schools will have different class times.

On the other hand, some students are looking forward

to the change. Freshman Marcus Camacho is one of these students. “I know I’m going to love having more classes,” he said. “It’ll keep students on task and they’ll be more productive during the school day,” Camacho added.

However, his positive attitude doesn’t stop him from thinking that he’ll miss the old schedule. “I’ll definitely miss the old schedule, because the classes are longer making it easier to get more one-on-one time with teachers,” he concluded.

4j’s goal for the new schedule is to increase student achievement to ensure all students graduate, provide equitable learning opportunities for students, and gain operational efficiencies.

Hopefully all these goals are met, and the education system takes a turn for the better. The majority of students don’t like the idea of the new schedule and aren’t looking forward to it. How the new schedule will affect the students, staff, and education system in general is still up in the air. Nobody really knows how it’s going to turn out, and what’s going to come from it.

Hopefully, overall, it will affect the system positively.

Oregon will show its best in summertime festivites

As the summer approaches, students look forward to various big-scale events around the community Carly Gough staff writer

This upcoming summer is going to be a big one as far as big-time events go. The year of 2013 is bringing with it huge names in entertainment, amazing food, endless marketplaces, and more. Some of the largest festivities approaching the region include the Willamette Country Music Festival, the Oregon Jamboree, the Lane County Fair, and the Oregon Country Fair.

The first of these events to take place will be the Oregon Country Fair, which starts on July 12 and continues until July 14. The Oregon Country Fair, which is held in Veneta, is famous for its intense exposure to a very colorful culture, and provides a place for countless handmade crafts, delicious foods, and an overall magical experience.

The next event on the list is the Lane County Fair, which goes from July 24 until July 28 and will be at the Lane Events Center. Although the fair usually doesn’t come around until August, it was moved up this year to an earlier date as a way to connect to a higher caliber of business and entertainment partners, and in order to reach an even higher level of potential than

it has in previous years. Among the entertainers, Billy Currington, Montgomery Gentry, and Cheap Trick will be performing. “My family and I have always gone to the Lane County Fair,” said junior Tristan Mehlhaff.

“They always have a lot of different fun things going on.”

The Oregon Jamboree will be in Sweet Home, and it is sure to be an amazing concert series this year. Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Dwight Yoakam, and Kip Moore will all take the stage, along with Jerrod Neimann, Neal McCoy, and more.

“This will be my first year going to the Oregon Jamboree,”

said sophomore Molly Forrest. “I’m so excited to be able to see such amazing musicians. I know it’ll be one of the highlights of my summer.” Over the course of the first weekend in August, there will be twenty-two shows held on two stages in order to guarantee an incredible time.

The Willamette Country Music Festival is perhaps the most popular event among Sheldon students, as there will be many in attendance. Not far from the Oregon Jamboree, this festival will be held in Brownsville starting on August 16 and continuing through August 18. With more than thirteen amazing artists, this year’s festival is causing much anticipation for what’s in store.

Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and Darius Rucker will take turns as headliners for each night of the festival, following the other talented artists whom will be performing throughout the day. Senior Danielle Clark has attended the Willamette Country Music Festival for as long as she can remember. “I’ve always loved going to the festival. It’s my favorite music and it’s just a really fun atmosphere all around,” said Clark.

All in all, there’s a lot in store for the upcoming summer. With multiple events spread out over the next few months, there is more than enough Noah Jang photo to keep people happily entertained.

U.N. urges people to eat insects to fight hunger and pollution Sheldon students respond to the U.N.’s report that suggests insects could be the food for our future Daviana Smith staff writer

Ever seen those shows on TV about weird foods? On many of them, bugs become a main subject point. Generally, westerners are very biased against eating bugs, but the United Nations says it could be the solution to problems that may be arising soon. As the world population grows, we will need more protein, but it can be bad for the environment to grow livestock. In other areas of the world, the consumption of insects is quite normal, so it’s probably just our culture that makes western nations turn their noses up.

On a scale of 1-10, 10 being completely unacceptable, sophomore Tj Strong finds eating insects a solid 1. He doesn’t know anyone that consumes insects regularly, but in a state of dire emergency, he says he would. He thinks that instead of helping world hunger by supplying insects, we could wisely spend more energy growing beans. When asked what he thinks is the grossest thing about eating bugs, Strong replied, “Genetic memory.” A quick Google search would lead us to believe that bugs do have genetic memory to a certain degree, but it definitely isn’t a huge factor. Strong is well aware that many things he consumes every day already have bugs in them, including skittles and jellybeans, almost anything with red food coloring, and some chocolate. He finds it to be

easier to think about eating insects if they would be cooked into something so he couldn’t recognize them.

Freshman Nathan Long thinks eating bugs is much grosser than Strong seems to think. Long has never consumed an insect, even as a child. In fact, he couldn’t even eat them if they were cooked into something. He thinks that someday we could adapt to the concept, but for now it’s still pretty gross. On the same scale of 1-10, he thinks it to be a 9. He disagrees with bugs being used as feed for livestock saying, “Animals need to be fed for the animal’s needs, not ours.”

Senior Tiwanna Hamilton is also heavily biased against the consumption of insects. When asked why westerners are so against the idea, she answered, “It is not common in the U.S. to eat insects and we also have more food and resource choices to choose from compared to the U.N.” Sadly, the U.N. is planning ahead, so we, as a country, may not have the same opportunities in the future. Then Hamilton continued, “It might end up being the ‘food of the future,’ you never know.”

Neither Strong, Long, nor Hamilton know anyone who eats bugs regularly.

While the U.N. thinks that a possible solution to global hunger lies in insects, it seems the general public is going to need some convincing.

Micah Tamasaka illustration

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Entertainment

the Talisman

June 5, 2013

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Students gear up for grad performances Graduation ceremony entertainment promises to be memorable and meaningful Noah Jang news editor As the school year is coming to a close, several performers are preparing to perform at the Sheldon graduation ceremony on June 6. The Dublinaires are planning to fascinate the audience with their beautiful voices; the Spanish Immersion students are practicing diligently to make their dance performance a success; Justin Graff is warming up his fingers to captivate the audience through his piano performance; and three seniors are rehearsing a graceful trio. The performances will hopefully leave a good impression on many seniors who will be saying their final goodbyes to Sheldon and to their peers at the ceremony. Because of the significance of the event, all of the performers are preparing to provide a lasting memory for all the seniors and their families.

The Dublinaires will be singing the song “You’ll be in my Heart” from the Disney feature film Tarzan. Ms. Anderson will be leading them in the performance.

When asked why she chose the song, Anderson replied, “Actually, the kids [Dubs members] chose the song. They wanted to express that their classmates will be in their hearts forever. They wanted something meaningful for them.” She expressed her feelings towards the seniors in Dubs, “The kids are very close. This has been a very cohesive group. I hate to see that end. On the other hand I’m excited to see the seniors go on with their lives, and I wish the best for them.”

For the senior members, it will be their last performance as Dubs members. Junior Marcus Melancon said, “It’s going to be sad to see them go, and they will be missed.” He also stated that the seniors have helped the group feel that music is special. Junior Hannah Johnson, another member of the Dublinaires, also voiced her thoughts: “I’ve always looked up to them, and it’s sad. It’s bittersweet.”

Senior Justin Graff is preparing a solo piano performance. He is playing the song, “The River,” which is a piece that he composed as an eighth grader. He stated that

the song is the first that he ever wrote. “It’s a big honor (being able to perform at the ceremony with my song) because I know a lot of people auditioned. It’s also terrifying because I’ve never played in front of such a big audience. I think it’s a great opportunity to get a new experience.”

Seniors Hunter Turner, Leah Nicklason, and Cory Mayer are putting together a trio for the event.

They chose the popular song “Hall of Fame.” Turner will be singing, Nicklason will be rapping her self-written rap, and Mayer will be accompanying them with the piano. Turner said, “I actually performed at last year’s graduation with some friends, and it’s very exciting to be able to perform again at my own graduation. I’m less nervous compared to last year since I got an idea of how it’s like up on stage. I also feel a sense of belonging because this will be my graduation unlike last year.” They chose this inspirational song because it is about how much potential everybody has, and they wanted to encourage the seniors to do their best in the next chapters of their lives.

Mayer said that it is hard to believe the end of the year is coming so fast. He expressed, “It’s nice that we could get together and do something as a group before leaving high school.”

Spanish Immersion students are preparing for a dance performance at the event just like last year. Seniors Leeondra Nealon and Leah Nicklason coordinated the dance. Senior Ivan Faulhaber, who will take part in the dance, said, “We’ve been together for twelve years, and it’s a good way to end the year and the SI program.”

All of the seniors will be crossing the bridge to adulthood at tomorrow’s graduation ceremony. For them it will be an event to remember for many years to come. The four performances will become a major part of that memory.

Noah Jang photo

Justin Graff rehearses his original music composition grad performance on the piano.

Fans excited for the new Janoskians: who they are Vampire Weekend album and why it matters to us Sheldon students join the group’s growing fan base Emily Pierpoint staff writer Fans recently got to see the New Yorker band Vampire Weekend perform at the Keller Auditorium in Portland on May 23rd. The band’s third studio album, Modern Vampires of the City, dropped May 14th and was awarded 4.5 out of 5 stars by Rolling Stone magazine. Songs from Vampire Weekend’s first two albums such as Holiday and A-Punk gave the band a huge spike in popularity after being in commercials and the popular video game, Just Dance 2. After the success of their two first albums, anticipation for the third was high.

Having formed in 2006, Vampire Weekend has had an incredible amount of success for being such a new band. By 2007 they were already touring the UK with The Shins, and they were on the cover of Spin magazine even before their debut album was released. Their success continued after the release of their selftitled debut album, hitting number 15 on the UK Albums Chart and number 17 on the Billboard 200. The debut album continues to be a fan favorite, having some of the band’s most

loved songs such as “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” and “Oxford Comma.” Sophomore Kobe Moody is a huge fan of the band saying, “Vampire Weekend is definitely my favorite album.”

Modern Vampires of the City has already had tremendous success, selling 124,000 copies within a week of being released and debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Album Charts.

Moody also loves the new album, saying, “You haven’t heard it yet?! It’s the best thing in the whole world.” The band’s indie pop, Afrobeat-inspired music has provided high energy concerts from the very start, and Modern Vampires of the City’s fresh sound has only added more fun to the shows. Sophomore Sophia Warner, concert attendee, said, “They were out-of-this-world amazing live! The new music they put out is different than their original style, but still has their flare.” Sophomore Matthew Holmes also went to the concert in Portland, saying, “They are so good live.

They’ve managed to keep the same sound, just put differently – that’s something hard to do.”

It appears that Vampire Weekend’s sound will change even more with their future albums – the band’s lead vocalist, Ezra Koenig, recently said in an interview that he sees this album as “the closing chapter of a trilogy.” With the great reception that this “trilogy” has had, Vampire Weekend is sure to impress with any albums to come.

LMFAO artists decide to go solo Red Foo and Sky Blue call it quits on LMFAO for now

FAO’s usual songs. It still has the same party hard feel and theme as any LMFAO song.

Sky Blue and Red Foo have both made their own solo songs at this point, and currently Red Foo has been keeping busy. Since the split, he recently scored a role as a judge on the Australian X-Factor. He also launched his own line of tennis clothing, and has been making solo songs just like Sky Blue. He made the song “Bring out the Bottles.” Even though they are both great artists most people say that the songs were a lot better with them as a duo.

Freshman Derrick Counts said, “Since the duo split they are just not as good.” A lot of people think the same thing, and their fans are hoping for a reunion in the future. Both Sky Blue and Red Foo have announced they will play together again, just not right now. Many LMFAO fans wait for the day that happens, and are very excitedly anticipating the return of the famous party rock duo, Foo and Blue.

O A F

Will Hopson staff writer

The Group LMFAO split up on September 20, 2012. Freshman Walker Davidson said, “I didn’t even know they split up.” Members Red Foo and Sky Blue are both going their separate ways. Sky Blue and Red Foo are both launching their solo careers, but even though they disbanded there is nothing saying that there isn’t a chance for a reunion in the future. Sky Blue recently released his song “Pop Bottles,” launching his solo career. Senior Brody Mcnair said, “I didn’t know that Sky Blue made a solo song.”

Most people don’t. Even though Red Foo was not a part of this song, Sky Blue is keeping the style similar. The song doesn’t stretch far from LM-

M L

New comedy/music group rapidly gaining popularity Morgan Challburg staff writer

The Janoskians are a YouTube comedy group, made up of pranksters, singers, entertainers, and stunt performers, based in Melbourne, Australia. There are five boys in the group: Jai Brooks, Luke Brooks, Beau Brooks, Daniel Sahyounie, and James Yammouni. They have special appearances by close friends as well. Jai, Luke, and Beau are all three brothers, and Jai and Luke are twins. The name ‘Janoskian’ stands for, Just Another Name Of Silly Kids In Another Nation. The group of stuntmen began posting comedy videos on YouTube in September 2011. The boys have already gotten attention from Justin Bieber, One Direction’s Liam Payne, and Ellen DeGeneres. Sophomore Daylyn Gould said, “ I haven’t heard of the Janoskians before, but my friend has told me a lot about them and they seem super funny!”

All five of the boys are Australian. Their YouTube channel was created on July 4, 2010. Their videos mainly consist of the five boys doing pranks on the unsuspecting public, sleeping, screaming, dares (some can be disgusting and painful), overeating, mockumentaries, and skits. They have over 65 million total views worldwide. As of May 5, 2013, the group’s YouTube channel has reached over 775,000 subscribers. The Janoskians have achieved teenage fandom with several social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Keek pages.

The Brooks brothers came from a broken family. Their dad left the four of them when Luke and Jai were babies, and he abused their mom. They haven’t spoken to him since the separation. Beau Brooks finished school last year. His favorite subject at school was drama and he always looked forward to going to those classes. Luke Brooks likes to play sports, be around animals, and make YouTube videos. He has played tennis, Australian football, cricket, and basketball. Jai Brooks likes listening to music; he doesn’t like school, sports, and spiders. His hobbies are drawing, playing and watching sports. According to social media, his girlfriend is Ariana Grande, and they have been dating since August 2012. Daniel Sahyounie, (A.K.A ‘Skip’) likes soccer, filming, and going out with friends.

He plays soccer and used to play Muay Thai. James Yammouni enjoys making videos with his four brothers (the other Janoskians). Sophomore Amber Stewart said, “I first heard of the Janoskians in December of 2012; Ariana Grande had been talking about them in an interview and it made me want to see who/what they were so I started looking at their YouTube videos and I really liked them!”

The Janoskians have about 24 YouTube videos up so far. They also have two songs out, “Set This World on Fire” and “Best Friends.” The boys declare that they are not a boy band, but they sure act a lot like one. They have some videos that are not appropriate, but most of them aren’t very bad. Sophomore Stormie Jorgensen said, “I watch their videos pretty much all the time; they are so funny.

Once you start watching you can’t stop!” They have the funniest YouTube and Keek videos. Keek is an app where you can make short videos and share them with the world. Jorgensen later added, “My favorite Janoskian is Beau; he has the most outgoing personality and I really like that about him.” They like to do challenges and dares like the milk challenge, salt and ice challenge, slurpee challenge, and jelly donut challenge. Jorgensen also added, “My favorite video that they have made has to be the milk challenge video! I like this video the best because even though it’s kind of gross it’s really funny.” On Sundays, fans can send in a dare of their own creation for the boys to try. It’s called Dare Sundays.

The Janoskians are a very interesting group. They are both funny and talented!

4 June 5, 2013

Seniors

the Talisman

Senior question-and-answer column Q: What was your most embarassing high school moment?

Hannah Rodriguez: Having larger-than-life cutouts of the girls basketball starting team on the wall in the basketball gym was embarassing.

Jordyn Villarino: I was in the math hall and one girl I knew tried to say “hi” to me and give me a hug. I turned around thinking that I was facing the door, and I walked face-first into a glass wall.

Shelby McCool: I never have embarassing moments.

Ayla Bussel photos

Amy Follett, Calvyn Villarino, Michelle Zachary, and Shelby McCool pose after filling out questionaires for the senior page of the Talisman.

Outstanding Student Awards Award Title Outstanding Yearbook Designer Outstanding Yearbook Designer Outstanding Yearbook Designer Outstanding Yearbook Designer Outstanding Yearbook Designer Outstanding Yearbook Designer Outstanding Yearbook Designer Outstanding Yearbook Designer

Student Satie Allen Carly Gough Danielle Clark Jody Lee Jake Reid Hannah Smith Emily Stringfield Ellie Combs

Outstanding Yearbook Photographer Outstanding Yearbook Photographer

Avalon McCormick Ian Rankins

Outstanding Performance in Mathematics Going Above and Beyond in Mathematics Perseverance in Mathematics

Ka Kit Cheung Clare Hamblen Alex Smith

Health Student of the Year Physical Education Student of the Year

Melissa Jaffe Wyatt Swick

Outstanding AP Biology Student of the Year Ap Biology Student Merit Award Outstanding AP Physics Student of the Year Ap Physics Student Merit Award

Isaac Meyer Hunter Dotson Justin Cheung Megan Gullickson

Outstanding Tech Support

Alex Brandenfels

Natalie Cunningham: I was standing in front of a car in the parking lot that I thought was my friend’s, but it turned out to be a faculty member’s.

Emily Stringfield: I was dancing at prom and I fell down and didn’t come back up.

Q: What did you want to be when you were a kid, and what do you want to be now?

Maria Carnivale: My mom said that I “wanted to be a worker in the town” and now I want to be an international domestic social worker in countries without first world resources.

Avalon McCormick: I wanted to be an artist, but I can barely draw a stick figure. Now I am trying to become a life skills teacher.

Amy Follett: I wanted to be a ballerina, but now, honestly, I just want to be happy and have a family of my own. I have no idea what I want have as my occupation.

Q: What are you most excited about as you move on from high school?

Kelsey Sherman: I’m excited for opportunities to explore new cultures and grow as an individual while gaining a library of new knowledge.

Q: How have you changed throughout high school?

Emily Stringfield: I’m more thankful for the people in my life because I learned in these four years that you never know when someone will be gone.

Q: Name three things that you have learned in high school.

Emily Stringfield: Always be yourself, don’t let other people define who you are, and don’t judge others.

Amy Follett: Friendships evolve and change, don’t pass up on prom, and all night study sessions do exist.

Writing Student of the Year Literary Student of the Year

Alysa Polvay Michelle Zachary

Outstanding French Student of the Year Outstanding French Student of the Year Outstanding French Student of the Year Outstanding Japanese Student of the Year Outstanding Spanish Student of the Year Outstanding Spanish Student of the Year Outstanding Spanish Student of the Year Outstanding Spanish Immersion Student of the Year Outstanding Spanish Immersion Student of the Year Outstanding World Language Student of the Year

Willow Groberg Gabby Aufderheide Clare Hamblen Sarah Stoll-Underwood Hope Zima Halley Bouwhuis Natalie Mertz Kara Cheung Katherine Padgett Alex Brandenfels

Turn Around Award

Andrew Campos

Social Studies Student of the Year Social Studies Student of the Year

Jackson Darland Maggie Schmaedick

Learning Center Senior of the Year

Heather Murphy

Q: What teachers will you always remember from Sheldon?

Talisman Student of the Year Talisman Design Student of the Year Talisman Design Student of the Year

Jackson Darland Cya Silva AJ Smith

Emily Stringfield: Ms. Standefer, of course, because she is just so cute. Julia Girod, because even though she is not a teacher, she has taught me a lot of life lessons.

Shelby McCool: Take as many AP and CN credits as you can, don’t take to heart what people say about you because it says more about them than it does about you, and take every opportunity available.

Q: What advice would you give to underclassmen?

Michelle Zachary: Don’t take math and science at the same time.

Jordyn Villarino: Don’t screw around because next thing you know it’ll be your senior year and you won’t have all of the credits that you need like me.

Q: If you could choose one song to represent your life in high school, what would it be?

Michelle Zachary: Conflict by The Azoic, because school and I have a love-hate relationship.

Emily Stringfield: Started from the Bottom (Now We Here), because I started as a freshman and now I’m here... as a senior.

Seniors

the Talisman

June 5, 2013

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Darland shares his high school experience Darland expresses his belief that high school has tons to offer for those who are willing to live in the moment Jackson Darland editor-in-chief

The summer before I started my first year of high school, I told my parents that I needed to buy a couple of buttonup shirts and a pair of slacks so that I had nice clothes to wear during the week. I didn’t think that I wanted to play any sports because I wanted to focus on academics. Fortunately, I have parents who knew better, and I was never able to make my trip to the store to enhance my wardrobe, nor did I quit playing sports. Instead, I joined the Sheldon cross-country team and started wearing short shorts all the time (if not boldly, then underneath my jeans).

Maybe I have taken running a bit too far since that first season. When short shorts essentially replaced my underwear, I probably should have taken it as a warning sign. But I’m a fairly passionate person, so once I start something and set some goals, I rarely slow down. Sure enough, I have run cross-country and track for four years, and now I am getting ready to join the University of Oregon men’s distance team.

Although running has grown into a time and energy-consuming beast (that I love), I’ve actually done other things with my life as a high school student as well. I worked hard to learn as much as I could in all of my classes each year, whether it was English or biology or yoga. Heavy course loads could be stressful at times, but the challenge has definitely been worth the effort. Almost every evening in the past four years, I played at least 30 minutes of piano, just to help me unwind—a good way to cope with lots of schoolwork.

Outside of school and school sports, I rock climbed, skied, and backpacked often, especially in the first few years of high school. Being active outdoors is kind of a lifesaver for me.

The second half of my sophomore year, I studied abroad in Chile for five months, which greatly affected my perception of the world and where I fit into it. My senior year, I ended up taking on a couple of official leadership positions as a member of the Key Club executive team and as the editorin-chief of the Talisman, which has tested me in new ways.

My point in writing all of this is not to display a random list of things that I have done in high school, but rather to make the point that you never know where life will take you. Life is best when you decide to live in the moment and embrace the opportunities as they present themselves. Last summer, I didn’t even know if I wanted to competatively run after high school, and I didn’t dare to dream of running for Oregon.

At the beginning of this year, I was scared to try and head the newspaper team because I hardly had any experience coming in, but I went for it, and I have learned all kinds of valuable information, especial-

ly with regards to my own weaknesses as a leader.

Last August, I took one of my best friends backpacking in the Eagle Cap Wilderness (I’d never gone on any kind of wilderness adventure without adult supervision until that point). I learned how to drive a stick shift on the fly during the nine-hour drive, and then hiked 120 miles over six days with a guy who had never backpacked before in his life. Sometimes you just have to go for it!

That’s how high school has been for me. For all of you who are coming back to Sheldon next year, embrace all that this school and these teachers have to offer. Cherish your friends. Never give up an opportunity to do your best. And don’t be afraid of change! Try everything that you can!

Maricel Teague photo

Smith reflects on his personal growth at SHS Though Smith came into Sheldon with a focus on basketball, he learned there was a lot more to high school

AJ Smith sports editor

Jackson Darland photo

High school has always been a juggling act between school work and being social. My first two years of high school were filled with basketball. From early morning practices to late night arrivals for ten months, my time was dedicated to the sport. School was secondary to basketball so my grades suffered. Since I wanted to maintain

the highest GPA possible with college on the horizon, I made a conscious effort to focus on academics after my sophomore year. This impacted my level of play in basketball, and I didn’t make the team. With basketball out of the picture, I had a load of free time. I made new friends and became a much more social person. I even got a job to keep myself busy and to earn some extra money for college. I was pretty devastated when I didn’t make the basketball team, but it is amazing to look back and see all of the positive things that came from not making the team.

I feel that even though we all make mistakes during high school, those mistakes are beneficial for us since we learn so much during our time here. I see a lot of students around Sheldon who are very conservative and not really willing to take risks. This was me when I came to this school. I was always worried about what people would think of me and how people would react to any spontaneous things I would say or do. This resulted in a quiet and pretty slow lifestyle. Yet as I grew older, I came to the realization that there are always new things to be done and new experiences to be had. Go out of your comfort zone from time to time. It really made a difference in my life.

Two Sheldon students receive Gates scholarship Four years of hard work in and out of the classroom paid off for Zulema Iboa and Willow Groberg

Maggie Schmaedick entertainment editor

The Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships of its kind. Winners of this scholarship have their education paid for up through a doctorate degree at any institution to which they are accepted. In order to qualify for this award, students must demonstrate outstanding academic success and exemplary character, as well as complete a grueling application process, which includes eight 1000-word essays, two letters of recommendation, and an extensive application. Needless to say, the winners of this hard-earned award are incredible students and human beings, and deserve recognition. Two Sheldon seniors have been honored to win this amazing scholarship.

Zulema Iboa and Willow Groberg made it through the strenuous application process, and are among 1000 students nationwide who won the Bill Gates Millennium Scholarship.

“I was sitting down in front of the computer, and I had just gotten back from visiting a school…My whole family was

there and my brother was face timing us…[When we found out I won] my mom started screaming and my dad jumped up and down and my little brother hugged me.” Such was the scene of celebration at Zulema Iboa’s house when she found out she won the award she had worked so hard for.

“We went to Hometown Buffet to celebrate.” Iboa will be attending Occidental College in Los Angeles for her undergraduate degree. She plans to study either infectious disease or public health. Iboa is most excited about all the volunteer and community involvement opportunities that will be available to her in LA. In order to supplement her studies about health and science, she would like to maybe volunteer at a hospital, but she’s excited to just “be out in the community.”

Willow Groberg was equally excited about receiving the scholarship. Both girls understand that they have been provided with more than just money. Groberg said, “The scholarship is not simply a monetary prize. I have a chance to create a community with other driven and inspiring students. It is an opportunity I must actively accept and in which I must actively partake.” Groberg will attend the University of Oregon next year, with plans to possibly transfer or study abroad if the opportunity arises.

“For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to study anthropology. I love origin stories and to study human origins…is my ultimate dream. I do not just want to study these origins, however, I want to understand them. Studying abroad is the perfect way to achieve this because I feel that the best way to understand something is experience.”

Both Groberg and Iboa have been very active members of the Sheldon community., involved in several extracirricular activities.

Both girls have big plans for the future, and they will have success no matter what route they choose. Groberg

put it well: “I see college as a journey by sea…[the scholarship] is not a free and easy ride which I can take for granted. I am, however, graced with a favorable and nearly constant wind and a crew to help me when a storm arises…I feel my hard work in high school has fruited into a harvest much more abundant than I had ever imagined.”

Maggie Schmaedick photo

Seniors Zulema Iboa and Willow Groberg have earned the prestigious Bill Gates scholarship.

UO

Jaden E. Adams Taylor M. Alie Kayleen C. Areyan Gabrielle M. Aufderheide Gregory S. Ayala Simone C. Balazs Washington Joshua D. Barnes Brian C. Chalkley Aubrey D. Brown Justice Nunley Ka Kit Cheung Hailey L. Cates Katherine J. Padgett Other Oregon Kara J. Cheung Leighty Jordan P. Daline Hannah M. Rodrigues Todd R. Avilla Spencer D. Clark Dylan J. Lewis Lauren E. Gleim Claire E. Thompson Christina M. Bolden Robert A. Collver Mitchell W. Lewis Avery R. Ingram Sabrina N. Wheelhouse Abby F. Brennan Elsie N. Cruz Kyle J. Mastrandea Jacqueline L. Jones Sierra L. Broten Brooke R. Dannen Margarito J.Melo Daniel P. Campbell Jackson L. Darland Annesha D. Milosevich Elizabeth A. Davis Hunter C. Dotson Leah M. Nicklason Danielle Duhaime Ivan S. Faulhaber Danielle J. Peterson Michael Felsher Sarah M. Firth Haley Powers Tiwanna L. Hamilton Ryan A. Fisher Victoria L. Quinn Garrett L. Johnson Adam M. Frichette Lindsey N. Ragsdale Angela M. Juilfs Madeline A. Glaze Gianna E. Tobar Nathaniel S. Klump Carly M. Gough Montana Michelle C. Zachary Natalie W. Kogutkiewicz Justin T. Graff Timothy A. LawrenceBenjamin Z. Green Michael D. Ralston Willow R. Groberg Jordan M. Hatleberg Hayden Haugen OSU Ashley A. Horn Kristen R. Hutchinson Joseph M. Ambros Justin B. Brabham Hana N. Kamata Parker D. Bruni Ha Eun Kim Frank J. Bornstein Isaac T. Klump Kelsie Burke Alyssa J. Lanz Natalie Kogutkiewicz Margaret O. Calhoun Tylor A. Lea Northwest Christian Danielle Clark Hannah N. Leatham University, OR Kylie N. Canaday Gaje B. McDaniel Alexander C. Darling Natalie S. Mertz Troy M. Grove Leeondra R. Nealon California Leana S. Hast Brett D. Nielsen Kyla A. Henninger Benjamin E. Olsson Nevada Wesley R. LaVassaur Sarah Firth, Kayla Smith Kaitlyn Penrod Hagan V. Le Ut�� Macey D. Putnam Kendra M. Cates Stephen M. Leung Madeline G. Richard Maria F. Carnevale William D. Mau Jocob H. Roehl Benjamin C. Chamberlain Paige K. Heaton Maggie J. Schmaedick Morgan Mellor Clare F. Hamblen Alyssa Knapp Alexander E. Schwarte Jacob Reid Zulema Iboa Garcia Melissa A. Scarborough Samuel R. Seno Taylor Lamb Hannah Q. Smith Skye C. Sinclair Ashley C. Land Alexandria K. Wilson Andrew H. Smith Jessica A. Laurie AJ Smith Cory A. Mayer Kayla M. Smith Erin E. Murphy Cooper J. Stiles Sophia Roberts Arizona Sarah A. Stoll-Underwood James D. Banks Emily M. Stringfield Kyle A. King Antoine J. Tokatly Hunter G. Turner Brandon Hawks Hayley E. Wahlroos Hope E. Zima

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Taylor Andrews Jacob L. Baskett Nathaniel C. Bennett Nicholas A. Bermudez Ashley M. Blecke Arianna C. Brewer Ciera D. Burke James P. Cahill Victoria C. Cartwright Ke’Aira M. Destin Nicholas A. Dunphy Pauline Huynh Yanti Kusmiati Raymundo Lavariega-Ramirez Kenneth J. Liang Brody A. McNair Zachary Norton Damian Nunez Aysa M. Polvay Katelyn M. Rasmussen Kasandra A. Redick Nicole R. Reese Rachel M. Reese Samuel N. Salbador Alec M. Schauer Maria C. Stefano

Elizabeth Davis photos

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Features

June 5, 2013

the Talisman

Washburn’s philosophy class a hit Washburn’s new philosphy class has been recieved positively by Sheldon students Maggie Schmaedick entertainment editor Philosophy is a complex and fascinating subject. Many people devote years of their lives to the study of world philosophies, sharing differing ideas about the meaning of life and other deep philosophical questions. Our very own English teacher Mr. Jeremy Washburn has a philosophy degree. Recently Sheldon has added a philosophy course to its English curriculum, which Mr. Washburn is delighted to teach.

Washburn initially entered the education program at the University of Oregon, but shortly after he enrolled, the U of O cut their education program. He then transferred to Colorado to study forestry, but realized early on that it wasn’t for him. Not knowing where to turn, Washburn returned to the UO and decided to become a philosophy major, remembering that “philosophy was always something that [he] loved,” and he wanted to continue taking classes that interested him. The counselors

Jarod Bays photo

Mr. Washburn demonstrates how your experiences may influence your view of the world.

at Oregon told him he would never create a career for himself with a philosophy major, so he added an English major, but his goal was always to become a philosophy teacher.

This year, with the addition of topics classes in the English department, Washburn’s dream has finally come true. Washburn said that one benefit of the topics classes is that they “let students create their own English path,” and Philosophy in Literature has become a popular class among students who have an interest, though maybe not much experience, with philosophy.

Most students have never been exposed to philosophy by the time they are in high school, so the class starts slowly to get students acclimated. Students begin by examining essays and articles that explain what philosophy is and how it should be used. They are introduced to the idea of existentialism, or the philosophy that “existence precedes essence.” In other words, the choices we make are what form the world around us. After understanding the basic tenets of philosophy, students go on to read some of the most famous philosophical works ever, including The Stranger by Albert Camus, published in 1942, and Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, published in 1866.

Senior Jessica Laurie said, “Crime and Punishment was difficult to understand at times, but I really liked it.” It is now one of her favorite books. “[Philosophy] was completely new” to her but she “actually really enjoyed it;” Laurie added, “It’s really different from a regular English class; rather than just grammar and writing it’s like a different way of thinking.” Laurie said she wouldn’t necessarily want to pursue a career in philosophy, but she liked the change of pace.

Washburn said one of the main differences between studying philosophy and studying literature is the philosophical works “tell students what to think about life specifically,” whereas with other literature students have to deduce those messages amid plot twists and characters. This makes the study of philosophy a new experience for most students.

Philosophy is not for everyone, but even those who aren’t passionate for it the way Mr. Washburn is see the value in it. Sheldon librarian Kori Kunz said, “My ethical theory class in college drove me crazy!” Her professor would present the class with outrageous moral dilemmas that would never occur in the real world, and expect his pupils to determine the action that various philosophers would take in each situation.

While this class was a bit of a frustration for her, Kunz said philosophy is a fascinating subject that should not be overlooked. “I think being conscious of thought, our process of thinking, and knowing how other thinkers have approached things is important;” Kunz added, “We study math that sometimes we never use again, but it develops pathways that our brain otherwise wouldn’t create.” The knowledge “isn’t a direct translation,” but it’s more like “brain gymnastics – it makes your brain more robust.”

Needless to say, the new Philosophy in Literature class is pushing Sheldon students to think more critically about the world around them, and its popularity makes it highly likely the class will stick around.

Proficiency grading comes to Sheldon With all of the new changes coming to Sheldon, profficiency grading may have the most impact Jarod Bays co-features editor Sheldon will be implementing some dramatic changes to their grading system next year. The new system is known as proficiency-based grading, and is supposed to give students a better idea of what they learned rather than how well they did in the class. Not only this, but students will now be required to pass one subject before moving on to the next, and multiple opportunities will be given to make sure that students do pass. For instance, if a student is given an ‘F’ on the first chapter test, they will not move on to chapter two until passing. Mr. Whalley, who is skeptical about this system, said, “I can see the benefit, but with larger classes it will be difficult to implement.” On report cards, in addition to the letter grade, students will be shown their performance on each section of material they learned, as well as how many opportunities it took for them to pass each one.

Due to the fact that zeroes from missing assignments do not show how much students have learned, teachers will have to accept late work and will not be able to dock points for it. There will also be a much higher emphasis on turning in work. Freshman Josh Meiners likes this idea, saying, “This gives kids a second chance to prove their intelligence and learn. It will also help kids who need people to get on their backs to get stuff done.”

Assignments will be split into the categories of ‘formative assignments’ and ‘summative assignments’. Formative assignments, such as homework, are meant to help facilitate your learning, and will be weighted very lightly on your overall grade (about 10%). Summative assignments, such as tests and quizzes, are meant to evaluate how much you have learned, and will be weighted very heavily (about 90%).

Throughout each chapter or section there will be a great deal of small tests given, rather than a single test. Makeup opportunities will also be given more regularly.

Mr. Whalley also said, “It’s going to be rough in world language and social studies classes, since participation is so important and can’t really be graded anymore.”

Freshman Kayla Wilbur said on the subject, “There are a lot of kids who have test anxiety, and this change is really going to suck for them. It will help kids to prepare for college, though.” Wilbur later stated, “This is going to make things a lot harder on teachers, as they are going to have to grade multiple chapters at once and keep tabs on each kid’s progress. A lot of teachers are already against this system.” Junior Ben Mladvitch stated, “I’d prefer not to have the switch next year, for one because it’s my senior year, and for two because there are so many other changes too, such as the new schedule. It almost seems like they’re trying to do too much at once.”

District officials are hopeful that this new system will boost student performance, and help them to learn more than if they were using the standardized grading system we are using now. However, many students currently using the proficiency-based grading system in Beaverton and Portland are frustrated and dissatisfied with the new system, either irritated with grading inconsistencies or worried about college scholarships and acceptance rates.

There will really be no way to know how well it works until it is in effect.

Senior Skip Day: fun tradition or waste of time?

Senior skip day is a popular Sheldon event, but much debate remains on the subject Keionna White staff writer Seniors believe that senior skip day might as well be a holiday. It’s a day where they can do whatever they feel like and not have to go to school. This year it was on the 28th of May and the seniors who did skip had a four day weekend. Should it continue to be a day where they can get away with doing what they want and not have to care about school?

Senior skip day is a day for seniors to get a day off for all the long, hard days they have put in for the years they have gone to school. Most students such as sophomore Gavin Deering said, “Seniors should be able to skip because they had to go to school for fours years in just high school.” It’s only one day that doesn’t really matter. For the most part, all the seniors are done with all the hard classes and are winding down for the year anyway. However, most teachers will not allow any makeup work that students are missing for that one day they are skipping. That is not very fair because seniors go to classes every other day and when they do miss a class teachers have to let them make up a test and do makeup work.

Senior Ryan Avilla said, “I plan on skipping; it’s a tradition.” To most students it’s not a big deal if they skip or not. Sophomore Kyrell Jefferson said, “It doesn’t really matter if seniors skip or not unless they don’t have all their credits done.” It’s not really a very big

deal because most seniors do it. It’s just one day where the senior class can have fun. It shouldn’t have to be a huge deal if they only miss one day.

Features

the Talisman

Canada cripples their science department Canada cuts funding to any scientific research that won’t make money quickly Jarred Rogers co-features editor Throughout the ages, humanity has done its best to learn about the world and try to progress to new levels of technology. Every great technological achievement, and each advancement in knowledge has been because of one thing: science.

Nevertheless, it would appear not everyone sees it that way. Canada has recently stated that they will be giving up any scientific study that does not have the potential for immediate commercial or economic gain. The National Research Council, or NRC, the organization in charge of scientific research in Canada, has officially stated that they do not believe scientific research is valuable unless it provides immediate and satisfactory commercial growth. Although this is a plan that is no doubt incredibly flawed, some insist that it will provide benefits.

The NRC’s argument is that by focusing research on supposedly more fruitful experiments, they will be able to turn a fast profit. Other than the obvious fact that this isn’t how science actually works, this is an incredible gamble. Since there won’t be any more long term benefits of in-depth scientific research, there is no guarantee that they will be able to actually turn a profit. There is a very high chance they will end up losing money, using this logic, instead of gaining it.

Another key point is that without focusing resources on long-term research, we will have trouble progressing in the future. We have managed to get to where we are today by devoting sufficient research to things like medicine or long-distance communication. And so far, it has mostly paid off, as we now have much more refined medical practices, as well as the internet, cell phones, waffles cakes, combustible lemons, and more. So while the effects of not having long-term research may not be visible today, it will become more and more apparent in coming years.

Micah Tamasaka comic

A dramatization of the state of Canada’s science department.

Despite assurances from the NRC, many remain skeptical of the consequences set by their actions. With Canada ceasing research on how to cure diseases or advance in other fields, it doesn’t seem like much good can come from it. Luckily, science continues to endure in other parts of the world, and will continue to yield benefits for future generations.

Frolicking in the warm summer air Summer draws near once again Haleigh Krause staff writer

probably the most important part. Senior Ian Holman said, “It’s important because you are about to move out of the house, you have to find a place to live, and get settled down for college, but it’s also the most fun part because you get to live on your own and meet new people before school starts!” Summer is the best time to be with your family and friends.

Make sure you get enough sun, because we all know the rain is coming shortly after.

It’s always easy to tell when summer is getting close in a high school. Everyone gets louder and more excited about everything. There are so many things to do in the summer and only three months to do them in. Sheldon students and staff have some very interesting plans for the summer.

Junior Justin Albertini said, “This is going to be the best summer ever because its lake season!” If you are at the lake every day in the summer you must know the feeling of excitement every morning. Putting the boat in the water is only the start of a day that you will never forget.

Albertini later added, “The adrenaline and excitement of being on a wakeboard is an indescribable feeling.”

Being at the lake is not the only thing to do in the summer. When summer starts, it means that there are only three months until “the football season” begins. Michele Phillipo, from attendance, said, “We always love the summer because we know it’s closer to football season!”

With her husband being the Defensive Coordinator for the Sheldon Irish football team, Michele and her family make the trip up to Siuslaw High School every year for Sheldon’s football camp. They also enjoy going to watch the open field for football held at Sheldon towards the end of the summer. Other than football, the Phillipo family loves going camping at the Honeyman Camp Ground in Florence.

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Jacob Brannen to stay in France Sophomore Jacob Brannen will be spending a year in France as part of the Rotary Youth Exchange program Cayla Walker staff writer

For over seventy-five years, students and host families have broadened their horizons through Rotary Youth Exchange. Sophomore Jacob Brannen will be participating in Rotary’s long-term Youth Exchange program. He will live in France for ten and a half months learning the language and culture as well as teaching others his own. Moving to a new country and living with a family you have never met before is a challenge that many people would not want to face, but it will help broaden his horizons and it will be a unique opportunity. Brannen will leave on August 22, and he will be in France for his whole junior year of high school.

Brannen has already been preparing for his trip, along with all of the other exchange students that are involved in the program. He is required to attend a meeting every month so he will have everything in order before leaving. During the meetings, he gets to spend time with the inbounds that came to America from other countries. They give him tips and share their stories of how life changing their experiences have been along with the challenges they have faced. Brannen said, “I can’t wait to be able to ride my road bike all over France and watch the Tour De France. It is going to be amazing and I will get to travel to Paris and eat bread.”

Many people at Sheldon are going to miss Brannen while he is gone. His best friend, sophomore Adrian Vasquez said, “I am going to miss his sense

of humor and also his stupidity.” While the students at Sheldon are working hard, Brannen will be going to a French school, traveling around France learning the language and culture as well as getting to try many new foods. He has already been in communication with his host sister, who will be coming to America when Brannen goes to France. One challenge Brannen will face is adjusting to his new schedule including school, sleep, and eating.

Pétanque is a French game that few students from our school have participated in, and Brannen is one of them. He hopefully will get to develop his skills in the game while living in its originating place.

Along with finding new activities to do in France, Brannen will get to travel by train to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower and explore the places that he has learned about at Sheldon in his classes. His French teacher Madame Barley said, “You have to go to many different places and get all the flavors that each one contributes to the big mix.” Being in France for almost a year will present Brannen with many unique opportunities.

Béthune is the town in northern France where Brannen will be living.

It is rich in architectural heritage and history that includes: a large paved square with shops, cafés, and a 47 meter (133 steps) tall belfry standing in the center, from the top of which the Belgian border can be seen. He will be attending Lycée Louis Blaringhem for school. Brannen will not be going on what is considered a vacation because he will be busy exploring France and going to school, without any time to relax. Being able to go on exchange is an extraordinary opportunity that Brannen will embrace, hopefully coming back as a new and more experienced person.

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June 5, 2013

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Opinions

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Sheldon to get a new bark trail

A new one-kilometer bark trail will soon grace the acreage of Sheldon Josiah Darland staff writer The soft squish of bark mulch beneath the soles of your feet feels wonderful – much better than the pounding of concrete. It has been a bit of a challenge for the Sheldon cross country team to keep runners feeling healthy because the nearest running trail is over two miles away, starting at Alton Baker Park. This coming year Sheldon is getting it’s own bark running trail within our campus. Junior TJ Wright said, “It will be really nice not having to destroy my shins on pavement during long road runs.”

“It will be so freaking awesome to not have to bike or run to Pre’s trail at Alton Baker just to run on bark,” added sophomore Tristan Carpenter. The entire crosscountry team is super excited to have its own bark trail to run on next year. It will save many runners from getting shin splints, as well as other impact related injuries.

Incoming freshman Jacob Shelton said, “A bark trail around the Sheldon campus would be super chill especially because it saves us from having to run on pavement and it would give us a place to run that’s

actually at Sheldon which is pretty chill.” The Rexius company plans on blowing bark around the school campus before the cross country season starts up.

“A new bark trail would help not only the Sheldon cross country team but the track team as well,” stated freshman Jackson Mestler, who ran both cross country and track this year. A bark trail will help provide another place for the community to recreate. Putting in a bark trail would be a huge step for not only our cross country team and the track team, but our community as a whole.

Bullying policy: What’s the solution?

Sheldon students share their personal experiences with bullying throughout the years Ayla Bussel copy editor, senior page editor Threatened. Punched. Kicked. Texted. Tweeted. These forms of bullying are the things that drive thousands of teenagers to commit suicide each year. Bullying is a real and serious problem in today’s society. As a school, we need to find a way to combat bullying and stand up for victims once and for all. Bullying is not just physical. It can consist of name calling, vicious posts on Facebook, or just a nasty rumor. Some of the “bullies” don’t even realize what they’re doing until the situation gets completely out of hand.

Freshman Jackson Mestler has had some personal experiences with bullying. “Kids used to make fun of me because I was skinny. They called me a stick.” When asked what he would do if he were being bullied at Sheldon, Mestler said, “I would probably tell my parents about it, and then if that didn’t work I might go to a teacher.”

Mestler also added that if he were to see a kid being bullied he would probably tell the bully to stop, and then walk away.

Senior Ian Holman agreed with his fellow classmate saying, “To prevent bullying you should try and be nice to everyone.” Holman went on to say, “My best friend in middle school was bullied because he was heavier than most kids. People would call him mean names.”

Freshmen Taya Norris and Katie Lauick both agreed on the subject of Sheldon’s bullying policy saying, “We don’t know if Sheldon even has a bullying policy. There’s nothing that the school can really do. I feel like if we were being bullied or one of our friends’ was and we told a school authority, then nothing would really happen.”

Norris also said, “I was bullied because I snort when I laugh. Kids bullied me for various reasons and I’m not really sure why.” Lauick added, “I think freshman year is the year that kids are most likely to be bullied because they are vulnerable and seniors/upperclassmen take advantage of that and tend to pick on them.”

The general consensus of Sheldon students seems to be that no one knows how to deal with the problem of bullying once confronted with it. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to dealing with bullying, but there definitely is no explanation for why some teenagers feel the need to put others down because of their differences. Our differences are what make us special. As a school, there needs to be a plan or a form or something that students can do in order to stop the bullying the second that it starts. Students need to feel safe when they come to school – not fearful. And they need to know exactly what will be done if someone is threatening that safety.

HAL: changing the way we move New robotic technology, Hybrid Assistive Limb, is changing prosthetics for the better Micah Tamasaka backpage editor When we get older, our bodies start to break down and get weaker. Now, to keep that from happening, it is important to get a lot of physical exercise and eat wellbalanced meals; yet, this is not a total guarantee that your body will not weaken and become frail. However, there is an alternative that has been developed in Japan: HAL, a robotic exoskeleton that will give people back their ability to walk and get around.

HAL, or Hybrid Assistive Limb, is a technology that took

its inventor, Dr. Sankai, seven years to get to work, from 1990-1997. Sophomore Peter Sterfano said, “It is essential for our progression as humans. Without new technology we would still be in the stone age.” The first three years, he spent mapping out the leg’s neuron system, and the next four years he spent making a working prototype.

By the time that a fully functioning, legs-only product was finished, it was 2011. Its first real use was during the Fukushima nuclear disaster where it was used in the clean up process of taking care of the nuclear waste.

Scientific studies have shown that with therapeutic games and powered exoskeletons like HAL, it can stimulate cognitive activities that can help disabled children walk, and even run, while they play. It can also be used in rehabilitation to help people learn to walk again. Junior Sean Valente said, “No, [HAL] doesn’t actually strengthen muscles, it merely creates a substitute for them. The old injuries would remain the same.”

This is a marvelous invention that I can see many uses

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for. From helping workers who have physically demanding jobs, to rescue teams, and finally helping people walk again. Senior Nicholas Dunphy said, “I think they will revolutionize warfare and everyday life, such as moving heavy equipment and security measures, they will have a positive and negative effect on life.” There are probably many other tasks that this helpful machine can be used for, but the problem that I can see right away is the cost.

Having a miraculous invention like HAL is a wonderful thing; however, with new and on demand technology like this one, marketers will make the prices of it skyrocket. In doing so, a lot of people that need this technology will not be able to acquire it.

Sports

the Talisman

June 5, 2013

11

NCAA track and field athletes prepare for Hayward Field Athletes are getting prepared to take on each other in the Track and Field Championships at historic Hayward Field

Cole Bruns staff writer With track and field season wrapping up, it only gets more exciting as the finale approaches. As the stars are getting ready to face off on the big stage, the track championships at Hayward are expected to be a huge hit with running enthusiasts. Enthusiasts of other events should get their fill as well, as every event is expected to be a hit.

Historic H a y w a r d

Field, home of the 2013, and soon to be 2014 NCAA championships is getting ready for a great week. Situated in Eugene, Oregon, Hayward is the famous home of the Oregon Ducks. According to NCAA.com Hayward’s home, Eugene, “is a diverse city located in the southern end of the Willamette Valley between two buttes along the scenic Willamette River. Eugene integrates the surrounding natural environment through extensive parks and path systems, so no matter where you stay in the city, you’re immersed in the dynamic beauty of the great Northwest.

Known as Track Town USA, this outdoors-minded community has spawned many great Olympic runners, Nike, landmark sports venues and a host of sporting events from popular marathons to the 2012 USA Track & Field Olympic Trials.”

Some of these athletes are trying to find that last big success before they move onto the next chapter of their lives. Others come hungry for a chance to prove themselves on a national stage. No matter the reason, the athletes that make it to the championships first have to prove themselves at either the east or

west prefinals.

The competition only gets more and more difficult the further each athlete goes, peaking in a grand finale of the world’s fastest college athletes on the 8th of June at Hayward.

Athletes aren’t the only ones who can compete in the events; there are also organized events for the fans who want a taste of the action. All information regarding these events is to be announced at the championships, including give aways and other non athletic events.

New NFL coaches ready to take on a new experience New coaches such as Chip Kelly are getting ready Isaiah Cartwright staff writer Many NFL teams hired new head coaches this offseason, including the Philadelphia Eagles who hired Chip Kelly, leaving the Oregon Ducks before they accomplished a national championship. As the new NFL coaches head to their new teams, many questions arise as to whether or not they can lead their teams to success, as well as the question of the longevity of these coaches future NFL careers.

Whether it’s a first-time NFL head coach, or a veteran head coach, all face major obstacles in order to get their teams to the playoffs. These coaches know that if they don’t win now, their jobs are at stake, and their careers could be cut short.

The most surprising new NFL head coach is without a doubt Chip Kelly. A lot of people around here look at the departure of Chip as bittersweet. Sophomore Taylor Conlon said, “At first I was upset that Chip left Oregon without a national championship, but I understand why he left.” Conlon went on to say, “I’m not sure how Chip will do in the league, but it will be interesting. He’s going to bring a wide variety of

offense and defense to the NFL.” Many people believe that Chip might revolutionize the NFL game as we know it with his fast and high octane offense. Chip has said that he will try to run up to eighty plays a game, which is definitely out of the norm.

Chip Kelly is not the only new NFL head coach with high expectations. Andy Reid, the former head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, is taking on the challenge of bringing the nineteenth-ranked Kansas City Chiefs back to the top of the NFL. So far, Coach Reid isn’t receiving very good vibes. Sophomore Kyrell Jefferson said, “I think Andy Reid will do the worst out of all the new NFL head coaches.” When Jefferson was asked who he thought would do the best, he said, “I firmly believe Marc Trestman, the new coach of the Chicago Bears, will do the best. He already has a winning team surrounding him and for him to work with.”

Other new head coaches around the NFL include: Bruce Arians, who now coaches the Arizona Cardinals; Doug Marrone, now coaching the Buffalo Bills; Rob Chudsinski, now coaching the Cleveland Browns; Gus Bradley, now coaching the Jacksonville Jaguars; and Mike McCoy, who is now coaching the San Diego Chargers. There is no doubt that the pressure is on for all of these coaches. Sophomore Garrett Welt said, “I don’t expect many of the new head coaches to do well in their first year. Most people struggle for the first few years, then are able to pick it up in the third or fourth year, if they’re still around.”

NBA playoffs are winding down, but the intensity is heating up

The final teams are set and the championship is ready to be claimed by the victor AJ Smith sports editor

The NBA playoffs have been a swirl of emotions for both players and fans alike. With upsets and in- tense games, the playoffs have provided a plethora of great games to watch and talk about. Nine technical fouls in game two of the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat left the Bulls without another player to their already impaired roster. The Memphis Grizzlies surprised many fans with a series win of 4 to 2 over the Los Angeles Clippers, and went on to shock everyone with a 4 to 1 series win over the Western Conferences’ top seed Oklahoma City Thunder. All of this happened while the San Antonio Spurs only dropped two games on their way to the finals.

As May went on, only four teams were left in contention for the NBA championship. All four teams are smaller market teams, which will make the semi-finals much less marketable for the NBA. San Antonio is the tenth team in market size, and some think the best competition for the Miami Heat in the post-season. Senior Ryan Avilla said, “I think that a San Antonio/Miami series in the finals would be the best series. Even though the Grizzlies are doing well, I don’t think they will stand above the Spurs in the Western Conference finals.” He was right, as San Antonio won the Western Conference Finals in a straight 4 to 0 sweep over the Grizzlies.

After a fierce series with the Chicago Bulls that ended in six games, the Miami Heat took on the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Finals. Indiana was able to beat the New York Knicks in six games with impressive performances by Paul George and Roy Hibbert, but the Miami Heat provides a huge challenge to the fairly inexperienced team. Senior Jim Cahill said, “I think the talent and experience of the Heat will overcome the Pacers in six games. The Heat just have too

much for the Pacers defense to handle.” The Pacers do have one of the best defenses in the league, with the highest rebounds per game in the league, and a close second in opponents’ points per game.

The favorite to win the championship has been Miami, since they are the reigning champions from last year. Yet this year, they had to compete with the new and improved Indiana Pacers who have a sti-

fling defense and a streaky offense. Junior Michael Chavez said, “I really think the Pacers have a shot at beating the Heat. If they can contain [Le’Bron] James, they might be able to hold off and win the Eastern Conference Finals.” The series was tied up at 3 games apiece, but then Miami took the last game and was able to beat out the Pacers for the chance to beat the Spurs in the Finals.

With summer coming around it’s best to remember the golden rule of the outdoors: leave no trace when it comes to waste Cody Koch staff writer Many people enjoy going out into the woods for many different activities. Whether it be hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, working, off-roading, or just up there to enjoy being outside. Although, there is one thing everyone can agree on, there is way too much litter.

With it being almost impossible to go out and not see at least some trash that someone has left behind, it is clear something needs to change.

With hundreds of people entering the forest a day, peoples opinions vary just as much as the reason they are there. When Sophmore Keegan Nolan was asked what he does in the woods he replied, “Hike and go shooting.” When asked the same question Junior Blake Schaufler said, “I go to climb trees.” Personally I go to hike, hunt, fish, go wheeling, and just to enjoy being in the outdoors.

Litter is become a very big problem very fast. When asked if he has ever seen litter Sophmore Gavin Deering quickly said, “Yes, I’ve seen someone do it!” However, when asked if he felt littering should be illegal he simply said, “No.” When asked who he felt litters the most Deering said he feels that drunk teens are the worst about illegally leaving trash.

There is a slogan that the forest service, ODFW, and many other organizations are trying to get to catch on right now. The slogan is “Leave no trace”. The hope is that by using this simple slogan people will think twice before leaving their garbage on the ground.

Hopefully, in the years to come people will realize how littering negatively impacts the environment and our access to forest land and people will start to ‘leave no trace’.

Check out some of the new movies, and concerts that are schedualed for this summer

Leave no trace

Looking Forward

Backpage Elizabeth Davis centerspread editor

Summer 2013. Things to always look forward to are the movies and the concerts. What does this summer have in store for us? Here are some of the many movies coming out this summer, and some concerts in Oregon.

Whether it is movies or concerts, there are a lot of things to see in Oregon this year. Let’s see what this summer brings!

Movies

(July 3)

Concerts:

(June 7)

Despicable Me 2

The Internship

The Lone Ranger

Passion

(July 12)

Portland Rose Festival, June 9th, Tom McCall

Violet & Daisy

Grown Ups 2

(June 12)

(July 19)

This is the End

Only God Forgives

(June 14)

Red 2

Man of Steel

Turbo

(June 21)

(July 26)

Monsters University The Wolverine World War Z

(August 2)

(June 28)

2 Guns

Byzantuim

(August 23)

The Heat White House Down

Fall out Boy, June 18th, Portland – Roseland Theater Aaron Carter June 29th, Portland – The Asylum Tim Mcgraw, July 15th, Eugene – Matthew Knight Arena

Taylor Swift/ Ed Sheeran, August 30th, The Mortal Instruments: City of Portland– Rose Garden Bones

Dalai Lama speaks about selfishness and materialism Dalai Lama visits Eugene and Portland to share wisdom about the difference between precious human life and “not precious” life Jackson Darland editor-in-chief

Four weeks ago, His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of Tibet and strong advocate for world peace, visited the Eugene and Portland area. I had the opportunity to go and listen to His Holiness speak at the Environmental Summit at the Coliseum in the Rose Quarter along with 11,000 other people.

The Dalai Lama touched on the issues of environmental destruction, social injustice, and selfish, materialistic culture during the two sessions of the event.

After hearing his ideas about the power of compassion and the need to critically examine personal values in order to see what is truly, intrinsically important in life, I was inspired to find out the responses of various Sheldon students.

I asked a series of questions pertaining to subjects addressed at the conference, only some of which were tackled by the interviewees; they were tough questions.

Question: Do you see a problem with the current idea of a healthy economy in that it relies on steady consumption? How do you think that we, as a local and world community, should change the way we understand economy? What could a new metric do?

Sophomore Eli Bonosevich-Gekosky: I think there would be pressure from the general people to change unhealthy systems.

People would demand more accountability on the part of corporations and government.

Junior Marcus McGovern: People are looking at the economy in a superficial way—dollar value. I think a new metric would really open people’s eyes. Right now it’s cost, supply, and demand, but it should deal more with real consequences.

If everybody was more informed, I think it would make a huge positive difference.

Sophomore Elise Whisler: I think some people don’t really care about how they affect the world, but, for others, I really think it would change what they do.

Question: The Dalai Lama emphasized the importance of education in dealing with major issues such as environmental awareness and social injustice. What are your thoughts on the role of education, especially with regards to the type of early education that can affect the deeper values and understandings of a human being?

Sophomore Danny Long: I think that kids should be told the truth about the environment, and I think that kids should be guided towards the truth from an early age to instill certain values. Education is key.

Marcus McGovern: The first seven years of a child’s life are extremely important when setting up the mind of a person as far as the way he looks at the world the rest of his life.

Question: If all people were informed about the implications of their actions on a global scale, how do you think the world would change?

Marcus McGovern: I think it would be beneficial to let people know about the implications of their actions— make things more transparent.

Question: The Dalai Lama talks about common values that are shared by all people, ranging from biological needs such as air to breathe to more complicated needs such as human affection. Do you agree with this idea? How do you think a worldwide consensus, as far as these basic values, could help catalyze positive change for humanity?

Elise Whisler: I think it would be really hard for all people to have common values.

I don’t know if that could actually happen.

Marcus McGovern: I think everybody’s basic needs are different, but having common values in the open could close gaps like the one between left and right in politics. I also think that sharing common values would help bring families and communities closer together.

Question: At the conference, a new political model was outlined that would involve starting from a point of agreement—such as the idea that we need to clean up our polluted atmosphere—and forming a plan of action from that mutual agreement. What do you think of this idea? Could it work in the United States?

Eli Bonosevich-Gekosky: I don’t think it could work. Look at what is happening in politics right now. Parties are too divided.

Marcus McGovern: It sounds like it could work.

Getting people on the same page could be difficult, but I think it could be revolutionary.

Question: There are seven billion people living on Earth. Do you think there comes a point where there are just too many of us? The Dalai Lama responded to this question by explaining the difference between precious human life and “not precious” human life. In short, a person who is concerned only with his or her own short term wellbeing and sensory based happiness would be considered “not precious” by the Dalai Lama. What are your thoughts?

Elise Whisler: No, I don’t think we need to stop growth. I think every person has a purpose. I think that every person is important. Everyone can be more.

Marcus McGovern: High population definitely causes problems. Is it more about quantity or quality? I don’t know.