S.P.i.N

Jadeveon Clowney road to glory poster

S.P.i.N.

Pages 18-19

“Children of Eden, where is your garden” Page XX

South Pointe in the News

Established 2006

Volume 6

Issue 2

November 2010

South Pointe High School

Rock Hill, S.C.

“Gift of life” could vanish for Stallion with tumor Ly (pronounced Lee), a profoundly mentally disabled (PMD) student who is in dire need of medication that could essentially determine her life expectancy.

Ly, also known as “Lang” to her peers, was born in Cambodia and brought to the United States in search of a better life. Although her mother passed away when she was very young, Ly’s father has assumed the responsibility as care taker.

“She’s a handful, but he loves her,” said PMD teacher Missy Nix Pusey.

When living in Cambodia, doctors suspected that Ly was a victim of Polio, only armed with the evidence that she could not walk until she was 10 years old. However, Ly’s father made the decision to move to the United States after a relative worked and lived here for several years to raise enough money for them to come over, not because Ly was diagnosed Bunlang Ly, a PMD student, wears splints to protect her with Polio. arms and hands. She started biting them a couple of On their journey to years ago when a growing tumor caused serious behavAmerica at age 13, Ly ioral changes. had to be examined by yet Jessie Fields another doctor before entering the United Managing editor and feaStates. Already aware of the Developmentures editor tally Delayed portion of her illness, her father was shocked to be informed that Ly The bell rings, and students scramble also has a tumor on the pituitary gland in to make their way through the packed her brain. hallways before they are considered tardy.

Although her body is on track with Students who pass the start of downstairs her 18 year old status, her brain is 17 A Hall also pass a window with a familiar, years behind. curious face watching students as they “She thinks and understands like a come and go. one year old,” said Pusey.

This familiar face is that of Bunlang

Without medicine to relieve symptoms from her tumor, Ly’s stomach cannot tell her when she is hungry, her brain cannot inform her when she is tired, and her balance is exceptionally thrown off. All of this, plus pain from the growing tumor pressing on her brain, can result in one uncomfortable and unhappy child.

“When she first came here, she was wild,” said Pusey.

As of the 2010 school year, Ly has adapted and become very comfortable with her surroundings, with the support of pain relieving medicine.

“She doesn’t look anything like the child that came here in 2006,” Pusey said.

“She is playful, curious and has a really funny sense of humor.”

Assistant Principal Toussaint Kennedy described Ly as “curious and very observant.”

Because of her recent 18th birthday Oct. 10, she became ineligible to receive medical assistance that had been available to her as a minor legal immigrant.

Once Ly’s father has been in the United States for five years, he can apply for American citizenship, which would restore Bunlang’s medical aid. However, seven months separates her turning 18 and citizenship.

Ly’s gift of a better life because of medication that shrinks her tumor could ironically vanish because of her birthday.

“We’ve found a way to pay for one month’s worth of her medication,” said Pusey through an email informing the South Pointe staff of Ly’s predicament.

The cost of this medicine depends on how Ly’s blood work looks in response to how much prolactin her body is producing. Best case scenario is that $5,000 will be needed to cover this one medication; the worst case scenario will be $13,500.

Surgery has been an option and it has been thoroughly reviewed and considered.

However, “It might hurt her more than it helps her,” explained Pusey.

“We could definitely do something

Helping hands...

about it, if we’re capable of doing something about it,” said Kennedy regarding Ly’s significant need of funding, “Even if it’s a dime.”

“I kinda felt that if we were raising money for kids in another country, we should be able to raise money for a kid at our own school,” said sophomore Kaitlin Ebeling, who is in charge of the Well Worth It fundraiser. In fact, Ebeling has decided to put Well Worth It on hold for several weeks and make Ly’s predicament her main focus.

In addition to donating several weeks worth of money raised for Well Worth It to Ly, Ebeling is compiling a fundraiser involving each classroom and a potential reward for the class who raises the most money.

“It will be a good chance for us to unite as a school and help someone who is in need right here at South Pointe,” said Ebeling.

Pusey, along with several people in the community, has contacted nearly 100 groups, agencies, churches and companies in search of a way to help Ly get the medication she needs to essentially live without unbearable pain for seven months, and to keep her tumor from threatening her life.

Any school, church or civic organization looking for a service project, this is the perfect chance.

“I’d be happy to come speak to any group that would consider adopting the cause,” said Pusey via email. “If you want to make a personal donation, we will gratefully accept that too.”

Ly’s father has given permission to put her story out to anyone who might be able to help. She now has her own website to inform the public of her dilemma, www.HelpThisChild.webs.com. “…Anything you can contribute will directly impact whether this child has to suffer with severe pain or can continue growing and learning,” said Pusey through a mass email, “Would this even be South Pointe without her face in the window of my door keeping watch over the halls?”

Ebinport Elementary’s special education class organized a bake sale.

India Hook Elementary’s Girls on the Run program arranged “Links for Lang,” selling paper links for a quarter in hopes of gathering enough to wrap them around the entire school building.

South Pointe’s Children of Eden cast passed baskets for donations from audience members.

Kaitlin Ebeling put Well Worth It on hold to raise money for Bunlang.

Bunlang stands and smiles at passing students after the bell for third lunch.

To donate money to Bunlang’s medical expenses bring money/checks to Missy Pusey in Room A134 and make checks payable to Early Learning Partnership.

Photos by Jessie Fields

Bunlang Ly plays with teacher Missy Pusey and a toy horn in thier room.

Staff members will strive to correct errors prior to publication; however, if the editorial board determines a significant error is printed, the editorial board will determine the manner and timeliness of any correction.

Zandrea Frazier News editors Whitney Robinson Assistant news editor

Page 2

November 2010

International Baccalaureate Math Higher Level classes receive iPads

Students in the IB Math HL class learn to operate their brand new iPads.

Alex Culp Reporter Technology in the classroom has rapidly changed over the years. Imagine your classes without the Promethean ActivBoard. Just a few years back, teachers were still using traditional chalkboards and chalk.

In this new day and age, Rock Hill Schools are attempting to take another shot at updating technology in the classroom. In order to adapt to the 21st century and to expose students to the technology, district officials have incorporated Apple’s newly released iPad into International Baccalaureate Math High Level classes’ at all three high schools, including the two classes at South Pointe.

“I saw a demonstration from Apple representatives,” said Dr. Harriet Jaworowski, Assistant Superintendant of Instruction for Rock Hill Schools. “We figured how they [students] could use them in our schools.”

South Pointe Principal Al Leonard was consulted and asked if he would like to participate in the pilot, according to Jaworowski.

Jaworowski responded “absolutely” when asked if the iPads will be a useful tool in the classroom. The students will have an application that feature 3-D objects that can be rotated by hand, which offers opportunities well beyond a piece of notebook paper. Students will also be able to contact their teacher by another email system on their

iPad. Wi-Fi will be made available in the classroom for instruction on the Internet and for other applications that require internet access.

Jaworowski said the reason the IB Math HL class was the only course chosen to receive iPads is because they are small classes and the iPads support many applications for instruction and support for the class. “While there is no requirement, the pilot was done in a course that had small enrollment district wide so that we could do it on a very small scale, given the budget,” Jaworowski stated in an email. “The number per school was determined by enrollment in that course rather than a decision that one school would get more than another.”

IB Math HL Teacher Glenn McGinnis also was willing to travel a new path to invite the iPads into his classroom here at South Pointe.

“I believe the iPads will provide students with more resources, less books to carry, and it will help eliminate damaged books,” said McGinnis.

Thirty iPad units were purchased for Rock Hill District 3 students enrolled in IB Math HL at around $400 and $500, according to Jaworowski. McGinnis has two sections – 10 students each – of IB Math HL, so South Pointe received 20 iPads.

Insurance costs are another factor, but the prices of in-

Reporter Jessica Kumari and cameraman Ali Jawad Kermalli of CBS Channel One News interview Dr. Harriet Jaworowski, assistant superintendant of Instruction for Rock Hill Schools. The national press came to South Pointe to cover the district’s roll-out of new Apple technology, the iPads for each Interbaccalaureate Math High Level student.

Kumari had picked up on a story in The Herald about Principal Al Leonard and his use of another district purchase-the iPhone for each principal--to streamline his job. The reporter was interested in covering the use of technology in education and agreed to delay her trip to Rock Hill to include the iPad distribution. S.P.i.N. editor-in-chief Taylor Snyder, photography editor DeNarius Allen and reporter Alex Culp spent the day shadowing the CBS crew.

surance were undisclosed. “Funds for this pilot came from the District Instuction Department,” said Jaworowski.

Students were mandated to sign a form stating that they will pay a fee of $500 in the event their iPad were lost or damaged. Each iPad also came with a bright, lime green hard shell carrying case and a screen protector to further attempt to protect the unit. Students will also take the iPads home to further study for the class.

“I think they’re pretty cool, and we’ve never used them in school before,” said junior Xavia Ponce, a student in the class. “I think it will make note taking easier and you won’t have to carry as many books around”.

“I think it will help me to combine all of my classes into one useful tool,” junior Brian Price said.

Having such a powerful device in hand every day in class poses some disadvantages as well. McGinnis is worried that students will be surfing the Web and downloading copyrighted music instead of taking notes during instruction. However, he does have the capability to disconnect wireless internet access any time in his classroom by disconnecting the router.

The iPads may or may not benefit students, as only time will tell.

“The students are technology driven, and this is the future, and we need to adapt to it,” said McGinnis.

November 2010

Page 3

Temperatures and tempers run hot,cold Zandrea Frazier News editor

District 3 Operations HVAC Foreman Donnie Hill

“Yall have to be patient with us. We are in the process of fixing the problems. We’re not just bandaiding it. We’re actually fixing it.”

Advice to teachers experiencing problems: “Generate a work order and let me be aware of what’s going on and I’ll address it and take care of it.”

Project Manager Mike Armour of Activelogix, the Charlotte, N.C., now works for the company awarded the district contract for South Pointe’s heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system overhaul. Armour previously worked for District 3 Operations for 39 years but said he lost his job as school district operations was downsized last year. He said he went to work for Activelogix the third week of June 2010.

Activelogix is in the process of replacing old controls as part of a whole recommissioning of the entire school that Armour says will conserve energy and save money while finally solving the problems of temperature extremes in the building. The company will paid through a state energy grant the district received, although Armour asserted if problems are not corrected, “We haven’t done our job.”

Corrections also include work on malfunctioning air handlers, dampers that are not opening or closing properly, blower motors, sensory units that are not calibrated, among other problems.

“We have a host of issues, and it takes a lot of time to get the little stuff,” he said.

“The perception is that ‘they’re controlling our temperature. The big house has control over our temperature,’” Armour said. But the district standard is 74 degrees when cooling and 70 degrees when heating. “The district philosophy is that ‘students deserve a clean, comfortable climate to learn in,’” he said.

So, I have my backpack, pencils/pens, folders, notebooks, text books and my jacket? Should I keep my jacket?

My first class feels like the Sahara Desert, but my second class feels like Antarctica. Why can’t the temperature be consistent?

Heating and air conditioning are still a problem, and this year’s extremes have teachers, students, staff and administration wondering, “What’s going on?”

“It has been 84-88 (degrees) about 20 times during first block this year, and 90 one day at the beginning of school,” said Robert Hellams, whose computer-based courses put him in the upstairs A-hall computer lab for instruction. “It has also been over 80 a couple of times during third and fourth block. (A thermostat reading of) 91 was first semester last year during first block. We had class in the cafeteria once last year.”

Similarly, Dr. Kim Roper, situated in the downstairs A-hall computer lab for her business classes, had to evacuate to cooler climates Oct. 20. She took her kids to the library because it was just too stifling in the lab to have class, but she quickly learned a teacher can’t just show up with an entire class in the media center without being scheduled. Chagrined, they all walked back to the hot lab.

Needless to say, very little was accomplished.

It’s not only the computer labs that can overheat, something one might attribute in part to the computers themselves, which generate heat. In room A118 Government/Economics senior Trevor Stinson is annoyed by the temperature.

“It’s really hot every other day,” said Stinson. However, she went on to say that it doesn’t affect her learning.

For the past couple of months in psychology teacher David Prince’s class, junior Anthony Camacho has been irritated about the heat. The heat affected Camacho’s learning because it was harder to concentrate, he said. Camacho used to wear light clothing, to help him cool down because of the heat. But now Camacho wears heavier clothing because the classroom is starting to become cold. Camacho concludes when it was hot outside, it was hot in the classroom. “Since it is getting cold now, the classroom is also turning cold,” said Camacho.

Basically, it seems as though there is no climate control whatsoever in that room.

Shivering in Kristen Petrovich’s Spanish class is senior Scott Wilson-Smith. Although the temperature is not affecting his learning abilities or the way he dress, WilsonSmith is tired of feeling as though he is in a refrigerator.

Science teacher Susan Fields reported unbearable temperatures Oct. 27 in her lab; her thermostat read 80 degrees. Although she intended to fill out an Operations work order, she discovered the instructions were pretty daunting.

Other teachers either made do with improvised HVAC. Yolanda Campbell, math teacher, says that her second and third blocks are the hottest. “During September and August, I have to bring out my church fan,” said Campbell.

The bottom line for teachers and students is that the temperature extremes may affect learning.

Senior Sherelle Brown is annoyed by the temperature inconsistencies too.

“Mrs. (Carlo) Dawson and Ms. (Brenda) BridgesJones’ classes, my English class and Math class, are cold.

It gets me sleepy, and affects [my] ability to learn,” said Brown.

The main board, “the brain” of the heating and cooling system, has been overhauled, according to District 3 Operations Forman Donnie Hill.

“It was not broken, but it was not working up to standards,” District 3 Operations Maintenance worker Ronald Cauthen said.

They are trying to automate the entire system to run on computer prompts. “We’re getting there” said Cauthen. However, with any computer automated system there are bugs. Cauthen has to input all the times to turn on the air and turn it off, but the problem is coordinating all the rooms in the computer.

Cauthen assured frustrated students and faculty that they are working as best they can to solve the temperature problem.

The thermostat in Workroom 1 on B hall indicates the temperature, like that in many classrooms, is at 83 degrees.

Eddie Robinson, Trades Manager for District 3 Operations, maintains there are only few degrees difference between comfort and discomfort. The HVAC system, he said, is not “broken.” If it were broken, he reasoned, there would be temperatures of 100 degrees. But the system clearly has not worked up to standard. He warned that with the system overhaul, things are in transition.

“It may get worse before it gets better,” he said.

Robinson encouraged teachers to fill out work orders so that every problem is documented with a paper trail. That way updated information can be sent back to the teachers and administrators so they can track progress. Also, Operations can get important information about individual rooms to guide further repairs if the overhaul is completed and there are still problems.

Page 4

November 2010

Drugs: know your risks Emma Hampton and Lindsey Hinnant Reporters

Editor’s Note: Student sources were granted anonymity in the article, but the editor confirmed their identities.

Drugs are everywhere, including at parties and at school. However, few students really understand the impact that they can have on one’s life and health.

When South Pointe Resource Officer John Aiton used to teach DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), Aiton urged the students not to do drugs. Out of all the reasons to deny peer pressure, the health risk is the most important. Aiton said that one joint is the equivalent of 20 cigarettes as it pertains to lung damage.

According to Keystone, a rehab group, the symptoms of marijuana include drowsiness, lost sense of time, uncontrollable laughing/ giggling, and the craving for food and drink (commonly called “the munchies”). A pamphlet given out by Keystone states that in the long run, the consumption of marijuana can cause lung disease, affect short term memory loss, and trigger certain mental and emotional issues.

Sometimes it’s not just the product that causes harm to a person’s health. According to Aiton, most of the major violence at South Pointe occurs from the trafficking and distribution of illegal substances. He says that there are certain groups that combine forces to sell drugs, and these groups sometimes feud. These disagreements can become extremely violent.

“I’ve seen people get jumped and shot at over weed,” said Student 1. There’s also the risk of getting in trouble with the law over drugs. “I got arrested for marijuana,” said Student 1, 16 years old at the time of the arrest.

For this student, an ounce of the substance meant a mandatory order to attend Pre-Trail Intervention (PTI). If a student

gets caught with marijuana at school, Aiton said there are two reprimands the student will receive. If the student is under 17 years of age they will spend three to five days at home. If the student is over 17 they are arrested with a bond over $570. If the amount is enough to qualify as distribution or separated into baggies, the student will probably receive jail time along with the

said she is certain she will pass, so she is unafraid.

“I didn’t know about it. I have nothing to be afraid about,” said Wade.

Band member and junior Noah Butcher said, “It’s kind of good. It will make sure that no one passes out, but it’s bad because it’s going to interfere with people’s lives outside of the activity. People should be

other punishments mentioned above.

To prevent the sale or possession of drugs in school, Aiton works with the local police department and the narcotics officers. The drug dog comes in to sniff the lockers once a month. They are also trying to employ the narcotics force to monitor the school entrance. Rock Hill District 3 School Board is considering the idea of drug testing students involved in extracurricular activities.

Out of all of these programs, the athletics department is in the spot light, with proponents quoted in The Herald as favoring testing in light of safety issues and with hoping testing might give athletes a way to decline peer pressure.

Freshman Bre-onca Wade is a member of the South Pointe Color Guard. Wade

able to make the choices they want.”

Head ninth grade football, varsity boys basketball, and boys’ golf Coach Dwayne Hartsoe has his own opinion.

“It doesn’t really bother me as long as it is for safety issues. I’m concerned about just focusing on athletics. If they do it, it should be across the state,” said Hartsoe.

One of his players, junior Manzey Miller, also has a similar opinion. “It’s good. It’s a good thing that they’re doing it. It’s going to cut down on athletes,” said Miller.

Even with the legal, social, and health dangers associated with the use of drugs, some students believe that abusing substances is worth it.

Although the full annual state department student survey results are not yet being made public to the press, The Herald

Art Illustration by Lindsey Hinnant

Chantelle Sackett, senior

1. “It messes up people’s brains and makes you crazy.”

2. “It made my cousin become incarcerated.”

3. “Yes, less people becoming incarcerated.”

Lang Bigam, junior

1. “I don’t think they affect it.”

2. “It depends on the person.”

3. “Yes, because it helps cancer, and it makes everyone happy, and it’s more healing than cigarettes.”

Photos by Jalen Willliams

Art Illustration by 420

reported that School Board members were presented at a recent meeting with a slideshow showing that 34 percent of teens surveyed in the annual survey had used marijuana. The Herald continues to publish articles about a debate surrounding the implementation of district-wide drug testing for athletes.

Student services director Keith Wilks did not release annual student survey results to S.P.i.N., despite repeated requests in person, by phone and by email.

Despite increased attention to marijuana use, some students just don’t see what all the fuss is about.

“I just see it as a plant, and so is tobacco. Other drugs are harmful to your body; weed’s not,” said Student 2.

Some students also argue that the feeling is worth the risk.

“I just started drawing everywhere and it felt good…I felt…happy I was wondering why I hadn’t done it before,” said Student 2.

Student 3 described the feeling of smoking pot. “It’s kind of like being a kid waking up on Christmas morning,” said Student 3.

Student 2 started smoking marijuana in a park late at night. She soon began to do more substances, until she has done or is currently doing marijuana, taking pills (Xanex, Adderall, Klonopin, Lortab), drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and smoking spice (legal marijuana sold in the form of incense).

For addicts there are ways to save the life that they have left. One of these resources is the organization called Keystone. Keystone offers many services include medicinal help through detox and counseling to cure the need for drugs.

Aiton wants students to consider the losses that they could undertake by using drugs. “There’s so much at stake; scholarships, futures, money loss,” said Aiton. He implores students to choose a straight edge lifestyle, because the last place he wants students to be is in the back of his cop car.

1.) How do you think drugs are affecting our community and school system?

2.) Without mentioning names, how do drugs affect your friends and family?

3.) Do you think marijuana should be legalized? Why?

Sallai Moore, junior

1. ”It makes people do things they don’t need to do.”

2.“Sends them to jail for long periods of time, like my brother.”

3. “Yes. It’s people that are sick that need it.”

Sylvester Robinson, senior 1. “They’re not affecting anybody.”

2. “Weed just calms people down.”

3. “Yes, because the government would make money off it.”

November 2010

Page 5

Failure to submit school IEG forms leads to free/reduced lunch cutoffs

Ciara Burris Reporter

Shivering as they walk into the chilly cafeteria to the six packed lines, students expect to be served a variety of food each day. As the slowly but organized lines move, students have an option of picking what type food they want to eat.

The problem is, they can’t afford it.

A number of Stallions this year seem to think they were suddenly dropped from the free and reduced lunch program.

At the beginning of each year, parents have an option of filling out a lunch application to give them a price for lunch by the deadline, at which point they had to fill out a new application. The students are able to have free lunch where they get free breakfast and lunch for the entire year, reduced lunch where their breakfast is 30 cents and their lunch 40 cents and full price lunch where breakfast is $1 and lunch $2.25, based on the income their parents or legal guardians make that school year using Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs).

This year’s letter states, “Students who were in the District during 2009-10 school year can consume meals under their previous lunch status until their application is approved or until Wednesday, September 30, 2011,” with the date in bold text. “After this date,” the letter states, “if students do not have new applications, their status will change to full paid.”

However, students were dropped from their free lunch and had to pay for full priced lunch as of Oct. 2 this year. South Pointe had 115 students who were cut off free and reduced meals, according to Chad Mitchell, Rock Hill School District 3 Food Service Director.

“I feel that was messed up because they waited until I got to the front of the line to tell me I had to pay $2.25. They could have sent me something in the mail to warn me,” said junior Brittany White.

Without being warned about their free lunch being dropped, many of the stu-

dents didn’t get a chance to eat lunch Oct. 2, which Mitchell said was the extended deadline because he wanted to give everyone a chance to reapply.

“No I didn’t eat lunch because I didn’t have money. I could have been starving,” said White.

At the beginning of each year a meal application is sent out to each student through homeroom distribution at the high schools, but preferably through the elementary schools if the student has a younger sibling, unless you request an application during the year, according to Mitchell.

There are also opportunities to fill out an application online at www.schoollunchapp.com. Processing and approval of the online application will be approved within 48 hours, Mitchell said. The school or local education agency will determine your eligibility for free or reduced lunch.

Since school has started, Mitchell said, he

has processed over 8,000 applications for the whole district.

Mitchell supplied data that showed the number of Stallions cut off this year is only two more than last year, when 115 SPHS students were dropped from subsidized meals because they did not reapply.

“The total income that requires free lunch depends on the formula of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), so every year is different,” said Gigi Bull, Rock Hill School District 3 field supervisor for Food Service.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) automatically qualifies the student for free lunch to who receives it. Households that receive food stamps are also eligible for free lunch without having to fill out a meal application.

Some students say they didn’t receive the letters from the District explaining the application process. That may be due to

DeNarius Allen/SPiN

Junior Tyrone’ Carter stands in line waiting on the lunch lady to check her out. When 115 Stallions lost their free/reduced lunch this year because they had not reapplied, some got the news at exactly this point, as they stood with lunch in hand and were being checked out. The perception this year, according to students, was they were cut off with no warning, but district-level personnel say there was no change.

some Pointe Time teachers at South Pointe not receiving the applications or letters to give out to students in their boxes before school that first day when students reported to Pointe Time for forms. Although some teachers may have not received an application or letter, those teachers that did receive them passed them out.

English occupation language and academic sport teacher, Robert Beckler, received the applications and passed them out to his Pointe Time class.

Beckler said that although he passed out the applications, he didn’t receive any back from his students at all.

The students that are not here during Pointe Time because they are at Applied Technology Center (ATC) during that time, may not have received an application but is still able to ask for one from the cafeteria manager, Robin Gaskins.

Even if students did receive the letter from Mitchell about participation in the National School Lunch Program, it stated they had until Sept. 30, 2011, as the deadline to reapply.

Junior CJ Davenport, who receives full price lunch, questions the fact that many students are taken off their free lunch.

Sophomore, Malik Smith doesn’t think taking students off free lunch is fair to students.

“They should tell the students before they take them off. Some people can’t afford to pay for lunch everyday,” said Smith.

This year free and reduced lunch status also determines the amount of money students had to pay for their academic fees.

At the beginning of the school year, students were required to pay academic fees to attend school. Students who received free lunch weren’t required to pay the fee at all, but students who received reduced lunch were required to pay $12.50 and full price lunch students were required to pay the full $25. As the free lunch is taken away, SPHS is requiring students to pay the $25 academic fee, according to bookkeeper Tiana Gardner.

Magazine, yearbook bring home S.C. Scholastic Press Association awards from 2010 annual fall conference Ellen Cannon Reporter

The Equestrian came in second place in the features category at the annual South Carolina Scholastic Press Association (SCSPA) fall conference for yearbook and literary magazine awards ceremony at the University of South Carolina Sept 27.

“I feel very accomplished and excited to see our work awarded,” said senior Lindsey Westmoreland, who was part of the staff last year. As for this year, she said, “We are really trying to make a good theme that’s easy to form ideas around. Overall, we are trying to make the yearbook better than last year.”

“Last year everyone just got extremely creative and wanted it to be so good, so way more effort was put into it and we just thought outside of the box,” said last year staff member Meagan Broome, she was really surprised about the award.

“From 2008 to 2009 yearbook to 2009 to 2010 it was such a difference because we really had a specific idea that we wanted to accomplish and you could really see it from one year to the next,” said Broome.

“It feels amazing that all of our hard work paid off,” said yearbook adviser Sarah Kaminski. This is the third time that the Equestrian has won awards at SCSPA fall conference. After getting the feedback from the judges she is going to make sure that the staff has more creative approaches and works on the yearbook’s weaknesses.

“The reason why the yearbook was so successful was a lot of hard work, good page designers and a good theme to work around,” said Westmoreland.

Last year, Kaminski would get text messages and phone calls late at night about ideas that the students had for the pages.

“The amount of time people used Photoshop, the dedication, and enjoyment about what they did made last year’s year-

book great,” said Kaminski.

“Surprised” is what came over some of the staff award winners from The Impulse literary magazine when they heard about their placement at the SCSPA fall conference.

“It feels awesome, the students worked hard and revamped the magazine,” said adviser Carlo Dawson.

“Last year’s editor-in-chief Katie Boyle helped the other students by having a vision and a plan to make sure that the magazine catered to the students at South Pointe,” said Dawson.

Katie Boyle was more excited about how many awards the staff had received than her individual award for second place in Best Photography because it shows how far the magazine has really come and how far the staff can take it in the future.

“Last year’s literary magazine was successful because we had a spectacular mix of veteran and new staff members. That let us come into the production with a great

amount of skill, and new ideas with which to actually use that skill,” said Boyle.

In hopes of becoming a writer one day, senior Britteny Rogers feels great that she is already getting recognized by her second place in Best Nonfiction Article. “I was really surprised that I had won anything, but I am really glad that I did,” said Rogers.

“I feel like with every year the magazine is evolving into something more sophisticated that deserves to be with the big names at SCSPA,” said Kayla Davis.

Davis got second for Best Cover at the SCSPA awards. “Everyone was committed and willing to bend over backwards to make Impulse fabulous. I was lucky to have worked with all of them,” said Davis.

Also receiving an award was Megan Leazer for second place for Best Short Story Fiction.

The Impulse magazine also received feedback from SCSPA and Dawson plans to make this year’s magazine even better.

Zach Esskew Opinion Editor

Page 6

November 2010

Esskew’s Edition

Under your desk, holding it by your side, in your sweatshirt, and holding a notebook up so the teacher can’t see it.

These are the ways students at South Pointe High try to text without the teacher seeing their cell phones.

Some things never change, although this year there was a change to the new cell phone policy.

The new cell phone policy allows you to have your cell phone in the cafeteria during the morning before the bell rings and during lunch when you are in the lunch room or outside on the patio.

As of press time, 203 cell phones had been taken, according to administrative assistant Kathleen Cole, way more than at

this time last year.

The new policy was supposed to give students more time on campus to use their phones, but it seems as though students more than ever try to get away with inclass or in-hallway use.

Assistant Principal Toussant Kennedy wants to know, “Why can’t we use the phones in the cafeteria, and on the patio only,” referring to the approved places for cell phone use.

“I’ve seen most of the cell phone conflicts in the classrooms before the new policy has taken place, and now since the new policy has taken place, I see more cell phone conflicts taken place in the hallways,” stated Kennedy, assistant principal in charge of freshmen.

Junior G’ruma Smith does not take his phone out during class; he is scared it is going to get taken.

“I think the new cell phone policy is great, it gives the students more freedom and space,” said Smith.

Smith has had his cell phone taken

once because it rang out loud in class.

“I have gotten my cell phone taken about 10 times last year, for texting in class,” stated junior Zachary Taylor Taylor thinks we should be able to text at all times, because everyone does it anyway.

Senior Quanisha Agurs has never got her cell phone taken because she is sneaky and knows how to hide it.

“I still text during class. I’m just smart enough to know how to hide and when to text and when not to text,” stated Agurs.

Senior Jared Hunter thinks the new cell phone policy is dumb because people are going to text no matter what, and people are still going to get there cell phones taken either in class or out in the hallways.

Assistant Principal Anthony Thomas thinks the new cell phone policy is good, because it gives the students time to talk on the phones during school.

Personally, I think the new cell phone

‘Where is it???’

Students ponder addition of live mascot or admirable statue to South Pointe campus Due to the school spirit sky rocketing this year, the following question arises; “Why don’t we have a live mascot or a statue of a stallion on our school property?”

Maybe even a beautiful live stallion galloping across the field before games or maybe during halftime.

“The live mascot we can’t have because it would damage the field,” said Principal Al Leonard.

Although Leonard thinks the idea of havJalen Williams ing something Reporter majestic as a live stallion or statue would be a great way to portray our school spirit, there are some negatives to the idea other than damaging the fields.

My idea is that maybe we could march the live horses on the track. I’m sure if football players are able to walk with cleats on the track then horseshoes should be no problem. Other than the idea of a live mascot, a statue would be very expensive. Leonard researched the cost and information about the statue and the minimum price would be $5,000.

“We have talked about it, but it would take a fundraising effort,” explained Leonard.

The statue would be made out of bronze and be located in the middle of the roundabout, and would be lit up. Leonard also explained how the Rock Hill District 3 Operations did a drawing of how the statue would look in the designated area planned for it. Not only is the statue costly but also there is a fear that vandals would harm the expensive steed.

“It’s a newer school so we have some things that older schools don’t have, but at the same time being a newer school we should have one,” said geometry teacher Daniel Clausing.

Clausing also thinks that donations at sporting events or a jar at lunch to collect loose change in would be a nice effort towards supporting funds for the statue.

“After a while those pennies add up,” said Clausing.

Vandalism is not a worry to him, because of his idea that there are better, creative ways to draw the vandals’ attention away from the horse.

“We have the rock to paint,” said Clausing.

Sophomores Mary Campbell Kellett and LaBrica Hall think that the vandalism fear may be plausible but also think that school spirit and pride can overcome any bad intentions.

“I think people might try to vandalize it, but I think people would be less childish than that,” said Kellett.

Hall explains how immaturity exists in every school and admits there is bound to be someone who would sabotage a statue.

“There are people that are haters,” Hall said.

But both students also think that it would have a positive effect on the rest of the students.

“It could generate more school spirit and could be an icon for South Pointe,” explained Kellett. “People would respect that.”

Hall also thinks the positive side of having a statue would do the same.

“It would represent us more than that big, ugly rock,” said Hall.

Though the rock may be big and unappealing, it just may have to stay put until a financial effort is made to erect a stallion statue in front of South Pointe High School.

policy is great. We get a lot more freedom and we have a chance to text or use our phone during school.

Zachary Esskew/SPiN

(Left to right) Sophomores Kyndell Cook, Courtney Smith and Sammy Parks are in gym class texting when aren’t supposed to be, hiding it from the teachers.

S.P.i.N.

South Pointe in the News

SCSPA 2010 Palmetto Award Winner 2010 SCSPA Swipestakes Award Winnner STAFF Editor-in-chief...................Taylor Snyder Managing and Features editor...................Jessie Fields News editor..................Zandrea Frazier Assitant New editor....Whitney Robinson Opinion editor...................Zach Esskew Centerspread editor.......Megan Benson Sports editor..............John Penyak Assitant sports editor.....Spank Williams Photography editor........DeNarius Allen Reporters............................Ciara Burris Michael Phillips Alex Culp Ellen Cannon LaSharra Barber Designers........................Jalen Williams Lindsey Hinnant Morgan McKoy Adviser.................................Cindy Koon Principal...............................Al Leonard, 2009 Journalism Education Association Administrator of the Year Business Manager.......Emma Hampton Contributors........Jimmy Chrismon Lukas Faris Logan Moore Scottie Turner

November 2010

Page 7

Can we not keep it clean?

South Pointe has been in existence for five years, and over those five years, some things have steadily increased: championships, awards and test scores.

Unfortunately, so has trash.

“It’s bad Alex Culp in the gallery because Reporter they [the students] eat and leave it [trash] out there. It has gotten worse,” said head custodian Samuel Peay. “Vandalism in the bathroom--stalls, paper towels on the floor, tissues everywhere, and soap all over the sink tops.”

During homecoming week, careless students removed Homecoming posters from the walls for no reason. Posters remained on the floor as people detoured around them or stepped on them.

Homecoming posters were seen in the male restrooms in the urinal stalls.

“There’s always a lot of trash in the

bathrooms and classes. There’s always writing on the walls in the bathroom,” said junior Justin McVige.

It’s hard to find a bathroom stall, in the males room at least, that doesn’t have some type of graffiti on the walls. I think it is foolish to do that, and it accomplishes nothing but making your school look older and less clean.

Students and custodians are not the only people noticing. Teachers are noticing lots of trash as well, mostly after students eat in the gallery.

“I do see a lot of trash and I think that students need to have pride in their school.

If they have more pride in their school, then they won’t leave trash lying around,” said history teacher Kristy Riese.

After breakfast and the three lunches, candy wrappers, bottles, biscuits and many other items blanket A, B and C halls and the five stairwells.

It’s going to take students caring about their school to eliminate the trash and vandalism. I find it embarrassing when visitors and new students come and find litter on the floors. Wouldn’t you like to see our school clean and sparkling?

Come on Stallions, we can do better.

Alex Culp/SPiN

Alex Culp/SPiN

(Above) A urinal in the boys’ bathroom during homecoming was home to a flyer.

(Top right) A cup was left in the gallery after lunch. (Bottom right) That same cup was kicked over by a passing student.

Alex Culp/SPiN

Stallions need parking lessons Students express themselves in numerous ways, from unique hair styles and wacky clothes. But at South Pointe another new trend has emerged as a form of self-expression: double parking.

“I take up two spots to get noticed.

When I do it, someone else with a Honda usually does it.” said senior Kim Rollins.

When asked if she cared if she got in trouble for double parking she said “Nope!

I’m pretty sure it’s Whitney Robinson illegal Assistant news editor taking more than one spot, though.”

But for senior Destinee Yarborough taking up more than one spot is uncalled for.

“It was a normal Thursday morning.

I pulled into the parking lot and some car

was all crooked and parked in two spaces near the light poles. I was like, ‘Dude, now how am I suppose to park with this idiot parking like a crazy person?’”

Although some people have trouble with double parking, driver Trey Colvin wishes there was more of it. “I like to park sideways ‘cause it leaves a lot of space up front; if more people parked sideways, it would be better,” he said.

Students are allowed to take up two parking spots and even park sideways.

“I don’t have a problem with it; we have a big parking lot with a lot of space,” commented Officer John Aiton.

Even though these three people may not have a problem with it, senior Lakeya Wright does.

“They don’t need to take up space because they got to show respect because other people have to park as the same as they do,” said Wright.

If students are caught parking sideways, there are no consequences from Officer Aition, but the school may write a ticket.

Breonna Foster is also one of the many people who don’t appreciate double parking.

“It makes me mad because I have to spend more time finding a parking spot,” said Foster.

Junior Venisha Pendergrass said, “They’re insane and selfish; I could have used that parking spot.”

Zachary Esskew/SPiN

Here is a model example of how to park cars without getting a ticket.

Whitney Robinson/SPiN

Whitney Robinson/SPiN

These trucks are good examples of double parking with friends or alone, a new trend that both annoys and delights.

Whitney Robinson/SPiN

These cars out in the sopomore and junior parking lots can hold a golf ball up by their bumpers, they are parked so close.

Whitney Robinson/SPiN

Jessie Fields Features editor

Megan Benson Centerspread editor

Page 8

November 2010

’ s w o h S ‘ s n o h t a r

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Art Illustration by Taylor Snyder

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9

Kyla Myers, junior

Jojo Grobusky, sophomore

Lakeya Wright, senior

Payton Cornish, senior

1.) ”One Tree Hill.”

2.) T.V. 3.) “It’s drama filled.”

1.) Family Guy 2.) T.V 3.) “Cause it’s funny.”

1.) “Degrassi – The Boiling Point” 2.) TV 3.) “Drama, and it relates to teenagers.”

1.) “The Game on BET” 2.) T.V 3.) The drama.

Anthony Quinones, senior

Ivy Mai Dawn, sophomore

Chris Panas, sophomore

Sean Josh Reid, freshman

1.) “Avatar,” “Thunder Cats,” “Ultimate Muscle” 2.) Googled the shows 3.) “Freaking awesome. They don’t show them on tv anymore.”

1.) “Avatar, The Last Airbender” 2.) watch-avataronline.com 3.) “Best tv show in the entire freakin’ world ever.”

1.) “Death Note,” “The IT Crowd,” “Family Guy” 2.) Netflix and Google 3.) “They’re awesome.”

1.) “If You Really Knew Me” 2.) TV 3.) It gets into the people’s lives.

Photos by Lindsey Hinnant

November 2010

Page 9

Students learn business skills vital to future in FBLA Zandrea Frazier News editor It’s true that students are the future; the choices they make now will help shape the decisions they will make later on in life. These are lessons Future Business Leaders of America, the new club at South Pointe, helps provide.

Columbia University educator Dr. Hamden L. Forkner developed the idea of Future Business Leaders of America, or FBLA, in 1937.

FBLA assists students with making rational business choices and it aids students with making career decisions.

“It’s been around forever and it has a lot of benefits,” said Michael Deyton, FBLA adviser.

Michael Deyton

FBLA is a nonprofit organization for students who are grooming themselves for business related careers.

Since FBLA is a nonprofit organization, FBLA acquires its funds by membership dues, which are $20, grants, fees from the conferences, and corporate contributions.

FBLA is one of the largest business career based student organizations in the world.

FBLA’s high school branch has 215,000 members.

One requirement for FBLA is that the student has to be in a business-related

class.

Not only does being a member of FBLA give you business experience, it also gives you an opportunity to gain a scholarship.

FBLA offers thousands of dollars in scholarships each year.

“I want South Pointe to be known for academics and not only for sports,” said Deyton.

Deyton wanted to start FBLA four years ago, but could not because he also coaches girls’ volleyball and boys’ tennis along with his regular class schedule.

When Dr. Kimberly Roper began her

FBLA competitions for 2010-2011 Acounting American Enterprise Projects Business Calculations Business Ethics Client Service Cyber Security Digital Video Productions Desktop Publishing Economics Entrepreneurship Future Business Leader Global Business Health Care Administration

Hospitality Management Impromptu Speaking Introduction to Business Job Interview Local Chapter Annual Business Managment Decision Making Marketing Network Design Parliamentary Procedure Personal Finance Sports Management Technology Concepts Web Site Development

first year at SPHS, she brought along her expertise and confidence.

“I’ve been apart of FBLA since I’ve been in high school,” said Roper, FBLA adviser and new business teacher.

FBLA meets Thursday afternoons after school at 3:45 pm in room A116.

“We have nine members so far, so feel free to come by,” said Roper.

In the meetings, FBLA members will be preparing for numerous competitions.

The members will compete in events that test their knowledge and skills of business.

The top winners of the spring State Leadership Conference will go on to compete in the summer National Leadership Conference.

Dr. Kimberly Roper

Zandrea Frazier/SPiN

Young Life leader brings new Christian change to South Pointe Megan Benson Centerspread reporter Wake up. Go to school. Do homework. Sleep. Repeat.

Students know what it is like to simply go through the motions Monday through Friday. Weekdays are monotonous. It gets really old doing the same thing every day for five straight days.

So, instead of going through the boring motions day in and day out, try to do something fun at least one of those days out of the week. Now what can be fun on say, a Wednesday night?

Young Life.

Young Life is a nondenominational Christian ministry that reaches out to high school students by actively involving them in a program designed to help understand the connection between God and everyday life.

However for now at South Pointe, the Young Life leader, Summersby Okey, is only focusing on getting people to be actively involved in the program, and wants to help the program grow at South Pointe.

Okey is a 19-year-old sophomore at Winthrop University, majoring in Philosophy and Religion.

She was involved in Young Life beginning her freshman year of high school and is now the sole leader at South Pointe.

Okey simply wants to make a difference to at least one person by reaching out through Young Life.

“I want to feel like I make a difference. That is my goal; to make a difference with at least one person,” Okey said.

“Long term it would be awesome to have a lot of kids and everyone go to camp, but that is not really important now, I just

want to make a difference.”

To become a Young Life leader, Okey had to go through College Life during her first semester of her freshman year at college. She visited different clubs each week, and got close with Lauren Hooper and Sarah Bryant, two of the Young Life leaders who were previously involved at South Pointe. After her training, she believed it made the most sense for her to stay at South Pointe, which is where she plans to stay for now.

Okey was drawn to Bryant and Hooper because of their desire to have a good time.

“I love to hang out with the South Pointe people, but I would love to have another leader.”

To describe Young Life in three words, Okey said “Rewarding and fun, but challenging. It challenges you to step outside of your comfort zone.”

Junior Katherine Johnson began attending Young Life her sophomore year in high school.

“My first experience was awesome!”

Johnson said. “Everyone was so nice to me and I made new friends the first night I went.”

Johnson attended Young Life summer camp during the summer of 2010.

“I went with York County Young Life, and was the only one to represent South Pointe. [I] got to meet people from all over the country. Every night we had club, which was like games and singing songs and a bunch of fun.”

2010 graduate Alex Moore participated in Young Life throughout his senior year in high school. “[Young Life] helped me to branch out and meet new people. It also changed the way I praised God, in not the boring way. But it was also a really fun thing to do,” Moore said.

He has looked Art Illustration by Megan Benson into the Through Bryant Young Life and Hooper, Okey was able to meet variclubs at the University of South Carolina, ous South Pointe students and begin to and said “It is good to go and meet new hang out with them and get to know them people, even in college.” on more of a personal level.

Young Life depends on the students However because Hooper got married of South Pointe to participate. and Bryant graduated, Okey is now the “Any sort of anyone coming to club only leader at South Pointe. and hanging out is awesome. Even if they “I am not necessarily excited about come to try it out,” Okey said. “Come, it, but it is what I am presented with so I hang out, and have fun. We have a blast. It accepted it,” Okey said referring to her re- is a good way to build a relationship and sponsibility as the leader at South Pointe. eventually make a difference.”

10 facts about Young Life 1. Weekend camp: Dec.3-5.

2. After every meeting on Wednesdays, the students go to Burger King.

3. There is Discipleship, Club and Campaigners.

4. Students do skits, play games and have dance parties.

5. Northwestern and South Pointe’s Young Life are com bined with Rock Hill High’s Young Life.

6. Summercamp lasts nine days in June.

7. Young Life is a worldwide organization.

8. Young Life is also offered in middle school and colleges.

9. Started by a youth group leader in 1914 in Texas.

10. Young Life welcomes anyone no matter interests, tal ents, or abilities.

Facts from www.younglife.org

Page 10

November 2010

Stallions learn to budget money Alicia Willis, senior

Zandria Frazier/SPiN

Gerald Hawkins, senior

Zandrea Frazier/SPiN

Zandrea Frazier News editor Students of today are independent; they have their own cars, make their own money and buy their own clothes and shoes.

In tough economic times the prices for everything have gone up, but according to a recent S.P.i.N. marketing survey, teenagers are spending $25 a month more than they did two years when the last spending survey was done—partly because the same old things cost more and partly because the trend of spending more on “short-term” pleasures has been historically true in this country during recessions. You can’t afford big things, so you spend little amounts often on eating out and makeup.

Movie tickets now cost $10 at Manchester Cinema for a weekend night, which may account for why Stallions surveyed spend an average of $25.68 on entertainment per month as opposed to the $39.15 they spent two years ago. Students say they are more selective about which movies they pay top dollar to see.

Gas prices for unleaded gasoline at

Teens use Skype to help save money Alex Culp Reporter For students who are more tech savvy, there are plenty of free online applications that are very useful and best of all, they don’t cost you anything.

If you want to chat with a friend from computer to computer, and you have a high-speed internet service, Skype may be a perfect application for you to use on your computer.

According to the Skype Web site, Skype features free, unlimited, duration video calling to friends, family, or basically anyone who is a member of Skype. Registering for an account takes less than a minute.

Skype also features an Instant Messenger, or most commonly known as “I.M.”. Along with the Instant Messenger, you can also share pictures and short video clips with one another. Other features are available, but they do require a

small fee. For more information on Skype fees, visit the official Skype Web site at Skype.com.

If you aren’t able to be present at your computer when someone calls you on Skype, it automatically forwards a live audio-only version of your conversation to any mobile or landline phone that was linked to the account.

Skype is most useful for friends who are on vacation or at long distances from you. It’s a great money saver if you don’t have unlimited talk minutes on your cellular phone.

Being virtually present with your friend beats an audio phone conversation any day, in my opinion.

According to the Skype Web site, at Skype.com, Skype was founded in 2003, and at peak times, can have up to 23 million users online at the same time. In the first half of 2010, from January through June, 88.4 billion minutes of calls were made from computer to computer, according to the Skype Web site.

For any questions regarding the Skype service, please visit Skype.com and click the “contact” tab. Registration for the service can also be found by visiting the home page. A small download to your computer to use the service is mandatory.

Exxon gas station was $2.59 a gallon as the newspaper went to press. A student filling his or her gas tank every week spends plenty of money on transportation.

Students spend money on numerous fast food restaurants, CDs, movies (buying, renting and going to theaters), gas, lunch, computer and video games, books and magazines, beauty products, iTunes, clothes and shoes.

According to the S.P.i.N. marketing survey, which used a representative sample of Pointe Time classes, an average South Pointe student spent roughly $67.31 a month on fast food/restaurants, while the average in 2010 increased to $74.56 per month.

The average South Pointe student in 2008 spent about $99.25 per month on clothing, and spent roughly one dollar more per month in 2010.

Spending on beauty products, however, rose from $23.05 to $34.67 per month.

On the whole, students spend more now in this rough economic time, then they did when the economy was thriving, so where do they get the money?

Some teens today do not depend on their parents as students did many years ago; students have their own jobs.

Senior Alicia Willis applied for her job at Showmars because she “want[ed] to make some money.”

“I work four hours a week and six hours during the weekend,” said Willis.

Willis plans to spend her first paycheck on “food, clothes” and then “save a little.”

Senior Gerald Hawkins said that he spends his money on mostly school stuff, such as SAT, ATC, and also social outings.

Most students with jobs say their biggest challenge was balancing school and work, but not for Willis and Hawkins.

“My biggest challenge is getting up in the morning,” said Willis.

Students want the feeling of being out on their own. To have a job gives them a sense of freedom and so does spending their own cash.

“I take off three days and work four days a week,” said Hawkins.

Some students want stuff in a quickfast-in-a-hurry pace and spend too, whereas if they had waited a bit or shopped around, they could have gotten the same thing for a more reasonable price.

Many students do not know how to save money, therefore they do not.

r Money-saving Tips

• Determine your needs from your wants. Some students mistake their wants for their needs.

• If you work, set aside a reasonable amount of cash out of every paycheck to spend specifically on your wants, but be sure not to go over that set amount.

• Instead of driving to school every day, carpool with a trusted friend; each of you could take turns driving and that way you both save cash and gas.

• At the end of the day put loose change in a jar; loose change can go a long way.

iPod Editor Picks “Halo” Beyonce - I am Sasha Fierce (Spank Williams/Co-Sports) “Half of My Heart” John Mayer- Battle Studies (Jessie Fields/ Managing and features) “Office Muzik” Lil Wayne- Single (Megan Benson/ Centerspread) “Cemetary Weather” Isles & Glaciers- Hearts of Lonely people (John Penyak/Co-Sports) “Despicable” Eminem- Recovery (Zach Esskew/ Opinion) “The Catalyst” Linkin Park – A Thousand Suns (Zandrea Frazier/News) “Just the Way You Are” Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans (DeNarius Allen/Photography)

Art Ilustrated by Jessie Fields

November 2010

Page 11

Students travel from across the world Exchange student gets new sibling from another country Polastri also said he admires the cleanliness of the city.

What he said he likes the most is how school runs. There are major differences between the Oswaldo Afonso, the private school Neto goes to in Brazil, and South Pointe, such as the way classes are set up, the school size, and extracurricular activities offered.

South Pointe is much larger, Oswaldo Afonso only having about 200 students.

The grades are grouped very differently Neto said students attend first through fifth grade, then go to a different school and attend there from sixth grade until graduation.

Unlike South Pointe Neto describes being in the same classroom all day, with six classes being taught, varying from day to day, but including biology, physics, chemistry, English, Portuguese and physical education.

Polastri also takes extra English classes on the weekends to become Lindsey Hinnant/SPiN more acquainted with the language, Foreign exchange students Eleonora Canovi and Luis Neto often spend time together at learning grammar, listening, writing football games and other sport events. Canovi and Neto are both going to play soccer. and conversing. dad, and his Labrador retriever Skipper, Polastri also enjoys the numerous John Penyak and said “I miss everyone.” sports and activities offered at South Co-sports editor In Brazil Neto enjoys playing soccer Pointe, and actually having fields and courts to play on.

Moving away from the hot beaches of and tennis and said “(It) is a hot place with natural attractions.”

“At Brazil if you want a good educaAngra dos Reis, two hours outside one of At six in the morning Neto arrived, tion you have to pay for (it),” he said, Brazil’s major cities--Rio de Janeiro-- to describing the poor public school systems the Piedmont of South Carolina is no easy and his host family, and fellow Stallion and new host brother Lukas Faris greeted of Brazil compared to the United States’. task. Luiz Paulo Polastri Neto took the him.

Along with learning a new culture, difficult task and came to America.

“It’s cool; I have three sisters, and I Neto is teaching his host family about his Living in Angra dos Reis all his finally have a brother,” he said. own culture from Brazil. life, Neto said he became bored with the Polastri has enjoyed being in the “It’s cool to learn some of his culbeaches, but still loves Brazil saying, Carolinas. “Rock Hill is a beautiful city, ture,” Faris said.

“Brazil is my born place I like so much with parks, and you can do a lot of things, there.” like sports,” he said.

Polastri left his brother Joao, mom,

Itallian exchange student lives it up as Stallion Lindsey Hinnant Reporter

Anxious to begin the race, Senior Eleonora Canovi, awaits on the block to dive into the water. The whistle sounds and sends Canovi soaring through the water.

Another race has begun.

Canovi has been swimming since she was three years old. She participates in a competitive swimming club in Italy called Rari Nantes Legnano. While swimming for Rari Nantes Legano, Canovi won 5th place out of 50 in the Italian National Competition.

Canovi spends about 12 hours a week swimming and 3 hours a week at the gym.

She does all strokes, but her favorites are the breast stroke and freestyle. Canovi’s now swimming for the South Pointe swim team.

“When I swim, I relax my mind and am able to forget about my problems. I also like being part of a team and swimming with my teammates, who are also my friends.” said Canovi.

Canovi’s living with Dawn, Steve, and their daughter Genna Cantino while in the US. “I feel like their real daughter,” said Canovi when asked about her host family.

Canovi has had a lot to adapt to while living in the states, its much different from

her home town in Milan. Canovi says the thing she misses most about Italy is the food. She says she hates American food so far, although she does like cheeseburgers and fries. Canovi has tried the Italian food here, but she says she hates it. “I really miss pasta!” said Canovi.

Canovi says she loves South Pointe, even though it is much different from what she is used too. Canovi’s high school in Italy is called Liceo d’ Arconate e d’ Europa.

At Liceo d’ Arconate e d’ Europa the first bell rings at 7:55 AM and students are dismissed at 2:30 PM. The students only go to one classroom per day and the teachers would rotate for class change.

Canovi has a different class for everyday of the week, where as at South Pointe, your schedule is the same daily. Most of the classes she took were foreign language classes. Canovi can speak Italian, English, French, German and she’s now taking Spanish at South Pointe.

“Its black!” said Canovi when asked about her Moped. In Italy Canovi drove a moped to school during the warmer months, but now to get to South Pointe, Elly car-pools with her friend Catherine Allen.

“She’s a lot of fun, I guess when she lived in Italy she had a different way of thinking about things. Even if were just going to the movies or the mall, threre’s

something adventurous about it!” said Allen.

Allen and Canovi have become close friends since Canovi’s arrival in America.

Canovi’s host family live across the street from the Allen’s. Allen and Canovi share a locker and have a class together at school.

In Canovi’s free time she likes to hangout with her friends, watch movies, and to shop. Canovi likes to shop in all different types of stores. She says she really likes Dolce Gabbana. “I think people in Italy dress better than here, they care about what they wear more.” said Canovi.

Canovi keeps in touch with her parents and family back home, by talking with them on Skype. She does this about two times each week. To keep in contact with friends, she uses sites like Facebook.

Although Canovi misses her family in Italy, she says she feels completely at home with her host family. It’s as if they are her real family.

Canovi recently visited Disney World with her host family. When asked about it she said, “ It was my first time at a Disney park. It is a really good place for all ages - even as a teenager, I had a lot of fun!”

Canovi will return home to Italy at the end of the school year. South Pointe will miss her, and we hope she has enjoyed the American lifestyle.

“She wants to live in America, she loves it here!” said Allen.

Lindsey Hinnant/SPiN

It’s Fad 1. What is your favorite trend right now, and why?

2. Do you follow any other trends?

3. What popular trends do you see around school?

Matt Hutches, junior

1. “Visors, because it prevents terrible hat hair.”

2. “High black socks; and Air Maxes.”

3. “Rosaries.”

DaNarius Allen/SPiN

L’akeya Wright, senior

1. “Leather jackets and heels, because it is unique and you can have lots of styles just like it.”

2. “No, I just like being me.”

3. “Skinny jeans, straight legs, snow boots, mohawks and boosie fades.”

Megan Benson/SPiN

DaNarius Allen/SPiN

Ashli Simmons, sophomore

1. “Skirts with tights, or dresses, because you can wear it in the winter and wear different colors.”

2. “Skinny jeans with flats.”

3. “Scarves with long necklaces.”

DaNarius Allen/SPiN

Jessica Mai, junior

1. “The ‘I Love Boobies’ bracelets, because it supports Breast Cancer.”

2. “No.” 3. “Rosaries.”

Morgan McKoy/SPiN

Hannah Craig, senior

1. “Skinny jeans, because you wear flare pants all through elementary school and in middle school we had to wear uniforms so then I saw skinny jeans and loved them.”

2. “I don’t follow any other trends. I’m a jean and t-shirt kind of girl.”

3. “Rosaries, high-waisted belts, and silly bands.”

d-Ulous DaNarius Allen/SPiN

Tae Kirk, sophomore

DaNarius Allen/SPiN

Corey Rebh, senior

1. “Soccer shirts, because I am a soccer player.”

2. “I make my own trends.”

3. “Big earrings, hoodies.”

DaNarius Allen/SPiN

Hannah Heart, sophomore

1. “Jordans, just because I love Jordans.”

2.“Air Maxes.”

3.“Coogi.”

1. “The short boots with zippers and chains on the side. I think it is retro-ish and different.”

2. “Long sleeve shirts with scarves, accessories, hats and bracelets.”

3. “Skirts with tights.”

DaNarius Allen/SPiN

Nick Robbins, sophomore

1. “Black socks and flip-flops, because it is relaxed.”

2. “No, not really. I wear the same thing everyday.”

3. “Silly bands.”

DaNarius Allen/SPiN

Dominique Ferguson, senior

Vic Douglas, senior

1. “Jordans, because they are the best. They are better than all the other ones.”

2. “No, I just wear what I feel like wearing.”

3.“Skinny jeans.”

1. “Polo and air max, because if it is you, everyone has their own style. Polo and Air Max are mine.”

2. “I do my own thing. I switch my style and am original.”

3. “Coogi, Gucci, Prada, and Jordans.”

DaNarius Allen/SPiN

Page 14

November 2010

SPHS homecoming 2010

TaKeria Barber

Aliyah Beckham

Nora Harris

Senior Tamira June sheds a tear seconds after being crowned Homecoming queen.

Lindsey Hinnant and La’Sharra Barber Reporters

Jodie Campbell

Kirby Cranford

Tyrhonda Curbeam

Lanie Johnson

It’s halftime and the crowd is buzzing. Friends and family members silently cheer for their loved ones. The Homecoming court waits patiently on the field, butterflies flutter in their stomachs, nervous as to who will win the sparkling crown and have the privilege to be named Homecoming queen.

Announcer Butch Nelson begins to call out names: the first name called is Emily Searcy for second runner up and then Kayla Jackson for first runner up.

Last but definitely not least, the new South Pointe Stallion Homecoming queen was announced, Miss Tamira June, who said she was, “kinda surprised, but really happy.”

The daughter of Theresa and Jerirod Caldwell, June is the student body president of the student council, a member of the Beta club and a varsity cheerleader.

June plans on going to college at the University of South Carolina Upstate or Francis Marion to major in nursing.

June decided to run for Homecoming queen because she felt as if she had the qualities needed to win, and apparently she was right.

When asked if she had any advice for the 2011 candidates, June replied, “Confidence, you have to have confidence. Also getting around your school to know other students helps.”

Numerous doors and hallway walls of South Pointe High School sported posters telling students and teachers, “Vote Tamira June.” She also used candy bags and tshirts to show her dedication and determination to win.

“All of my campaigning paid off-time and effort along with help from

friend,” June said.

Searcy, second runner up, is involved in many activities and clubs at school. She participates in golf, basketball, volleyball, softball and SPIN in the Morning. She has also been part of a leadership conference and is an athletic trainer.

Searcy plans on attending college at Newberry to major in sports management.

There to support Searcy were her grandparents, parents and friends.

As far as her reaction to the announcement she was second runner up, she said, “I actually didn’t know what to believe; it took me a second to realize that my name had been called.

“It is something I can put on my resumes for college and applications. It’s also a memory I can look back on and see how much fun I had,” Searcy said.

Jackson, first runner up, is a varsity cheerleader who also cheers on the competition team. Jackson has played basketball, participated in Beta club, Girl Xcouts, Rocky Creek Clay Dusters team, and the National Technical Honor Society.

Jackson plans on attending a four-year college and pursuing a career in physical therapy, national resources and conservation or engineering.

When asked how it felt to win first runner up, Jackson replied, “It was exciting and surprising. A good memory of my senior year to last forever.”

The queen is enjoying her honor.

“Teachers talk to me more, a lot of teachers tell me congratulations...It just feels very exciting to know that I’m representing my school in a good way,” said June.

To June homecoming queen should be represented by someone with school spirit, someone outgoing and someone with a very good, positive attitude.

“And I think I represent all of those things,” said June.

Logan Moore

Sarah Neil

Emily Searcy

Bre’yana Singleton

Scottie Turner

Photos by Taylor Snyder Sha’kardra Johnson

Rose Logan

Kayla Underdahl

Ashley Eason

Kayla Jackson

Jessica Whitlock

November 2010

Page 15

‘The Social Network’ exposes drama even as Facebook is being creating and evolving during early years Lindsey Hinnant Reporter Tagging people in pictures, poking your friends and writing on their “wall” are how many people today connect with one another. Keeping up with friends and family has become as easy as a click away. Making new friends and reconnecting with the old, this all made possible by a very popular website, called Facebook, whose inventor is the subject of a new film.

Welcome to the world of “The Social Network,” a new film directed by David Fincher and based on the book “The Accidental Billionaires” by Ben Mezrich. The movie exposes how Facebook was created and how it evolved over time.

Jesse Eisenberg plays Mark Zuckerberg , the 19-year old founder of Facebook. Throughout the movie you see all of Zuckerberg’s complications and successes while creating the social network. It shows how Zuckerberg ran into two different lawsuits along the way, causing him to owe different people numerous amounts of money. One lawsuit involves a pair of upscale twins who claim to have created the idea of Facebook. The second law suit involving his co-founder and former best friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) builds up drama and suspense.

There are many flashback scenes in the film and you never fully understand the reasoning for the lawsuit until

the end. The suspense builds throughout the court scenes to keep you wondering, “What happened?”

The film was engaging and very tastefully made, for the most part. What struck me were the roles played by females. These actresses are meant to be Harvard undergrads – very intelligent young women -- but in the movie they are portrayed as nothing less than coke sniffing whores. Within the first 30 minutes of the film the Harvard women were doing drugs, participating in underage drinking, dancing on tables and stripping for attention.

There were only about three meaningful female roles in the film, one being a psychotic girlfriend whom set a gift from her boyfriend on fire, because she was unhappy with it. There are only two female characters who have any sort of personality at all, one being Zuckerberg’s girlfriend, Gina (Rooney Mara), and the other being a law intern (Rashida Jones) present at the depositions that frame the story.

I give “The Social Network” four out of five horseshoes. Other than the belittlement of women in the film, I didn’t have many other bad thoughts while watching it.

I do believe the movie should be rated R and not PG-13.

It has a few scenes that may be inappropriate for younger audiences. Other than that, though, it was a wonderful film and I would enjoy seeing it again. I recommend this movie to any user of Facebook; it’s interesting to see the differences in Facebook then, and Facebook now.

Past halloween, fall memories Mitchell Monteith, freshman

What is your best fall or Halloween memory?

“Halloween last year, me and Elliot went to Riley Galasco’s house and stole a whole bowl of candy because they left it out.”

Jasmine White, junior

Lang Bigham, junior “My dad caught himself on fire pouring gas on a fire; he wasn’t thinking and ran around in circles.”

Porshe Simril, sophomore “We (my cousins and I) went to Scarowinds two years ago and these monsters were chasing me and I fell and cried.”

“I went to Scarowinds, and there was this man and he had little bells on his fingers and he would pop up and scare me, and there was a chainsaw man and you can’t see where he was at and he’d Amber Opel, sophomore start chasing after you. I was with Breonna Foster, Tasharra “My first kiss was in Charlie Chalk and Alexis Watson for Westbrook’s cornfield in someone’s birthday last year.” sixth grade at a fall party.”

November 2010

Stallion horoscopes

Page 16

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) A recent acknowledgment has got you on top of the world but be careful not to let it affect your attitude too much.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) In life we have goals, and it is our job to do everything possible to help us achieve those goals. Set a short term goal for yourself and go for it.

After you have achieved that goal, set another. The possibilities are endless.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Remember that this is your life, and you are the decision maker. Do not let your peers change your thoughts about something you have been waiting for.

Leo (July 23- Aug. 22) Thanksgiving is coming up and you want something fun to do with your friends. Try planning a day to get ahead with Christmas shopping.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Change is a good thing, when it comes your way this month, open up and accept the change that’s taking place.

Morgan McKoy/ S.P.i.N.

Morgan McKoy Reporter Ashli Simmons, sophomore -Her birthday is Nov. 9.

-She likes to eat a lot and the weirdest thing she has ever eaten was sushi.

-Ashli’s favorite sport is football. She loves the Cowboys.

-She is a cheerleader.

Art Illustrations by Emma Hampton

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) You and a friend have had an up and down relationship for quite a while, be patient with what is going on and try to clear things up a little.

Scholarships Cancer (June 21-July 22) Some may say that you don’t share all that you know, really get motivated to use your knowledge for an upcoming school project.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) There is someone back in your life that you would like to keep there for a long time. Do not be hesitant to try to keep that someone in your life.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Something has been on your mind for a while that is affecting your happiness; try to go on with a positive outlook.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 9) Be wary of whom you share your secrets with; people have a way with words that might get you caught up in some trouble if you aren’t careful.

Aries (March 21-April 19) A best friend can make any situation better: Your best friend recently received bad news, plan a surprise night to distract his/her mind.

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 22) Now that school has started and you’re back into the swing of things, talk to your counselor about extra curricular activities. They are a fun way to get involved and meet new people.

• AXA ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP is offered to high school seniors who have exhibited exceptional achievement in school, workplace or community.

This scholarship offers $10,000 and $25,000 but only the first 12,000 applications received will be considered.

Please see Guidance Department Head Kay McNutt to obtain a copy of this application. Applications are due Dec. 15.

• The BIG DIG SCHOLARSHIP is an essay scholarship with $3,000 prize. To obtain an application go to www.antiquertrader.tv/studentscholarship.ph www.antiquertrader.tv/studentscholarship.php. www.antiquertrader.tv/studentscholarship.php p.

Deadline is Dec. 3.

• The Law Offices of Michael A. DeMayo is offering a $2,500 scholarship to a high school senior. The deadline is March 7, 2011. See McNutt to pick up an application packet.

• 2011 PROFILE IN COURAGE ESSAY CONTEST is an essay contest that is 1,000 words or less. This essay demonstrates an understanding of political courage described by John F. Kennedy. The first place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship. For more information visit http://spirit.prudential.com or www.principals.org/spiri http://spirit.prudential.co www.principals.org/spirit.

• KITTIE MOSS FAIREY EDUCATIONAL FUND SCHOLARSHIP students must have at least a 3.0, a combined SAT score of 1800 or ACT score of 26, and household adjusted gross income not exceeding $40,000. Deadline is Nov. 15. To apply see Mrs. McNutt for an application.

• GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian Pacific Islander American, or Hispanic American; a citizen, national or legal permanent resident must have a 3.3 GPA on an unweighted 4.0 scale.

Students should have demonstrated leadership abilities in the community, extracurricular activities or other activities. The deadline is Jan. 10, 2011, and this student gets a full tuition to the college of their choice. Applications are available at www.gmsp.or www.gmsp.org. www.gmsp.org g.

John Penyak Spank Williams Co-Sports editors

November 2010

Page 17

Football stars have pre-game rituals

1.

2.

3.

4.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

What is your motivation for playing football?

What is your most embarrassing moment on or off the field?

Do you have any motivational quotes?

Ciara Burris/SPiN Ciara Burris/SPiN

Jadeveon Clowney, 7, senior

1. “I sleep, and listen to Plies and Lil’ Wayne.”

2. “Being number one, and wanting to stay number one.”

3. “When I had crutches during my sophomore year, and it was wet outside and I came into school and fell.”

4. “Listen to Coach Falls before every game.”

DeNarius Allen/SPiN

Chris Meyer, 71, senior

1 .“Trash talking teammates.”

2 .“To get a ring.”

3. “When I kicked a guy in the head and got kicked out of practice.”

4. “If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.”

DeNarius Allen/SPiN

DeNarius Allen/SPiN

Jojuan Thompson, 53, senior Albert Neely, 52, senior 1. “I listen to music and sit by myself. Sometimes I sleep or watch videos.”

2. “To go to the next level and hopefully pro, I would like to play for Appalachian State but I do not have a preference for pro teams.”

3. “When I had my wreck backing out of my driveway.”

4. “What we do, ‘hunt.’ Also, Three and out.”

DeNarius Allen/SPiN

Landon Ard, 6, senior

1. “I listen to Lil’ Wayne.”

2. “To play in college.”

3 “When I got a 17 on a math test last year.”

4. “Never quit.”

1. “I always pray, and ask the Lord to help me stay injury-free.”

2. “To help my family financially and to bring them together.”

3. “Coming in the weight room and trying to bench 225 pounds and not being able to do it. But now I bench 305.”

4. “Hard work beats talent any day.”

Ciara Burris/SPiN

Tay Hicklin, 10, junior

1 .“Listen to Gospel Music.”

2 .“Family, and love for the sport.”

3 .“One time my shorts came off in the school.”

4. “It may not mean nothing to ya’ll, but understand nothing was done for me.”

Ciara Burris/SPiN

Gerald Dixon, 44, senior

1.“Listen to crunk music. Rap, like Lil’ Wayne and Drake.”

2.“To go to the pros, but I don’t have a specific team. Wherever will accept me.”

3.“When I crapped my pants in kindergarten.”

4.“Don’t do drugs.”

DeNarius Allen/SPiN

Montay Crockett, 11, junior

1. “I pray and eat chicken alfredo.”

2. “Family because they lead me in the right direction.”

3. “When I got hit in the nuts p laying football.”

4. “Hate me or love me, I’ma do whatever it takes to make it.” –Lil’ Boosie.

Swimmer takes the podium at state Emma Hampton Reporter

South Pointe senior Ellen Cannon won third place in the women’s 200-yard freestyle at the AAA State Meet Oct. 9 at the University of South Carolina. Cannon is the first swimmer in the history of South Pointe to make the podium at State.

“I was really surprised. To podium has been one of my goals since I was in seventh grade,” said Cannon.

Cannon has been swimming in competitions for 11 years, six for the Stal-

lions. She swims because she enjoys the friendships that she makes and the joy of the competition.

At Regions she also placed third in the women’s 200-yard freestyle and first in the women’s 500-yard freestyle. Cannon, along with her teammates sophomore Murphy Cannon, senior Sarah Neil, sophomore Mary Campbell Kellett, sophomore Mary Hannah Neil, sophomore Caroline Crowder, senior Jay Crowder, senior Eleonora Canovi, seventh grader Claire Holiday, freshman Izzi Woodard, seventh grader Bailey Fallon, junior Michelle

Thacker and sophomore Natalie Deas went to the State Meet. The girls placed fifth overall, which is the highest they have ever placed at State.

To qualify for the state meet, Cannon had to make a qualifying time. She was under that time by 10 seconds.

“To podium my senior year is an opportunity that only a few people get to do, so it’s really exciting to make history at South Pointe for swimming,” said Cannon.

Cannon is also a part of the 2010 All Region 3-AAA Swim Team which con-

sists of Woodard, Canovi, Murphy Cannon, Holiday, Mary Hannah Neil, Sarah Neil, Jay Crowder, Caroline Crowder, Kellett, Thacker and junior Brandon Anguiano. Swimmers from Fort Mill High School, Nation Ford High School, York High School and Chester High School are also a part of the All-Region team.

Clowney’s year on top: 2010 Defensive Stats

Sacks - 17.5 Yards lost in sacks - 130 Big hits- 14 Pressure on quarterback - 32 Tackles for a loss (TFL) - 15 Yards lost in TFL - 45 Interceptions- 1 Touchdowns- 2 Total tackles - 108 Recovered fumbles - 4 Deflected passes - 1

recruit

#1

The average 17-year-old male is 5-foot-9. The monster is 6-foot-6.

The average 17-year-old male weighs 140 pounds. The monster weighs 250 pounds.

The average 17-year-old male can run 40 yards in about six seconds. The monster can run 40 yards in 4.43 seconds.

“He was born an athlete,” said senior Kendall Deas.

“He is a good young man and a nice guy. That is the most important thing,” said South Pointe Principal Al Leonard.

“He is a monster. That’s all I can say,” said starting varsity quarterback Tay Hicklin (10), who is glad he doesn’t have this defensive end coming at him on Fridays.

South Pointe’s monster wears the number seven jersey, but he is the number one high school football recruit in the nation, Jadeveon Clowney. What is it like being number one?

“It’s ok. Everyone is trying to compete with you. I have to go hard every week and go at my best,” said Clowney, or “J.D.,” as he wants to be called.

J.D. is ready for college, he says, he just needs to get bigger. (Most readers will understandably stop here and think about what a bigger Clowney might look like.)

The senior has gotten over 1, 320 letters and counting from colleges all over the country. His options for college, he says, are practically every college in the nation. He said has been able to narrow it down to about five.

His top five as of mid September were the University of Alabama, Louisiana State University (LSU), Miami University in Florida, Florida State University and Auburn University. But after watching the University of South Carolina slaughter the number one-ranked Crimson Tide Oct. 9, the Gamecocks catapulted to the top of this top recruit’s list. In other words, he has not decided yet and will probably say anything to get reporters to leave him alone.

South Pointe’s varsity football head coach, Bobby Carroll, just tells J.D. to concentrate on his schoolwork and to stay focused. He also says that J.D. needs to make sure the official college visits he

Lukas Faris Contributor

takes are to schools he is seriously interested in.

“He just needs to live day by day until college comes,” said Coach Carroll, “and pick the college that fits him best.”

The next step after college for Clowney would be the pros, if he can make it. “I can go pro. I just have to stay focused and do my best every week,” said J.D. “He’ll be in the NFL by his sophomore year in college,” said the starting center for South Pointe’s varsity football team, De’Harion Mobley. Even pro NFL star, Chad Ochocinco, thinks Clowney will go pro. He is “the LeBron James of football,” the Cincinnati receiver twittered in September.

Being compared to LeBron James was the best thing J.D. had heard. James is his favorite NBA star, and Clowney is also very skilled at basketball, a sport he gave up about the time moms from opposing football teams began to refer to him as “that monster the Stallions have.”

Right now the players and the coaches try to stay focused on this season. A 3A team playing tough 4A football powerhouses in addition to region teams, South Pointe fell to rival Northwestern and barely made it out alive from Spartanburg. But they devastated Independence, a North Carolina perennial state champion, and Rock Hill High, a Big Sixteen team with a few accolades of their own. They knocked off the first two region opponents 55-7, including Nation Ford for Homecoming.

A large crowd of alumni, parents, staff and fans saw what they came for Oct. 8 – the beauty and the beast. While queen Tamira June gracefully wore her crown after the half, Clowney and his buddies “Big Gerald” Dixon (44) and Albert Neely (52) wreaked havoc on the Falcon offense. Clowney even took a handoff from Hicklin over the right tackle and sprinted 97 yards to score six before a delighted Stallion crowd.

As the Homecoming crowd dispersed and the entire team had crossed the parking lot toward the locker room, a small group of well-wishers continued to wait for star players who were apparently being interviewed by the media.

Finally, oversized shadows loomed large over the parking lot and then dark figures illuminated from behind by the bright stadium lights emerged from around the corner of the field house: the quarterback, the defensive linemen and, of course, the biggest of all—the monster himself.

“Tony Dorsett! Tony Dorsett!” Clowney’s English teacher, Joe Koon, called him as Number 7 lumbered across the stadium parking lot, referring to Dallas Cowboy superstar famous for his 99-yard touchdown run.

Clowney, his wide grin flashing white teeth, bellowed as he shook his massive head back and forth: “Koon! Koon!”

“Thank God he’s on our side,” someone laughed in the dark.

She always asks, “Deveon, what you doing?” Every day when I get home and she is at my house, the first thing she says is, “Deveon, what you doing?” And I can tell her nothing or what I have done that day, and she will ask four minutes later, “Deveon, what you doing?” She loves to talk to you and she’s very caring.

She loves asking, “Who did that right there?” If you have any scars or anything on your body, she will ask you that. And once you tell her what happened, she will end the conversation with “What you doing?”

Clowney’s “favorite person” is his little niece. He wrote,

“The Monster” Jadeveon Clowney sits quietly on the bench ready to get back in the game

Road to

Photos by Taylor Snyder

“The Monster” Jadeveon Clowney pushes through the offensive line chasing his prey

“It’s good to have a ring”

Page 20

Novevmber 2010

Junior varsity volleyball coach faces battle with deadly disease In 2007 junior varsity volleyball coach Tamisha Martin was diagnosed with immune system disorder lupus Logan Moore Contributor It is June of 2007, and Tamisha Martin’s dreams are well on the way of becoming true; she ahs made the Winthrop volleyball team. After a lifetime of hard work and determination, it is an understatement to say that she deserved a spot of the Division I college team.

The training was difficult, but Martin was up to the challenge. Little did she know, the biggest challenge of all would be fighting the monster that loomed inside her own body.

Months later, the 20-year-old with such a bright future, lies in a hospital bed.

She cries with her family and friends as the realization sinks in; her volleyball career is over.

Confused and helpless, Martin watches in shock as she sees her dreams shatter like glass.

It all began in seventh grade, when Martin, always an exquisite athlete, began to play volleyball.

“I wanted to play as many sports as possible”, Martin said.

She soon fell in love with the sport of volleyball, and what started out as “just another sport,” soon became a lifestyle.

As Martin transitioned from middle school and high school, her talent multiplied. She attended Airport High School in Columbia, S.C., and her volleyball team soon made it to the state championship.

By her sophomore year of high school, at age 16, the small-framed, 5foot, 7-inch tall athlete began talking to scouts. Martin said that her only goal was to eventually play for a D1 school.

After two more years of working hard, Martin went to play for Virginia Intermont College, with a half athletichalf academic scholarship. Although she is short for a college volleyball player, her 27-inch vertical landed her a starting position as Virginia’s outside hitter.

Tamisha played a full season for Virginia Intermont College, until the culinary program at the school closed down. With many options ahead of her, Martin had to choose a new school to play for. She chose Winthrop University in Rock Hill.

“It was my chance to play for a D1 school,” she said.

Winthrop offered a great culinary

school, and since her only other goal besides playing pro volleyball was to become a baker, the decision was easy.

Winthrop would also serve as a comfort zone, with family close by. Her brother, Torrell Martin, was, at the time, the star of Winthrop’s basketball team. Now, at age 25, he plays professional European basketball.

With dreams close enough to touch, Tamisha began to train with the Winthrop volleyball team in the summer of 2007. “I felt like I was training for the Olympics,” she said.

After only one month and a half of this intense training, disaster struck the promising athlete. Tamisha became so sore that she couldn’t jump, and she gained one to two pounds a day.

Martin said she knew something was terrible wrong with her body. She explained that it was not the normal soreness she usually got from difficult training.

This time, it was serious.

“I felt like I was hit by a bus everyday,” she said.

But Martin, a determined athlete with a strong future ahead of her, kept pushing her body to the limit.

Finally, her swollen body gave up on her. One morning, Tamisha woke up and she could not get out of bed, her muscles refused to let her move.

Her roommate immediately took her to see the doctors at Shiland Medical Practice. There they tested the young athlete for mono. “I knew it wasn’t mono,” she said.

When the results came back negative, her mother took her to see doctors in her hometown, Columbia. Martin’s condition continued to worsen, and on a Friday afternoon, she was rushed to the emergency room of Richland Memorial Hospital.

She stayed there for two long weeks, while the doctors ran various tests on her. Martin said the whole time, she kept thinking that she was missing valuable practice time. “I was scared and worried I could never play again.”

On Sept. 23, 2007, Martin was diagnosed with SLE Systematic Lupus, and Lupus Nephritis.

Lupus, an autoimmune disease, is when the immune system breaks down and attacks tissues and organs in the body. This incurable disease affects ap-

Junior varsity coach Tamisha Martin poses with the junior varsity volleyball team after winning their game with York.

Junior varsity volleyball coach Tamisha Martin gathers the team to form a new strategy during the South Pointe vs. York game.

proximately 0.5 percent of the American population.

Devastation hit Martin like a train wreck as she saw her future crash down before her eyes. She was soon introduced to rheumatologists and nephrologists, but she could not deny the negativity that was beginning to take over her life. They talked about treatments and surgeries, but all Martin heard was the sound of her volleyball future crashing down.

On October 3, the disappointed 20 year old volleyball star was put on chemo.

The chemo made her constantly tired, and often nauseous.

No matter how bad she felt, Martin was determined to get better, and return to Winthrop, even if she could not finish out the season. She said she knew she could live with Lupus. And that, she did.

With a large support group, Martin gradually made the journey back to a normal lifestyle.

Today, three years later, Martin looks back at the changes Lupus forced her to make. Aside from the fact that she can no longer play college volleyball, Tamisha has had to learn responsibility. She takes 14 pills and a day and visits a doctor about every three weeks.

Since her initial hospital stay, she has been hospitalized three other times.

The worst of these hospital stays was in February of 2009. Her doctors took her off chemo, and switched Tamisha to a new treatment, cellcept.

The new treatment did not work, and Martin began to gain one to two pounds of water weight a day. Eventually, after weeks of this, she was sent to the hospital.

She said she had gained up to 60 pounds of water weight. “They drained five liters

of water out of my stomach, and two and half liters out of my right lung.”

Since then, Martin has recovered and her physical ability has bounced back to a level of normalcy. The threatening monster is now controlled, but it will always affect her lifestyle.

Still involved in volleyball, Martin coaches the South Pointe junior varsity volleyball team, as well as a Rock Hill club volleyball team during the winter.

She says she would like to continue coaching as long as possible.

“If I can’t play volleyball myself, I’m going to use my knowledge to help others,” Martin said.

If asked about her future, the African American athlete once would have said she wanted to play professional volleyball overseas. But now, more mature and stronger than ever, Martin has a new goal; to own a bakery.

Well on her way to success, Tamisha has developed a positive outlook on life.

Lupus had changed everything in her life from her future to her eating schedule.

Looking at how Lupus changed her as a person, Tamisha stated, “I’m grateful for the days I feel great.”

At age 23, Martin may be going down a different road, but she still has a promising future. With big dreams and strong determination, one thing is certain; volleyball will always be a part of her life.

Photos by John Penyak

November 2010

Page 21

Meet the Player:

Lindsay Wooles though you are having a good day you can always fix something,” said Wooles when describing the challenges of volleyball.

“You can never reach perfection.”

The score was only separated by Wooles has earned many accomplishtwo points. The scoreboard read 27 to 25 ments and awards in her time playing last year as South Pointe’s junior varsity volleyball, like leadership awards on her volleyball team did what no South Pointe club team, and was M.V.P. and captain of team has done before; they had beaten her eighth grade team.

Rock Hill High School on their home With Wooles’ help, the Stallions recourt. cently won the Oct.2 Buford tournament, Lindsay Wooles started playing volearning another trophy for South Pointe’s leyball in the second grade in Newmark, trophy case.

Ohio, but when she moved to Rock Hill Wooles has stated later that year she didn’t have the opporthat her favorite actunity to play except for backyard games complishment is by with her neighbors. Then in the seventh far being the fi rst grade she got the chance to play for the junior varsity team to Saluda Trail Wildcats and has continued beat Rock Hill High ever since.

School.

Wooles is a defensive specialist. A “The points were defensive specialist as Wooles describes going back and forth. it is a person who only plays on the back The adrenaline just row, and when the hitter on the other overwhelmed me,” team “kills” the ball, she must “dig it up” said Wooles as she before the other team scores. A setter, described the victory.

Wooles’ other position, is the person that “It’s an amazing feelsets the ball up for the hitter to “kill.” ing.”

Wooles played both seventh and Wooles’ volleyball eighth grade volleyball, and made junior career will not end varsity her freshman and sophomore years John Penyak/S.P.i.N after high school, she hopes; she is working to play for college.

“It’s harder to get volleyball scholarships especially for defensive players,” Wooles said.

The process of getting scholarships is completely different for most volleyball players. Searching for scholarships by calling up coaches is how Wooles is spending her weekends. She is hopeful though she will find a school to play for and is taking part in a recruitment program to find scholarships.

Wooles plans on attending school to either be a child psychologist or to be a special education teacher, saying “I love little kids.”

For the future Wooles hopes to coach volleyball when she gets older.

She has plans to either to coach either high school or college.

For now friend Mariah Lawrence, a junior, said Wooles is not only popular, but, “She is really nice, and always finds the best in people.”

Outside of volleyball Wooles enjoys John here at South Pointe. In her sophomore spending year she became the team captain. time with When Coach Mike Deyton met her at friends, and a Winthrop game, he thought she would enjoys parbe a setter, but she slowly showed the sign ticipating in of a defensive specialist. the WoodJunior Katy McFadden who has land United played seven seasons with her said, “Our Methodist defense would not be the same.”

Church’s Fellow team mate Victoria Jordan youth group. talked about how she helps give her team Wooles the moral edge saying, “It would be more favorite Wooles prepares to hit the ball down and gloomy without her.” activJohn Penyak/S.P.i.N. Along with her role with the South ity is going Pointe Stallions Wooles also plays for the on mission trips. “It kind of gives you a club team, the Carolina Juniors. chance to get away from school problems, “Club volleyball you travel to other and the stress of volleyball.” cities and states and compete on a higher level,” said Wooles.

“It’s always a challenge, and even

John Penyak Sports editor

w3

Volleyball lingo decoded Serve--the hit that begins the play Set--an assist to the hitter Kill--an unreturnable hit Defensive specialist--a player that only plays defense Blocker--first line of defense Libero--defensive specialist who wears a different jersey and can’t play front

South Pointe student reflects on becoming Buford Tournamnet chmapions Scottie Turner Contributor My breathing is heavy. My throat is dry and sore, but the words still flow; they have to Taylor Snyder/S.P.i.N. flow. My body hurts, my mind is exhausted and my hands are shaking from the adrenaline pumping through my body, but I have to stay calm, stay in control.

The crowd is loud and the bright lights on the court are like spotlights focused on the main event. We walk onto the court ready to win, and willing to give everything we have for this game; this victory.

The game starts and the rhythm begins. It’s perfect; pass, set, kill. Every kill is followed by yelling, celebration, and congratulation, but then the next point is initiated and the rhythm begins again. All I can see is the ball and the court, it’s like we’re the only 12 people in the world, but we’re the final game so all eyes are on our court; our game; our team. We’ve worked so hard to get to this point.

It is the championship game of the Buford tournament, the night of Oct. 2.

The winner is the tournament champion and the loser is handed defeat.

Pass, set, kill. We get the ball back and its game point. I hear the whistle blow and see my teammate waving her arms in the air. She was asking for a substitution.

It was my time to go in and my turn to serve. I run up to the sideline and place my hand against my teammate’s hand,

both of us sweaty and tired. Our hands seem to lie against each other’s for one single moment of rest.

The down referee whistles for me to enter the game and I am met with high fives and words of encouragement. The line judge bounces me the ball and all eyes are now focused on me. The up referee whistles for service and the eight seconds allotted to me seems to slow down substantially. Doubt clouds my thoughts.

Can I do this? What if I miss?

My breathing is heavy, but I take a deep breath. My throat is dry, but I yell out a few last instructions. My body hurts, but I put the pain aside. My mind is exhausted but I clear it, only doing what I know how. I smack the top of the ball, toss the ball into the air and make solid contact.

A hush falls over the crowd and the only noise in the gym is that of the ball being contacted and the people on the court communicating to one another. The ball comes over the net and the familiar rhythm begins once more; a perfect pass, a perfect set, and a decisive kill. The feeling of joy and celebration begin before the ball hits the floor.

All my teammates converge onto the court and the cheering, screaming, and hugging begin. Flashes from cameras are going off in the small gym and words of celebration are being exchanged. My breathing is heavy, my throat is dry, my body and mind are exhausted but the feeling in my heart is unmistakable. I am victorious. We are victorious. Championsa title that never fades.

John Penyak Spank Williams Co-Sports editors

Page 22

November 2010

Stallions return to ESPN South Pointe Stallions 14 Spartanburg Vikings 13

tempt by Ard that could have won the game for the Stallions.

Spartanburg came out with a long drive, and the Vikings quarterback threw what would have been a touchdown pass to the end zone that was intercepted by senior defensive back Marques Cunningham.

“I felt like I had to step up and do my job better when the game was on the line,” Cunningham said.

In overtime junior running back Jalen Massey got the hand-off on the three yard line and ran it into the end zone, and the Stallion fans were pumped up as Ard added the extra point.

The Vikings answered with a touchdown of their own and had to decide whether they wanted to go for the win, or stay tied. They chose to go for the win.

Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney(7) works to get into the backfield of Spartanburg Viking’s offense. Clowney helped the Stallions to a 14-13 victory over the Vikings.

The Vikings quarterback dropped back for a lob pass, was pressured by “We felt like we had to win the first one Michael Phillips the defensive line, and had his throw broand the second one, not just because it Sports Columnist ken up by the secondary in the end zone. was going to be on ESPN, we take that apStallion fans and players showed up The South Pointe fans burst into an proach to every game we have.” to Wofford football stadium on Sept. 29 uproar of cheers, and the Spartanburg fans At kick off Wofford stadium was eager to see what would happen in the were silent. experiencing a Spartanburg white-out. The second of two ESPN games that had been When asked about the win on national South Pointe side seemed dull compared scheduled for the Stallions this season. television, Coach Carroll commented, “It to the spirit that everyone had shown at The hype behind this game was high; was great to know that we beat Spartanthe Northwestern game. however, it did not compare to the exciteburg in the spotlight of the nation, and The Stallions came out strong and ment that had been build previous to the it was even better winning they way we scored quick on a touchdown pass from first game. did.”

Hicklin to junior wide receiver Montay After the first ESPN game where The players shared the same exciteCrockett, which led to a successful point South Pointe lost to cross-town rivals ment. “it was a tough game, the grind of Northwestern, the players and coaches felt after from senior Landon Ard. the game made it better. It’s good to know The lead did not last long, as Spartanlike they had to win the second one that we stuck in there and did what we had burg was quick to answer with a 70-yard “We felt like we had to redeem to do to win,” said Neely. interception return for a touchdown that ourselves; the first time was embarrassThe win against Spartanburg was a tied the game up at seven. ing for all of us,” said junior quarterback great morale boost for the team and was a The score never changed all game, Tay Hicklin and Senior defensive linemen positive win in the spotlight for the South despite potentially costly turnovers by Albert Neely.

Pointe football program in years to come. both teams, and a blocked field goal atHead coach Bobby Carroll remarked,

Ard (6) is congradulated after tackling the Viking recevier of his own punt.

Wrestlers get ready for new season Spank Williams Co-sports editor

JaRyan Jennings (17) holds on to the ball while a Viking defender tries to tackle.

Varsity kicker Landon Ard (6) kicks and makes a field goal with the pressure of Viking defenders just inches away during the second half of the game against Spartanburg.

Photos by Taylor Snyder

South Pointe is known for a powerhouse, top ranked football program led by Coach Bobby Carroll and senior captains Jadeveon Clowney, Gerald Dixon, Trey Mackey and Landon Ard, but South Pointe wrestling is about to make uproar led by senior captains Jonathon Cloud, Tre Barber, Spank Williams and Jimi Barnhart.

South Pointe has been ranked within the top five in the state of South Carolina since 2008.

In the 2008-2009 season the Stallions started the season ranked number five and posted a 29-2 record losing to Hillcrest in the playoffs. In the 2009-2010 season SPHS started number three and posted a 26-7 record and got disqualified after defeating the number three ranked Hillcrest Rams 36-27 in the playoffs.

“We got DQed, we had Rock Hill next and we were ready,” Barber stated.

This year is the Stallions are only returning four starters from last year’s team: Charlie Keese (103), Tre Barber (125), Jonathon Cloud (130) and Spank Williams

(140).

In past years the Stallions are used to returning six or seven starters that at least qualified for state. This year there are only two, Keese at weight class 103 and Cloud at weight class 130.

“Me and Spank didn’t make weight for state qualifier; we were overweight a lot,” Barber explained.

Even though the Stallions are only returning four starters and two state qualifiers from last year’s team, Coach Eddie Cook and Barber believe this is one of the best teams to ever come through South Pointe.

“Our returning junior and seniors will give us the edge we need,” Cook said.

“We all work hard; Jimi, Tyrell (Neely), Cameron (Pike) and Diesel (Bre’Dyaun Wesley), will come in and replace last year’s starters that graduated,” Barber said.

The competition on the team is very good, especially weight classes 130, 135, 140 and 145.

“That is going to be the strongest part of our team; it starts off with Tre at 130 and I finish it up at 145 or 152,” Williams said.

DeNarius Allen Photography editor

November 2010

Page 23

First-ever ESPN game inspires fans Whitney Robinson Assistant centerspread editor “Let’s go Stallions, let’s go” was chanted on the South Pointe side as Stallions and the Northwestern Trojans poured into the Rock Hill District 3 Stadium Aug. 28.

On the Stallion side fans packed the bleachers, a sea of red, silver and white.

On the Trojan side gold and purple were represented throughout.

Names and numbers of football players were plastered among the crowd.

Signs were held up saying, “You can’t have ESPN with out SP” and “Watch where you’re going; there’s doodoo!”

Screaming names and laughter echoed as people rushed, to get food and drinks.

Coke products sold out during the game between Hoover vs. Byrnes, so the concession workers had to go into storage and pull out more drinks, which didn’t even have time to get cool. Despite the games being televised by ESPN, attendance was up to teams’ hopes—a packed house.

Foods were available, hot and ready, such as freshly-grilled hotdogs, multi-colored snow cones and funnel cakes.

Miniature footballs and t-shirts were thrown into the crowd periodically during the whole afternoon.

Tension mounted as the minutes to

kick-off counted down, adrenalin fired up as the two enemy teams marched to the field.

Stallions held their breath when the big game began. “Let’s go defense,” one fan shouted loudly.

The 90-degree weather beat down, making some wonder why they were out there.

One look around the stadium as our football players, coaches, trainers, cheerleaders, band members, parents, classmates, teachers, principals, and fans threw their all into the game answers why.

If it’s one thing that a Stallion knows, red and silver come together through the good and bad times.

Many of the Stallion graduates came back in the flesh to support their pride, but even if they were across the states, they were glued to the television. Desmond McCrorey, who was watching the game in Arkansas, said, “Defense played hard, had a few things to fix but very well overall.”

In the second quarter, Stallion spirits were lifted as the team took the lead from Northwestern; high hopes were destroyed after the half, though.

“I felt like we made a lot of mistakes, it was a game we should have won,” said junior quarterback Tay Hicklin As the Trojans took the lead over again, fans cheered and screamed even harder making sure Northwestern knew they still had spirit left.

“The exposure was great! Not only

for our school but for our state and surrounding communities,” said running back coach Robert Beckler.

As the game ended with a score of 42-20, the Stallions congratulated the Trojans on the field.

Everyone there knew history was being made. Despite the sting of the loss,

chants of “Let’s go Stallions,” still echoed as the tired, hot fans poured back into the streets of Rock Hill.

Where in the country can you get a televised high school double-header with teams like these going full speed at each other all afternoon as the season opener?

Catherine Allen/Contributor

Stallion studs, fans, and even graduate Tyree Conner all cheer on the football team while enjoying the historic moment.

Art Illustration by Taylor Snyder

South Pointe and Northwestern flags fly high over District Three Stadium. The stadium gets ready for a hot and wild day as District Three Stadium hosts ESPN for the first time in its long existence.

Taylor Snyder/SPiN

Fans and Officer John Aiton watched the game closely as they wait to see what happens next. The student section was roaring with cheers from the beginning of the game until the end.

Catherine Allen/Contributor Taylor Snyder/SPiN

Fans crowd District Three Stadium to watch the ESPN double header games South Pointe vs.

Northwestern and Byrnes vs. Hoover. Despite the 95 degree heat and boiling sun, Stallions still cheer energetically, in which was described as a college like atmosphere for high school football game.

Cheerleaders and Chick-Fil-a mascot show spirit as they cheer on the Stallions no matter the outcome of the game.

November 2010

Page 24

Drama teacher and director Jimmy Chrismon in the role of Father cast down the rain in his plan to destroy his creation with a flood and start over from Noah’s family, the only survivors.

God judged his children Adam and Eve as disboedient and thrown out of the Garden of Eden.

Sophmore Yemmi Salami as Japheth and junior Rachel Henderson as Yonah sing “In Whatever Time We Have.” Japheth, as son of Noah, fell in love with a daughter of Cain, a forbidden relationship.

Noah, played by Jonathan Hoskins, obeyed the instructions by God and loaded the ark with two of every creature. Patron Cecilia Boles had seen the costumes in a previous production.

Photos by Taylor Snyder

(From left to right) Junior Mona Bailey and seniors Eddy West and Jonathan Hoskins as the Snake tempt senior Caitlin Gilliand as Eve to eat the apple of the tree that was forbidden by God. Eve later on tempted Adam, played by Shivam Patel, into eating the apple also and as a result Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden.