Leesville Road High School, Raleigh, N.C.
April 4, 2022
Volume XXIX, Issue 2
Get to know more faces of Leesville - PAGES 6 and 7
Concerts are back! - PAGE 4
THE MYCENAEAN lrhsnews.org
@lrhsnews
@lrhsnews
@LRHSnews
In the news 2022 spring play update: Annie Prom 2022 • • • •
•
•
The last day before Spring Break is April 8. Students will return on April 18. Varisty Men’s Tennis plays at Enloe on April 4. Men’s Lacrosse plays at Enloe on April 5. Junior Varsity and Varsity Women’s Soccer play against Cardinal Gibbons on April 6 at home. Leesville’s Spring Carnival is on April 29 in the Hamilton Stadium. The event will include food, games, music and more. Be on the lookout for class and executive council election ballots in your student email.
Game design academy
By: Dayna Wilkerson Junior Editor
Leesville Road High School has a new program for incoming freshmen: the Game Design Academy. The Game Design Academy is a “career-themed school within the school” that works with Epic Games, according to the flyer on the LRHS website. The academy will accept up to seventy-five rising freshmen each school year, and those students will stay together in the same classes all four years. However, if the academy does not reach the benchmark of seventy-five, the program may open up to rising sophomores. Marianne Farina, the Instructional Manager Coordinator for LRHS, is in charge of the new academy. Farina said that the academy was proposed to the school board last year, but it did not pass. “When the county started looking at our demographics and what businesses were in the area, they figured out that Epic Games would be the best partner,” said Farina. Epic Games then redesigned the proposal and sent it back to the school board and passed it. Epic Game’s role in the academy is to help with internships and help the students learn how to design games on their software.” The academy allows students to learn soft skills to help them later in life and possibly set up a career for them right out of high school. According to Farina, students in the academy undertake their 120-hour internship in their junior and senior years and could receive offers from their internship and earn as much as
See Game, page 2
INDEX
News.....................................2
By: Maddy Winick Staff Writer
The cast of Annie gathers for a picture. The rehearsal process is entirely underway, and everyone is working hard to put on a great show. (PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENDAN SHORE)
By: Brendan Shore Staff Writer
Leesville’s spring show Annie is still in full swing, as actors and technicians alike continue the process of putting together a full-blown musical. Director Matthew Hurley, technical director Jeannine Wrayno, vocal director Tonya Dickens, dance director Shannon Carr, and band director Alyssa Montgomery are all in the process of working with students, as they direct them in the acting, technical, and musical aspects of the show. Annie is coming up quickly — opening night is April 20 — and everybody is working hard. “Now it’s just time to put it
all together: song, dance, acting, and we’ve been slowly layering in more and more technical elements,” said Hurley, the show’s director. Hurley, Dickens, and Carr have finished teaching the actors their movements, songs, and choreography, and each actor is reviewing on their own and in rehearsal to memorize and finalize their parts. It can be a tough process, going what’s called “off book” (having everything memorized), but Annie’s cast is ready for it and doing good so far. Hurley said they seem “excited, eager… and it’s just a fun show to do.” He’s right; the optimisticsinging-orphan show is fun to put on, even for those off stage. Wrayno, ever-cautious but
optimistic, jokes about her behind-the-scenes “techies”: “knock on wood, I think we’re in okay shape,” she said. “Building the set, and getting more costumes organized, stuff like that,” said Hurley in regards to what’s left to work on. Both him and Wrayno have a certain excitement in their voices when they talk about the rest of the show. Wrayno elaborates a little bit: lights, set, props, and sound crews are still working on plenty of things, and she mentions great costumes and “some cool LED effects” as things audiences can look forward to. Soon, she said, it’ll be “costumes, makeup, and hair, and then it’s show week!”
See Annie, page 5
Leesville baseball spotlight: Cole Lanford By: Dayna Wilkerson Junior Editor
Leesville Road High School (LRHS)’s baseball team has many excellent players, and there is one standout player in particular: Cole Lanford. Lanford is a sophomore at LRHS who verbally committed to NC State his freshman year and talks about going pro after college with the Boston Red Socks and the Detroit Tigers.
The Big Committment Lanford became verbally committed to NC State after being spotted in a local baseball tournament in Durham. “I decided that’s where I really wanted to go and I love the coaching staff and I love everyone else
there,” said Lanford. When asked if he was surprised by the commitment, Lanford was not. “I started to notice that I was starting to get really good at what I was doing,” said Lanford. “I wasn’t missing very
See Cole Lanford, page 11
Baseball Beginnings Lanford started playing baseball at the age of four. “My dad and his buddy actually got me into [baseball],” said Lanford. “They played softball for the USA Team.” As a pitcher, Lanford’s favorite part of baseball is how he can control the game. “I love the adrenaline rush I get from pitching,” said Lanford.
Satire.....................................3 Concerts................................4
Juniors and Seniors, make sure to save the date! Prom is on May 13 from 7:00-11:00 p.m. Prom is at the Raleigh Marriott near Crabtree Valley Mall. Students will enter through the back entrance to not disturb the hotel guests. Students were given the choice between five different themes. The themes ranged from Night Under the Stars and Fairy Garden. The winner is...Masquerade! It is a very flexible theme, and students are not required to wear masks at the event, but are welcome to. Students can purchase early bird tickets for $50 starting April 1 -April 24. After this, and up until May 6, tickets purchased will be $60. “Junior class council has been in charge of organizing our prom this year. We coordinated different committees to get the job done,” said Emma Farabaugh, the Secretary of the Junior Class Council. “Each officer of council is in charge of a committee. There is a different team of people for logistics, advertisement, decorations, and food.” “Our advisors and everyone else has been really helpful in this process,” said Farabaugh. Many students at Leesville, like Camille Xu, junior, are very excited for prom this year. “I’m excited to go out with my friends and dress up and have a good time,” said Xu. “Especially after the pandemic when we couldn’t do anything.” Xu likes the theme of the prom this year, Masquerade, better in comparison to other prom choices. “[It is better] compared to other stereotypical themes like Under the Sea or Night Under the Stars, it’s very unique,” said Xu. “I’m so excited to see what everyone does and I’m excited about the mask element,” said Xu. “It’s just another thing that we can all incorporate into our outfits.” All juniors and seniors can scan the QR code below to purchase tickets for prom!
Cole Lanford pitching at the Leesville Baseball game against Wakefield High School on March 4. Lanford has been the pitcher for LRHS since the 2020-2021 school year. (PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF COLE LANFORD)
Arts.......................................5 Faces of the ‘Ville..............6-7
TV and Movies......................8 Opinions...............................9
Fun and Games...................10 Sports..................................11
2 / News
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, April 4, 2022
Game design, cont’d New track for Hamilton Stadium internship and earn as much as people with four-year degrees. LRHS is not one of the first to have an academy like this. “The goal of the county is to have an academy in each high school,” said Farina. “Every year, they’re opening up two academies, and ours happens to be one for next year and so is Wakefield High School.” Many may wonder if there’s a way for rising upperclassmen to have access to this academy, but Farina claims it would be difficult. “In between [the academy students] junior and senior year, a 120 hour internship is required,”
said Farina. a 120 hour internship is required,” said Farina. “If we offer [this academy] to rising seniors they’d have to get an internship, and they’d be missing all of those pieces for Adobe and the game design [that the academy students learn in their freshmen and sophomore years].” The application process for the Academy involves completing a Google Form and obtaining two teacher recommendations. The official close date for applications is March 31. However, if there are too few applications, Farina will announce an extension date.
Wake County will begin renovations on Leesville’s track in May of 2022. The updates may delay until later in the year if any athletic teams make it into the playoffs. (PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN TAYLOR)
By: Lauren Taylor Junior Editor
The Grinch would not be able to get enough of all the green styles coming out this season. Everything from pretty pastel tones to cool, punchy hues that pop. Many are incorporating green into areas of their outfits, especially accessories like scarves and handbags.
Leesville Road High School’s Hamilton Stadium will undergo extensive renovations beginning in May 2022. Updates to the stadium include revamping the track’s asphalt, pits and fences, as well as moving the shot put, discus and high jump areas. In addition to these renovations, coaches are excited for Leesville’s track to gain electricity. This addition will create easily accessible clocks for games, practices, and other athletic events. “We can have timing systems set up on the inside of the track, so we can have the play clocks have power to them which we don’t have,” said Coach Rogers, Leesville’s Athletic Director.
Halternecks
A Push for a New Track
Criss-cross and ornate loop details are all over the runway this spring/summer. Halter necks are one of the most flattering 2022 trends. Whether they are worn comfortably or dressed up for a night out, it does not matter. If you want to be trendy this spring, buy a mini skirt, something green, or a halterneck! You will not regret it.
Wake County resurfaced Leesville’s track twice in the last
The logo for the new Game Design Academy at Leesville. The logo incorporates both sides of the academy with the game controller and the interlocking design. (SCREENSHOT COURTESY OF ELLIE THOMPSON)
Spring and summer trends By: Viviana Straniero Video Editor With the sun shining and the flowers blooming, we can start shopping for the best spring and summer 2022 fashion trends. Revamping our collections and following new trends is thrilling. Especially when the runway, Instagram, and red carpets have showcased so many amazing looks. There are several trends to experiment with, in the upcoming seasons, but here are 3 of the most popular. Mini Skirts The early 2000s called and the miniskirt is back. This nostalgic Y2K look can be dressed down with sneakers or dressed up with strappy heels for wherever the day takes you.
Green
It is finally time to pack away the sweatpants that have kept us warm all winter. Big styles are emerging during the 2022 spring/summer seasons, you can start shopping for now. (PHOTO COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN)
fifteen years and we did not plan to renovate it until sometime in the future. The track, however, deteriorated faster than anticipated and issues like crumbling concrete and dangerous potholes made the facility unsafe, and even unusable for athletes. These conditions continued for years until the track was finally too worn for teams to utilize the space. Leesville hit this point in the stadium’s decline roughly two years ago. PAC, Leesville’s athletic funding program, has been pushing for a new stadium since then. The trouble is that a new track meant disregarding Wake County’s system for stadium renovations. “Everything has to go on a rotation,” said Rogers. “I think what they do is they do four tracks a year. They’ve done Broughton high, Holly Springs... it has to do with being on a rotation, and then it has to do with the wear
and tear on the track.” “We’ve been trying to beg them for a new track for two years now at least. I think we really amped it up this year because we couldn’t run any home meets last year or this year,” said Rogers. In addition to coaches and other team members, parents and students played a crucial role in bringing attention to Leesville’s need for a new track. They wrote to WCPSS board members and explained the significance of the school’s situation further helping Leesville’s cause. “Some student athletes wrote in to board members and wrote in to people at Wake County which got us a lot of traction... when we told them we can’t have meets here they said ‘okay we can move you up the list and put you next starting in May,’” said Rogers. Leesville’s new track will be entirely revamped by the next school year.
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, April 4, 2022
THE MYCENAEAN
Students plan for spring break
Satire
Students at Leesville have already started planning their spring break trips. For some this week is one of the largest social events of the year, ranking in importance with prom and Homecoming. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY MABRY)
By: Mary Mabry Engagement Editor
With spring break around the corner, students at Leesville Road High School are in a frenzy to finalize their plans for the week. The weeks leading up to spring break are a stress inducing for the exclusive circles at LRHS. The most popular students spend weeks coordinating with their popular friends in order to have the best and most Instagram worthy spring break. With such an important task on their hands, These friend groups must create an efficient system to help the week go smoothly. Morgan Lane is one of such people in charge or coordinating a perfect spring break. As captain of the school soccer team, president of Executive Council, and an honor roll student it is needless to say she ranks as one of the most well known students at LRHS “We made a group chat with
Satire / 3
representatives from each clique attending our spring break vacation,” said Lane. “If you have too many people in a group chat it is hard to agree on things. I like this system because I always get what I want.” Abigail Smith, a slightly less popular member of Morgan Lane’s clique, is often frustrated with this system when her friends use it to make plans. “I’m not involved with any of the decision making, which is unfair,” said Smith. “I never know what the plan is and I don’t like the choices they are making.” “We decided to go to Emerald Isle, and now all of the representatives will go back and tell their friend groups where we’re going,” said Lane. “Luckily, when people get mad that we’re going there, they will fight in their friend group chat — not the one that makes the decisions.” “I can’t believe we’re going to Emerald Isle,” said Smith. “We
have gone there the past three years for spring break.” After the representatives choose the location and ensure they can rent multiple houses next to each other, they have to find the best parent to chaperone the trip. “We have to have at least one parent there so that everyone’s parents allow them to go,” said Lane. “We have to find the parents that will let us party though.” After talking to more students attending this trip, I used all of the information to create a potential itinerary for the spring breakers. One day at Emerald Isle: • 10:30 am – 11:30 am: wake up and get ready for the day • 11:30 am – 12:15 pm: take pictures with friends • 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm: take pictures with friends from neighboring houses • 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm: go to the beach • 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm: eat lunch • 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: get ready for evening dinner and party • 5:00 pm – 3:00 am: evening dinner and party • 4:00 am: research the nearest COVID-19 testing spot • 5:00 am: go to sleep If you feel that you are missing out on this premium spring break experience, I regret to inform you that there is no application to join this spring break group. However, if you have a house in Emerald Isle, a very relaxed parent, or a friend in high places, you might be included on the
WCPSS installs playground on campus By: Lauren Taylor
Junior Editor, Trending Editor
Leesville Road High School will begin construction on a new playground on campus starting April 24, 2022. The play area will include a medium sized playset with a slide, swing set, and a sandbox. The student body is thrilled for the playground’s installation. People from every grade look forward to using the new equipment during lunch and between classes. “I never told anyone but I really love using the playground at the Leesville Library,” said Sofia Peterson, a junior. “It's so much fun to race across the playground like it's an obstacle course. I won’t have to drive all the way to the Library to play with my friends once they install the playground in the courtyard, I can just go straight to the playground from my third period.” Other students are excited for a new spot to sit before classes and between periods. They see the playground as a space to catch up with friends and avoid
the crowds that plague the cafeteria and main hallway. “My friends and I like to meet up in the morning. We usually hang out in the main hallway by the trophy cabinet but lately it's been crowded and not a good spot for us to chill because it’s just so loud. We decided that when the playground goes in we are going to hang out in the courtyard in the mornings instead of inside.” In addition to the student body, teachers are looking forward to Wake County installing Leesville’s new playground. “I am so tired of dealing with antsy, energetic freshmen this year. I honestly think if I see one more paper airplane fly through my classroom in first period I might blow a gasket. Hopefully the playground will be an opportunity for students to tire themselves out so they actually pay attention in class,” said Mrs. Miller, a science teacher. Leesville’s new playground is a well needed addition to the LRHS grounds. Keep an eye out for construction as the school year ends.
Leesville’s playground is modeled after the Leesville Library playground with climbing and spinning equiptment. The playround is sized specifically for teenagers to enjoy. (PHOTO COURTESY OF LAUREN TAYLOR)
4 / Concerts
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, April 4, 2022
THE MYCENAEAN
artists back in business
Students share concert experiences By: Mary Mabry Engagement Editor
Angela Kasyoka Angela Kasyoka, senior, went to a Conan Gray concert on March 11, 2022. “I thought the concert was a really fun time -- I had never been at an event that size since covid.” Kasyoka enjoyed hearing Gray live. “I love hearing music live because I feel like the energy of having other people singing along with you… it’s just unmatched.” The concert took place at the Fillmore in Charlotte, which has a 2,000 person capacity. “I’ve never been that close up to a stage at a concert and he sounded amazing.” However, with a venue this size, things can get pretty crowded. “I felt like a sardine, like I could not move at all. That was like the one thing that I did not really enjoy about the concert, but I think it was still worth it in the end.” Ixsy Horton Ixsy Horton, sophomore, attended a Mitski concert at the
Ritz on February 18, 2022. She had a great experience, despite COVID. “You still have to be safe,” said Horton, but “It [was] really fun [even] with a mask on. “It’s just a great thing; so many people come together to see an artist they all really love and the energy [is] great and it’s just so different live.” I asked Horton how it felt being in the pit of a small venue. “It was pretty crowded but it was super enjoyable, [it just] felt really good to be there and be close to the stage.” In the future, Horton said she’d like to experience being in the pit of a bigger venue. Devin Broom On February 6, 2022, Devin Broom, senior, traveled to Charlotte to see Billie Eilish perform at the Spectrum Center. “It was my first concert, so it was very intense… in a good way,” said Broom. You might be able to imagine the intensity of an arena concert -- the spectrum center can fit over 20,000 people. “It was really nice to be able to see people again, just in general, and to just be able to see an art-
ist that you like enough to [see live].” When asked how COVID affected his concert experience, Broom said, “having never been to a concert before and then not even having the chance to last year made it feel more special.” Alice Walter Last year at the beginning of October, Alice Walter, sophomore, saw Thomas Rhett at the Coastal Credit Union Amphitheater. “It was a lot of fun…it was my first concert, and I’m an absolutely huge Thomas Rhett fan.” The Coastal Credit Union Amphitheater is outside, which impacted Walter’s experience. “It started raining while we were out there, and it was freezing because it was fall [but I] was just happy to be there -- I wasn’t going to leave just because it started raining.” Overall, Walter is appreciative that live music is starting back up after COVID. “It’s good for artists to have that live connection with the people that listen to their music.” “I think that everyone should be able to experience it -- it’s just a whole different kind of feeling.”
Upcoming Events Concerts
Justin Bieber - Tues April 5, 7:30 PM. Greensboro Coliseum Complex, Greensboro, NC. John Mayer - Mon Apr 11, 7:30 PM. Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC. King and Country - Sat Apr 16, 7 PM. Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte, NC. Billy Joel - Sat Apr 23, 9 PM. Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC. Journey - Thu Apr 28, 7:30 PM. Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC. AJR - Sun May 8, 7:30 PM. PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, NC. Mount Westmore with Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, Too
Short & E-40 - Sun May 8, 7 PM. Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC. Rex Orange County - Mon May 16, 7:30 PM. Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh, NC. Chicago - Fri May 20, 7:30 PM. Steven Tanger Center, Greensboro, NC. Halsey - Fri May 27, 7 PM. PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, NC. T-Pain - Fri May 27, 8 PM. The Filmore, Charlotte, NC. Morgan Wallen - Thu Jun 2, 7 PM. PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, NC. Backstreet Boys - Sat Jun 25, 3 PM. Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek, Raleigh.
Musicals at DPAC OKLAHOMA! - Tue, Mar 29 — Sun, Apr 3. Pretty Woman: The Musical Tue, Apr 19 — Sun, Apr 24. My Fair Lady- Tue, May 3 —
Sun, May 8. Hamilton: Tue, May 17 — Sun, Jume 5 Jesus Christ Superstar- Tue, June 14 — Sun, June 19.
At this website, we have displayed ticket links for every concert listed above.
At this website, we have displayed ticket links for every DPAC event listed above.
More concert experiences By: Brendan Shore Staff Writer
Ken Tysiac
The Backseat Lovers performing at The Underground in Charlotte, NC. A number of Leesville students attended this concert. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY MABRY)
Artists and their upcoming tours By: Emma Nani
Staff Writer 2022 is the year of concerts around the world. Now that Covid restrictions are more lax, dozens of artists are traveling around the nation and the world to make up for the lost time. Billie Eilish Billie Eilish began touring this February in North America, Europe, and Oceania. Her world tour “Happier Than Ever” is her sixth concert tour and is set to conclude in Australia. Her tour also includes a two-day stop for Coachella in April. Opening acts consist of Willow, Duckwrth, Jessie Reyez, Jungle, Arlo Parks, and Girl in Red. Tyler, the Creator Tyler, the Creator’s tour, “Call Me If You Get Lost,” kicked off February in San Diego. He’s touring around the United States,
Europe, and Oceania until the beginning of August. Artists Kali Uchis, Vince Staples, and Teezo Touchdown are also joining his shows for select venues. Bad Bunny Bad Bunny is adding an additional leg to his “El Último Tour Del Mundo.” He’ll be performing over 50 concerts across 15 countries in North and South America. Opening acts include DJs Alesso and Diplo in select shows. Harry Styles After concluding his North American shows of “Love On Tour,” Harry Styles announced the second leg of his tour beginning in June. Tour locations include major cities in Europe and South America and will have special guests of Arlo Parks, Koffee, Mitski, and Wolf Alice. The Weeknd The Weeknd will begin touring
with Doja Cat at the beginning of June in North America. His 18 shows are part of the first leg of his tour; The Weeknd hasn’t stated where or when the rest of his “After Hours Till Dawn” tour will take place. Justin Bieber Justin Bieber’s “Justice” world tour was rescheduled for 2022 due to Covid and has now resumed its 52 dates. Highlights of his tour include the United States, Mexico, Europe, South America, South Africa, Oceania, and are set to conclude in early 2023. Luke Combs Country artist Luke Combs is currently performing his “Beer Never Broke My Hear” tour in major cities across North America and the UK. The North Carolina native is even returning to Raleigh for his show at Walnut Amphitheater on July 8.
Guns N’ Roses came to PNC Arena on September 30, 2021, and Ken Tysiac, senior, knew he had to go. “Guns N’ Roses was one of my artists that I grew up listening to.” “I play a lot of their songs so seeing how he (Frank Ferrer) interpreted some of them was awesome,” said Tysiac, referencing his personal connection to the band through his drumming. The band, he said, “pulled out a lot of older music that wasn’t on their most popular albums, like Appetite for Destruction.” Esther Lee Esther Lee, senior, traveled to Charlotte to see The Backseat Lovers on February 21, 2022. With the return of concerts post-Covid, Lee was excited, and the venue helped with that. “It was really, really fun and also I
didn’t have to worry about Covid either because to get into the venue you needed vaccination records or a negative test.” Another thing Lee appreciated about this concert was the people she met. “I got to meet a ton of people who listen to the same music, and it’s kinda all the same genre, so we were all trying to figure out what concerts we’re all going to.” Charles Schuttler Charles Schuttler, senior, traveled to Washington, DC, where he saw Tyler, The Creator in concert at Capital One Arena. He mentioned over text the beginning of the show: “There was so much love for the openers of the show, and I feel like those artists can get lost in the shadow of the main artist, so it was really cool to see such positive feedback.” He also described his favorite part of the concert: “The lights. From my seat I could see pretty much everything.”
Briston Maroney performing at the Grey Eagle in Asheville, NC. This concert took place on March 16, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY MABRY)
Arts / 5
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, April 4, 2022
THE MYCENAEAN
Arts
Annie update cont’d Student spotlight: Taylor Greene For those on stage, show week is the ultimate goal. In Leesville’s past shows, show week was always a buzz of energy, a nervousbut-excited hum among the actors as they discuss their lines, their costumes, if they’ll mess up or not. This year, that’s not looking to be any different. Ela Baldina, a junior, who’ll be taking the stage in her first Leesville musical as Annie herself, knows she’s looking forward to “just doing the show overall, and singing the songs with everyone on stage.” She makes a good point; there’s a different feeling to being on stage, a feeling of working with your fellow actors in the place you’ll eventually be watched by hundreds. Baldina’s ready for her role — “It’s a lot of pressure, definitely… but it’s also really exciting, because, you know, it’s a big opportunity.” She says that music rehearsals have gone well so far, and watching them, it’s clear that she has the character of Annie down pat. The little red-headed orphan (her “dream role”) almost seeps through in the way she sings, and it’s the same with the rest of the cast as they flesh out their characters. Greyson Rupert, a Leesville
senior playing FDR in the show, said, “We definitely aren’t ready for show week yet, however, we definitely are getting there as of now, and we’re showing some definite progress, especially with the addition of the set.” He’s talking about the set that the techies recently built and installed in the stage, a set that definitely helps with accurate movement around the stage. The tech crew truly becomes something of a family, and it’s entertaining to watch the way her energetic teaching style mixes with the busyness of designing and creating those technical parts of a musical. Techies, directors, and actors alike are excited for the show, and the progress made recently has been great all around. This months-long process is one that the Leesville arts department is used to, but Wrayno was right when she said “no two shows are ever the same.” Annie, for instance, is a big leap from Hurley’s directorial debut at Leesville, Radium Girls, and even a sizable change from the last musical Leesville put on, Chicago. Each director is adapting and changing, but the cast and crew are as ready as they are to put on a successful show.
From left to right, Greyson Rupert, Dil Sebyou, Brendan Shore, and Grant Silver pose for Annie’s costume parade. The parade is to show off the final outfits for the characters (PHOTO COURTESY OF BRENDAN SHORE).
Taylor Greene created this art piece in February 2022 inspired from her favorite author. Another one of her artworks is on display in the Murphy building showcase along with other pieces from art students (PHOTO USED WITH PERMISSION OF TAYLOR GREENE).
By: Emma Nani, Noah Derucher Staff Writers Many Leesville students take the route of attending a North Carolina public university, but Taylor Greene, a senior at Leesville, is taking a different path. Her plan is to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Founded in 1978, SCAD creates an atmosphere focused on educating students for professional art careers. Located in Savannah, Georgia, SCAD is the number one art school in America. Taylor Greene first became interested in visual art her freshman year of high school when she took a digital design class with former Leesville teacher Mr.
Goble. That class sparked her love for design and animation. Since then, she has “taken one [art class] every single year since the beginning of high school.” Her work is a way to express herself through graphic design, and she credits her interest to Mr. Goble, saying “he’s the whole reason why I want to go into graphic design.” Greene’s artwork takes on a theme of horror and the artist Junji Ito influences her work. Ito is a horror mangaka-- a Japanese author who specializes in dark art and storylines. His work has gained popularity from its unique art style and chilling illustrations. Her inspirations also come from shows and video games that
she has watched. Some of her works are adaptations of concepts from her favorite characters. Greene recently received a $10,000 scholarship from SCAD towards her admissions. The cost for full-time students for one academic year is almost $40,000. Some of their programs include cinematography, digital communication, animation, and video graphics. Greene wants to work in digital animation. SCAD’s animation program is impressive, and its website promises to “help you develop your signature style in 2D, 3D, and stop-motion animation, digital modeling, rigging, lighting and look development.” SCAD offers the latest tools and software for animation students. They have Mac-equipped classrooms, free to download Adobe Creative Cloud, customdesigned light tables, and VR game development kits. The college hosts its signature event, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, the “largest universityrun film festival in the world.” Creators and designers come from across the world to showcase their art for students. They have several campuses and satellite locations including where the main campus is in Savannah. There are facilities in Atlanta, Georgia, and even in Lacosta, France. For those interested in animation like Greene, SCAD holds summer seminars, workshops, and early college programs to help potential students build their portfolios and experience. The future is bright for Greene and her career; SCAD has a great reputation and will prepare Greene in the best way possible for the world of animation.
Summit Students exists to reach, disciple, and send students as they live life on mission. The primary ways we disciple students are through small groups, corporate worship, summer camps, local service, and international missions.
For more information, visit summitchurch.com/students
Faces of L
The Mycenaean, Leesville Ro
6 / Faces of Leesville
Ms. Fitzgerald- Lead Secretary
Q: What does a day look like for you? A: “I get up at 3:15 every morning because I have to start scheduling substitute teachers. For every one teacher that’s out, I have to pull six teachers to cover parts of their classes. When I have six teachers out and can’t find substitutes, I have to find 36 teachers to cover classes.” -Ms. Fitzgerald Q: What’s one of your biggest accomplishments? A: “I’m never absent. The first ten years that I worked here, I didn’t miss a day. Even when my daughter gave birth, I just came into school late.” -Ms. Fitzgerald Q: What’s your favorite part of your job? A: “Some of my favorite parts of my job [are] when I complete a job with accuracy or when I get to see and work with students.” -Ms. Fitzgerald
Security officer spotlight: George By: Alexis Mast Junior Editor
George Hill, the Leesville security officer, has worked at Leesville for almost seventeen years and knows Leesville very well. Hill can be seen in the morning, during lunch, and in the afternoon during dismissal. The most hectic part of Hill’s workday is when the students are transitioning on and off campus. According to Hill, things look a little different at Leesville this year. George’s Daily Routine On a typical morning, Hillclocks in before Leesville students arrive. Hill greets the students as they enter the school. “The students have been very nice this year, and they don’t cause any problems in the morning,” said Hill. When lunch A and B are transitioning, Hill’s day gets more chaotic. “I gotta run down and put a sign up and then run back up and check passes,” said Hill. During the lunch periods, Hill is responsible for directing traffic and checking student’s off-campus passes, so he has to be in two places at once. “I’m constantly moving around at lunch. I have to be everywhere,” said Hill.
Fortunately, the students this year haven’t caused many issues for him. If a student doesn’t have a real lunch pass when trying to enter the parking lot, then it is Hill’s job to handle the student. In the afternoon, Hill makes sure the traffic flow is under control. At 2:15 PM, Hill makes sure that cars don’t turn right into Leesville from Oneal Road while students are leaving campus. “I just make sure no one’s causing trouble and the students stay safe,” said Hill. George’s Experience During the 2021-2022 School Year
Leesville’s security officer, George, wanders Leesville’s campus every school day of the year. Just like any other administrator, George has many responsibilities and knows a lot about Leesville and its students. (PHOTO
Out of the seventeen years Hill has been working at Leesville, the 2021-2022 school year has had the most concerning traffic. “The traffic can be backed up all the way to Leesville Road and the carpool line is crazy,” said Hill. Hill is amazed by how crazy the traffic has been before and after school. Leesville hasn’t been at full capacity since the 20192020 school year due to COVID-19. The full return of students at Leesville has sprung up high amounts of traffic. Due to the increased traffic this year, Hill explained that the students have been forced to drive more carefully. Hill has seen very few car accidents in
the student lot and traffic line on Oneal Road. “The kids have to be more careful because of how bad it is this year,” said Hill. Hill spends his whole work day on Leesville High School’s campus, so students see him on a daily basis. He is typically outside monitoring the school, so he prefers warmer weather. “I like when the sun is out and it keeps my back warm,” said Hill. Hill is outside during all kinds of weather conditions, so he experiences all kinds of precipitation for the longevity of the day. The small things like a sunny day or a wave from a student can make his day better.
COURTESY OF ALEXIS MAST)
George’s Thoughts on Leesville Students Hill enjoys Leesville and has positive things to say about the high school students every time he is asked about them. When Hill said in February of 2017, he said the Leesville students were great, just as they are every year. Hill has the same positive thoughts on Leesville students four years later. “The students are good this year, as always,” said Hill. Hill’s face is familiar to everyone at Leesville, but his story and his daily routine extend far beyond what students can see.
The George Hill Interview: In Tribute to Retirement
Scan the QR code to watch members of our newspaper staff interview George to learn more. Please make sure to thank Geroge for all his hard work and dedication to our community.
The voice behind Leesville sports By: Emma Nani Staff Writer
Ed Hughes poses for a shot during halftime of a soccer game . Decked out in soccer gear, Hughes has his essential items at the ready: iPad, roster, and monocular. (PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA NANI)
Ever wonder who is the voice behind narrating almost all sports games at Leesville? That man is Ed Hughes, a Leesville parent who has committed his time to Pride athletics since 2011. Hughes grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and has always been surrounded by sports. His father played lacrosse, resulting in the game being one of his favorite sports to announce. In 2011, the original JV football announcer was absent. Coaches asked Hughes to fill in, and he has grown to fill several announcing positions. After that fall 2011 football season, Jack Rogers, Leesville’s Athletic Director, offered the opportunity for Hughes to be the first men’s and women’s basketball announcer. As the year progressed, Hughes also began to announce men’s and women’s lacrosse and then soccer at Paul Dinkenor’s request.
Just this fall, Hughes picked up Varsity football too. Looking back to when he first began, Hughes noticed an increase in attendance in games like soccer. Football has always been a popular sport at Leesville, but “There has been more attendance at the non-football sports…[football has] been filtering down to sports like soccer and lacrosse,” said Hughes. He made sure to emphasize that “women’s sports are way unattended, and it’s just kind of criminal,” said Hughes. Hughes said that the women’s sports are just as good, and he hopes more people will come out and support. Hughes is retiring at the end of October from SAS and will continue to be Leesville’s sports announcer. “Sports is my life,” he said. Ed Hughes’ contribution to Pride Athletics takes Leesville’s sports games to a new level, and the community continues to appreciate his role at Leesville.
Leesville
Faces of Leesville / 7
oad High School, April 4, 2022
Colette Byrd- Custodian Q: What does a day at work look like for you? A: “My day is usually pretty busy. I do things from moving around to checking things to keeping Leesville nice and clean. I just want to make sure that Leesville is looking good and presentable all school day long.” -Colette Bryd Q: What is your favorite part of your job? A: “I love working with people and coming in contact with students. Seeing smiles is my favorite part. Any smile brightens my day. I enjoy seeing people work together to get through the day and acting like a team.” -Colette Byrd Q: Who is Collette Byrd to you? A: “Collette is passionate about her job, she’s aways kind, and she keeps Leesville looking its best. I enjoy talking to her when I seeher in the hallways. Her positivity and smile brightens the school each and everyday.” -Ms. Winick, Apparel and Textile Production Teacher
Jennifer Buck- Cafeteria Manager Q: What does a work day look like for you? A: “As Leesville’s cafeteria manager, I serve breakfast and lunch to the students everyday. Part of my job is making sure that the lunch lines are running efficiently, so I see some of the same students for both breakfast and lunch.” -Jennifer Buck Q: What do you enjoy seeing at Leesville? A: “I enjoy seeing the same students from breakfast at lunch time. I enjoy seeing how the kids are throughout the day and keeping up with them. I also like when I say “have a great day” and students respond with “you too.” -Jennifer Buck Q: What are your thoughts on the lunch staff? A: “The lunch ladies are really nice and always have a smile on their face. They never forget to say ‘have a good day,’ which is a simple act of kindness that I always enjoy.” -anonymous
Ms. Millie- Receptionist Q: What does a work day look like for you? A: “My day is very busy; I do things from answering the phone and door, to questions from students.” -Ms. Millie Q: What’s a small act of kindness that brighten your day? A: “I always enjoy when students come in and say hi to me during my day.”-Ms. Millie Q: What are your exchanges like with Ms. Millie? A: “Every time that I didn’t have a mask and went to the office to grab one, she was always so nice to me. Seeing her puts a smile on my face.” -Luke Lovic, Leesville junior Q: Does she brighten the atmosphere in the office? A: “Yes; she’s a great person to walk into first thing in the morning.” -Luke Lovic, Leesville junior
Mr. Muffley- Special Programs Teacher Q: What’s a simple act of kindness that brightens your day? A: “I think it’s easy to take for granted the things in life we can do without even thinking about it – walking, talking, using our arms and legs. I quickly learned that the population I have the pleasure of working with is not any different than typical students, as far as wants and needs. They want and need to: have and make new friends, be accepted by their teachers and peers, know that they are appreciated and cared about, express themselves, and simply feel safe and enjoy their life. Each morning I have 9 students walk into my classroom laughing and smiling from ear to ear, not allowing everything else going on in the world to bother them. They are just happy to be alive and well. Each morning, I am reminded, 9 times, to approach the day with the same attitude and outlook on life!” -Mr. Muffley Q: How does Mr. Muffley make an impact on the Leesville football team? A: “Muffley is a funny coach, and he is all about his players. His main goal is making his players better everyday.” -Gabe Sherman, Junior on Leesville’s Football Team
Ms. Dragone spotlight
By: Alexis Mast Junior Editor
Ms. Dragone is a Leesville librarian who’s dedicated to helping students and teachers. Her job exceeds standards and is recognized by other Leesville members. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXIS MAST)
Wendy Dragone is a Leesville media specialist who passionately directs and engages students through their reading experiences. “It’s fun because it’s always different,” said Dragone. Someday’s she can see up to 16 different classes for freshman orientation and other days she sorts book orders and catalogs books. Dragone works with everyone from students, to teachers, to administrators. “My favorite part of my job is when a student comes back to tell me about a book that I recommended,” said Dragone. Dragone’s passion is reading
and spreading that passion to students “is so rewarding.” Dragone also enjoys building relationships with teachers. “Seeing a happy teacher brightens my day all the time,” said Dragone Ms. Hendricks, a Leesville English teacher, enjoys talking to Dragone about books. “She’s very personable and helpful to students with research and assignments,” said Hendricks. “She’s extremely helpful and always accommodating to the teachers,” said Hendricks. With Dragone’s help, Hendricks always has a smooth experience when she goes to the media center. Ms. Dragone’s dedication to her job enlightens new readers and brightens teachers’ days.
8 / Tv and Movies
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, April 4, 2022
THE MYCENAEAN
Tv and Movies Did streaming services ruin TV?
Streaming services are becoming increasingly more and more popular. It can be argued that streaming services ruined television, but did they really? (PHOTO COURTESY OF KAELYN MCCANN)
By: Kaelyn McCann Staff Writer Streaming services started in the mid 2000s, though they became increasingly popular in the 2010’s. The abrupt change not only impacted how we watch TV, but also how we interact with TV. Before, to watch a TV show you would have to wait at your TV at the exact time. Thankfully, now with streaming services we can now watch these shows on demand. Some may say not having to wait at your TV to watch the new Moesha episode prevents a sense of community people used to have. Knowing that when you go to school the next day the new
This may be part of the nostalgia people have for older shows. Others may argue that we still have that sense of community today, even with streaming services. During the run of season 2 of Euphoria, there was a microtrend on TikTok where people would show their routine in preparation for watching the new episode of the show each week. Even though Euphoria only premiered on the streaming service HBO Max, people still hyped up the release of each episode every week; after watching each episode people would talk about it online and in person for many days following the episode’s premire.
I think it comes down to this -streaming services didn’t ruin the unity in watching the show. We can still feel connection in many ways through cultural artifacts, especially when the episodes are released each week instead of all at once. If anything, streaming services can possibly push the sense of community even more. They allow people to go back and watch episodes they missed or catch up on shows they never watched if they are curious about the TV show. In the end, it doesn’t necessarily matter how the show is released, as much as what we do and how we act once we watch the show.
Saying goodbye to PBS’ Arthur
The TV series Arthur follows the eight year old Aardvark through life amongst his many friends, family, and peers. While the show is ending production, it will still be an important part in many of our lives. (PHOTO COURTESY OF PUBLIC DOMAIN)
By: Maddy Winick Staff Writer February 21, 2022 was an emotional day for the world -- Arthur came to an end after its 25th and final season. Debuting on television in October 1996, the series is officially the longest running animated kids show in history, airing for 26 years and impacting two generations of kids. Nostalgia Arthur captures the atmosphere of the early 2000’s, especially with its multiple guest stars, including people like Michelle Kwan, Lance Armstrong, and Jack Prelutsky. Cultured musicians were also featured, like Yo-yo Mama and Art Garfunkel, opening children’s eyes to new types of music and sounds. Along with the featured guest stars on the show, Arthur includes pop culture moments.
The show aired episodes parodying multiple shows like South Park and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. By incorporating these “big kid shows” into some episodes, the children’s show allows kids to be exposed to more of the “adult world”, still in a safe, kid friendly environment. This also provides some enjoyment for older people who are watching the show with their child or younger siblings. Life Lessons Part of why Arthur has such love is the meaning behind the show. The series includes valuable lessons children can use in their own lives. Some universal themes from the show included how to treat others, handling a sibling relationship (hence the one between Arthur and D.W.), and practicing forgiveness. The show also isn’t scared to tackle harder topics like adoption, homelessness, and physical and mental disabilites.
Arthur is one of the only animated kids TV shows to cover topics such as same-sex marriage. An episode features “Mr. Ratburn,” the Arthur crew’s teacher, as he prepares for his wedding with his “special someone” -- who the students discover later in the episode is another male. Kids can watch the same-sex marriage in a safe space which allows them time to talk with their parents and learn. The kids who watch the show which can normalize the portrayal of such things in media. While there was controversy, children were still able to see love and respect. Although diving serious topics quite often, Arthur remained humorous and enjoyable, allowing the show to remain entertaining for the viewers. Arthur grew with the times which allowed the show to last. Although there will be no future episodes, PBS kids confirmed they will air reruns of over 250 episodes so others can enjoy this historic show.
TV is separate from reality By: Gretchen Stern Senior and SEO Editor
One that lets us imagine our lives differently.
The media is something that is part of our everyday lives. We are constantly consuming pictures and videos of all sorts -- and over time it is glaringly obvious that much of what we see is fabricated or exaggerated in some way or another. For example, we know that the Kardashian’s lives are not real. The public sees a very overdramatized version that does not translate to most people’s realities. That extreme level of yelling, fighting, petty comments and selfishness can not normally be maintained my your average human. When you add the fact that photos and videos can be easily edited using a plethora of photoshop tools, suddenly what we are seeing does not have much merit. It can be difficult to recognize the media as having layers of deception, but over time as people have become more used to the inauthenticity it is easier to not take what we see to heart.
Social media is just a highlight reel.
“Growing up you learn to dramatize everything… [but then] I think age is a lot better with that, it pulls that sheet of reality over you,” said Minnah Gaballah, a junior at LRHS. We know that our own social media lives are curated -- we only show the best of ourselves. While we may often let our friends see our real lives on private stories, there is a facade that we put on our “main feed.” That main feed probably will not get to see our crusty morning-look, our breakdowns over school or work, and our struggles that everyone -even celebrities -- face each day. Therefore, everytime we see one of the Kardashians or any other famous celebrity post pictures of their perfect bodies and fabulous accomplishments, we can take it, in a sense, with a grain of salt because its what we do ourselves. Society not-so secretely works together to create an online world we can go to when the real world gets tough.
Luckily, it is perfectly fine to accept and enjoy the real fakeness as long as we remember it as such. As long as we make sure we do not let the online, unreal world control our perception of reality. Even More Hyperbole When it comes to our television and music, there is so much hyperbole for our entertainment. There are drugs, overdose, selfharm, fighting, and pornography -- pretty much anything you can think of that is generally discouraged by society. Constant exposure to these actions may make people more tolerable of said actions, but they actually do not seem to have much effect on society’s behavior. People still believe that harmful acts such as gang violence is wrong, or that we should not condone drug and alcohol abuse -- even though that is much of what our shows, movies, music, and even video games portray. Why do people enjoy and encourage unhealthy drama? Personally, I look at the shows I watch as a type of escape from my normal, much-less dramatic daily life. I know what I am seeing is not real, or at least not typical in society, so it is easier for me to find destructive or just plain unreal behaviors entertaining. People often find whatever is different from their own lives more appealing. People who have brown hair want blonde, tall people want to be short, etc. The same concept applies here -- we want to see something breaking the norm of the bubble we live in. Overall, the message is that what we consume does not equal what we do. We keep what goes on in our screens separate from the facts and reality, which is essential to maintaining healthy lives.
TV and Movie Trivia!
Do you want to test your TV and Movie knowlege? Scan the QR code below and take the quiz! Send your results to us on instagram @lrhsnews
Opinion / 9
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, April 4, 2022
THE MYCENAEAN
Opinion
Is smart technology making us less intelligent? By: Ellie Thompson Editor-in-Chief “[The English language] becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts... if thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought.” - George Orwell If you have stuck around after a quote with complex structure and multisyllabic words, congratulations. To those who never read this because those things scare you, you could be part of the problem. Maybe I’ve piqued your interest -- if so, I’m glad you’ve fought the now all-too-common urge to skim or even skip hard reading in favor of the quick bites of casual language we now tend to consume. The increased use of informal language is a major trend in society (specifically younger generations), traced back to the looming giant of technology. Can you even imagine a life without a phone in your back pocket? I mean, what would you do if you’re sitting at a red light, or a doctor’s office, or at lunch, and you couldn’t scroll through Tik Tok, read a handful of Twitter posts, or type a quick abbreviated text. The boredom might kill you. Modern society has grown accustomed to an instant gratification, consumerism lifestyle. The lives we lead are now filled with
Smart technology has plenty of benefits. However, the way it teaches you to think is negatively impacting society. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ELLIE THOMPSON)
more media and “knowledge” than ever before. We have the world at our fingertips, literally. We could research any subject, learn from any philosopher, or study anything we wanted. With this wealth of knowledge facing us, still we opt for fifteen seconds of cheap entertainment, numbing our minds to complex thought. The average high school student constructs sentences with less complex syntax, elaborate diction, and creativity than previous generations. Is our constant consumption
of slang, fragmented sentences, and quick sound bytes online paired with the gradual loss of syntax, diction, and sophistication in normal speech rewiring our brains? Some of these trends translate from written form into verbal speech patterns. Text abbreviations litter our digital messages, and creep into our speech. Slang and other forms of informal language fill conversations -- for example, using “lol” or “jk.” This change underlies a potentially dangerous change in soci-
ety: informal language is actually making us less intelligent. The loss of formal speech patterns could be detrimental in society. In truth, causal speech is often helpful -- when conversing with friends, we can interact more relationally by mimicking the patterns of those around us. This is actually an important relational tool, and cannot be dismissed. The issue occurs when we can no longer easily code-switch into the formal language needed to communicate with everyone else. Just imagine the fear that would
signments they need to complete. Seniors are not lazy; they are spending their time doing what they think will make them the happiest. Seniors are not lazy; they only do what they need to in order to move on to the next step of lives. Seniors are not lazy; they just want to make the most of their limited time in high school. Instead of needing an A in all of their classes, they can get by easily with a B or a C with no consequences. As long as their grades are good enough that colleges will not revoke their acceptance or they will miss out on their senior exemptions, they’re content Senioritis is not being a lazy senior despite having important assignments to do: Senioritis is the act of not doing something simply because there is no need. Seniors may turn in assignments late and get lower grades than they used to, but that is simply because it is not necessary for them to get higher grades. Why should they be stressed and stay up late doing assignments when they could just not try, be less stressed, and get a slightly lower grade with no consequence. Senioritis is simply the seniors deciding to spend their time having fun instead of doing unnecessary assignments.
By: Emma Nani Staff Writer
arise if I told you to write an English essay or call your boss. It takes complex language skills to convey information fluently. These skills are also required to communicate and understand abstract concepts -- to comprehend sophisticated syntax and diverse words. The amount of energy and stress you must exert to do so is incredibly larger than in the past. These language patterns show a fascinating trend. Our increased dependence on technology -smartphones, Google, and all that accompanies it -- makes us less inclined to expand our minds. The brain is fascinatingly complex and can process an incredible amount of information. It naturally wants to learn, and as a result, it makes numerous neural connections daily due to its plasticity. This means that when you do an action, it will be easier the second and third times, and so on. When you speak and learn in an informal way, it becomes challenging to break that habit. We become complacent and simply consume information, rather than pondering, understanding, or expanding on it. Society’s instant gratification, consumerism mindset impedes growth. It stunts problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and creativity. The decline of intellectual thought at the hands of the inventions meant to make us smarter could lead to the downfall of this generation.
Teachers, senioritis is not laziness Prom: worth the hype
Senioritis is a hot topic surrounding seniors at this time of the year. With their slipping grades, many teachers start nagging them about being lazy, but that may not be the case. (PHOTO USED FROM PUBLIC DOMAIN)
By: Francis Fleming Senior Editor As the last few months of senior year fly by, teachers start to treat senioritis as if it is some plague spreading across the senior class, telling seniors to stop being lazy. However, laziness is not the real issue here. By the time second semester rolls around, many seniors have a good idea of what they are going to do after high school. For students going to college, most have already been accepted into a few colleges by the time second semester rolls around, so they
just need to pass their last few classes to get their diploma. In previous years, these students worked hard to keep up their grades so they could keep their options open. However, now that they have gotten all that they need from high school there is little reason to keep trying. Senior year should be a year full of fun and free of stress. It is the last year that the seniors can spend with each other before they all split off on their way to become adults. They should spend time having fun with each other, not unnecessarily freaking out about their classes and all the as-
THE MYCENAEAN Staff 2021-2022
Editor-in-Chief
Ellie Thompson
Mission Statement: The Mycenaean’s mission statement is “create to engage.” The student-run newspaper covers news, events, issues, and topics relevant to Leesville and the surrounding community.
Engagement Editor Mary Mabry Senior Editor Francis Fleming Senior Editor Kyla McGhee Senior Editor Gretchen Stern
Opinion: Stories in the publication do not represent the views of LRHS, its faculty/administration or WCPSS. By-lined columns express personal opinion and appear throughout the newspaper.
Video Editor Junior Editor Junior Editor Junior Editor
Editorials: The Mycenaean’s opinion is presented in editorials that are featured on the Opinion page(s). The views and opinions expressed in editorials are representative of the editors, not LRHS or WCPSS.
Listen, prom might seem a little stressful in the planning stage, but dressing up and tradition of prom forms a core memory from high school. Prom is the American high school tradition that has been around since the 1800s. It’s the one night to see fellow students dressed their best and enjoy a night out to dinner with friends or a date. It gets a bad rap from all the drama and partying associated with it, but going to prom with a smaller group avoids most of that stress. For girls, part of the excitement of prom comes from the chance to find that perfect dress for the night. Going to stores with friends and scouring the internet for a stunning dress is all part of putting together the look. People start looking forward to getting together, taking great pictures, and making memories. One argument about prom is that it’s too costly for one night. For those concerned about the cost of dresses or suits, Depop and Poshmark are great for finding a dress secondhand for a much cheaper price. Going out to
Viviana Straniero Alexis Mast Lauren Taylor Dayna Wilkerson
dinner beforehand doesn’t even have to be anywhere super fancy or expensive. There are plenty of restaurants with quality food for a reasonable price. The prices can change; all that matters is that friends get to make the night memorable for themselves, whatever that may be. Other people may argue that there is too much pressure all on one night -- pressure on guys to create unique “promposals” or pressure to find a group or date to go with. But in the long run, people remember iconic nights like prom for the incredible memories created. Leesville’s infamous for being a place “where tradition goes to die.” If students really hated prom at Leesville, they would completely stop going like what happened at the past homecoming and Winterfest dances. While seasonal dances are open to all grades, limiting prom to upperclassmen gives something for freshmen and sophomores to look forward to. Otherwise, if students had prom for all four years, it would lose its novelty and become repetitive and boring. While prom may not be what is always seen in the movies, the tradition is up to you to make the night how you want it to be.
Staff Writers:
Stella Davis, Noah Derucher, Chase Dutton, Patrick Fleming, Kellyn Krause, Kaelyn McCann, Emma Nani, Brendan Shore, Maddy Winick
Online Viewing: Articles are posted online weekly on the newspaper’s website, www. lrhsnews.org. Content is also posted regularly on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter @lrhsnews.
Student Newspaper of Leesville Road High School 8410 Pride Way
Raleigh, NC 27613
10 / Fun and Games
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, April 4, 2022
THE MYCENAEAN
Fun and Games 3
5
4 6 7 8
9 10 11 12
Across 3. Which social studies teacher is one of the last original staff members? 7. What is the only class Ms. Collins taught this semester? 8. What company is partnering with the new Game Design Academy? 9. The Leesville building named after the first principal 10. What item of clothing is making a comeback this spring/summer? 11. What is this year’s musical production? 12. What popular children’s show from PBS ended this year?
Down 1. The Mycenaean’s version of Wordle 2. Leesville was founded in nineteen _____ 4. What math theorem solves for the length of the sides of a right triangle? 5. What sports brand sponsors all of Leesville’s sports uniforms? 6. This years prom theme
Leesville and friends comics: women’s history Want to see your art in the newspaper? Contact The Mycenaean lhtaylor@ students.wcpss.net to create your own school themed art for LRHS News.
5. underarmour 6. masquerade 7. forensicscience 8. epicgames
Student Artist
9. Murphy 10. miniskirt 11. Annie 12. Arthur
By: Sharilyn Cardona
Tik Tac Toe! Best two out of three!
1. Pridle 2. ninetythree 3. Dinkenor 4. pythagorean
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, April 4, 2022
THE MYCENAEAN
Sports
Sports / 11
The rebirth of the track team #LAXLIFE for LRHS By: Gretchen Stern
I could list the things I know about lacrosse on one hand: there’s a ball, a stick, nets, and something called “cradling” -- which I later learned was when the players turn their stick slightly after catching the ball to keep it from falling out. However, I arrived at the lacrosse field one afternoon ready to learn and watch the team in action.
supporters and constructive critics -- their enthusiastic support never wavered even as the afternoon wore on. “The team is really strong, if we think we can help each other we’ll help each other,” said Callie McLemore, a sophomore and midfielder. The girls bond with their enthusiasm for lacrosse. This passion often comes across as yelling at each other from across the field, but it is all in good fun, and it seems to motivate each player to do their best.
#RainyDayGrind
Coach McLemore
Website Editor
The LRHS sprint team competed at Apex Friendship High School on March 18, 2022. They competed in the 4x200m and the sprint medley where they won by a large margin. (PHOTO USED BY PERMISSION OF NIA QUIGLEY).
By: Kyla McGhee Senior Editor
Last year, the track team did not have a coach for their season. Thankfully, Rasheedah Fletcher, the LRHS academic support counselor, stepped up to become the main sprint coach. Fletcher helped out the students for their 2020-21 season, but wanted to contribute more to the program. “Track just brings me joy so to pair it with working with students just makes me elated,” said Fletcher via email.
Goals for the 2021-22 Season
Nyla Ross, senior on the team, participates in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, 4x200m, and long jump. She led workouts last year, but she’s excited to have more structure this year. “I look forward to combining distance and sprints together as one big team instead of separated,” said Ross. Uniting as one big team is the current theme for players as well as the coaching staff. “My goals for the team this year are simple,” said Fletcher. “I want us to be a team, one that is united and working together to achieve personal and collective goals.”
“[I want] to continue fostering a relationship between distance and sprinting where we act as one team, encouraging each other through success and setbacks,” said Nia Quigley, a junior on the team. Quigley runs in the 200m, 400m, and 800m. Despite all of the chaos, the track team seems to enjoy their 2021-22 season with the credit of Fletcher. “It should be a little bit of competition between your teammates, but healthy competition and [Fletcher’s] helping us have fun with it. Instead of it being a stressful experience, it’s more like a bonding moment at track practice,” said Ross. Fletcher wants her athletes to respond to her coaching style in a positive way to create that fun space for the team.
Preparing for Meets
Fletcher prioritizes mental and physical health. As a result, Fletcher has rest days where she emphasizes stretching during practices so her athetes can perform at their best. The group wants to work on endurance and form throughout the whole race. In order to help, Fletcher has them run the 4x100m or 4x200m at the end of practice which
Cole Lanford, cont’d many spots when I was pitching… I felt like it was coming.” Lanford’s teammates were not surprised by this commitment either. “I wasn’t surprised by [the verbal commitment],” said Tanner Langlois, a player on the LRHS baseball team.“He works extremely hard which college coaches love and he’s a great player on the field and a good kid off the field.”
Life Outside of Baseball and Sports
Baseball is Lanford’s passion, but he also plays basketball. “This weekend [March 18-20]
consisted of basketball,” said Lanford. “Me and my parents went to an AAU Tournament I played.” Lanford played for the LRHS mens basketball team this year as a starter. “A lot of the friends I have are in sports, so I hang out with them at tournaments,” said Lanford. Lanford also hangs out with his friends back home whenever he has a free weekend. Even though baseball takes up a lot of Lanford’s time, he constantly tries to find a life outside of baseball. “This is what I have deep conversations about with
forces the athletes keeping their form while fatigued.
Fletcher’s Coaching During Meets
The team competing at Apex Friendship on March 18-19 was their first taste of Fletcher’s coaching during meets. For Ross, she loves how Fletcher records her long jump attempts to discuss what she needs to work on. For Quigley, she believes that Fletcher is the best at knowing her athletes’ limits. At Apex Friendship, Quigley felt fatigued on the second day so Fletcher decided for her to not race the 200m to refrain from injury.
Reflecting Fletcher’s Coaching
All of the track coaches set a goal for the team -- have at least 25 athletes qualify for regionals -and that pushes them everyday. “That’s really been encouraging everybody to do their best and [push everybody],” said Ross. “That’s been helping our team flourish.” “ [Fletcher] ensures we live up to our potential,” said Quigley. “I strongly believe we will have dozens of state and regional qualifiers this season if they continue showing up and showing out.”
Unfortunately for me, that first afternoon was rainy and cold. I observed, with some surprise, how the girls kept arriving anyway. They chatted and prepared for practice as best they could given the circumstances. When the coaches directed them inside, I noticed how the players not only worked with their coaches but also with each other to plan out different plays and practice techniques. They then watched and analyzed videos of their old games, seeing what they could do to improve in the future. The group was constantly talking through their actions, whether it be in passing the balls back and forth or pushing each other to be better players in general.
Reaching Their Potential
“It’s honestly amazing: This year we are seriously communicating, you can see it on the field. We are not giving up as easily and we are putting so much effort into winning,” said Anika Ruff, a senior varsity member of the team. She started playing again last year after stopping in middle school. Alison Chambers (senior) and Alexis Sarmiere (junior) are captains. They both see the great potential in the team this year, but both spoke on the hardest part being game time. “The most challenging part is communicating in games and being able to push through hard times,” said Chambers. Competing is stressful for anyone, and when you are in the moment during a game, that pressure can make working together even more difficult. “I think this season the team has stepped up in multiple ways, and we’ve done a lot better this year than the last 2 years,” said Chambers.
The Bond Created
Over a few days of practice, the girls were both each other’s
Coach McLemore is undoubtedly the backbone of the team. His love for lacrosse and each player is evident in the way he both tests them and listens to them every day. While coaching a promising team in a very difficult division is a hard task and the job of a coach is nonstop, it is worth it. “The lax family is something I am ridiculously proud of,” he said. “ A couple years ago, Coach McLemore was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Every year, the team hosts an “orange out” game, which is meant to bring awareness to Multiple Sclerosis. March is known as Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. The team hosted their “Orange Out 4 Mac” game on March 11 during their game against Millbrook. Coach Mac shares so much love for this team. He even got a tattoo of a lionness on his arm to symbolize the strength of the lady lacrosse players. These girls are brilliant, and I take pride in the fact I gave them a little bit of that discipline,” said McLemore.
Reflection on the Team
Reflecting on my experience, I can see how any team needs to be something more than a bunch of random people pushed together. You must involve yourself with the other members and leaders in order to be as strong as possible. The LRHS women’s lacrosse team is a group that has embraced that idea and they strive to reach their goals every day. Throughout multiple interviews and conversations, I kept hearing the players use the word family. “It’s never just been about lacrosse, it’s about the lax family. That’s something we say in our huddles, ‘you say pride, we say family.’ We are proud of our Leesville family,” said McLemore.
people,” said Lanford. “Making sure I have a life outside of baseball and that it doesn’t take up everything that I’m doing.” “Baseball’s gonna end for me at some point, so I have to know who I am outside of baseball.” Lanford does that by meeting new people that don’t have anything to do with baseball or sports. Lanford intends to have a good career at Leesville and at NC State. As of 2021, NC State sent off 47 players to the Major Leagues. Hopefully Lanford joins that list after his four years on the team. All of the Leesville community wishes him luck along the way.
Throughout practice, the girls and their coaches gather to discuss upcoming events. The girls and coaches have a close relationship that helps gel them together as a team. (PHOTO COURTESY OF GRETCHEN STERN)
April 4, 2022
The Mycenaean, Leesville Road High School, April 4, 2022
DAUNTLESS
Transmissions.com
Volume XXIX, Issue 2
DAUNTLESS
Transmissions.com
Gil Gutierrez
Max Gutierrez
gil@dauntlesstransmissions.com www.dauntlesstransmissions.com
max@dauntlesstransmissions.com www.dauntlesstransmissions.com
(919) 786-0230
8809-B Gulf Court • Raleigh, NC 27617
(919) 786-0230
8809-B Gulf Court • Raleigh, NC 27617
Your local source for exceptional service. If it is broke, we can fix it.
CALL DAUNTLESS NOW Gulf Ct.
Westgate Rd. HWY 70
Invest 30 minutes in the well being of your automobile.
*Free Road Test *Free Lift Inspections *CVT Experts in the neighborhood
DAUNTLESS TRANSMISSION
8:00am to 5:00pm (call for appointment)
www.dauntlesstransmissions.com
