SGHS Sheepherder May 5th 2015

The

Sheepherder

Serving Sweet Grass County High School

Volume 32 Issue 3

May 5, 2015

Student Council Candidates

By Greta Sanders and Riley Horigan, Staff Writers

Elections for Student Council officers for the 2015-2016 school year will be held May 4. Juniors and sophomores who meet the requirements to run can hold an office for the following school year.

This year Walker LaVoy represented Sweet Grass County High

School as president. On his team he had Mack Coyne as vice president, and Brycen Lehman as secretary. Each class gets two students to represent thier voices during the school year. Kalvin Kunda and Kaitlyn Yuzieitis represented the senior class; Erin Dringman and Greta Sanders represented the ju-

nior class; Tanna Campbell and Lauryn Yuzieitis represented the sophomore class; Kelsey Sargent and Brandon Schwers represented the freshman class.

This year’s campaigners have adorned the hallways with campaign posters and are preparing speeches for election day.

The six candidates running for Student Council offices were asked the question:

What do you think is the biggest issue facing SGHS?

New Officers Take Reign Erin Dringman President “Insufficient opportunities for students to get their voices heard.”

Holly Emter President “Not having enough time or motivation to accomplish awesome projects for our school that can benefit it.”

Ryan Morgan Vice President “There is not equal support between groups in the school.”

Greta Sanders Vice President “A lack of communication between students, teachers, and administrators.”

TediJo Todd Secretary “Students don’t get enough input.”

Sam Curry Secretary “Student Council candidates not keeping their campaign promises.”

Photo Courtesy, Greta Sanders Holly Emter the new president for the Big Timber FFA Chapter of the 2015-2016 school year sits to the left with Kelli Mack, Caitlyn Corso, Carter Brownlee, Cole Lunceford, and Kate Indreland.

By Caitlyn Corso, Staff Writer On Wednesday April 29th, members of the Big Timber FFA applied and interviewed to become chapter officers for the 2015-2016 school year. The members were interviewed by Kandi Schuman, Brian Engle, and Mike Chulyak.

Several students applied for the seven positions available.

This year’s team includes Holly Emter as President, Kate Inderland as Vice President, Madilyn Emter as Secretary, Kelli Mack as Treasurer, Caitlyn Corso as Reporter, Carter Brownlee as Sentinel, and Cole Lunceford as Parliamentarian.

“They are a very young and

energetic group, positive minded underclassmen with good senior leadership” said Gary Mattheis, Big Timber FFA Advisor about the 2015-2016 officer team.

The team is looking forward to continuing to improve the Big Timber chapter throughout the upcoming year.

It’s Been a Long Four Years It time to start applying for colleges, scholarships and still stay on task with your school work with possibly work and extracurricular activities. This is about the time that senioritis kicks in, so close to being done with high school, but just wanting to give up now!

The only cure for this common “disease” is graduation that happens to be a few weeks away.

Laziness is just one of the symptoms of this so called “disease”. When all you want to do is hang out with friends and be social because it’s your last year with your high school friends. You head is full of thoughts about your future and college, even though you are still stuck in high school.

The side effects of this symptom are your grades start to drop, your absences and tardy increase, and incomplete assignments seem to increase.

Why do students get senioritis?

By Makalee Klein, Staff Writer Some students may get senioritis because of boredom, fear of change, excitement, or just burnout.

It’s your last year of high school and before you are off to college, work, or military.

From a recent poll some students said, Do you have senioritis?

“Yes! I can’t wait to be out of Big Timber.”

“Yes! I don’t care for high school and want to be done.”

“Yes! I want to get out and explore life and enjoy new food and places.”

“Yes! It has hit at the beginning of April I no longer care.”

“Yes! It has been a long four years.”

“Yes! I hate school with a passion!!!”

“Yes! I don’t want to do anything I just want to be done.”

“Yes! I’m just bored of doing the same monotonous thing every day.”

“Yes! Most of the people in our class are immature and

there is too much drama. We are 18, this crap doesn’t fly in the real world.”

“Yes! I can’t stand high school anymore.”

“Yes! I am getting a little tired with everything and I’m just ready to graduate.”

“Yes! I have not been diagnosed by a doctor for senioritis.”

It’s anticipation of new experiences. Sometimes exciting or nerve-racking experiences but you are ready to start the next journey because it is something new.

Don’t let Senioritis stand in your way. There are ways to deal with it and possibly overcome it. Set goals, start new activities, stay organized, study smart, and last but not least have fun. Remember it your last year of high school. These are just a few tips that will help you overcome senioritis. So don’t let it catch up to you, stay on task and finish out your last year strong.

Photo Courtesy, Yearbook Staff The Class of 2015 is just a few weeks away from graduation on May 24 at three p.m. in the high school gym.

Page 2 Profiles May 5, 2015

Five Things I Learned From Being A Legislative Page The week before the Easter break, I had the privilege of being a page for the House of Representatives. Throughout my three days in Helena, I learned a lot. I delivered hundreds of messages, emptied dozens of recycling bins, and watched numerous bills be debated. I watched people fight for what they believe in; as well as sit on their computer for an entire floor session and seem to be oblivious to the matters of importance that were taking place around them. While it is hard to sum up my time in Helena in five bullet points, I’ve attempted to convey the wide range experiences I had in a short format. So here goes: Sexism is alive and well folks!

I was unpleasantly surprised by the lack of respect some of the male representatives (especially the older ones) showed towards their female counterparts. On one particular occasion, a female representative stood up to present a bill. Some of the male representatives turned their chairs away from her and began a loud, obnoxious conversation while she spoke. It was painfully awkward to watch her keep her cool and ignore the noise. The fact that this is the

By Greta Sanders, Staff Writer 21st century and this behavior is occurring was a hard pill to swallow, and somewhat soured my experience.

It takes A LOT of people to keep the Capitol running smoothly.

I was astonished at the amount of staff the Capitol has. Hundreds of people work hard everyday to ensure the government can function as it needs to. From bill writers to janitors, everyone has a pivotal role in keeping the legislature running. It seems the Capitol never stops working from sunrise to sunset. Someone is always hurrying down the hallway with an important message or an urgent meeting notice.

I enjoyed the sense of purpose everyone seemed to have.

I rarely had a free moment as there was always something to be done, whether it be as simple as emptying recycling bins or as important as delivering amendments to the representatives.

This is serious business.

Before being a page, I never thought the government and what they do was a joke, but I never realized how fully their decisions affect the American people. One of my daily duties at the Capitol was to sit at

the lobbyist table. This table was located in the hall right outside the House floor where representatives debated bills.

Lobbyists were allowed in this hallway, and they filled it. My job was to take messages from the lobbyists into representatives on the floor. The particular week I was there, House Bill 13 was set to be discussed.

House Bill 13 is the proposition that the minimum wage be raised fifty cents. As you can imagine, people were extremely passionate about this particular issue. I even watched one woman chase a representative onto the House floor! It was fascinating to people-watch at the lobbyist table. It fully hit me that I was watching America in action.

As I sat watching the lobbyists, the phrase “For the people, by the people” kept going through my head. We elect representatives with the expectation that they will represent us and our interests, and these lobbyists are here to remind the representatives of this.

The representatives’ choices affect the people, and the people hold them accountable for their choices. This is truly serious business, and I think every student, every American citizen should See Legislature, Page 7

Ball Es La Vida

Photo Courtesy, Brent Finn Kent Morgan is the Spanish teacher at Sweet Grass County High School; he has been a teacher at SGCHS since 2003.

Kent Morgan grew up in the small town of Sanford, Colorado, located right above the New Mexico border.

In Sanford, basketball plays a huge role in the community. Everybody loves to go and watch their high school basketball teams compete. The

By Brent Finn, Staff Writer

community attends expecting a team win.

This winning mindset is something that Morgan has carried throughout his life.

Teaching kids how to have a competitive edge on the court as well as great life lessons is something he loves to do.

The Sheepherder

2014-2015 The Sheepherder is published by the Journalism class at Sweet Grass County High School. Our goal is to provide a public forum to express the zany and unique imaginations, ideals, and ingenuities of the student body. We strive to unbiasedly represent the diverse interests and opinions of our students and our community.

The Sheepherder Staff

Erin Dringman: Editor-in Chief Riley Horigan: Design Editor Staff Writers: Brent Finn, Jade Fredricks, Makalee Klein, Caitlyn Corso, Weston LaVoy, Reed Moore, and Greta Sanders

And while Morgan is all about winning, he makes sure that the kids remember to have fun playing a game they love.

After high school he attended the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs. He walked onto their basketball team. He had a successful career there.

Colorado Sorings was where he decided coaching may be something that he wanted to do in the future.

After college, he taught Spanish in Salida, Colorado and coached the town’s basketball and football teams. Morgan also coached at El Dorado High School in Las Vegas, Nevada before he found his way to Big Timber, Montana in 2002 and began coaching both football and basketball here.

See Morgan, Page 7

Photo Courtesy, Gabby Perkins Kari Blaylock and Gabby Perkins both coach the Speech and Drama team for Sweet Grass County High School.

Ms. B #1 Coach

By Erin Dringman, Staff Writer

Ms. Kari Blaylock, history teacher and head coach of the SGHS Speech and Drama team, was named the Class B Drama Coach of the Year.

Ms. Blaylock first coached during the 1995 season, though her love of Speech and Drama began nearly a decade earlier.

Blaylock grew up in Columbus. In Junior High, she participated in “Academic Olympics”, which was very different than the Academic Olympics that SGHS students compete in today. In her Olympics, Blaylock competed in Serious Oral Interpretation throughout her seventh and eighth grade year.

During High School, Blaylock competed in both the Drama and Speech side of the activity she would eventually coach.

After high school, Blaylock attended Carroll College and then graduated from Montana State University with teaching degrees. “I could not find a teaching job because I could not coach football,” Blaylock said of her first year out of college. She became a frequent substitute teacher at her alma mater, Columbus High School.

When the head coach of their Speech and Drama team, who had been there all through Blaylock’s high school career, decided she wanted to take a year off, Blaylock nabbed the job as head coach. She coached a team of twenty-odd students, 90 percent of whom were Speech members.

Blaylock moved to White Sulphur Springs in 1996. She served as the assistant coach of their Speech and Drama team during the 1997-98 and 199899 seasons. In 1997, she won the award for Class C Assistant Drama Coach of the year.

Blaylock transplanted her roots once again in 1999. She obtained a teaching position at Sweet Grass County High School and moved to Big Timber. She worked as the assistant Speech and Drama coach under Sharon George, who had coached at SGHS when Blaylock was in high school, during the 1999-2000 season.

Twenty years after her first coaching job, Blaylock’s passion for Speech and Drama still runs as hot as it did when she first began her illustrious career.

Blaylock’s award this season was the sixth that she has received in this category. She has been voted the best drama coach in Class B more in the last decade than every other winner combined.

“The most rewarding part of coaching is individual success of students,” Blaylock blinked back tears as she spoke, “Individual awards are my thing.

I’m a big baby, I always cry during awards. This year and last year are tied for my favorite coaching seasons because we got a State trophy both years. I never expected that, ever. We have such a small See Blaylock, Page 7

Farewell, Ms. Rauch

By Greta Sanders, Staff Writer

For the past 8 weeks, SGHS has had the pleasure of having Ms. Denise Rauch as a choir teacher. She is recently graduated from Montana State University. Ms. Rauch joined SGHS as a temporary sub for Mrs. Terland while she was on maternity leave.

Ms. Rauch did an excellent job helping the choir and Sweet 16 through a concert and District Music Festival,

bringing lots of laughter and fun to the classroom. “I liked her young and fresh energy.”

Holly Emter, a choir student, said. “She brought excitement and new ideas.” Emter added.

Ms. Rauch is headed back to Helena (her hometown) where she has substitute teaching positions lined up, and is sending out applications in the hopes of procuring a more permanent teaching job.

May 5, 2015 Page 3 Sports

The Life of a Barrel Racer

Photo Courtesy, Jade Fredricks Jade Fredricks practicing barrel racing for the upcoming rodeo in Big Timber on May 24.

High School Rodeo

By Jade Fredricks, Staff Writer

High School Rodeo season has officially begun with the first rodeo having been held in Kalispell, Montana on March 7th and 8th.

Over 280 high school students participate in High School Rodeo and dedicate their time and money into a sport that is often left unrecognized especially for high school rodeo athletes.

State Finals will be held in Kalispell while Nationals will be held in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

This year we have four Sweet Grass County High School Rodeo athletes and three out of the four are first year participants. Martje-Jane Plaggemeyer, Makalee Klein, Jade Fredricks, and Greeley Schuman make up the small rodeo team at SGCHS. “The sport of rodeo has no limitations. It’s a sport for individuals, it’s you against the clock, and it’s fully supported by the entire community. It is something you can do for the rest of your life,” said Plaggemeyer when she was asked what has kept her interested in rodeo for so long.

It’s a lifelong goal and dream for her, a fifteen year project that is still going strong. She competes in pole bending, barrel racing, and breakaway roping on a regular basis, but occasionally competes in other events. She’s gotten as far as she has because of her trusted companions and her undying sense of dedication.

“In rodeo, your failures are

what make you better. You cannot be the best without those failures and errors.”

True dedication is hard to come by, but Plaggemeyer is without a doubt a spitting example of a dedicated cowgirl.

The rest of the team members are all newcomers to the High School Rodeo Association and are all learning the ropes of the game.

“It’s a sport that you have to work at and there are going to be days that you feel like giving up and calling it quits, but then I look at my horse and how far I have come and I just think that there is no way I can give up on something I love so much,” states Fredricks as she spoke of her passion for rodeo.

She’s been barrel racing throughout the summer series that Big Timber had and decided that this was her last chance to put her high school rodeo dream into action.

Schuman and Klein came in brand new to the rodeo action and have both proven that they’re capable of the pressure and excitement that rodeo holds.

All four of these athletes are dedicating their weekends and hard earned money to attend their sought after sport.

So next time you consider going to a sporting event, think about giving the rodeo team a shot and come out to one of the many rodeos that they will be attending. Best of luck to the team throughout the rest of the season!

Photo Courtesy, Cindy Epperson Brigit Flanagan practing her throw for shot put for the upcoming meet on Saturday.

A sharp, shrill alarm goes off echoing throughout the small tack room. A pile of sleeping bags, pillows, and clothing lay stacked in the sleeping quarters of the tack room. It’s 5 o’clock sharp, but that’s just a part of the rodeo lifestyle. I grab a few pieces of hay and throw it into my horses’ pen where he waits impatiently and then I fill his water bucket. There’s plenty of time between now and our run so he’ll be able to digest everything. He munches slowly and looks at me out the corner of his big and innocent brown eyes. Chex is a 9 year old sorrel American Quarter Horse that loves his job. You wouldn’t know it if you saw him from an outsider’s perspective because he tends to wander by himself and stand apart from the herd, but underneath his calm and quiet demeanor is a well-oiled engine rearing to go. Hard hours spent working up to the season have left him with

By Jade Fredricks, Staff Writer strong, rippling hindquarters and a shiny red coat. The heat of the day is beginning to come on strong as well as the ever growing crowd. Contestants are standing around waiting to pay their fees while gathering themselves and their livestock before there is no time left for preparation. Pay, warm up, and run. It’s an ongoing cycle that you eventually just do without even thinking about it.

I come back and tie him up to the trailer and clean him off before I throw his saddle on and wrap his boots around the saddle horn so I have them ready whenever I need them.

His tail is thrown into a quick braid and his bridle is hung with his boots over the saddle horn. Spurs jingle as we walk through the crowded trailers, people, and horses making our way to the warmup ring.

The excitement hits the bottom of my stomach as I push myself off the ground and into

my saddle. Walk, trot, lope… switch directions. Walk, trot, lope… It’s another thing that is just done without having to be thought about. It’s not just any sport to me, it’s my lifestyle, it’s something I want to do for a very long time so I put a lot of time and effort into making sure Chex is happy, healthy, and comfortable before I ever ask him to run. With the slightest sweat spots beginning to show on his neck I turn him out of the warmup ring and trot into the main arena where barrel racers, ropers, pole benders, and many others are lined up along the fence awaiting their turn in the arena.

There’s a lot of down time in which other events are going on so I wait until right before barrel racing begins to warm him up and then settle into the long line of waiting contestants. It’s the waiting that kills me, my nerves get to me and millions of possible sceSee Barrel Racer, Page 7

Herder Golfers in Full Swing The Sweet Grass County Golf team has attended five meets so far. They started their season off by hosting a meet at Overland Golf Course. The boys team consisted of Billy Miller shooting a 92, Chad Lager shooting a 95, Weston LaVoy shooting a 94, Cliff Weller shooting a 119, and Christopher Norem shooting a 129.

Because of the lack of girls who went out for golf, only Tanna Campbell participated in the first three meets, shooting a 90 at the home meet and taking first.

The next varsity meet was held at the Bill Roberts course in Helena, which will also be the divisional course. The boys varsity team has many candidates for spots, so different players will attend different meets in order to give people a chance to be on varsity. The Helena team consisted of Miller, shooting a 77, and taking third place, Lager getting a 91, LaVoy totalling a 95, Weller taking a 105, and Sam Curry finishing with a 109.

By Weston LaVoy, Staff Writer For the girls, Campbell shot a 91, taking fourth place.

Both teams did well at the Pryor Creek course in Billings, which is also where the State meet for the girls will be held.

Miller took second place with a 75, Lager shot his personal best of 86, Curry also got a personal best of a 92, both Weller and LaVoy finished with a 97.

When adding up the team scores, the highest score is not included. The boys team totaled a 350, which put them in first place and their season best. Campbell also got the third place trophy, shooting a 88.

Harlowton held a meet at the Jawbone course April 18, which was canceled halfway through because of high winds. The scores on the front nine were posted, but no awards were given.

Jess Moody went in the place of Cliff Weller. Miller finished with a 40, LaVoy shot a 47, Lager ended up with a 50, Curry was close to Lager with

a 51, and Moody had a 57.

Madilyn Emter attend for the girls along with Campbell who marked a 44. Emter shot a 76.

The following Tuesday, the golf team traveled to the Cottonwood Hills course in Bozeman. Three girls attended, and each shot their personal best.

Campbell took second place with a 79, Emter got a 129, and Kirsten Gano ended with a 128.

Miller took fifth place with a 76, LaVoy shot his personal best of an 85, both Curry and Lager shot a 95, and Moody finished off the group with a 101. The boys team took third overall racking up a 351, behind Manhattan and Townsend.

With just one meet left before the Divisional Tournament, the Herder golf teams are hoping that they have what it takes to make it all the way to the State meet and to keep setting personal records.

Herders On the Run

By Brent Finn, Staff Writer

The Herder track team has had a successful season so far. Coached by Paula Berry and Kim Finn, with volunteer coaches Justin Jessup and Evie Halvorson, the Herder team is on top of their game. Berry is the head coach, hurdles coach, and jumping coach. Finn is the sprints and relays coach.

Jessup is the throwing coach, and Halvorson is the distance coach.

As of April 26, the Herders have attended seven track and field meets, with numerous athletes placing at each meet.

The Herders also have two

athletes that qualified for the Top Ten Meet in Laurel on Tuesday, April 28. The athletes were: Destan Miller in the triple jump, and Madelyn Foulk in the javelin. Miller jumped 41’7 to take third place and Foulk threw the javelin 124’11 to take second as well as break the SGHS school record for javelin.

All athletes will compete in the District Track Meet scheduled for May 9 in Bozeman.

The Herder squad is hoping to qualify many athletes for the Divisional Meet on May 14 in Laurel, and then for the State Meet in Kalispell on May 22

and 23. Coach Finn is anticipating the District Track Meet, saying “All of the relay teams look like they will be very competitive going into the District Meet. If they keep working hard they should also be competitive for the Divisional and State Meets.” If the Herder track team as a whole keeps working hard they should enjoy a successful end to their 2015 track season.

Page 4 Activities May 5, 2015

Prom Hysteria

By Caitlyn Corso, Staff Writer

Why is there such a frenzy surrounding prom? Why is there so much stress surrounding this one night? Many people feel this way when April rolls around. The dresses, the hair, the nails, the tux, the flowers, even the dinner, is a lot to handle and is all easy to stress out about. So much time and energy is put into making prom the greatest night of our lives, but is it ever really all that it is cracked up to be?

Many people may say yes, however what is the difference between prom and winter formal, or even prom and homecoming? Besides the obvious fact that it is the last formal dance of the senior classes’ high school career, it really should not be that hyped up.

So much time is put into decorating for prom and making everything look perfect, just for people to dance in the dark and hardly look at the decor.

Then the next day, when everyone is walking around like

zombies, it is ripped down and thrown away, simply leaving the memory of the night behind.

The first prom was somewhere around the 1930’s, and is still one of the most looked forward to events of high school. Why has one event been viewed as such an important aspect of high school for over eighty years? “It’s supposed to be a big deal” said senior Sidney Arant about why prom is such a hassle.

Many people see prom in very different ways, some as a waste of time, some as their moment to be a princess, and some to live in the moment of their youth. No, we will never be younger than we are right now, but how is one night going to make or break our high school careers? Some students simply see prom as a “drama fest”, and many others agree.

All that ever happens at prom is drama, drama, and more drama. So and so danced with

so and so, she had the same dress as her, he ignored me, and blah blah. Once again, it is one night, why does it matter?

As high school students, we should not allow one night to so drastically influence our lives outside of prom. If there is an answer to all of these questions, it is unknown to many people. However, one opinion will not change an eighty year old tradition, so for now, changes can simply be made.

Surely, when the thought of prom was first conceived, the idea was much different than what it has evolved to be.

Rather than dreading prom, or waiting for it to be over, take the initiative to turn your prom into whatever you want it to be. You have the power to get back to the roots of prom, and make it what it was originally sought out to be, rather than this hysteria that it has become.

The Wall of Fame

Photo Courtesy, Madelyn Foulk Madelyn Foulk and Walker LaVoy are the 2015 inductees to the SGHS Wall of Fame.

By Makalee Klein, Staff Writer Almost every year a student or students are chosen to be put up on the Wall of Fame in the SGCHS cafeteria. Students eligible for this award must either be all state in football, basketball, or volleyball or medal at state in track, golf, cross country, or wrestling. This year there are two students that will be eligible for this award.

In 2012, Madelyn Foulk medaled at state track with her relay team on the 16 hundred.

Their time was 4 minutes and 12 seconds. This accomplishment lead to her Wall of Fame award. Foulk said, “I am happy to be up there for something I love and worked really hard at.”

The other recipient for this this year’s Wall of Fame award is Walker LaVoy. He made the all-state first team in football this year. “It’s an honor and I am glad all my hard work has

finally paid off.” He feels his whole team should be put up there with him because without them he wouldn’t have accomplished what he did.

Although the Wall of Fame and the Hall of Fame may be confused by many people they are two different awards.

In the high school cafeteria there are two different sets of pictures on the wall. The bigger pictures are for the Hall of Fame and below them are smaller pictures which are the Wall of Fame.

In order to be inducted to the Hall of Fame you must have graduated at least seven years prior. You also must be voted in by the commity who consist of previous hall of fame members, high school members, grade school members, and community members.

There are three different types of awards you can re-

cieve in the Hall of Fame. They are for individual athletes, coaching, or community/faculty achievements. To help them decide on inductees a list with different categories for each award is gone through and points are given to the awardees by members of the committee. For example, the individual athlete has seven different categories plus bonus points. One of the categories is college career and if the awardee did not attend college they will receive zero points for this category.

This year no one is being added the Hall of Fame. However, last year there were three awardees added to the Hall of Fame all for individual athlete.

They were Charles (Bob) Deegan, Kayla Ryan and John Boe.

Photo Courtesy, Ms. Perkins Ian Garcia and Chad Lager replicating the signature look from the movie, Dumb and Dumber.

SGHS Thespians Spring Into Action

By Caitlyn Corso, Staff Writer

With all of the craziness that the Spring holds for many students, teachers, and community members, some of these people add even more to their already hectic schedule.

On April 10th, 11th, and 12th the Sweet Grass County High School Thespians put on their Spring play for the community of Big Timber at the Civic Center. Gabryelle Perkins directed the play, which was called Don’t Touch That Dial, with the help of Kari Blaylock, who has directed many of the school plays in past years.

This was Ms. Perkins second year directing the school play, and her stars in the making all agree that she does an excellent job balancing schedules, dealing with backstage drama, and putting on a fantastic production. “The school play consists of a lot of hard work and some very long evenings, however the reward at the end is absolutely worth it and seeing what my students are capable of outside of my classroom is amazing” said Perkins about the grueling work of directing the school play.

In this play, Sally and Charlie Brown get sucked into another dimension while fighting over the remote control.

The kids are stuck inside of the television, and the television

shows that occur within television. While trying to find a way home, the two get thrown into a multitude of reality and drama shows including The Bachelor, The Real World, The Young and the Restless, and The X-Files. Along with adapting to this crazy behind the scenes world, the children deal with a swiper, a set director, and an invasive hair and makeup crew.

This production was put on by the SGCHS Thespians who include Mariah Wood, Faith Allred, Madilyn Emter, Taylor Ronneberg, Emily Hughes, Lauryn Yuzeitis, Honey Cranston, Erin Dringman, Greta Sanders, Ethan Peterson, Avery Connor, Caitlyn Corso, Kacin Perrett, Drew Pike, Sam Curry, Chad Lager, Ian Garcia, Mack Coyne, Madelyn Foulk, Kaitlyn Yuzeitis, Rachel Glavin, Merrissa Henry, and Jakob Ronneberg. “I had a lot of fun this year. At first I was annoyed that we had eighteen cast members, but I think it actually ended up being a good thing and we had a very dynamic cast” said Greta Sanders.

The Thespians did an outstanding job with the production of the 2015 Spring play, and we are already looking forward to next year.

SGHS Prom Stats

By Weston LaVoy, Staff Writer

The Sweet Grass County High School prom took place on April 18. The theme was a mixture of Masquerade and the Great Gatsby, so it was called The Great Masquerade.

The grand march started at nine p.m. and lasted around 30 minutes. The freshman candidates were William Saunders and Emily Wagner, sophomore candidates were Cody Hathaway and Tanna Campbell, junior candidates were Paul Wagner, Sam Curry, Kirsten

Gano, and Kelli Mack, senior candidates were Chad Lager, Brycen Lehman, Jessica Johnston, and Makalee Klein. Lager and Johnston were crowned king and queen for the 2015 prom.

The dance concluded at midnight after lasting around two and a half hours. Attending the prom were 61 couples and 10 singles, totalling 132 students who attended.

May 5, 2015 Page 5 Activities

Would You Like Paper or Plastic?

Paper bags stand up on their own in the back of your car and they help keep frozen things cold on the long commute home. They not only serve as a way to transport your groceries home, but you can reuse them as book covers, a place to ripen your fruit, and you can even recycle them. But, in the late 70’s the plastic bag made its way to the United States. They have handles that make carrying your groceries easier and they’re more waterproof than paper bags; not only that, but they are cheaper for retailers.

The war between paper and plastic has become bigger than they thought it would be. Over 75% of stores in the United States carry both paper and plastic. Each day over 1 million plastic bags are used in the United States. In 2014, California was the first state to place a statewide ban on single use of plastic bags. They are still offering plastic bags when you shop but there will be a fee. This law will affect grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, and liquor shops. In hopes to reduce the use of plastic bags, retailers

By Riley Horigan, Staff Writer will be looking at a cut in their cost to supply bags to customers. However, it does not apply to the plastic bags that you use for your fresh produce and meat products, nor does it pertain to retail clothing or electronic stores. This ban will take place in July of 2015 for larger stores and in 2016 it will scale in on the smaller businesses; there will also be a minimum charge of 10 cents for both paper and plastic bags. Some retailers didn’t wait for the statewide ban and have had their own laws on plastic bags. Why is the plastic bag pandemic becoming such an issue, and how many more states are going to follow in Californias footsteps?

Over 100 cities such as Chicago and Seattle have already outlawed the use of plastic bags. They are trying to promote the use of reusable bags.

Some stores such as, Big T IGA in Big Timber, and Target in Billings, offer a discount when you bring in your own bag. It may seem like a small scale problem, but when you look at the big picture the plastic bag pandemic is real.

Although plastic bags are recycled and reused by many individuals, they are the second most littered item, not far behind cigarette butts which rank first. A single plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, and if they are burned in a landfill they give off many toxins into the atmosphere. They are not only harmful to the environment, but also to wildlife. They cause suffocation to the wildlife because often times they mistake the debris as food. In the Los Angeles area alone, 2204.62 pounds of plastic fragments— like grocery bags, straws and soda bottles—are carried into the Pacific Ocean every day.

Although Montana is not passing any bans on plastic bags in the near future it is a possibility. We have an abundance of wildlife in Montana and our use of plastic bags can potentially harm them.

But why wait until they pass a law to go down the more eco friendly route? You don’t have to; you can start by taking your own reusable bags when you go grocery shopping next time.

Photo Courtesy Casey Lunceford Rachel Glavin, Kelli Mack, Brent Beley, and Caitlyn Corso attened the Montana Envirothon competition.

Envirothon 2015

By Caitlyn Corso, Staff Writer

On Monday, April 20th the Big Timber FFA chapter took four members to the twentieth annual Envirothon in Lewistown, MT. The members who ventured on this journey were Brent Beley, Rachel Glavin, Caitlyn Corso, and Kelli Mack.

Envirothon helps students appreciate the environment and learn ways that they can help maintain what they have come to rely on. This is a great way to get people involved and develop a greater appreciation for the environment.

Brent and Rachel are both on the Forestry Team and their skills were greatly utilized for that portion of the competition. Caitlyn and Kelli were on the Agronomy team for the past year and helped out with that component. The Envirothon team took the written

test portion of the Envirothon Monday morning, followed by a presentation about Urban Forestry. The team then went to Frank Day City Park to do workshops and learn about the issues regarding urban forestry throughout this specific park.

Once they got back to the fairgrounds, they had three hours to create a presentation of their five year plan to improve the park as a consulting firm. This five year plan helped the city restore and improve the park within their budget. On Tuesday morning the teams presented their plans to a panel of judges and then waited for awards. Big Timber FFA ended up taking ninth place overall and are ready to come back next year. Congratulations to the Envirothon Team on an excellent performance.

Journalism Day Photo Courtesy, Mrs. Epperson The group of students who volunteered to help with Earth Day activities throughout the community of Big Timber and at Sweet Grass County High School.

Earth Day 2015 “The environment is where we all meet; where all have a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share.”

—Lady Bird Johnson

By Caitlyn Corso, Staff Writer Earth Day was April 22nd, and this year a few of the SAVY (Serving and Volunteering Youth) members took the initiative to help the community of Big Timber “go green”. The members that participated in service day included Maddie Foulk, Riley Horigan, Greta Sanders, Holly Emter, Caitlyn Corso, Kelli Mack, Sam Curry, Ethan Peterson, Avery Conner, Kirsten Gano, TediJo Todd, Charli Moore, and Brielle Sto-

sich. For this day, the SAVY members raked and mowed the lawn at the American Legion, along with a few other homes throughout Big Timber.

After that, the group went back to the high school to trim the trees, and plant plants throughout the planters. These services will help the community save the Earth little by little.

SAVY is run by Mrs. Messer-Epperson and the group

helps to involve students throughout the town and school with various volunteer activities. The group helps whenever they can and is always willing to do whatever is asked of them. If you are interested in becoming an active member of your community, and helping out in many different ways, talk to Mrs. Epperson and consider joining the SAVY group next year.

Photo Courtesy, Mrs. Lannen Riley Horigan, Caitlyn Corso, Erin Dringman, and Greta Sanders enjoyed a long day at the University of Montana learning what it takes to be a journalism student.

By Riley Horigan, Staff Writer The University of Montana celebrated its 100th anniversary by hosting different workshops on April 9 for high school journalist to take part in. Caitlyn Corso, Erin Dringman, Riley Horigan, and Greta Sanders represented the Sweet Grass County High School journalism class.

There were multiple workshops on how to improve your

writing, photography, and design of your paper. Students met the Dean of Journalism at Missoula and were given the opportunity to interact with University professors as well as the Kaimin staff, the student newspaper at Missoula.

The Sheepherder staff members who attended came back home with a lot more knowledge about journalism.

Page 6 News May 5, 2015

The first ACT test was administered in 1959. It has continued to be offered at schools and testing centers across the nation ever since, and is a standardized format used to “collect and report data on students’ academic readiness for college”, according to www.act. org.

Sweet Grass County High School was the recipient of a grant this year which allowed them to offer the ACT within their own school, rather than having their students travel to a testing center as they typically have to. The Junior class at SGHS took the ACT on Tuesday, April 28th.

Websites, books, and preparatory materials unanimously agree that the best way for students to perform well on their ACTs is to take practice tests.

Having just taken my ACT, I concur 100% that the best way to perform well on your ACTs is indeed to take practice tests. A handful of short tests and one full length timed one will probably not suffice, as my personal experience has shown.

Practice Makes Perfect

By Erin Dringman, Staff Writer

I spent a few hours here and there over the last few months taking short, ten question quizzes on websites that are intended to prepare you for certain sections of the ACT. Then, two days before taking the ACT, I took one full length, timed test. I attempted to fill my brain with knowledge when it was crunch time,

yet I still felt exceptionally unprepared when I sat down and began to bubble in my answer sheet.

Cramming is not the ideal studying route to use when preparing for the ACT or any test. What I realized during my ACT is that my main struggle with the test was not the content, but the limited

time. When the proctor announced that only five minutes remained in the Mathematics test, I still had fifteen questions unanswered. Therefore, my last fifteen answers were all C, the most statistically common standardized test answer.

Even with statistics in my favor, the odds are that I most likely got only four of those

last fifteen questions correct.

Rather than allowing your score to rely on a dismal statistic, you should learn to manage your time prior to taking the ACTs. One of the most important things to do in preparation for your ACTs or SATs is to identify your personal weaknesses.

I have always been a thorough test taker. Given ample time, I can usually arrive at the correct answer. However, I am an incredibly slow test taker and am often faced with the issue of running out of time on my test.

I have never struggled so much to finish a test within an allotted time as I did when taking my ACT. Therefore, I know that before I take the SAT in June or the ACT again in October, I must be diligent in practicing my time management.

If you can get through the problems with speed, that is a huge asset. If you struggle, though, with the content or knowledge base of the tests, be sure to study the materials and subjects the test will cover. As See ACT, page 7

What to Do When SpringBySemester is Slowly Sucking Your Soul Greta Sanders, Staff Writer It’s that time of year again!

The time of year when you suddenly, inexplicably find that in the past three weeks you’ve only spent three days at school. You have four projects due, a test to study for, need help with your math assignment (that you find out was actually due two weeks ago) and a band concert. It’s spring at Sweet Grass County High School, and you’re drowning.

Here’s my five step plan to retain your sanity: *Breathe A biiiggggg, loooonnnnggggg, deeeeeeepppp breath. This time will end, and before you know it, it’ll be June and you’ll have a killer tan! Keep breath-

ing deeply. * Make a list A good old-fashioned to do list, that is. Write down what you need to do; projects, tests, golf meets, agronomy practice, etc. If you have a planner, make notes in there too. It helps to have a solid representation of what you need to do, and there’s something satisfying in being able to cross off something. * Do something you enjoy While I’m sure you enjoy all your extracurricular activities (right?) they’re giving you high blood pressure right now. I know it seems like you have no time, but sit down and do something for you. Watch

your favorite TV show, draw a picture, play Monopoly, whatever. If you hate every second of the whirlwind we call spring semester, you’re wasting your time. * Prioritize (Learn to say NO) There are some things you genuinely do not have time to do. Learn to figure out what those things are, and say no to them. If someone asks you to help them make campaign posters but you really need to finish your Algebra assignment, it doesn’t make you a bad person to say no. There are only twenty-four hours in a day and you have to choose how to spend them.

* Try to enjoy these sleep-deprived weeks At the end of May, you’ll look back and wonder how you possibly managed to get out of bed every morning.

You’ll wonder how you lived through the tornado of the semester, and it’ll probably all be a blur. But while you’re in the eye of the storm, try to enjoy it.

I know it’s absolutely crazy and sometimes you hate everyone and everything, but there’s something super cool about all these activities coming together and to a close, all your hard work from the entire year finally paying off. Yes, you’ll probably have late nights up doing your homework, but the

teachers are also reasonable. If you are genuinely swamped, go talk to them. They’ve seen more spring semesters than you probably ever will.

If you follow this five step plan and still find yourself in a full scale panic, you may want to read Harry Potter and drink a cup of tea. If that doesn’t help, remember that this will be over before you know it.

Learning how to handle stress is a valuable life skill (that I’m still learning!) and someday you’ll look back at spring semester and be glad you went through with it. Good luck, and see you on the other side of May!

“I learned that we need to be more energy efficient in life.

We are a wasteful country, so let’s be different and change that,” Luke Rech told the judges about his year as a SMART School’s Challenge competitor.

The judges were impressed by the accomplishments of the SGHS SMART Club. Not only did the students walk away from the program more cognizant about the ease and importance of recycling, but the school also saved a large sum of money via their efforts.

When compared to energy costs in 2001, SGHS saved over $28,000 this year.

The impressive achievements of the SGHS SMART Club led to their selection as one of four winners of the energy conservation challenge.

They also won in the recycling category, but no school was permitted to receive the award

for both categories.

On April 13, Lieutenant Governor McLean visited SGHS. She spoke to the SMART Club about how important their efforts were. As a former educator, she knows how busy teenagers can be, and appreciated that they dedicated their time to creating a better world in which to live.

“You folks,” McLean said, “are the future. And that makes me hopeful.” At the end of her visit, McLean gathered the SMART Club members around her and presented them with the fruit of their efforts: a check for $1,000.

Madelyn Foulk spoke to the future of the SMART School’s Challenge: “I believe that all schools should adopt this challenge to save money, and our planet.”

Being S.M.A.R.T. Pays Off

Sweet Grass County High School has been actively participating in the SMART School’s Challenge throughout this school year. The club has worked diligently with their advisor, Sam Spector, to go “blue” (because Herders prefer the color blue to green).

A number of schools from across the state competed in the SMART School’s Challenge, an initiative created by Lieutenant Governor Angela McLean. Students have striven to achieve Ms. Mclean’s goals of of saving money and recycling today.

The SMART School’s group at SGHS has given demonstrations at basketball games about the importance of recycling, installed new recycling bins throughout the school, given a presentation to the student body about how to conserve paper when printing, and cre-

By Erin Dringman, Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy, Sam Spector SMART School club members helped save over $28,000 in energy costs for the 2014-2015 school year.

ated signs and posters that direct students to certain printers to eliminate paper waste.

At the end of March, every SMART School’s club wrote a final report that was submitted to a panel of judges who reviewed the savings that the clubs garnered for their schools and read personal ac-

counts from students about what they had learned.

Sam Curry, a member of the SMART Club at SGHS, said, “I learned that focusing on the little things alone can make a huge difference in the amount of resources used and, hence, the money saved for the school.”

Barrel Racing

scenarios flash through my head. That’s what gets me in trouble because thinking about it too much gets your mind set up to fail, and that’s exactly what you’ll do. It’s hard to block out the negative thoughts, but it all boils down to one thing: you and your horse working together as one.

The relationship between the two is the most important aspect of barrel racing, or any event for that matter. That’s the only thing that matters because as long as you have that connection, the rest of it all falls into place after that.

The thoughts get stronger as the line gets shorter and I pat Chex on his neck and whisper into his mane. Yes, I did whisper to my horse and no he cannot tell what I am saying, but I think every horse person does that. I’m up next and my hands are shaking, but my body is still because I need to be able to support Chex with my body. I pull my hat down, lean over and pat Chex’s neck and then wait for the gate to be opened… It’s swung open and I feel his body tense and begin to prance towards the gate and right before I enter the arena I release my reins and his body lunges forward. The first barrel comes up fast and I pull him up just the slightest bit to allow him to spin around the

Morgan

When talking about coaching a smile came across his face as he said, “Some days I’d think I’d love to coach some day, but other days, I would see a kid that looked hard to deal with and think maybe I don’t want to coach very much.”

However, his love of the challenge in creating a team of players together from unique backgrounds to play together won him over.

He is currently the C squad coach for basketball and an as-

first and into the second. Third is where I can feel myself relax just a bit because after his body straightens out, I know there is just a straight shot home and that’s where I have to push out every last ounce of effort that Chex can give. It’s a clean run and I immediately give Chex a good pet to reward him.

He’s hot so I set off to cool him down and let him get the chance to stretch out his tense muscles. It’s an adrenaline rush to run barrels and it takes a good amount of time for it to actually wear off.

Everyone’s barrel racing story is going to be different because everyone gets ready differently and runs differently, so my story is just one of many. There are a million tiny details involved in one day and one rodeo, but I summed it all up into the major events to shorten it up a bit. To some, barrel racing, and even rodeo, is just a sport some do in their spare time, but to those who participate in it, it’s a lifestyle.

This is what they do, and for many that’s how they get their money, so everything about it is taken very seriously. I think rodeo is a misunderstood sport. Having people put stories out there like mine is an important thing that can help others understand rodeo athletes and what they stand for.

Blaylock

team that that was never really a reality.”

Perhaps under another coach, the success that the SGHS Speech and Drama team has seen would not have been a reality. But with the guidance and inspiration of Blaylock, anything is possible.

“I really don’t feel like I coach,” Blaylock said. “I guide, I mold, but I don’t coach, because students have to pick what’s best for them and I just

ACT

As long as you are willing to put in the effort, you can get the score you desire.

There are resources available to use as study tools for the ACT. Of course, most teenagers are not likely to spend their penny cash in such a way. The importance of studying for your tests cannot be overstated.

There are many sites that offer sample ACT questions for free. For instance, act.org offers several free, short practice tests.

For those willing to spend more money, there are more materials to be found. The “Real ACT Prep Guide” costs

May 5, 2015 Page 7 guide them in that direction.”

At the rate that she has been going, it seems as though Blaylock too is destined to join the ranks of those great coaches in the hall of fame. She’s already in the hall of fame in her students’ books, though.

Junior Greta Sanders, a three-year Speech and Drama member spoke fondly of her coach. “Ms. Blaylock is the safe port that I go to after being in the crazy storm we call Speech

and Drama. She’s taught me that I make my own way, and that, at the end of the day, what matters is how I feel about how I did.”

Blaylock has a passion for Speech and Drama that she has been able to share with and cultivate in other people.

She encourages everyone who is interested to give Speech and Drama a shot. “I love every bit of it [Speech and Drama].

Everyone has the potential for success if they work hard. Be willing to think outside the box, and leave your walls outside the door.”

Congratulations to Ms. Blaylock on blowing the whole roof off every year in her outstanding performance as a Speech and Drama coach. On behalf of the S&D team at SGHS, we thank her for her exceedingly generous efforts and unending inspiration.

less than $25 for the online edition and can also be purchased in print. All 621 pages of the guidebook have practice problems or give advice and pointers for studying, preparing--even sleeping and eating!--before the test.

It is vitally important to be well rested and energized before taking your test. Getting a good night’s sleep, eating a healthy breakfast, drinking water, and keeping your brain active and alert are all important aspects to scoring well on your ACT. The biggest advantage one can have when taking any standardized test is to be fa-

miliar with the format. In the ACT, there is always the same number and type of questions and passages. In the English section, you have 75 questions and 45 minutes. In Math, you have 60 questions in 60 minutes. Reading is 35 minutes to read four passages and answer 40 questions. The Science test has 35 minutes for 40 questions as well. A writing supplement in the ACT always includes a prompt, space for outlining your essay, and then several lined pages in your answer booklet on which you can write out your essay. The writing supplement adds 30 minutes to the total ACT testing time.

The more practice tests you take, the more familiar you become with the style of question and material covered.

Most colleges rely heavily on ACT and SAT scores when determining who to accept and grant scholarships to. Remember, when it comes to the ACT and SAT, practice makes perfect.

start whipping out the House rule book; referencing tiny paragraphs with meticulous language it would take normal person years to decipher. It was fascinating to hear bills get heated; one of the hottest topics was concealed weapons on college campuses. A proponent of the bill would stand up and passionately defend a bill in favor of concealed weapons on college campuses, only to be immediately followed by an opponent of the bill who was just as certain and just as convincing in their stance. At the end of the day, you just have to hope that the conflict will lead to the right resolution.

Politicians are not evil.

So often, we hear of corrupt politicians everywhere from the city level to the national level. Yes, there are bad politicians. But there are also bad bankers, doctors, plumbers, teachers, athletes, etc. The politicians in Helena are human,

just like you and I. They have likes and dislikes, and they do have a heart. I watched a representative describe how he couldn’t pass the bill allowing concealed weapons on college campuses. He had received a plea from a mother whose son was killed in a shooting on a college campus. I watched another representative stand up and staunchly defend a bill that would help protect Montana’s children from sex offenders.

Not all politicians are chasing money and power. Not all fit the stereotype of greedy; most simply want to make this nation a better place.

Despite some of the negative aspects of my trip, I am still glad I went. I fell into my bed every night with the satisfaction of having accomplished something; of having a purpose. I watched America in action! I saw something not many teenagers get to experience.

sistant coach for football.

Throughout his life, basketball has brought many opportunities his way such as, meeting new people and traveling to many different places.

When asked about playing basketball, Morgan grinned and replied with, “All for the love of the game.”

Legislature

witness the Legislature in action to fully understand the enormity of what goes on there.

Literally no one agrees on exactly one thing. Ever.

Whether it be representatives or senators, democrats or republicans, no one agree on ANYTHING. Seriously. In my few days at the Capitol, not a single bill was agreed upon unanimously.

Often, even when a bill is passed, a lot of time is spent on amendments to the bill. However, this made for interesting debate on the House floor, and it’s eye-opening to hear the bills from all sides. One representative can bring up a view of the bill you’ve never even thought of, and completely change your opinion. And then yet another representative will stand up and completely turn the previous person’s argument upside down. You know things are getting serious when people

Page 8 Summer May 5, 2015

Five Things of Summer

By Greta Sanders, Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy, Jade Fredricks Jade Fredricks and Erin Dringman enjoy the company of each other in between soccer games during the 2014 season.

Photo Courtesy, Jade Fredricks The Boulder River is a great place to cool off on those hot summer days.

Photo Courtesy, Jade Fredricks What better way to get Vitamin D than enjoying a few hours in the sunshine?

87 Days of

Summer

By Jade Fredricks, Staff Writer

To some, it’s a time to be able to express yourself and to others it’s a time to get away from school and the drama, but no matter the reasoning summer means something different to everyone. From June to August, most students are celebrating the three month break that they are awarded at the end of every school year.

To make it even better, it’s the warmest season of the year.

BBQs, swimming, bonfires...

It’s the time of year that students are making the best of memories, and for seniors, it’s the time of year to celebrate a new beginning. During a recent poll, students were asked several different questions beginning with what summer means to them and the majority of them said time to be out of school as well as work and

fun. Their favorite part about summer included the weather, no school, boating, and spending time with friends. The last question that they were asked was whether or not they found anything about summer inspiring and if they did what was it. The majority of the students responded by saying that they feel as if it inspires people to be themselves, and in a lot of ways it does. Giving students opportunities to step out and find themselves seems to be one of the most important aspects about summer, and why wouldn’t it be? We all want to find ourselves without the added stress of our peers. Whether it’s an inspiration, or just something to get you away from school, summer will always have a special meaning in each and every one of our hearts.

You know those things that make summer, well, summer?

The things that, if they were missing, would make summer feel less… summer-y. If you don’t, it’s your lucky day! I’ve compiled a list of five things you need to enjoy summer to the max. * Water Whether it is to drink or swim in, summer isn’t the same without water. If you aren’t drinking it, you’ve probably fainted and rather than enjoying summer, you’re wasting it away unconscious. If you aren’t swimming in it, what are you doing? Head down to the city pool (where yours truly is a lifeguard) to take a dip in the water. If screaming children aren’t your thing, try making a splash in your local river or lake. * Stars While I am not referring to stars as in the celebrities who do concerts at the Billings Fair, those do make a pretty cool addition to summer. However, the stars I speak of reside in the sky. There is nothing quite like stargazing on a cool summer evening, trying to wrap

your mind around how vast and beautiful our universe is.

Plus, if you’re as talented as my best friend Riley, you can get some pretty killer pictures too. * Ice Cream Yes, the staple of life. Root beer floats made by Grammie were my favorite summer treats (and probably still are).

What more could you want in life than a delicious mouthful of chocolate ice cream on a searing hot summer day?

That’s right, nothing. * Plenty of Sunshine (And Sunscreen!)

What is summer without sunshine?! It’s winter. While you don’t want to spend every single waking second of your summer outside (it gets hot!) you most likely want to take advantage of those delicious rays from the sky that we lack essentially the rest of the year. And yes, I must preach the use of sunscreen. As a lifeguard, my job is literally to sit in the sun. And spending your days looking like a lobster is neither enjoyable nor desired.

Plus, the potential side effects down the road such as skin cancer make a compelling case

Photo Courtesy, Greta Sanders Greta Sanders and Riley Horigan enjoy some soft serve ice cream from the Frosty Freez last summer.

to slather on some sunscreen.

Trust me; you’ll still get a tan even if you do wear sunscreen. * Good Company Whether it be friends, family, your pets, or who ever makes you happy in life, fill your time with them. Summer = more free time (in most cases), so use it to make your heart happy.

Summer nights seem to have a magic in them that breed laughter and good memories.

I know I probably sound like a cliché teen summer romance book, but I’m serious. At this very moment I can call up three memories from this last summer that have been some of the best times of my life.

Summer only comes once a year (obviously), and while it may be easy to waste away every single day lying on your bed in a heat-induced haze, I urge you to make every day count.

Blah blah, don’t preach to me Greta. But summer comes and goes before you know it, and suddenly you’re back in school waiting for May again. Take advantage of the long days and the star-lit nights. And don’t forget the sunscreen!

Photo Courtesy, Riley Horigan Spend a night outside admiring the stars above; not everyone is lucky enough to see such clear skies.

Summer Plans

By Greta Sanders, Staff Writer

Photo Courtesy, Greta Sanders A sample of SGHS students will keep busy this summer shown by the infograpic on summer plans.