March 2016 by chris waugaman

R N ROYALNEWS

Prince George H.S. - 7801 Laurel Spring Rd. Prince George, VA 23875 - www.trnwired.org -March 11, 2016

Volume XIV Issue 6 Free

Single Copy Only

STUDENT USES SKILLS TAUGHT AT ROWANTY FOR OWN GAIN p. 6

Michael Myrick stencils out a new decal. Myrick is now making his own decals to sell and give to friends. Photo by April Buckles.

p. 7 NEW TECHNOLOGY SPRINGS NEW TEACHING METHODS

p. 13 4-H CLUB SPONSORS STUDENT BODY TALENT SHOW p. 18 TENNIS PLAYERS FOCUS ON KEY ELEMENT OF SPORT

Check Page 13 for an Aurasma on the 4-H Talent Show.

Visit trnwired.org to see the latest photo galleries and watch live broadcast events.

2 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.11.16

OP/ED

Talent Show Allows Students to Express Themselves

theRoyalNews

ur mission as the school newspaper for Prince George High School is to provide a form of media that represents all aspects of student life. The goal is to present factual accounts of newsworthy events in a timely manner. Our publication will be informative, entertaining and reflective of the student body’s opinions. It is the desire of the staff to reach every student and tell as many of their stories as possible. We invite your commentary: The Royal News Opinion page is a forum for public discussion and shall be open to all students. The Royal News will print as many letters as space will allow. The Royal News reserves the right not to print a letter. The Royal News publishes a wide variety of opinions. Send letters to: Letters to the Editor, The Royal News, PGHS, 7801 Laurel Spring Road, Prince George, Virginia 23875, or bring them to room A2, or e-mail them to trnwired@gmail.com We reserve the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, legality, spelling and grammar. Please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be considered for publication. 500 word maximum. Thank you for the support this year. Please continue to communicate on trnwired.org. Publication theft. A person commits the offense of publication theft when he or she willfully or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over more than three copies of an edition of a publication distributed on campus or in the surrounding community [with the intent to prevent other individuals from reading that edition of the publication]. A “publication” includes any periodical that is distributed on a complimentary or compensatory basis. In addition to the imposition of other campus disciplinary penalties, a person who violates this provision is responsible for compensating the publication for all reasonable costs incurred, including, where appropriate, the refund of advertising fees.

Section Editors Front page/Briefs: April Buckles, Op/Ed: Alexis Stewart, Features: Ryan Albright & Brooke Guerrero, Doubletruck: Hydeia Nutt, A&E: Chance Thweatt Sports: Madison Strang and Paul Dennis, Jr., Photo Editor: Ebony Gilchrist - Business & Ad Editor: Daniel Puryear, Online Editor-in-Chief: Alesondra Adams-Special Edition Editor-In-Chief Madison Strang and Ebony Gilchrist

Writers Aaliyah Capers- Katherine Iwanski- Madison FosterWayne Coleman- Morgan Eminhizer- Willow HartCarlee Lively- Jacob Wood - Mavaney Keel Julian Whichard

Editor-in-Chief Ryan Albright

Managing Editor Daniel Puryear

Business Manager Daniel Puryear

Adviser

Chris Waugaman

Professional affiliations & awards Columbia Scholastic Press Associations Gold Medalist 2008-2015 CSPA Gold Crown Winner 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015 Virginia High School Association Trophy Class 2006-2013 & 2015 Col. Charles Savedge Award for Sustained Excellence 2010 NSPA Online Pacemaker Winner 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 SIPA All Southern 2008-2015

The Royal News, PGHS trnwired.org

7801 Laurel Spring Road Prince George, Virginia 23875 804-733-2720 The Royal News is printed at The Progress-Index in Petersburg, Virginia

Illustration by Nicholas Branch

Treatment Resistent Super Lice Emerges in Virginia

sually lice with the scientific name of Phthiraptera, is routinely easy to find and treat, but a gradual mutation in a strain of lice has changed how it can be found and gotten rid of. Twenty-five states, including Virginia, have been reported to have Super Lice outbreaks. The usual way of inspecting for lice on someone’s head is running a comb through their hair and looking for lice and their eggs while you comb. If you found them, you could use over-the-counter products that contain Pyrethrins to get rid of the lice. Pyrethrins attack the nervous system of lice. The problem with Super Lice is that these lice have become resistant and/or become immune to treatments that involve Pyrethrins. If they are just resistant to those products, some doctors can prescribe greater doses of the medication, but if they have become immune, there are products that can get rid of the lice by methods of drying out the eggs. With Virginia being one of the states where these lice have mutated to become resistant to medical treatments, people should be more careful about sharing

clothing with others, particularly hats and any other clothing that could have been in contact with others hair. People should also be more careful about sharing combs, brushes, and headbands. Symptoms for people who may have lice are itching, a tickling feeling, along with irritability and maybe even difficulty sleeping. People should also take precaution and check their head for lice, especially if they may have shared a hat with someone. People with long, straight hair are more at risk for getting lice than those with short, curly or short, straight hair. If you find that you have lice, you could always try some over-the-counter treatments, but you should probably see a doctor for medication, and follow up with treatments to your hair every seven to ten days. You could also take an easier route and shave your head, which would almost certainly get rid of the lice. If you have had lice, you should wash your clothing, bed covers, pillow covers, and pillows in the washing machine. Run them in a hot water cycle, which would be over 130 degrees Fahrenheit.

ach school year we have a talent show in the high school auditorium. It is a time for some students to express themselves and show off the things they are able to do best. It ranges from students singing and dancing to rapping and playing instruments fiercely. Having a high school talent show is a great experience for the students who are performing HYDEIA NUTT and for those who come to watch. It is a positive and fun school event that anyone could enjoy. The talent show teaches people how to be courageous and how to be comfortable with any crowd. It also teaches the performers how to take constructive criticism. The local 4-H group is the organization which sponsors the show. With the amount of time that not only goes into the actual performance but also the afternoon of tryouts, sponsor Hermon Maclin deserves a big thank you. With so many working parts to the show, it could be a disaster if everything is not in place. The school should continue the annual talent show because it is one of the few times out of the year the student body can come together and have a good time. The students support each other and cheer one another on during the event. I look forward to the talent show every year. It is an occasion to remember.

FRIDAY 3.11.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 3

OP/ED

New Bell System Rushes Students To Class On February 10th, the new bell system went into effect, adding five minutes to each class, which decreased the time in between classes and lunch blocks. Students now have to react to the sudden changes and try to manage to get to class on time. Should the bell system have been changed?

ue to the instruction time lost during the snow, the school board has issued a new bell schedule for the High School. Instead of having seven minutes to get to class, students now have five minutes, which allows students to spend more time in their classes. By spending more time in classes, students have the opportunity to learn more lessons, and they have time to get more assignments done. In further details, students have more time to ask questions on a confusing class work or homework assignment. Students also have more time to complete quizzes and tests, without the pressure of having to rush through the test or quiz. By not having to rush, students can take their time and receive high scores on their tests and quizzes. Furthermore, teachers benefit from the new bell schedule because it allows them to teach lessons for a little while longer, which helps ensure that students grasp the information. Especially with Standardized Tests coming up, teachers have more time to drill and review their students on information needed to do well on the tests. In details, the new bell schedule has prevented us from having to make up any time due to all the snow. By changing the bell from seven minutes to five minutes, this has allowed us to spend more time in class, which is much needed after all the time loss. If the bell schedule had not changed, Prince George Schools would have most likely implemented Saturday school, or another plan to regain the time that was lost. Instead of students complaining about the new bell schedule, students should be more understanding and grateful for it. In the end, the new bell schedule will become normal, like the previous one, and it will continue to help us regain time loss due to the snow.

PRO CON CHANCE THWEATT

EBONY GILCHRIST

“... By spending more time in classes, students have the opportunity to learn more lessons, ...” “... This new schedule makes it hard for students to get to their classes on time...” “... Furthermore, teachers benefit from the new bell schedule because it allows them to teach lessons for a little while longer...”

s the bell rings and students emerge from their classes, they proceed down the halls to their next class, occasionally glancing up at the clock. They check to see how much longer they have until the bell rings. Students now have five minutes to get to class instead of seven. This rule went into effect February 10th, 2016. This new bell schedule does not only give students just five minutes to get to class, but also it extends classes by five minutes. Another thing the new schedule does is cut lunches down to twenty-one minutes. This new schedule makes it hard for students to get to their classes on time. Right when the bell is about to ring, the students start running, shoving, and tripping up other students, so they will not get a tardy to class. This can cause injuries. Some teachers make their students use the rest room in between classes. With only five minutes, that makes it complicated to do so. Another issue with only having five minutes to get from one class to another is that there are some students who have to go from the end of D-wing to the end of B-wing or from the end of A-wing to the end of F-wing. Those walks were already long ventures, but now with less time and larger crowds of people trying to go through the commons doors at once, it has become much worse. With classes being extended an extra five minutes, students have to wait longer to go to lunch. Not only do they have to wait longer, they have a shorter lunch blocks, consisting of only twenty-one minutes. There are hundreds of students in each lunch block, making the lines long. With only twenty-one minutes, students have to stand in line to get lunch, sit down, and hurry to finish their lunch. This new bell schedule is harder on the students, and very displeasing.

NEW BELL SCHEDULE 1st/2nd Block 3rd/4th Block A Lunch B Lunch C Lunch D Lunch 6th/7th Block

7:50 – 9:25 9:30 – 11:05 11:10 – 11:31 11:36 – 11:57 12:02 – 12:23 12:28 – 12:50 12:55 – 2:30

Schedule includes reduction of two minutes between classes. Illustration by Nicholas Branch

4 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.11.16

Starting Positions available in:

General Laborer With Advancement in:

Heavy Equipment Operation Pipefitting Welding

FRIDAY 3.11.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 5

BRIEFLY PGHS Alumnus Aaron Skinner’s troop is currently deployed to Iraq. They are currently collecting toiletries and snacks to send to his troop. Just bring them to A-23. Remember the group cannot send any product that contains pork or alcohol. So if sending mouthwash, please check to verify that its contents do not violate this.

Students who are in 10th-12th grade who are taking Algebra II or a more advanced math course, who are interested in joining Mu Alpha Theta, can pick up an application from Mrs. Hall in room D-18. Requirements for membership can be found on the application, which must be completed and returned to Mrs. Hall by March 18th.

The city of Colonial Heights has changed their curfew hours. Anyone under 18 years of age should adhere to the following law. If you are 17 years of age or younger, your restricted hours are 11 PM to 5 AM. It shall be unlawful for any minor to be, or remain, in or upon any public place within the City of Colonial Heights between the hours of 11:00 PM and 5 AM.

Mrs. Roberts needs the Special Olympics’ Buddies to come see her about swimming practice on Thursday nights from 7-8 PM at the Hopewell Community Center. Please attend this event if you are able to. The Children truly need you. Also, the Champions’ track team will begin meeting on Saturdays from 10 AM to noon at the high school track. Come see Mrs. Roberts if interested in running in one of the meets or have any questions. Also, if the Buddies’ need to have their hours for BETA, NHS, etc. marked, come see Mrs. Roberts as well in B5.

6 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.11.16

FEATURES

Student Uses Skills Taught at Rowanty For Own Gain Senior Michael Myrick Makes, Sells Car Decals - A Skill Learned At Rowanty Carlee Lively TRN writer

s senior Michael Myrick stands over the machine that will take waterproof vinyl and a blade to etch and carve a personalized statement, little does he know that one year later his hobby would start a business. With this machine, a goal, and support his business would soon thrive and earn him a way to his dream college. This hobby has quickly evolved and now 60 plus decals have been made so far. With the decals gaining recognition, Myrick already has a plan for the earnings. “As of right now, I’m hoping to use this as a method to help pay for me to go to college at the Motorcycle Mechanic Institute,” Myrick said. The institute is located in Orlando,Florida that will be a tremendous change of scenery for this small town Prince George student. Myrick’s decals can be an expression of views, brands, and advertisements of the customer’s choice. The most common use of Myrick’s decal stickers are on car windshields and/or windows. But his business creations can be seen anywhere from water bottles to the walls of a bedroom. “Many people, including myself, like to place decals on vehicles…You have the freedom to say what you want with a decal, also [it is] a good method of advertisements,” Myrick said. One his most constant customer’s and friends is senior Tyler Mayton, buying from him every since he started the activity. “I like [decals] because it is a cool way to get [my car] personalized and it’s cool to support my friend,” Mayton said. Mayton’s back windshield features a Rowanty Auto Tech design, the University of Northwestern Ohio logo, Trackstar Motorsports logo, his Instagram @ name, a duck sticker with the caption “rub a bub”, and a Dubway sticker. The reference to the “dub” is from the

Brand of Cars, Volkswagen. The common nickname for the car brand is Vdub so it’s a play on words. Myrick already has reputable ways to keep customers. Any interested buyers may ask Myrick for a design and he delivers immediately. “I came up with the design and he delivered…the work was flawless and detailed. I’ll definitely be going to him for any other decals I want,” senior Armand Pierre said. Pierre has 5 stickers including Teal Toaster, He>I, speed bumps, got poke?, Extraordinaire 6. He wants to add ‘Merica and Rasta in the future. Pierre is also a long time friend of Myrick’s and plans to keep giving him support. Although the product comes fast, the decal process has a lot to go with it. Signwarehouse.com has a quick explanation for

the ends and outs of the process. The decals start as a image on a computer in a graphic software program. This program is where the decal is designed with a picture or a font. The computer sends the image to a vinyl cutter. The cutting machine has to be equip with transfer tape and vinyl. After the decal has been cut, with some adjustments, it is ready to be transferred to a surface. The decal is given to the customer and they transfer it to any surface of their choosing. Myrick’s hobby of making them has now transformed into a hobby for many more looking to add personal touches to their belongings. With countless Instagram shout outs and word of mouth, Myrick is now looking at a great idea turned into pandemic for decals.

Senior Michael Myrick stencils out a new decal. Myrick is now making his own decals to sell and give to friends. Some of his decals are on display below. Photo by April Buckles.

FRIDAY 3.11.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 7

FEATURES

New Technology Springs New Teaching Methods Geometry Teacher Casey Dabney Uses Phone and Tablet Application “Kahoot!” Aaliyah Capers TRN Writer

ath teacher Casey Dabney, has embraced a teaching method that has been shared in other schools. This teaching style uses the app “Kahoot!” to play review quizzes before tests, quizzes, and other graded assignments. “I wouldn’t say it’s ‘new’. My style is more of a friendly conversation. I want my students to be comfortable and I want them to be a contributing part of a positive environment. I want them to be proud of their accomplishments. It’s not just about learning, it’s about enjoying the process and being a good person,” Dabney said in an e-mail interview. The incorporation of technology and music are the most influential parts of her current style. She uses remotes and they give her the classes’ results instantly. “I like to play ‘Kahoots!’ and use the IXL.com interactive website so students get engaged and receive immediate feedback. I also like playing music, although I’m sad that Pandora got blocked,” Dabney said. This app is fun and easy to use. It takes a regular practice exercise and transforms it to a digital game. “Kahoot!” Allows the class to be fully engaged with the lesson and the teacher. No two people can learn exactly the same way. “The truth is, different students are attracted to different styles of teaching. I am only one person. I can’t be the best and accommodate every single style and student everyday. I try to do a little of it all, but sometimes its impossible. It gets really difficult as class sizes increase. The more students there are, the more diverse their needs and preferred styles are. I’m just going to keep trying to do my best even if I know sometimes it’s just not enough with only one me,” Dabney said.

Not only is Dabney giving her students a chance to experience learning in a new style, she’s also teaching her students about the real world by being a bit tougher on her students. “Grades have gotten tougher but more accurate on students’ actual knowledge. I used to give students way too many opportunities and spoon fed a little too much. Not everything in life is going to be handed to you. Students have to work harder to earn grades in my class this year. Opportunities are still there but goals are harder to reach. I will always give opportunity, but I do not give grades. They must be earned,” Dabney said. An advantage to using this app rather than a paper pencil quiz is that it engages

the class to be more active. The app helps students and explains each question. On a regular quiz, students often get bored, tired or simply inactive. Using this app does wake students and keeps them entertained. “When we use “Kahoot!” It’s like extra review, but it’s a fun way of reviewing. We all want to participate so we end up getting the extra bit of practice that we need before a test of quiz,” sophomore Emma Thomas said. From using this app, Dabney’s students have shown more effort. They work harder and participate more. “I’ve noticed that some of my students have worked harder this year. There is more pride in their accomplish-

Geometry teacher Casey Dabney reviews a lesson on the Pythagorean Theorem using the app “Kahoot!”. Dabney has been using this app to challenge her students all year. Photo by Ryan Albright. ments. And when retaining information is a struggle, there’s normally a small key word or phrase or memory that we can call upon and the brain reconnects to that information or lesson,” Dabney said. In the future, Dabney will continue to use this app and so will many other math teachers. Math teacher Megan Cashing and others have already started sharing this app with many of their classes.

8 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.11.16

hether you’re looking to insure something as small as a hot dog stand or as large as a hospital, Ligon Jones Insurance Services can help. We offer a wide array of insurance services ranging from Automotive, all types of property including Homeowners, Retail, Rental, and Ofﬁce space.

Phone: 804-458-8522 Fax: 804-458-8257 Ofﬁce Hours: 9AM - 5PM Monday - Friday (others by appt.)

Sebera’s Custard Kitchen Go Royals! Call 732-0990 6335 Courthouse Road Prince George, VA 23875

Prince George Fire & EMS

SPRING INTO ACTION, COME JOIN OUR TEAM!!! Volunteer – ‘Neighbors helping Neighbors’

ﬁreems@princegeorgeva.org (804) 722-8614

FRIDAY 3.11.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 9

FEATURES

Student Speaks About Irish Roots

Senior Ireland O’Hare Reflects On Her Family’s Heritage From Ireland

Mavaney Keel TRN Writer

he first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in New York City in 1766 and America soon joined in on the celebration of Irish culture. Now, on March 17th People put on their green-wear and join in on the Irish festivities yet, most of us lack the actual Irish background. Ireland O’Hare, a student here at Prince George and one of the few here celebrating St. Patrick’s day with actual Irish culture. Ireland’s Grandfather was the first O’Hare to come to America and her Irish heritage can be traced back to County Armagh, a country in Northern Ireland. “I love the Irish Culture. We were raised to know Irish history and to follow typical Irish chivalry and respect. I am very proud to be Irish and the food is a perk as well,” O’Hare said. The Irish people are prideful of where they come from and often pass down the traditions and customs of Irish lifestyle to their families. St. Patrick’s Day is approaching and the halls of Prince George will be filled with four-leaf clovers and green attire. Being Irish, Ireland celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in a more sentimental way. “My mom always made us pancakes with green food dye,” O’Hare said. “When we were little

we would wear green from head to toe but, now it’s more of a day of appreciation for the Irish culture and people.” Many Irish people have extended families and strong ties back to ‘home’. “The Irish culture focuses on a strong family unit and to always be respectful to others and to be able to rely on the catholic faith,” Ireland said. One of the most obvious aspect of her Irish heritage is her name. “My great grandfather is from Ireland and me and all of my sisters and cousins have Irish oriented names,” O’Hare said. “I think my family gave us our names to keep Irish traditions in the family. My dad is also named Patrick.” Not only is her first name Ireland but her last name, O’Hare, is a famous surname from Ireland. The Gaelic prefix “O’” means male descendent of and is found to be from an Irish clan. Gaelic is another term for the language of Ireland. Something that the country of Ireland is known for is its incredible food. Bread, stews and soups that are a must when visiting there. “We eat a lot of potato or cabbage dishes, different traditional soups or stews and sometimes we make Irish soda bread,” O’Hare said.

St. Patrick’s Day By The Numbers

17 The day in March that St. Patrick’s day is usually celebrated on.

1737 The first observing of this Holiday was held this year by Irish Immigrants in Boston, Massachusetts.

1766 The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held this year, in New York City, New York.

385 St. Patrick, patron Saint of Ireland, was born in Britain this year.

Photo by Dejanae Gibson. Facts from http://www.shreveporttimes.com/.

12 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.11.16

Thank You Patrons! GREEN SUPER Leann & Roy Binger William Havard Stephanie Bishop Amy Iwanski Clarence & Mattie Thweatt Debbie Semien Ryan Albright Kevin and Tara Foster Kevin and Madison Foster GOLD W.D. Winterson Kim Bailey Varsity Boys Basketball Margaret Adams Debbie Jenks Debbie Bohman

Mr. Hanzlik S.B. Jones Kristee Lively Andy Stables Lisa Stables

Jimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hopewell Barber Shop

German Club Gary & Opie Boardman

Sharon Jackson Mrs. Cleveland Mrs. Weidman Morgan Parker Anne Roberts Terry Walker Heather & Garrett Wood

Patrons

Sierra Walls Phillip Jones Cross Country Team Bryan Griffin April Ford

If you would like to become a patron, please stop by A2 or ask any staff member how you can donate, so that Royals Media can continue to provide quality media to Prince George students.

FRIDAY 3.11.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS| 13

A&E

4-H Club Sponsors Student Body Talent Show

Students Showcase Their Talents At 4-H Talent Show Kattie Iwanski TRN Writer

his year the traditional 4-H Talent Show took place on March 4th. The talent show is where kids show off their talent to their fellow classmates, friends, and family. The entertainment included dancing, singing, instrumental performances, and rapping from all ages. The director of the 4-H Talent Show is Hermon Maclin. Christina Morales and Nikayla Keaton were the production team and sound-techs included Dewon Cheeks and Josh Maclin. The hosts of the night were former Prince George High School student Sterling Mclymont and senior Shelby Thompson, both returning talent show winners. The show also included some new talents and faces, including sophomore Klowey Petrosian. “This was actually my first talent show, I was very nervous but was also excited to do something new for the first time. I have been doing my talent [singing] ever since I was young, I would say 2 years old. I have always loved to sing, but I’ve gotten better over the years. I am very excited to show this “hidden” talent, hopefully my nerves don’t get in the way,” Petrosian said. To get into the talent show one has to first audition to secure a spot. “I was extremely nervous for the audition, but with my best friend Becca by my side, some nerves were calmed. Plus everyone that I saw at the auditions, had a great voice or great dance moves, I felt like this is going to be a great show even if I did not get in,” Petrosian said. To get ready for the show the students then have a few practices before the show. “To get ready for the show, I keep singing the song over and over again on my free time, sometimes I will hum the song in my head so that I won’t forget any of the words,”Petrosian said. To help Hermon Maclin with running the show former Prince George High

School student Jared Fallin lent his time helping with equipment. Fallin also be performed a song he wrote his junior year called “Prince George”. “Prince George” was named the official Music Video of Prince George by the school board. The last talent of the night was Mclymont and Thompson who both performed a few songs including a rendition about Prince George of the song “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth. To end the night off the first place winners and runner-ups were announced in five categories including vocal, rap, instrumental, dancing, and combination talent. The winner of the vocal category was senior Levante Joyner singing an original

song called “Larger Than Life” and the runner up was junior Anthony Anderson who performed “Hello” by Adele. In the rap division, junior Aiden England won performing his original rap called “Iron Lung”. While fellow rapper junior Pat (last name) and runner up rapped a original called “Rambo”. The instrumental winner of the night was drummer senior Darius Matthews and runner up junior Garrett Stefaniak. In the combination category the winner was junior Ryan Turner performing an original song “Through the Wire” with the backup from Matthews and the runner up was the band God Gets the Glory. Dancer Ke’Andre [junior] was the win-

Senior Darius Matthews performs a drum solo at the PGHS Talent Show. Matthews was among other various candidates performing at the talent show. Matthews placed in the instrumental category . ner of the dancing portion. The 4-H Talent Show is a great way for young performers to show off their talent. “Helping run the talent show is a beautiful experience. You get to interact with other artists and talented individuals. Watching them grow and helping them improve is what makes the experience so great. I performed in the show junior and senior year,” Fallin said.

14 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.11.16

A&E

Art Students Review Rodin Exhibit At the VMFA Art Classes Visit Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Where Numerous Rodin Pieces Are Showcased Jacob Wood TRN Writer

he Virginia Museum Of Fine Arts is currently hosting a Rodin exhibit. The art classes had the opportunity to visit this exquisite exhibit after it first

opened. “I wish we could have stayed longer, so I could really look at the sculptures,” art teacher Angela Corrigan said. The Rodin exhibit has been on display since Nov. 21 and will continue to be on display until March 13. The Rodin exhibit costs ten dollars for youth (ages 7-17) and $15 dollars for adults. The art exhibit contains many popular statues such as The Thinker, The Kiss, Adam, The Angel Of Verdun, and even sections of The Gates Of Hell. The exhibit is the fifth one made in collaboration with the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Many students who attended the exhibit enjoyed it. Since then one teacher has been to the museum as well. “I had a couple [of favorites]: The Cathedral...[and] The Thinker,” French teacher, Marcia Edmundson said. The Cathedral, although not as widely known as The Thinker is a unique piece, featuring two hands clasping in such a way that the fingers look like the inside “ribs” of a Cathedral ceiling. “One of the things about the collection that was there, was they had the molds for things,” Edmundson said. “You could tell it was used for something else, like it still had some pins [in it].” Auguste Rodin used pieces of the same molds and refitted them to create his many pieces of art. This means that Rodin’s statues would often contain the same heads, arms, etc. as another sculpture. Rodin had many apprentices, who helped him make his statues, much like

an assembly line. “It’s very much a collaborative effort, which I thought was cool,”Edmundson said. Rodin was French which was one reason for Edmundson’s intrigue in his art, another being that her boyfriend is an artist. “[The exhibit] was very inspiring,” art student, Violet Graber said. Violet’s favorite Rodin piece was The Hand Of God. “I would definitely recommend going to the art museum,” art student, Braden Somblin said. Rodin is a master of many mediums including sculpture in bronze, marble, plaster, and clay. He has even experimented in the field of photography, taking pictures of his own works. Rodin employed various amateur models. He felt that using professional models had an unrealistic feel and that true human form was better captured by using unskilled models. Camille Claudel was a young woman who enrolled as Rodin’s assistant at his studio, soon became one of his models. Rodin soon fell in love with her thereafter. The VMFA often has special exhibits on display. Edmundson has attended the Picasso Exhibit and the Hollywood Costume Exhibit, featuring outfits and costumes from blockbusters such as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Superman, and The Dark Knight Rises. The next exhibition that will be hosted is called: “Snowy Landscapes: Japanese Woodblock Prints by Kawase Hasui”. This will be on display from April 15 to August 3. “Art students current and former would get the most out of it by understanding the technique, but everyone could enjoy it,” Edmundson said.

“The Thinker”is a very famous bronze sculpture sculpted by Auguste Rodin. The art classes had the opportunity to visit this sculpture along with various other art pieces at the The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Photo by Jacob Wood.

FRIDAY 3.11.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 15

PH TOGALLERY

Royals Scrimmage Cougars Varsity Girls Softball Hosts Collegiate Cougars In First Scrimmage of the Season TOP LEFT: Senior Abby Pannill takes a deep breathe and hurls the pitches. Pannill is one of a rotation of pitchers for the Royals. Photo by Matteo Reed. BOTTOM LEFT: Sophomore Miranda Carmicheal frames the pitch while helping on strike out the batter. Her coach instructed her to “stick it”. Photo by Matteo Reed.

Check your aurasma app for embedded videos. Follow us at trnwired

For more photos visit www.trnwired. smugmug.com

ABOVE: Sophomore Caitlin Abernethy takes her position in the outfield. Abernethy’s quickness is one skill that helps her cover ground chasing down fly balls. Photo by Matteo Reed. BOTTOM RIGHT: Senior Madison Barlow huddles with her catcher discussing how to pitch to the batter. Pitch selection plays an important role in striking out hitters. Photo by Matteo Reed.

16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | FRIDAY 3.11.16

FRIDAY 3.11.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 17

A&E Gamer's Corner & Critic Review

The Dark Knight Saves The Day

n June 23,2015, Warner Bros. Interactive Studios released the final game in the Arkham series, which has been developed by Rocksteady Studio, is called Batman: Arkham Knight. The game can be played on new generation games such as the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. Arkham knight’s storyline is set nine months after the events that took place in the 2011 title Batman: Arkham city. Gotham seems to have rehabilitated itself after the death of a memorable character from the Arkham city but for every sunny day there is a storm that soon follows. In Batman: Arkham knight this storm comes in the form of Scarecrow, which is a Supervillian

Matt Reed

who uses a hallucinogenic fear toxin to place his victims in a state of mind where their worst fears are placed in the world around them. Gotham goes from a prosperous city where citizens can move freely throughout their city without fearing for their lives to having one day to evacuate. Of the 6.8 million residents of Gotham very few stay in the city while batman hunts down scarecrow. Along the hunt Batman finds himself teaming up with iconic characters such as Night Wing, Robin, and Catwomen to get through certain missions faster but the scarecrow has formed an alliance with the character Arkham Knight, who is leading an army with the solitary purpose of killing batman. Batman: Arkham Knight has gotten a great reception from critics and gamers. IGN.com has rated the game 9.2 out of ten with its only complaint being that the Batmobiles tank function can seem out of place in the game and Game Informer rated it 9.5 because they felt the tank encounters were not as interesting as it could be.

Photo courtesy of gamestop.com

Fake Identities Are Revealed In Show Catfish

he moment you find out that the person you have been talking to online for years is not the person you have been talking to .This moment happens to occur frequently on the hit MTV show Catfish: The TV Show which shows couples who have formed an online relationship, who have never met each other. Many people have formed friendships and relationships online with people through different social media websites with a person they have never met, who may be a catfish . A catfish is a person who is pretending to be someone else on different social media networks. The show attempts to bring these online couples together with the help of Nev Schulman and Max Joseph, the two and one of the romantic partner go on a journey to find out why their partner keeps making excuses not to see them or what they are hiding from them. They then travel to their lover location to get the questions and answers they have been longing for. When their lover is revealed they finally find out the truth on why their lover

Alexis Stewart

has not reveal themselves beforehand. The show Catfish was inspired by the star of Catfish, Nev Schulman,a victim of being catfished, which was documented on the movie titled “Catfish”. In the movie, Schulman formed an online relationship on the social networking website, Facebook, with a girl named Megan who turned out to be another girl Photo published from Creative Comnamed Angela. Due to his experience shocking episode that features a love triangle of two of being catfished, he now helps hopeful romantics who people being catfished by the same person. Each episode are or may be experiencing what he went through with ends with both heartache and closure, which both of the their online relationships. The show first premiered on romantic partners need to move on with their lives. November 12, 2012, now been on for five seasons, with the fifth season premiered on February 24, 2016, with a

18 | THE ROYAL NEWS| FRIDAY 3.11.16

SPRING SPORTS Tennis Players Focus On Key Element Of Sport Team Members Explain How Serving Can Impact Outcome Of Match

Willow Hart TRN Writer

ossing the ball in the air, the next move a tennis player will make determines the outcome of the set. In order to generate an accurate and fastpaced serve, the player must toss the ball up, extend their arm as high as possible, and swing in a continuous motion. If a tennis athlete does not execute a powerful and accurate serve, they jeopardize their chances of winning the set. “If you can’t get your serves in, you basically lose your games because the other player gets your points,” senior Brook Bates said. “If you have a good serve, and the other player can’t return your ball, they can’t get your points.” While eye-hand coordination is important for all tennis players, excellent serving is a skill acquired throughout many hours of practice. “We work on serving a lot in practice,” Bates said. “First you have to learn the technique and then the returning players will show you how to make the ball go faster.” With a lack of returning players this year,

underclassmen such as junior Kaitlyn Justice stepped into a leadership position. “Me, Michele Harris, and a couple other players have been on the team the longest, we are the ones that have to step up the most and help people,” Justice said. Even though she is a returning player, Justice still works on improving her serve. “We have a basket of balls and we’ll just continuously hit them over and over again because practice makes perfect really,” Justice said. By repeating these exercises, members of the tennis team begin to develop their serving technique by implementing what works best for them. “I just remember to turn my body and put my body and put my feet forward,” Justice said. “I kind of turn my right foot a little, and then bounce he ball and throw it up high enough, which is one thing I have to work on a lot because I don’t throw the ball high enough. Then I look at the ball when I hit it and swing all the way through.” Without the help of teammates by their side, tennis players must make calls based upon their knowledge and insight of the game. While the sport is predominantly physical, their mentality plays a key role in executing their

New Track Members Offer Bright Future, Great Potential

Junior Michele Harris prepares to serve the ball over the net. Harris works on serving as part of every practice. Photo by Matteo Reed. plays. “Your first serve should be your strong serve, and if you miss, your second serve should be slower and easier to hit, because if you miss your second serve the other player gets the point,” Bates said. After the player serves and the ball is in play, it then becomes a back and forth competition until one athlete misses the ball or hits it outside of the box. “Getting your swing down [is important] because if you don’t have a good swing down that is one thing you really have to work on for tennis,” Justice said. “It takes a lot of dedication. If you do not have a good swing, it is really hard to play tennis.” With the season just beginning, the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams are striving to improve their camaraderie and skill level. “I just hope that we all come together as a team and really try to play well because it’s really a brand new team this year,” Justice said. “Then the next year we will know each other better and be able to come together even more.”

igh school often offers a lot of different opportunities and introduces people to many new activities and sports. The track team has a very successful history, and with new members arriving, they hope to build off of that success. Junior Aman Bivens has Paul Dennis Jr. played baseball, football, and is currently trying to make his mark on the outdoor track team. “I originally came out to get faster for football. At first that’s all I wanted but now, I am seeing serious results,” Bivens said. “I am determined to become the best I can be, and I’m getting a state medal before the season is over.” Bivens ran track during the indoor season and in his first year, he ran a 6.60 in the 55 meter. His time is currently seventh in the state, and he is constantly working to lower it. “I have worked hard but I give all of the credit to God, my family for supporting me, and Coach Stevens for coaching and pushing me,” Bivens said. Bivens is not the only first year athlete out to make some serious progress. Sophomore Kai Samuel is running track for the first time in his life, and is looking to get a lot better. “I started running track because I was motivated to get faster and more agile for football,” Samuel said, “but Coach Stevens and Coach G have really encouraged me. Coach Stevens is an incredible motivator and he’s very real and straightforward; he tells it how it is.” Samuel plans on running the 400 and 800, and improving his current 400 time of 55 seconds. With these members joining an already established program, outdoor track meets should be exciting to watch this spring. Get there early because at their speed you might miss them.

FRIDAY 3.11.16 | THE ROYAL NEWS | 19

SPRING SPORTS

Senior Spotlight

Coaching Experience Vital To Program

Brendal Vargo

Softball

Track & Field Athletes Explain Impact Of Coach Bryan Griffin Paul Dennis, Jr. Sports Editor

he path to greatness never begins alone. Coaches have always had a monumental impact on the development and turnout of the players they have taught. Track and field coach Bryan Griffin has been coaching for 23 consecutive years, and from the attitude and tone of his players, hopefully he doesn’t stop for at least two more decades. “I’ve thrown for about four years now,” junior Jahlid Manly said. “I used to throw at my old school in Indiana. I’ve had a few coaches teach me, but I can honestly say that Coach Griffin is the best coach I have had because of the way he encourages us and teaches us to be more focused.” Manly has had the experience at throwing at conference meets and competing against other athletes, but he knows that none of it would be possible without his mentor. “I would say that you can tell when a coach is new at this or not, and it is pretty clear that [Coach Griffin] is extremely experienced,” Manly said. Coach Griffin manages the field aspect of track and field. Having once thrown discus and shot put back in his days as a Prince George High School student. Griffin carries a tremendous amount of experience and uses it to help teach his players. Junior and first year thrower Cyler Meredith admits that Coach Griffin has had an incredible impact on his development. “In the beginning I was really bad, but he’s helped me to improve a lot. My technique has gotten better and coach has taught me how to keep my head up, both figuratively and literally. My confidence level has grown and he helped me to stay calm at competitions,” Meredith said. There are many different coaching styles, and one would argue that a great coach knows how to talk to each player differently, in a way that would apply to them. Coach Griffin knows how to get to every player together on the team. “When you coach, you don’t just teach

How long have you been playing softball? “I have been playing since I was three, but I had to take two years off for surgery.” What do you love most about the sport? “The interaction among the team and going out there and being able to see your hard work pay off. Winning and having fun is the main goal.“

them at school,” Griffin said. “You get involved in their daily lives and with that experience, you feel more confident as a coach and are able to make even more of an impact.” Senior Brandon Kreemer has thrown for over five years, and he’s worked with Coach Griffin each one. Kreemer agrees with the coach’s assessment of the importance of his job, and thinks he does it well. “I mean, he’s had 100% of an impact on my performance. He’s taught me literally everything I know about throwing. Coach is strong, motivated, and committed. He comes out and deals with us every day, and his coaching style makes it a lot easier to learn from him,” Kreemer said. People tend to take for granted the amount of time and hard work that a coach puts into his players, team, and practices, but it is not something that anyone should take lightly. Coach Griffin was constantly stretched thin in his years as a coach. Most people don’t even know that for about fifteen years he was just a volunteer coach

Coach Bryan Griffin demonstrates proper technique to two of his throwers, junior Malaki Gurley and senior Calvin Anderson, at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. All three shot put competitors finished in the top 10 at the Group 5A Conference 12 meet. Photo provided by Candid Color. with no paycheck. “A coach had asked me to help and once I became involved I just couldn’t stop,” Griffin said. “I didn’t get paid in the beginning but it wasn’t like that for me. Coaching makes life easier because you feel better and you get to become involved with students and players. You have a significant impact on them.” One could argue that coaching is one of the most important parts of every sport. Coaches are responsible for molding an athlete’s talent and hard work into a set of skills that they can use to better their performance in whatever activity they participate in, which is why Coach Griffin’s role in the track and field program cannot be stressed enough.

What position do you play and what do you like about that position? “I play 1st base. I like playing first base because the infield is always active with every play and first base is a critical part of the game.” What made you start playing softball? “All of my family played their whole lives so I grew up playing. It’s something we all can relate to and now it has become my favorite sport to play and watch.” How do you feel about it being your last year playing? “It’s upsetting, but I feel as if my team will go far in the tournament.” What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind on the field? ”My love for the game and never giving up. Also, hard work and hopefully a conference, regional, and a lead to the state championship.”

baseball Varsity softball Varsity girls soccer Varsity boys tennis >> >> >> Spring >> Varsity game against game against game against match against Collegiate on Manchester on Fri., Highland Springs Petersburg on Tues., Sports Tues., Mar. 15th at Mar. 18th at 4:30 PM on Mon., Mar. 21st Mar. 22nd at 4:30 PM

UPCOMING EVENTS

4:30 PM

at 5:30 PM

Pitcher, Catcher Share Special Connection Wayne Coleman TRN Writer

ike any sport, baseball has a lot of parts in motion. Whether it is on offense or defense, the players being in sync is the difference between steam rolling, or crashing and burning. Baseball is not like most sports, due to the fact that there are two specific people working in unison on every play. These two individuals on defense are the pitcher, who stands high upon the mound, and the catcher who hovers behind the plate just 60 feet 6 inches away. This line of defense this year happens to consist of one pair: senior Noble Graber, the catcher, and junior Jackson Rivera, the pitcher. “I gotta be more vocal, because it’s the only position where you can see the entire field,” Graber said. The catcher, who some call the field general is able to see the entire field. He often sets the positioning of the defense and relays the signals to the pitcher which often comes from the coach in the dugout. “[My position] is very demanding, it could be fast or slow. You’re in control of the pace of the game,” Rivera said. Everyone has a job to do on the field, and they all have unique reactions to different situations as they happen. “We connect in so many different ways, we have all these different plays that we all have to connect on, it’s just a team sport,” Graber said. It also aids the cause when the players have known each other beyond their high school years, like in the case of Noble and Jackson. “We have been friends since we were four, we just connect,” Rivera said. The ability to work together as a catcher and pitcher is not just developed alone. The head coach of the varsity team finds ways to help put his players in the right position to suc-

ceed. Varsity head coach Mickey Roberts is aware of how difficult it is to improve each player’s unique talent. ”Pitchers have different arm slots, and so I have to adjust to the different pitcher,” Roberts said. “This is because while trying to change their arm slot, I’ve seen cases where pitchers hurt their arms.” The reason for so many different calls is that each different play is used in different scenarios and play to the strength of the specific player. “[Different calls] are specific to each pitch,” Roberts said. “Most of our guys will throw a fastball, change-up, and curve ball,” Roberts said. “But I have others that throw knuckles and sliders, so it depends on the pitcher.” The key to success for not confusing calls for all these styles of pitch is communication, but not just in the interaction between coach and player. “[Communication is] very important, but more important is the communication between the players,” Roberts said. “With offense and defense, everyone needs to know what they’re doing. It starts with me, but it progresses to everyone else.” The results of this show in the continued success of the program. There are, however, drawbacks that come with that success. Miscommunication can and will happen with familiarity, it may not happen on several occasions, but it still has the potential to occur. “I hope not to see it often, but it’s something we practice daily, and I don’t see it often,” Roberts said. To fix these rare fumbles, the players like to take a step back, and contemplate. “They [mistakes] don’t happen often,” Graber said. ”But if it does we call time, get everyone calm and let their thoughts collect.”

Senior Noble Graber encourages his teammates in the dugout between innings. Graber is a third year varsity player. Photo by Cassie Kolbo.