The Chatterbox - October 30, 2009 - CIC.2

Inside: Texting and Driving: A Dangerous Duo

Viewpoints, Page 3

Girls Cross Country Wins FAVC Championship Walnut Football Breaks Losing Streak

Sports, Page 4

Taylor-Made Costumes

Style & Culture, Page 6

Page Editors: David Lerner & Sam Dubin

The Skinny October 31 Halloween

November 1 Open House Tours 1-3 pm

November 3 Election Day

November 9 No School - Veterans’ Day

November 16-20 Community Action Team Coat Drive

November 25-27 Thanksgiving Holiday Break

Walnut Hills High School

Vol. CIV, No. 2, October 30, 2009

Building Boom

Massive Changes Coming to WHHS With Renovation, Expansion

By Aileen Wood Chatterbox Contributor Next summer, Walnut Hills High School will begin a $65 million, four-year transformation that, in the words of Principal Jeff Brokamp, will make Walnut unequalled “by any school in the state, in the country.”

The enormous project is part of Cincinnati Public Schools’ $1 billion plan launched in 2002 to replace or renovate schools. Some projects in this “Facilities Master Plan” are complete while others, including the new $75 million School for Creative and Performing

Arts and the $35 million overhaul of Hughes High School, are under way.

Walnut will emerge from the construction zone in 2014 with a whole new look. Nearly two-thirds of the project is dedicated to a total renovation of the main school building. Built in 1931, it will receive long-overdue infrastructure repairs, a new heating system and – can you believe it? – central air conditioning.

But what might create the most buzz around campus are the new additions extending from the north side and the Arts & Sciences wing toward the stadium. This addition will house a state-of-the-art music wing and athletic facility.

“It’s what the students deserve,” Brokamp said. “I think there will be no school like Walnut Hills.”

When completed, Walnut facilities will have grown in size by about 25 percent, to 325,200 square feet.

The new athletic facility will put Walnut more on par with suburban and private schools that have enviable sports complexes. The new gymnasium, next to the stadium, will be used for high school games and 9-12 physical education classes.

The main gym will accommodate more spectators, and the complex will include offices for

Architect’s concept of the large addition, as seen from Jonathon Avenue. Below left: Aerial view shows building additions in black.

Courtesy SHP Creative

coaches and staff, sports locker rooms and a weight room.

Not to be forgotten, the existing gym will be modernized with new floors and bleachers. Below the gym, the two undersized, end-toend pools will be combined into an Olympic-sized pool worthy of staging swim meets.

By the fall of 2014, music students will have traded a leaky, catacomb-like warren in favor of a new, above-ground facility closer to the football field.

Brokamp said he cannot wait for the music department’s new home.

“The gap between the quality of our music program at Walnut and the

quality of the building is enormous,” he noted.

The vacated music wing, built in 1976, is to be renovated – no more leaks – for a new modern languages wing.

Other perks from the renovation and expansion project include new electrical and plumbing systems, new computers, updated software for the library and computer labs, new flooring, a new roof for the Arts & Sciences wing, consolidation of administrative and guidance offices, and more student lockers.

(Continued on News Page 2)

Pilot Course Helps Students with Test Preparation Rachel Horn Chatterbox Staff Writer A new course was offered this year to a select group of students in hopes of raising Walnut’s already high college entrance test scores.

Th e s e m e s t e r - l o n g c l a s s combines the existing Time to Speak coursework with PSAT, SAT, and ACT test preparation.

On Mondays and Fridays, Theater and Speech Department Chairman Tom Peters teaches a condensed version of the Time to Speak curriculum to a group of about 15 juniors. College counselor

Kathy Restle takes over on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to help the students prepare for crucial college entrance exams, such as the PSAT administered Oct. 14. Next semester, the class will be offered to sophomores.

Mrs. Restle said that the sophomores and juniors who are enrolled in this new course were selected based on their high PSAT scores from last year.

“We were noticing that at Walnut there were students with a lot of potential to do well, but they were missing the National Merit selection index by just a few

points,” she said. By scheduling some of these high scorers to take a preparation course, Walnut hopes to increase the number of juniors who qu alify fo r Nation al Merit Scholarships.

“Walnut hopes to increase the number of juniors who qualify for National Merit Scholarships.”

- Kathy Restle, C.I.C.

Several students taking the class said they think the test preparation has indeed helped.

After taking the PSAT earlier this month, junior Eric Wessling said the course had especially help ed him learn essential vocabulary words for the test.

“It’s a lot of work,” he said, “but on the test itself, you realize it was more helpful than you thought.”

Fellow junior Sarah Brennan agreed. “The class made me work on preparing, which I wouldn’t have done on my own … so it was helpful,” she said.

The school hasn’t decided whether or not to modify Time to

Speak permanently or, for that matter, whether the pilot course, as Mrs. Restle put it, will even survive another year.

She stressed that any student seeking to improve his or her test scores has school resources at their disposal, whether in a classroom setting or not.

“All kids at Walnut have a chance to come in [to the College Information Center] at study hall and during lunch,” Mrs. Restle said.

“That same type of preparation is available if kids want to take advantage of it.”

Students Text and Drive A Dangerous Duo Almost everyone has done it.

While drivers navigate traffic, the cell phone beeps, indicating another text message has been received. Chances are it’s just a friend, perhaps dying to share the latest gossip. According to a AAA study, among teen-aged drivers, 60 percent would read the text message and reply. They do not realize that they are putting lives seriously at risk.

In 2008, more than 6,000 deaths were caused by drivers who were distracted by cell phones, making it the leading cause of fatal car accidents. The death toll includes drivers, passengers, and drivers of

surrounding cars, making it dangerous for both drivers and people around them (AAA Transportation Services).

The “texting while driving” phenomenon sparked in 2007 when many teens and, yes, even adults began focusing on their cell phones rather than the road, contributing to nearly 4,000 deaths. Now that cell phones with texting capability are becoming must-have equipment, the number of car crashes caused by texting is expected to increase by four percent a year (Road & Travel magazine).

The prediction is one of many studies and surveys establishing that

texting while driving should be avoided.

A study at Virginia Tech showed that for every six seconds of driving time, people pre-occupied with their phones spend 4.6 of those seconds with their eyes off the road.

Traveling at 60 miles per hour on the highway, the driver travels over 528 feet every six seconds, the study notes. The Virginia Tech study reports that reaction time is slowed by 35 percent when reading or writing a text message. This compares to a 12 percent decrease in reaction time when a driver is at the threshold of intoxication. (continued on page 2)

A student holds his phone on his steering wheel to text while at a red light. This is just one of the many ways teens text while driving.

Photo by Joe Walsh / Chatterbox

News Page Editors: Sam Dubin & David Lerner

The Chatterbox—Walnut Hills High School

October 30, 2009 / Page 2

Construction Close at Hand for WHHS Campus (Continued from page 1)

A Look at the Future Artist’s rendering of the new high school gymnasium. The addition would extend towards Jonathan Avenue. The project could commence as early as January with creation of a new parking lot at the corner of Blair and Pleasant View avenues.

Courtesy SHP Creative

Walnut Text-Drivers: “Why Not?” (Continued from page 1) Although senior Sophie Roos has memorized the key pad of her cell phone, she admits that she catches herself looking at her phone more than the road.

“It’s one of my worst habits,” she said. “I really need to stop before something horrible happens.”

Insu ran c e co mp anie s are becoming keenly aware when drivers in accidents were punching their little keypads. During accident investigations, insurers can gain access to drivers’ call logs and text message records to determine if texting preceded an accident.

States, meanwhile, have begun

clamping down on the practice. So far, 18 states have banned texting while driving, and six have banned cell phone usage while driving entirely.

Those saying no to driving with a cell phone in hand include California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington (National Conference of State Legislature). Ohio is currently considering a bill that would make texting while driving a primary offense. If it becomes law, police officers would be able to ticket drivers for simply glancing down at their phone.

Senior Weston Wolf thinks that a law banning texting while driving would be “completely ridiculous.”

Homecoming Court 2009

He also said that “Some people say that it is bad but I feel like if you practice at it and pay attention to both the road and your phone it is ok.”

On a more humorous note, Senior Nathan Ziemba commented , “Some might say texting while driving is dangerous. I think they are just jealous they don’t have the skill.”

By the Numbers: “Nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver.”

- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Photo by Lifetouch

Juniors Sam Dubin and Jaelynne Johnson were elected Prince and Princess.

Photo by Lifetouch

One student prefers to text over the wheel, while the other prefers to text “freestyle”, or in his lap. Which do you do?

Photo by Joe Walsh / Chatterbox Photo Editor

“Worst offenders are the youngest drivers: men and women under 20 years of age.”

- NHTSA

“87 percent (polled) consider drivers texting or e-mailing to pose a ‘very serious’ safety threat.”

- AAA

Free Swine Flu Vaccines Delayed; Not Enough Supply to Go Around Coreena Kuhl Chatterbox Staff Writer

Seniors Chris Bucey and Shauniece Steele were crowned King and Queen of the 2009 Homecoming Court.

The new construction adds 65,000 square feet, a little more than the 1999 Arts and Sciences wing that was funded by the Walnut Hills Alumni Foundation.

About one-quarter of the new project cost is covered by the State of Ohio, with the remainder coming from the Cincinnati Public Schools bond levy passed by voters in 2002.

The Walnut Hills Alumni Foundation does not have to raise money for this massive renovation and expansion, but assists with the planning of the project.

“We are excited to see this project begin,” said Grant Hesser, chairman of the WHHS Facilities Committee and a 1965 graduate.

“The renovation of the main building, a new academic and music wing along with additional athletic facilities will provide the next generation of WHHS students with facilities that match 21st century learning opportunities and also address our growing enrollment.”

The project also will make Walnut the greenest public school in Cincinnati – green as in energy efficient and built with renewable materials. “Walnut will be the first public school in Cincinnati to be accredited with gold LEED certification,” explained Deborah

Heldman, executive director of the Walnut Hills Alumni Foundation.

The ‘gold’ certification is the highest available from the U.S. Green Building Council, which wrote the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) guidelines for sustainable construction.

Construction begins immediately after classes end in May 2010, Heldman said. Temporary, modular classrooms will be brought in to accommodate classes during renovation work on the main building.

“We will begin the renovation of the north wing portion of the main building in late fall or early winter,” she said. “These temporary classrooms will be located on the practice fields next to the gym. This will be a phased project; when the north wing is finished we will move back in and begin the south wing.”

Core areas – the library, auditorium, lunchroom, existing gym and administration areas – will be worked on during the summer periods so they’ll be functional during the school year, she added.

What about that favorite gathering space for students? “The Commons area will be replaced, but not in its current location,” Heldman said. “We are looking a several areas and also looking to expand our outdoor eating areas in general.”

Following the national shortage of H1N1 vaccines, the free vaccinations offered at Walnut have been indefinitely delayed.

In Cincinnati Public Schools, students can receive the flu vaccination free after filling out a parental consent form. The goal of the vaccination program for CPS is to keep students healthy, in class, and to prevent the spread of the flu throughout schools. School officials recommend that sick students stay home until one day after symptoms subside.

At Walnut Hills, precautions such as placing hand sanitizer and Kleenex in every classroom and sanitizing door knobs and drinking fountains during each class period are taken to prevent the spread of germs.

The vaccination being provided for Walnut Hills students is a nasal spray known as live attenuated

influenza vaccine (LAIV). This vaccine was developed for H1N1 at the end of April when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) distributed the virus to drug makers.

The vaccine received approval

All students can receive the flu vaccination free after filling out a parental consent form. from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sept. 15, and will be used for the active immunization of people ages 2-49.

Studies have shown that the seasonal flu shot will not protect against the H1N1 flu.

LAIV contains live virus strains that have been weakened so that they do not cause the flu. LAIV is designed to prompt the body to

begin an immune response after the first dose. The vaccine has not been guaranteed to protect everyone.

Some possible side effects of the vaccine are runny nose, nasal congestion, fever, and sore throat.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended that certain groups of the population receive the H1N1 vaccine as it first becomes available.

Among these “target groups” are “persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old.”

Different from the seasonal flu, the risk of swine flu infection among young people is higher than the risk for individuals age 65 or older Even with the vaccine, it is important to maintain good habits such as hand-washing, coughing into hands or sleeves, disposing of tissues immediately after use, and using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

Viewpoints Page Editors: Shiwani Kamath and Gideon Resnick

The Chatterbox—Walnut Hills High School

October 30, 2009 / Page 3

Walnut World Featuring Jon Moller

Alleviating the Stresses of AP Classes

By Jon Moller

Chatterbox Contributor For those of you who are sophomores, this year may be your first encounter with AP classes. For others, perhaps still mentally fried from AP exams in May, the new year brings a new slew of courses redeemable for college credit. Yet for nearly everyone who signs up, Advanced Placement classes represent significant academic challenges.

Disappointed by their grades during the semester, some AP students find themselves imploding because they can’t handle the academic challenges that these classes present. These students – including myself and no doubt some of you – sometimes feel that their brains failed to grasp the latest ingestion of class material.

Some may have trouble conceptualizing the derivative (AP Calculus); some may not remember the chemical pathways of aerobic respiration in their entirety (AP Biology); and some may wrestle with applications of Newtonian mechanics (AP Physics).

Comprehension problems aren’t limited to mathematics and the sciences. AP humanities classes can be equally overwhelming. Those of you taking AP Latin: Vergil will be familiar with the task of writing an essay analyzing a 20-line passage from the Aeneid within 45 minutes.

It already takes much effort to write essays that thoroughly analyze, evaluate, or assess a subject. It is often difficult to know simply how to begin; it is often difficult to know how to best use the available information to support an argument.

While these courses may appear confounding from the outset, they need not be. It only takes persistence and mental flexibility to con-

quer them. If you’re in Walnut, you’ve probably got it. Moreover, AP classes don’t require hours of studying each day. AP classes don’t need to overwhelm extracurricular activities.

All of these courses involve problem-solving, thus they call for consistent practice and thorough study. Consistent practice goes much further than cramming before a major exam.

And understanding new concepts in these courses requires multi-faceted perception. In other words, an idea must be viewed in more than one context. The state of American labor today, for example, must be assessed in not only economic but also political and social terms.

The intended result of these classes is that you – the student – gain new insights and new understanding in a specific field, as well as college credit. AP classes prepare you for critical thinking, an integral part of college.

Yet these classes are most beneficial because they promote innovative thinking. Thomas Edison never took AP classes, but he utilized the same problem-solving techniques in much of his work.

Later in his life, Edison strove to develop a plant that would efficiently produce rubber. He was only successful after he had analyzed the rubber content of hundreds of plants, eliminated the less efficient species, and cross-bred the remaining plants countless times.

It was persistence and repetition that made Edison successful. They will make the AP student successful, too.

“Thomas Edison never took AP classes, but he utilized the same problem-solving techniques in much of his work. ”

The Evolution of Walnut Football Drawn by J.P. Schmitz

Texting: Teens Get the Rap Again Serena Dugan

Chatterbox Staff Columnist Unfortunately for teen-agers, we get quite a bad rap when it comes to vehicular operation.

The majority of adults toss us all into a pile of the same unseemly classification: a teen-age driver is no more than a reckless, easily distracted, crash-inducing scourge with an uncanny ability to create roadside carnage. I, for one – and I’m sure many of you would agree – believe these accusations to be unfair, unwarranted, and downright ridiculous. The majority of teenagers are actually safe drivers.

Therefore, I find it quite unfortunate that a few careless hooligans are responsible for the unjustified denigration of all those individuals helplessly trapped between the ages of 16 and 21. It seems to me that society should be far more concerned with the ailing geriatric population that can scarcely drive on the right-hand side of the yellow line.

It is utterly perplexing that peo-

ple so singularly concerned with teen-age drivers totally disregard the dangers posed by the elderly population. Yet as much as I would like to preserve the integrity of teen-age drivers everywhere, there is one major offense for which my

“Society should be far more concerned with the ailing geriatric population that can scarcely drive on the right-hand side of the yellow line.” age bracket is extremely guilty.

This serious and imminent threat is one that Grandma Jones could not possibly pose: the decision to text message while operating a motor vehicle.

Many teenagers seem to think that sheer invincibility and superhuman multi-tasking powers enable them to defy nature. This however, is not the case. As slick and text-

When you text while driving, which of the following best describes where you hold the phone?

Moller is a junior who was on last year’s dominating Walnut Quiz Team.

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The Chatterbox Editor in Chief Ryan Bardach News Editors Sam Dubin David Lerner Viewpoints Editors Shiwani Kamath Gideon Resnick Sports Editors Joe Manavalan Andy McDonald Fine Arts Editor Mia Manavalan Style & Culture Editors Emily Spencer Riley Theurer

savvy as you may deem yourself to be, no matter which way you cut it, texting while driving is extraordinarily dangerous. Your concentration, reflexes, and overall instinctual responses are so far hampered by texting that your risk of having a car accident is greater than that of an individual driving under the influence.

No matter how crucial your girlfriend’s message about the latest episode of “90210,” despite how your cell phone beckons you, use some common sense and wait until you park the car to pick up the phone. Explaining to the police why you’ve crashed into a utility pole is not a happy scenario. By ignoring your phone, you can save your license and your life; think of it as a 2-for–1 sale.

And imagine: If we can all stop texting while we drive, it might be possible to remove the awful stigma that a teenage driver is no more than a safety hazard on wheels. Do us all a favor: the next time you get in your car, turn off your cell phone and stow it in your backpack. Your friends can wait; your life can’t.

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Know Your Nuts Editors Dan Druffel Derek Hattemer

On the steering w heel On your lap

Features Editor Nikki Fisher

18.68%

Photography Editor Joe Walsh

53.85%

In mid-air Somew here else

Business Manager Chris Roark Advisors: Greg Loomis, Jim McNair

E-mail letters, comments, suggestions and complaints to cboxwalnut@gmail.com Copyright 2009-10 The Chatterbox, Walnut Hills High School,Cincinnati, Ohio

Junior and senior drivers at Walnut Hills were surveyed about texting while driving. Of the 137 responses, approximately 33.6 percent said that they never texted while driving, while about 22.6 percent of the total respondents indicated that they frequently do it.

Among those that do text and drive, 53.8 percent of the students said they held the phone in front of them. As to the legality of texting while driving, 40.1 percent of respondents said it should be banned, while 34.3 percent thought that both texting and talking

on cell phones should remain legal for Ohio drivers. More than 53 percent of students said that using Bluetooth or other hands-free cell phone applications would make for less of a distraction. A third of students disagreed.

Sports Page Editors: Joe Manavalan & Andy McDonald

The Chatterbox—Walnut Hills High School

October 30, 2009 / Page 4

Walnut Football Breaks Losing Streak Adam Wolf Chatterbox Staff Writer Winning records don’t seem to come easily for the Walnut Hills football team. In fact, they never seem to happen at all.

The notion of a winning season used to be an ongoing joke around Walnut and in all corners of Cincinnati. People looked at Walnut as a perennial bottom-feeder.

But this season, the varsity football team has a chance of posting its first winning season in nine years.

With a 7-6 win over Amelia two weeks ago, the team improved its record to 5-3, assuring itself of at least a break-even season.

“Credit goes to players as well as the coaching staff,” said Head Coach George Kontsis. “ We came in with a vision for a championship program at Walnut Hills and we’re pulling through.”

But with this week’s loss to Wilmington, the team is now 5-4, with just one game left at Kings to grasp that ever-elusive winning record.

Kontsis said “We plan on being competitive against Kings and playing them hard the whole game.”

Another win would match the school’s last winning season in

a disappointing loss.” The team bounced back with a nail-biting win over Amelia.

Even then, the team had to overcome more doses of adversity with the loss of key players like senior kicker Brad Janitz, who is out with an ankle injury. “Although we’re a little low on numbers now due to injuries and we’ve lost a couple players due to grades, we’ll still be competitive,” Kontsis assured.

Coming off the loss of two-time Quarterback Dez Stewart receives the snap as the offense marches down the field all-conference against Amelia. The Eagles won the game 77-6.

Courtesy of walnutsports.shutterfly.com quarterback Ben Heiser to graduation, Walnut’s offense in 2009 has 2000, when it went 6-4. back-to-back losses to Turpin and been of the “who dey” variety.

Starting 3-0, this team has had Little Miami, putting them at a 4-3 Sophomore Kenny Davis is a doufans abuzz since the beginning of record. After the loss to Little Mithe season. The Eagles faced a hicami, Kontsis said, “ You come into ble TD threat as a running back and kickoff returner, while junior quarcup in their run for success with every game expecting a win. It was

terback Dez Stewart runs the offense through the air and on the ground. Miles Crawley, Derek Jackson, and J.R. Roley each have over

“ We came in with a vision for a championship program at Walnut Hills and we’re pulling through.”

-Coach George Kontsis 100 receiving yards.

With all five returning next year, the future bodes well for the resurgent football program.

After seven dismal seasons and a 36-game losing streak between 2004 and 2008, the Eagles gave notice early that they were no longer conference doormats. Perhaps opening the season on St. Xavier’s home field left the team with longlasting karma. Walnut beat Purcell Marian in that game and has been competitive ever since.

Cross Country Girls Dominate As FAVC Champs Ben Fricke Chatterbox Contributor As the end of the fall season draws near, the Walnut Hills girls cross-country team has closed out one of its most successful seasons in recent memory.

On Oct. 17, for the first time ever, the girls team claimed the cross country championship in the Cardinal Division of the FAVC as the Eagles edged Kings, 29-32. In crosscountry, the team with the lower score wins.

Freshman sensation Erin McAuliffe won the 5-kilometer race with a 19:14.00 time, breaking Walnut Hills’ school record in that race by 16 seconds. Because of her consistency in races and placement in the top five in all of her varsity meets this year, McAuliffe was named the FAVC’s Runner of the Year.

Along with McAuliffe, two other runners, Emily Akin and Maryn Lowry, were named to the First Team All-FAVC. Head coach Bill Valenzano was named the division’s Coach of the Year.

The team had other successes as well earlier in the year. The team started off the season with a bang, winning its first varsity race of the season at the Milford invitational.

At the next race, the team tied for first place with Centerville High School. Although they lost in a tiebreaker, the team’s finish raised eyebrows because Centerville is a perennial powerhouse in crosscountry and consistently makes it to the state meet every year.

After these remarkable runs, the girls team reached as high as sixth in the Enquirer’s Division I top 10.

“This ranking underestimates how well the girls have really done this year,” Valenzano said. “The

Soccer Wrap Up

lady Eagles could very easily be ranked higher in the polls.”

More recently, Walnut was ranked seventh on The Enquirer list but was behind teams such as Lebanon, which had already served as Eagle carrion once this season.

“We could’ve beaten Lebanon a second time if not for a mess up in the scoring at the St. Xavier Invitational,” Valenzano said.

This year’s cross-country team was solid, consisting of runners who could post a 21-minute time or below in a varsity meet. The includes senior captain Claire Janke, juniors Allison Nurre and Emily Akin, and freshmen Erin McAuliffe, Maryn Lowry, Megan Koenig, and Rachel Jarrold-Grapes.

With only one senior graduating and four freshmen on the team, Valenzano said, “The team looks prepared to jump to even greater heights in the future.”

Joe Tadesse / Photo Contributor

Courtesy of walnutsports.shutterfly.com

Walnut Volleyball Rebounding Courtney Chase Chatterbox Staff Writer

A thrilling playoff run from the boys soccer team finally came to an end Oct. 27 after a 33-3 loss to top seeded Mason, finishing with an 1111-6-2 record after wins in the first two rounds. The first was a 22-1 win over Hamilton in the final 20 seconds of regulation, and the second came Oct. 24 over Moeller with the Eagles winning 44-3 on penalty kicks after the teams remained tied following two overtimes. The girls varsity soccer team finished its season 88-8-2 after a secondsecond-round playoff loss to Mason.

Freshman phenom Erin McAuliffe races towards the finish line as she leads the girls cross country team.

Ever since former coach Tim Mersch left the Walnut Hills volleyball program in 2006, the varsity and junior varsity teams have struggled to re-establish themselves as Cincinnati powerhouses.

Last year, varsity managed an overall record of 10-15. Although this was an improvement from 2007’s record of 5-17, the girls knew that they had more talent than these losing records showed.

The players kept their heads held high and continued to work hard but something was missing: passion.

This year, Dion Reyes joined the team as coach, and the team has come back to life.

“A lot of our success was the hard work and the belief that these girls had in themselves,” Reyes said. “It was their decision to buy into what I wanted to do at Walnut

that has brought about a new passion.”

Coaching alone isn’t responsible for the team’s improved record. The girls, who are very close and think of each other as sisters, spend more

“We’re going to fight until we can’t physically play anymore” - Jenna Bange than 20 hours a week practicing in the gym together.

Walnut players try to psyche out their opponents in a pre-game “ground roll” in which the team lies in a circle, hits the floor with their hands, screams, rolls to the right and back to the left. Walnut’s girls further pump themselves up by

singing and dancing to Miley Cyrus’ ‘Party in the USA’ and playing a game called ‘little Sally Walker’.

“We like to mess around but when it’s time to play, we instantly become focused,” says senior Alyssa Essert.

The varsity team has a record of 13-9, recently defeating Little Miami on Walnut’s senior night in a grueling five-game match.

Now that season play has ended, the Lady Eagles will start the playoffs against Colerain, a team they beat earlier in the season. If the team does well in the tournament, it will ultimately have to face volleyball powers like St. Ursula.

“We’re going to fight until we can’t physically play anymore,” said junior Jenna Bange.

Although seven seniors will be leaving the team behind, they say they hope that this is the beginning of a series of winning seasons.

Fine Arts Page Editor: Mia Manavalan

Fall Events Three Sisters Playhouse in the Park Oct. 21 – Nov 24 Showtimes will vary Rent Aronoff Center for the Arts: Cincinnati Oct. 28 – Nov. 1 7:30 p.m.

Ingrid Michalson 20th Century Theater, Oakley Oct. 29 8:00 p.m.

Tracy Morgan Taft Theater Cincinnati, OH Nov. 7 8:00 p.m.

Oliver!

Walnut Hills High School Nov 19 – 21 7:30 p.m.

Junior High Instrumental Concert Walnut Hills High School Dec. 1 7:00 p.m.

Junior High Choir Concert Walnut Hills High School Dec. 3 7:00 p.m.

Holiday Choir Concert Walnut Hills High School Dec 8 7:00 p.m.

Matisyahu Bogarts Dec. 3 8:00 p.m.

A Christmas Carol Playhouse in the Park Dec 3 – 30 Showtimes will vary

The Chatterbox—Walnut Hills High School

October 30, 2009 / Page 5

Walnut Students Perk Up the City in ArtWorks Program

By Ben Brandincourt Chatterbox Staff Writer A great way to spend summer days hanging out with friends, listening to music, and drawing, all the while getting paid minimum wage, is available through the city of Cincinnati’s ArtWorks program.

The program, funded by the city, the Fine Arts Fund and private donors, is open to teens between the ages of 14 and 19. Since its inception in 1996, it has employed more than 2,000 teenagers.

Over the course of a summer, ‘apprentice’ artists work with other teen-agers and professional leaders to create murals in participating neighborhoods across the city. The murals “speak to the city's history, imagination, and aspirations, while acting as powerful agents of neighborhood transformation, civic pride, and identity, Artworks has the power to inspire, engage, and transform lives, ” said Tamara Harkavy, the director of the Artworks Program.

ArtWorks murals included a wall of Keller’s IGA in Clifton, a wall of the Blue Manatee book store in Oakley, and one on the Easter Seals Work Resource Center in Walnut Hills. Others are in Over-the Rhine, Columbia Tusculum, O’Bryonville and downtown..

The program aims to create works of art for public appreciation while also bringing young artists alongside working artists in a mentoring atmosphere. In addition to the

art, the program seeks to instill skills such as public speaking, time management, workplace etiquette, teamwork, problem solving, and leadership. To enter the program, applicants need to prepare five pieces of art, including one still-life and one self-portrait.

Applicants are interviewed to make sure they have the personal skills required to work well with other students and mentors on the job. If accepted, they put in fivehour days over six weeks, earning $7.30 an hour.

“It was a lot of fun and a great experience,” said sophomore Paul Neidhard.

Jessica Fann, also a sophomore, added, “It had its up and downs.

Downs because I was unlucky enough to work in the basement, but we didn't have to stay under the sun the whole day. Ups because I got paid $32 to make cucumber sandwiches."

Other ArtWorks participants from Walnut include Frances Newberry, Cush King, Vashti Blackmon, Dominick Clark, Joe Walsh, Alex Knapp, Sydney Lister, and Lilli Currens.

Participants say that the experience of camaraderie and teamwork is almost as fulfilling as the art itself. The money doesn’t hurt.

“You spend your summer drawing and getting paid lots of money,” said sophomore Ruby Bachemin, who has been participating in ArtWorks for two summers. “Who can complain about that?”

WORLD CLASS New Piano Course Aims for International Level

By Alex Sukin Chatterbox staff writer A new course is being offered at Walnut this year – a piano class.

Lucy Hattemer, a ninth-grader, came up with the idea of a class for talented pianists. The goal of the class is no less than to improve students’ piano skills, help them achieve their full potential and prepare them for the annual World Piano Competition coming to Cincinnati, which will be held June 28- July 2, 2010.

Two Walnut students will be p a rt i cip a ti n g, Hattemer and sophomore Vivian Mao. They meet with their teacher, S i m o n Goykhman of SCPA, after school for a 30minute class session on Mondays and Wednesdays and a hour long private session on Fridays.

“We play our piece for the teacher, he comments on it, and helps us to improve upon the piece and our piano skills,” Mao said.

Ten students auditioned for the class, but only the two girls were

admitted. Mao said the class is a great opportunity “if you are a dedicated player,” Mao said. Clearly, Mao and Hattemer fit this category.

Mao also said, “It’s such a great experience and I’m so excited to be a part of this.”

Mr. Goykhman, is also a faculty member at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. “He has taught many students in preparation for the World Piano Competition two of whom won grand prizes”, said Mao. The competition, established in 1956, receives around 750 applicants yearly from around the world and takes place at the Aronoff Center. Winners perform at a variety of prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York.

Mr.Goykh man’s two Walnut students and others were to have played at a “BachBeethovenBrahms” recital on October 26.

With a 2-1student-teacher ratio, Walnut’s new piano class offers quite the learning opportunity for Hattemer and Mao. “I hope this program will expand so more students can get a chance to be part of it,” Hattemer said.

The goal of the class is no less than to prepare students for the annual World Piano Competition, coming to Cincinnati in 2010.

A Window to the Past: A Reflection of Ludlow. Kelley Hensing was the lead artist, with apprentices Plivia Suffern, Chloe Williamson, Evan Hand and Emilie Clark.

Adrienne Donica / Chatterbox photographer

New Choir Teacher Sees Excellence Here

By Emily Friedman Chatterbox staff writer

ment. So far, his students seem to like him.

“He’s really nice!” said Lainie Eichner, a freshman in the Women’s Choir. “He’s lots of fun and does lots of cool activities.”

Said fellow freshman and choir member Liliana Luna-Nelson: “I like him a lot. He realizes our potential and expects us to live up to it.”

Dr. Monroe said the feelings are mutual. He never could have imagined how much fun it would be to teach high school students. He said the first quarter has surpassed his expectations.

Carlton Monroe could not be happier about landing in his new teaching position in the Walnut Hills choir program.

Dr. Monroe arrived by way of Miami University, Georgia College and State University and, most recently, Ursuline High School. But Walnut is where he wants to be.

“Walnut has a fantastic reputation as a school,” he said. “The music program is great. The caliber of the students is off the charts.”

Dr. Monroe is no unknown quantity, having known choir program director Lisa Peters for years. Besides co-leading the senior choir, he also teaches the new woman’s, which is open to all girls in grades9-12.

The Women’s Choir music ranges from pieces written in the last five years to classics from the 1 8 t h c e n t u r y. T h e Women’s Choir is singing a variety of pieces, including one in Latin.

Dr. Monroe said he was inspired to go into music by his admiration for the American composer, arranger and conductor James Erb. Teaching, he said, allows him to share his love of music with others, all the more beMr. Monroe poses outside his cause he is now at Walnut classroom for a picture and alongside Ms. Peters.

Michelle Baverman / He cited Walnut for its Chatterbox photographer intellectual rigor, diversity and high level of achieve“They ask so many compelling questions,” he said. “They are open-minded, motivated, intelligent, and curious, all in a wonderful way.”

After receiving his undergraduate degree in musical education at Louisiana State University, Dr. Monroe earned a doctorate in choral conducting at the Cincinnati — Carlton Monroe Conservatory of Music.

“They are openminded, motivated, intelligent and curious, all in a wonderful way.” on Walnut students

Style & Culture Page Editors: Emily Spencer & Riley Theurer

The Chatterbox—Walnut Hills High School

Side Reel: Woodstock: How the ’60s Still Classic Influences Today’s Teens Halloween Movies

By Maddy Becker Chatterbox Contributor

The Woodstock Festival, or simply Woodstock, has gone down in history as the symbol of youth, peace, freedom, and the ultimate demonstration of independent thinking. Originally meant to be a small-scale festival in the rural town of Bethel, N.Y., the August 1969 event grew into a three-day music extravaganza with a lineup of 32 artists and an estimated 500,000 viewers. It had a monumental effect and stood as the symbol of America’s youth during A pivotal scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s Birds.

Photo courtesy of : www.guardian.co.uk

By Alexis Nelson Chatterbox Staff Writer If you don’t feel like going out for Halloween this year, turn it into an occasion to treat yourself to some classically creepy thrillers.

There are plenty of titles to choose from: the original Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera and The Mummy should be on any A-List.

But for now, try these keepers from horror genius Alfred Hitchcock. They are sure to make your living room scarier than any haunted house.

“The counterculture of Woodstock and hippie fashion is extremely influential today” -Bridget Battle the 1960s and ’70s.

Forty years later, Woodstock continues to influence the fashion and music tastes of American teen-agers, including quite a few at Walnut. “The counterculture of Woodstock and hippie fashion is

Psycho (1960) This classic thriller has been regarded as Hitchcock’s crowning jewel for its intense and suspenseful plot line, beautiful black-and-white cinematography, flawless acting, great soundtrack, and a certain famous murder scene that’s sure to leave anyone afraid to take a shower.

The story begins with young secretary, Marion Crane, who in a desperate attempt to start a new life with her lover, steals $40,000 from her boss. While driving from Phoenix, Ariz., to California in a state of paranoia, Marion decides to rest at the Bates Motel, a decision that would prove fatal.

The plot thickens as Marion’s loved ones come searching for her, risking their lives to find out why Marion disappeared. Can they find out what happened, before they, too, are murdered by the psycho?

Photo by: Maddy Becker

extremely influential today,” said Walnut junior Bridget Battle.

Battle and other students wear floral skirts with woven belts and simple blouses – a more modern take on bohemian styles. Girls wear Woodstock-era emblems like flowing dresses, moccasins, and oversized sunglasses and sport long wavy hair. Bridget, and countless others can be seen with this hair style.

Senior Olivia Suffern wears her

Style Profile: ‘Taylormade’ Costumes

By Boyang Zhang Chatterbox Staff Writer Taylor Hunt can be confusing.

He wears distinctive styles on various occasions that make him easy to spot in a crowd. Style

The Birds (1963) Another Hitchcock classic, The Birds, is just as terrifying as Psycho.

Though the cinematography during many of the bird attack scenes are a little below par compared with the scenes from some of Hitchcock’s other works, the acting compensates for any feelings of fear that would have been lost.

The plot revolves around Melanie, a young socialite who follows a man she met at a pet store to his home in Bodega Bay (because she likes him, not because she’s some creepy stalker). As soon as she arrives, bird attacks begin to ravage the town. At first, the attacks are relatively harmless, but soon they become seriously and deadly, as masses of birds begin to brutally assault the citizens of Bodega Bay.

Bridget in a ’60s Woodstockinspired outfit.

hair long and said , “I make two braids around the crown of my head and wear it long to channel the flower child vibe.” Olivia not only styles herself in a free spirited manner, but also stays involved politically and with her community. She volunteers at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center and in the 2008 Presidential Elections hoping to spread peace and inspire change.

Boys with long hair wear cloth head bands and seem to recoil at the thought of using a brush.

Although fashion was an important part of the 1960s, it was a secondary facet of Woodstock.

Some people there bandied about naked! No, Woodstock drew people for the music and to spur an end to the Vietnam War. Among the 32 artists playing were Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, the Who, Santana, and Country Joe and the Fish. Among the big no-shows were the Beatles, who had quit touring in 1966 and were a year away from breaking up, and Bob Dylan, who was in negotiations to play, but wound up declining because his son fell ill.

As much as Woodstock remains influential today, that will wax and wane with styles and tastes. In fashion, there is always something new, but often the inspirations are drawn from the past.

Taylor Hunt striking a pose in one of his many “costumes.”

Photo by Joe Walsh / Chatterbox Photo Editor

might not be the right word for it; Hunt dresses in costume.

Hunt, a senior, wears costumes to school as one would wear a mask to a ball, dressing up as

various familiar faces for humorous effect and, he would freely admit, to hide his deep-seated need to antagonize the world and everyone in it. In other words, just like many teen-agers, except that most tone it down.

Yet Hunt’s showmanship extends beyond mere eccentricity.

He not only wears outrageous outfits on occasion, much to the mirth of his classmates; he assembles them from ordinary materials.

Thus, all of his creations are “Taylor-made.”

Hunt handled the general discomfort of senior pictures with wit and creativity. Hunt dressed up for the photo shoot as Waldo, as in Where’s Waldo. He wore a striped red short-sleeved shirt, only mildly loud until one saw that the stripes were hand-taped.

Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, Hunt sometimes adorns himself in honor of his favorite friends.

On occasion, Hunt engages in the identity theft of senior Max Chaiken. Chaiken-watchers know the look: glasses, slicked-back hair, and beard, the latter replicated with eyeliner pencil. Hunt also dressed up as sporty senior Ben Fricke. Complete with flamboyantly bright basketball shorts and a too-tight T-shirt, he was almost indistinguishable from Fricke. His clothes, at least.

Since his father is a book publisher, Hunt gets many of his clothes for free – if you regard T-

shirts emblazoned with “Reading iz LYFE” as clothing. On most days, you will see him wearing a white T with some kind of slogan relating to literacy on it.

Hunt has a retro side, too. Although most of Walnut’s male population stopped wearing cargo shorts in third grade, he likes to

Taylor Hunt lost in the crowd as Waldo from Where’s Waldo?

Photo by Carina Carpenter / Chatterbox Contributor

play up his boyish good looks with elementary–school wear.

Somehow, it works: He has been on three dates. With girls.

October 30, 2009 / Page 6

Cheap Eats: Bella Luna Bella Luna RATING: ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ 4632 Eastern Avenue Cincinnati, OH, 45226 513-871-5862 Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday at 4:30 www.bellalunacincy.com

By Ahena Sehn Chatterbox Writer At Bella Luna, an Italian restaurant with a lot of charm and a delightfully quirky interior, I couldn’t help but feel comfortable.

Even on a weekday, the restaurant was extremely busy. For the Halloween season, friendly servers are dressing up in costumes ranging from classic to hilarious. One charaded as James Dean (complete with a leather jacket and an attitude to match) from Rebel Without a Cause. Another costume that brought laughter from everyone was a man dressed up as an extremely old and heavy woman. The spirit of Halloween was definitely in the air.

As for the food itself, the most popular menu items among frequent restaurant patrons included the shellfish stew and veal saltimbocca, part of the regular menu.

Every six or so weeks, Bella Luna changes its menu and features new items from different areas of Italy.

On the dessert menu, the bread pudding with amaretto butter sauce is a must. A signature dessert of the restaurant, it won the Best Taste Award at the Taste of Cincinnati in 2008.

However, with such an interesting crowd, ambiance, and food, the price is worth it. Here, you’re guaranteed to have a delicious Halloween.

Know Your Nuts Page Editors: Dan Druffel & Derek Hattemer

October 30, 2009 / Page 7

The Chatterbox—Walnut Hills High School

Hunt’s Guide to Common Corridor Beasties: Part II

By Taylor Hunt

Staff Writer and Cartoonist All-Seeing Eye of Brough Campth (orbis nondorminusaum) Habitat: EVERYWHERE Call: dead silence Distinguishing Characteristics: reflective shell, unwavering sentience A new species to Walnut, the All-Seeing Eye of Brough Campth has already produced ripples of fear and complaining throughout the population of the student body. After a few featureless black domes were screwed into the roof, a smattering of students who had read 1984 were shocked and outraged to the point of proof that this was in fact, A Big Deal. The new administration was slowly inserting its tendrils into Walnut’s robust, liberating environment, twisting and perverting all that we as students hold as good and right. Strangely enough, a few weeks after this monstrous and gross violation of our

basic rights as human beings, nobody cared.

I, for one, believe that the ASEBC is merely a more evolved version of the current disciplinary niche predator, the Security Guard.

Requiring one-fiftieth of the space and zero-fiftieths of the paycheck, the Eyes will proliferate and render the Security Guard endangered.

Soon the entire p l i n e will be to an elecchimera posed of pinhole

discisystem reduced tronic c o m 30,000 cameras,

AFS Students at Walnut

By Alex Autran and Brad Hinger

seventeen miles of electrical cord, and Dr. Houghton.

Northern Scrufted Janitor (magnus ron) Habitat: Nomadic Call: “Ehy-jhak!”

Distinguishing Characteristics: plumage tufts, broad bill (on hat), 6’ wingspan Humanity has often mused on its apparent complete dominance of the food chain. Gifted with advanced intelligence, Homo sapiens has stomped across every significant piece of land this planet has, and subjugated the smack out of it.

However, if my findings are correct, there exists a superior species.

Th e No rth ern Scrufted Janitor possesses all of our outward characteristics, but gives himself away by his behavior. This species protects and maintains our school continuously: fighting off large predators in the wee hours of the Hollywood movies, From came to the United States to hone his English and immerse himself in the dynamic American lifestyle.

But From was surprised by how greatly America’s educational system differed from Denmark’s.

In Denmark, he said, “School is a lot stricter, and everything is based on test scores.” But what strikes From most about American schools is the affiliation between sports and school. The strong school sprit and “cheering for the football team on Friday nights” have been new experiences for From, which he envies.

From plays for Walnut’s varsity soccer team. He also has a passion for music. He listens to both Danish and American bands and likes all kinds of music except heavy metal.

Although From used to play trumpet, he recently gave it up to learn guitar.

From considers himself to be “very open-minded” and “easy to talk to” and hopes to meet new friends. He is easily recognizable by his blonde hair and 6’3” height. And yes, ladies, he too is unspoken for.

fore he came to Walnut, he listened to The Red Hot Chili Peppers and other American bands. He also plays in the AFS band (which can Other than the fact that they be seen on youtube by typing in come from foreign countries, Rai“AFS band”). win Lewsakul and Alexander From Lewsakul describes had nothing in comAmerica as “diverse, mon, at least until consuming, and open” they came to Walnut and finds that the strangHills through the est aspect of American American Field culture is “people kissService (AFS) proing in public.” He asked gram. that the Chatterbox pass Lewsakul hails on a message to the stufrom Bangkok, Thaidents: “Hey Walnut, my land, a heavily urname is Beam. Please banized city on the don’t be afraid to say southeast coast. ‘hi’ to me in the hall.

Although he jokes I’m looking that he “rides an forward to elephant to school,” Lewsakul making a lot Lewsakul describes Raiwin Photo by Joe Walsh of friends. It a Thailand that is not helps for so different from America. He says people just to say ‘hi’ to that the biggest difference between me because sometimes it American schools and Thai schools gets lonely. Oh, and is that in Thailand “[the students] ladies, I’m single.” do not change classes, instead the Alexander From, teachers move classes.” known only on his birth Music is a big part of Lewsacertificate as Hugo Herkul’s life. He plays guitar, is learnsom, comes from the ing to play steel drum in the Walnut small city of Skander- Alexander From Steel Drum Band, and enjoys listenporg, Denmark. Drawn Photo by Joe Walsh ing to all kinds of music. Even beto the culture he saw in

Chatterbox Contributors

Next month: two more AFS students

In Character: Deanna Ashworth You might remember Deanna Ashworth from last year’s performance of Romeo and Juliet. You can also see her this November in Oliver!. Photos by Joe Walsh, Chatterbox photo editor.

morning [pictured: an example of such a spat with the Autumn Garbage Dragon], ghostbusting in the middle of the night (the Janitor seems to be able to see and hear wavelengths and frequencies far beyond our pitiful sensory nuggets’ abilities), and cleaning and scouring every surface of our campus to prevent organic material from building

u p (which w o u l d cause the

After Hours: with Michael Peters Michael Peters sat down with one of five prospective valedictorians, Sarah Weiskettel So what exactly is your grade point average?

ever gotten? If you have a 6.0 I assume that means you’re pretty on top of things.

Sarah: Yeah, I’ve gotten that a lot.

Would you ever admit to cheating to get the grades done?

Sarah: Um, not really.

[Laugh] Not really?

You’re a self-proclaimed “hockey mom,”, outraged over the penalty the soccer ref has called against your 6-year-old son.

don’t do it. I’ve never cheated on tests because I think if I don’t know it or if I’m too stupid to understand it, then I shouldn’t take someone else’s work.

So was it worth it?

Sarah: Honestly I’m not sure. I would just say no because of all the time I’ve spent on it and how stressed out I’ve been about it, but the Wow, uh, that’s one thing that makes me double mine. think it had some redeemSarah: [Laugh] ing benefits, is all the Congratulations. college stuff. Being able Anyway, so – jeez, to say I was valedictorian 6.0. Silly question, but of Walnut Hills is a huge was it hard? thing. If I hadn’t been Sarah: Yeah, I valedictorian, I would mean a lot of people Sarah Weiskettel have automatically been think that I’m a genius Photo by Parker Rueve bumped down to sixth or who doesn’t have to something. If I hadn’t study and I know people like that, been hardcore about everything, but I am not, so I have to spend a chances are I wouldn’t even be that lot of time studying. I had no social high. As far as getting into college, life for a little while and that was I’m glad I did the work, but I’m not very fun. But, yeah, I mean it still not completely sure if it was took a challenge. Some classes I worth it. I put so much time into it was better at than others and didn’t and stressed so much about it that it have to study as much, but I defiwasn’t even about learning; it was nitely spend a lot more time studyjust about getting As. Not about learning? ing than most people, I would say.

What’s the lowest grade you’ve Sarah: Yes.

Oh no, a B in gym! What now?

Your boyfriend borrows your car to “run some errands.” You find out later that he went to a pool party at another girl’s house.

Photo by Parker Rueve

Sarah: It’s a 4.0 unweighted, but if you count it on the weighted scale with APs and AAs it’s a 6.0.

Sarah: I’m pretty sure I’ve gotten As as quarter grades in everything. Maybe some midterms, but not finals. I think in seventh grade, I might have gotten a B in gym or something, but except for that, yes.

You get a call that your favorite cousin is dying in Oakland. You buy a ticket but, once in the air, you hear the pilot announce that you’re enroute to Auckland, New Zealand.

school itself to gain sentience and place us all in grave danger). The only thing preventing this species from establishing itself as the true pinnacle of evolution is that it already knows it’s better than us (it may also be that the exact reason for its dominance is the more desirable personality traits, eclipsing our legacy of being grabby and selfish).

A final moment of clarification: while a certain member of this noble species has cemented itself as the most famous and beloved, the truth is that there are many others that are proud to call W H H S their habitat.

Make sure to at least make it look like you tried to clean up after yourself—I think they can kill you from 200 yards away with mind bullets.

Sarah: No, I mean, sometimes people have copied my work. Especially this year.

Comes with the territory, I would think.

Sarah: Yeah, I don’t really. If I don’t want to do the homework, I

Isn’t that the point of working so hard, so that you learn?

Sarah: That is why as a senior I have been taking some classes that I’m more interested in. I’m glad that now I can get back into learning things just to learn them, like with music theory. It’s really cool because school definitely got away from learning, which is one of the reasons why I’m not sure if it was worth it.

That’s some serious stuff. As a valedictorian don’t you have to be excited about school?

Sarah: I like learning in general, but it’s almost like being a valedictorian is something completely different. You have to take all these classes whether you want to or not.

You have to make sure your grades are perfect. It’s not the same thing as liking school, I guess.

Features Page Editor: Nikki Fisher

October 30, 2009 / Page 8

The Chatterbox—Walnut Hills High School

Bio-Eco Leaving Its Mark

By Stuart Johnson Chatterbox Contributor Everyone is going green these days, so why not Walnut Hills?

The school’s recycling program, formed in 1990 by AP Environmental Science class teacher Judy Callahan, helps the school give back to the environment.

Bio-Eco Club leaders Gabby Glenn and Clair Bullock, along with Biology AP and 9-Honors teacher Rajni Harsh, have helped Mrs. Callahan manage the recycling project over the years. Its goal is to keep Walnut Hills as green or environmentally friendly as possible.

“We’re not afraid to get down and dirty for the environment,” said Glenn, a senior.

Currently, the program includes recycling paper, foam and cardboard, raising money to buy and place recycling bins around the school, and collecting bottles and cans at all Walnut Hills’ varsity home games. Recycling bins sit in all classrooms and offices. A paperrecycling bin sits near the Arts and Sciences Building.

Organic trash is not neglected in

this program. Compost bins are distributed in the courtyard outside the Art and Science Building, in the teachers’ parking lot and in the teachers’ lunchroom (whew!). According to Dr. Harsh, coffee beans not only increase the volume of usable compost, but reduces the stench.

The recycling program also converts unwanted fabric into green lunch bags for students. The fabric is supplied by student donors and sent to senior Grace Schottelkotte of the Bio-Eco Club, who sews the bags. The club then sells them at events like EarthJam. Callahan said that getting rid of e-waste – spent ink cartridges, discarded cell phones, and other electronic trash – is an important function of the program. Toward that end, the Bio-Eco Club hosts cell phone drives to make it easy for others to dispose of their old phones properly.

For the past six years, the BioEco Club has hosted Earth Jam, a spring fund-raiser featuring student bands. The profits earned from selling food and reusable lunch bags, go to IMAGO, a non-profit

organization that runs an Earth center and “eco-village” in Price Hill.

This year, Bio-Eco members started a water bottle drive to help deter students from throwing plastic water bottles into trash cans. The club purchases 50 reusable water bottles from a non-profit organization, then gives them to 50 students whose names are pulled in a drawing.

Bullock said members of the Bio-Eco Club are looking forward to the future of their program. In addition to continuing current projects, she said, they hope to place a compost bin in the student lunchroom, and start a series of “Tuesday Tips” announcements of ways to act in earth-friendly ways. Other goals include buying more fabric from JoAnn Fabrics for reusable lunch bags and placing paper recycling bins all around the school.

Callahan said the recycling program has brought Walnut Hills at least one distinction: the school, she said, generates the least amount of trash per student among Hamilton County high schools.

Bio-Eco Club member Grace Schottelkotte, a senior, with science teacher Dr. Rajni Harsh and the composting unit.

The Art

Chatterbox photo

Wally Hill

of Trick-or-Treating

By Lillian Currens Chatterbox Contributor

With Halloween coming up, we must ask ourselves the ultimate question: To trick or treat or to not to trick or treat?

Many of us will answer this question with a resounding “Yes! I love trick or treating, and no age limit will dampen my Halloween spirit!” Others of you are not so quick to jump on the candy-collecting bandwagon.

Well, don’t let being “too old” or “too mature” discourage you from trick-or-treating this Halloween. In case you decide to cast off any doubtful feelings concerning this much loved tradition, here are some helpful pointers on trick-or-treating for the older set.

– Wear a costume!! You

might think costumes are strictly for the kids, but dressing up can be fun. Get creative with your costume. With a little imagination and elbow grease, you can easily whip up a unique costume in no time. And remember: Some people don’t give as much candy to plainclothed trick-ortreaters!

– Map out your route. Be sure to hit up all the houses you know that give out good candy.

If you haven’t been trick or treating in a couple of years, ask your little brother or sister for some hints on where you can score the good stuff, i.e. jumbosized candy bars and Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups.

– Bring a big bag. Being older and bigger comes with its advantages. You can get from house to house quicker than the little ones and cover much more

KenKen

RULES FOR KENKEN® Fill the grid with digits so as not to repeat a digit in any row or column, and so the digits within each heavily outlined box will produce the target number shown in that box by using the operation (addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division) shown by the symbol after the numeral. So, for example, the notation 6+ means that the numerals in the box should add up to 6, and the notation 48x means that by multiplying the numbers in the box you will get 48. A 4x4 grid will use the digits 1-4.

A 5x5 grid will use 1-5. A 6x6 grid will use 1-6, and so on. ©KenKen Puzzle LLC 2009. KenKen® is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. All rights reserved. www.kenken.com

English class.

ground.

– Don’t feel discouraged if someone turns you away because you’re too old. Just tell yourself that they don’t know what Halloween is really about and continue on your way.

Plenty of other houses will be happy to give the older kids candy, too.

– Don’t eat it all in one night.

You may think this advice no longer applies to you, but you’ll be happy you didn’t the next day.

Remember, trick-or-treating ends at around 9 so you’ll still have plenty of time to celebrate the holiday with your friends.

Happy trick-or-treating!

September puzzle answers

Quick, what was the first thing you thought of upon reading that fragment? Most students think something about essays. Teachers often think “that class I (don’t) teach.” Mr. Scudder thinks “apex of my day.” Wiseacres tell me “English class.”

Ignoring the individual meanings to these, I can draw one conclusion: knee-jerk responses don’t betray much thought. (If anyone wants to cite me in a behavior study, make sure to put me down as Dr. Wally Hill PhDD. The second D is for extra doctor.) But even if I were to probe a little deeper, I don’t think many of you have devoted serious thought to English class (except for Mr. Scudder). Naturally, I recently have, and you, gentle reader, are going to have to bear the results.

Upon serious thought, English is a bizarre class. It is doubtless seen as one of the most important subjects (it takes up two-thirds of the three R’s), but is remarkably scatterbrained in what exactly it teaches. Part of it is learning how exactly to deal with that ridiculous mongrel that has somehow instituted itself as the official language of the world (which has something to do with the British/American habit of subjugating whoever they don’t understand). The other part is learning about how to discuss literature and other works in a reasonable manner, which has varying degrees of success (some people are, by their very nature, incompatible with reason or manners). But going into those a bit more, the

class is just plain spastic. In math, either your equation makes sense or it doesn’t. Gravity does not stop working when you don’t think about it. The moon landing happened regardless of what paranoid conspiracy theorists “think.” (Quoted because the word “think” suggests a sort of logical progression of ideas, which is clearly not what is going on when it comes to these people.) In English class, that William Carlos Williams poem about eating a wheelbarrow of plums is either pure poetry distilled into its even more pure essence or what would happen if you gave a chimp a box of refrigerator poetry magnets. Except I’m pretty sure the chimp’s version would be entertaining.

To explain: in order to understand writing, first we must understand what the author was thinking. To do that, we need to understand the historical context of the work, and a good bit of human nature/psychology.

We’re introduced to a junkyard of theories, movements, and ideologies. Teachers explain archaic usages and try to stifle giggles whenever swearing comes up. Example: Beowulf is basically a dismal story. But if one reads about the translation efforts, early Britannic epics as a whole, and the endless discourses on determining what exactly Grendel is, one finds hundreds of layers behind the tale of how a Danish prince saved the helpless Brits from a big ugly Frenchman. This is English class at its best: not so much a study of writing, as it is a study of humanity and how it uses writing to express itself.