Issue #7 Wheeling Spokesman

www.wheelingspokesman.com

Editor-in-Chief WHS reached a peak student enrollment of around 2,000 students in the 2005-2006 school year. Since then the school enrollment has steadily declined over the last five years, affecting both staffing and the availability of school programs.

The projected enrollment for next year is 1807 students. “...Our staffing is directly related to the number of students we have. Every time we lose approximately 21 students, I lose a teacher,” Laz Lopez, principal, said.

WHS expects to lose close to six certified staff positions and one and a half support staff positions for the 2010-2011 school year. However, these are full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, meaning that WHS will not necessarily be losing six individuals. Instead, the position reductions may be spread among several teachers.

Last year WHS also lost enrollment, but because the school district accepted federal funding and some stimulus money, the school was able to offset the staff cost. According to Mr. Lopez, that’s not an option this year.

Students will see some changes in the courses offered next year.

“If kids need double periods of English and double periods of math a day, we need to do that to meet the academic needs of students, and that does affect electives. At the same point, we’re a school with amazing elective choices, so a lot of fantastic choices for students are available,” Eileen Hart, world language, social science and ELL division head, said.

Students like Connor Leuck, freshman, Angelique Dorchies, French teacher, cuts a piece of cake for Claudia Alvarado, senior. As a were able to choose the electives that they way to celebrate Ms. Dorchies accomplishments, Kristina Stravinskaite, junior, baked a cake wanted. Leuck plans to continue with and planned the celebration with students in her French 3 class. orchestra and to take Spanish 3.

Angelique Dorchies, French teacher, struggling as much as it is. It’s sad that someone Spokesman once they join the newspaper staff. announced to her French classes on March 1 who’s not as passionate about the French However, John Aldworth, English and that she would not be returning culture and language as Madame fine arts division head, said the school would “I chose to for the 2010-2011 school year. is going to teach it,” Claudia have run journalism and debate if there were “This was my dream job....

Alvarado, senior, said. “When the enough student interest. take SpanUnfortunately it didn’t last as teacher is not as passionate about “There are a lot of elective opportunities... ish because long as I hoped it would, but I the language, students won’t have We didn’t cut JW 1 and JW2 to never run feel really blessed to have been I could start as much fun and won’t learn the them again, that’s not the purpose at all, able to do everything that I’ve as well.” nor for debate...with all the other elective the language language done, and the group of students Another tenured and qualified opportunities...this year kids just made in middle here are just amazing, and teacher will teach the four blocks different choices,” Mr. Aldworth said.

I’m going to miss them,” Ms. Mr. Lopez started the STEM initiative school and get of French next year.

Dorchies said.

Other courses not offered next in hopes of attracting parents to move in the ahead. ” Out of the three foreign year directly impact on student WHS area and increase enrollment. languages offered at WHS, activities, such as the English “My goal is that our STEM initiative will French is the only one that saw a decrease in electives journalistic writing and debate. attract the attention of people looking to move interested students. Italian saw an increase in Sarah Heineman, ‘09 graduate and past into the area...because they want their students interested students, and Spanish maintained Spokesman Editor-in-Chief, said not having to go to Wheeling High School. And we the same number of interested students. the journalistic writing 1 and 2 classes offered already have that with our fine arts program...

However, administrators added AP Spanish next year will affect the coverage of the paper. and there are many people who choose to live Literature for next year.

The journalism classes, which mainly consist here because of that, but we need more,” Mr. “It’s a shame that the French program is of freshmen, contribute story ideas to the Lopez said.

Debate prepares for two state competitions, nationals Gaby Najera La Voz Editor With accomplishments such as consecutively winning ICDA (Illinois Congressional Debate Association) State three times in the past, the debate team now must prepare for IHSA State and this year’s ICDA State, according to Jon Tracey, senior.

The team now only has one senior (Tracey). Team members like Christina Lorey, sophomore, and Nate Ruben, junior, said that the loss of seniors from last year hurt the team.

“Our team’s biggest struggle this year is research. We lost many seniors that pulled a lot of weight last year,” Lorey said.

According to Ruben, juniors have stepped up in recent tournaments.

whs

“The team has been doing phenomenally.

We had four juniors (Ruben, Chris Schwarz, Tom Schwermin and Sami Zuba) make TOC (Tournament of Champions) finals, more than any other school,” Ruben said.

Two tournaments remain for this season.

“We aren’t over-confident and assuming we will four-peat, but we certainly have all of the tools to do so,” Ruben said.

According to Mike Hurley, head coach, the weakness of the team is its youth while its strength is its unity. Ruben, however, said that the novices have improved.

“Our novices have developed to the point where they are no longer seen as a novice,” Ruben said.

At the National Forensic League tournament on March 5, Schwarz qualified for

Ruff of the Cuff p 10

Parent Observation Day p 2

nationals. He will begin preparing in May for the event.

“I was really relieved, it was a nerve-racking experience,” Schwarz said.

Schwarz remembers resting his head on a table as he waited for the results.

“Sanjit Shah (‘09 graduate) went two years in a row, it’s really awesome that Chris is going,” Tracey said.

Schwarz scored an average of 6.6 out of a maximum eight points during the competition.

In order to prepare for nationals, Schwarz plans to meet with other area students going to the competition.

“Once we get to State, I think we have a shot, I think we can do it (win State again),” Schwarz said. “The rest of the season will be successful.”

Peru Trip rescheduled p8 Rai plays multitude of instruments p5

INSIDE

S

Wheeling High School 900 S. Elmhurst Road Wheeling, IL 60090 <www.wheelingspokesman.com>

POKESMAN

CSC places first at State Step team wins first place at the IDTA competition Weekly Photos Check out photos taken throughout the week of March 15 to March 19

Oscar Najera

Bety Camino

On the Web

Dropping enrollment leads to class cuts

Connor Leuck, freshman

March 19, 2010 Volume 46 Issue 7

2

News

March 19, 2010

Stevi Anderson Feature Editor While preparing for their State competition on April 10 at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the science olympiad team works around the number of varsity students on their team, as well as the amount of experience from the members.

This year, only four team members are returning members to the team, while the rest join for their first year.

“We have a lot of first-year members, which gives us a learning curve. To be on the team you have to sit down with the rules (of the competition) and figure out how to score points based on that. Experience definitely comes into play with that, and coming in the first year can be a little overwhelming,” Lisa Del Muro, science olympiad coach, said.

WHS has had a science olympiad team for more than 10 years. Science olympiad competitions consist of hour-long events, separated into writing and building events.

The competition calls for multiple commitments from each student on the WHS team. The varsity team is made up of 15 students, with many more spots to fill than that.

“Usually kids are involved in more than one event,” Ms. Del Muro said. “There are 15 kids

on varsity and 22 events, most of which have two or more kids participating in them.”

Ms. Del Muro and the team break up the events based on what the students want to do, and which events are available to them.

According to Ms. Del Muro, some students are more of the “tinker types,” or students who like to participate in building activities, while others prefer to study and write.

Only some of the information covered in the competition is actually covered in the WHS science curriculum, while some requires more studying.

The team meets on Thursdays after school, year round as well as during competition season.

However, some groups meet more often outside of school to prepare.

“The build events meet together more often, Kyle (Humphrey, junior), Kirill (Varshavskiy, junior), and I do the build events,” Raj Roy, junior and first-year member, said.

Much of the team’s practice consists of studying the information themselves.

Many of the events also remain the same each year, so returning members are familiar with the information given to them and how to score points in the event.

“My favorite thing about science olympiad is winning medals and whooping booty in competition,” Roy said.

Dan Malsom

Science Olympiad prepares for State

Akash Kapadia, senior, Raj Roy, junior, and Melgar Palma, junior, prepare a metal piece for the team’s Mousetrap Vehicle before leaving for the regional competition on Feb. 27 at New Trier High School. WHS took seventh at the contest and qualified for State.

DECA to send five members Observation Day offers to national competition glimpse into school life Krista Sanford News Editor DECA ended its regular season by having 11 students qualify for State. Out of those 11, five made it to Nationals.

Natalia Ladzinska, senior and first year member, made it to both State and Nationals.

Ladzinska competed with Anuj Mehta, senior, at State.

According to Ladzinska, she thinks that they tried their best.

“Going to State, I was not sure what was going to happen. I was going to try my

best and see where that would take me,” Ladzinska said.

Mike Cederberg and Kevin Ochoa, seniors, Ashley Wieser, junior, Mehta and Ladzinska all qualified for Nationals. Ladzinska and Mehta competed as a partnership while Cederberg, Ochoa and Wieser did a trio event. Ochoa also qualified on his own.

On April 24, they will head to Kentucky for the nationals competition.

“It was incredible (having five people make Nationals).

There were over 1,000 people (at the state competition). It’s

quite an accomplishment,” John Kritek, DECA adviser, said.

According to Mr. Kritek, the DECA members took a series of tests at State. “(There were) two business exams. Then they (DECA members) chose a business event and did two role plays,” Mr. Kritek said.

According to Ladzinska, DECA will try to prepare by reading and researching. “(We are going to) try to prepare with practice exams.

We practice a lot more than we did before,” Ladzinska said.

Dan Malsom Editor-in-Chief More than 100 WHS families signed one or both parents up for Parent Observation Day this year.

The event took place on March 2 and allowed parents to shadow their children in an everyday school setting.

According to Steve Kellner, associate principal, the school plans the day each year to compliment other events, such as the

annual open house and parent teacher conferences, that allow parents to better understand WHS. “We always are looking for more communication with parents, absolutely,” Mr. Kellner said. “But what makes this day different is that parents come in and have the chance to see school functioning.”

Natividad Soto, father of Oscar Soto, senior, shadowed his son for the entire school day.

“He wanted to see what

it’s like, having all these classes and the 10 pound books,” O. Soto said.

Mr. Soto stayed with his son for almost the entire day. When O. Soto had P.E., however, Mr. Soto visited the autos class.

“If I could, I would definitely go again…I have two more kids (that will go to WHS), so maybe in two or three years I will go again,” Mr. Soto said.

Parent Observation Day occurs each year during third term.

Aldworth to leave for director position Luke Sokolowski News Editor John Aldworth, English and fine arts division head, recently announced that he will leave for Downers Grove South High School (DGS) at the end of this year in order to assume the position of student activities director.

On Jan. 25, the district board of education approved Mr. Aldworth to assume the position as Student Activities Director beginning July 1.

Jennifer Davis, current DGS student activities director, announced that after spending 28 years in the position, she will be retiring at the end of the year.

According to Ms. Davis, over 130 people applied for her position. Six candidates met with a panel of teachers who declared Mr. Aldworth their top choice.

“All six candidates were excellent but Mr. Aldworth had passion. There is no question that Mr. Aldworth was a great candidate that everyone thought would bring excellence and growth to our school. That’s what we were looking for,” Ms. Davis said Mr. Aldworth said that this new position will let him work with the student body as a whole, instead of

just focusing on the English department.

“It is a building-wide leadership role that really deals with working with a lot of students in leadership roles and training students to become effective student leaders. I will be working closer with students, which is the whole reason I went into teaching,” Mr. Aldworth said.

Several prospective candidates applied to assume Mr. Aldworth’s position next year. Steve Kellner, associate principal, ran the hiring process along with a panel of several teachers and administrators. After looking through all the applications, the panel contacted six candidates for interviews. Out of those six, three made it to the next round of interviews.

In the second round Laz López, principal, and Brian Lichtenberger, associate principal, along with Mr. Kellner interviewed the candidates and appointed one to take over Mr. Aldworth’s position starting next school year. At the board meeting on March 4, the board of education approved Megan Knight, Prospect High School English teacher, to the position. Ms. Knight took maternity leave earlier this month and could not be reached for comment.

Sharon Wager, English/

fine arts division assistant, said that she trusts that accepting a position as student activities director will be a positive career move for Mr. Aldworth.

“It is difficult for me to see Mr. Aldworth leave because it will be another adjustment for me, since I am a very relational person and I enjoy the people I work with,” Ms. Wager said.

Mr. Aldworth, said he will miss WHS and all the experiences he has had here.

“I love the faculty and students here. I really enjoyed working here for the past four years, I think I will miss many people once I leave. I think Wheeling is doing some incredible things so I will miss being part of that,” Mr. Aldworth said.

Toni Gherardini, senior, didn’t know that Mr. Aldworth will be leaving WHS at the end of this year and said it will be a shame to see him go. Gherardini had Mr. Aldworth for Creative Writing second term.

“I think it’s a bad thing that he is leaving, he’s one of the few cool teachers at Wheeling. I’ll be really sad to see him leave. My favorite thing about his class was the fact that he was so chill about everything. He really let us let the creative juices flow, he didn’t hold us back and he really helped us when we needed it,” Gherardini said.

Forum

2009-2010 Spokesman Staff

Asst. Web Editor Brianna Bitout News Editor Luke Sokolowski Krista Sanford Forum Editor Jon Tracey Feature Editor Stevi Anderson Asst. Feature Editor Mallorie Bromer Focus Editor Daniel Brount La Voz Editor Gaby Najera A&E/Photo Editors Jennie Alcantar Bety Camino Sports Editor Ryan Griesmeyer

3

Students should worry less about future Jon Tracey

Editors-in-Chief Dan Malsom Oscar Najera Web Editor Katie Kalmes

March 19, 2010

Forum Editor

I know exactly what I want to grow up to become. In fact, anyone who does not know precisely what he plans to do with every moment of his life will likely never amount to anything.

Sometimes, it seems like students actually feel this way.

So far this year, I have seen three junior girls cry real tears over their futures after high school. The reasons range from getting into a good college to not knowing what they want to major in. These girls do not have to worry about any of these things for another year, but they still succumbed to stress over these decisions.

Now, clearly these decisions are important.

However, if you do not know what you want to do even after graduating, you should not worry this much about it.

It’s just not worth the energy.

So you have no idea what you want to do. So what? Sometimes life takes a while to figure out, to figure yourself out. Try to decipher what you would really enjoy doing, and if you still have no idea, you can always go for general education and

figure it out later. Ask for help from friends, parents and counselors to help you decide what you would truly enjoy.

So you might not get into Harvard. Worrying about it will not help a single thing. Just work hard, get good grades and life will work out for you. Former President Calvin Coolidge professed, “Persistence and determination are omnipotent.” If you do not get into the school you want to, it really does not mean the end of the world. Just work hard at whatever you want to do, and you will enjoy every second of it even if you do not achieve the goals you truly wanted to reach.

With the new “Naviance” and college talks beginning as early as freshman year, the administration only compounds the pressure students face. Sometimes these talks only make students feel like they have to make a decision as early as possible or else their lives will not work out.

As the old adage goes, “Find a profession you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” This quote rings true as students decide how to spend their lives. Even if one job pays less than another, it might add much more enjoyment to his life. After all, what purpose resides in life other than finding happiness?

If a person can find happiness without money, then life is his

to hold.

This leads me to STEM. Now, I understand STEM. I understand that the majority of jobs lie within fields of mathematics and technology.

However, that does not necessarily mean WHS students will find happiness within these occupations.

WHS has a really phenomenal fine arts program with fantastic teachers. As a member of Spokesman, as well as debate, band, choir, Orchesis, the literary magazine and acting at WHS, I know firsthand of the fantastic teaching that takes place. And although fine arts will not lose funding through STEM, I fear it will pressure students to disregard a profession which they would enjoy in exchange for a profession that pays.

However, students must remain pragmatic upon deciding their futures.

Running away to Hollywood to become a rich and famous movie star may not create much opportunity. Students must identify a balance between pragmatism and passion.

Teachers should not put so much pressure on students and students should not worry so much about it. They should instead attempt to decipher what truly makes them happy and if they do not know right now. That’s perfectly OK. It may take a few years to figure out.

What are your plans for after high school?

Freshman 42 surveyed Four year college Two year college

29

4

Work: 1 Other: 2 Army: 2 Unsure: 4

Sophomore 23 surveyed

Four year college Two year college

17

Work: 1 Army: 1 Unsure: 2

2

Junior 20 surveyed Four year college Unsure: 1

19

Senior 32 surveyed Four year college Army: 2

27

Unsure: 3

Infographic by Bety Camino and Katie Kalmes

Graphics Reporter Jocelyn Torres Staff Reporters Rosalie Chan Megan Jones Jes Martinez Jess Musto Karen Rodriguez Chris Schwarz Staff Artist David Kajmowicz Adviser Karen Barrett, MJE This is the official student newspaper of Wheeling High School, 900 S. Elmhurst Road, Wheeling, Ill. 60090. Written, edited and distributed 9 times a year by advanced journalism classes, independent studies and other interested and qualified students.

Produced by using desktop publishing and is printed by Son’s Enterprises, Inc., Skokie Ill. Mailed subscription $15 per year.

Advertising- For information call (847) 718-7114 Monday-Friday 7:25 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.

Letters- Spokesman is a limited public forum and welcomes a free exchange of ideas from all readers.

Readers are encouraged to contribute letters to the staff in room 137 or mail them in care of WHS. All letters must be signed. Letters may be edited for length, style, possible libel, clarity, and adherence to our publication policies. Spokesman’s mission is to report the news objectively and truthfully. We will not print any errors knowingly. Editors will print corrections of printed errors here in the issue following our gaining knowledge of the error.

Corrections- Tricia Anderson’s name was misspelled on pg 2 Yuritza Garcia’s name was misspelled on pg 4 Ellie Grinter, junior was misidentified as a sophomore on pg 12 Janelle Cannon, senior, was misidentified on pg 12

Dave’s Doodles Students do not need Editorial homework over breaks Luke Sokolowski News Editor

Anytime a break from school approaches, I count down the days until I am free from school, teachers, classmates and homework.

Spring break begins today at the end of the school day, and I am already stressing over the amount of homework I have been assigned to do over break.

I see any break we have from school a good way to recharge my batteries and prepare to return to school fully rested.

I just feel that giving as much homework as usual over spring break or winter break just defies the purpose of having a “break.”

Teachers should consider giving less homework during breaks because of the many positive outcomes that will occur.

Students will return to school less stressed and refreshed, allowing more opportunities to learn information, and teachers will return to school with out the disappointment of finding out that only a few students actually did the homework.

Honestly, there are times in my AP Psychology class where we have little homework, but then we have a lot over long breaks. I would rather have a few more pages to read thrown in here and there and have no homework over break, than be slammed with several chapters to read over what I thought would be my break from school.

Successful academic teams deserve student appreciation

This year, WHS has seen its fair share of athletic success stories, from a conference champion girls basketball team, to a state champion dance step team in CSC, to Jack Ferguson, freshman, a state-caliber golfer.

With winter sports in the rearview mirror, however, and with spring sports just beginning, April seems as if it will not include any major high school team championships or titles.

On the contrary, April will give many of WHS’ clubs a chance to stack their best efforts up against the rest of Illinois. Spokesman wants to recognize these groups that often stand in the shadows of other sports.

Already well into their postseason, the debate team left yesterday to compete at the IHSA state congressional debate tournament. Earlier this month, Chris Schwarz, junior, qualified for the National Forensics League national tournament, held on June 13 in Kansas City, Mo. In February, Nate Ruben, junior, qualified for this summer’s debate Tournament of Champions in Kentucky.

As a team, debate will look to take home its fourth consecutive state title at the ICDA team tournament, which begins on April 16.

After winning State last year and moving up a division in competition, the Science Olympiad team qualified for this year’s state competition, taking seventh place at the New Trier regional on Feb. 27.

Raj Roy and Kyle Humphrey, juniors, placed third at regionals in their “Mission Possible” contest. They will compete with the rest of the 15-member team on April 10 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC).

Two days before then, 10 students will travel to Springfield, Ill. and compete in the FCCLA state fashion competition.

Michelle Yacu, Jana Tornquist, Dana Nast, Larissa Aguero, Nicole Merchut, seniors, and Taylor Tomkin, sophomore, all finished first in their areas, and will accompany four other students downstate.

DECA will send five team members to the national competition in Louisville, Ky. from April

24-28. Anuj Mehta and Natalia Ladzinska, seniors, will compete in the Business Law and Ethics contest, while Mike Cederberg and Kevin Ochoa, seniors, and Ashley Wieser, junior, will apply their experience from organizing WHS’ Make a Wish Foundation fundraisers to the Community Service Project contest.

Although they will not compete until May 1, members of the math team will travel on April 30 to UIUC for the ICTM state math contest. This year, the senior written competition team and the oralist team qualified for state, along with Omar Joya, freshman, who qualified for the freshman written contest.

While these groups will not draw nearly as large of a crowd as the numerous sports teams at WHS do, the clubs have legacies all their own.

Spokesman wishes these groups luck in the next month, and hopes that students and staff will do the same. Their past accomplishments this year warrant congratulations, and their promise in the near future warrants attention.

4

Feature

March 19, 2010

Garbarz endures early morning practices to stay dedicated to her sport Staff Reporter At 5:30 a.m. on a Monday, Jenny Garbarz, sophomore, steps onto the rink at Rolling Meadows Ice Arena with her ice skates on. She is the only one there. She warms up by skating around the rink and then stretches beside it.

Garbarz has been ice skating since the age of 6 and a half years old. She has private skating lessons before school Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at either Rolling Meadows Ice Arena or West Meadows Ice Arena.

According to Maria Garbarz, J. Garbarz’s mother, J. Garbarz started with ballet as a young child, and Ms. Garbarz decided to sign her up for skating classes.

J. Garbarz skates around the rink, moving faster and faster. She takes off from the back outside edge of her blade and jumps. She spins once, and then the blade of her other skate slams onto the ice. She glides backwards on the same foot, completing a lutz jump.

J. Garbarz focuses on testing for a gold in the senior level, the eighth and last test level of figure skating, where the skater does footwork and figures.

In freestyle, where the in the top four. Although J. skater does jumps and spins Garbarz currently does not to music, J. Garbarz skates compete, she still performs at currently at the sixth level, ice shows. which is a novice level. She Ms. Garbarz attends every wants to test for the senior one of her daughter’s shows. level of freestyle before she “I’m just proud of her. She graduates high school. has the determination and “She ( J. Garbarz) works passion for it,” Ms. Garbarz harder than a lot of skaters said.

I teach,” Jenny Martins, Christina Lorey, J. Garbarz’s ice skating sophomore and J. Garbarz’s coach, said. “If she doesn’t friend, has also watched J. understand something, she Garbarz ice skate before, wants to including at a know how show last May. “I think she’s to fix it. She “It was wants to i n t e r e s t i ng really talknow what because I’ve ented. It takes never she did seen wrong, why a lot of talent anything like she did it ” Lorey said. to devote time it, wrong and “They make it and commit- look smooth how to make it better. She while dancing ment to ice always strives on ice. I don’t skating.” to be better.” understand how J. Garbarz they can keep a c c e l erate s their balance her skating speed and then while doing turns and jumps.” jumps from the forward J. Garbarz describes her outside edge of her blade and best moment in ice skating spins twice in the air before as the ending position after landing on the other foot, skating a clean program in a completing a double axel performance. jump.

“Figure skating brings J. Garbarz skates in another life quality,” Ms. the United States Figure Garbarz said. “No matter Skating Association and Ice what the result is, you end Skating Institute programs. with a smile.”

According to Ms. Martins, J. Garbarz begins to when J. Garbarz used to practice her spins.

She compete, she usually placed twirls around on her skates,

Christina Lorey, sophomore

Rosalie Chan

stooping lower and stretching her leg out until she does a sit spin.

“I have to be really disciplined in practice and to believe in myself,” J. Garbarz said. “It’s (ice skating) a very challenging sport. It requires different elements: flexibility, leg strength and endurance.”

At 6:10 a.m., Martins arrives. J. Garbarz talks to her coach at the side and then practices footwork.

She skates on one leg around the rink and does brackets, a move where she twists her body as she skates.

J. Garbarz said she makes time to watch ice skating on TV and to go to public skates at the ice rink sometimes.

After going over footwork, J. Garbarz does a triple loop jump. She jumps off the back outside edge of her blade, spins three times and lands on the same foot. She skates around the rink again and then walks off the ice.

“It’s (ice skating) an amazing feeling. You have the rush of the ice wind when you go really fast and when you spin really fast,” J. Garbarz said. “It’s a feeling that can’t be compared to walking.”

Jenny Garbarz, sophomore, does a layback spin after warming up with various jumps and spins. She skates before school three times a week at either Rolling Meadows Ice Arena or West Meadows Ice Arena. “I like doing spins that take you to new limits, like laybacks,” Garbarz said.

Feature

March 19, 2010

Top: Kamneev Rai, sophomore, plays her violin during an orchestra performance in the winter assembly. She has been playing the violin since she was 3. Dressed in her orchesis costume while she plays, the two groups that she participates in perform back-to-back in the assembly.

Below: Rai demonstrates playing her sitar, an Indian instrument, during sixth period. Her instruments come directly from India.

Jennie Alcantar

News Editor Preparing for the third movement of the song “Simple Symphony” with the Chamber orchestra, Kamneev Rai, sophomore, sits up straight and takes the lead for the second violins, the lower violin harmony. Although Rai only plays the violin in orchestra, she plays 27 instruments in total.

According to Rai, most of the instruments are Indian instruments like sitar, dilruba, taus, iktara and tumbi.

“When I was three, I started playing the violin. In third grade, I started playing the dilruba. Ever since I started playing that instrument (the dilruba), my life revolved around music,” Rai said.

Dilruba means sound from the heart. It has 18 strings, but most tunes use only one string.

Mostly found in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, India, the dilruba is a popular instrument in northwest India.

According to Rai, the dilruba is her main Indian instrument.

“My parents bought it (the dilruba) for her when she was only 7 years old. I remember she was not tall enough for it and still she sat up till two (in the morning) learning to play it,” Mandeep Gill, Rai’s mother, said in an e-mail interview.

According to Sarah Yun, orchestra director, knowing how to play more than one instrument gives students more opportunities to succeed in life, music wise.

“I think the ones who play more than one (instrument) have more passion for music,” Ms. Yun said.

Ms. Gill said that Rai “lives and breathes music.” “...She (Rai) has tapped this gift to learn everything musical, dancing, singing as well as instruments,” Ms. Gill said in an e-mail interview.

After the Chamber orchestra finishes the song Simple Symphony, Rai puts down her violin and takes the advice that Ms. Yun gives about how to sound even better.

“Every teacher has commended on her learning ability. She is truly gifted,” Ms. Gill said in an e-mail interview.

Bety Camino

Krista Sanford

Dan Malsom

Samp grows up with dogs at home, finds familiarity in showing dogs

Jessica Samp, sophomore, holds back Winnie, her border terrier, while they wait for their turn to participate in Earthdog, an event where Winnie navigates tunnels to find a toy rat.

Dan Malsom Editor-in-Chief Jessica Samp, sophomore, has lived with at least one dog in her house since the day she was born. In fifth grade, a trip to a dog show with her mother’s friend convinced Samp to show dogs.

Winnie, Toffee, Hunny and Peanut, all border terriers, currently live with the Samp family. Carol and Allen Samp, J. Samp’s parents, have bred 19 terriers total, a few of

which have competed in dog shows around the country.

At the International Kennel Club dog show, held at the McCormick Place in downtown Chicago, J. Samp would compete with Winnie in the junior division, and she would face her largest field of competition ever.

On Friday, Feb. 26, the night before her first competition, J. Samp sets up her grooming table in the middle of her family room while Peanut, Winnie and

Hunny beg and circle around her on the floor.

J. Samp picks Winnie up and sets her on the table, putting a leash around her neck to keep her still. She pulls out a metal brush and runs it through Winnie’s fur, and the brush pulls out hair that J. Samp piles on the grooming table.

“When you brush them down, they like it,” Don Hughes, a member of Great Lakes Border Terrier Club, said. “It’s like being massaged.”

Not competing until 1 p.m., J. Samp spends her morning around her dogs.

Ms. Samp sets up a table and brings out Peanut. As children and adults alike walk by, they ask to pet the dog.

“There is a lot of the public coming around and little kids are playing with the dogs, but everybody tells them ‘don’t touch unless you ask’,” Mr. Samp said.

Later, J. Samp heads off to look for Colin Steen, a friend she competed against at her first dog show. Even though Steen lives in Wisconsin, the two stay in touch. “(Steen) actually beat me the first time,” J. Samp said.

“He got first, I got fourth, so I

couldn’t stand him. Now we are best friends.”

Around 1:15 p.m., J. Samp prepares for her competition.

The judge eventually beckons J. Samp forward, and J. Samp picks Winnie up and places her on a grooming table. The judge checks Winnie’s stance, teeth and fur.

The judge nods, and J. Samp places Winnie back on the ground. She then walks Winnie briskly in a diagonal away from the judge. J. Samp pauses and then turns and walks back.

The judge nods again and J. Samp runs around the ring to the back of the line as the judge beckons for the next team to come forward. The entire judging process lasts about two minutes per team.

The teams enter the ring again, and the judge then chooses who she thinks the 10 best pairs are. J. Samp and Winnie are not included.

“Me and my mom always say when I don’t win that I got fifth because I didn’t win a ribbon,” J. Samp said.

Peterson sisters establish daily routine in large family

get through the day.

“I’m sure they are very News Editor organized with their time because despite the many As the clock turns 5:30 distractions at home, both a.m., Amanda Peterson's cell Jessica and Amanda manage phone, sophomore, begins to excel in school and extra to play “Throw it away; curricular activities,” Dr. Forget yesterday;We’ll make Watson said. the great escape; We won’t After school A. and J. hear a word they say; They Peterson play on the soccer don’t know us anyway.” team. If the girls have a 3 As Peterson turn off p.m. practice they get home her alarms and lays in bed at about 5:30 p.m. for about a minute. Lori As the rest of the family Peterson, her mother, calls gets home from work and out “It’s time to go.” A. school, they prepare for Peterson dinner. Each and her child has a “My least sister, Jessica day favorite part different Peterson, of the week about besenior, get where they dressed are in charge ing in a big and walk of making family is the d ownsta ir s dinner. making sure “ M y lack of quiet not to wake day is places.

I can their four Wednesday close the door and I try to younger siblings. mix it up to my room, All three of every week. but it’s my them get in I make a their car and salad and brothers’ drive to the s o m e th ing room too, so Church of else. Jessica’s it isn’t very Jesus Christ day is Friday, of Latter and we have quiet. ” Day Saints pizza on located on Fridays,” A. Windsor Road.

Peterson said.

A. Peterson, J. Peterson Once dinner begins, the and Ms. Peterson attend family eats their salad and seminary at the church everyone talks about their every morning at 5:45 a.m. day. Then the family utilizes Ms. Peterson teaches the the “Joke Jar.” seminary.

“The joke jar is a jar just After the seminary is filled with jokes. Someone over, the group drives back, pulls out a joke and reads it arriving home at about 6:40 out loud. It is a way to have a.m. J. and A. Peterson then fun and laugh while eating wake up the rest of their dinner with the family,” J. siblings and help get them Peterson said. ready for the day. Since the Since the three oldest Peterson family consists brothers are away at college, of five boys and four girls, the living arrangement everyone in the family has in the Peterson home has a specific job to do in the changed. J. Peterson shares a morning. room with her little brother For A. Peterson, that and A. Peterson shares a job consists of making room with her younger smoothies for the family. sister.

“I like making smoothies.

“I guess sharing a room It used to take me like 10 with my little brother is kind minutes to make them. But of funny because he runs in now after I have done it so there with his friends having many times, it only takes fun. He loves bow and me three minutes. We have arrows, so I get shot by them a really big blender, it's like a lot. Since he likes it when the ones they have at Jamba I play with him, a lot of my Juice,” A. Peterson said attention goes to him,” J. After A. Peterson is ready, Peterson said. she waits for J. Peterson to J. Peterson said she will be ready to go to school. most likely attend Brigham They walk in through the Young University (BYU) back doors at about 7:24 in Utah, because her older a.m., just as the minute bell brothers attend school rings. A. Peterson runs to there. A. Peterson plans to Block A class. do the same.

“I’m used to getting to “My older siblings all got school so late, we are late scholarships. We go there all the time. Since I have because of our religion and to help my little siblings, the tuition is pretty cheap I don’t really mind,” A. too. Our parents have been Peterson said. saving for college since we According to Dr. were little, so that will help Rick Watson, counselor, pay for college,” A Peterson organization helps the girls said.

Luke Sokolowski

Jessica Peterson, senior

Rai blends love of music, culture

5

6

March 19, 2010

L

king at Visi n

Fo

Glasses Styles Skenandore matches colored from Pearle Vision in Wheeling, Ill

Style: rimless Brand: Silhouette Style: half rimless Brand: Junction City Style: plastic Brand: Covergirl Style: metal Brand: Kenneth Cole Reaction Photos by Bety Camino

Q & A

Q. What’s the importance of having an eye exam annually?

A. The importance of an annual eye exam, for different age groups, involves making sure that the eye is healthy , that it’s free from disease--there’s diseases that can affect the eye specifically and there are systemic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes and other diseases that can show up in the eye and affect the body as a whole. Especially in teens and young adults, where prescriptions can change on a more regular basis, we want to make sure that you are seeing clearly and correct any change that has occurred over the prior year.

Q. What age would you recommend a person having their first eye exam?

A. Generally, around the same age that they start school, and fact is that about a year ago, Illinois passed a law requiring that everybody entering the school system... (should) have a full and complete vision exam as well as they do for a physical exam and dental evaluation.

Q. Is there any benefit that you’ve seen with this new law?

A. Absolutely, and that’s something that probably should have been done a long time ago. Generally, it’s hard to detect certain types of vision problems, such as if somebody has , what we call amblyopia, or a lazy eye, and it’s not detected, ultimately these things if not treated early, can potentially contribute to learning disabilities.

contacts with clothes Rosalie Chan Staff Reporter Keira Skenandore, freshman, washes her hands and opens her contact lens case. She takes out a colored contact with tiny green and aqua dots around the clear center. She decided that green eyes would match her blue converse shoes.

Skenandore has astigmatism and near-sighted vision. She wore glasses since second grade and got contact lenses in December 2008.

About a month ago, she got colored contacts in addition to Acuvue Oasys soft contacts.

“I like the change,” she said. “I wouldn’t wear them all the time because I’m not insecure about my eyes.”

Skenandore alternates between brown, aqua green and clear contacts that reveal her hazel eyes to change her

with Dr. Kenneth Portnoy, optometrist Interview by Oscar Najera

Q. Does vision (prescription) ever stop changing?

A. The most prominent problem is generally nearsightedness, or myopia, and that usually starts in the early, mid-teens and continues to change throughout the early, or mid 20s.

Then that stabilizes, and then after 40, we start to have the opposite problem where we begin to develop the loss of the ability to focus and zoom in up close.

Q. What exactly causes the change for nearsightedness?

A. For one thing, hereditary or genetic predisposition...so some place in your history there might be somebody who had nearsightedness. There’s also thought to be an environmental component such as the amount of close work, near work, reading and computer work we do. Since we are a nearpoint society today, generally, nearsightedness can increase (at) a little bit more rapid rate.

Q. For people who wear contacts, is there any benefit to wearing contacts over glasses?

A. Contact lenses today have some distinct benefits, especially as it relates to sports and athletics -- much easier to do those activities with contact lenses on. You get better peripheral vision, you don’t have the obstruction of the glasses and you get more normal vision with contact lenses than you do with glasses.

eye color and to match her outfit and shoes. When she wears moccasins, she wears brown contacts.

When she wears converse shoes, she wears green or regular contacts.

“I want her to be happy.

Trying on colored contacts kind of brought a light to her face. She was happy to be experimenting with different colors and looks,” Rickee Skenandore, K. Skenandore’s mother, said.

K. Skenandore said her close friends noticed when she wore colored contacts.

“Other people at school don’t really notice them,” K. Skenandore said. “People don’t ask if I’m wearing colored contacts when I’m actually wearing them. They only ask if I’m wearing them when I’m wearing clear contacts when my eyes are hazel.”

K. Skenandore rinses the

contact lens in the solution and dries her hands. Then she places it on the tip of her index finger. With her other hand, she pulls up on her upper eyelid and pulls down on her lower eyelid.

K. Skenandore said that it was harder to put colored contacts in.

The wearer’s vision can be affected when the colored part of the contact slides over the pupil or when the wearer’s pupils change size during the day.

K. Skenandore also said that regular contacts are more comfortable.

“They’re (regular contacts) smaller, and they take less time to get used to,” Skenandore said.

Skenandore positions the contact in her eye. After closing her eyes, rolling them and blinking a few times, she puts the other contact on.

Skenandore said she

Q. Normal vision meaning what?

A. Normal vision meaning that if you’re very, very nearsighted and you wear glasses, you actually see the world smaller than it really is.

And by correcting that prescription on the cornea on the front of the eye, as opposed to the glasses, you actually see the world more normally as opposed to a smaller view with the glasses.

Q. Would you say that color contacts sometimes aren’t as artificial looking?

A. There are three typical ways to tint the contact lense. Most contact lenses today come with a light blue handling tint that makes it easier to find and handle--that’s not a problem. Patients with lighter color eyes, they have enhancement tinting contact lenses that makes them a little more blue, green or aqua--that’s’ generally not a problem. The tinted or opaque lenses are great for cosmetics because they can take a brown eye and make it blue,green or aqua . However, there might be a little bit of an obstruction as the pupil gets bigger in those lenses in terms of people having a little bit of glare or flare or a little bit decrease in peripheral vision. But for the most part, they are safe.

Q. Are they more uncomfortable than regular contacts?

A. Some of the newer lenses today are roughly about the same comfort. But the tinted lenses, to my knowledge, don’t come in some of the newer materials that have been designed for increased oxygen permeability and increased wetability. So some of newer regular contact lenses have materials that are a little bit more beneficial for the eye to breathe and be comfortable.

Timeline of vision improvement

wanted bright blue contacts.

She tried them before, but her parents didn’t like them.

“They (bright blue contacts) looked so fake.

They were just over the top,” Ken Skenandore, Skenandore’s father, said.

“Personally I think she should just wear clear ones, but I can understand that she wants a change. “ According to K. Skenandore and her parents, her parents think she’s going through a phase of wearing colored contacts.

“Eventually she will go through it (the phase) because the natural look of her eye color is as unique and beautiful as it is,” Ms. Skenandore said.

What are the different kinds of eye doctors?

Optometrists

These doctors can give prescriptions and treat infections.

Ophthalmologist These doctors specialize in surgical care on the eye and often focus on a certain part of the eye.

Opticians These doctors help people choose their glasses and sell them.

Orthoptists: work with patients to help straighten ‘crossed eyes’ Ocularists: fit and make ocular prosthesis (artificial eyes) Design by Jocelyn Torres

Information by Oscar Najera

13th century - Glassmakers in 1268 - Roger Bacon writes that people should use Venice use two magnifying lenses crystal or glass lens shaped segments of a sphere with connected by hinges or pivot (an the convex side toward the eye in order to see letters better. He experiments with lenses and mirrors to find the inverted V shape) which can be principles of reflection and refraction. made from wood and metal.

1,000CE - The reading 1280 - Salvino degli Armati claims he invented eyeglasses, 16th Century - Developments stone, a glass sphere that creating a pair to correct far-sightedness. The glasses have made in glass making, laid on top of the material convex lenses and as Armati wore them he discovers it is allowing mass production of to magnify the letters, is possible to enlarge the appearance of objects by looking eyeglasses. invented. through the pieces of convex glass. It is unknown who specifically invented eyeglasses.

ocus Glasses

vs.

Contact Lenses

7

Photo Opinion What is the worst part of bad vision?

56 out of 117 people surveyed wore glasses

33 out of 117 people surveyed wore contacts

The distance between your eye and the lens sometimes creates distortion.

Worn right on the eye, for more natural vision and show your natural appearance.

Your entire field of view is in focus, allowing you to see as much around you as possible.

32 who needed either glasses or contacts said that they preferred glasses

Poor peripheral (side) vision.

40 who needed either contacts or glasses said that they preferred contacts

Constant awareness of frame and lens edge, as well as reflections off the backside of the lens.

With contacts, no annoying obstructions or reflections are in view.

Uncomfortable weight on your face and ears.

Periodic need for tightening or other adjustment.

No weight and resulting discomfort. No frame constantly slipping down your nose.

Glasses fog up with changes in temperature.

Contacts don’t fog up or collect precipitation.

Glasses are a distraction during games and sports.

No distractions, which makes contact lenses a favorite among athletes.

You can only wear some sunglasses if you need glasses.

It is possible to wear any type of sunglasses.

Glasses sometimes do not match clothing.

Contacts match everything you wear and you can also wear color contacts.

Glasses are easier to put on.

Glasses do not require any maintenance throughout the day.

Contacts take more time to put in.

Contacts may become dry or fall out during the day.

Survey Sidebar

117 students surveyed

How many times do you have your vision checked each year?

2 times: 12

0 times: 27

Once every 2 years: 24

Have you ever tried wearing glasses when you didn’t need to?

Yes: 53

No: 64

If you wear contacts, have you ever worn color contacts?

33 out of 117 students surveyed wore contacts

Yes: 6

No: 27

If you wear glasses, how many pairs of glasses do you own?

56 out of 117 students surveyed wore glasses

1 pair: 37 2 pairs: 12 3 pairs: 5 Four or more: 2

Robert Perales, freshman

Bullying leads to Monroy’s decision to wear contacts Karen Rodriguez Staff Reporter

1 time: 54

“I can’t play sports when they (glasses) get in the way, ”

While only a third grader, Katia Monroy, sophomore, started squinting to watch TV. As soon as she could she told her mom and soon black framed glasses occupied her face.

Even getting new glasses was exciting for Monroy. It had been almost a month since the squinting began.

“I was glad I was gonna be able to see,” Monroy said.

The Monday when she returned to school, however, was another story. People started insulting her with remarks about how ugly and nerdy she looked. Instead Monroy’s friends began calling her four-eyes when she walked into class.

Her glasses were baby blue, squared with a metal frame. Monroy said that the glasses were “teeny tiny because she was little.”

“At first my friends didn’t do it but then they started, just messing around. They called me four-eyes, dork, nerd and dweeb,” Monroy said.

According to Monroy, as soon as the insults started she began hating the glasses because it was the reason people teased her all the time when she was at her desk.

“Back in third grade, a guy randomly came up to me and called me four eyes. I didn’t even do anything,” Monroy said.

Since third grade, Monroy has worn about seven pairs of glasses. She started with one pair since it was recommended by the doctor.

However, since Monroy is keen on fashion, she did not mind so much.

“I’ve always liked fashion so to be able to get new glasses each year was pretty awesome,” Monroy said.

Even with her friends just kidding around with Monroy, she said that it didn’t prevent the hurt feelings.

Glasses had become part of her and until

1730 - Edward Scarlett uses rigid sidepieces that rest atop of the ears.

This rapidly spreads to the continents.

1780 - Benjamin Franklin creates bifocals, combining both concave and convex lenses for both types of vision correction. The top lens is used for distant viewing and a lower lens is used for reading.

1940 - Contacts were invented, but few used them. By 1970 softer lenses encouraged more people to wear contacts.

her vision improved, she said she would still be wearing them.

Claudia Herrera, sophomore and Monroy’s close friend, said that everyone has their own taste in glasses and that not everyone looks bad in them.

“I think Katia looks better with contacts because they (the glasses) are not falling off her nose all the time,”Herrera said.

According to Katia she felt less attractive when wearing her glasses and she felt like a nerd.

“At first I felt less attractive with glasses, but later on I got used to them,” she said.

Eventually the bullying got to Monroy.

She began to want contacts. It did not help that when she entered high school two of her friends already had contacts. Although many of her friends had made fun of her during elementary school, they soon forgot and moved on.

In seventh grade, Monroy began wearing make-up and she wanted people to see it. She worked on convincing her dad that she could could handle having the contacts.

“I’m a daddy’s girl so I convinced him that I was mature and responsible enough to have them (contacts),” she said.

The next day she wore her contacts.

Her friends saw her and they immediately commented.

“My girlfriends were like ‘OMG, you look pretty and you look different’. And my guy friends didn’t notice until my girlfriends did,’” Monroy said.

While having contacts can have its benefits, Monroy thinks it can get to be a hassle when taking them out at night. There have been occasions when Monroy becomes frustrated if the contacts don’t go in or come out easily.

Unlike glasses, contacts don’t fog up when it rains or snows.

According to Monroy, however, glasses make her look smart and it’s less hassle because she only has to put them on.

Information from Megan Jones Design by Katie Kalmes and Daniel Brount

2000 - Eyeglass frames began being designed for fashion. Lasik is created which is a surgery to a delicate part of the eye that can correct or restore vision of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. LASIK surgery is performed with a laser programmed to remove an amount of tissue from one’s cornea.

“I always have to bring my glasses or else I can’t see what the teacher is writing on the board in class,”

Cyrene Dacanay, sophomore

“There are lot’s of things but probably waking up in the morning and tripping over things because you can’t see them,”

Brenna Merrill, junior

“It is a hassle because you have to take them around everywhere,”

Han Chen, senior Photo Opinion by Megan Jones, Bety Camino, and Daniel Brount

8

La Voz

19 de marzo 2010

Jennie Dice: ¡Selena Vive!

Celebra la ‘Reyna del Tejano’

Cual es tu canción favorita de Selena y porque? “‘El chico del apartamento 512’ es mi canción favorita de Selena porque la letra se me hace muy bonita” Gabriela Pineda, senior, dijo. “‘Dreaming of you’ es mi canción favorita de Selena porque siento como que si me la estaba dedicando a mi” Jonatan Aragon, senior, dijo.

Jennie Alcantar A&E Editor

Mi mamá me dice historias de cuando estaba pequeña y desfilaba por toda la casa cantando y bailando con una de las mejores artistas latinas.

Selena Quintanilla Perez, mejor conocida como Selena, o la “Reyna del Tejano,” empezó su carerra cuando tenia solo seis años.

Su padre creó la primera banda de Selena, “Selena y Los Dinos,” cuando ella tenia nueve años. A los 15, ya habia ganado su primer “mejor vocalista femenina” en los “Tejano Music Awards.”

Aunque no recuerdo muy bien sus actuaciones, solo tenia un año cuando fallecio el 31 de marzo, 1995; siempre estuvo en mi vida diaria.

Sus canciones “Como La Flor,” “Bidi bidi bom bom,” “Baila esta cumbia” se escuchaban

Viaje para Perú posponido Jocelyn Torres Graphics Reporter Este verano, las clases de español fueron ofrecidas la oportunidad de visitar a Perú. Recientemente, los planes han cambiado, y el paseo se ha reprogramado a el verano del 2011.

“Quisimos que más estudiantes se interesen en el viaje y esperamos que se entusiasmen,” Joanne Amador-Zapata, maestra de español, dijo.

Otro beneficio que contribuye al cambio es que la compania quien va a anfitriar el viaje le ofrecio un descuento de $400 a los estudiantes si más personas van a Perú.

Para llamar la atención, los maestros encargados del viaje estan pensando en hacer un lavado de autos para recaudar fondos.

El costo, de originalmente alrededor de $3000, desiluciono a estudiantes que querian ir a Perú, como Leah Valenti, sophomore.

“Era demasiado costoso para mi. Muchas personas no podian ir por esa misma razon,” Valenti dijo.

El viaje a Perú presentará oportunidades para visitar lugares turisticos.

“Quiero ir a conocer una cultura diferente como ver Machu Picchu y también usar el idioma español en forma de conversación” Jenifer Garbarz, sophomore, dijo.

regularmente en las estaciones de la radio . Y todavia se recuerdan este dia.

Selena fue una de las primeras artistas biracial.

Su padre es mexicano, mientras su madre es americana de familia mexicana.

Aunque crecio más en la vida americana, su padre nunca dejó que se guiaran tanto por las costumbres americanas.

Su papá siempre quizo que ella tuviera algo relacionado con su cultura latina y cantando fue como lo logró.

El estilo que cantaba era “tejano,” una mezcla de musica variada en folk.

Musica tejana empezó en Texas, y muchos de los artistas originalmente de ahi, vasean sus carerras en el.

En 1997, Jennifer López intrerpretó a Selena en una pelicula de su vida. Enseña como crecio Selena y sus experiencias personales. El momento que me hace llorar cada vez que la veo, es cuando Selena es asesinada.

Además de una pelicula, el canal Univision le hace un tributo cada año alrededor del tiempo que falleció. Su musica tiene buen ritmo y la letra siempre es muy buena.

Asi que cuando estoy con mis amigos latinos, siempre terminamos cantando y bailando con musica de ella.

4. Machu Picchu es escondida por la densa jungla y es usualmente es conocida como “La cuidad sagrada”. Por un dia entero verán la vista espectacular de esta ciudad magestuosa.

5. Regresarán a Lima donde volveran a casa el mismo dia.

1. La primera parada en peru será en Lima donde verán la catedral y el museo de Larco.

Más tarde tendrán la opción de aprender el baile tradicional peruano.

Lima 2. Cuzco es siguiente en la lista de paradas y alli explorarán el imperio Inca. También se veran las ruinas de Sacsayhuamán.

Maccu Piccu Cuzco

Nazca

Sacred Valley

3. Terceramente, viajarán a Sacred Valley y alli interactuan con estudiantes locales en la visita a una escuela peruana. Y se continuará la marcha por el camino Inca.

www.vikingdrivingschool.com

$50 OFF Teenage Drivers Education Course

Visit us in Arlington Heights or Glenview 4222 N. Arlington Heights Road 600 Waukegan Road Call 847.698.7771 for more information!

Valid only with coupon. Expires 12/4/09. No valid with any other offer. Valid only at time of registration. One coupon per house.

Noe Zepeda, asistente de instrución de ELL, habla con la clase de Melloney Owens, maestra de ciencias sociales durante el segundo periodo de la escuela. El Sr. Zepeda también le asiste a Rebecca Castro y Bertha Sanchez, coordinadoras del club latino , en las juntas del club latino cada miércoles después de escuela desde las 3 p.m. a 4 p.m.

Gaby Najera

ayudar a la comunidad.

Un ejemplo de esto es La Voz Editor su involucración en el club Graduado de la clase latino.

Aunque no fue un ‘05, Noe Zepeda, ELL instructional assistant, regresa miembro del club latino c u a n d o a WHS. era un En su “Ciertos estudiante, experiencia en estudiantes lo S r .

WHS, Sr. Zepeda e p e d a fue involucrado buscan, qui- Zahora ayuda en el equipo de eren consultar todos los baloncesto y track miércoles and field. con el.” con el club “Yo me habría l a t i n o , implicado más asistiendo desde primer año,” a Rebecca Sr. Zepeda dijo sobre su experiencia en WHS Castro y Bertha Sanchez, Sr. Zepeda se especializó coordinadoras del club latino. en Historia y Estudios de El proximo paso en sociología.

Por el momento, Sr. la carrera del Sr. Zepeda Zepeda se esta enfocando en sera atender la escuela de

Rebecca Castro, maestra de español

Did you know that drivers education is a graduation requirement?

Fulfill your requirement with Viking Driving School receive $50 off your lessons!

Jennie Alcantar

Zepeda asiste clases de ELL

posgrado.

“Deja que los niños tomen el liderazgo y solo toma las medidas si es necesario,” la Sra. Sanchez dijo.

El Sr. Zepeda también ayuda a la Sra. Castro y la Sra. Sanchez con la nueva technología que la escuela tiene.

La Sra. Castro y la Sra. Sanchez creen que el Sr. Zepeda ayuda a facilitar las conversaciones que toman lugar durante las juntas del club latino y que pone un buen ejemplo.

La Sra. Sanchez cree que el Sr. Zepeda pone un buen ejemplo porque no solo es un graudado de WHS, pero también siguio adelante con su carrera por siguiendo al colegio.

A& E

Dancers learn tap for ‘Crazy for You’

from late grade school all through middle school, so it’s been a while,” Daly said.

Members of the musical began dance Focus Editor practice on March 1.

All but five students in this year’s spring Despite the majority of the cast not musical, “Crazy for You,” started rehearsals knowing how to tap dance prior to the musical, with no experience in the show’s major forms Ms. Rawlinson said, “(they) picked up a lot of dance: tap dancing. more than anticipated.”

With many characters who dance, the “Everyone is catching on really fast dancing in the musical becomes even more considering that most of us have never even important. put on tap shoes before this,” “A lot of shows are just Valenti said.

“It’s (tap) probdancing, but in this show 12 Both Valenti and Jenny ably the most Belcher, senior, experienced characters are dancers and aspire to be dancers so it makes it a lot difficulty with the time step, a challenging different,” Diane Rawlinson, tap combination used to give dance in my dance teacher, said. the tempo of the dance.

Leah Valenti, sophomore, “It’s weight transfer life but I really agrees about the dancing’s between two feet and it’s enjoy it and importantance, and she said really hard... I’ve been in class Ms. Rawlinson practicing,” Belcher said. “dancing basically makes up the whole show.”

Despite some difficulty, is a really good Valenti also said that tap Daly said the students who tapper so she differs from other types of dances did not know how to tap “are she has done. did a good job actually doing an amazing “You have to listen and feel of teaching us job.”“It took me a really long the beat a lot more in tap than the basics.” in other dances. To catch on to time to learn the things that a move, you have to know the they have learned in one week rhythm and know where to stress the sounds,” so they are doing really well,” Daly said.

Valenti said.

Students in the musical not only understand When auditions occurred on Feb. 8, 9 and tap dancing, but some of them, such as Belcher, 10, the majority of students did not know how also enjoy it. to tap dance.

“I like learning new things and it’s “I gave them all some basic combinations frustrating at first, but once Ms. Rawlinson has to see who could pick up things rhythmically us do the time step for a minute it sounds so because tap is about creating rhythms with neat to hear all of the tapping at the same time your feet,” Ms. Rawlinson said. and it’s so rewarding,” Belcher said.

The five students who knew how to tap Ms. Rawlinson said she also enjoys teaching auditioned separately. Christine Daly, senior; the tap dancing because she has not done so in Brianna Bitout, junior; Felicia McGuinn, a while. sophomore; Kaitlyn Nielsen and Mallory “It’s kind of fun. You get back into teaching Schiferl, freshmen, knew how to tap prior to it again and it comes right back, that’s for sure,” the audition.

Ms. Rawlinson said.

Katie Kalmes, senior, helps teach tap In order to have practice time at home dancing despite not being in the musical. over spring break, Ms. Rawlinson plans on At the audition, the students who did not completing most of the choreography before know how to tap learned different steps to see then. how quickly they would be able to learn.

“Crazy for You” will open on April 22 and “I tapped for about five years, I would say run through April 24.

Jenny Belcher, senior

Daniel Brount

e t a t s r e p u S Band nois at the

Hosted b Hall

rsity of Illi y the Unive

Krannert

te this to Supersta ey it s e k a m y th year that d symphon If WHS’ win e the fifth consecutive b l year, it wil it. to qualify for are selected ols, only 10 submits their o h sc 0 10 y ost Out of alm year wind symphonn than not they ch e a ft E o . st o rm o m rf d e p aterials an ntrance. recording mere is no automatic e h make it. T

Information by Karen Rodriguez Infographic by Jocelyn Torres

Tap History of Tap: *Influenced by clogging, step dancing and African Juba dance * Became very popular between 1930s and 1950s with stars like Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers and Gene Kelly

Basic Steps:

Spank = hitting the floor

with the ball of the foot in a backward motion

Shuffle = brush forward with ball of foot, and then brush backward with ball of foot Time Step = Stomp on

right foot, hop on left, shuffle with right foot and step on right, flap on left, step on right, stomp.

Repeat with opposite foot.

Infographic by Katie Kalmes

March 19, 2010

9

Dunlap’s newest book unveils Anastasia Mallorie Bromer Asst. Feature Editor

Susanne Dunlap’s new book “Anastasia’s Secret” brings a new view on the tragic tale of Anastasia Nicholavena Romanova, the last Grand Duchess of Russia who has been featured in many films and books.

In the book, Anastasia introduces herself by telling the story of her birth, then her brother’s.

She then goes on to describe her childhood with her many tutors, and she depicts her life with her family, the last royal family of Russia.

Personally, I didn’t know that much about what really happened to Anastasia until I started reading this book.

One of my favorite aspects about “Anastasia’s Secret” is how Dunlap writes.

As Anastasia matures and grows in the book, Dunlap’s writing style evolves as well.

After Anastasia introduces herself, the story begins with her as a 12-yearold.

While Anastasia wanders around the gardens, she hears a balalaika, a traditional Russian instrument, playing and goes to investigate.

She discovers where the music is coming from and meets Alexander Mikhailovich, addressed by Anastasia as Sasha. He is

one of the Composites, an elite group of guards for the royal family.

They become fast friends when Anastasia does not report him to his officials.

In many of the tales about what happened to Anastasia, the tale finishes after the revolution.

Dunlap wrote a story about Anastasia’s life before and during the revolution while adding in conflicts with Sasha and her parents who don’t want to accept that Anastasia is growing up.

Sasha teaches Anastasia about Russia while their friendship grows.

He manages to sneak her out of the palace to show her the real Russia.

Anastasia never realized Russia’s bad state of distress.

Although the rest of the book is excellent and suspenseful, the biggest problem I had with this book is the ending.

Dunlap has so many open doors to play around with, but she didn’t use that to her advantage and chose a very vague and inconclusive ending.

I would have had the book continue until the moment Anastasia dies.

Overall, I highly recommend reading this book.

It is historical fiction, but it is never dull.

10

March 19, 2010

A& E

Student directed play calls for improvisation

“Alice in Wonderland” Released March 5, 2010

Maegan Draka, Libby Fisher, Heather Bayer, juniors, and Sean O’Keefe, sophomore, pose during a “vacation photo” for the student directed play.

John Remaly, senior, pulled Draka and Fisher from the audience to participate in this section of improvisation.

To view or not to view?

Brianna Bitout

save your $

Mallorie Bromer Asst. Feature Editor Instead of directing a conventional play, John Remaly, senior, decided to make the show an improvisational performance based on “Whose Line is it Anyway?” with students from Ruff off the Cuff, the student improvisational group at WHS. Remaly, both performed in and directed the March 12 show.

“I wanted to do something that could show talent, but (would) work around the musical and improv was the

answer,” Remaly said.

In improvisational theater, actors have to play off one another’s actions and create a plot and flowing dialogue.

According to Orin Xavier, English teacher, he chose Remaly to direct the play because of his continual commitment to the drama department throughout his four years at WHS. “His comments are constructive and to the point about what good direction is about,” Mr. Xavier said.

The five person cast consisted of Remaly, Jenny Belcher, senior; Sean Kolodziej and Heather

Bayer, juniors; Sean O’Keefe, sophomore; and Harlan Rosen, freshman, with Jen Zorn, English teacher, as the adviser.

During the auditions, potential cast members ran through improv games, such as “freeze” and “one liners.”

“One liners is one of the hardest improv games to do,” said Kolodziej. “You stand in a line, and he gives you a subject, and you have to make a quick, funny statement.”

The cast rehearsed by practicing through improvisational games together similar to the ones used at auditions.

$1 theaterworthy

$

friday nightworthy

With the disappointing release of “Alice in Wonderland,” I’d have to say it’s director Tim Burton who has gone “entirely bonkers.”

With all of the hype the film has received since development began in April 2007, I admittedly expected Burton to make “Alice in Wonderland” his best film, but I stand corrected.

The movie, filmed in 2-D failed to translate into a 3-D experience by lacking any noticeable screen depth. The 3-D viewing would hardly pass off as any “experience.” If anything I would highly recommend a 2-D viewing.

Aside from this, the lackluster set disappointed me when matched up against Burton’s previous work on sets such as “Edward Scissorhands” and “Beetle Juice,” which showcased Burton’s signature eccentric directing style.

Then again, Alice Kingsley, played by Australian actress Mia Wasikowska, revisits “Underland” in the film, not “Wonderland.”

As a child she had misunderstood the name of the land. Keeping that in mind, perhaps the particularly ordinary set can be excused.

Within the first five minutes the premise sets Alice’s character up as a lonely dreamer who takes after her father: both believe in thinking the impossible. After running away from a proposal for marriage, she follows a white rabbit and falls down a rabbit hole, landing herself in “Underland” again with no recollection of the first visit.

In the beginning, Underland’s inhabitants repeatedly claim that the White Rabbit, voiced by Welsh actor Michael Sheen, brought back the wrong Alice and even the Mad Hatter, played by Johnny Depp, continues the speculation by adding

YouTopia

Screen

see it twice!

test

Bety Camino Photo Editor

that this Alice which stands before him has “lost her muchness” and therefore cannot be the same one. Regardless of the accusations, Alice stays in Underland due to a series of events that prevent the White Rabbit from sending her home. As Alice wanders through Underland, she treats the fantasy land like a dream, repeating her “it’s only a dream” mantra for most of the movie until she acknowledges the strange world as reality. Aside from basic quotes like those referencing the mad hatter or how Alice lives to think of the impossible as her father had, the dialogue seems to fall flat.

Despite my overall distaste for the film, I will commend the casting. Each actor brought awe-inspiring dimension to their character, lifting the original 2-D sketches made by John Tenniel and giving them complete personality ranges which would bring “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” author Lewis Carroll, to his knees. Accompanying a phenomenal cast, the costume design was outstanding, eye-catching and completely personal yet unifying. The dramatic and sharp attire worn by the Red Queen, played by Helena Bonham Carter, and the elegant and pure designs worn by the White Queen, played

by Anne Hathaway, contrast each other yet both fit the style of the film.

Though I wouldn’t be as bold to say that it’s the greatest film of 2010 as predicted or even that it’s Tim Burton’s masterpiece film, I could say it provides a way to kill the time.

The film fulfills its purpose to entertain on a Friday night, but fails to break cinematic barriers. “Alice” remains a simple film made by an accredited director, but in the long run will fall categorized as yet another basic adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland.”

Dan Malsom

Jon Tracey

Editor-In-Chief

Forum Editor

Top Pick

Who Wants To Be A YouTubillionaire 2!?

The game show host for “Who Wants to Be a YouTubillionaire 2!?” has a voice that rings like a congested TV salesman still going through puberty. What Dan Brown has created, however, made me waste a good 30 minutes on YouTube.

Runners Up Cubicle War 2010

Staticy Cat VS. Balloons

Condescending Army Commercial

Brent and Dirk return in Cubicle War 2010, but this time Dirk has been promoted and plans to use this new found power for pranks.

This video’s cute factor ranks through the roof as this kitten attempts to rid himself of a balloon. The only catch?

The static electricity makes the balloon stick to his fur.

It just goes to show that military training leaves people prepared for working on a team, taking out the trash, and eating coconut pound cake.

Sports

March19, 2010

11

Track newcomers help set pace Ryan Griesmeyer Sports Editor This year the girls indoor track team welcomes a team of 55 girls compared to last year’s, which numbered in the low 40s.

Top returning athletes consist of Amy Burke, Amber Hackney, Erin Schanaberger, Angela Tichelbaut, Amber Wentzlof, seniors, and Colleen Creech-Woolcott, Dee Hanna, Mayra Ocampo and Kim Voltaire, sophomores.

Last year, as a newcomer to the team, Burke set the pole vault indoor record at 8 feet, and the outdoor pole vault record at 9 feet and 3 inches. She also participates in the 55 meter, low hurdles and works on shot put.

“My goal this year is to make it to State,” Burke said. “In the long run, I want to make finals and possibly place. I want to make it in pole vault.”

Sydney Keith and Eva Poznanski, freshmen, contribute to this year’s varsity team.

In Keith’s first high school meet, she assisted the Wildcats in a second place finish overall by placing second in the long jump and the 55 and 200 meter dashes.

“I was nervous and surprised when I made varsity,” Keith said. “Once I was with the group of girls I was better though. I learned a lot because they used to be in my shoes.”

After losing six seniors from last year’s team, one being Olivia Semeria, ‘09 graduate, who held the school record in the 200 meter dash, the team practices speed, strength and technique along with team bonding.

“The team is looking really good. I was surprised because we lost so many seniors, “ Burke said. “We have some good freshman and our older girls really stepped it up. There is a lot of depth in our team and we are working hard.”

The team’s next meet is at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 20 at Lewis University.

“This year, I hope to grow as a team,” Mike Theodosakis, varsity coach, said.

Boys volleyball return with old, new players Stevi Anderson Feature Editor The varsity boys volleyball team comes into the new season losing only two seniors from last year. Tryouts began on Monday, March 8.

Seven players returned to the varsity team while seven joined them from the junior varsity team.

“It’s always exciting to start a new season and see the eager athletes who are ready for a good season,” Ed Uhrik, coach, said.

The years that these team members have played brings the awareness of the game and how to play as a team, according to Coach Uhrik.

“I think we have good chemistry (as a team), and this will be a really solid season,” Paul Sawicki, senior and returning varsity member, said.

Coach Uhrik said that having a lot of experience “helped them learn what helps make or break a team, and hopefully they’ll come in with the right attitude and effort to make the team successful.”

Coach Uhrik hopes that a goal of raising their previous conference score will act as a good starting point.

“I have confidence in the season, since it’s the last season for all the varsity senior starters,” Sawicki said.

The team plays against St. Viator’s on March 30.

Badminton coaches Softball expands to three teams, coaches set guidelines Jes Martinez Staff Reporter The badminton team started off its season with tryouts on Monday and Tuesday, March 2 and 3.

“We expect girls to develop strong skills to lead them to state, have a good time and have fun,” Colleen Clifford, JV coach, said.

Carrie Mattingly, underclassmen coach, said she is excited to start coaching the freshmen and sophomores.

“While we lost a lot of talented seniors last year, the new girls we’ve added to the team have some real skill.

It’ll be exciting to see how

Jess Musto

Water polo wins first games

Leah Malsom, sophomore, guards a Mundelein player at the game on March 15. Girls varsity lost the game 12-6. “We didn’t play our best. It has its ups and downs. Overall we didn’t work well together as a team,” Malsom said.

Katie Kalmes Web Editor Girls water polo began its season at the start of this month and have quickly jumped to a 3-1 starting record as of March 16.

The girls faced Conant High School in a game last Thursday, March 11. WHS won with a final score of 16-4.

“At our Thursday game against Conant, everyone was able to contribute and we all were able to work well together as a team which allowed us to win by a large amount,” Leah Malsom, sophomore, said in an e-mail interview.

Top scorers included Amy Wilson, senior, who scored 7 points, Christa Khatcherian, senior, who scored 6 points, Malsom who scored 2 points and Emily Sullivan, senior and defense player, who made one goal.

“I had a really good game Thursday... I swam hard, had a couple good fast breaks, shut my girl down defensively and I had a couple assists,” Khatcherian said.

Angela Reinhart, freshman, and Katie Crouch, junior, race against Mundelein High School at an indoor track meet. The meet took place on March 5 at home.

Jennie Alcantar

Keith, Poznanski contribute to varsity team as returning athlete Burke aims to make State

According to Khatcherian, other promising players include Kaitlyn Webb, senior and goalie, and Callie Schoeneman, junior and starter.

“Webb’s goalie skills have multiplied since last season, Leah (Malsom) is returning as well which is a strength for us, and now Callie (Schoeneman) started the first two games and did well,” Khatcherian said.

The varsity team faces Lyons High School next at an away game at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 27.

“Our team goals are to win Conference, go to State and make history for Wheeling water polo,” Wilson said.

Results for the team’s games throughout the week of March 15 were unavailable at press time.

much they can improve,” Coach Mattingly said.

The girls have practice everyday for two hours, usually from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. “(Our expectations are) to really continue working on solidifying our skillls, foot work and their attitude overall,” Gabriela Medina, varsity coach, said.

The varsity girls had their first meet on March 15 against Glenbrook North and won nine out of the 15 matches.

“It’really fun (being on the team) beacuse we all practice together and we get breaks or drills, so it’s very fun,” Cyrene Dacanay, sophomore, said.

Jess Musto Staff Reporter This year the softball team’s turnout of about 40 new and returning players, has allowed three teams and three new coaches.

With three teams for softball this year, all the players are now able to get the maximum playing time they need to improve on all their basic skills.

With seven seniors returning this year and the loss of only one player from last year, Mike Caringella, varsity coach, said he hopes to “build a strong team.”

Along with the 22 new incoming freshman, the softball team will have three

new coaches for the three teams: Caringella, John Kritek, junior varsity coach, and Carol Levin, freshman coach.

“Its a lot different to have a change in coaches after three years,” Tori Menelle, senior, said.

During practices, Coach Caringella works on individual skills with the players and then moves on to game situations to help improve the team’s skills.

“We expect to work hard and do the best we can and hopefully have a good season,” Menelle and Scout Scanlon , seniors, said.

Varsity plays its first game on March 29 at DundeeCrown High School.

Wiegel leaves coaching, Upcoming adopts twins Events

March 19, 2010 Volume 46 Issue 7

Girls Water Polo 6 p.m., March 19 Vernon Hills Boys Baseball 4:30 p.m., March 22 Dundee Crown

Wiegel leaves coaching, adopts twins

Girls Soccer 11 a.m., March 23 Maine West

Shelly Wiegel, girls basketball head coach, watches from the sidelines as her team faces Elk Grove High School on Jan. 29 at home. The girls won the senior night game 47-42. According to Coach Wiegel, the fourth quarter of the game was the best they had played all season.

Megan Jones Staff Reporter Shelly Wiegel, girls varsity basketball coach, has coached the girls basketball team since 2004, accomplishing a 163-28 record, but she will not coach next year because she is adopting twins.

In 2004, Wiegel took over the basketball program and has won four regional titles, one sectional and one super sectional. Under her influence, the girls basketball team has won the Mid- Suburban League championship for three years in a row.

Wiegel informed the basketball team during their end of the season meeting that she would no longer be coaching.

“I think the team understood that adopting twins is a big commitment, and it would be hard for me to be a committed coach and a committed parent. I had to choose one and I think they accept my decision,” Ms. Wiegel said.

Ms. Wiegel is adopting two twin girls, Alexandra Mae and Delaney Jillian Wiegel, who were born on Feb. 5.

With Ms. Wiegel as coach, the girls basketball team finished their 2008-09 season with a record of 33-2, the most successful record in girls varsity basketball WHS history “I was surprised when she told me because she has been so successful. I thought she would continue to do it for a long time. She has made some significant changes in the basketball program,” Donald Rowley, girls athletic director, said.

Wheeling never won more than 20 games in one season before Ms. Wiegel took over. She won 25 games in the 2004-05 season.

“I am going to miss the group dynamic of our team. I also miss the superfans and the crowded gyms with people supporting our team. The school and the community really got behind us the last six years,” Ms. Wiegel said.

According to Ms. Wiegel, her three favorite

memories of the basketball team are winning their first regional in her first season, winning the conference title in her fourth season for the first time in school history and taking third place at State last year.

“We are definitely going to miss her.

Anyone who has to replace her has big shoes to fill,” Jessica Hernandez, girls varsity assistant coach, said.

Mr. Rowley and Dr. Steven May, assistant principal for student activities, will be looking for a replacement after the girls basketball state tournament is over. According to Ms. Wiegel, they will be looking for someone who will be committed and will keep developing the program.

“I definitely think I will coach again at WHS. I have coached track and basketball here, and would love to get involved again with one of the programs a few years down the road.

I will just have to see how it goes,” Ms. Wiegel said.

Pool problem moves polo Chris Schwarz The varsity boys water polo team started its season with a 13-5 loss to Conant High School last week.

“Everyone went into the game so energetic, but after the first quarter we were done,” Andy Klyuka, junior, said. “My confidence went from 110 to below zero.”

The team attributes its loss partially to the fact that the pool at WHS broke down, leaving the team without a place to practice.

According to Andy Eiter, junior, the pool filter wasn’t working and they couldn’t use it for practice.

“We hadn’t been in the pool for 4 or 5 days.

We only had one week of practice before our first game,” Eiter said.

According to Eiter the team works on conditioning in practice so that they can be a faster team with greater stamina.

“We have been working on drills to move around a lot more. We’re conditioning a lot so that should increase our endurance,” Eiter said.

Clark Jensen, Dan Kubeck and Tomas Echeverri, juniors and Jivcko Simoneov, senior scored in the game against Conant.

“We’ll get better, we’re still improving and we have a young team,” Eiter said.

Results from games during the week of March 15 were unavailable as of press time.

Ross sets indoor high jump record Brianna Bitout Assi. Web Editor Only five weeks into the track season, Weston Ross, senior, broke the indoor high jump record with a 6-foot-7inch jump, tying his outdoor track record. His high jump score and his 6.3 second 55 meter dash put him in the top 10 in the state.

Although the indoor season has meets, the team uses

that time for conditioning.

Tom Polak, varsity coach, said he was surprised by Ross’s accomplishment even with all of the conditioning during the indoor season.

“I’m trying to figure out why he’s excelling because we’ve had very little training in high jump,” Coach Polak said.

Despite Ross’ early lead in the track season, he keeps his cool and remains a positive role model to the younger athletes on the team,

according to Coach Polak.

“I believe it will be a positive season and we will have more of a team than in the past...the kids are encouraging each other more.

If we continue down this path, we will surprise people.”

Ross said that he does not worry about the rest of the season, even though Coach Polak and the rest of the team hold him to a high standard.

“The only thing I fear is fear itself,” Ross said.

“To win because everyone wants to win”

“To score in games and improve team quality”

Steven Yfantis, senior baseball

Question

whs

Jordan Quiroz, freshman, competes against the Mundelein track team on March 5 at home while Jon Castillano, freshman, catches up to the pack from behind.

What motivates you to play or work hard?

Morgan Lockwood, sophomore water polo

Jennie Alcantar

Staff Reporter

S

POR TS

Girls Badminton 8 a.m., March 27 Schaumburg Invite

Photo courtesy of Lair

Boys Water Polo 5 p.m., March 23 Highland Park