-How to Try to Prevent the Inevitable -Students’ Perspectives -Motivational Quotes -Gift Ideas -Where to go on a Date -What Kids are Doing -History of the Day • What is love? -Rosa Parks Turns 100 February 2013 Issue #1 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Senioritis 2 Valentine’s Day 5 Gift Ideas 6 What is Love? 7 Black History 8 Sports 9 Art Competition 10 Clubs/Musical 11 Puzzle 14 Maze 16 About Us 17 SENIORITIS - A crippling disease that strikes high school seniors. Symptoms include laziness and an excessive wearing of track pants, old athletic shirts, sweatpants, athletic shorts, and sweatshirts. Also features a lack of studying, repeated absences, and a generally dismissive attitude. The only known cure is a phenomenon known as graduation. - Urban Dictionary -Cooper March As the frost of January and Springboro High School’s semester exams melts away, there seems to be a spring fever going about the school. This condition particularly affects seniors, and side affects include lax homework performance and dropping test grades. But what exactly is this disease? We surveyed seniors in Mr. Porter’s classes asking for their perceived susceptibility to and understanding of this timely circumstance: senioritis. What one student humorously defined as “literally, inflammation of the senior,” senioritis was unanimously agreed upon to be the drop in motivation a senior experiences when faced with the last month, last half, or great majority of his or her senior year. Reasons were cited to be college acceptance, warm weather, and anticipation for the end of the high school experience. Some said they’re slacking off on homework, others are studying less for tests, and one student said “I just go home and sleep instead.” The malady itself seemed to creep in to our own survey; we received answers such as “don’t do anything/perhaps” and “senioritis is not wanting to fill this out.” It’s plain to see that senioritis has spread greatly and the senior class has reasons to offer for their drop in motivation. “Life is so much easier if you just face the facts *and complete your assignments in a timely and well-organized manner+.” feel like doing a few bookwork problems one night, but we would like to bring up some consequences of this risky behavior. Most seniors are banking on either perfect attendance “After a storm*and homework+ comes a calm *and graduation+.” – Matthew Henry or all 90s to exempt exams this May. That alone is a reminder to do well and show up. Also, AP tests are around the corner, and college, which largely causes this motivation- – Gabriella Furlong Senioritis, however, is not just the celebration it appears to be. The affects of senioritis are well-observed: cheating, copying, missing work, and truancy. The Roar is not attempting to convict someone who doesn’t al decline, demands rigorous study habits for success. The New York Times reports that the University of Washington voids about 24 acceptances annually based on poor performance second semester, and many more college-bound students from a variety of universities are setting an ominous start to their college careers with a letter expressing disappointment from their deans. “By failing to prepare *for a big test+, you are preparing to fail *at life+.” – Benjamin Franklin Senioritis needs to be handled carefully. It’s fine to be optimistic about the future and have fun with friends. However, a little motivation can go a long way when students consider that colleges are watching them closely, even after enrollment deposits are submitted. "I hope people give me chocolate. That is all." "Valentine’s is like Christmas; you hope you get stuff, you give some stuff, and you're sad if you don't get any. Hope I get something." "Flowers? Check. Candy? Check. Card? Uh oh..." "Happy Valentines Day, me! :D" "Who needs a date? I’ve got my friends! Let's show them Valentine’s like a boss!" "They should play “What is Love” on the announcements! That would be hilarious!" Thoughts compiled by Austin Marrow From diamonds and chocolate to roses and cards, Valentine’s Day is laced with tradition. A holiday that seems to be written by the heart of a woman, this celebration is not always the way February the 14th has been celebrated. It is known throughout history as a day of love, but it didn't become the Valentine’s Day that we know until the 17th century. Before the rise of Christianity, February 14th was a day devoted to a festival called the Feast of Lupercalia. The event took place in the Roman Empire and was a celebration of fertility and harvest. During the feast, women were whipped by young soldiers so they might be blessed with fertility in the coming year. Afterwards, unwed girls placed their names into an urn to be drawn by the city's bachelors. The two became partners for the year, which was an arrangement that usually led to marriage. When the rise of Christianity outlawed all pagan festivals and traditions, the Feast of Lupercalia was cast aside. Although Lupercalia isn’t linked to the modern Valentine’s Day, this time of year remained connected to love and romance in the eyes of Rome. The Valentine’s Day that we know today comes from two varying legends of the Catholic Saint Valentine (or Valentinus). In the best known version, the Roman emperor believed that unmarried men make better, focused soldiers. He made it illegal for young men to get married in Rome, but St. Valentine defied his emperor's laws and married young couples in secret. When he was discovered, he was killed and became a martyr of love, which allegedly occurred on February 14th. The second legend says that Valentine helped Christians escape from harsh Roman prisons. Also killed, he wrote a letter to the woman he loved beforehand. The letter was signed “From your Valentine” and is often referred to as the first Valentine card. With the dispute aside, what matters is what St. Valentine represented: love. Geoffrey Chaucer, an author, was the biggest advocate of Valentine's Day. His romantic tales of love and retelling of the story of St. Valentine popularized the saint throughout Europe. In both France and Britain, the “day of love” was reinstated during medieval times with allusions to the Catholic priest. People exchanged cards and girls dreamed of their future husbands. Just like today, it fell on February 14th, a day that corresponds both with the ancient Feast of Lupercalia and the beginning of birds mating season. For centuries this day has been ingrained in our minds as being a day devoted to love, no matter what the origin. From Europe, the holiday spread to America, Canada and Mexico until it finally reached Australia. Today, Val- entine's Day is the second most celebrated holiday in the world, topped only by New Years. Traditions vary from country to country, but the ideals and values of Valentine’s Day remain universal. It's a day of romance, a day to declare your feelings to the one you love, and a day to exchange cards and kind words with friends and family. With Valentine's Day upon us, you may be looking for ideas on how to make the day special for you and a loved one. We compiled some ideas for the perfect gift for your partners. 1. Jewelry, but make it meaningful. Add a personal charm or think of her favorite colors. 2. Candy, all girls love sweets and it's something light hearted and classic. 3. Flowers, an all-important Valentine's Day tradition- Red for passion, pink for sweet heart, yellow for friendship, and white for true love. 1. Baked goods, like cakes and cookies 2. Candles, they create any mood and many aromas. 3. Cologne or perfume, a cute gift they'll be sure to appreciate. If you're spending the day with a special someone and haven't made plans yet, you could always go with the classic movie and dinner. If you're an active couple, going dancing, ice skating, or bowling could make the day special for you two. However, many of you out there aren't spending the day with a special someone. Instead of moping about, you could invite your other single friends over for a night out— have a group dinner at a favorite restaurant or treat yourself to a movie or mall trip. Also, your group could 1. Mixed tapes/CDS, it's a thoughtful gesture to add sweet songs that remind you of them. 2. A Valentine's Day Card 3. Stuffed animals, this time of year many local stores sell a plethora of cuddly animals. 4. There's also the gift card option! get together and play laser tag! There's also the option of staying and giving yourself a spa night, with face masks and fingernail painting. Guys may want to get together and have pizza or play video games, or whatever it is you guys love to do! Abby McGuire Love. It’s all the cliché words that form the definitions of the action, it’s the senseless following of one’s heart, and it is most definitely a four letter word. It falls out and disappears on those who forget how to capture it. Love arrives with a smile and leaves with a slap. It’s this crazy thing that seems basically impossible to hold onto just because it happens in so many forms. The thing is that although this mess of an emotion exists in both horrible and great ways, we’d be nothing without it. Promising that it’s more than just a teddy bear with plastic eyes and a heart wrapped in its arms may not be enough to convince some people, but there has to be more in reality. If it wasn’t so influential, why would people do strange things for this one concept? Why would we scream out the words of our favorite songs? Why would the complexity of it end in such simple ways? People will spend a lifetime trying to figure out its mysteries only to find out that it has none. Love is all the simple things in life we forget to acknowledge. Dreams, tears, that stupid laugh you will never forget, the fact that the sun shines for you every single day, and the one thing you do without trying: existing. So maybe we are stupid for believing that it is alive; maybe it isn’t real, but at least we all get to chase it together. So maybe you are wondering what everybody else is thinking? Well allow us to feed your curiosity with Springboro High School’s definitions of love: “[Love is] to be able to live life without that “[Love is] mutual respect.“ person, but not choosing to let a day go by -Allison White (senior) without them in it because they make your “[It is] an intense personal attachment life better.” with someone else. “ -Becky Lewis (senior) -Anonymous “Love is overwhelming compassion and “You know you're in love when you can't concern for others.” fall asleep because reality is finally better -Jackie Wood (senior) than your dreams.” “I don’t know…” -Maddie Ritter (Dr. Suess) (senior) -Cameron Funk (junior) “Love is a verb.” “Love is understanding. “ -John Leis (senior) -Anonymous “….People in their 40s don’t even know “[Love is] the ability to close your eyes and what love is…” wake up in 100 years next to the same -Linde K. (senior) person with the same smile on your face.” -Jake Pfahl (senior) “Um, [love is] when you want to spend the rest of your life with someone… That’s what my mom says.” -Mary (freshman) “Arianna Rohrig.” -Markus (sophomore) “[Love is] an unconditional feeling.“ -Marium (sophomore) “[You are in love] when you would die for someone. “ -Alex Rech (senior) “Love is when you enjoy someone’s existence enough you are willing to devote the rest of your life to making their life perfect.“ -Jacob Hardin (junior) So maybe we know nothing, but maybe we know something… Remembering Rosa Parks: 1913—2005 The civil rights activist would have celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this month. Although Rosa Parks' death occurred nearly a decade ago, America still remembers the woman who wouldn't move. On her 100th birthday, February 4th, the United States Postal Service released a stamp to commemorate the life of a woman whose actions helped spark the Civil Rights movement. The stamp shows a picture of Rosa Parks as she might have looked on the day she refused to give up her seat to a white man, a day that forever changed American society. gomery for her noncompliance on the city bus, Parks continued to make strides in the Civil Rights Movement despite the threats she faced each day. She became a supporter of Malcolm X and the “Black Power” movement of the 1960s. She was the co-founder of instituEveryone knows the story of Rosa Parks' defiance on that day in tions devoted to improving the lives of youths and making sure 1955, but Parks' contribution to nobody was denied the rights that the Civil Rights movement is more than just one act of civil disobedi- most Americans take for granted. We remember Rosa Parks for ence. Alongside her husband, she combated the recurring problem of her courage and devotion to improving civil rights throughout her racial violence. She raised money for the victims, like the Scottsboro life. After a lifetime of this, she was Boys, and gave support to women able to prove her point by simply whose injustices were ignored be- saying no. When Parks chose to remain seated, she faced arrest, cause of their race. Even after her arrest in Mont- death threats, and hostility from the city she called home. “There had to be a stopping place,” Parks said, “... I had decided that I would have to know, once and for all, what rights I had as a human being and a citizen, even in Montgomery, Alabama.” There was more to Rosa Parks than just the woman who refused to give up her seat. She was an activist, a radical, and one of the most courageous women in American history. Her actions helped spark a revolution, her devotion inspired a generation, and her determination changed the world. She died at age 92, in 2005, but America will never forget her. — Hayley Atkins Springboro Swim and Dive Last weekend, the swim team did a phenomenal job at the Sectional Meet. The boys’ team placed second at the Centerville Meet on Friday night and the girls placed fifth at……on Saturday. The dive team competed on Wednesday, February 16, and also did a great job! As for the boys’ team, many boys qualified for the Districts Meet, the most in quite a few years. The 200 Medley (Grant Sellers, Logan Joo, Justin McKinnon, and Justin Chapman), the 200 Free (Max Harendza, Kyle Smith, Logan Joo, Robert Kahmann), and the 400 Free ( ) Relays all made it on to Districts. The 200 Free Relay is even ranked fifth! Individually, Max Harendza qualified in the 200 Free, Grant Sellers in the 100 Back, Grant Schneider in the 100 Breast, Kyle Smith in the 50 Free and the 100 Breast, Robert Kahmann in the 50 Free and 100 Free, and Alex Matthews in the 500 Free. The 200 Free Relay set a new school record, as did Alex Matthews in the 500 Free. On the girl’s side, they also did a fantastic job. The 200 Medley, the 200 Free, and the 400 Free Relays all qualified for Districts, as did Ashley Whitely, Rebecca Nelson, Allison Clough, Shelby Tomasiak, Hannah Whitely, and Marianne Kahmann. And let’s not forget the dive team! Julia Hazel got fifth and is moving on to Districts, Katy Jobe got tenth, and Haley Oda got twelfth. Congratulations, girls! Good luck to all qualifiers this weekend at Districts! Hockey Updates Springboro High School hockey team won against St. Xavier in the Swohshl Championship game this past Sunday, 3-1. This is the third consecutive year that Springboro has won this. They also defeated Elder in Centerville. They resume play this Sunday at The Ice House at 3pm at Nation Water Arena. ART COMPETITION WINNERS Molly This year’s school musical is “Fiddler On the Roof”, a play about a man trying to marry off his three eldest daughters traditionally when everything seems to be going wrong. All three girls love someone other than their betrothed husband and don’t want to go through with the weddings. During all this they’re being forced out of their homeland for being Jewish. Showtimes for the musical are Thursday, May 2nd at 8pm; Friday, May 3rd at 8pm; Saturday, May 4th at 8pm; and Sunday, May 5th at 3pm. We meet on Fridays in Ms. Lewellen’s room! • Poetry Readings Group books (ex/ Perks of Being a Wallflower, Cloud Atlas) Art Sharing Music Discussions Movie Nights! Contrary to its name, Lit Club gets together to discuss all things art and music as well as literature. Past events have included a “white elephant” gift exchange and a “book hate” session at Dorothy Lane Market. Join in! The Young Democrats Club By Julia Cash As of the 2012-2013 school year, a new club called The Young Democrats has emerged in Springboro High School. This club, founded by Julia Christie, myself (Julia Cash), and Graeme Maternie, is set to spread the democratic word and teach today’s youth about what being a Democrat is all about. So far, The Young Democrats have had two meetings, one informational meeting about the club’s goals and opportunities, and a second meeting where we tackled the subject of gay marriage (specifically Proposition 8). During the club’s meetings, members are given a subject to talk about that is current and possibly controversial in today’s society. The meeting is conducted by the co-founders, but we encourage an open discussion where members can debate different opinions on the issue and decide what the Democratic stance would be. In our last meeting, we split into groups where we had focus questions and talked about Proposition 8, what it did to same-sex couples, and what the future of gay marriage might be. Our objective is to explain to all of our members that they have the freedom to choose any political beliefs they like, and that they should be able to distinguish their own thoughts outside of what social media and their peers might believe. We try to accomplish all of this while still having fun and keeping the mood light and not argumentative. As for the future of this club, there is no set date for the next meeting. To see when The Young Democrats will meet, just listen to the morning announcements. As the year progresses, the club intends to cover social and economic issues that are important to the Democratic platform, hopes to possibly debate with a rival club, and wants to provide a number of volunteer opportunities. For more information about the club you can talk to one of the co-founders or stop by Ms. Lewellen’s room, E-109. It’s never too late to join! Remembe ring Remember, this maze is printable! If you caomplete it, you may meet your true love within the month ;)
© Copyright 2024