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Home of the
Wolves
Pearl City
February
2015
High School
The Howler
Tip of 2 caps
College Now/
PC students
to earn pair
of diplomas
BY ANICKA STULTZ,
Staff writer
UPCOMING EVENTS
While graduating on
consecutive days might sound
odd, four Pearl City High
School seniors have found a
way to make school history by
doing just that.
In May, Pearl City has four
seniors who are expected to
graduate with not only a high
school diploma but also an
associate’s degree f rom
Highland Community College.
A a ro n P a ch e co , S i dn ey
Finkenbinder, Sydni DeHahn
and Jennifer Thomas will be
obtaining their high school
diploma and also will be
recognized
for
their
achievements in the College
Now program at PCHS
graduation ceremonies.
They are slated to graduate
from Highland on May 16 and
While they spend most of their time at Highland
Community College in Freeport, most of the four Pearl
City seniors remain busy in Pearl City High School
extra-curricular activities. Sidney Finkenbinder (above,
practicing for the speech team), Aaron Pacheco, Sydni
DeHahn and Jennifer Thomas are expected to become
the first Pearl City students to earn their associate’s
degree and high school diploma in the same month.
from Pearl City on May 17.
To graduate from both, students
had to take the classes required for
graduation as well as their College
Now classes. PCHS counts the
college classes as if they were high
school classes.
“It hasn’t been a cake walk,”
Pacheco said.
C o l l eg e No w h a s i t s
challenges.
Online classes don’t work
well with everyone and not
everyone works well with the
college students. According to
DeHahn, older-aged students
were more accepting of her,
and she made friends she
would have never made if she
didn’t go to Highland earlier.
(GRADS continued on page 6)
“(Balancing life & College Now) hasn’t been a cakewalk.”
— Aaron Pacheco, one of four Pearl City seniors expected to graduate
from Highland College and Pearl City High School in May
 FRIDAY: Boys’ basketball vs.
Scales Mound (senior night),
6 p.m.
 FRIDAY-SATURDAY: Aaron
Pacheco competing in
Impromptu at State Speech Meet
in Peoria Civic Center
 TUESDAY: Academic team at
Eastland, 4 p.m.
 TUESDAY: No. 3-seeded Pearl
City vs. No. 6 Orangeville at
Durand Class 1A Boys’ Basketball
Regional, 7 p.m. (winner plays
No. 2 Lena-Winslow at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday)
 FEB. 27: High school career fair
 FEB. 28: All-Conference
Academic Bowl tournament,
9 a.m.
 MARCH 2: Spring sports
practice officially begin (baseball,
softball & track and field season)
 MARCH 3-4: Juniors taking the
Prairie State Achievement Exam
(ACT testing on March 3 and
Workkeys on March 4)
Page 2
Testing 1, 2, 3:
Upcoming exams
present challenges
BY ZAYLINN
GROSSENBACHER,
Staff writer
New Pearl City Schools band teacher Kim Krogull, left, joins the farewell party
for Sarah Flikkema, right, who resigned as head of the band department.
Farewell Flikkema,
Carry on Krogull
Sudden resignation
stirs changes in music,
special ed departments
BY DANI LEE,
Co-Editor
Due to an undisclosed personal reason,
Sarah Flikkema has resigned after one-and-a
-half years of being a music teacher at Pearl
City Schools.
Her last day was Jan. 30.
Flikkema was the high school Music
Appreciation 1 and 2 teacher as well as the
band instructor. She enjoyed her positions
and said the feeling of pride and joy students
acquired as they accomplished a new task is
something she will never forget.
“I’ll miss the students and the faculty the
most,” Flikkema said. “The students were
eager to learn and participated in everything
we did. I couldn’t have asked for anything
better.”
“I thought Mrs. Flikkema was a good band
director, and I enjoyed playing under her,”
said Garrett Slick, a PCHS junior percussion
player. “It'll be a change for the band, but I
don't see it as being drastic. Of course, the
problem of finding a new director may be
difficult. It will all work out for the best.”
The students will miss Flikkema and her
fun spirit she presented in class.
“It is sad because she’s a good teacher,”
said Karly Schneider, a PCHS senior in
Flikkema’s Music Appreciation 1 class. “I
wish her luck in whatever she does.”
As far as finding a replacement, PCHS
administration put a plan in motion.
A junior high volleyball coach and a PCHS
high school and junior high special
education aide, Kim Krogull already attained
an endorsement in middle school music.
Therefore, she steps in and is taking over
Flikkema’s position.
Krogull will be considered a substitute
teacher the rest of the year. At year’s end, the
Pearl City administration will re-evaluate the
music program and its direction.
“I’m excited about my new position,”
Krogull said. “I’ve always loved music and
I’ve been playing since sixth grade.”
To join the band department, Krogull left
the special ed department with a void.
“We are very happy for her but she will be
missed,” said Megan Spahr, a high school
special education teacher. “She will be
replaced but it will take time for the
replacement to learn her new role in our
‘mini community.’”
Krogull is using notes that Flikkema left
behind to learn her new position. Krogull
also is also attempting to learn how to play
some new instruments.
Students’ brains at Pearl
City High School will be put to
the test in March.
The two tests students will
be taking include the PSAE
(Prairie State Achievement
Examination) and the PARCC
test (the Partnership of
Assessment of Readiness for
College and Careers). The
PSAE test is broken up into
two parts: the ACT (American
College Test) and the
WorkKeys test.
The ACT test will be taken
March 3-4 and the PARCC test
will be taken March 12-13.
“I don’t like testing because
it’s long, boring, and gives me
headaches,” said Kayla
Niehaus, a PCHS freshman.
The juniors will be heading
to St. John’s Lutheran Church
in Pearl City to take the ACT
test. As for the PARCC test,
a dm in is t ra t o rs recen t l y
decided to opt out of students
taking the computer-based
test and have decided to go
with the standard paper-andpencil test.
Students will be informed in
the near future of their testing
location.
“The plan is for everyone to
be testing at the same time
and we are going to try to fit it
all in two days so we are using
every place we can for the
PARCC testing,” said Craig
Kreiser, PCHS guidance
counselor, prior to changing to
paper-based tests.
Teachers occupying these
classrooms will put their
lesson plans in a semi-holding
pattern. Teachers will have to
adapt to these changes and
find a new way of teaching
around the testing schedule.
The ACT and the PARCC
tests are on different sides of
the spectrum compared to
each other. The ACT is more
of a multiple choice test. The
PARCC test is based on the
new system of Common Core
and tests students on their
“The ACT is more
over everything
while the PARCC test
is more Common
Core-based and
more what we are
trying to implement
each year.”
— Kelly Mandrell,
Pearl City H.S. principal
process of thinking.
“The ACT is more of the
traditional multiple choice
and tests more on the
knowledge of the students,”
Kreiser said, “where the
PARCC test is testing more on
the thought process of each
student. The PARCC test
questions build on each other
and, as the students go
through the questions, the
questions will get more indepth.”
The ACT tests different
subjects including math,
science, English, reading, and
writing. Juniors will be taking
this test hoping to attain a
perfect score of 36.
“The ACT is more over
everything while the PARCC
test is more Common Corebased and more what we are
trying to implement each
year,” Kelly Mandrell, PCHS
secondary principal, said.
The PARCC test is a new test
this year. The PARCC test is
for students currently taking
English 3 and Math 3 (Algebra
2). Both subjects will be split
into sections, three in English
and two in math. The PARCC
test is based on the system of
Common Core, the new way of
teaching for teachers.
“I feel that teachers have to
sacrifice direct instruction to
test,” PCHS math teacher Deb
Hamilton said. “Teachers test
students throughout the year
to measure mastery of the
skills and concepts required. I
feel that the tests are created
to measure the worth of a
teacher more than the
(TESTS continued on page 4)
Page 3
Wolves attempt to regain composure
Technicals have proved to be
costly to boys’ basketball team
BY SAM KEMPEL,
Staff writer
The Pearl City varsity boys
basketball team has had
success this season, but not
without making costly
mistakes along the way.
During the Polo game on
Dec. 27, 2014, at the Eastland
tournament, the Wolves were
whistled for five technical
fouls in quick succession. Silas
Jacobs, a senior, received
three technical fouls; Walter
Ollie, a senior, received one;
and Sean Downey, Pearl City
High School physical
education/health instructor
and varsity boys’ basketball
head coach, received one.
These technical fouls cost
the team the game.
In fact, according to
Downey, fouls (technical or
otherwise) have cost the boys’
basketball team three games
this season.
During the Polo game,
Jacobs
received
three
technical fouls for slapping the
floor, approaching the official
and
for
untucking
his
jersey, according to Downey.
Downey
received
one
technical after the game, while
Ollie added to the technical
fouls during the game by
questioning a charge call
against him.
“That’s not how we wanted
the
basketball
team
represented,” said Downey,
quoting the words he spoke to
Jacobs after the game. “If it
happened again, there was
going to be more discipline.”
In hope of curbing future
inappropriate
behavior,
Downey instituted a new team
rule that suspends a player for
one week if a player is slapped
with a technical foul.
The rule seems to be
effective.
Since the new rule has been
implemented, only one player
has received a technical foul
and a suspension. Jacobs
agreed with the rule.
“It is a good idea so we just
shut our mouths and play,”
Jacobs said.
Jacobs also wrote a letter of
apology that was read at the
Jan. 21 School Board meeting.
Suspensions should not be
taken lightly as the Wolves
need all of their players to
maintain the success it has
demonstrated
so
far
this season. Despite a recent
streak that has yielded eight
losses in the past nine games,
the Wolves have had a
successful season so far with a
record of 14 wins and 13
losses compared to eight wins
and 20 losses last year.
However, more technical
fouls have come with more
wins this year. The varsity
boys’ basketball team has
received six technical fouls
this year compared to only one
last
year,
according
to
Downey.
Downey also said that he
Pearl City varsity boys’ basketball coach Sean Downey, center, talks to his team
during a break from action in their Jan. 22 game vs. Eastland in Lanark. The
Wolves have struggled at times this year in maintaining their composure. Downey
estimates that fouls, including a handful of technical fouls, have cost his ballclub
at least three victories.
feels officials are watching his
players more closely due to the
increased number of technical
fouls this year and looking for
negative behavior.
Downey went on to say that
because of this increase of
attention, referees could be
missing
behavior
from
opposing teams.
Some fans have criticized
the team, but others have
defended the team’s mistakes.
Tim
Thill,
PCHS
superintendent and former
assistant coach of the 1987
boys’ basketball team that
traveled to the State Elite
Eight, felt judgments were
made too quickly on the team.
GO GREEN!
“Anytime
something
happens, you can’t have kneejerk reactions. … You have to
find out the facts before
making a decision,” Thill said.
The facts surrounding the
game can quickly illustrate
why tensions were high before
the fouls were called. Pearl
City was in overtime with Polo
in a game that would decide
who went to the championship
bracket at the Eastland
tournament.
After the five technical fouls,
the team had lost the game
from the free-throw shots
made by Polo.
Yet, Cody Kluck, PCHS
senior and member of the
boys’ basketball team, was
quick to move on from the
loss.
“I’m OK with it,” Kluck said.
“Now, if it were a regional or
conference
championship
game, I would have been more
upset.”
Kluck went on to elaborate
that he felt the situation was
handled well by Downey.
Kluck was not alone in his
opinion as Jacobs and Thill
both expressed support for
Downey.
Despite the costly mistakes,
the team has maintained
support for each player and
focus for each new game.
Read The Howler online
at www.pcwolves.net
(Click “Howler” on home page)
Page 4
Our school spirit should be booed
P
earl City High
School has had
problems with
school spirit and
school-sponsored events in
past years.
Many PCHS students have
been asking for another dance
to be held at the school in
addition to Homecoming and
Prom. In answer to this
request, Servant Leadership
organized a MORP dance,
which is a backwards Prom
where you and your date
choose a theme and
coordinate outfits together.
However, due to lack of
interest, the dance was
canceled. Like others, I was
disappointed.
The MORP dance was
supposed to raise money for
the Giedd family, who has two
members battling cancer.
According to Servant
Leadership seniors and copresidents, Maija Mattson and
Libby Petersen, Tammy Giedd
is battling breast cancer and
did so many reject this
opportunity?
“I was sad because I know
Co-Editor
that it was something you guys
wanted so I was surprised at
the lack of people signing up,”
Kelly Mandrell, PCHS
principal, said.
Rod Giedd is battling
PCHS also has had problems
Hodgkin's lymphoma.
with school spirit during the
“The purpose of MORP was past few years.
to put on another dance for
At home games, our student
the people who wanted one
section has been
and to raise money for the
disappointing. Being on the
Giedd’s,” Petersen said. “I was volleyball, basketball, and
a bit upset that people wanted softball teams, I believe our
another dance and then
team plays better when our
decided they didn’t want to
fans are into the game because
contribute at the last minute. I it gives players a burst of
thought it would be a good
energy when we know the fans
opportunity.”
are loud and proud to be
In a survey to 48 random
there.
PCHS students, 28 said they
In the same survey of 48
wanted another dance besides students, 42 said our student
Homecoming and Prom.
fan section needs to be
If PCHS wants the chance to improved.
have another schoolWhen I look over during the
sponsored dance, I would take game and see people sitting
advantage of the opportunity
down and looking at their
when it’s given to you. Why
phones or when scoreboard
BY HALLE
FRANSEN,
operator/announcer D.J. Scott
tries to get fans into the game
and you don’t do anything, I
feel like you don’t really want
to be there to support us.
“I try to get people up on
their feet every fourth quarter
and try to get an organized
cheer going,” said Scott, who
also is a PCJH language/math
teacher. “I think there should
be a few people delegated to
take charge and get people to
get up and follow. We just
need to try something.
“I have also noticed that the
boys’ games seem to have a
bigger, louder student
section.”
Both varsity basketball
teams are winning this year:
At the time of this writing, the
girls’ basketball team finished
19-9 and the boys’ basketball
team’s record is 14-13.
I would like to thank the
students, faculty, and
members of the community
for supporting the boys’ and
girls’ basketball programs this
No tricks: We need time to eat treats
S
BY KATY MUSSER,
a big deal. However, in the computer
lab, business/technology teacher
Staff writer
nacks can lead to focusing
Brian Greene has a good point about
better in class and not
not being able to bring liquids near
focusing on how hungry that student
the computers.
may be.
Out of nine teachers interviewed,
Pearl City High School students
one teacher agreed that if the students
would love the opportunity to bring
are hungry they cannot concentrate.
snacks/drinks into the classroom to
and drinks (other than water) in
Two of the nine said there should be
have a better and healthier breakfast. class,” 59 answered “yes, we should
certain food/drink requirements but
As the rule pertains to most PCHS
be able to have food and beverages in that it could be an OK idea.
classrooms, students are not allowed
class” because of focusing reasons.
As a result to not having time to eat
to eat or drink anything during class.
Twenty-four students then said they in the morning, PCHS students are
Some teachers, such as Josh Robbins, do not eat breakfast on a regular basis, saying they tend to overeat during
a history teacher at PCHS, allow his
so most do get hungry during the day lunch and frequently go back for
first-hour class to bring in their small until lunch.
seconds of the main entree
breakfast to finish during the first half
Some PCHS students are diabetic,
Another by-product of this
of class.
which means they have certain times
overeating: Students who go back for
On the other hand, different
of the day which they need to eat a
seconds ultimately spend more lunch
teachers in the high school are totally little something. It could be
money than needed.
against having even water brought
considered an inconvenience to either
As a high school student, I believe
into their room because, among other go to the office or the nurse to eat a
that most students would take care of
reasons, of the potential of damage to small treat.
a drink or crumbs near technology.
computers.
“I would want to be able to have
During the morning or after lunch,
“I bring a Pop Tart or doughnut into snacks throughout the day because
it may be necessary that you need a
class when I am running a little late,” some people may not have ate
little snack to stay awake, stay focused
said Elizabeth Reeser, a PCHS senior. breakfast and our bodies are growing, on academics, and/or just for health
“If I don’t eat, my stomach will hurt
so we will be hungrier,” said Tyra
reasons. Students may feel sick after a
until I eat lunch.”
Clark, a PCHS freshman.
while because of lack of eating
Out of 61 students that took a survey
I don’t think having a granola bar
breakfast.
that asked, “Do you think it could be a every once in a while in the beginning
I believe it’s in everyone’s best
good idea to be able to have snacks
of class while settling down would be
interest that we alter this school rule.
year and in previous years.
You don’t know the impact
your support has on our
teams.
Be proud to represent your
school and don’t worry about
what other people will think of
you because they’re probably
waiting for someone else to be
the leader.
PCHS used to have
cheerleaders. The last year
PCHS cheerleaders were
present was 2009. There were
only three cheerleaders on the
squad … but by the end of the
boys’ season, there was only
one.
“I think we need to bring out
the wolf (mascot) more often,”
Mandrell said., “More halftime
entertainment and have
somebody that’s not afraid
step up and lead the cheers. I
think Wolf Pack could
delegate certain people each
game to get the crowd ready
and pumped up for the game.”
It’s time for someone to step
up. Will it be you?
(TESTS continued from page 2)
knowledge and skills of the
students. Teachers are to be
evaluated based on these test
scores.”
With students being out of class
because of testing, teachers will
find it difficult to teach to a halffilled classroom. Teachers may
struggle to figure out what they can
teach in order to not overwhelm
the students when they return from
testing.
“Testing will take away from
valuable lesson time,” said Jamie
Graf, PCHS English teacher. “You
can’t instruct half a class like you
can with a full class because
everyone is broken up.”
Testing is important to our
school for many reasons. One
reason testing is important for the
juniors are the ACT is used for
college placement. With the results
that teachers receive, they can
m a k e t h ei r l es s o n s m o re
individualized based on where
students stand and work harder on
the spots where students seem to
not understand.
“Testing is important because it
allows for funding,” Mandrell said.
“If we didn’t test, we wouldn’t
qualify for government funding.”
Page 5
ON DVD by Sam Kempel
GONE GIRL
If you are searching for a
last-minute gift for a friend,
SAM’S RATING: 9 (out of search no further than the
10)
movie that dominated the
2014 box office: Guardians of
Rating: R
the Galaxy.
Starring: Rosamund Pike
Guardians’ brings us a zany,
and Ben Affleck
oddball group consisting of
five equally strong characters,
This film gave me chills
including outlaw Peter Quill
from the start and not just
(played by the oafish Pratt);
from the dark lighting utilized
alien assassin Gamora (played
in cinematography. Gone Girl
icily by underrated actress
is truly a standout film from
Saldanna); trash-talking, foul2014, the year of standouts
mouthed
raccoon
Rocket
such as Boyhood, Birdman,
(voiced by the charismatic
and The Imitation Game.
Cooper); benevolent, simple
The plot revolves around
tree creature Groot (voiced by
typical American husband
tough actor Diesel, who
Nick Dunne (an underrated
delivers both the most
performance by veteran
humorous
and
most
Hollywood superstar Affleck)
heartwarming lines of the
and the murder investigation
movie in three words); and
of his wife, Amy (a chilling
maniac brute Drax (played
performance from Pike) after
surprisingly well by wrestler
she goes missing. Nick is the
Bautista).
prime suspect, and he
Guardians starts strong
attempts to desperately
with one of the best openings
convince the media and police
to a movie I have seen with
of his innocence with little
Peter Quill exploring a ruin
success as every one of his lies
dancing to famous ’70s hit
about his “happy marriage”
”Come and Get Your Love” by
unfolds.
Redbone. Guardians refuses
Each character seems to lie
to slow down as the crazy
with natural, sociopathic grace
characters are introduced and
and the truth becomes hard to
the plot is introduced quickly.
find until halfway through the
The plot leads to one of my
movie where audience
complaints about the movie.
members who had not read
The plot follows Quill, Rocket,
Gillian Flynn’s novel were
Groot, Gamora, and Drax’s
shocked at the biggest twist. I
quest to destroy an infinity
found myself constantly
stone that can destroy a planet
guessing what was going to
in minutes, while the group
happen next and always
struggles to work together due
guessing incorrectly. Gone
to each character’s many
Girl is one of the most
flaws. While the dynamic
suspenseful films of 2014 and
characters bring a distraction
its themes discussing the
from the typical plot, a few
modern American marriage
clichés
annoyingly
shine
force you to ponder what
through.
secrets spouses keep from
Lee Pace plays the chilling
each other.
warlord Ronin attempting to
Whether you spend a few
gain control of the infinity
dollars to rent the film from
stone but I feel Ronin was too
Family Video or spend the $15
campy with a monotone deep,
for the DVD, you will not be
creepy voice and cheesy
disappointed at any point
dialogue filled with typical bad
during the nail-biting, twoguy chatter.
and-a-half-hour story of Gone
I also feel Quill’s rescue of
Girl.
Gamora was too reminiscent
of the “damsel of distress,”
GUARDIANS OF THE
which
contradicted
the
GALAXY
strength we had been shown
SAM’S RATING: 8.5
of Gamora throughout the
movie.
Rating: PG-13
Despite
these
minor
Starring: Chris Pratt,
complaints,
the
movie
will
Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel,
keep
you
entertained
Zöe Saldana, and Dave
throughout with a multitude
Bautista
of
loveable
characters
(including a great cameo by
Benicio Del Toro as “The
Collector”),
eye-catching
effects (particularly in the
final battle of the movie) and a
soundtrack you will want to
purchase the moment after
you buy it.
Marvel turned an obscure
comic series to one of the most
beloved films of the year and I
am so grateful this gem was
dug out of the catacombs of
Marvel’s past.
ANCHORMAN 2: THE
LEGEND CONTINUES
SAM’S RATING: 7
Rating: R
Starring: Will Ferrell,
David Koechner, Steve Carell
and Paul Rudd
The sequel to 2005’s
Anchorman
follows
Ron
Burgundy (Ferrell), Champ
Kind
(Koechner),
Brick
Tamlin (Carell), and Brian
Fantana (Rudd) as they are
recruited for the first 24-hour
news network. As an avid
lover of the first movie, this
update draws laughs, but falls
short of expectations.
COMING SOON TO DVD
HORRIBLE BOSSES 2
SAM’S RATING: 5
Rating: R
Starring: Jason Sudekis,
Jason Bateman, and Charlie
Day
In the year of bloated,
unnecessary sequels, Horrible
Bosses 2, does not set itself
apart and easily sinks to the
levels of Dumb and Dumber
Too and 22 Jump Street
(although I found 22 Jump
Street to be one of the better
unnecessary sequels).
We return to the three
bafoons Nick (Bateman), Kurt
(Sudekis), and Dale (Day) who
tried to kill their, you guessed
it, horrible bosses after some
time has passed since their
attempted felony. The three
morons are attempting to start
a new business with a new
invention they created, but
when their main investor,
business tycoon Bert Hanson
(Christoph Waltz), cheats
them, causing the three to face
bankruptcy. However, the
group decides to kidnap
Hanson’s crazy son, Rex
(Chris Pine), to collect ransom
money to save their business,
but when the decide to back
out, Rex forces them to
commit so he can rob his
father.
The movie had some aspects
I enjoyed. The plot was a
refreshing twist that actually
felt like I was watching
something new. Chris Pine
made himself a memorable
name for me from his role in
this movie since he played the
part of psychotic Rex very
well. While humor was hard to
find in this sequel since I did
not enjoy the humor in the
movie, the scene where Rex
and
his
“captors”
fake
southern accents to convince
Bert Hanson they have his son
was hilarious. One other
redeemable qualities were the
return of the characters from
the first movie such as Julia (a
hilarious Jennifer Aniston),
[expletive] Jones (the very
funny Jamie Foxx), and Dave
Harken (the great Kevin
Spacey).
Unfortunately, the movie
had too many bad qualities
that outweighed the good.
First of all, the humor was
bad. Toilet humor abounds in
this sequel along with a
homophobic quip in nearly
every scene. Also, this movie
was rated R for a reason. The
language in this movie is not
meant for younger audiences.
The humor was my main
problem for this movie
because it was so blatantly
immature. The first scene at
the news station where the
group demonstrated their
invention left a sour taste in
my mouth for the entire film.
My other complaint is the fact
that the main characters
themselves were rarely funny
despite the fact the director
had immense talent to work
with in Jason Sudekis (who
gave a great performance in
We are the Millers), Charlie
Day (who is one of the
funniest characters in the
hilarious It’s Always Sunny in
Philadelphia),
and Jason
Bateman (the great leading
man in one of my favorite
television shows of all-time,
Arrested Development).
I
wouldn’t
recommend
rushing to the theaters to see
this movie considering there
are far better options such as
The Hobbit: The Battle of the
Five Armies and Interstellar.
However, if you feel the need
to waste a half an hour, see a
matinee so you don’t feel as
though you wasted the extra
$2.
Page 6
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Pacheco said he does not work well all the time
with the other students.
The program isn’t cheap either. The price is
different for everyone.
For DeHahn it cost nearly $6,000 in 2014
(without books); every semester she pays
$3,000.
Scheduling also is difficult. The students
have to work with PCHS Principal Kelly
Mandrell, PCHS guidance counselor Craig
Kreiser, Highland College advisors and
parents.
According to DeHahn, high school didn’t
prepare her enough for college life. She
explained there are not any assignment
reminders, teachers treat you like an adult and
expect things from your assignments and
papers that the high school teachers hadn’t
been as strict on.
“It’s a totally different world,” DeHahn said.
However, College Now has advantages, as
well. It challenges these students in ways they
wouldn’t have been challenged in high school.
For those who find class too easy, CollegeNow
is the best way to go.
“The program forced me grow up a little
bit,” DeHahn said, “(it) taught me to use my
time wisely and to get my homework done and
ask for help when I need it.”
These students thought that the money is
well worth it for the opportunity. It saves
money in the long run. DeHahn saved
$70,000 by participating in the program and
completing the first two years early. She had
the opportunity to take her general education
classes cheaper so after high school she can go
to her college of choice, which is $40,000 a
year.
According to Kreiser, some kinks in the
program are getting worked out but it is
definitely a great opportunity. However it’s not
for everyone.
Despite encountering their share of
struggles, the graduating students agree that
they would do it again.
IN THEATERS: American Sniper review
by Sam Kempel
SAM’S RATING: 9.5 (out of 10)
Rating: R
Starring: Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller
American Sniper tackles the effects of war with more grit
than any war film in years because not only does it focus on
the battlefield but also the lingering effects on returning
soldiers. As director, Clint Eastwood demonstrates how a
soldier can leave a war, but the war never really leaves the
soldier.
Despite a class load that currently
includes 21 credit hours this semester at
Highland College, Pearl City senior
Aaron Pacheco, who finished third at
the Freeport Speech Sectional in the
Impromptu division and advances to
this weekend’s State Meet, has
remained active in the academic and
speech teams and theater program.
COLLEGE NOW CHANGES
At Wednesday’s meeting, the Pearl City
Board of Education approved the 2016-17
College Now admission requirements for Pearl
City schools. They include; 1) GPA – 3.75,
2) completion of Math 2 & 3 with a B or higher,
3) completion of Chemistry with a B or higher,
4) No more than six absences in a school year,
5) Signature by both parents and the student
that they understand the potential impact
College Now could have on financial aid, 6) all
paperwork must be turned in on time. Students
attending College Now in 2015-16 would be
grandfathered into the program for 2016-17.
Currently, the requirements are 1.) a 3.0
grade point average, 2.) passed Algebra 2 (or
math 3), and 3.) a chemistry class.
American Sniper chronicles the life of Texan Chris Kyle
from his childhood to his enlistment to the fateful day he
attempted to help a veteran battling PTSD (post-traumatic
stress disorder). Actor Bradley Cooper sets himself apart as
he is unrecognizable as Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle. Cooper
fully immersed himself in the role as he gained 40 pounds
and worked with Navy SEALs to become Kyle.
American Sniper is based off Kyle’s autobiography of the
same name and stays true to his life. The scenes of battle
demonstrate the everyday struggles Kyle endured during his
four tours in Iraq, showing the horrors of the war in Iraq and
the intensity grips your attention. Kyle’s life back home in
between tours discusses his struggle with PTSD and his
feelings of regret towards not saving more United States
military lives.
His arguments with his wife Tara (Sienna Miller) over the
frequency of his tours absorb the audience’s attention. These
arguments are quickly contrasted by the amount of love the
two characters have for each other. Cooper and Miller truly
convince the audience they are the couple they are
portraying.
My only complaint of the film was that I felt Kyle’s PTSD
should have been addressed a little more throughout the film
rather than being hinted at throughout and then crammed in
at the last 15 minutes of the movie. I also would have
preferred more scenes of Kyle’s work with other veterans
dealing with PTSD.
Kyle’s story is inspirational and thought-provoking.
American Sniper is a film that will stand the test of time.