banner survival guide

32

Upload: the-bobcat-banner

Post on 20-Mar-2016

227 views

Category:

Documents


3 download

DESCRIPTION

The published September 2011 issue of the Bobcat Banner

TRANSCRIPT

2 BANNER 2011

Table of Contents

Want more Banner?Head to bobcatbanner.com for the latest news, Banner-spon-sored events, and stories not featured in this edition.

Editor-in-chiefAlexis Castanos

Managing Editors

Emily Higham Maggie Command

Staff Writers

Jayson Hansen Amani Young

Matt Rizik Victoria Karatza Gina Sancricca

Kylash Sivakumar Iva Markicevic

Sara Diesel Charlotte Sullenger

Alexis Reid Nichole Boehnke

Whitney Whitehead Hannah Scherba

Nina Benton Ola Nowakowska

Virginia Choe Meghan Christian

Riliwan Baker Connor Carey

Greg Flikshteyn

Banner Staff

The Bobcat Banner is pro-duced by Mr. Nick Popadich’s fourth hour class. Have an opinion?Send comments, suggestions, or letters to the editor to npopdic@grandblancschools

Page 6

Page 4

Page 10

Page 21

Page 25

Page 28

Summer Lovin’

September 11, 2011

Grand Blanc falls in the final seconds

He said - She said

FALL TV - What’s new and what’s up

Easy Vibe

3BANNER 2011

Welcome Back! It is September and that means the start of a new school year and a clean slate, not to mention cold weather. Although the summer sun is fading and leaves are starting to turn, we must make sure to take full advantage of every-thing that is offered not only in our school but our community. Go to dances! Join a club! Do something! Take

school. Sophomores are busy freaking out about junior year and fresh-men are new! (And might wind up getting lost on several occa-sions…) But don’t stress!! It is not that hard to survive high school. Of course, you will face the ups and downs, rejec-tions and acceptances that come with the experience. But why not try your best and take full advantage of what

a risk. It is best not to spend every second on schoolwork and leave some time to hang out with friends or pursue an interest. This year will be tough for all classes. Seniors may already be suffering from senioritis or trying to finish col-lege apps. Juniors may be stressed over the ACT or the fact that this is “supposedly” the hardest year of high

GBHS has to offer: kick-butt sports teams, choir, plays, dances, and over 40 clubs. I am sure you can find something…

Dear GBHS,

Alexis CastanosEditor-in-chief

Can You Survive High School? Pg. 16

4 BANNER 2011

Summer Lovin’ - Remembering September 11th - Revealing the New Dress Code

NewsPhoto: Banner/Belil

5BANNER 2011

News

Summer Lovin’Love was in the air this past summer, especially for seven Grand

Blanc High School teachers who spent their sunny days with new spouses. Mrs. Tosh-Liberati, Mrs. Stanley-Walroth, Mr. Arbit, and

Mrs. Belill-Lemke have shared their speical days with us.

BEFORE

AFTER

Aft er dating throughout high school, this couple separated, marrried, and started fami-lies with diff erent people. By a stroke of fate, the two found each other again. Seen here in both pictures, Karin Tosh mar-ried her high school sweetheart, David Liberati.

“My favorite part of the wedding were the vows that my husband wrote. They were very personal and special and from his heart,” said Tosh-Liberati.

Photo: Banner/Tosh

Photo: Banner/Tosh

Photo: Banner/Arbit

Including both High School Musical 3 and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in his wedding at Pine Knob Carriage House in Clarkston, Michael Arbit got married July 16 to his now-spouse, Andrea. Th e couple spent their honeymoon on a 10-day getaway to Greece.

“We got badly sunburnt, but the beautiful sunsets made it all worth-while!” Arbit said.

Photo: Banner/Belil

Valerie Belill married Scott Lemke on July 2, at Hawk Hollow Golf course in East Lansing. Th eir song was “Wherever it is” by Zac Brown Band. Th eir honeymoon was a trip to Hawaii including kayaking, touring, surfi ng, snorkeling, and hiking. At the reception, instead of just playing the “slow-norm” songs, “Jump On It” was played. “Our guests loved the light-heart-ed feeling it gave the reception”, said Belill-Lemke.

“The thing I like best about my spouse is that he is my best friend!” Belill-Lemke said.

Allyson Stanley got mar-ried this summer, on July 16 (the same day as Arbit) to her now-husband, Tom.

Two of her Bridesmaids are teachers from GBHS

and two of her closest friends, Ava Butzu and

Kathleen Riek. Th eir wed-ding song was “Heaven,”

by Bryan Adams.

We asked Allyson Stanley-Walroth to fi nish this sentence: Th e thing I like best about my spouse is . . .

“He always puts me � rst. He is my best friend, and there is no doubt in my mind that he loves me more than anything. He is always doing special little things for me, and he puts my needs above his own.” Stanley-Walroth said.

Remembering 9/11A decade has passed, but the memory remains.

It has been said that time heals everything, but a

decade has passed since the Sept.11th attacks on

the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United

93 occurred and our country has yet to complete-

ly heal; well, how long are we supposed to wait?

It has been said that a picture tells a thousand

words; the only problem with that is, if you

look at a picture of New York City from that

day, most people would be completely speech-

less. When you watch the movie United 93

your jaw drops, and you have nothing to say.

It has been said that all good things must

come to an end, but did nearly 3,000 good

men, women, and children have to perish

this way, this soon, in such a horrid manner?

Words cannot describe the day of Sept.11,

2001. But for all of us at GBHS including teach-

ers, students, and other faculty members,

wherever we were on that day, we were all to-

gether in spirit. The whole country was feel-

ing dismay, hurt, horror, panic, and terror.

We, as students, were just children and probably

did not understand the tragedy that happened

and the pain that people were feeling, but we did

know that something bad had happened. Now, ten

years later, as a whole nation, we still feel the hurt.

Since it was 10 years ago, many students may

not remember the events on the day of 9/11. Se-

niors were in second grade at the time, while

juniors were in first grade. Teachers; how-

ever, are old enough to remember and many

were teaching during the time of the attacks.

Another thing to remember and to consider

about the after affects of this day is that because

of just one group of Muslim extremists, the

whole Islamic religion has been misrepresented.

It seems as though, considering recent events, the ter-

roristd have lost. But who has won? Certainly not the

country who lost nearly 3,000 brave and truly good

people; certainly not the country who because of the

attacks, have lost nearly 4,000 soldiers in the war on

terror; and certainly not the country who, 10 years lat-

er, still remembers everything about that horrible day.

As Americans, this tragedy has taught us that we

can get through anything and that we will overcome

any struggles that face us. We also need to pay more

attention to international threats and start becom-

ing more aware of our surroundings. As people, and

on a much more important note, 9/11 has taught us

to value what we have: our family, our friends, and

the opportunities we are given each and every day.

6 BANNER 2011

News

Maggie CommandStory and page by:

Managing Editor COMMENTARY

Sept. 11, 2001

Oct. 7, 2001

March 20, 2003

Feb. 29, 2009

May 1, 2011

Terrorists crash planes into the

World Trade Center, and Pentagon.

The U.S. be-gins bombing Afghanistan

to weaken the Taliban.

The U.S. invades Iraq

claiming evidence of weapons of

mass destruc-tion.

U.S. leaves be-hind only “tran-sitional” force

of 35,000-50,000 troops

in Iraq.

Osama bin Laden is found

and killed by Navy SEAL Team Six.

Memories and Thoughts of GBHS Students:

“I remember all of the teach-ers saying, ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’” said senior Lauren

McLeod. “But none of them would explain what was going

on.”

“I remember that my mom came and picked me up from school early,” said senior Alex

Swanson. “And when we went to get gas, there was

really long lines.”

“I had no idea that something bad was even happening,” said senior

Tyler Elias. “Either my teacher was really good at hiding it or I was messing aorund somewhere.”

“When I got home from school, I knew something was wrong,” said senior

Rebecca Skinner. “My mom then explained to me what

happened.”

Sequence of EventsFollowing the 9/11 Attacks

7BANNER 2011

News

8 BANNER 2011

News

In the Rights and Re-sponsibilities Handbook, the dress code for this year has been amended. However, an extension has been made. Shorts are now allowed to be 9 inches from the knee in the kneeling position. “I think the new short rule is more reasonable because now you can wear more than just old lady style pants,” senior Caitlyn Mansour said. “I think they could be more lenient, but it’s still better than before.” Sophomore So-phia Neuenfeldt agreed with Mansour. “I’m okay with it (the rules). We’re allowed to wear shorter shorts on hotter days, which will be nice. The discipline for not following dress code is un-derstandable, better than other schools’ methods.” With more lenience with shorts, deputy princi-pal Kramer shared another reason behind the change in appropriate dress. “We’re trying to more closely recognize what current styles are.” Kramer said. “Shorts 9 inches from the knee are easier to find and they are more in style.” The administrator’s new rules about shorts received approval from a major-ity of students. In contrast, the new guideline that male students must have their pants at their hips, didn’t receive much favor. “The new rule is horri-

sibilities Handbook states that the first offense is the student shall be asked to change. If they do not have any other clothing, then the next step is try-ing to get someone to bring up clothing. If that fails as well, the student must sit in ISS for the day. More guidelines include, no excessive cleavage, yoga pants/leggings must be covered with a shirt past the behind, and no hats, bandannas, or jewelry. “I haven’t seen many issues with the pants yet, but shirts are too low,” Kramer said. “I haven’t

ble,” senior Javon Whatley said. They (the administra-tors) are always hassling me and I just want to chill. I think they’re blowing this way out of proportion,” se-nior Javon Whatley said. Senior Kyle Vock feels sim-ilarly with Whatley about the restriction of sagging. “There’s a difference in gym shorts and underwear, so it’s pointless,” Vock said. With mixed feelings about the new regula-tions, discipline may be necessary for those who don’t follow them. The Rights and Respon-

Revealing the New Dress Code: Policy eases up on girls while penalizing guys

Deputy principal Marcia Kramer, often deals with dress code violations.

had to assign an ISS to anyone yet, most students have been pretty under-standing of the rules.”

Photo: Banner/Reid

ALEXIS REIDBanner Staff

Story and Picture by

9BANNER 2011

Grand Blanc Falls in Final Seconds - Behind the Ball - Tailgating - Favorite Players - Swim

SportsPhoto: Banner/Young

10 BANNER 2011

Sports

Grand Blanc falls in final seconds at Home Opener On a night where temperatures skyrocketed, emotions soared on the gridiron as the Bobcats played probably their toughest opponent of the season: Canton. The stakes were high, and as the MH-SAA cameras recorded, an epic battle unfolded. The Canton Chiefs came in as heavy favorites (in their first meeting a year ago, the Bobcats were ripped to shreds in a 62-20 beating), but that didn’t waver the excited Grand Blanc players. “Even though I am only the kicker, it is a big game on a big stage, so I was really psyched to get out there and compete,” senior Phil Klick said. Still that energy and momentum was sucked out of the Cats early, as Canton jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game. That didn’t deflate their hopes, however. They battled back with touch-down passes from junior Bart Williams to senior Jordan Fields (62 yards) and senior Terrance Dye (15 yards). Another 62-yard strike from Williams to senior Lester Liston Jr. gave the Bobcats a 21-14 lead. And when senior Phil Klick hit a 27-yard field goal at the end of the sec-ond quarter, the resilient home team took a 24-21

by senior Kaleb McElwee with just 3:59 left pushed Grand Blanc into the lead, 31-28. But Canton stuck to their guns, and ran the ball right down the field on the stout Grand Blanc defense. With a mere 41 ticks left on the clock, Canton’s Ryan Jones delivered the knockout punch, a 5-yard scamper that left the score 35-31. The Cats did manage to get the ball into Canton territory, but an inten-tional grounding call on Williams ended all hopes of a last second thriller. However, the heartbro-

lead into the locker room for halftime. “It was awesome to bounce back after that bad start, but we know that a football game is a full four quarters, and we needed to come out and play solid for another two,” said senior Gage Wakula. The second half proved to be just as entertain-ing. When Williams’ pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown in the third quarter, things seemed to slipping out of reach. But just as they did in the first half, the Bob-cats held their ground.A 6-yard touchdown run

ken team can take many things from this great showing. According to just about everyone but the players, these Bobcats had no business playing with the Chiefs. “We are obviously disappointed with this one, we really thought we could win. But going forward it is going to be extremely helpful to know that our team can compete with another other team in the state,” senior Eric Nielsen said.

Despite the intergrity of the crowd, Grand Blanc lost their very first home game of the season.

CONNOR CAREYBanner Staff

Story by

Photo: Banner/Carey

11BANNER 2011

Sports

Three years ago, Jordan Fields was just been another player on Joe Delaney’s varsity team but with hard work and dedication he has worked his way up to be the #38 Strong Safety in the nation, according to Rivals Rating. Fields also has 16 athletic offers to various Division 1 schools and will definitely help the football team on their way to the state Championship.

AY: “How do you apply football to your life?”JF: “Football teaches me many good qualities such as discipline, leadership, and good team-work that help me stay focused and positive when it comes to life situations.”AY: “How old were you when you started playing football?”JF: “I was 6 years old.”AY: “What’s the best idea or ideas you’ve been given about football?”JF: “Leave it all on the field, no matter what.”AY: “What are your goals for this season?”JF: “Personally, I would like to be nominated for All-State and become a better leader. As a team, I hope we can win a conference championship and make it to States.”AY: “If you weren’t playing football this fall season, what would you be doing?”JF: “Working out to get ready for basketball season.”AY: “What are your biggest accomplishments?”JF: “Being an Under-Armour All-American and team captain, as well as getting the numerous offers.”AY: “It’s also known that you’re a star on the basketball court, so basketball or football?”JF: “Basketball was my first love, but football is where my future is at.”AY: “What are your goals for college?”JF: “ Starting as a freshman, getting national recognition, a conference title, and maybe a na-tional title. I hope to receive some type of reward at the end of the season as well.”

Jordan Fields Explains his Current Motivations and Goals for the SeasonBehind the Ball:

Interview byAMANI YOUNG

Banner Staff

GRAND BLANC FOOTBALL SCHEDULEVarsity Junior Varsity Freshman

8/26 - AWAY at Carmen Ainsworth9/1 - HOME against Canton9/9 - HOME against Milford9/16 - AWAY at Brighton9/23 - HOMECOMING against Howell 9/30 - AWAY at Pinckney 10/7 - AWAY at Hartland 10/14 - KLAA CROSSOVER10/21 - HOME against Davison

All games start at 7p.m.

8/25 - HOME against Carmen Ainsworth8/31 - AWAY at Canton 9/8 - AWAY against Milford 9/15 - HOME against Brighton9/22 - AWAY at Howell9/29 - HOME against Pinckney10/6 - AWAY at Hartland 10/13 - KLAA CROSSOVER10/20 - AWAY at Davison

8/25 - HOME against Carmen Ain-sworth8/31 - AWAY at Canton 9/8 - AWAY against Milford 9/15 - HOME against Brighton9/22 - AWAY at Howell9/29 - HOME against Pinckney10/6 - AWAY at Hartland 10/13 - KLAA CROSSOVER10/20 - AWAY at Davison

All games start at 6:30p.m. All games start at 4:30p.m.

Photo: Banner/Young

Photo: Banner/Carey

Fields is, also, one of the Favorite players mentioned in the next article.

12 BANNER 2011

Sports

As we start the 2011-2012 school year we also start a year of sports. Grand Blanc has a lot of great players for all sports, so what athletes should you look for on the field or on court this fall? On a Friday night at Frank Thomas Field make sure you keep your eye open for seniors Lester Liston Jr. and Jordan Fields. At 6’1” and 219 pounds Liston wears the #25 jersey and is a linebacker. “We have to actually tone him down in practice or he hurts our own people,” Coach Delaney said to the Flint Journal. “When you put pads on the guy and put a helmet on the guy, he wants to hit you, and he wants to hit you hard. He plays 100 percent.” At 6’1” 180 pounds, Fields wears the #28 jersey and is a safety. These have had a major impact on the football team and are sought after by college recruiters. Both boys have made verbal

commitments to play college football next year. Liston has chosen the University of Cin-cinnati and Fields has selected Central Michigan University. On the soccer field, you’ll notice that senior Zach Carroll and junior Yamann Sahlool stand out. Carroll is a 4-year varsity player. Over his 4 years at Grand Blanc he has made great contributions to the soc-cer team and the football team. Carroll is the only member from Michigan that was on the U-17 World Cup team. He has traveled all around the world to play against some of the best teams you can find. The University of Michigan has recruited him to play next year in college. players. You’ll hear the announcer say, “Grand Blanc goal for number 11 Yamann Sahlool,” quite often because he is the Grand Blanc Varsity teams’ lead goal scorer. This is Sahlool’s second year on the varsity team.

Last year he made his name, and this year he has high ex-pectations. He was ranked fifth on Flint Area’s top 10 boys soc-cer players (Zach Carroll and Chris Sullivant also ranked). Yamann has already proved he can score goals again this year; he has scored 17 goals in the last eight games. Grand Blanc is home to one of volleyball’s top 10 for the Flint Area. Lauren Ulrich ranked eighth. Ulrich is the senior outside hitter for the varsity volleyball team. She is one of the most effective play-ers on the team, and she brings positive energy for the team. Ulrich is the teams’ big hitter. Last year she led the team in kills, and is expected to again this year. Joining her to share the captains’ position is the player that has a different colored jersey and is said to be the best defensive player on the team. Senior Heather Roberts is definitely the best defensive

player. Roberts plays with all heart and does everything she can to keep the ball up. She is one of those players that coaches love to have on their team. “She’s real funny, real cute, real energetic,” Grand Blanc volleyball coach Shannon Cumming said in 2010. “She’s a real spark plug.” This is going to be Heather’s third year on varsity and sec-ond year as a libero. Last year Roberts had 196 digs and 18 aces off of serves. These key players have the potential to take their teams far this year. Good luck to all sports teams this school year.

Favorite Players

Story By: HANNAH SCHERBA

Banner Staff

Who to watch for this season

Photo: Banner/Scherba

(Below): Liston and Ulrich are among the favorites for this season.

13BANNER 2011

Sports Opinion

It’s an art that many people tend to overlook when going to a sporting event, a meet of two competitive schools, or even extracurricular scholastic activities. Some people think that maybe a liter of Coca-Cola and some chips is all it takes to tailgate, to me this is an embar-rassment. If by now you haven’t dropped this article due to the fact that you are not willing to learn and drop your ways of fail-gating (failing at tailgat-ing) then you are in luck. Why? Because this will show you the proper way to tailgate. First thing you need to think about is size. How many peo-ple are going to be tailgating

ingenuity that comes along with tailgating. Third is entertainment. Sure most of us don’t have a dowry worth millions of dollars, hence we don’t drive tricked out Escalades with TVs and Game Stations in it. That is why it is important to have enter-tainment. A classic, in my opinion, is some good ole classic Corn Hole. Now if you are too lazy like some of us are, you may simply pull out a deck of cards and pick a classic game like Euchre or War. Finally, you need the right company. You want to pick people that won’t drink up all your refreshments, and won’t

with you? Do you need to hitch on the grill to do some grilling, or just pack some sandwiches; it is all about size. Second is refreshments. If you are anything like a seasoned tailgater as I am, then you are aware of the energy re-quired to tailgate successfully. And since right now football season is in full swing, you must stay properly hydrated. I personally go for a nice Gatorade or even Propel, since it has electrolytes (it’s what your body craves). I person-ally know plenty of people who make their own concoctions of Arnold Palmers among other things, but I haven’t yet been failed at being surprised at the

Tailgating is an Art:

People all over the country tailgate, but few know how to tailgate the right way.

break your Corn Hole set up when they get too mad at their losing streak and throw the bean bag so hard they break your set up. Make sure that they bring cups or even a plat-ter of finger foods, and be sure that there are no mooches in your vicinity, they will leech off you like it is their job. This is my guide to a suc-cessful tailgate.

Story By: Greg Flikshteyn

Banner Staff

How to Tailgate the right way

Photo: HoustonPress

14 BANNER 2011

Homecoming - How to survive your School Year

Feature

15BANNER 2011

Feature Palms sweating, heart rac-ing, and the air is cloaked in an uncomfortable silence. The soft candle lit dinner table at the fanciest restaurant you could afford couldn’t cover the awkwardness between you and your date. This is definitely not where anyone wants to be on Homecoming. The majority of people think the hardest part of going to Homecoming is asking, but what about after? After the grand gesture and the hoopla… When you are sitting across from your date, in your new suit or gorgeous dress, and neither one of you can think of what to say or how to act. Don’t freak out! We have all been on dates like this before, when you could hear a pin drop or everyone else’s conver-sations are suddenly magni-fied. Here is what I suggest if your dream date turns into a disaster date. Take a deep breath and if you have nothing to talk about… start asking questions. You’re bound to find some-thing you have in common. The more you talk the more comfortable you’ll become and the better you will know one another before the big slow dance. If your date still holds onto the awkwardness then you bet-ter crack a joke. If cracking a few punch lines doesn’t work… well then you’re screwed. (Only kidding)If your date’s friends are at the same restaurant, see if they want to join. Having just the two of you may be too personal or “cozy.” But having a group makes it seem a lot more casual than serious. Your date might just loosen up.

Sometimes the date never shows up for the dance. Well, I hate to state the obvious, but they obviously don’t deserve you. Go anyway! You will know people at the dance. Don’t let someone decide how your night goes. Go dance, let loose, and have fun with the people that truly care. There are millions of problems that can throw you off your night or derail you from going to the dance. But remember, whatever happens it is your choice to let it affect you.

Now don’t get me wrong, sometimes there is no chance you will make it to the dance, or get your date to loosen up, especially if your date forgets their I.D…. But don’t use this as an excuse to end the night, there are other fun things you can do instead of the dance. Go bowling (yes in your dressy outfits). Go to the movies. Make your own dance in the parking lot, blast the radio and make your own movie moment. Other times, it isn’t an ac-cident of forgetfulness.

Story byALEXIS CASTANOS

Editor-in-Chief

Aski

ng isonly

1/2ofthe DEAL

16 BANNER 2011

Feature

Hello, dear sophomores, and welcome to the East Campus. Yes this is the year where you will get to rub shoulders with the upperclassmen, get lost in another new building, and smile at the new freshmen knowing that you won’t ever have the issue of being the “MIDDLE SCHOOLER” again. But let me tell you, sophomore year is no cakewalk, so here is my advice on how you can survive this tenth grade year: Join a New Club or Sports Team: You still have three years to go, and I am sure you are just at the tip of the high school iceberg. There are tons of clubs and organizations that have all different types of interests. So find something that you like and go do it!Befriend the Hall Monitors and Administrators: Unlike the one year at West Campus, this is your home for the next three! So get to know the office staff and Hall Monitors, they are all there to help you out. Not to mention they all are extremely friendly. Trust me, your next three years will be exponentially more enjoyable when every time you see one of these people you get a smile and a “How’s it going?” rather than a “GET BACK TO CLASS!” Support Your Bobcats in Anyway You Can: Whether it be the Football Student Section or the Choir Concert, every Bobcat has a unique talent and as a sophomore, the more you go out and support and meet new people, the more doors will open for you down the road. Get Outside of Your Comfort Zone: Try something new! Experiment with a challenging class! You have plenty of time left to figure out exactly what you want to do and where you want to go, so take some chances and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. In short my young sophomores, now is the time for you to build relationships that will last you for the remainder of your high school career. You have the time to take chances, meet new people, and learn many new things. If nothing else, just enjoy your time in high school, because before you know it, you may be writing a story about how to survive in GBHS.Sincerely,

Connor Carey

Dear Sophomores,

Banner Staff

Dear Freshman,

Best Wishes, Emily Higham

Managing Editor

Welcome to the big campus! This is the year you meet your arch rivals, make your best friends and lose your worst ones. But don’t let this scare you, you also have to get used to a strict schedule that works for you and only you. This year your goals are to maintain your grades, try new things, try out sports, and get in the swing of what you’ll be doing for the next 4 years. Even though this year may not be looking the best for you, there are a lot of bright sides to the situa-tion. You get to finally experience Homecoming and the Sadie Hawkins dance. Participate in Interclass Games, get into activities, and make the best of your high school career. As for me, my freshman year has so far been my favorite year. I loved my teachers, and I started get-ting into what I want to do for the rest of my life. Being in high school brought me new relationships, friends, and life lessons. I hope that through hard test, finals, crossing campus, and any of the other obstacles throughout your freshman year; you learn what you need to and become a better person because of it. Try not to let the bad stress you out, and live it up. You’re only a ninth grader once. Have fun while you don’t have to worry about things like ACT, SAT, driving tests and so much more. 910

Feature

Stay Focused. Junior year is the year that gets the most attention by Colleges. It’s also the year you take the ACT. So remember to study, stay drama free, and keep your swag strong! Get Involved. GBHS offers a wide range of extracurricular activities ranging from the debate team, sports, etc… These will definitely help you when you’re applying for colleges and extracurricular activi-ties shows colleges you’re a well rounded person. Stay away from Trouble. GBHS has a strict disciplinary policy and 10 days OSS is no joke. Sleep. Past students often say junior year is your hardest year so with that said, focus on your studies, relax, and don’t fall behind so get lots of rest. Stay with the right Crowd. You’re almost done with your high school career so continue to stay in the right path. Don’t let other students ruin three years of hard work. Be wise with your classes. Taking too much honors/AP classes will only stress you out and might even hurt your GPA. You might not even get the credits, so take classes you can handle. Study. Do not procrastinate. Flash cards are helpful studying tools. Accept Change. Talk to everyone, even the nerds. Get to know people; you’ll learn something new. Seniors Rule. This seems to get lost during the school year but remember seniors rule and control school. You do not mess with us at Interclass Games. Give us the respect we deserve. Have Fun. You’ll be occupied with homework and practice, but at times step back and relax. Hang out with your old friends and make memories.

Dear Juniors,

17BANNER 2011

Good Luck, Riliwan Baker

Banner Staff

Here are 10 steps to surviving your Junior year

11EMILY HIGHAM

Managing editor

Spread by:

18 BANNER 2011

Banner Banter - He said/She said - Faces the Changes - A life without reading?

OpinionPhoto: Banner/Castanos

Banter

Th roughout the summer, Casey Anthony was on trial for murder-ing her daughter. When we thought all odds were against her, she was proven innocent. Although some of America can get away with crimes, all of America knew she was guilty.

Aft er coming so close, and being given so many chances, the USA Women’s Soccer team lost to Japan in the World Cup fi nals. With a score of 3 to 2, Th e Japanese walked away with a big win, while we walked away with a loss.

Saying goodbye to the last of the Harry Potter books and movies may be hard, but at least they left with a great ending with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. We may be sad to see our beloved series go, we very happy with the way it left .

Lady Gaga is known for her shock-ing outfi ts, from the bow of hair on her head to her meat dress. But, the most shocking of them all was this year are the VMA’s where she arrived as a guy. Maybe she’s trying to tell us something... was she born this way?

With the start of the summer comes good news and bad news as the fall weather starts to move in earlier than usual. Even though fall brings the beautiful colors and a wonder-ful football season, students can all agree that the countdown to the end of school starts now.

Aft er an excellent draft the Lions have a new team and a new look. Players have set the bar of expecta-tion high as they begin with a great start of what promises to be a great season.

Born This Way

The Lions, winning?

HP7

The start of a new season

Casey’s Trial

Face it, we lostPhoto credit to: www.onlinemoviehut.com

Photo credit to: www.orlandosentinel.com

Photo credit to: www.examiner.com/Getty Images

19BANNER 2011

Opinion

Page byEMILY HIGHAM

Managing editor

20 BANNER 2011

Opinion

HE SAIDHOW TO ASK A GIRL TO HOMECOMING

At the beginning of every school year, there is one thought on most guys mind. Home-coming. But with this thought comes an even more complicated one, how am I going to ask my girl to the dance? Most guys fear rejection and humiliation when asking a girl to Home-coming (not to mention the constant stress of finding that “cute” way to ask her). It tends to be stressful on us, and it only adds to the stress of schoolwork and the extracurricular activi-ties. As I see it there are two types of stress when dealing with Home-coming, asking the girl and then hoping the date doesn’t go bad.Some guys in turn go all out when asking their girl to Homecoming and others…. not so much, but that depends on the guy. Sure there are bad/boring ways to ask her, but then there are ways that are good/great ways to ask.“It really doesn’t matter, just as long as you get her flowers,” said senior Nick Sivosky.I honestly believe that that should be all it

takes, nice and simple, just flowers. I’m not say-ing that all guys should only do that but flowers should be acceptable.With some girls they see it as offensive because if they don’t do more, then the guy doesn’t like them enough or he doesn’t want to go to the dance with them bad enough.“No matter how a guy asks a girl to Home-coming, he cares about her just as much as the other guy. Its just a mat-ter of how much they want to show it.” said junior Marco Gutierrez. Then again other guys just want to be creative and that’s perfectly okay. Like I said it varies by the guy and how the guy wants to ask. Some guys go old school and ask the girl at a Friday night football game during halftime. Others go to creating m&m’s with her name on it or m&m’s with the ques-tion on it.“I think the ways of ask-ing her varies because sometimes guys get nervous and/or they haven’t ever asked a girl before,” said sophomore Anthony Robbins.

Jayson HansenBanner Staff

Story by

21BANNER 2011

Opinion

She SaidThis is my go-to “do” and “don’t” list that has been com-piled after my own past experiences and others I’ve seen or read about:

Be confident: Naturally, for both sexes, this is an ex-tremely important factor in attractiveness, and may even determine the outcome of the situation.Find out what your person of interest enjoys doing: If your girl plays volleyball, find a way to ask her at one of the games! You don’t want to end up writing “HC?” on a soccer ball! Talk to the friends: Not only does this aid you in ask-ing, but you may likely end up in the same homecom-ing group, which will also lessen any awkward-turtle moments.

Use “chicken-scratch”: SO MANY SIGNS ARE WRITTEN IN CHICKEN-SCRATCH. Unless your girl really, really likes you, this is a risk. Just try to print neatly, please. If not, utilize stencils! Or type it out!Anything illegal/dangerous: This includes, but is not limited to: use of fire, potential damage to school prop-erty or anybody’s property, etc. She won’t be impressed, boys… Giving up: DO NOT. We all face rejection. Get back up on your feet, move on, and try again! Like I said, we have little time to spare! Also remember that many agree that going dateless actually ends up being a more pleasant time. That way, it’s like you have many, many dates ;)

Only two weeks and 4 days into the school year comes… You guessed it: Homecom-ing. This year, we have been given just 18 days to get back into the social realm of high school, and find dates for Homecoming. For those of you with your significant others, this may be easier for you than for those without! However, we all ask the same question: “How should I ask?!” Everyone has their own opinions on what might work out best. Perhaps a sign that says: HC, [insert name here]? Love, [insert name here]. Or maybe with a bouquet of flowers. Both classic ideas that are always options, but you have only four years of high school, four op-portunities to go out on a limb and potentially impress some girls (or boys!).

Virginia ChoeBanner Staff

Do...

Do not...

Story by

Photo: Banner/Castanos

22 BANNER 2011

Opinion

Ever since we have entered the decade considered “The Noughties,” we have also entered a downfall in sales of actual copies of CDs, books, newspapers, and DVDs. Sure, with the Nook and Kindle, iTunes and Amazon, and even Netflix, one may think, “Who needs the other stuff?” I’ll tell you who, me, that’s who. Seeing as I do hold such an attachment to my large CD and book collections, when I first read that Borders filed for bankruptcy protection and would be closing some 226 stores in February of 2011, I was upset. But when I read that the bookstore was beginning the liquida-tion process and would close the rest of their 339 stores by the end of September, I was completely devastated. My beloved Borders in Flint would soon be closing, and I

far back as I can remember, a diverse group of people could always be found at Borders, so this is no new trend. Maybe I’m biased because I’m accepting of all types of people, but no one should have even suggested that Borders lost money because of alterna-tive lifestyles. It was unintelligent for comments like that to be posted on Mlive.com, and it goes to show how uninformed people can be. This is 2011; move on with your judg-ment. Digital media killed the printed books star, just like Video Killed the Radio Star. As time progresses, things will always go in and out of style. Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press devoted one of his Sunday columns to Borders and the written word, in which he stated that the bookstore did not fail due to people not buying books anymore, but be-cause online sites like Amazon beat out Borders. Even though the world is changing and the liquidation of Borders is nothing but a small mark on it, it doesn’t change the fact that driving past the almost vacant strip on Miller Road that surrounded Borders will be difficult to see. Whether or not you agree with the reasons stated about why Borders closed and whether or not you are as passionate as some are about the closing of the bookstore, it’s just another negative hit on the economy which no one needs now.

ing to all people. Yes, you could find people that have alterna-tive lifestyles at Borders. Yes, there are people in this world that have tattoos and piercings. But no, it does not mean that Borders closed because it was open to diversity. That’s one of the main reasons I’ve always adored Borders, it was like “big-city dream” perfection in the convenient space on Miller Road. I’m not trying to bash this semi-conservative area we live in, but people have always been different, people will not always agree with you, and most im-portantly people should not be judged based on their appear-ance or how they live. A large company would not be completely liquidated be-cause of the lives of its workers, especially when that company admitted to a huge loss in sales right around the time digital books became popular. And as

would need to be in mourning. Even with Barnes & Noble just down the street, things would not be the same. Most people, including myself, assume the failure of Borders is due to changes in the book industry. Everyone either uses some type of digital reader or doesn’t even read much at all anymore, and borrows a book if needing to do so. Yet, while reading an article about the closing of the Borders in Flint on Mlive.com (yes, even I read some of my news online) I noticed a comment that stuck out. There were people that blamed Bor-ders failures on the alternative lifestyles and appearances of its workers and even clientele. Though there could be other reasons for Borders’ closing aside from technology advancements, I’d still like to touch on the comment I read. Yes, Borders was very welcom-

Face the ChangesAll Borders are expected to close by winter.

Story and Picture by:Victoria Karatza

Banner Staff

Freaky people did not bring down Borders

Photo: Banner/Karatza

23BANNER 2011

Opinionbe established writers with a history of best-selling novels, teams of experts of a specific subject, and first-timers who seem promising in shocking the public and starting a buzz. The vast majority will be left to find new career paths and publish their work for free on public domains. All in all, with the emer-gence of a little tablet that proves useless if dropped once, paper books are coming to the end of their lifespan. Regret-tably enough, no one will see their demise as a tragedy until a few years after they are gone and eReaders ruin reading as a pleasurable pastime.

books does not seem bright. With the closing of Borders, independent bookstores are losing hope of succeeding in a technology-driven world while major literary retailers are making the switch from paper to screen to avoid meeting a bleak end. The end of the book era is not only upsetting for fervent book-lovers and family owned bookstores; professionals in the literary field predict that writing, as a profession, will also come to an end when eReaders take over. At the Edinburgh International Book Festival, speakers predicted that the only authors who will earn money for their work will

he Amazon Kindle...the eReader that sparked the digital revolution.

Think back to the time when one of your parents read your favorite bedtime story; its pages exuding a familiar scent and its words carrying you away to an adored world. Now, picture a day where an emotionless voice reads Dr. Seuss to your child right before bed; simply clicking the “next” button on an electronic tablet to continue the story and the smell of machinery surround-ing you as a bright light strains your eyes while you try to coax a cranky 5-year-old to sleep. The contrast is frightening, yet, in as little as 25 years, new generations will not be able to reminisce on a time where reading signified relaxation and an escape from reality. The first attempt to digitalize books was made in 1971 by Michael S. Hart in an effort to provide quick and easy written work to specialty groups. From then, various other endeav-ors were pursued to provide eBooks to the general pub-lic. However, as most of the eBooks offered were manuals and different technology made it hard to view the media any-where, eBooks did not result in the success manufacturers hoped for. In spite of this, 2007 saw a new beginning for eReaders when Amazon launched the Kindle. After seeing how will-ing people were to purchase the Kindle, numerous other companies (including Barnes and Noble, Sony, and Google) started releasing their own ver-sions of eReaders. Four short years later, eBooks exceeded printed books in sales. Unfortunately, the future of

Story and Picture by:Iva Markicevic

Banner Staff

TA life w

ithout reading?

24 BANNER 2011

Easy Vibe - Angles - Fall TV - Lifeguarding - Overload - Busted

Entertainment

25BANNER 2011

Entertainment

Michigan never ceases to impress in the music industry. Responsible for the develop-ment of such genres as early punk rock, techno, Motown/soul, and which house, it has yielded chart-toppers for every one of the last 48 years and is widely considered one of the most influential and innovative musical regions. In promotion of that reputa-tion, the mitten has birthed an audacious new face. Hailing from Grand Blanc, progressive rock band Easy Vibe is geared up to change the face of rock n’ roll, to augment a plateaued genre with a little taste of Michigan. Originally a jam-band formed in early 2009 and com-posed of Kylash Sivakumar on

lead guitar; brothers Brad and Cam Varner on rhythm guitar/vocals and drums, respectively; and Cody Middleton on bass guitar, all under 16, the boys had considerable talent. After a few local shows as a cover band, they recognized that talent and began writing their own material, at which point their career took off. Easy Vibe began playing at outdoor festivals and playing further and further from their hometown. However, this illusory momentum was unfortunately short-lived. With the departure of Middleton in the summer of 2010, the now incomplete trio entered a rut. But Michigan never does disappoint, and great things laid

in wait for the band. Enter Kosta G. Kapellas, a true musician. Near the end of that same summer, the band invited Kosta to play bass with them. He may hardly be called just a bassist. Kosta not only saved them from the brink, but also added immensely to the group. A classi-cally trained musician, he brought with him a sense of musical maturity, previously unknown to the members. Each of the founders became greater musi-cians, and Easy Vibe was established as a force to be reckoned with. They then continued to play more and more shows and began

to receive pay. Now as definitively professional mu-sicians, they have released their demo, entitled, Don’t Feed the Animals EP, a four-song sampler recorded and produced by none other than the legendary Glenn Brown (Kid Rock, Eminem), and continue to write and grow as musi-cians, pretty good for a few teenagers, no?

Story byMATT RIZIK

Banner Staff

EASY VIBEcarrying on the legend of Michigan’s music

26 BANNER 2011

Entertainment

Reuniting to throw another album on the table, The Strokes have reached out to change the way they sound in the album, Angles, which was released on March 22 of this year. Rising in New York City, The Strokes released Is This It (2001), with the hit “Last Nite”, in order to show the world their unique indie garage rock music. Again in 2003 they re-leased another album Room On Fire which is known for its Guitar Hero song “Reptilia.” Unlike these albums, Julius Casablancas, lead vocalist, was not the main writer of the album and instead was a col-laboration with all the members of the band. Angles has brought something completely new to The Strokes’s awaiting fans. Raising suspense, the opener of the album, “Machu Picchu,” brings a completely different sound not relatable to their past work. With reggae sound-ing guitar, this song resembles nothing of a Bob Marley song, but something more alterna-tive with Julian’s vocals on top. This song is possibly the hit

and complex bass lines. Even though the album is a great mix of styles, it’s unfortu-nately not as big of a hit as their first two albums. The Strokes branched out into all kinds of musical styles but were not able to find what they were looking for in this album. Angles still has some of the catchiest tunes released this year in rock, and sounds best if listened thor-oughly in one sitting.

Sounds more like Queen.” Not only this, but “Metabolism” also brings in a vocal line which may resemble the artist Muse. The band has made some attempt at finding a new sound even including more keyboard and synthesizer which is seen in “Games.” They are able to bring an MGMT/Phoenix style to the record, but at the same time they keep the originality of the singer and the backup pop guitar. Throughout the record, the guitar and bass is nothing too special, but they have their mo-ments with unexpected solos

of this album competing with the released single, “Under Cover of Darkeness.” Released a month earlier than the album, “Under Cover of Darkness” lets the original work of The Strokes shine through but it brings some pop style into their work. Although the album is clustered with confused ideas that don’t relate to each other, they pull it off well with each song sounding unique with a new genre in each one of them. This is easily heard in a later track, “Gratisfaction,” which if heard on the radio, one might say, “Wow this is The Strokes?

The Strokes are trying out a New Beat.

The Strokes are searching for another new musical style in their latest album “Angles.”

Story ByKYLASH SIVAKUMAR

Banner Staff

27BANNER 2011

Entertainment

This season on Dancing with the Stars, the cast includes Chaz Bono, Ricki Lake, Rob Kardashian, Elisabetta Canalis, J. R. Martinez, Chynna Phyl-lips, Ron Artest, Hope Solo, Carson Kressley, Kristen Caval-lari, David Arquette, and Nan-cy Grace. The drama is already stirring around two of the new contestants Carson Kressley and Chaz Bono, respectively, gay and transgendered contes-tants. ABC is already receiving complaints about DWTS no longer being a “family friendly show” due to their showcasing of such hot topics. Catch the drama on ABC Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

Since last season ended with crazy twists, the beginning of the season will be mildly relaxed. Serena will continue with her internship and Blair will be planning her lavish Parisian wedding. Just don’t look for Little J and Vanessa because they’ve mysteriously been entirely written out of the show! See how the season unfolds on the CW Monday, Sept. 26 at 8 p.m.

The emotional goodbye to Mi-chael Scott left Dunder Mifflin attempting to fill the void he left behind. The Office’s favorite

couple, Pam and Jim, might be expecting their second bundle of joy and a new employee has been hired to replace Jo, the Sabre CEO. Catch The Office on NBC Thursday, Sept. 22 at 9 p.m.

People have been salivating over the newest season of Two and a Half Men, waiting to see how they will progress with Ashton Kutcher taking over for Charlie Sheen. Look who’s “winning” now! If the rumors are correct, Sheen’s character will be killed and his Malibu paradise will be put on the market. Kutcher’s character is said to be a broken hearted Internet millionaire looking for a place to fit in. See how well the cast has adjusted to all of these changes Monday, Sept. 19 at 9 p.m. on CBS.

Even though the Glee Club lost at Regionals, the last season ended with everything in the positive: Fin and Rachel are back together, Sue is on good terms with the Glee Club, and Kurt and Blaine’s relationship is better than ever. There is news that Mercedes will start off the season with a new man and that front and center story lines are included for Tina, Mike, and Artie. Don’t get too happy though, Sue isn’t friends

with the Glee Club for long, she’s running for Congress on a “No Arts” platform to try and eliminate the Glee Club for good! Watch Glee on FOX Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. to see what Sue will do next!

The last season of 90210 ended with the characters graduating from high school but that is no big news compared to Naomi announcing she was pregnant and Ivy an Raj getting en-gaged! When the crew comes back from summer they’ll be headed off to college but that doesn’t mean they’ll be focused on class! Since the news of Naomi’s pregnancy, her and Max’s relationship has been complicated, Raj and Ivy are braving cancer as a couple, and Liam claims he’s turned over a new leaf. Tune in to the CW Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m. to see the drama unfold.

The last season left off with Brennan finding out that she was pregnant with Booth’s baby, but this season won’t be filled with babies and diapers! Although Booth and Brennan are now a couple, that doesn’t mean their work relationship will be better than ever. Other rumors have spread that a new long running antagonist will be introduced along with a

new intern for Brennan. Catch the next installment Thursday, Nov. 3 at 9 p.m. on FOX.

With last season leaving off with Raj and Penny’s night together, the new season will bring satisfying closure to the ordeal along with Leonard and Priya attempting to hold down a long distance relationship. Bernadette and Howard are at-tempting to plan their wedding but it won’t be easy, especially with Howard’s mother being involved. Watch the Big Bang Theory Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.

The last season left off with House’s car inside Cuddy’s house due to his jealous ram-page because of Cuddy’s new man. The new season will take place a year later after House spent most of his time in jail. There are talks about new members on House’s diagnos-tic team and one of House’s colleagues taking Cuddy’s posi-tion as leader of the hospital because Lisa Eldestein has decided to leave the show. Tune in for the new season on Mon-day, Oct. 3 at 9 p.m. on FOX.

What to expect to see in the upcoming seasons

Story byGINA SANCRICCA

Banner Staff

FALL TV

Two and a half men

Gossip Girl

Dancing with the Stars

Glee

90210

House

Bones

Big Bang Theory

The Office

28 BANNER 2011

Lifestyle

Because we always want more, greater numbers of stu-dents are sending out résumés and attending interviews. Jobs are in. but are they for every-one? The struggle to balance school, friends, and extracur-ricular is enough of a chal-lenge. Adding a part-time job into the mix makes us wonder if the extra cash is really worth it. As the school year begins, many summer jobs are forced to end. Teens mostly quite because they don’t believe they have enough time to work and attend school, such as Junior Isaac Bolinger, and Sophomore,

everyone, and for some worth giving up free time, and going out with friends and family.

successful living, and learning the ropes gives teens a head start in the business world. They can check off worries they have with time management, the future, and living indepen-dently from parents. “I loved having my job last year, it guaranteed my dream of wanting to be a vet,” states senior Amanda Symons, “I’m upset I had to quit due to soc-cer, school work, and a social life, but glad now I feel confi-dent in my future.” Every student has a differ-ent schedule, but not many contain excess space for a job. Yet, the extra money is loved by

Alex Benjamin. “I really needed to concen-trate on school this year, and umping little league games was perfect for me because the baseball season is over after summer,” notes Benjamin.Benjamin also plays for the JV football team, and knows how time-consuming sports alone can be during the school year. Senior athlete Gage Wakula agrees. “With football and school work, I’m always cutting things really close time wise. But having a job helps me pri-oritize much better than I have in the past.” Jobs are an essential part of

Most people think that life guarding at a country club would be the ultimate summer job, especially since this is the time when students are ready to kick back, relax, and finally be stress free. In reality, there are quite a few drawbacks, just as in any other job, but new guards often get a wake up call after the first few days of work. When someone says they are a lifeguard most people say, “That is the perfect summer job! Getting paid to sit there and get tan, you are so lucky!” And many lifeguards think the same before their first day on the job, but after the first day, some change their minds. “I was excited to meet new people and get paid,” said a junior, Alison Darby. “But after the first week I realized it was going to be a long summer, and not in a good way! I hated being a babysitter as well as a janitor. It’s not worth being

paid minimum wage and es-sentially having to work three jobs.” At some pools, the life-guards are also the cleaning staff. This means before they close everyday (usually around 8:30-9), they must clear the deck of trash and stains; spray down the deck, tables, and chairs with a hose; clean toilets, sinks, mirrors, and showers; replace toilet paper and trash; and mop the floors. “Some of the members are picky and complain about every little thing! When they complain, they make sure the boss hears about it. If the boss hears about it, you can count on getting in some trouble,” Darby said. If these jobs are not done thoroughly, members complain, but that usually depends on where you are working. Some members also expect the lifeguards to babysit their

children. “I’ve actually had a member ask, ‘Can you please watch my child on the play-ground while I run to the store really quickly?’ I had to tell her that I was sorry and had to keep my eyes on the pool. It just blows my mind that they actually think I’m there to babysit their child,” Charlie Emmert, a sophomore, said. The actual life guarding isn’t any easier. A lifeguard has to make sure that children don’t hang on lane lines, walk on deck, throw food or make a mess, and, most importantly, make sure they don’t drown. To keep everyone safe, a lifeguard must keep his or her eyes on the pool at all times to monitor the kids and their activities. “It’s extremely stressful be-cause you never know what idi-otic things children are going to try, and, God forbid, they try and do it before you can tell them not to! Young children in

the water are red flags too, you need to keep an extra close eye on them and be prepared to jump in at any moment,” Darb explained. All of this is enough for lifeguards to question if they want to continue this strenuous job. The pool’s members alone sometimes make the guards want to quit. “I will probably be life guarding next year. I have learned so much about what not to do this year that it should be a lot better next time around,” Darby said. Every job comes with a learning curve, but when you’re guarding lives, you have to be much more careful!

Overload: Too much work is worth it for some GBHS students

Story byNICHOLE BOEHKNE

Banner Staff

Lifeguarding is Not a Day at the pool

Story byGINA SANCRICCA

Banner Staff

29BANNER 2011

LifestyleMYTHS... are they true? The Myths of GBHS are examined

Hovering the hallways, spilling into conversations, opening the curiosity in the teenage mind. Rumors. Always spreading and growing in variety. Now is the time to get the facts on some of the biggest GBHS myths.

Are there really tunnels underneath the school?

Is Dr. Hammond a huge fan of Kid Rock?

CONFIRMED

Do the Freshmen get smaller every year?

Are the bathrooms, at West Campus, really haunted?

Is Yearbook a Cult?

Did Grand Blanc used to have approved smoking areas on campus?

BUSTED

CONFIRMED

BUSTED

UNKNOWN

CONFIRMED

Story byNICHOLE BOEHNKE

Banner Staff

Myths... Are they true?Hovering the hallways, spilling into conversations, opening the curiosity in the teen-age mind. Rumors. Always spreading and growing in variety. Now is the time to get hte facts on some of the biggest GBHS myths.

The Myths at GBHS are Examined

30 BANNER 2011

Spotlight

He is really into hip-hop.He looks up to the band Wu-Tang Clan.He is saving up money to buy equipment to produce music and to be a DJ.He enjoys writing song lyrics.After he first heard music, he started listening to it constantly, and, one day, he realized he has a real love for it.He dreams of living in St. Paul, Minn., one day so he can work with major independent music label Rhymesayers.He likes reading the written work of rapper/essayist Dessa.His favorite food is Mexican.He enjoys watching Dexter.He spent the summer hanging out with friends.

Getting to knowJesse Kapellas

IVA MARKICEVICInterview by

Banner Staff

All aboutSara Abdelkader1. I have been singing since I was 3.

I dance & I am on the Pom squad. I love reality shows. I used to do gymnastics. I am Asian and Arab. I want to be a singer when I grow up. I am familiar with 3 languages. I like meeting different people. I like to sing Mariah Carey’s songs. My favorite color is yellow.

RILIWAN BAKERInterview by

Banner Staff

Banner/Baker

31BANNER 2011

Spotlight

Loves old 80s movies Afraid of germs Doesn’t like texting Loves to sew Would rather spend time with her grandma than with kids her age Had a drawer full of costumes at her house

10 things aboutMegan Crampe Does her homework right after school Doesn’t like chocolate chip cookies Second guesses herself Interviewing freaks her out

123

45

6

78910

MEGAN CHRISTIANInterview by

Banner Staff

MeetKaleb Mcelwee

I’m a good drawer, it is my hobby. I sing in my church choir. I am shy. I am mysophobic (Fear of Germs). I enjoy writing stories. I go on walks to clear my head. I love cartoons especially Spongebob and Phineas & Ferb. I am a geek. I want to be a physical therapist. I love to study the human body.

RILIWAN BAKERInterview by

Banner Staff

Banner/Baker