This year is like the turning point of my life. Everything is different here in Newport.  As foreign exchange student Dayoon Park says, “Everything is very different but I really like it here. I am from a big city so crowded and quickly all the time that made me really like here too.” At first when I got here, I had a really hard time with my speech and talking. Everyone tried to help me, especially my host family. I tried to play soccer but I couldn’t run outside because when I first got here, I hadn’t adjusted to the temperature and outside was freezing for me. Another foreign exchange student, Jooyong Num says, “At first I went to Texas. It’s really hot for me. I am in a big school so I had a lot of people to talk to, a lot of class to pick. When I moved here I like weather in here better and new thing to try.”

Lalitawan, my exchange student friend from Thailand in Minnesota said, “All things change! At first I felt my life drop down, I really tied in that feeling and I countdown the time everyday. Right now everything got a lots better and it’s made me feel happy now.”

I tried a lot of things for the first time such as Basketball. I had never played any school sport, but this time I played because I need a social experience. Basketball helped me feel a lot better. Everyone always helped and taught me. I really love my team because they made me not feel lonely anymore. This year was my first time that I celebrated Christmas. It was really fun. I got a lot of gifts and we went to play snowboarding too. (I hurt all my body before I can play it.) For the first month of snow I was very excited but after that I had made a snowman and played everything already. I am not really liking it anymore because it’s freezing cold and I slip.

I went to Hawaii on spring break. All of our family went there so it’s kind of a big group. We had a really good time in there. Everyone want to get tan except Dayoon and me. (for asian people we don’t like to get tan) I went to whale watching and it’s so cool. A lot of things are similar in Thailand and Hawaii but it’s still colder.

Equality… what does that word actually mean? In any dictionary, it means the quality or state of being equal. But do you really think people follow what the meaning of the word is? Mitt Romney doesn’t. So don’t ask him for the definition, he wouldn’t know if it was the broad side of the barn. The gay rights act has been a major issue involving the upcoming elections. This is the wedge of all electors and the make it or break it marker for every electoral campaign.

Society has been in this war of American gays having rights for a very long time now. Courtny Roderick says that, “It’s been such a big issue since way back so why fight it? It’s going to continue to happen, even though we continue to fight against the rights.” And it is doubted that it will stop being a political fight because one straight man (president Obama) said that he is, “Okay with gays and wants their vote.” He has my vote for sure. Not only because he said that, but because when you watch his interviews on this subject, he is sincere about it, and not just thinking about the politics and elections. He actually is thinking upon evolution. Mrs. Noble, a Newport High School librarian, was asked her view on how politics are handling the gay rights act; her comment was, “The declaration of Independence says, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…”

Things need to be changed, but it shouldn’t be an argument upon politics. Gay rights, including marriage, etc., shouldn’t be the highlights of politics. Citizens may agree or disagree but it should be up to the president to change things.

In the 15th century, upper-class ladies of northern Europe painfully plucked their hairline to make their foreheads appear to look higher. They also scraped their hair back under elaborate, heavy headdresses. In the 19th Century, young Chinese girls would “bind”  their feet, a painful process meant to break the bones of the feet, so that they would re heal and appear smaller, therefore desirable. In 2009, it was reported that a young woman went under the knife 20 times, all do to cosmetic procedures. The mere concept of beauty has changed dramatically through the decades, and as always, along with the fads and trends of the current age, one question has remained; How far are people willing to go to achieve such a” great” feat as beauty? Whatever happened to natural beauty?

When you look at the cover of a fashion magazine, what’s the first thing that catches your eye? On a typical newsstand, you see glimpses of attractive young women, all done up in a way that screams “Glamorous !” or “Promiscuous”, traits that are only enhanced by the all knowing Table of Contents. “How to Rock the Waves this Summer and Your New Look!” “ 10 Tips to Really Turn Heads This Season!” Every page you turn, mass numbers of beauty tips, how tos, and fashion trends overwhelm you like the crowded battle zones of 75% off sales at shopping malls. Young tweens and teens alike fall helpless to the allure of the runways, of models dressed in lavish designs, surrounded by many admiring fashion seekers. This vision of beauty mixed with the racy influences of the media, MTV, and America’s Next Top Model seem to spark a hunger for many young girls, starting an endless hunt that usually results in a cometic melt down. Suddenly it’s not just about if your shoes match your outfit, it’s “Would I look better in this shirt if I got bigger breast, all my friends have fuller chests”. Today, girls are feeling more pressured than ever to keep up with society’s constantly changing view of “Beautiful.” Everyone is different, their features unique in every way, of course girls should try out new looks, after all, now is the time to express your own style. However, it’s important to know that as long as you have confidence, that’s all the beauty you need. “I think natural beauty is actually better, seriously though, if makeup would have never been invented, I would have been ok with it, honestly it’s such a pain to deal with all the time,” stated MaKinzie Adamson. “I think as long as it’s in good taste, artificial beauty is alright, but I feel like people lose touch with reality and it becomes destructive  for your self confidence, so natural beauty is better,” said Brittney Dodson “In my opinion, natural makeup is less harsh on your completion, less is more for sure,” stated Kori Rippee.

Eyeliner, blush, hair extensions, they’re all good fun, but remember that all of those material items are just that, items, a mask that we put on to enhance the true beauty that can’t be found in a magazine or blog, the true beauty that is you.

Can you remember the last time someone saw that you were struggling with a heavy object and they rushed to get the door for you? How about the last time someone waited to tell you something to your face, rather than send an impersonal text? Neither can I; and as a teen in this generation, I’ve come to learn that common courtesy isn’t as common as we once thought it was.

Some types of courtesy have almost completely died out; young men holding doors and pulling out chairs for their dates being one of those types. Most boys don’t really pay attention to these details, but local teenager Duncan Heaney stands out from them. “Showing you’re a proper man shows that you can take responsibility, and treat a girl how she should be treated.” He goes on to say, “Common courtesy means to be a good neighbor to who you’re around, no matter how you feel about the person.”

Courtesy is slowly fading into nothingness, and it’s all over the place. People are starting to not use words like, “please”, “thank you” and “excuse me”. “It’s impossible to babysit anymore,” teen Sydnee Caskey points out. “Parents just don’t teach their kids manners, and when they aren’t required to say please and thank you, it gets really frustrating trying to teach them.”

It even goes so far as people breaking the law in some standings. Disabled local Shawn Depew states, “It’s sad that they have to make a law saying that people shouldn’t park in handicapped spots, or even that you’re legally obligated to help a blind person when they’re lost in the middle of the street.” He shakes his head with his next quip, “It should just be second nature.” Depew is just one of the many disabled people who believe this. When a person who can walk without any pain or any difficulty parks in a spot closer to the front because they are lazy, it can make things very challenging for someone that feels pain with each extra step they take.

Littering has also become a large concern. You would think that if you’re say, 10 or 20 feet from a garbage can, you’ll just walk over and throw it away, right? These days, that’s not always the case. Many people these days will just throw their garbage near the can, rather than taking the time to walk over and dispose of it properly. An even more commonly littered place would be the movie theater. People spill popcorn, soda, and candy all the time, and never pick it up. Understandable, as theaters are dark places and it can be hard to do without disturbing the other viewers, but it gets to the point of rude when people leave full sodas and half eaten bags of popcorn on the floor for the employees to pick up, or to get knocked over by others leaving the movie.

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes; cutting someone off that they didn’t see while driving, or forgetting a blinker every now and then, but can we find in ourselves to rise above uncommon courtesy, and do the right thing? The next time someone trips, be the person to lend a hand.

    “The most difficult thing to do while in class,” says NHS senior Taylor Woods, “is trying to sit in class and concentrate on an assignment when girls sit close by squealing about the latest gossip and boys jabbering about their weekend party plans.” To some this may be perfectly comfortable, but for most students, music can be the difference between a passing or failing grade on an assignment.

Sitting in class for six hours a day is no fairytale. Neither is listening to the sound of other people’s’ voices when the only thought in your brain is getting that assignment done by the end of the period so you don’t have homework. In that situation, there are two options.
1. Leave class, with the chance of getting in trouble or 2. Put in those headphones and escape to your own world. That option also comes with a consequence. NHS students have walked from classroom to classroom, most with different rules on whether or not you can have cell phones, food, pick your own seat, or music. What are the pros and cons of music in class though?

Merriee Averill, sophomore at NHS says, “For some students, music helps them concentrate, so it should be an option in class during independent study.” Though this is a good point, there are some disadvantages to the situation as well. Music can be distracting and take the attention of the student away from the teacher. In order for music to help the student in class, the student will need to be responsible as to when it is necessary to listen to the music. “The teacher should be the one to indicate whether music should be played in the class or not,” says art, publishing, and digital design teacher Mr.Genther.

Teachers may find it all around distracting for students to listen to individual music or having music played. In the stress of six different classes, music helps get the mind set and to help concentrate better on the task at hand. Overall, music is the choice of the teacher and although 100% of newport students prefer music, rules are followed.

]]> http://grizzlyprint.com/?feed=rss2&p=1942 0 http://grizzlyprint.com/?p=1911 http://grizzlyprint.com/?p=1911#comments Mon, 14 May 2012 15:19:50 +0000 admin http://grizzlyprint.com/?p=1911 – By Dominique Petrie –

Throughout the the year of 2012 many new movies will be produced. However, the question is, “What movies are people most excited for?” A newer series that teenagers are interested in is the Twilight movie series. The series is based off of a book series written by Stephenie Meyer. Once teenagers read the books, the movies became a huge success. Twilight saga, Breaking Dawn part 1, made about $115 million. Jordann Slocum, a Sophomore at Newport says “Twilight is my favorite movie and I find myself really looking forward to the Twilight saga, Breaking Dawn part two as it comes out.”

Another featured series, “Men In Black” is set to have the 3rd movie in the series come out on May 25, 2012. This movie has already sold 22,903 tickets online, to people around the world who want to go opening day.  The first “Men in Black” was made for $90 million and went on to earn around $590 million in worldwide selling tickets. The second movie was made for $140 million and went on to earn about $442 million in worldwide selling tickets. The third movie is currently being made for $163 million and has made just $183,224 in just online tickets.

The Hunger Games is another movie of 2012. The Hunger Games series was also based on a series of books, like Twilight. However, this series of books was written by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games produced the first of three movies, on March 23, 2012. At the midnight showing, when the Hunger Games came out, it made over 30 million dollars. By the end of box office sales the movie made 155 million dollars, and is now competing with Twilight for best seller.

Though the movies of the past have kept the people entertained for many years, new thrillers are sure to keep them entertained in the years to come. Whether it be the action of the “Men in Black” movies that attracts all the Sci Fi nuts, or the romance of “Breaking Dawn Part 2” that draws all of the heartthrob teenagers, the movie makers have certainly come up with an interesting line up for the year of 2012.

During the reign of King Henry the 8th, Shanay Monvill introduced the idea of a school uniform. Shanay’s argument for putting uniforms into schools was that uniforms would fix the issues brought about with students’ clothing decisions, while making the students look cleaner. The first school to adopt the uniforms was called Christ’s Hospital Boarding School, near Horsham, West Sussex.

Many students at Newport High School have their own opinions on uniforms. A junior, Jessica Ross, says, “Uniforms would be fun for the first week but not being able to express myself would be boring.” A freshman named Nicolas Allen states, “Uniforms would be a terrible idea because students express themselves through clothes, without being able to express themselves everyone would be the same.” A teacher at Newport High School, Irene Ewing, shares her opinion and replies, “No matter what the dress code is, there will always be problems that can occur, so uniforms wouldn’t make a difference.”

How will you know if uniforms could make an impact on Newport? If they made an impact on Christ’s Hospital, does that mean they will make an impact on Newport High School? If Newport High School added uniforms to the school district dress code, problems would have the option to disappear. For example, girls would no longer be able to wear inappropriate shirts, dresses, pants, and leggings. Guys in high school would be required to keep the pants they wear pulled up.

Bringing uniforms into the school could be just as bad compared to the dress code issues Newport High school has now. The biggest issues public schools have had is kids making the uniforms into their own, going against regulations, refusing to wear the uniforms, and altering uniforms. When Shanay Monvill invented the idea of uniforms, all these things were brought into the situation. Jordann Slocum, a sophomore at Newport High School said, “Jobs after high school require uniforms, so why make us wear them now when we have the freedom to wear what we want?”

In the state of Washington, every high school student is required to take the HSPE test only during their sophomore year, unless they are retaking it a later year.  The initials HSPE stand for High School Preference Exam. This exam is supposed to test students on how well they know each subject. There are four different HSPE tests, reading, writing, math and science. Each grade has their own graduation requirements; some students don’t need the science HSPE to graduate.

Some students don’t think the HSPE should be a graduation requirement. Rachel Brasch, a student at Newport High School said, “No, because some people do not test very well, but that does not mean that they are not smart. If they pass their classes, then they should be able to graduate.” Another student, Austin Krogh, stated, “The HSPE is a joke, because some people do not test well, so if they’re smart it’s not going to show on the test.”  Several students feel that the HSPE is unfair and that it should not be a graduation requirement.

Each student is different, and certain HSPE tests can be hard for one student but not for another. Rachel Brasch said, “I find that the writing HSPE is the easiest, because I enjoy writing even though I am not a very good speller.”

Some students feel that teachers don’t prepare students for the HSPE, as well as they should while others feel the opposite.  Austin Krogh said, “They don’t prepare students as well as they should,” while Rachel Brasch said, “I feel that some teachers try to prepare you, but in the end it all depends upon the person and how well they test.”

Every student is different, and they all test differently. The HSPE may come very easy to some students, whereas others may stress out, because they are worried about not graduating.

Down by one point and 30 seconds left on the clock. I know I can make this shot. I’ve done it so many flawless times before. I should be in there, but that F in math is killing my game. This is so unfair, what does athletics have to do with school anyway?

Most parents go to games to watch their children or even the star athletes compete. This, however is not possible if that child or student has a failing grade like an F in any of their six classes. Jake Wiley, MVP of NHS varsity basketball team states, ”I think if an athlete has one F and the teacher knows that the student is putting effort into changing it, then they should be able to play. But if the student is not showing any type of effort at all then they shouldn’t be able to.” What is the purpose of this rule though? Should students really have the opportunity to play a sport with an F?

Over the years at many schools, it has been “Hit the books before the ball.” But is this true for every student that participates as an athlete? When Madie Merrill was asked if she thinks some students are given more opportunities than others to play with unacceptable grades, she answered, “Yes some athletes are more favored.” Also, it is thought that teachers allow those athletes who are, so to speak, the best on the team to get away with bad grades more often than those who struggle with the sport and grades more. Merriee Averill, a sophomore at NHS, agrees with the statement.

Although it may seem unfair, the rule is set for a reason. “Students come to school for that very reason, to learn, and that should be taken care of first before anything else”, states Coach Daniels. Education comes before sports and education can get you further in life and is considered a much higher priority.

An art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color; this is the definition of music. Music is also a kind of outlet for people. Some kids want to pursue these dreams further than just listening, and they want to be the ones that create the art that everyone listens to on a daily basis. Some people ask,  “Well, how do you get started in the music industry?” Believe it or not, there are many different paths you can take to become a member of the music industry.

For example, there are universities that offer classes in music business, music producing, and entertainment business. The music business course at Full Sail University in Florida is a class for people who want to get music 
to the masses. This program covers creative and 
financial concepts that go into promoting clients’ and 
artists’ careers, including marketing, accounting, 
intellectual property, artist and product management, 
and publishing and distribution. So, if you are strong in marketing and have a love for music, this is a possible course choice for you. If you are more interested in the producing of music however, the best choice for you would be in a class such as the music producing course where students will develop an understanding of how to make 
professional-quality music right from their laptops. You can create your own songs, scores, and 
soundtracks with the latest music hardware and software.

Students like Branden Cass, a NHS senior who is interested in the production of music said, “I’m interested in music because the lifestyle of an artist is very unique, and it would be extremely fun and life changing to be on a bus all day sleeping and making music all night.” This is just one example of why students want to do more in depth things with the music they love. Kyle Edwards said, “I want to be known around the country for my music. I want to make a statement and do something with my life. Music is what I go to for everything. When I’m sad I listen to music that resembles the sadness, when I’m mad at some one I listen to ‘Drop the World’ by Lil Wayne, which is a perfect representation of being mad at someone.”

These are just a few examples of paths you can choose from to become a musical millionaire, a world-renowned producer, or even one of the unnamed heroes of musical marketing. Whatever you choose, there is a position for you so don’t be afraid to chase your dream of music, expect sucess and don’t be afraid of failure. Music is one of the industries that will never die. It is one that must continue to evolve, and there are always positions for people willing to help the process.  Barbara Bell, the band teacher at NHS said, “You can become a teacher of music like me or you can just create your own art, but you just have to remember that the more you love the music you make, the more likely the world will love it as well.”