Romeo and Juliet on Spruz

Left: Mr. Ogle's freshmen literature class reads a scene from Romeo and Juliet.

by Rachel Kenderdine

Romeo and Juliet: it’s not just a love story anymore. For freshmen enrolled in English 9L this semester, the characters have been brought to the future, and into the modern world of computers and social networking sites.

While students cover the unit on Romeo and Juliet, they will be using technology to enhance their understanding of the characters, said Mr. Nathan Ogle, English 9L teacher. “The Romeo and Juliet project is an interactive project that we have set up on a private social network called Spruz,” he said. “All the students in English 9L have been assigned a group and a character in that group, and over the course of the play, they will interact with each other.”

“It’s like Facebook and MySpace,” said Alexis York, a freshman who says that she likes the project. “It relates to our life outside school.”

The project, Mr. Ogle added, has two major parts, the first being the design and use of the profile page (background, layout, “about me,” and song) as their characters, and the second being their daily homework and discussion. “Instead of having them read and answer questions out of the back of the book every night, they are able to use the social networking page. It’s not a worksheet, it’s something that they would do on their computer at home,” he said.

Additionally, becoming one character from the play helps students to focus and allows them to really get into the play. “It causes them to think very deeply about their character,” Mr. Ogle said. “For the requirement to have a song, they have to think and infer about what profile song their character would have on their page.”

“My favorite part is when I’m going through and checking the comments, and checking the forum posts, and I see students really looking into character motive and getting deeper into the play,” said Mr. Ogle. “Their favorite part, I think, is pimping their profile.”

Trip to Costa Rica - Summer 2012

“On the edge of Costa Rica,” or at least that’s where one lucky group is going in June of 2012 to explore its travel attractions and experience its unimaginable beauty.

Mrs. Kelsheimer and Mrs. Wilson are sponsoring an eight to ten day trip to Costa Rica for all PCHS students and their parents are also welcome to go. You don’t have to be a student when they go, so all juniors and seniors currently here at PCHS are welcome too; you just have to pay before the trip. The cost is still undetermined, but it’ll be based on the tour group being used, excursion choices and the sign up dates. They should have the prices ready by the group meeting. The group meeting will be held soon to check for interest in the trip, so listen to the announcements for the date. Every person will be required to have a passport to go on the trip, so make sure to have one by then.

One possible itinerary or guide is as followed:

Day One: Fly to Costa Rica
Day Two: San Jose Arenal region
Day Three: Arenal region (volcano area and soak in the Tabacon hot springs)
Day Four-Five: Monteverde (cloud forest with zip line sky trek through the rain forest)
Day Six: Carara-central pacific coast (Jaco beach and Carara biological reserve with plentiful wildlife)
Day Seven: Manuel Antonio National Park (white sand beaches and rain forests with squirrel monkeys, three- toed sloths and orange-purple crabs)
Day Eight: Sarchi- San Jose- (possible white water rafting or kayaking)
Day Nine: Depart for home

This trip is going to be an unforgettable experience. It may be a little on the pricey side for most, but that’s why we’re being told this early so we can save up for the trip.

Talk of a New High School

Over one hundred years of memories have been built up into one building. What are your thoughts of the building of a new high school for our town? There are many disadvantages as well as advantages to having a new school. I talked to two teachers and got their input on the whole idea. One of the two asked to remain anonymous, and the other is Mrs. Rodriguez.

The first question I asked the two about the school was just for their general opinion. Rodriguez said, “I believe that having a new high school would greatly help the attitude of the students in the high school to be positive. It would also give more students school spirit because they would be proud to claim they are part of Paris Cooperative High School.” The second teacher stated that “a new school would be a simple way to address the educational and accessibility needs of students, staff and community members”.

I asked if they thought it was necessary and both seemed to agree that it was. “I fear that the community cannot handle the added expense, particularly at a time when the economy remains somewhat depressed.” Has this thought been thought of by others? I asked for what they thought the benefits of a new building would be and Rodriguez said, “Students could have more freedom to be involved in class activities. At this current school, students and classes are very cut off from each other and it makes it hard for students from different classes to interact. If there was a more open school, students could more easily interact across the curriculum. Ag students could work with foreign language students to make a project or foods students could work with chemistry students to find the chemical properties of different types of food.”

The meeting that was held a few weeks ago with the architects was brought up, anonymous says “There were some great suggestions to improve the educational environment, however the cost-benefit analysis was not addressed. I would like more information on the expenses before and after the ‘extras’.”

The idea of a new school is great, but the way the economy is right now, is it really feasible? However, being closer to the top of the list for federal funding money in Illinois, now may be Paris's only chance for a new high school for a while. Everyone involved is moving as quickly as possible so that this opportunity does not pass us by.

New Curriculum Director at PCHS

by Andreanna Smith

For many years, students and teachers alike have been dreaming for a new school. For Paris High School plans are coming together to create that new school. With the plans come the thoughts of curriculum. For PCHS, curriculum is coming before the new school.

Ms. Hill, our former full time librarian was added to the administration this year as our curriculum director. With this new job comes new responsibilities. The main responsibility for Ms.Hill is to read all of the course standards for Illinois and for her to work with the teachers to mix the course standards of each class with the course standards of Illinois. Once she is finished with the conferencing, she has to type up course descriptions with the information based on what the teachers tell her. When asked if she would still be the librarian next year, she stated”That depends on whether or not the board rehires a curriculum director. I like being the librarian and also the course director. I am thankful for Mrs. Wegner for taking over the library in the afternoons. She is doing a great job!” In the morning, she is in the library as our librarian, and in the afternoon she works on course descriptions.

With all of the talk of a new school, Ms. Hill says that yes we would have the same courses but it depends on money for the staff and additions into the new school.
Next year, there will be multiple new classes added to the curriculum if approved by the school board. Some of the classes that Ms.Hill would like to see in PCHS are Clothing/Textiles I, Music Appreciation, and Earth Science. The Clothing/Textiles II would be an extension on Clothing/Textiles II. Music Appreciation would be an elective and wouldn’t require for a students to be in band, it also wouldn’t be a dual credit class. As far as dual credit classes, she would like to see dual credit Chemistry II and a dual credit business class. Again, these classes may not be added to the curriculum unless approved by the school board.

Another change to the curriculum for next year would be that the freshman and sophomores next year will have to take English I and II, which will be writing intensive classes. If passed, students will move on to electives. The electives will be semester classes and will include the following Journalism, Creative Writing, World Lit, American Lit, Monster Lit, Composition, Memoirs and Autobiographies.

Take a Stand Against Cyber-Bullying

by Allison Pardi

Imagine you were in a world where every day you were harassed, everywhere you went people made fun of you. You go to school and you get names screamed at you, go for a walk and people lean out the window to scream at you. Eventually you would just stop going to out places, possibly even school. If you were bullied, would probably feel lonely, depressed, and insecure. Now picture the only safe place you have is your home. You go to your bedroom, log on to the computer to do your homework. Awaiting you are hateful Facebook comments and harassing emails. Your cell phone buzzes, and it’s a hateful message from an unknown number. Do you still feel safe?

Everybody has gotten bullied at least once in their life, and it probably hurt their self-esteem. You would think as common sense people wouldn’t want other people to feel the way they did as they were bullied. However, it doesn’t really work that way. Unfortunately, the more people were bullied as a kid, the worse they bully other people. Now that most people have a computer, more people are being bullied over the internet, or cyber bullied. It’s not hard to make fun of someone over a computer, because you’re hidden behind a box. On the other hand, it is harassment and if they wanted to turn it in, there would be something they could do.

“I have been cyber-bullied; it doesn’t make me feel good about myself. In fact, it makes me feel pretty worthless, and as if nobody loves me. Nobody understands exactly how bad words really do hurt,” said a PCHS student.

“When I was cyber-bullied, it made me feel horrible. With all of the name calling it just felt like I didn’t have anybody there for me. I felt … alone,” states Kaylinn McGuinness.

Paris Cooperative High School, unfortunately, is not free from cyber bulling. An issue was recently brought to the administration’s attention in which cyber bulling was occurring on the school grounds on school laptops. Proper action and discipline was taken but that doesn’t always fix the hurt it caused to the victims. The stand against cyber bullying may be supported by administration and teachers, but the real change must begin with students. If you or anyone you know is being cyber bullied, tell an adult: a parent, a relative, a teacher, a counselor, or an administrator. They are here to help. And most importantly, every time you post something on Facebook, or send an email or text message, think about how your words might make someone else feel.

Red Ribbon Week

Pictured: Denver Brewer, LeiLani Reyes, Samantha Creech, Brandon Maloney, and Mickaela Clark wear red for Red Ribbon Week.

by Valerie Lau

Each year, SADD members set up the anticipated, fun-filled, Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is a fun way for students to show that they are against using drugs by wearing their “we are drug free” bracelets and dressing up according to the day. Last week, students were able to participate in all the dress up days.

“My favorite day was definitely when we wore red,” said Kaytlyn Elledge.

Monday, students showed they can stomp out drugs by wearing their boots. Tuesday was crazy socks day, and students socked it to drugs. Wednesday, students showed they can team up against drugs by wearing their team shirts. Thursday, was drug free red day, and students wore red. Finally, Friday was inside out day, and students wore their clothing inside out to show that they would not let drugs turn them inside out.

“Throughout the week we saw a lot of support from the student body. It was pretty awesome,” says Maddie Johnson, SADD member.

SADD is a dedication to helping people in our community. SADD is in charge of different things at our school such as highway cleanup days among other things. If you’re interested in joining SADD, talk to Ms. E. Anyone can join.