Yes 2 PCHS: A Vote for The Future

by Rachel Kenderdine

What could the vote on April 5th mean to the Paris community? It could mean new school board members, city officials, and the decision that seems to be dominating the news lately: the Say Yes 2 PCHS referendum.

According to the Yes 2 PCHS website, early voting for the issue started on March 14 and ends March 31. The actual election will take place on April 5, and the final decision on the referendum will be made that day.

A “yes” vote would mean the creation of a new high school constructed on a lot outside of town. Without the new school, our current high school will need extensive updating to be up to the fire safety code.

If approved, the vote would also be a good choice for the budget. The Yes 2 PCHS website says that if the referendum passes, the state of Illinois will pay for 65% of the school, leaving less than half of the proposed cost for the community to shoulder. This oppurtunity would not come around for another four years, but at that point there may not be enough state funding to give school construction.

The school would be modern and up to today’s standards for future generations to use and may be ready for students as early as 2014.

“This is probably the only chance our community will have for this opportunity in my lifetime,” said Mrs. Wells, English teacher. “I will be voting ‘yes’ for my children and my students.”

Hopefully, the entire community will feel the same, and vote “yes” for the future of Paris.

NHS Inducts new members

by Olivia Underwood

The prestigious society of The National Honor Society has recently inducted the newest members with a ceremony with much pomp and tradition behind it. The new members elected their president, PCHS junior Rachel Kenderdine. National Honor Society has a long history of upstanding members and charity work, and they are a highly respected group of scholars. Rachel was honored to be so highly regarded by her peers.

“It means a lot.” Rachel said. “I wanted to have an office, and I’m really happy to be President.”

NHS has several pillars of spirit that every student inducted must meet. These include Scholarship, Leadership, Character, and Service. As President, Rachel will be continuing this tradition.

“I hope to volunteer as much as possible and help keep everything up to the National Honor Society’s standards.” Rachel said.

This year National Honor Society has decided to help the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital by selling boots for a dollar that will be hung up around the school. St. Jude’s helps children suffering from cancer and turns no child away so it takes millions to keep it running. St. Jude’s helps hundreds of children and so now National Honor Society is helping them to continue in their mission. If you’d like to support National Honor Society’s charity efforts contact one of their many members to find out more.

“The boots are a good way to help without forcing people to buy expensive things they don’t need,” Rachel said of the charity. “And they go to a good cause.”

Teachers Set to Retire

by Serena Wells

Mr. Aydt and Mr. Kirby are two of the multiple teachers retiring from PCHS this year. I asked the two of them a few questions about their past here and what they are planning on doing with their free time during retirement. This is what they had to say.

The Interview

Serena Wells: How do you feel about retiring?

Mr. Aydt: I’m mostly looking forward to it.

Mr. Kirby: I am looking forward to it.

SW: Have you enjoyed your years at PCHS?

Aydt: I have enjoyed it a lot. I have had a very good 37 years here at PCHS.

Kirby: Oh yes, I have enjoyed it very much! I went to high school here and also taught for 36 years, so I have been here for 40 years.

SW: What are you planning to do in your free time?

Aydt: Probably a lot of work around the house and yard. I may be doing a part time math class.

Kirby: I’ve bought a small business in Florida so I’ll be working there.

SW: What do you think you will miss most about teaching?

Aydt: Working with kids. I’ve always enjoyed the give and take.

Kirby: The students and the great administration.

SW: Why did you decide to retire this year?

Aydt: I’ve had enough time to get full retirement. Don’t have the energy for the high school students. I thought it was time for someone younger to take over.

Kirby: Why not? I have gotten my years in.

Mr. Kirby also would like to mention that he is “really hoping Yes2PCHS goes through so we can have a great learning environment for the students here [at PCHS].” So after over 30 years of both of these men working here at PCHS it’s obvious that they will both miss their teaching career. Goodbye to the both of you and us students here at PCHS hope you have a great retirement.

Code Confusion Cleared Up

by Rachel Kenderdine

Many students involved in extracurricular activities at PCHS were confronted by a very important question at some point within the last few weeks: What was the reason for the sudden onslaught of Extracurricular Codes lately?

The ten-page document gives the student participant the basic rules and regulations for playing a sport or being involved in a club at school, such as attendance, eligibility, and drug testing rules. The Code requires a parent’s signature agreeing that the school rules are understood and their student will follow them.

Olivia Underwood, a junior, said she was given one Extracurricular Code for each activity she was in to fill out within a week. “I was annoyed that I had to fill out three extracurricular forms, because I feel like that’s a lot of needless paperwork,” she said.

So why were so many handed out over the past few weeks? Mr. Cox, the Assistant Prinicipal of PCHS, was able to clear up the confusion.

“We have different clubs that start throughout the year,” he said. “For example, FFA, when they initiate the freshmen and they become new members; when you have spring sports, you have kids who may not have had that signed; drama, with the play and the orchestra.”

Therefore, the Extracurricular Codes were handed out normally, when students who do not technically have permission to be involved in an activity can gain that.

“You just have a lot of activities that start in the spring, and if I go through the list and have kids who haven’t taken one home, they get one,” Mr. Cox said.

He also added that though students may feel as if they have signed the form before, they have not unless they have already been a part of an extracurricular activity earlier in the year.

“If you’re not involved in something at the beginning of the year, you don’t have to fill out one of those or consent to a random drug test [at the time,]” he said.

But despite this information, many are still baffled by the papers they were given.