features
Choosing The Right Club For You
SHALEN TULLY
Here at Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School, there are opportunities that allow students to be more successful in college and beyond, with one of those ways being a variety of clubs offered after school . Clubs are a great way to earn scholarships, have something good down on your transcript, or even to just join something that best fits your interests.
The Husky Howler:
Have you seen students walking around with dark blue shirts and a wolf logo on it? Were you curious why they were wearing them? Well, no need to ponder on, you witnessed a staff member of the Husky Howler. The Husky Howler is a structured team that presents monthly “hard-hitting” journalism, creative pieces or artwork, school events, and advice on personal issues in the “Dear Nancy” column. The newspaper meetings are always informative and have an order as to what must be accomplished in the time allotted. Señora Moore, the teacher adviser, the two team Editors-in-Chief - Corinne Kronschnabel and Valerie Mecha - and other editors work hard to make sure everything runs smooth. The meetings are held every Tuesday from 3:00 - 4:30, and are usually supplied with concessions. Every member in the group is fantastic, very resourceful, helpful to get you on your feet, and filled with excitement for the overall process. If you’re looking for a place to report on school, local, or world news and/ or to be creative, then the Husky Howler is right for you.
Radio Reagan:
Interviewed: Tristen Hyde (Sophomore)
If you attended Reagan Fest recently, then you heard Radio Reagan. This club’s mission is to produce daily broadcasts accompanied by music from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. each morning. This extracurricular allows members to learn music production and history, as well as communication skills. One sophomore member of Radio Reagan, Tristen Hyde, said that, “[while] I’m not going into a music career… many others from Radio Reagan are… and there are further opportunities, like College Radio, which is a big thing.” College radio is important if music is your career path, as it can gain you a Bachelor’s degree in music. If you’re intrigued to advance your career in music, make the morning announcements, or play songs every morning, then go to room 135 to sign up for Radio Reagan.
Debate Team:
Interviewed: Sam and Ben (Juniors)
The debate team is one of the groups that stands out inside Reagan, having two outstanding leaders: Sam and Ben. According to Ben, debate is, “talking about policies that could be put into place… and how relevant they are to today’s societies.” They also mentioned that the debate team is a great way to improve public speaking and communication skills overall. Every year the topic that all debate teams focus on changes, and this year its overarching topic is, “the economic ties with China… [like] how China and the United States trade.” Sam added that another focus would be on, “space exploration... and if we (the U.S.) should do it with China.” As heard from other members of the group, it seems to be a great team of people that support each other and all their opinions. If you’re motivated to join the club, then go to Mr. Silva’s room in 202.
Chess Club:
Interviewed: Seth Kinney (Sophomore)
If you’re skilled at playing chess - or even simply want to learn, then the Chess Club is meant for you. With the club Mr. Wood has set up, they have different levels for people that may have more or less experience with this game. Seth Kinney builds on how the different levels work, saying, “There’s one system where you come in on Tuesdays and play for fun, and another where you show up Tuesdays and Thursdays, and you’re playing more seriously.” While most of the time the club is held in the school library, the season ends with a State Chess Tournament that’s promised to be fun in the end. It’s a fun, small club to join if you’re into playing chess and meeting people that share that interest with you.
Girls’ Swim Team:
Interviewed: Natalia Walker (Junior)
The girls’ swim team is a brand new club, and has a lot to offer for both people old and new at Ronald Reagan. The team captain, Natalija Walker, explains what the club is all about, saying, “We practice at South Division from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., every single day after school... and there is a bus that takes you from Reagan to South Division and back.” She does recommend that if you join, that you bring swim goggles, a cap, and a suit. She also states that for those who don’t have much swimming experience that, “I [Natalija] would recommend basic swimming skills… and then we would help you build on that to get faster for races.” The official staff members of the club from the interview are a committed team that are excited for this year as the first Reagan girls’ swim team, and would love all girl swimmers to join and support the team! If you are interested in joining, speak to Ms. Kohnke or Ms. Fahey, the staff coaches.
Track:
Interviewed: Timothy Manzke (Sophomore)
Track is a great sport that has competition and true sportsmanship, as well as being a good way in general to keep your body in shape. With track, Timothy Manzke says that, “You wanna’ get your endurance up, that’s the biggest thing you wanna’ focus on.” Mr. Paltzer and Duellman, the team’s coaches, make sure that you go at your own pace depending on your skill level, and take your time to work yourself up to the level that will be needed during track meets. The club is a great way to work well with others and get better at running shorter and longer distances altogether. If you are interested with running in competitions and improving your endurance, track starts up in the spring season and meets up every day after school.
GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance):
Interviewed: Carly Palacios ( Sophomore)
The GSA, or Gay/Straight Alliance, is a place where everyone can come together and make new friends, talking to people that you wouldn’t usually talk to. The club meets up every Wednesday, and it is a great place to make more connections to different groups of individuals and do activities such as movies, games, and more; along with “Fun Friday’s” usually occurring near the end of every month. One of the two leaders, Carly Palacios, states that the members of the group will, “go over the history” and background on different sets of people, such as those who are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. Along with Carly, a fellow student named Leonardo and staff member Mr. Moriarity have put a lot of effort into the planning of this year's objectives and activities for the club, and they are excited for the amount of new people that are joining. If you’re interested in joining a group that is an inclusive place for all kinds of people to interact with, then join the GSA.
The Husky Howler:
Have you seen students walking around with dark blue shirts and a wolf logo on it? Were you curious why they were wearing them? Well, no need to ponder on, you witnessed a staff member of the Husky Howler. The Husky Howler is a structured team that presents monthly “hard-hitting” journalism, creative pieces or artwork, school events, and advice on personal issues in the “Dear Nancy” column. The newspaper meetings are always informative and have an order as to what must be accomplished in the time allotted. Señora Moore, the teacher adviser, the two team Editors-in-Chief - Corinne Kronschnabel and Valerie Mecha - and other editors work hard to make sure everything runs smooth. The meetings are held every Tuesday from 3:00 - 4:30, and are usually supplied with concessions. Every member in the group is fantastic, very resourceful, helpful to get you on your feet, and filled with excitement for the overall process. If you’re looking for a place to report on school, local, or world news and/ or to be creative, then the Husky Howler is right for you.
Radio Reagan:
Interviewed: Tristen Hyde (Sophomore)
If you attended Reagan Fest recently, then you heard Radio Reagan. This club’s mission is to produce daily broadcasts accompanied by music from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. each morning. This extracurricular allows members to learn music production and history, as well as communication skills. One sophomore member of Radio Reagan, Tristen Hyde, said that, “[while] I’m not going into a music career… many others from Radio Reagan are… and there are further opportunities, like College Radio, which is a big thing.” College radio is important if music is your career path, as it can gain you a Bachelor’s degree in music. If you’re intrigued to advance your career in music, make the morning announcements, or play songs every morning, then go to room 135 to sign up for Radio Reagan.
Debate Team:
Interviewed: Sam and Ben (Juniors)
The debate team is one of the groups that stands out inside Reagan, having two outstanding leaders: Sam and Ben. According to Ben, debate is, “talking about policies that could be put into place… and how relevant they are to today’s societies.” They also mentioned that the debate team is a great way to improve public speaking and communication skills overall. Every year the topic that all debate teams focus on changes, and this year its overarching topic is, “the economic ties with China… [like] how China and the United States trade.” Sam added that another focus would be on, “space exploration... and if we (the U.S.) should do it with China.” As heard from other members of the group, it seems to be a great team of people that support each other and all their opinions. If you’re motivated to join the club, then go to Mr. Silva’s room in 202.
Chess Club:
Interviewed: Seth Kinney (Sophomore)
If you’re skilled at playing chess - or even simply want to learn, then the Chess Club is meant for you. With the club Mr. Wood has set up, they have different levels for people that may have more or less experience with this game. Seth Kinney builds on how the different levels work, saying, “There’s one system where you come in on Tuesdays and play for fun, and another where you show up Tuesdays and Thursdays, and you’re playing more seriously.” While most of the time the club is held in the school library, the season ends with a State Chess Tournament that’s promised to be fun in the end. It’s a fun, small club to join if you’re into playing chess and meeting people that share that interest with you.
Girls’ Swim Team:
Interviewed: Natalia Walker (Junior)
The girls’ swim team is a brand new club, and has a lot to offer for both people old and new at Ronald Reagan. The team captain, Natalija Walker, explains what the club is all about, saying, “We practice at South Division from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., every single day after school... and there is a bus that takes you from Reagan to South Division and back.” She does recommend that if you join, that you bring swim goggles, a cap, and a suit. She also states that for those who don’t have much swimming experience that, “I [Natalija] would recommend basic swimming skills… and then we would help you build on that to get faster for races.” The official staff members of the club from the interview are a committed team that are excited for this year as the first Reagan girls’ swim team, and would love all girl swimmers to join and support the team! If you are interested in joining, speak to Ms. Kohnke or Ms. Fahey, the staff coaches.
Track:
Interviewed: Timothy Manzke (Sophomore)
Track is a great sport that has competition and true sportsmanship, as well as being a good way in general to keep your body in shape. With track, Timothy Manzke says that, “You wanna’ get your endurance up, that’s the biggest thing you wanna’ focus on.” Mr. Paltzer and Duellman, the team’s coaches, make sure that you go at your own pace depending on your skill level, and take your time to work yourself up to the level that will be needed during track meets. The club is a great way to work well with others and get better at running shorter and longer distances altogether. If you are interested with running in competitions and improving your endurance, track starts up in the spring season and meets up every day after school.
GSA (Gay/Straight Alliance):
Interviewed: Carly Palacios ( Sophomore)
The GSA, or Gay/Straight Alliance, is a place where everyone can come together and make new friends, talking to people that you wouldn’t usually talk to. The club meets up every Wednesday, and it is a great place to make more connections to different groups of individuals and do activities such as movies, games, and more; along with “Fun Friday’s” usually occurring near the end of every month. One of the two leaders, Carly Palacios, states that the members of the group will, “go over the history” and background on different sets of people, such as those who are straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender. Along with Carly, a fellow student named Leonardo and staff member Mr. Moriarity have put a lot of effort into the planning of this year's objectives and activities for the club, and they are excited for the amount of new people that are joining. If you’re interested in joining a group that is an inclusive place for all kinds of people to interact with, then join the GSA.
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Make Room in Your Schedule for the 2016 Harley Davidson Bike Rally!
Freedom Gobel
If you are looking for a fun, inexpensive activity to kick off September, then the Harley Davidson Bike Rally is just for you! Join Milwaukee at the Harley Davidson Museum on Thursday, September 1 - Sunday, September 4 to enjoy activities including: bike shows, ceremonies, tours, rides, live music, and more.
This year, nine live bands will be featured before, during, or after the activities of your choosing. If motorcycles aren't your thing, but your family is a group of moto nerds, spend your time dancing and listening to bands including: Bad Habitz, Hairball, Doozey, Bascom Hill, Unity the Band, Devil Met Contention, Middle Ground, Saddlebrook, and Road Trip. All music will be performed at the Harley Davidson Museum Plaza Music.
If one rally isn't enough to satisfy your motorcycle needs, expand your experience and join Harley-Davidson fans for the Wisconsin H.O.G Rally: Brew City Experience and participate in two rallies at the same time!
For more information, visit the Harley Davidson website, www.harley-davidson.com, and participate in a weekend of fun at the museum! (400 W Canal St. Milwaukee, WI 53201)
This year, nine live bands will be featured before, during, or after the activities of your choosing. If motorcycles aren't your thing, but your family is a group of moto nerds, spend your time dancing and listening to bands including: Bad Habitz, Hairball, Doozey, Bascom Hill, Unity the Band, Devil Met Contention, Middle Ground, Saddlebrook, and Road Trip. All music will be performed at the Harley Davidson Museum Plaza Music.
If one rally isn't enough to satisfy your motorcycle needs, expand your experience and join Harley-Davidson fans for the Wisconsin H.O.G Rally: Brew City Experience and participate in two rallies at the same time!
For more information, visit the Harley Davidson website, www.harley-davidson.com, and participate in a weekend of fun at the museum! (400 W Canal St. Milwaukee, WI 53201)
Things I Wish I Would’ve Known as a Freshman
Madi Larsh
Freshman year can be really tough. Adjusting to a new schedule, new people, a new building? It can get to be overwhelming. However, in the midst of feeling uneasy or anxious, you also may feel rather excited. You have the opportunity for a fresh start; new people, a new environment, and a potential new outlook on your life.
Personally, I was all over the spectrum of emotions. Both anxious because of a new environment, but excited to get myself out there and gain new experiences. Nonetheless, I really wish I would have had somebody to tell me the do’s and don’ts of entering Reagan IB High School, because it can be rather intimidating. Lucky for you freshmen, I am here to inform you of some of the things I wish I would’ve known going into freshman year.
Extracurriculars
Maybe you can relate, maybe you can’t; but I am an extrovert when it comes to being with my friends, but an introvert when it involves meeting other people. Meaning, I am very social with my friends and am willing to try new things with them, but don’t necessarily like volunteering myself for new experiences when I’m on my own. However, putting yourself out there can be one of the best decisions you make. Try signing up for a few different clubs and go to the first meeting or so. If you don’t end up enjoying yourself and decide not to continue with that extra curricular, at least you know you tried and you won’t regret not doing it.
The Hallways/Stairs
Navigating the hallways can be a tricky concept - especially in the first few weeks of school when adapting to new classrooms across the school. Establishing routes and routines to and from each of your classes can take a while to finally get the hang of. Though that may be an obstacle, you must be mindful of the people around you. Upperclassmen understand that it may be difficult for you freshmen to adjust to new surroundings, but regardless, they have somewhere to be.
When navigating around the hallways, make sure to:
Yes, even if you follow these hallway and stair guidelines, you are still going to get bumped into. It happens to everybody, and it’s inevitable. You just have to pick up your stuff, and carry on.
The Ego
Being confident is an important role in being a freshman. You should definitely know your way around the building and know how to carry yourself correctly. However, being overly confident can be an issue. Don’t be big headed, just don’t. Graduating from middle school and entering high school is a big transition. You go from being top dog to becoming a small fish in a very large and busy pond. You are no longer the alpha that ‘runs the school,’ so you shouldn’t act like it.
If you don’t want to look like a Freshman…
There are many people that are just fine being a freshman and don’t care that they are one, and there is nothing wrong with that. On the contrary, there are also plenty of people that don’t necessarily like appearing as a lowerclassmen. So here are some concepts that usually indicate that you’re a freshman.
Organization
Organization, whether it involves your locker, your homework, or your extracurriculars, is vital.
Lockers - I’ve seen plenty of methods. You could stack your binders in your main locker, I’ve seen people use their overhead lockers for A Days and their main locker for B Days. There are people who just bring all their A Day binders on A Days and keep their B Day materials at home and vice versa. It’s really all about finding a tactic that works for your lifestyle.
Homework - You are given an agenda for a reason, take advantage of it! Writing down all your assignments and due dates will keep you on top of all of your classes and can always remain aware of what you need.
Extracurriculars - Again, simply writing down any extracurricular events that you would like to attend in your agenda can really assist you in remembering.
Procrastination
Procrastination is one of the nastiest habits you can become enveloped in. Believe me, I’m an expert in that field. Once you go down that road, it’s very hard to get out of. I know homework sucks, and nobody really wants to do it, and I am about to tell you what every parent/administrator will tell you to do. Just get it out of the way. I know every person and their mother says this, but I never fully realized how true this advice is. When you make it a routine to complete your homework right as you get home, you can carry on with your everyday life when it’s finished. Doing the things you would rather be doing beforehand will prolong your stress about completing the homework, and you won’t enjoy the activity as much because you will be dreading your assignments the whole time. Just bite the bullet and get it over with.
Transitioning from eighth grade to ninth can be very challenging, and it may take a while to familiarize yourself with new habits and protocols. Some freshmen learn these lessons the hard way. I’m here to hopefully make your high school transition a little smoother. If you’re a little embarrassed that you may identify with some of these patterns listed, just remember, all upperclassmen were freshmen once too!
Personally, I was all over the spectrum of emotions. Both anxious because of a new environment, but excited to get myself out there and gain new experiences. Nonetheless, I really wish I would have had somebody to tell me the do’s and don’ts of entering Reagan IB High School, because it can be rather intimidating. Lucky for you freshmen, I am here to inform you of some of the things I wish I would’ve known going into freshman year.
Extracurriculars
Maybe you can relate, maybe you can’t; but I am an extrovert when it comes to being with my friends, but an introvert when it involves meeting other people. Meaning, I am very social with my friends and am willing to try new things with them, but don’t necessarily like volunteering myself for new experiences when I’m on my own. However, putting yourself out there can be one of the best decisions you make. Try signing up for a few different clubs and go to the first meeting or so. If you don’t end up enjoying yourself and decide not to continue with that extra curricular, at least you know you tried and you won’t regret not doing it.
The Hallways/Stairs
Navigating the hallways can be a tricky concept - especially in the first few weeks of school when adapting to new classrooms across the school. Establishing routes and routines to and from each of your classes can take a while to finally get the hang of. Though that may be an obstacle, you must be mindful of the people around you. Upperclassmen understand that it may be difficult for you freshmen to adjust to new surroundings, but regardless, they have somewhere to be.
When navigating around the hallways, make sure to:
- Walk quickly - nobody likes walking behind a slow walker. You may have extra time before you need to be in your next class, but the people behind you might not.
- Avoid walking in pairs - you might have room to walk next to your friend in the hallways, but chances are, you won’t. The hallways are crowded and people need to get through.
- Stop shouting, you’ll see your friends at lunch.
- Always walk on the right side of the hallways and the stairs. I don’t mean the correct side, I literally mean the right side. It’s like driving on the road. Otherwise you will be walking straight into traffic and are going to get trampled. Along with that, make speedy transitions if your class/locker happens to be on the left side of the hallway. It’s all about timing.
Yes, even if you follow these hallway and stair guidelines, you are still going to get bumped into. It happens to everybody, and it’s inevitable. You just have to pick up your stuff, and carry on.
The Ego
Being confident is an important role in being a freshman. You should definitely know your way around the building and know how to carry yourself correctly. However, being overly confident can be an issue. Don’t be big headed, just don’t. Graduating from middle school and entering high school is a big transition. You go from being top dog to becoming a small fish in a very large and busy pond. You are no longer the alpha that ‘runs the school,’ so you shouldn’t act like it.
If you don’t want to look like a Freshman…
There are many people that are just fine being a freshman and don’t care that they are one, and there is nothing wrong with that. On the contrary, there are also plenty of people that don’t necessarily like appearing as a lowerclassmen. So here are some concepts that usually indicate that you’re a freshman.
- Wearing your ID around your neck. Yes, it is required that you have your ID on you at all times. Many people keep theirs in their wallet/pockets/pencil case, etc.
- Carrying around a backpack. You’re not allowed to carry any non- mesh/clear bags around as it is, so many people bring multiple subjects to one class to avoid stopping at their locker, or buying multi-subject notebooks.
- Carrying your schedule out in the open. Understandably, you won’t memorize the exact classroom number of all your classes. To solve this, just remember certain landmarks that are in the route you take to get to that classroom.
Organization
Organization, whether it involves your locker, your homework, or your extracurriculars, is vital.
Lockers - I’ve seen plenty of methods. You could stack your binders in your main locker, I’ve seen people use their overhead lockers for A Days and their main locker for B Days. There are people who just bring all their A Day binders on A Days and keep their B Day materials at home and vice versa. It’s really all about finding a tactic that works for your lifestyle.
Homework - You are given an agenda for a reason, take advantage of it! Writing down all your assignments and due dates will keep you on top of all of your classes and can always remain aware of what you need.
Extracurriculars - Again, simply writing down any extracurricular events that you would like to attend in your agenda can really assist you in remembering.
Procrastination
Procrastination is one of the nastiest habits you can become enveloped in. Believe me, I’m an expert in that field. Once you go down that road, it’s very hard to get out of. I know homework sucks, and nobody really wants to do it, and I am about to tell you what every parent/administrator will tell you to do. Just get it out of the way. I know every person and their mother says this, but I never fully realized how true this advice is. When you make it a routine to complete your homework right as you get home, you can carry on with your everyday life when it’s finished. Doing the things you would rather be doing beforehand will prolong your stress about completing the homework, and you won’t enjoy the activity as much because you will be dreading your assignments the whole time. Just bite the bullet and get it over with.
Transitioning from eighth grade to ninth can be very challenging, and it may take a while to familiarize yourself with new habits and protocols. Some freshmen learn these lessons the hard way. I’m here to hopefully make your high school transition a little smoother. If you’re a little embarrassed that you may identify with some of these patterns listed, just remember, all upperclassmen were freshmen once too!
The Door County Experience as a Minority in 2016
Freedom Gobel
In The United States, police shootings of African American individuals without justifiable reason seems to be becoming a national normality. The numbers are climbing higher than thought possible, challenging the concept of equality amongst our citizens. The #BlackLivesMatter movement is being pushed harder than ever, demanding racial justice. The seemingly constant deaths from this summer alone are haunting, and leave large amounts of US populations either living in fear or nervous of misstepping on fragile ground. Being born of an African American woman and a Caucasian man has showed me multiple sides to the debate as I watch relatives of both families fall deep into conflict with no apparent end. It's hard hearing, more often than not, that black people have violent tendencies and at the same time hearing that white people are all ignorant racists. That must put me somewhere in the middle, right?
I spent 10 weeks of my summer this year in Door County, a vacation spot located in eastern Wisconsin as the news stories on shootings were abundant. Knowing the population was mainly white kept me hoping I wouldn't feel like an outsider. I wanted more assurance and to prove that racism and ignorance aren't everywhere. I wanted to see defiance, and I wanted to keep my faith in humanity. My mother, brother, and I, working as traveling artists, set off for our destination, excited for possibility and the life outside of the city we knew well.
Mind you, 10 weeks is a long time to be living somewhere other than your home, and meeting new people is inevitable. We loved walking through the shops in every town, making meaningful conversation with the citizens and small business owners. However, not every encounter was pleasant or in the slightest bit appropriate. I tried hard to keep my idea of this place anything but negative, but that seemed to take more effort as the summer continued.
“What are you all doing here?” said an elderly white woman with a smile in the cookbook section of a thrift store, a favorite location for me and my mother to spend our mornings leisurely.
“Working,” my mother said. “We’re traveling artists.”
“Well, I just wanted to apologize for my ancestors.” My mother and I exchange eye contact, confused by her remark. The woman starts crying. “They stole all of your little black babies and killed them. I'm just so sorry. We is all people. Tell your people I’m sorry,” she said. We were silent. What could we say? She had the best intentions of kindness, but didn't seem to think about how uncomfortable we would feel, and the fact that I don't have every black person in personal contact. “Tell your people I'm sorry,” she repeated, and left wiping her tears.
A few weeks into our trip a friend invited us to a lecture on White Privilege. My mother made sure we attended. “It's not a productive conversation without both sides of the story.” So we went, and as expected were the only people of color. Naturally, and again as expected, we felt the stares from around the room like they were tangible. I didn't pay much attention to it. I had gotten used to the feeling living there everyday.
Curiosity was rising as we waited for the lecture to begin. Believe me, it was worth the wait and an hour more. This woman (who happened to be white) was simply brilliant. She spoke about how white privilege prevents from understanding the real issue and how people of color feel the need to hide their feelings and experiences because no one really wants to hear them complain. She said that claiming you have a black friend doesn't mean you understand how it feels. No one knows the full extent of anyone's life but their own.
After the lecture there was a talk back, which of course we attended. The first topic of discussion was regarding the establishment’s decision to hang a #BlackLivesMatter banner. The opposing argument was that a banner reading ‘#AllLivesMatter’ be hung instead to avoid outside conflict. I think it's important to understand that saying ‘Black Lives Matter’ doesn't mean they are the only ones that matter. It means it's time that black lives matter too. Another man grabbed the mic and said, “I don't even see color. We are all the same.” I, for one, hate this comment. Obviously you can see that I am of a darker complexion, and that I do look different from you. It just shouldn't change the way you think of me. It shouldn't change the way you treat me. But I am different. It's okay to recognize that. My mother said she was hesitant to take the mic, telling me that she didn't want to speak for the entire black population.
Interactions occurring afterwards seemed like we were a charity case. Bikes were donated to us. Kind, yes, but made us wonder if the reason they were given to us was because they thought we couldn't afford bikes ourselves, or that we didn't own any already. One man invited us out on his “beautiful BLACK boat”. He told us, “I want to feel like I've contributed.” Thank you, sir, for your contribution. He didn’t know he was making us feel unimportant. The irony was incredible.
Weeks passed on by and the summer was coming to a close. I desperately wanted to go home. A scary number of news articles and videos had been published, informing the world of cases showing that yet another innocent black man was fatally shot by the police. The first two weeks of July were especially rough. We read about Alton Sterling and Philando Castile’s innocence fatally ignored in the hands of officers. Many people showed abnormal displays of kindness to us due to the sensitivity of the issue, but not everyone. Most days I would hear things like but not limited to…
“I have darkie friends like you. I get it.”
“I've never sat in the back before. This must be what it feels like to be black, huh?”
“What if we just decided to lynch someone.” And after I told this individual to watch their mouth, they said, “Oh, I didn't mean it like a race thing.” The word lynch comes from a man named Captain William Lynch in the 18th century who would practiced ‘lynch law’ on his slaves. But hey, I guess it's not a ‘race thing’.
I had gotten tired of correcting people’s ignorance, but couldn't stand the thought of letting it continue. All I wanted was for the summer to be over. Eventually, it ended, but I wasn't leaving this all behind. I was carrying it with me. Carrying it with me to remember, to share, to learn from, and to help others better understand this part of the world we live in.
I spent 10 weeks of my summer this year in Door County, a vacation spot located in eastern Wisconsin as the news stories on shootings were abundant. Knowing the population was mainly white kept me hoping I wouldn't feel like an outsider. I wanted more assurance and to prove that racism and ignorance aren't everywhere. I wanted to see defiance, and I wanted to keep my faith in humanity. My mother, brother, and I, working as traveling artists, set off for our destination, excited for possibility and the life outside of the city we knew well.
Mind you, 10 weeks is a long time to be living somewhere other than your home, and meeting new people is inevitable. We loved walking through the shops in every town, making meaningful conversation with the citizens and small business owners. However, not every encounter was pleasant or in the slightest bit appropriate. I tried hard to keep my idea of this place anything but negative, but that seemed to take more effort as the summer continued.
“What are you all doing here?” said an elderly white woman with a smile in the cookbook section of a thrift store, a favorite location for me and my mother to spend our mornings leisurely.
“Working,” my mother said. “We’re traveling artists.”
“Well, I just wanted to apologize for my ancestors.” My mother and I exchange eye contact, confused by her remark. The woman starts crying. “They stole all of your little black babies and killed them. I'm just so sorry. We is all people. Tell your people I’m sorry,” she said. We were silent. What could we say? She had the best intentions of kindness, but didn't seem to think about how uncomfortable we would feel, and the fact that I don't have every black person in personal contact. “Tell your people I'm sorry,” she repeated, and left wiping her tears.
A few weeks into our trip a friend invited us to a lecture on White Privilege. My mother made sure we attended. “It's not a productive conversation without both sides of the story.” So we went, and as expected were the only people of color. Naturally, and again as expected, we felt the stares from around the room like they were tangible. I didn't pay much attention to it. I had gotten used to the feeling living there everyday.
Curiosity was rising as we waited for the lecture to begin. Believe me, it was worth the wait and an hour more. This woman (who happened to be white) was simply brilliant. She spoke about how white privilege prevents from understanding the real issue and how people of color feel the need to hide their feelings and experiences because no one really wants to hear them complain. She said that claiming you have a black friend doesn't mean you understand how it feels. No one knows the full extent of anyone's life but their own.
After the lecture there was a talk back, which of course we attended. The first topic of discussion was regarding the establishment’s decision to hang a #BlackLivesMatter banner. The opposing argument was that a banner reading ‘#AllLivesMatter’ be hung instead to avoid outside conflict. I think it's important to understand that saying ‘Black Lives Matter’ doesn't mean they are the only ones that matter. It means it's time that black lives matter too. Another man grabbed the mic and said, “I don't even see color. We are all the same.” I, for one, hate this comment. Obviously you can see that I am of a darker complexion, and that I do look different from you. It just shouldn't change the way you think of me. It shouldn't change the way you treat me. But I am different. It's okay to recognize that. My mother said she was hesitant to take the mic, telling me that she didn't want to speak for the entire black population.
Interactions occurring afterwards seemed like we were a charity case. Bikes were donated to us. Kind, yes, but made us wonder if the reason they were given to us was because they thought we couldn't afford bikes ourselves, or that we didn't own any already. One man invited us out on his “beautiful BLACK boat”. He told us, “I want to feel like I've contributed.” Thank you, sir, for your contribution. He didn’t know he was making us feel unimportant. The irony was incredible.
Weeks passed on by and the summer was coming to a close. I desperately wanted to go home. A scary number of news articles and videos had been published, informing the world of cases showing that yet another innocent black man was fatally shot by the police. The first two weeks of July were especially rough. We read about Alton Sterling and Philando Castile’s innocence fatally ignored in the hands of officers. Many people showed abnormal displays of kindness to us due to the sensitivity of the issue, but not everyone. Most days I would hear things like but not limited to…
“I have darkie friends like you. I get it.”
“I've never sat in the back before. This must be what it feels like to be black, huh?”
“What if we just decided to lynch someone.” And after I told this individual to watch their mouth, they said, “Oh, I didn't mean it like a race thing.” The word lynch comes from a man named Captain William Lynch in the 18th century who would practiced ‘lynch law’ on his slaves. But hey, I guess it's not a ‘race thing’.
I had gotten tired of correcting people’s ignorance, but couldn't stand the thought of letting it continue. All I wanted was for the summer to be over. Eventually, it ended, but I wasn't leaving this all behind. I was carrying it with me. Carrying it with me to remember, to share, to learn from, and to help others better understand this part of the world we live in.
Reaganfest in pictures
JACKIE JONES
Who Wants to Lose a Pint of Blood?
MADI LARSH
The fall Reagan blood drive is back! Reagan’s blood drive, run through the American Red Cross and run here by Ms. Sato, science CP coordinator and anatomy and physiology teacher, has contributed to the foundation for years. In September of 2015, the event had a goal of 90 donors. “We actually had 107 units total that were collected. So that gives potential to help 321 patients,” Ms. Sato states. This will be her second year facilitating the blood drive. This year, Reagan has a goal of around 100 pints. In this event, phlebotomists are sent in to retrieve the blood and take it back to the American Red Cross to get tested, and then is distributed to various hospitals. Documented by the American Red Cross, their organization supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood supply, and is shared with 2,600 hospitals throughout the country. |
Investing yourself in the blood drive is an excellent opportunity to build up volunteer hours, especially for juniors and seniors involved in the Career-Related program. Individuals interested in health science professions are given the option of gaining real-life “patient-interaction” experience, though donors are friends and fellow schoolmates.
In addition to potentially racking up some volunteer hours, you’re saving somebody’s life. According to the American Red Cross, just one donation can save more than one patient's’ life! “If any disaster happens or if there’s any need for blood for patients and the hospitals can’t provide it, then that patient could potentially die or have complications if they aren’t able to get blood. So it is really, really important that we are able to support them,” Ms. Sato expressed. The event, run by Ms. Sato, will be held in the auditorium on September 21 during the school day. To donate, you must be 16 with a signed parent consent form, or 17 and older to join freely. If you wish to join, contact Ms. Sato! |
Start Off Strong!!! Simple tips on how to start the 2016-2017 school year off on the right track.
Leo Espinoza
Starting the school year the right way can be hard especially for the freshmen who are transitioning from middle school to high school. However, it doesn’t have to be as hard as it seems. Following some simple tips can help you stay on track during the school year. The following are tips to be able to succeed this school year:
Set Goals!!!
One of the best ways to start off strong on the school year is to get ready by setting personal goals. This skill will be a good skill to keep and it helps set a benchmark academically. You could set up short term goals such as getting your homework done on time. Once you set a short term goal you can either create multiple short term goals or a long term goal such as studying for finals. Also don’t feel discouraged if you can’t achieve it. You can just set another goal to be able to make yourself a better student and make more academic achievements.
Stay on Track
Use your agenda, they are given to you for a reason. Use it to write down assignments left by teachers and even to write your goals that you set. You can use it to write down the things that you have to do and Not just use it for CPW.
There is also the wonderful multitasking tool that almost everyone keeps in their pockets, which is the cell phone. With a smartphone comes a calendar app in which you can use to keep your deadlines, even if you lose or miss your agenda. Some phones have calendar apps that are average or really good. However, there is the Google Calendar which is simple and it is all in the cloud so it can be accessed from a Google account from almost any device and is available offline on the cellphone.
There are also the hands-free options that can come with an iPhone or can be easily downloaded onto an Android phone. These are personal assistants which can help keep track of assignments. There are many to choose from. iPhones have it integrated as Siri, however Android users do have plenty of options as well. Always choose the best one that fits the characteristics wanted in a personal assistant. A very quirky and responsive one is Cortana which can be added to an Android Phone. There is one for everyone.
Be on Time
Don’t waste time. If you have troubles with getting from one location to another because of an occasional locker stop,try to take the things for two classes that you have one after the other to avoid the additional locker stop. You can also buy a mesh/see through backpack that you are allowed to carry throughout the day.
Sleep
If there is one thing that high school students value a lot it is sleep. Why? Sleep helps students recharge their ‘batteries’ to perform better. Also when getting ready for a test, never ever, pull an “all nighter” to study, because in the end the all nighter will affect your performance in the test, which could lower your grade. According to the National Sleep Foundation, the best thing to do is study and stop at a reasonable time to go to sleep, because sleep is proven to help people remember important things. Even if it is like 15 minutes worth of studying before bed with a full night of sleep, it is way better than 5 hours of cramming and then trying to sleep at 2 am. So get some sleep to escape daily stress too.
Never Procrastinate!!!
One of the biggest problems that almost every high school student faces is that they procrastinate. Procrastination is also the reason why there can be certain grades on your progress reports or report cards, that you would like to see disappear. One way to think of procrastination is as, that one friend that is always saying “you can do this later”. Well, unless there is a way of writing a paper correctly in less than 24 hours then nobody is in luck because that is impossible. (This is not a challenge). So don’t procrastinate because it saves a lot of grades and helps you mentally feel better.
ELO, Make Way For ACP
Callie Spice
If you’re a student in Reagan, it’s difficult to not have noticed the big change in the curriculum; where has ELO gone?
The Extended Learning Opportunity period in the middle of the school day was a favorite of many students. It allowed them time to work on assignments they needed to complete, while still including lessons on how to be a better IB Learner. ELO is nowhere to be found and has been swapped out for a newer, more structured counterpart that is ACP. This acronym stands for Academic and Career Planning and takes the time slot for when ELO used to take place. Although weeks into the 2016-2017 school year, some students are still confused as to what this new program is.
Ms. Sato, an IB Coordinator at Reagan explains that ACP is, “actually a statewide program that came from the Department of Public Instruction, or DPI. DPI wanted a plan essentially for every student that includes their academics and career plans. ACP is supposed to help students set goals and set benchmarks and classes that they want to take so they can explore different colleges, career options and job opportunities.”
Ms. Carpenter,also an IB coordinator at Reagan explains, “the idea is that from freshman year on, students are preparing themselves for life after high school; so we’re teaching them skills around goal setting, both academically and beyond high school.”
Although Ms. Sato says Academic and Career Planning has been required for every student 6-12 in some form, Ms. Carpenter adds, “We met as a team over summer to reframe the ACP program to fit the needs of our Reagan students. A group of teachers and administrators and counselors came up with Reagan’s ACP plan.”
Beyond the basics of ACP, this new program will contain modules in which students will partake. These are lessons that will help “prepare students for life after high school and to make you a better student while you are in high school. The district worked together to make those lessons and then our counselors have utilized those and they are the lessons students will be receiving” says Ms. Carpenter. “Students are going to go on Career Cruising, and will take interest inventories. They can research colleges they might be interested in based on the size of the college, the major that they’re interested in, if it’s a public or private school. They’ll focus on goal setting around their grades, focus on analyzing their transcript, preparing them for the different IB programs that are offered.”
Ms. Sato adds that “the modules were actually created by MPS and the guidance office at MPS. There’s three different themes this semester. For example there’s ‘Who Am I and Where Am I Going?’ which is our first theme. Our second theme is ‘College’ and the third theme is ‘Career.’ Each focused lesson will pertain to that theme.
Although some were satisfied with the ELO program they were receiving, Ms. Carpenter expresses, “We wanted to change the culture around the former ELOs. This way [with ACP], everybody is on the same page, and that’s why we implemented a syllabus. We rebranded it. We’re making it our own, while improving our school and classes.” Ms. Sato states, “This is the perfect time where students will get information on scholarships, financial aid and support around the college application process. ELO wasn’t as structured. ACP is a structured place where kids can get a bunch of information that they will need to be successful in their future.”
Some students are simply wondering why the switch had to be made. Sophomore Elijah Wall says, “As far as I’ve been told, it had to change because Reagan simply had to do more in that time to prepare us for IB-related projects or just informing us more on the IB program.” Ms. Sato explains, “I think it just made sense for our school because we needed to make sure we were complying with what the state wanted us to do and it fit that we had this ELO time so that we could easily transition into ACP advisory time.”
Both Carpenter and Sato clarify that from grades 9-10, students will have the same ACP advisor for 2 years before switching into a new advisor that students will have for their last 2 years of high school. This way, “your ACP advisor can be your advocate if you need anything. If students need help with something, their advisors should be the first ones the students go to to ask for help and they can find out for the student those answers.” Ms. Sato says. It is hoped that with 2 years with each advisor, a strong bond will form and the advocacy will feel natural and comfortable. “ACP is also about building those relationships with your ACP advisors.” Ms. Carpenter mentions.
“It’s not just free time to do work, but it will guide you and frame how your experience will be in high school. You will have some support.” Ms. Carpenter voices. “I think ACP is going to set students up for success and is going to help students a lot more, in the sense that there is that structure and they can get that information they need for them to be successful in what they want to do in the future.” Ms. Sato expresses.
Now in ACP, Mondays will involve the modules, Wednesdays will continue College Prep Wednesdays, and Fridays are Personal Project worktimes for sophomores. Ms. Carpenter assures that although Character Ed Mondays no longer exist in ACP, link crew members will now be involved throughout different classes instead; Reagan felt Character Ed should be built into the whole curriculum rather than just a 35 minute block. With more structure and resources, ACP is sure to send students in the right direction.
The Extended Learning Opportunity period in the middle of the school day was a favorite of many students. It allowed them time to work on assignments they needed to complete, while still including lessons on how to be a better IB Learner. ELO is nowhere to be found and has been swapped out for a newer, more structured counterpart that is ACP. This acronym stands for Academic and Career Planning and takes the time slot for when ELO used to take place. Although weeks into the 2016-2017 school year, some students are still confused as to what this new program is.
Ms. Sato, an IB Coordinator at Reagan explains that ACP is, “actually a statewide program that came from the Department of Public Instruction, or DPI. DPI wanted a plan essentially for every student that includes their academics and career plans. ACP is supposed to help students set goals and set benchmarks and classes that they want to take so they can explore different colleges, career options and job opportunities.”
Ms. Carpenter,also an IB coordinator at Reagan explains, “the idea is that from freshman year on, students are preparing themselves for life after high school; so we’re teaching them skills around goal setting, both academically and beyond high school.”
Although Ms. Sato says Academic and Career Planning has been required for every student 6-12 in some form, Ms. Carpenter adds, “We met as a team over summer to reframe the ACP program to fit the needs of our Reagan students. A group of teachers and administrators and counselors came up with Reagan’s ACP plan.”
Beyond the basics of ACP, this new program will contain modules in which students will partake. These are lessons that will help “prepare students for life after high school and to make you a better student while you are in high school. The district worked together to make those lessons and then our counselors have utilized those and they are the lessons students will be receiving” says Ms. Carpenter. “Students are going to go on Career Cruising, and will take interest inventories. They can research colleges they might be interested in based on the size of the college, the major that they’re interested in, if it’s a public or private school. They’ll focus on goal setting around their grades, focus on analyzing their transcript, preparing them for the different IB programs that are offered.”
Ms. Sato adds that “the modules were actually created by MPS and the guidance office at MPS. There’s three different themes this semester. For example there’s ‘Who Am I and Where Am I Going?’ which is our first theme. Our second theme is ‘College’ and the third theme is ‘Career.’ Each focused lesson will pertain to that theme.
Although some were satisfied with the ELO program they were receiving, Ms. Carpenter expresses, “We wanted to change the culture around the former ELOs. This way [with ACP], everybody is on the same page, and that’s why we implemented a syllabus. We rebranded it. We’re making it our own, while improving our school and classes.” Ms. Sato states, “This is the perfect time where students will get information on scholarships, financial aid and support around the college application process. ELO wasn’t as structured. ACP is a structured place where kids can get a bunch of information that they will need to be successful in their future.”
Some students are simply wondering why the switch had to be made. Sophomore Elijah Wall says, “As far as I’ve been told, it had to change because Reagan simply had to do more in that time to prepare us for IB-related projects or just informing us more on the IB program.” Ms. Sato explains, “I think it just made sense for our school because we needed to make sure we were complying with what the state wanted us to do and it fit that we had this ELO time so that we could easily transition into ACP advisory time.”
Both Carpenter and Sato clarify that from grades 9-10, students will have the same ACP advisor for 2 years before switching into a new advisor that students will have for their last 2 years of high school. This way, “your ACP advisor can be your advocate if you need anything. If students need help with something, their advisors should be the first ones the students go to to ask for help and they can find out for the student those answers.” Ms. Sato says. It is hoped that with 2 years with each advisor, a strong bond will form and the advocacy will feel natural and comfortable. “ACP is also about building those relationships with your ACP advisors.” Ms. Carpenter mentions.
“It’s not just free time to do work, but it will guide you and frame how your experience will be in high school. You will have some support.” Ms. Carpenter voices. “I think ACP is going to set students up for success and is going to help students a lot more, in the sense that there is that structure and they can get that information they need for them to be successful in what they want to do in the future.” Ms. Sato expresses.
Now in ACP, Mondays will involve the modules, Wednesdays will continue College Prep Wednesdays, and Fridays are Personal Project worktimes for sophomores. Ms. Carpenter assures that although Character Ed Mondays no longer exist in ACP, link crew members will now be involved throughout different classes instead; Reagan felt Character Ed should be built into the whole curriculum rather than just a 35 minute block. With more structure and resources, ACP is sure to send students in the right direction.
“Strange things over the summer”
Eva Szocik
Summer break is a school-free period of time that we have for ourselves. Looking around the classroom at our peers and teachers, we should be able to recognize our diversity. We all do many different things over the summer, and it is interesting to find more about how the people around us spend their lives outside of these halls. So, let’s get to know the people in school a little better!
Sophie Johanneck
Sophie is a junior at Reagan. Over her summer, she traveled to Massachusetts to visit her aunt, who works at the Martha’s Vineyard Library. Sophie says, “I went to a meeting with her, and she handles the library very well. She is the boss, and she’s doing an excellent job at it.” Sophie claims that seeing her aunt “in action” was one of the major highlights of her summer.
Sophie Johanneck
Sophie is a junior at Reagan. Over her summer, she traveled to Massachusetts to visit her aunt, who works at the Martha’s Vineyard Library. Sophie says, “I went to a meeting with her, and she handles the library very well. She is the boss, and she’s doing an excellent job at it.” Sophie claims that seeing her aunt “in action” was one of the major highlights of her summer.
Estelle Bacik
Estelle, a junior at Reagan, traveled to Devil’s Lake State Park this summer with her aunt, sister, sister’s boyfriend, mom and dad. She says, “Once we got there, we had a picnic for my sister’s birthday. My aunt, my dad and I went paddleboarding for the first time. Paddleboarding was very fun, and really scary at first. It’s like surfing basically, and nerve wracking. But, eventually we kept paddling and paddling and got the hang of it. It was really fun to see all of the beautiful hills and trees. After we were done paddling and getting the hang of it, my aunt and I sat down on the paddle boards and chilled in the middle of the lake and sun tanned. We let Louie (her pet dog) jump from board to board.”
Estelle, a junior at Reagan, traveled to Devil’s Lake State Park this summer with her aunt, sister, sister’s boyfriend, mom and dad. She says, “Once we got there, we had a picnic for my sister’s birthday. My aunt, my dad and I went paddleboarding for the first time. Paddleboarding was very fun, and really scary at first. It’s like surfing basically, and nerve wracking. But, eventually we kept paddling and paddling and got the hang of it. It was really fun to see all of the beautiful hills and trees. After we were done paddling and getting the hang of it, my aunt and I sat down on the paddle boards and chilled in the middle of the lake and sun tanned. We let Louie (her pet dog) jump from board to board.”
Madame Knight
Over vacation, Madame Knight traveled to France. She stayed in an Airbnb apartment with a French woman in the town of Arles, France for around a month. She says, “It has a lot of Roman ruins and buildings that aren’t in great shape, but still usable. I came across a demonstration of Greek and Roman sports, and the Greeks actually threw a discus, which was really cool.” Some of the highlights of Madame’s trip she describes her typical day in France, and paints a beautiful picture. “I would get up in the morning, have a light breakfast, go for a run, do a little work for the IB (laughs) in the beautiful city. Then I would go to the market on the cobblestone streets. I would sit at the cafe for a couple hours and read French magazines and newspapers.” She says in this town at around 6 p.m, some mansions with huge gardens open their doors for free to the public, and you could listen to lectures and music. Madame was read a story in front of a real beautiful castle called “The Flood” by a professional French actor with guitar accompaniment, and she claims it made her cry. Overall her trip this summer was one she won’t forget. She says, “Just speaking French for a whole month was fabulous.”
Over vacation, Madame Knight traveled to France. She stayed in an Airbnb apartment with a French woman in the town of Arles, France for around a month. She says, “It has a lot of Roman ruins and buildings that aren’t in great shape, but still usable. I came across a demonstration of Greek and Roman sports, and the Greeks actually threw a discus, which was really cool.” Some of the highlights of Madame’s trip she describes her typical day in France, and paints a beautiful picture. “I would get up in the morning, have a light breakfast, go for a run, do a little work for the IB (laughs) in the beautiful city. Then I would go to the market on the cobblestone streets. I would sit at the cafe for a couple hours and read French magazines and newspapers.” She says in this town at around 6 p.m, some mansions with huge gardens open their doors for free to the public, and you could listen to lectures and music. Madame was read a story in front of a real beautiful castle called “The Flood” by a professional French actor with guitar accompaniment, and she claims it made her cry. Overall her trip this summer was one she won’t forget. She says, “Just speaking French for a whole month was fabulous.”
Here are three beautiful photos of France taken by Madame.
Mr. Moore & Mrs. Moore
This summer the Moores traveled to Asheville, North Carolina to the Biltmore Estate. Mr. Moore says, “It is the American Castle owned by the Vanderbilts. It was super cool.” Mrs Moore states, “It is the largest privately owned residence in the USA, and the closest thing we have to a castle.” This was a great day for them both.
This summer the Moores traveled to Asheville, North Carolina to the Biltmore Estate. Mr. Moore says, “It is the American Castle owned by the Vanderbilts. It was super cool.” Mrs Moore states, “It is the largest privately owned residence in the USA, and the closest thing we have to a castle.” This was a great day for them both.
Mr. Busch
The highlight of Mr Busch’s summer was travelling to the Wagon Wheel Resort in Door County. “We spent the whole week smallmouth bass fishing up by the Strawberry Islands,” he says. The rest of his summer he fished a lot and got in shape! “There was, on Pewaukee Lake, a fishing guide taking people musky fishing. I also accomplished my main summer goal of losing ten pounds by running, biking and lifting weights.” So, overall, Mr Busch’s summer was full of accomplishment.
The highlight of Mr Busch’s summer was travelling to the Wagon Wheel Resort in Door County. “We spent the whole week smallmouth bass fishing up by the Strawberry Islands,” he says. The rest of his summer he fished a lot and got in shape! “There was, on Pewaukee Lake, a fishing guide taking people musky fishing. I also accomplished my main summer goal of losing ten pounds by running, biking and lifting weights.” So, overall, Mr Busch’s summer was full of accomplishment.