by Will HastingsMaking Noise For Climate Change
by Will Hastings
College Countdown
by Colleen Britain
The beginning of the year can be a very ominous time for all seniors. Applying to college, deciding where to go, and figuring out what to study are only a few of the decisions that a high school senior faces. These daunting tasks don’t have to stress the seniors out as much as they think. If taken one step at a time, the process will not seem as overwhelming.
The college process should start as early as freshmen and sophomore year, but at that point no one can know where they want to go, or what they want to do. In these first two years of high school keeping your grades up is the most important thing. Many freshmen aren’t thinking about college this early, so the thought of preparing for it seems ridiculous. The truth is, though, colleges see your grades from all four years of your high school career. The actions taken the first two years will affect college decisions.
Mr. Fox, who doubles as a guidance counselor and the college go-to-guy, says that you should really start thinking about college January of the junior year. At this time the student should start thinking about many different decisions, such as what to study, size and location of the college, and how far away from home that you want to go. All of these thoughts are vital to selecting the perfect college.
Once a list of schools has been made (done in the spring of junior year), the college visits start. Over the summer between junior and senior year is the perfect opportunity to visit these colleges. When at the visits, ask questions and engage with the staff at the colleges. At most colleges there is a specific admissions counselor assigned to our area of the country; get to know these people because they are usually the ones who read your application and decide whether or not to admit you. If they have a friendly face to associate with your name, it can help.
Once you have been accepted, Mr. Fox wants you to tell him, and “watch me do the dance of acceptance.” The most common problem with accepted seniors is "senioritis", or lack of trying in school. It is important that this does not happen! Many seniors do not realize that colleges can revoke their acceptance, leaving you scrambling. Most importantly, celebrate. The beginning of the year can be so stressful, so make up for it and enjoy the rest of your senior year.
The beginning of the year can be a very ominous time for all seniors. Applying to college, deciding where to go, and figuring out what to study are only a few of the decisions that a high school senior faces. These daunting tasks don’t have to stress the seniors out as much as they think. If taken one step at a time, the process will not seem as overwhelming.
The college process should start as early as freshmen and sophomore year, but at that point no one can know where they want to go, or what they want to do. In these first two years of high school keeping your grades up is the most important thing. Many freshmen aren’t thinking about college this early, so the thought of preparing for it seems ridiculous. The truth is, though, colleges see your grades from all four years of your high school career. The actions taken the first two years will affect college decisions.
Mr. Fox, who doubles as a guidance counselor and the college go-to-guy, says that you should really start thinking about college January of the junior year. At this time the student should start thinking about many different decisions, such as what to study, size and location of the college, and how far away from home that you want to go. All of these thoughts are vital to selecting the perfect college.
Once a list of schools has been made (done in the spring of junior year), the college visits start. Over the summer between junior and senior year is the perfect opportunity to visit these colleges. When at the visits, ask questions and engage with the staff at the colleges. At most colleges there is a specific admissions counselor assigned to our area of the country; get to know these people because they are usually the ones who read your application and decide whether or not to admit you. If they have a friendly face to associate with your name, it can help.
Once you have been accepted, Mr. Fox wants you to tell him, and “watch me do the dance of acceptance.” The most common problem with accepted seniors is "senioritis", or lack of trying in school. It is important that this does not happen! Many seniors do not realize that colleges can revoke their acceptance, leaving you scrambling. Most importantly, celebrate. The beginning of the year can be so stressful, so make up for it and enjoy the rest of your senior year.
Fall Recipes: Apple Cheesecake
by Cristina White
INGREDIENTS
- CRUST:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
- APPLE TOPPING:
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 dash ground nutmeg
- 6 Granny Smith or baking apples - peeled, cored and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- FILLING:
- 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS
Combine crust ingredients; press into bottom and 1-1/2-in. up sides of a 9-in. springform pan. Refrigerate. For topping, place sugar, lemon juice, flour, cinnamon and nutmeg in Dutch oven; mix well. Add apples. Bring to a boil; cover and simmer 15 minutes or just until apples are tender. Gently stir as needed. Remove from heat; carefully stir in pecans. Cool to room temperature. Set aside 3 tablespoons of topping; refrigerate the rest until serving time. For filling, combine cream cheese, eggs, sugar and vanilla in a large mixing bowl; mix until well blended. Pour filling into crust. Bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes. Turn oven off, but leave cheesecake in oven with door ajar for another 1 hour. Cool to room temperature; chill at least 4 hours. Before serving, top with Apple Topping.
Ask Bertha
Dear Bertha,
I just started my freshmen year and I am a bit overwhelmed. I can’t get over the fact that it is so much different than eighth grade. One thing that is so different is that the homework is so much harder. Do you have any tips on adjusting and tips of how I can manage the homework load?
Sincerely,
Fumbling Freshman
Dear Fumbling Freshman,
The amount of homework is a huge difference between middle and high school, and being conscientious about it is very important. My advice is to figure out how long each assignment will take. Get assignments that will take a long time out of the way first thing each night. I’m sure you’d rather be working on a quick assignment later in the night than a paper. However, if you have a week or longer to work on the paper, save that until last, so you can work on it a little each night, but don’t get side tracked doing too much of an assignment that’s not due the next day.
The most important advice that I can give is don’t procrastinate. Staying up all night never makes for a good essay or project. For shorter assignments, make sure you get them in on time—having to make something up later will just add to your homework load another night. If you have extra time in study hall or at night, it’s a good idea to get started on something that’s due in two days. Homework doesn’t only have to be done the night before it’s due during the week. You also shouldn’t save homework due Monday for Sunday night. Spread it out over the weekend, and you won’t have to spend a long block of time on Sunday completing it. You will feel like you had a more relaxed weekend.
Sincerely,
Bertha
*If you would like to submit a question to Bertha, send an email to tunderwood@hopkintonschools.org*
Combined Forces = Friendly Outreach
By Dorothy England
Mrs. Sintros, with the help and assistance of Mr. Kelly, Mrs. Shaefer, Ms. Underwood and Mrs. Moskal, has combined Peer Outreach and Friends of Rachel groups from last year into one. She believes that a teacher is not only there to instruct, but also to facilitate a supportive and healthy environment. Mrs. Sintros is hoping to support students to get along with others in their community. She also wants to provide them with a safe and positive climate. Mrs. Sintros choose to combine the groups to increase the numbers of member. Also, both groups are similar in their goals and approaches to treating others with genuine kindness. It goes much deeper than that though; combined, both the community and school will be benefited. With the help of fundraisers and assemblies, a more positive environment will be created for everyone.
Last year, this was fulfilled. 'Make a Wish' Foundation and 'Save Darfur' were only some of the projects completed in the Middle school and High school last year. Some goals Mrs. Sintros hopes to achieve this year include mixing social groups, such as athletes and artists, studious and musical students together. This she hopes will create a friendly atmosphere where those who feel like they may not belong can participate in. As Mrs. Sintros mentioned, the sky is the limit. Bowling and movie nights can be organized for anyone and everyone to participate in. Thus, friends can be made; even a big brother/sister sort of approach can be established.
Excited for the coming year and the various possibilities this group can fulfill, Mrs. Sintros encourages students to reach out to others who may feel like they don't fit in. She wants people to be comfortable in saying hello to a new face and introducing themself. Mrs. Sintros mentioned that when she was in high school, there wasn't a Peer Outreach group, but there was a Social Awareness group at the past school she taught at, of which she was an advisor. At her college, the motto was 'men and women for others'. Obviously, Mrs. Sintros knows her stuff and is well suited for leading this group.
The first kickoff meeting will be Friday, October 3rd, at 7:30 in the morning, room 202. All students, grades 9-12 are welcomed to attend; middle school has their own group. Students will be permitted to include their own input and ideas for the group to do. So all who are able and willing should come. Who knows you could make a new friend in the process; the smallest interaction can make the biggest difference.
Spirit Skatepark
by Jake Lessels
For the past seven years, people of all ages have flocked to the Spirit Skate Park. Josh Lessard has been riding the park for the last four years and has loved every second of it. He spends at least six hours a day there riding his BMX bike. “I have been riding since I was 13, and I cannot get enough of it,” Lessard said. During those four years, Josh has been practicing his tricks; on the ramps and on flat-ground. He has mastered all the tricks from a basic J-hop to tail whips and 540’s.
Josh’s most memorable moment at the park was the Brace Jam. This event was an annual get-together of skaters and riders. It was held by local skaters and bikers that just wanted to have a good time. The Jam included live bands and food. Lessard liked it because it gave young kids a chance to have fun with older skaters and bikers before they became professional. “It was a blast,” Lessard told me. He wishes that another event like this one could be held at the skate park.
For the past seven years, people of all ages have flocked to the Spirit Skate Park. Josh Lessard has been riding the park for the last four years and has loved every second of it. He spends at least six hours a day there riding his BMX bike. “I have been riding since I was 13, and I cannot get enough of it,” Lessard said. During those four years, Josh has been practicing his tricks; on the ramps and on flat-ground. He has mastered all the tricks from a basic J-hop to tail whips and 540’s.
Josh’s most memorable moment at the park was the Brace Jam. This event was an annual get-together of skaters and riders. It was held by local skaters and bikers that just wanted to have a good time. The Jam included live bands and food. Lessard liked it because it gave young kids a chance to have fun with older skaters and bikers before they became professional. “It was a blast,” Lessard told me. He wishes that another event like this one could be held at the skate park.
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