Category Archives: Features

Alyssa Book, Blake Dykes, Features

A look into the past: introduction into new series

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By Blake Dykes and Alyssa Book

From generation to generation crucial events seem to fade over time and lose their significance.
This week the Bagpiper will revisit drastic moments that have shaped the world and reveal the personal stories behind them. These events include: The Vietnam War, Pearl Harbor, The Holocaust, 9/11, the 2008 Election, the space shuttle tragedy in the 1980s, the Berlin Wall falling, and Hurricane Katrina.

Make sure you check in every day this week for a new addition to this series.

Features

Dance Marathon inspires enthusiasm in community

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By Lauren Holstner

On Saturday, Feb. 18, the Dance Marathon was held. The Dance Marathon is a charity event to benefit the Riley’s Children Hospital. This is the second year FC had held the Dance Marathon.

The Dance Marathon was a six hours long marathon of standing, no sitting allowed.  It benefits the families who cannot afford the medical treatment that they need.  Some students and teachers at FC are or were once Riley kids who received treatment and some of their lives were saved by Riley’s Children Hospital.

 “It was very successful,” said Tiffany Stansbury, the head of the committee for Dance Marathon.

The Dance Marathon was a fun and energetic event, that I personally loved.  From the hot air balloon rides to dancing, this event had a magical feel that made everyone just want to have fun.  The energy was great with Wii games and Kinect, along with its many bounce houses and act

Students practice the Dance Marathon's morale dance.

ivities I was never bored.

The food was great and mostly donated, along with the shirts and the gifts for the kids.  The best part of the whole thing was being able to say we were able raise part of the $24,503 to help all of the families who need it.  Everyone who contributed to the Dance Marathon to make it so great has my thanks.

From the food to the final dance for the Riley kids, the entire day was amazing and I cannot wait for next year to see what new activities there will be and how much money we can raise.  The Dance Marathon was incredible and even more people should come next year.  The students and faculty who put this event together deserve to be thanked for all the hard work put in to make the Dance Marathon a success.

I know I cannot wait for next year and hope to see many more people there next year.

Features

Students arrive early for morning activities

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By Claire Gapsis

School starts at 7:40 but the day often begins before then. For some students it is an hour or so before then and for others it is only minutes. Either way, life has already started in the school in the morning.

For junior Michael Clark it starts even before 7. He is the first student in the school every day.
“I get to school every day by 6:40; the doors aren’t even open at that time.” Clark arrives early out of habit and necessity.
“I dislike riding the bus so I have my parents drive me to school on their way to work,” he said. He spends the hour before classes begin in various ways. Disliking doing homework after school, Clark often leaves homework undone so he can complete it in the morning instead. Once his homework is done the school has filled with students and he sets out to find his friends to chat.

The library teems with students rushing to finish homework who need to print something off or who just want to talk to friends. There is one group of friends who do it all. Senior Paige Settles is a part of the group and often arrives around 7:05.
“I started coming this early because my dad took me on his way to work while I was a freshman and I just got used to it,” said Settles. Her first class of the day is AP English with English teacher Karen Mayer-Sebastian, but she arrives at school just as the five-minute bell rings. Settles and her friends that share the class decided to meet in the library, right across the hall from the classroom.
“I do homework because I know I’ll be here early,” Settles said, while reviewing vocabulary.

On the other side of the library is another group of friends who chat as they slowly do homework together. Sophomore Beth Brunmeier is one of them. She comes to school around 7.
“My dad used to drop me off, now it’s just habit,” said Brunmeier. Arriving early, she has plenty of time to kill so she leaves some homework to be done in the morning.
“I’m a bit of a procrastinator,” she said.

The cafeteria is another place in the school that has people meeting up to do homework and to chat. It also offers breakfast for those who cannot or do not want to eat at home.
Junior Everson Steele said, “I eat breakfast here. I’m lazy, and it’s easier to get food here than at home.” Everson meets his friends in the cafeteria to talk and to study for their tests of the day as he eats his breakfast.

Even if the start of the school day is at 7:40, life begins before that and the school houses much of the early morning activity.


Boys Basketball, Claire DeFrancisci, Features, Uncategorized

Seniors commemorate four years of wide-spread talent

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By Claire DeFrancisci and Meghan Poff

Tuesday night at the boys’ basketball game against Brownstown Central, the cheerleaders, Dazzlers, pep band, and boys’ basketball team celebrated Senior Night. Between players, parents, and coaches, there was a mixture of feelings.
For cheerleading coach Ashley Nevin, the last home game with the seniors was an emotional night.
“This last home game is bittersweet. I’m excited for the girls and the things they have to come but I am also going to miss them,” said Nevin.
Although the cheerleading team will be losing three seniors this year, Nevin sees it as an opportunity for the younger team members.
“There are always voids to fill every year when your lose seniors, but I’m also excited to see some of the underclassmen have their chance to step up as leaders,” said Nevin.
For other teams, the void will be a tough one to fill. Dazzler coach Todd Sharp recalls his time with his group of girls.
“This year’s senior class was I think the closest group of girls I have ever had. These are girls that if it wasn’t for the team, I don’t think would have ever become friends and I have been able to watch them grow together throughout the years. They are all strong leaders and they compliment each other well,” said Sharp.
As senior basketball player Quinton Miller thinks about his time at FC, he said he will definitely miss practice the most.
“I’m feeling depression and sadness. And happiness and excitement,” said Miller.
For senior Jenna Bain, the last home game of the season reminds her of what she loves most about being a Dazzler.
“Being on this team has helped me push myself to the limit and continue to become a better dancer.”