Every year Louisville hosts one of the biggest moments in sports: the Kentucky Derby. From sophisticated hats to luxurious parties, Derby is a big deal in the Kentuckiana area. High profile celebrities attend the event, along with the world’s top horse trainers.
Award-winning horses and professional jockeys make the races extremely competitive. This year’s favorite horse is California Chrome and is expected to be the horse with the most bids. Betting on horses is one of the many traditions that come along with this weekend’s big event.
“My family always votes for the horse expected to come in second place. You have to factor in previous races, temperature of track, type of track, how much the jockey weights, and past horse industries,” said senior Christian Overbey.
Along with the race come the parties and fashion. Many students take part in Derby traditions and enjoy the event annually. Families and businesses hold extravagant after parties the same day, allowing women to show off their high class hats and celebrate. Today, Oaks Day, is when female horses race.
“Although I’m only attending Oaks, I still picked out a hat. I’m going with my boyfriend and we plan on attending an after party,” said junior Hannah Enlow
Senior Tierney Flahtery plans on going out to dinner after the race.
“The family I’m going with usually goes out to dinner afterwards. Last year we went to DiOrio’s Pizza and did karoke. It was delicious and really fun.”
Derby hats are one of the many Derby icons. Women who plan on attending spend an extensive amount of money and time picking out the perfect hat to match their outfit. Typical hats are pastel colored and attention drawing. They have prominent features and tend to be quite big.
“I’m really excited to go, because I love looking at all the different hats and outfits. I also love the atmosphere and yelling when the race starts. I’ve gone the last two years,” said Flahtery.
Enlow shares enthusiasm about her own outfit.
“The hat I picked out is orange-creme, yellow, and blue. It goes with my outfit really well and im really excited to wear it,” said Enlow.
Junior Corina Watier also plans on attending and wearing a hat.
“I found the perfect white hat to go with my dress. They match so well.”
Editor’s Note: To read a related story on this topic check out senior Meghan Poff’s story on academic strategies in Friday’s print Bagpiper.
With many education reforms and debates about the most effective teaching methods, opinions vary on which are most effective. These various teaching techniques are used throughout FC as a way to engage students and increase their learning and long-term memory on the subject.
According to AP psychology teacher Chad Clunie, direct instruction, power points, and visual interaction are effective because they allow the teacher to cover a lot of information in a short period of time. Project-based activities are best for kinesthetic learners and encourage long term learning. The downfall is that it takes longer, and unless the teacher points the student in the right direction he may not grasp the information.
Earth space teacher Tim Korte shared his experience with hands-on learning activities.
Junior Brandon Albin presents his project on World War II in William Russell’s U.S. history class. Photo by Bryce Romig.
“I would love hands-on learning, but the majority of the students would not get the material on their own. I think most of our student population is good. For as boring as lecture can be, most students take it in and comprehend as I lecture.”
However, other teachers put a bigger emphasis on group projects and activities that engage students.
“I think you have to have both (lecture and projects). It’s hard to introduce a topic without a lecture. But after 10 minutes it’s hard to keep their attention,” said Latin teacher Tim Harbison.
Harbison also shared that he has an advantage when communicating with his students and teaching them.
“I think kids tend to pay attention when they have a better relationship with the teacher. I have an advantage because I have some of the same kids years in a row. I don’t think it’s as much as how I teach besides just having a good relationship with the kids.”
Some students feel that combining the methods is the most efficient way.
“It depends on the class and what you’re learning. For me, projects help when they’re applicable. Lectures are better where intellectual concepts are concerned, like psychology for example.” said senior Andrew Sung.
While some like a mixture, others strictly prefer one method over the other.
“I prefer lecture better because I feel the teacher’s explains it better than if we are left on our own to understand. With projects I am often left confused,” said sophomore Emily Harbeson.
Harbeson added that she disliked when the teacher goes around the room calling on every person for a different answer because she does not absorb the information.
Although students all learn differently, most agree that they learn best when the teacher puts extra effort into applying examples to real life.
“I think one where the teacher interacts with the class is most effective because it gets the student interested in the topic,” said freshman Morgan Paul.
Teachers are taking action to help enhance their teaching by collaborating and following the new education plan distributed by the administration.
Assistant principal Rob Willman shared the new learning guide that was given to each teacher. The guide is divided into four squares: higher and lower relevance, higher rigor and higher relevance, lower rigor and lower relevance, and lower rigor and higher relevance. Willman explained that it is important for each teacher to spend a little time in each quadrant, but most often than not he wants teachers to focus on higher rigor and higher relevance.
He continued to explain the importance of this quadrant.
“I saw a poster the other day of these people asking others when they learned the most. And the people said elementary school. Then they were asked what that looked like, and they said, ‘Groups of people in a circle reading. High school looked like desks and rows’.”
“In the real world you have a group of people sitting around a table and sharing ideas. Group learning is important,” said Willman.
Beyond just the learning aspect of education, the testing of that knowledge is an important role in students’ everyday lives.
For teachers, tests are a way for them to assess their students overall understanding of a topic, for students it can sometimes be more of a pain and mostly memorization.
“Testing is not as helpful as most would think because everyone cares more about the grade than learning. But it is the best way that we know to test knowledge for now,” said Sung.
Clunie shared that sometimes how well a student performs on a test could really just depend on the day.
“Yes they are effective, and no. Testing allows us (teachers) to compare students. It’s just one test on one day. You can have a really good day or a really bad day. Some students perform better under pressure. There are far better ways to measure if a student learned something, but the problem is how do we compare that to other students. Overall, they are just a small picture of what students know or don’t know.”
While some teachers think that it depends on the student, Harbison thinks that it depends on the test itself.
“If a test is constructed correctly where they have to apply things and not just puke things back up, then I think it is effective.”
Overall, there is not just one right way to teach or just one right way to assess knowledge; however, teachers and faculty are trying to find what methods are more effective than others.
Willman shared the staffs’ goals and standards for the future.
“Our biggest initiative we talk about with the faculty, is how are we going to get better? Does your grade measure what it’s supposed to measure?”
With prom season coming up, high schoolers are trying to increase their fitness fast to help them feel and look their best. With all of the weight loss and fitness myths, it can be confusing on where to start. Use these tips to help you get healthy and prom ready in no time.
Tip #1: Drink water consistently throughout the day. Not only will you feel better, but staying hydrated also helps you push harder through your workouts. Although this may sound gross, make sure your urine is a clear or light yellow color. This helps you decide whether you’re properly hydrated or not. Avoid sugary carbonated drinks; instead replace them with tea. Tea is a healthier alternative to soft drinks, and is great for people who don’t like the taste of water. Tea also provides antioxidants that can help get rid of toxins in the body.
Tip #2: Make small changes. Instead of quitting junk food cold turkey, try to make minor changes in your diet. For the first couple of days, slowly get rid of unhealthy snacks and drinks. Limit them to once a day the first week, and slowly cut them out of your diet. Just because you are trying to shed a few pounds doesn’t mean you can’t indulge every now and again. Save your favorite treats and snacks for one day a week, and savor every bite of it when you finally get to eat it. Not only will this make your favorite foods taste even better, but it helps keep you on track and avoid bingeing in the future.
Tip #3: Have a quick and easy workout routine. It’s no secret that exercising isn’t the most enjoyable activity, and is put on the back burner on most people’s agendas. Avoid this by keeping your workouts fast and intense, allowing you to still have free time in your daily schedule. This will also help keep you motivated by limiting the amount of excuses you have to avoid your daily workout. Choose at least one day at week to avoid intense exercising and do something you enjoy. Try going for a walk in the park or going to a local swimming pool. Anything that boosts your mood and gets you somewhat active is never a bad thing. Learn to enjoy exercising; your body will thank you in the future.
Tip #4: Keep track of your progress. Recording your progress with pictures will allow you to see the small changes in your body. Take a picture at the end of each week starting with Week 1, and place them side by side to see how rapidly your body is changing. Not only will this give you a confidence boost, but it will also boost your motivation even more when you see that all of your effort is making an impact. Ditch the scale, though, as muscle mass can sometimes be confused with fat weight and may actually trick you into thinking your gaining weight. Scales are misleading because they aren’t very accurate.
Tip #5: Have fun with it. If you hate lifting weights, don’t do it so often. If you hate cardio, try attending a Zumba or Turbo Kick class instead. Many gyms offer alternatives to traditional exercise, many of which are more entertaining and even fun. Don’t be embarrassed to get your sweat on dancing, either; everyone is in the class for the same reason as you. These classes are still tough, so don’t trick yourself into thinking you’re taking the easy way out. Check your local gym’s schedule to see when the next classes are.
Tip #6: Pile on the veggies. Vegetables are filling foods that provide you with a full stomach with a low amount of calories. Try vegetables rich in iron and vitamins such as kale or spinach. These power foods will also provide more energy to your body, allowing you to increase the intensity of your workouts even more. Your skin will also benefit, thanks to the many vitamins found within the vegetables. If you don’t like chewing your vegetables, try making a green smoothie. Put kale,spinach, and any fruit in a blender and blend until smooth. Try adding agave nectar for added sweetness with limited calories. Green smoothies are a great post workout fuel.
Dry air and frigid temperatures: The perfect recipe for sore, cracked skin. The winter season is notorious when it comes to skin problems. From bright red hands to chapped lips, the cold air affects everyone’s skin.
Here are some skincare steps you can take to help combat the cold the rest of the winter season:
Tip #1: Hydrate
There’s nothing complicated behind staying hydrated. When the body is dehydrated, skin loses vital moisture that is essential to keeping your skin healthy. Although it may sound gross, drink enough water so that your urine is a yellowish to clear color. This means that you are well hydrated and are drinking enough. If you find it difficult drinking water, try making some green or peppermint tea. These teas are known to help keep your skin looking its best thanks to the natural antioxidants they posses. Although you may not notice immediate results, in about a week you’ll be glad you chugged tons of water.
Fact: Not only does water help combat dry skin and chapped lips, it also helps aid in ridding acne and keeping your skin clear. Drink up!
Tip #2: Lock in Moisture
When you take a step outside and a blast of cold air attacks your skin, it depletes the natural moisture your skin has produced. Sometimes your skin needs a little help, and it is important that you notice when it does. To create a guard against the cold, try an extra moisturizing lotion. This will help create a barrier between your skin and the air, locking moisture into your skin. Avoid using lotions with fragrances when trying to fix dry skin, as these are known to aggravate already dry skin. Before going to bed, try filling a glove with your favorite lotion and leaving it on until you wake up. You will be amazed at how much softer your hands will feel, and will smile when you notice the redness has disappeared.
“I found a recipe on pinterest for grapefruit lotion. It contained sea salt, sugar, olive oil, and grapefruit. It worked really well,” said junior Emily Shumate.
Fact: Your skin has a natural barrier consisting of cells and protein fibers. Lotion can help repair and strengthen this barrier, resulting in stronger skin.
Tip #3 Save those lips
It’s no surprise that no one likes kissing dry, chapped lips. When the temperatures drop, our lips sometimes need an extra boost of moisture to keep them looking and feeling their best. When in the shower, try using a lip exfoliation scrub to help rid of the dead skin cells sitting on your lips. This creates a smooth and even base for your favorite chap stick, allowing it to retain moisturize better and keep your lips looking their best. Apply chap stick no more than twice a day, because your lips may become worse if overused.
Fact: If you want to avoid spending money on a lip scrub, try using a toothbrush to lightly scrub your lips while brushing your teeth. This is a quick home remedy to help rid of dead skin cells that pile up on your lips.
Tip #4: Avoid the extremely hot showers
Hot showers are relaxing and can make you feel as though you are at a spa; however they aren’t so great for your skin. Although it may seem counterproductive taking cold showers, the heat in the water can actually break down the lipid barriers in your skin, causing your skin to dry and peel. Instead of taking extremely hot showers, try gradually lowering the temperature each time you take a shower. This does not mean you have to take cold showers, although it is recommended by many dermatologists due to cold water’s ability to close your pores and soothe redness. Try making the water’s temperature as close to room temperature as possible, neither extremely hot nor extremely cold. Your skin will thank you.
Fact: Cold showers help aid in reducing the appearance of acne scars and can even prevent future breakouts. When washing your face, try splashing your face with chilly water after you have wiped off the cleanser. This closes your pores, and reduces bags under your eyes.
Tip #5: Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate!
Full body exfoliation is important all times of the year, especially in winter. When you exfoliate, you are gently removing any build up of dead skin cells. Although most dead skin cells fall off thanks to your skins natural shedding cycle, some stick to the skin and build up over time. These clumps of dead skin cells dry skin out even further, and give your skin a scaly appearance. Use a loofah or exfoliating body wash to gently rub all over your body one to two times a week. Avoid over exfoliation by picking one day of the week to exfoliate your full body and stick to it. Over exfoliating can cause your skin to become weak, red, and unbelievably sore.
“I also created a grapefruit sugar scrub. It worked so well and made my skin really soft afterwards,” said Shumate.
Fact: When you exfoliate, you are removing parts of the skins outer layer. Put on your favorite lotion as soon as you are done exfoliating to obtain gleaming, soft skin.
Following these tips can help get you on the path to great looking skin in the winter months. Although it may seem like a lot of work at first, you will be glad when your skin is healthier than it has ever been before.
A recent data breach within the Snapchat mobile app has been found to have leaked personal pictures along with phone numbers to certain websites. 4.6 million usernames and phone numbers were exposed to hackers on Jan. 1. 2014 according to TechnoBuffalo. Many people were not aware of this recent issue and predict that it will change the way others use the app in the future.
Snapchat is a social media app available on smart phones that allows people to send photos with captions and filter effects to each other, but the recipient can only view the photo for a maximum of 10 seconds before it disappears.
“People usually use Snapchat because they think that what they’re sending is private and will be deleted after the expiration time. So when they find out it’s being saved and leaked they’ll stop sending such embarrassing or explicit photos,” said senior Jonathan Lynch.
This particular issue is especially relevant in high school students considering most report using Snapchat on a daily basis.
“I Snapchat all the time. I think its a fun way to have a conversation other than texting,” said junior Sequoia Bryant.
Many feel that the creators of Snapchat do not have the right to keep the pictures and phone numbers saved in the database.
“I don’t like the fact that they keep my photos. They shouldn’t have the right to own my photos. They are personal,” said senior Savannah O’Brien.
Senior Ryan Lenz agreed with O’Brien in the fact that it is an invasion of privacy.
“It seems wrong because it’s not right to use people’s private photos for their public use.”
However, others feel less affected by the issue because what they send is not inappropriate.
“It won’t affect how I use the app in the future because I use it to send funny pictures to my friends,” said sophomore Lexi Finnimore.
Senior Andrew Sung also said that he did not feel affected, although one of his friends were.
“It won’t change the way I Snapchat because I don’t send anything bad in those snapchats. I’m not too worried about everyone seeing my pictures. But my friend got every part of his phone number leaked minus the last two digits.”
However, Snapchat is making an effort to strengthen the system to prevent this from happening again in the future. Due to the hacking problem, Snapchat has provided an update for app users that allows them to opt out of linking their phone numbers to their profiles. This was done to help avoid any future API breaches that expose private phone numbers.
Bryant offered some advice to people who plan on continuing to use the app.
“Snapcat is a fun way to have a conversation: just don’t send anything risky and you’ll be fine.”
Official news source for Floyd Central High School
