Shaved heads and bleach blonde hair are now a new addition to the halls of FC thanks to the boys’ swim team. They are traveling to the IUPUI Natorium this weekend the compete in the state finals.
The swimmers have started to focus on their speed and cleaning up their technique so that they can make everything the best they can.
Sophomore Brendon Smith said that the practices have been a lot more intense and the team has been working a lot harder to get ready for state.
The boys are seniors Colin Lyell and Nathan Manias, juniors Elijah Anderson and Marc McCormick, and sophomore Brendon Smith qualified to compete in the upcoming state competition out of the team of about 17.
“We are hoping to be at our best for the end of the season. we took some chances at the sectionals not ‘shaving’ some of our guys to give them the opportunity to be going their fastest at the state championship,” said boys swimming coach Joe Perkins.
The state championship preliminaries are this Friday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. and the finals will be held on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 1 p.m. The swimmers are planning to swim their best times and hope to have the team place higher at state than in previous years.
“I am personally hoping to get top 16 in both of my events and top eight in at least one of the relays,” said Anderson.
Smith and McCormick are also planning on swimming their best times and Smith is also hoping to break some school records.
“We are looking to score as many events as we can, this is the first time in 14 years we have taken all three relays to state and have a good chance of scoring all three,” said Perkins.
“How many high schoolers can say they have a show?” said sophomore Kylie Wheeler, who is soon to be a co-host with senior Julie Jackson on her TV show entitled “Everybody Talks.”
Wheeler will start to co-host the show with Jackson starting next semester in January.
“I’m in love with change, especially change that will benefit everyone. The show will be a lot more exciting and a lot more fun when Kylie joins the show crew,” said Jackson.
Jackson said the idea for a co-host came up when she was brainstorming because she felt that there was something missing from the show.
“The idea for a co-host sparked my mind when I was in the shower. I went to Mr. Dench the next day and he thought it was a great idea,” said Jackson.
Radio/TV teacher Tim Dench said that the original idea for the show included a co-host and that will make the show more fun and interesting.
“Different ideas will come along with a new co-host,” said Dench.
Wheeler originally took radio/TV because others had suggested to her that she could be a broadcaster and she ended up loving the class and therefore took the co-hosting opportunity.
“She [Wheeler] is outgoing, loves to talk, and with her pageant history she would fit in,” said Dench.
Also, with Wheeler as an underclassman she will take over the show when Jackson graduates this May.
“She may only be a sophomore, but she knows what she’s doing,” said Jackson.
Wheeler has high hopes for the future of the show
“I hope to just have fun with this opportunity and get to learn a lot more about this field,” said Wheeler.
Jackson concludes her thoughts on Wheeler’s introduction to the show.
“This is more of a friend title than a co-host stamp,” said Jackson.
Senior Julie Jackson talk to her viewers during “Everybody Talks.” Photo by Delaney Smith.“Everybody Talks” is broadcast through the hallway in the Preforming Arts wing. Photo by Delaney Smith.Sophomore producers Emily and Erin Keenan work behind the scenes in the production room of “Everybody Talks.” Photo by Delaney Smith.
Senior Julie Jackson’s TV show “Everybody Talks” gets ready to air, the production room is busy with everyone scrambling around, getting the cameras focused, the sound levels right, and the guests set with their microphones.
“There is a ton of technical stuff we have to do before we start the show,” said Radio/TV teacher Tim Dench.
Although Dench helps out, he emphasizes that he is “a strictly behind the scenes overseer” and that sophomore producers Emily and Erin Keenan do a most of the work that helps makes the show a success. Some of the many jobs of the producers are anything from coming up with titles for Jackson, and the names and titles of their guests, to making sure the sound levels are just right so that you can hear them speak without it being too loud or quiet.
“Their job as director is always to stay one step ahead,” said Dench.
Jackson’s show, which is put on every Tuesday night, is a mirage of interviews, fun facts, community talk, and Jackson’s opinions. The show consists of different segments, like her top ten pet peeves or top ten lies that people tell. A few segments vary from show to show, but others stay consistent throughout the weeks.
“It [Everybody Talks] offers students with special talents or that are involved in upcoming events to get on our TV channel,” said Emily.
During the half hour to hour long show, Jackson interviews someone. The special guests include student actors, singers, race-car drivers, and even a hypnotist.
“It [Everybody Talks] offers students with special talents or that are involved in upcoming events to get on our TV channel,” said Emily.
Mr. Dench and Jackson’s love for radio/TV prompted Jackson to start doing shows. Throughout her experience of putting on “Everyone Talks” she’s been affected in a positive way.
“Doing this show has benefitted me immensely. I used to be super quiet and I used to not like to talk at all. I’ve never really been outgoing and this show has made me outgoing,” said Jackson.
Jackson shares that doing this show has also allowed her to enjoy talking to people more and led to her becoming a big people person.
“It’s made me the person I am today,” said Jackson.
In the future Jackson hopes to have the show develop and include the community more and involve more students within the school.
“I wanna form the show around really good causes that people in our community are involved in,” said Jackson
Emily also has high hopes for the future of ‘Everybody Talks.”
“I hope we can get more students to interview and just keep the show going for a long time. I look forward to the show each week and I just hope to keep getting better at working behind the scenes.” said Emily.
Erin has hopes that the show will grow and become more popular.
“I hope that it [Everybody Talks] grows into something that could be really big. I also hope that we just keep adding on and improving the show like maybe a little 30 second video in the beginning or something. Hopefully we are moving in a good direction,” said Erin.
Everybody Talks is a completely student run operation with very little help from Dench.
“It is unique, in that it is totally student based, it is different. It may not be for everybody but a lot of people seem to like it,” said Dench
“Everybody Talks” is broadcast live every Tuesday night at five o’clock on the school’s television station (cable channel 24, digital channel 8-6).
As students flip through their student planner they may notice an abundance of dates for sports events, but notice a lack of dates for yearly arts events.
“Not having our dates in the planner makes me feel as if our events aren’t as important than the sports,” said women’s choir member junior Bethany Smith.
Arts students shared that they put in a lot of work into their performances and just as much work as student athletes do.
Sports are advertised through the student planner, announcements, and posters throughout the school. The school has trouble printing the arts events’ dates in the planner due to printer deadlines.
“I think that events should be more publicly announced just like the sports are,” said orchestra member sophomore Isabelle Didelot.
Assistant principal Rob Willman was in charge of the student planner until two years ago when assistant principal Joe Voelker took over the responsibility. Willman shared that although they probably need to do a better job of trying to get all of the arts events in the planner, it can be tough to publish specific dates due to printing deadlines for the printer.
“Since sporting events are scheduled at least a year or so in advance, we are able to get them in there fairly easily. The planner is due for the printing company around March, and many of the performing arts dates are not set,” said Willman.
The sports dates are also constructed by just one person, while the arts events are controlled by a larger number of people. Also, sports dates are based on contracts for two to four years, so their dates are already set years in advance, while the dates for the arts can fluctuate, said Willman.
“If someone doesn’t like sports, they might like the arts, but they won’t know arts events are going on because of lack of advertisement, “ said theatre student sophomore Henry Miller.
While Willman explained that they are open to trying to include more arts events in the student planner, there are still complications.
“Keep in mind that there is a lot going on at FC. To put every event into the planner might be impractical and overwhelming,” said Willman.
State Farm agent Theresa Lamb and her staff race through the quick click challenge. Photo by Delaney Smith
Photos by Delaney Smith and Rachel Lamb
By Christian DiMartino and Sidney Reynolds
In honor of National Teen Driving Safety Week, State Farm sponsored the annual Celebrate My Drive event hosted by Theresa Lamb at FC. It helps teach teens the importance of driving safely through various games and activities.
“I had so much funning playing the Chinese fire drill. I think it helps teach how easy it is to just wear your seat belt while driving and to encourage it,” said sophomore Ryan Stone.
The weather was cold, being in the 40s, but did not keep people from coming to the event. To help keep participants warm they were also treated to free pizza, soda, and popcorn.
“The food was really good and I think it helped make people want to come to the event,” said Stone.
Many students went because they received extra credit for their driver education classes.
“I think it’s good experience for students since we can’t do this in the class room and we don’t want them to experience first hand,” said drivers education instructor Joe Cerqueira.
The games were designed to help teach students what the consequences can be if they make poor decisions behind the wheel. Some of the popular games there included a simulated texting while driving video game, playing catch while wearing drunk goggles, and posing in a wrecked car with two people dressed up as car wreck victims.
“To see a car damaged really showed teens what could happen. Even though I came for extra credit I had a good time and gained a lot of important information,” said sophomore Chloe Everle.
The Greenville Fire Department and Floyd County Sheriff’s office came to help out and run some of the activities there.
“The texting and driving simulation is the newest activity here. It teaches teens how dangerous it can be. If they wrecked in the simulation I hope they will remember that next time and just put the phone down,” said Officer Mark Spurgeon.
Students are encouraged to vote for FC online at the Celebrate My Drive website for a chance to win $100,000 and a concert from Kelly Clarkson. Any money won this year will go to FC Dance Marathon.
“I hope everyone votes. It would be awesome if we won and got a concert from Kelly Clarkson. It would also be nice to help out the Riley kids through Dance Marathon,” said Stone.
Next year Lamb is hoping to continue educating people on driving safely. “Teens are more apt to get accidents due to inexperience and being distracted by such things as texting, other people, and the radio. Education is the key,” said Lamb.
Sophomores Ryan Jennings and Hunter Hampton throw a ball back and forthwhile wear drunk goggles. Photo by Delaney Smith
Fox41News camera man shoots footage of sophomore Alexis Moody beating her opponent in a race. Photo by Rachel LambSophomore Bessmah Elashawah takes the texting and drving simulator test. Photo by Rachel LambFireman from Greenville Fire Department demonstrate how they would take care of car crash victims. Photo by Rachel LambSophomore Brandon Lacy trys throwing a ball with drunk googles on. Photo by Rachel LambThe good neigh-bear shakes Floyd Conunty Sheriff Darrell Mill’s hand. Photo by Rachel LambSophomores Sarah Parker and Chloe Eberly race while texting on their phone. Photo by Delaney SmithSenior Timon Stermer plays a good role as the State Farm good neigh-bear. Photo by Delaney Smith
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