Tag Archives: FC Bagpiper

Features

Celebrate My Drive promotes safe teen driving

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State Farm agent Theresa Lamb and her staff race through the quick click challenge. Photo by Delaney Smith
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
Sophomores Ryan Jennings and Hunter Hampton throw a ball back and forthwhile wear drunk goggles. Photo by Delaney Smith

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Fox41News camera man shoots footage of sophomore Alexis Moody beating her opponent in a race. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Fox41News camera man shoots footage of sophomore Alexis Moody beating her opponent in a race. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomore Bessmah Elashawah takes the texting and drving simulator test. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomore Bessmah Elashawah takes the texting and drving simulator test. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Fireman from Greenville Fire Department demonstrate how they would take care of car crash victims. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Fireman from Greenville Fire Department demonstrate how they would take care of car crash victims. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomore Brandon Lacy trys throwing a ball with drunk googles on. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomore Brandon Lacy trys throwing a ball with drunk googles on. Photo by Rachel Lamb
The good neigh-bear shakes Floyd Conunty Sheriff Darrell Mill's hand. Photo by Rachel Lamb
The good neigh-bear shakes Floyd Conunty Sheriff Darrell Mill’s hand. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomores Sarah Parker and Chloe Eberly race while texting on their phone. Photo by Delaney Smith
Sophomores Sarah Parker and Chloe Eberly race while texting on their phone. Photo by Delaney Smith
Senior Timon Stermer plays a good role as the State Farm good neigh-bear. Photo by Delaney Smith
Senior Timon Stermer plays a good role as the State Farm good neigh-bear. Photo by Delaney Smith
Features

Students battle with sleep deprivation

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By Rachel Lamb

Dozing off in class is one of the many effects of sleep deprivation for teenagers. According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens need about nine and one fourth hours of sleep each night. However, studies show that only 15 percent sleep for eight and a half on school nights.

Most students at FC that struggle with lack of sleep do not function as well as those who have regular sleep patterns.

“I only get five to six hours of sleep on an average school night,” said junior Ansley Barnes.

Barnes added that little amount of sleep she gets, is a result of how much homework she receives.  This contributes to whether she pays attention in class or not.

Some students, such as sophomore Nathan Clark, do not feel quite as  affected as others. Clark is able to get around eight hours of rest,  which is quite the improvement compared to Barnes’s  five to six.

“The way I feel and function through the school day is affected in a positive way because I’m most sleep deprived during the weekend, not during the week,” said Clark.

Teachers can often tell who is getting the recommended hours of sleep,  just by observing their behavior during class.  Chemistry teacher Jennifer Gohmann notices many people dozing off during class.

“Their energy levels are lower and they have a harder time focusing,” said Gohmann.

She agreed that weekends are the time to catch up on sleep.  Gohmann also added that when she was in high school she suffered from lack of sleep.

“When I was a student I always felt deprived of sleep and had a lack of concentration,” said Gohmann.

Features

Students struggle to balance school with their everyday lives

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By Rachel Lamb

Stress is a huge factor in the lives of everyday high school students. Many have bigger responsibilities and extracurricular activities they partake in, as well as schoolwork and grades. Struggling to find the balance between school and their outside of school lives is a difficult task but for some it is just their lifestyle.

After drill team practice three days a week to her after-school shift at Polly Freeze, there is a pile of schoolwork remaining at home; however, senior Alessa Farnsley still manages to keep up with the pace.

“It’s not too difficult to juggle with school work because I always find time in between, even though I don’t get off until 10 on school nights,” Farnsley said

Farnsley added that the stress from her job does  affect her school work, due to the fact that she just wants to come home and sleep after her shift. Not only does she feel stressed with the amount of homework given, but her boss also manages to keep her extremely busy.

Students  that are without a job can have a hard time managing pressure that school gives them as well as their other activities.  They may not have a boss to please, but certainly a coach or instructor.

“It’s hard to juggle schoolwork everyday after football practice, but study table is always helpful,” said sophomore Garrett Sneed.

Football practice takes up a lot of time that students could be using to do school work. Dedication is required  in order to still put  school work first, such as having study table before football practice.

Sneed added that football  is the most stressful activity he is involved in since there is a new challenge to take on everyday.

Not all students struggle with balancing things they partake in.  A difference could be age, as students grow, more responsibilities are given.

Freshman Evan Michelle said that playing soccer and completing school work has not stressed him out too much yet this year. He agreed with Sneed that schoolwork should and does come first.

Most of the time teachers can tell when a student is overwhelmed. Grades, participation, or even the way they present themselves in the classroom is a big enough hint.

“I think it depends on their personality and the way that some of the students are driven to succeed no matter what,” said physical education and health teacher Juli Hutson.

Counselor Jessica Newkirk agreed that how each individual student copes  depends on their personality and what level of work they are already used to.

Newkirk added that being involved in sports or extracurricular activities might alleviate stress that the students carry on their shoulders.

When it comes down to it, all students are going to worry about juggling all that is in their schedule during their high school career. Learning how to handle the different stressors that contribute to it is the most difficult part.

“If you can get all A’s then that’s great, but having a balanced life is important too,” Hutson said.

Girls Cross Country

Injury causes hardship to cross country runner

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By Sydney Sears

Cross country member junior Haley Meyer watches her team sprint off in the distance wishing that she too could be a part of this experience, but for now it will have to wait.

Eight months ago Meyer noticed a discomfort in her leg and discovered that she had a stress fracture. Meyer was told by her doctor that she could not run for two months to allow time for her fracture to heal. As a passionate and disciplined runner, this pessimistic news was devastating.

“I am not able to run in practice or at meets, which sucks because I don’t get to be with my team,” said Meyer.

Teammate Junior Reagan Kurk sympathizes with Meyer.

“Injuries affect you in seemingly every way possible. The constant pain drains you and is tiring. Not being able to do what you love is one of the worst things in the world, especially when it seems like there’s nothing you can do to help it,” said Kurk.

Kurk raves that Meyer still puts in as much effort now as she did before her injury. She explains that Meyer shows up to every practice and cheers them, encouraging her team despite her injury.

Meyer’s cross country coach, Carl Hook, has supported her throughout this entire experience.

“I’ve just tried to encourage her to stay strong and make sure she understands that if you fight through a tough situation you emerge mentally tougher,” said Hook.

In the last eight months Meyer has not had one, but three stress fractures. This has caused more time away from running to heal.

“I know her stress fracture is hugely upsetting her, especially when she is one of the most active people I know,” said Kurk.

For this last fracture, which is located in her upper tibia, the recovery time is three weeks minimum. According to Meyer the recovery time depends on where the fracture is and how well it is taken care of.

Meyer has recently taken up alternatives to running such as running in the water, swimming, biking, and the elliptical.

“I also am trying to eat better to make myself more healthy and try to prevent this from happening again,” she said.

Kurk believes that Meyer is taking every precaution she can to get better and to prevent another fracture from occurring.

Not being able to run for months at a time is bound to stunt someone’s progress. Even with alternatives like swimming, the performance level will not be the same. Cross country runs six to seven days a week, so they are constantly working to get better. This has caused Meyer to suffer from her time off for healing.

“It has made me lose some of my endurance and strength in my legs,” said Meyer.

Hook explained that Meyer knows as a varsity runner that it will be tough to get her spot back after so much time off, but believes that she will snatch the spot right back up when she has the chance.

“An injury like any tough situation can either break you or make you. You either decide to give up or get stronger and as a runner that means swimming and cycling. Haley has worked hard at both of those to stay in shape and hasn’t given up,” said Hook.

 

News

School security provides for safe environment

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By Rachel Lamb and Sydney Sears

It is 3:30 p.m. and only a few students remain inside the school doors. They may be at sports practice, participating in a club, running their lines for theatre, or just waiting until their parents pick them up. These students most likely do not think about how safe they really are.

Around this time of season, a lot of sports including wrestling and volleyball meet at FC after school.

“I have never not felt safe being here after school,” said senior wrestler Cory Troutman.

Senior wrestler Christian Overbey agreed.

“I feel very safe after school hours. There are always plenty of coaches and staff that stay after.”

Most sports have long practices after school. Volleyball usually runs till about 6 p.m. or longer on weekdays. If there is a game, then the volleyball players are here later than normal.

“I’m normally here ’til 6-6:30 or 7 on a average night school night,” said freshman Nicole Hartman.

Many students say if or when they are here after school hours they feel safe. Students may feel that way for a number of reasons.

After school all the doors are now being locked, except for the far right entrance into the rotunda. Administration, teachers, and coaches are working to keep the students  here after school hours safe.

“We are just trying to keep them safe, even with the kids that are coming and going,” said FC wrestling coach Brandon Sisson.

Sisson said that it is difficult to maintain security with kids, parents, and staff going in and out so much because it is hard to determine who should be let in the school

With having a police officer at school, it makes everyone feel a little more secure. Having an officer on duty during the day allows for a sense of security that provides for a safe environment throughout FC.

“I think being safe is very important because without security we wouldn’t be able to practice and get better.” said Overbey.

Officer Brad Scott is at FC during the school day and one of his many responsibilities is spot checks around the building.

If there were to be an  emergency after school, Scott said that anyone still in the building would have to listen staff members for instruction, because there is not enough personnel left after school to organize an actual procedure plan.

Scott explained that school security is especially important at sporting events because the large number of people at rival games can get out of control.

One thing students do not have to worry about is feeling safe at school.