Tag Archives: Peter Hyle

Features, Peter Hyle

Teachers plan for the next week’s fall break

Leave a comment

By Peter Hyle

For students, the upcoming week is a much-needed break. Due to the balanced school calendar, this year students and faculty have an entire week out of school. Though students have the entire time out, some teachers, however, do not. With the first nine weeks coming to a close and the second just about to begin, there is a lot of work to be done while the students are away.

Social studies teacher Suzanne Moss grades papers in her classroom. Moss is among many teachers who may be using the next week to catch up on paperwork and grading in preparation for the new nine-week grading period. Photo by JT Samart.

“I’ll be working on various little projects [over the break], and I would guess that a lot of teachers are updating and working on grades for all of their students,” said principal Janie Whaley.

For most teachers, before they can take their break, they have to get their lesson plans and student grades put together.

“I need to get caught up and get a lot of paperwork together that I’ve been putting off,” said social studies teacher Suzanne Moss.

Most staff members think that the break is a good idea, and necessary.

“I think that this will be good for a lot of the students and their families,” said assistant principal Rob Willman.

In the past, what would be considered fall break was the three days off from school around Thanksgiving time…the day before, the day of, and the day after Thanksgiving. But this year, FC will have that short break along with next week of no school.

“I think any time you can step back from your normal routine is a good thing,” said Willman.

In the future, FC will put more use into its fall break. Lengthening to two weeks next school year, students will be offered more opportunities to raise their grades in several classes.

“We’ll move more towards intercession periods. Not this year but the next year, students will have a chance to make up school work during the second week of fall break,” said Willman.

Just about all staff members will agree that this is time well spent for the school.

“I think it’s a good idea to give kids the extra help they need,” said math teacher Rusty Cecil.

Some staff members are required to stay at FC over the break. With the numerous sporting events taking place here, it is necessary.

“I’ll be here for most of fall break,” said assistant principal Jeff Cerqueira. “We still have a lot of student athletic activities going on here.”

Over fall break, the cross country team has its

sectional, the volleyball team plays against Providence, and the football team has a home game against New Albany.

“There’s still a lot going on. With all the games and practices, there will have to be some staff members here to watch over everything,” said Willman.

For some staff members, the week-long break for students can end up being only a two or three-day break for them. It takes time and is important to make sure that all work is graded, and things are organized and set up for the start of the second nine weeks. Faculty and staff make sure that things here at the school run smoothly while the students are both here and away on break.

“I always say that it’s a building that never sleeps,” said Whaley.

News, Peter Hyle

Celebrate My Drive event proves to be a success

Leave a comment

By Peter Hyle

Many new drivers at FC can agree that the Celebrate My Drive event, sponsored by State Farm was held  at FC on Saturday,was successful. Filled with games,  food, and lots of excitement, the event was everything it promised to be.

All of last week, State Farm agents and volunteers worked hard to promote the event and make sure everyone had their chance to vote.

According to sophomore Tanner Nifong, the promoting was effective. “They put a lot of signs and tables up to grab our attention.”

All the promoting had a sincere reason behind it, a point that they wanted to get through to new drivers.

“I think it created awareness, and we did a lot of relevant and important activities to help new drivers learn as much as they could,” said the State Farm representative in charge of the event, Theresa Lamb.

The location of the event had a major part in its overall success.

“It was a really good space because it’s spread out and in a comfortable environment, not crowded. And it was amazing weather, so they picked a great day to do it,” said junior Caroline Wiseman, a volunteer  at the event.

FC staff members also took their part in making this event possible.

“The whole staff was great, the idea was well received to them. They helped me with the planning and setting up and the timing of the event,” said Lamb.

Aside from benefiting the new drivers themselves, the event was beneficial to many others in different ways.

“Teens in general have to deal with inexperienced driving. It’s a benefit to everyone because these kind of programs will hopefully increase safety among teens,” said Lamb.

Being the first year for The Celebrate My Drive event to take place, it is sure to be seen again in the years to come for FC.

“They are our future, they have to be prepared for the road. We have to spread awareness now,” said Lamb.

Peter Hyle

New student drivers to participate in tomorrow’s Celebrate My Drive event

Leave a comment

By Peter Hyle

Learning to drive a car is a major part of everybody’s life. It allows teenagers to take themselves to the places they want to go and gives them a sense of freedom. Driving is an important and necessary part in a person’s life, yet it can also be extremely dangerous.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the number one killer of teens in the United States is car crashes. This is why students learning how to drive need to know how to safely operate and maneuver vehicles before they are out on the road alone and possibly in dangerous situations.

Tomorrow, FC will be one of hundreds of schools all around the U.S. and Canada taking part in the Celebrate My Drive event, a program designed to prepare and support new drivers for the open road.

“We’re celebrating the fact that they [new drivers] can drive, but at the same time inform them of the risks of driving,” said Theresa Lamb, the State Farm Agent that has been responsible for promoting this event  at FC.

To get ready required a lot of time and help to ensure that the event can be as helpful and fun as possible.

“I’ve spent about two months preparing for this,” said Lamb. “I’ve had a lot of help from students and parents that have volunteered.”

Sponsoring Celebrate My Drive, State Farm has also thrown in bonus prizes on top of the event itself. With the help of students all across the country going online and voting, 14 local schools have the chance of winning a $100,000 grant. Fourteen brand new cars will be rewarded to students who participate in the voting process online. With all of the promoting and setting up, the event seems to have caught the eye of many FC students.

“They [the school] have done an excellent job promoting the event,” said freshman Evan Cambron. “They made sure we knew what was going on with all of the tables in the spine.”

They also gave students other opportunities to learn about the event.

“They [the school] have provided a lot of information on the announcements,” said sophomore Isaiah Coffee.

Going on in the band parking lot here at FC, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the event will have interactive games, food, refreshments, giveaways, and music.

“Free food, free drinks, and free cars. There’s nothing better,” said Coffee.

Preparing and working for this event was all for the benefit of the new drivers here at FC. They want to teach students the rules of the road with a supportive, instructive, positive approach.

“Such a scary time for parents can be a really fun time for students. They’ll be out there on their own and need to know how to be safe. Hopefully, I can keep doing this for many more years,” said Lamb.