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Student planner lacks arts events’ dates due to printer deadlines

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By Sydney Sears and Delaney Smith

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.

Features, Peter Hyle

Teachers plan for the next week’s fall break

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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.