Friday, March 19, 2010

morals paper

Two days ago the senior class took the health and wellness survey for the third time since they have been in school. Asking questions that are meant to be personal and preserved to the individual mind people were reminded that the moral standard within each person and student body has changed. Some might say that it has changed dramatically. With things like drugs and alcohol not being a big deal anymore it might be time to reevaluate student’s outlooks on the subjects. I asked Amanda Rickert what she thought the moral standard was for the average high schooler she replied “None, people don’t really care about what they do anymore, they want to have fun and do what they want and not listen to the rules”. Coming straight from the source, a high schooler, she even agrees that morals aren’t as important to people as they used to be.

At Eastview the biggest problem is probably partying. Every Monday when you come to school and sit down at a table or desk you hear a conversation behind you and it is people discussing their weekend. Parties they went to and who was there and what they were doing and when they are partying again. It is a very common occurrence; it’s not a big deal to party like it once might have been. “Partying has changed in the past 5 years, I have an older sister and her and her friends never did the things we do today”. The younger demographic is also starting younger and younger with partying, which can lead to even more trouble in the future.

There will never be a way to completely eliminate teen drinking and partying but there are ways to reduce it. Schools are already trying by adding health and wellness classes into the curriculum but there are better ways. Educating students on the risks and harms should start earlier. Kids are starting to drink earlier and earlier so there is no reason not to start educating people at a younger age. There should also be a push to get parents to be more involved in what happens in a teens life. They should talk more to there kids and try and prevent what could be a very big problem in the future.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Morals rough draft

Two days ago the senior class took the health and wellness survey for the third time since they have been in school. Asking questions that are meant to be personal and preserved to the individual mind people were reminded that the moral standard within each person and student body has changed. Some might say that it has changed dramatically. With things like drugs and alcohol not being a big deal anymore it might be time to reevaluate student’s outlooks on the subjects. I asked Amanda Rickert what she thought the moral standard was for the average high schooler she replied “None, people don’t really care about what they do anymore, they want to have fun and do what they want and not listen to the rules”. Coming straight from the source, a high schooler, she even agrees that morals aren’t as important to people as they used to be.

At Eastview the biggest problem is probably partying. Every Monday when you come to school and sit down at a table or desk you hear a conversation behind you and it is people discussing their weekend. Parties they went to and who was there and what they were doing and when they are partying again. It is a very common occurrence; it’s not a big deal to party like it once might have been. “Partying has changed in the past 5 years, I have an older sister and her and her friends never did the things we do today”. The younger demographic is also starting younger and younger with partying, which can lead to even more trouble in the future.

There will never be a way to completely eliminate teen drinking and partying but there are ways to reduce it. Schools are already trying by adding health and wellness classes into the curriculum but there are better ways. Educating students on the risks and harms should start earlier. Kids are starting to drink earlier and earlier so there is no reason not to start educating people at a younger age. There should also be a push to get parents to be more involved in what happens in a teens life. They should talk more to there kids and try and prevent what could be a very big problem in the future.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Pre- writing

1. What is a problem/issue that our entire student body (our school, community, country, etc.) faces today?
-declining moral standards in high schools

2. What is your view/position on the problem or situation?
- there is declining moral standards

3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)
- show peoples opinions on the matter

4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.
- with high school interviews and statistics

5. How will you motivate your readership to action in your conclusion?
- motivate to talk more about it and if doing bad things is really right for you

6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?
- its an issue on many peoples minds now

Monday, March 15, 2010

Dance final draft

I have danced my whole life. It is what I really love to do. I took many different styles of dance before I was in high school to improve my variety and technique. But when I got to high school everything was so different than it was before. I was used to dance at a dance studio where you pay to go there. You compete at dance competitions and you go to nationals in the summer, then you repeat the process again. In high school, dance is considered a sport by the Minnesota state high school league, even though people don’t respect the hard work and effort that we do, enough to call it a sport. But never the less it is a sport. Everything immediately became more intense. Practices were harder and you were pushed to improve more in a week than you would in months of studio. Everyday we were pushed with a fire and a will that I hadn’t experienced. It was the will and the fire to win. Everyone who wanted to be there wanted to win, and by the teams previous track record not winning wasn’t an option, it was just something we had to do. “We are all really dedicated and all want to work as hard as we can, its just what we do” said by senior Katie Scheidler.

Once I started high school dance there were so many other opportunities to improve. And a dancers year was really split up into 5 sections. The first part of the year is the summer phase. People are tired from the previous school year and want to rest but being a dancer you have to constantly be honing your skills or you will lose them. “I am constantly practicing my skills and other styles to keep my variety up” Erica Tramonte explains. So right away first week of summer you start with district camps. It is a week or two of just straight dance classes, you come stretch work on skills and then learn a combo (a short dance combination). You work hard and improve there is nothing more to it. The next part of the summer is JFK (Just For Kix) camp and practices. This is when we learn our homecoming routine and JFK competition dance. It is three days of intense practices followed by a four day intensive camp. You dance for 8 hours a day and bond with the team. After JFK the team goes to Larkin to train with the best dance instructors in the Midwest for two weeks. Its hard but most would say that they grow the most as dancers in those two weeks than in any other part of the year.

Then starts the second phase of the year, fall season. Fall season, for those that are really in dance team for the long haul, is really our training time for winter season. We build our endurance, strengthen our skills and practice our performances. We perform at all of the home games and learn many new routines. Fall season is usually more low stress and fun than other parts of the year. We are all just coming together as a team and getting to know each other.

The third part of the year is by far the hardest and is the most intense and physically demanding, our winter season. Right away on the first day we are already competing. We are re trying out and competing for those 30 spots on varsity. Everything we do during this season has a purpose and a greater meaning. We repeat and repeat and run and drill to condition our bodies to do our routines perfectly because making a mistake is not ok. Making a mistake can mean the difference between 1st and 4th place. The season is so competitive and mentally draining but if you make it through it is always worth it in the end. Even if there is no medal around your neck.

The next and some people would say the most fun part of a dancers year is Bravo! It is low stress for us and after winter season low stress is needed. Dancers also love bravo because it I just dancing. There are no strings attached. There is no expectation and you can just dance because you like it. “Bravo is the most fun part of the year. I will show up hours early for bravo and stay as long as they want me to because I love it so much” junior Renee Dahlberg explains. “We just get to dance and there is no competitive environment, we do it because we love it” Erica Tramonte.
The final part of the year is the spring dance show. This is also just for fun with no stress or competition. We get to take the styles we like and dance to the music we choose. You get to dance with all of your other friends that are in dance tech. As a senior it will be nice to have this last experience dancing in high school because I know it will be a good one and I will get to dance with all of my friends one last time.

This year as a dancer everything changes. We don’t just do the process to repeat it again, after the year is over we are done. Some of the girls on the team are then done dancing for good, some will move on to dance in college. I am planning on dancing in college, and the thought of having a new routine and schedule is so exciting. I will be trying something totally new. But for me to continue dancing I need to keep myself in shape for the time being. Usually what happens is that we don’t work out and have the thought in our brain that fall and winter season have to start sometime so I will just get in shape then. We don’t have that this year so we really have to push ourselves to keep in shape and keep dancing.

Dancing is what I really love to do. It is expressive and it keeps me in shape. I would never trade it for any other sport or activity this school has to offer. The lessons and skills I learned from being on a team and working together so closely with so many girls will stay with me forever. I am excited though to continue my dance career next year in college. I need a change and change is always good. And as a dancer you always need change to keep your skill growing.

Rough draft. dance

I have danced my whole life. It is what I really love to do. I took many different styles of dance before I was in high school to improve my variety and technique. But when I got to high school everything was so different than it was before. I was used to dance at a dance studio where you pay to go there. You compete at dance competitions and you go to nationals in the summer, then you repeat the process again. In high school, dance is considered a sport by the Minnesota state high school league, even though people don’t respect the hard work and effort that we do, enough to call it a sport. But never the less it is a sport. Everything immediately became more intense. Practices were harder and you were pushed to improve more in a week than you would in months of studio. Everyday we were pushed with a fire and a will that I hadn’t experienced. It was the will and the fire to win. Everyone who wanted to be there wanted to win, and by the teams previous track record not winning wasn’t an option, it was just something we had to do. “We are all really dedicated and all want to work as hard as we can, its just what we do” said by senior Katie Scheidler.
Once I started high school dance there were so many other opportunities to improve. And a dancers year was really split up into 5 sections. The first part of the year is the summer phase. People are tired from the previous school year and want to rest but being a dancer you have to constantly be honing your skills or you will lose them. “I am constantly practicing my skills and other styles to keep my variety up” Erica Tramonte explains. So right away first week of summer you start with district camps. It is a week or two of just straight dance classes, you come stretch work on skills and then learn a combo (a short dance combination). You work hard and improve there is nothing more to it. The next part of the summer is JFK (Just For Kix) camp and practices. This is when we learn our homecoming routine and JFK competition dance. It is three days of intense practices followed by a four day intensive camp. You dance for 8 hours a day and bond with the team. After JFK the team goes to Larkin to train with the best dance instructors in the Midwest for two weeks. Its hard but most would say that they grow the most as dancers in those two weeks than in any other part of the year.
Then starts the second phase of the year, fall season. Fall season, for those that are really in dance team for the long haul, is really our training time for winter season. We build our endurance, strengthen our skills and practice our performances. We perform at all of the home games and learn many new routines. Fall season is usually more low stress and fun than other parts of the year. We are all just coming together as a team and getting to know each other.
The third part of the year is by far the hardest and is the most intense and physically demanding, our winter season. Right away on the first day we are already competing. We are re trying out and competing for those 30 spots on varsity. Everything we do during this season has a purpose and a greater meaning. We repeat and repeat and run and drill to condition our bodies to do our routines perfectly because making a mistake is not ok. Making a mistake can mean the difference between 1st and 4th place. The season is so competitive and mentally draining but if you make it through it is always worth it in the end. Even if there is no medal around your neck.
The next and some people would say the most fun part of a dancers year is Bravo! It is low stress for us and after winter season low stress is needed. Dancers also love bravo because it I just dancing. There are no strings attached. There is no expectation and you can just dance because you like it. “Bravo is the most fun part of the year. I will show up hours early for bravo and stay as long as they want me to because I love it so much” junior Renee Dahlberg explains. “We just get to dance and there is no competitive environment, we do it because we love it” Erica Tramonte.
The final part of the year is the spring dance show. This is also just for fun with no stress or competition. We get to take the styles we like and dance to the music we choose. You get to dance with all of your other friends that are in dance tech. As a senior it will be nice to have this last experience dancing in high school because I know it will be a good one and I will get to dance with all of my friends one last time.
This year as a dancer everything changes. We don’t just do the process to repeat it again, after the year is over we are done. Some of the girls on the team are then done dancing for good, some will move on to dance in college. I am planning on dancing in college, and the thought of having a new routine and schedule is so exciting. I will be trying something totally new. But for me to continue dancing I need to keep myself in shape for the time being. Usually what happens is that we don’t work out and have the thought in our brain that fall and winter season have to start sometime so I will just get in shape them=n. we don’t have that this year so we really have to push ourselves to keep in shape and keep dancing.
Dancing is what I really love to do. It is expressive and it keeps me in shape. I would never trade it for any other sport or activity this school has to offer. The lessons and skills I learned from being on a team and working together so closely with so many girls will stay with me forever.

Monday, March 8, 2010

Final draft

As Seniors in the class of 2010 start to look toward graduation and their graduation parties they are all hit with the same problem. This year there is not many good dates to have a grad party. All parties are going to be stacked up within a few short weekends. With some people depending heavily on the money they receive at their grad parties, there are concerns as to whether or not grad parties will be as successful due to the poor date choices this year allows.
As seniors and their parents pulled out there calendars this winter and sat down to pick the perfect date and time for their graduates party, all people noticed the same thing. The weekend when grad parties tend to really start to pick up is the same weekend as prom. That first weekend and the next 3- 4 weekends after that is usually when the prime grad party date is. This year then the second weekend is also full. It is the weekend we graduate and have our all night party. Already the second week is a bad choice. Then finally the next weekend is empty for grad parties. Senior Taryn Dwyer says “This year is hard because no senior class has dealt with this but people will have to just spread theirs out as best they can. I am having a combined grad party so that more people will show up because they are going to two at the same time.”
As a senior you want to have a lot of people at your party. The more people the more money you will get. The more money you get the easier the students first year in college will be. With costs of books and computers and supplies and housing expenses going into the five to six thousands every penny you get at your party counts big time. “College is so expensive these days that I am going to save the money I receive for expenses next year such as books, supplies and food, it will help make my transition into living on my own easier” said by Erica Tramonte. College is the first time almost all students are finally on their own and they will need some help for the first year until they really understand how to handle money.
Some people may say that there are many weekends in the summer and everyone will find a date but with a grad party being so important, seniors want to keep their parties as close to the school year and graduation as possible to ensure that as many people as they can get will come to their party. “Having a Graduation party is important to me because I want to celebrate my graduation with my friends and family and I don’t get to see many of them that often” stated by Tina Range. It isn’t all about the money, yes it is a great convenience for the next year but many people just want to have their friends and family around them as they really celebrate the first part of their life and then look on to what is coming up next for them.
This year is going to be tough, but seniors will still have their grad parties and everyone will still try to attend. The people going may feel rushed with so many parties in one day but everyone understands how special and important a grad party is to each individual senior, so they will do what they can to make each person feel as happy and excited as the last and next.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Story grad parties

As Seniors in the class of 2010 start to look toward graduation and their graduation parties they are all hit with the same problem. This year there is not many good dates to have a grad party. All parties are going to be stacked up within a few short weekends. With some people depending heavily on the money they receive at their grad parties, there are concerns as to whether or not grad parties will be as successful due to the poor date choices this year allows.
As seniors and their parents pulled out there calendars this winter and sat down to pick the perfect date and time for their graduates party, all people noticed the same thing. The weekend when grad parties tend to really start to pick up is the same weekend as prom. That first weekend and the next 3- 4 weekends after that is usually when the prime grad party date is. This year then the second weekend is also full. It is the weekend we graduate and have our all night party. Already the second week is a bad choice. Then finally the next weekend is empty for grad parties. Senior Taryn Dwyer says “This year is hard because no senior class has dealt with this but people will have to just spread theirs out as best they can. I am having a combined grad party so that more people will show up because they are going to two at the same time.”
As a senior you want to have a lot of people at your party. The more people the more money you will get. The more money you get the easier the students first year in college will be. With costs of books and computers and supplies and housing expenses going into the five to six thousands every penny you get at your party counts big time. “College is so expensive these days that I am going to save the money I receive for expenses next year such as books, supplies and food, it will help make my transition into living on my own easier” said by Erica Tramonte. College is the first time almost all students are finally on their own and they will need some help for the first year until they really understand how to handle money.
Some people may say that there are many weekends in the summer and everyone will find a date but with a grad party being so important, seniors want to keep their parties as close to the school year and graduation as possible to ensure that as many people as they can get will come to their party. “Having a Graduation party is important to me because I want to celebrate my graduation with my friends and family and I don’t get to see many of them that often” stated by Tina Range. It isn’t all about the money, yes it is a great convenience for the next year but many people just want to have their friends and family around them as they really celebrate the first part of their life and then look on to what is coming up next for them.
This year is going to be tough, but seniors will still have their grad parties and everyone will still try to attend. The people going may feel rushed with so many parties in one day but everyone understands how special and important a grad party is to each individual senior, so they will do what they can to make each person feel as happy and excited as the last and next.

Quotes

Taryn Dwyer
“This year is hard because no senior class has dealt with this but people will have to just spread theirs out as best they can. I am having a combined grad party so that more people will show up because they are going to two at the same time.”

Erica Tramonte
“College is so expensive these days that I am going to save the money I receive for expenses next year such as books, supplies and food, it will help make my transition into living on my own easier"

Tina Range
“Having a Graduation party is important to me because I want to celebrate my graduation with my friends and family and I don’t get to see many of them that often”

Monday, March 1, 2010

jpurnalism

topic: senior grad parties
angle: they are all ending up on the same days. how will seniors deal?