Li% I I ■ ■
I I mm I I l■■i
Budget Cuts
Decreased funding in
Guilford County Schools
affects all of its
’'ay
students, teachers,
and families. , „
pages 6-7
Volume 85 No. 1
Grimsley High School
801 Westover Terrace
Greensboro, NC 27408
September 30, 2009
High LIFE
44
With
great
power,
however,
comes
great
ridicule. Since the
Obama family has
moved into the White
House, one needless
issue after another has
been publicized.
5 5
AKIRAH JUSTICE,
Reporter p. 5
News
Changes at school
include reciting the
Pledge of Allegiance
and school motto to help
unify the student body.
page #2
Opinion
Media saturation
leads to newscast
overkill, or sensational
journalism, forcing
audiences to search
for truth. page #5
Features
Fashions from
Marc Jacobs may look
elite and pricey, but
they don’t necessarily
carry expensive price
GHS family members greet students, parents
in local communities through Whirlie Walks
BY KATHERINE PHILLIPS
Editor-In-Chief
Faculty and administrators
held a series of three hour-
long "meet and greets" in vari
ous gymnasiums located
within the school district on
August 11, 12, and 13 to reach
out to parents and students
before the start of the aca
demic year. Open gyms were
available to encourage inter
action between students, par
ents, and faculty.
Instead of asking parents to
come to school for important
information, Grirrisley faculty
brought information to them.
Selected locations included
Gillespie Park Elementary
School, Lindley Recreation
Center, and Warnersville Rec
reation Center, where after
school tutoring also occurred
last year. While the first Walks
were held closest to school, ad
ministrators plan to hold fu
ture ones further away in or
der to involve more of the
Greensboro community.
"The purpose of Whirlie
Walks was to welcome back
new and old members of the
school family and to reach out
to them in their own neigh
borhoods, where students and
their parents live and work,"
said counselor Suzanne
Weaver, who attended all
three sessions.
Principal Anna Brady also
used the opportunities to an
swer questions from parents
and students and share a
PowerPoint presentation
Principal Anna Brady oils up her skills in basketball
with junior India Mateir. Brady visited various
communties to connect with local youth. Internet graphic
about expectations for the
school year. She also explained
plans for the newly scheduled
Whirlie Wednesday.
Academia was not the only
subject of presentations or
questions. Students enjoyed
engaging and bonding over
one of Brady's stated pas
sions—basketball.
"She played horse with
any student interested,"
said Weaver.
Meeting with members of
the student body and their
families is an integral part of
Brady's intention to create and
strengthen a school culture
shared by all. She intends to
lead Grimsley ahead into the
future, emphasizing to the
student body that the
troubles of past years have no
place on campus anymore.
Such a process involves un
derstanding where her stu
dents come from and what
kinds of obstacles they face in
everyday life.
"Meeting and greeting our
families in their neighbor
hoods, seeing where they live,
communicating with families
outside of the school setting
were the greatest benefits,"
Brady said. "It is important
to me to know where our
students live."
Brady had hoped to
hold community invol
vement meetings last year, but
she primarily focused on
transforming the atmosphere
on campus. This year,
interaction with the commu
nity is one of Brady's highest
priorities, as is forming rela
tionships with anyone who
has Grimsley ties.
"Grimsley has a tradi
tion of strong community
support. The Whirlie Walks
represent an effort by Ms.
Brady and our school to
strengthen these bonds and
build on these relationships,"
said Career Development Co
ordinator Jim Smith.
Community reception of
Whirlie Walks was reported to
be largely positive with those
in attendance grateful for the
effort made. Faculty members
who attended hold high hopes
for future Whirlie Walks as
well as other events to im
prove school-community in
teraction, several of which
have been planned for
upcoming months.
"We are planning to
hold some of our PTSA
meetings in area churches and
community centers to connect
more families to Grimsley," in
addition to having more
Walks, said Brady.
Participation at the While
Walks averaged approxi
mately 20 faculty members
and 30 students and parents,
with attendance progres
sively growing each session.
Attendance at later Whirlie
Walks is expected to improve.
"This is the first year we've
tried this," Smith said. "I think
the numbers will increase
next year."
As not much notice was
provided to the selected com
munities before the sessions,
administrators plan to better
advertise in the future and
put forth a stronger effort to
gather attendees.
"I knew I had to do a better
job," Brady said of alerting
community members of the
meetings. "I would not give
up but would prepare more
for future meetings. I also
learned what I need to do in
future community meetings."
tags.
page #9
Eligibility issues
within the Northern
High eommunity filter
down to all athletics
throughout
local
sports page #10
News
1-2
Opinion
4-5
Spread
6-7
Features
8-9
Sports
10-12
Whirlie Wednesday Schedule
Whirlie Wednesdays provide time for teachers to collaborate
and for students to meet with clubs or study. This alternate schedule helps
create a stronger school community. Most Whirlie Wednesdays will serve as study halls,
but on some occasions, pep rallies, assemblies, or other school events will take place.
Schedule;
1. First period will begin at 9:06, allowing teachers a time to plan between 8:15 and 9:00.
2. After fifth period, students will report to their homerooms for 42 minutes,
during which the aforementioned activities will take place.
3. Buses will run on a normal schedule.
4. Zero periods will meet but will dismiss at 8:15.
5. All classes will meet on Wednesdays, but they will each last only 45 minutes.
October Whirlie Wednesday Schedule:
October Whirlie Wednesday Schedule:
Oct. 9 - Grimsiey/Page Pep Rally
Oct. 14-Study Hall
Oct. 21 - Grade/End of Quarter/Attendance
Oct. 28 - Study Hall