Volume 63, No. 4
Albemarle High School Newspaper
311 Park Ridge Road Albemarle, N.C. 28001 982-3711
DECEMBER 1997
;ooiii3 ISi^ECTKW 5ovuaNo«
by Emily Nance
Because of a typing error, the exam
exemption criteria was recently rewritten. The
new Blue and White Handbook states, “Students
who maintain academic and attendance standards
and apply two weeks prior to the end of the term
may exempt some final exams. Students with a
4.0 GPA or above and have five or fewer ab
sences of the previous semester, exempt all ex
ams (must be passing the course with a grade of
78 or better and not an End-of-Course exam).
Students with a 3.0-3.99 GPA and have five or
fewer absences for the previous semester, ex
empt two final exams (student’s choice) (must
be passing the course with a 78 average or better
and not an End-of-Course exam). Students who
improve their grade point average by .5 (regard
less of GPA) and have five or fewer absences for
the previous semester, exempt one final exam
(student’s choice) (must be passing the course
with a grade of 78 or better and not an End-of-
Course exam).
Okay, so you want to exempt some
exams this year, huh? I bet you are totally con-
ftised about the exact regulations and criteria that
allow exam exemptions. Well, I have written this
article to answer all of your questions.
To begin with, the attendance is con
sidered from the previous semester. The atten-
Antonio Watkins works diligently in
an attempt to exempt his exams.
dance for the upcoming exams is accounted for
from the spring semester of 1997 (January 1997-
June 1997). Therefore, if you missed only three
days of school during spring semester 1997 and
have missed seven days this semester (August
1997-January 1998), then you may still have a
chance for exemption. However, you may not
exempt any exams next semester (January 1998-
June 1998). Excused and unexcused absences
both count toward your limit of five. Even if
you went to visit a college campus, you still
missed class discussion and are counted absent
for the day.
Furthermore, GPA’s are also consid
ered fi'om the previous semester. The only grades
used for this exam exemption are those made
from January 1997-June 1997. Grades made any
other time are not relevant except if you are a
student who has improved his GPA by .5 or
more. Freshmen may not exempt any exams
because they do not have GPA’s yet. Next se
mester exam exemption will consider this
semester’s grades. Remember: the idea behind
exam exemption is to provide an incentive to
those who show dedication to their education
and who do so year round, not just during one
semester.
In order to exempt any exams, you
must be passing the class with a 78 average or
higher. This grade comes fi-om the class that you
are presently taking and not any other semester
So, if you are lucky enough to exempt
all exams, you do not have to be present on exam
days; however, if you exempt only one or two,
you must be present to take those exams.
The following exams are either state
exams or vocational exams and cannot be exempt:
English I, Algebra lA, Algebra IB, Algebra I, Al
gebra II, US History, Biology, Chemistry I, Ge
ometry, Physics, Physical Science, Economics,
Legal, and Political Systems (ELPSXCivics), and
all vocational courses using VOCATS.
All applications for exemption are due
two weeks prior to exam week. If you forget to
apply, then you will not be able to exempt any
exam's. These forms may be picked up from the
guidance counselors or the main office. Work hard
and maintain good attendance so that exam ex
emptions will be a possibility for you!
VfAMWA RICH?
by Emily Nance
Albem* s,ud.ms. lis»„ upl .fyou pl».» «»■ ^
Brandon Cooke, a senior here at
Albemarle High School,-has been recently elected
to serve as North Carolina West District Junior
Civitan Governor for the 1997-98 fiscal year
Brandon was elected to this position by his peers
during the North Carolina West District Conven
tion. The main purpose of Junior Civitan Inter
national is to provide members with personal
and career de-
velopment
opportuni
ties while im-
proving
schools and
communities
through com
munity ser
vice. Bran
don is one of
twenty-four
governors
leadingJunior
Civitan dis
tricts across the United States and Canada. Bran
don will be traveling to Ontario, Canada, in Janu
ary. Snowmobiles, freezing temperatures, and
lots of fun are the elements of the Junior Civitan
International Sno-Do. Along with his fellow dis
trict governors, international board members, and
guests, Brandon will set out in the early morning
hours for a wild snowmobile ride through the
countryside of Ontario. He is anticipating this
weekend where he will hopefiilly raise $10,000
jcmdncMuuciiis, Knrth Carolina team, you may wm a
J to watch our Bulldog captain Travis Gaster p ays register and attend the Shrine
« college scholarshipjust for being there. Four lucky . ^^.g^yone who attends high
* Bowl will each win a $5000 scholarship to the CO ege jhe four lucky students will
school in either North Carolina or South Carolina IS e ^ The requirements are (1)
be chosen through a drawing, so all four grade leve s are present one form of
,0„ mus, b. and tav= . complacd ^ be », up a, coll.g. of
identification. If an underclassman wms, a $500 ,fvou olan to attend the Shrine Bowl,
his/her choicc when he or she graduates from hig sc ° ... you to the game. You
be sure and pick up a form from the guidance office an
could leave the game $5000 richer.
for charity. The money he raises will be used for
the treatment and prevention of developmental
disabilities. Through donations by caring citi
zens and surrounding Junior Civitan and Civitan
Clubs, Brandon hopes to add to the already suc
cessful program. Businesses and individuals in
the Albemarle area may contact Junior Civitan
Intematinal at 1-800-ClVlTAN, ext. 132, to make
a donation.
By being the governor of the North
Carolina West District, Brandon represents forty-
nine clubs and over 2,000 members as the largest
district in all of Junior Civitan. Not only is his
club raising money for the Sno-Do, but they held
a Can-Do canned food drive and collected over
500 cans. Additionally, the club recently volun
teered at the Stanly County Special Olympics.
Besides being a member of Junior Civitan, Bran
don is active in student government, Spanish
Club, National Honor Society, and the Spanish
National Honor Society. He is also an Editor-in-
Chief of the yearbook. Crossroads. On Friday
nights during football season, Brandon entertained
the crowd as the Bulldog mascot.
Brandon Cooke takes leadership to
heart. When asked about his leadership, Bran
don stated, “I have always enjoyed leading oth
ers to success. Now, through Junior Civitan, I
will be able not only to help my peers, but now
I can help stop the developmental disabilities
through raising money on my trip to Canada.”
Congratulations, Brandon.
&et Certified i»i High School
by Emily Nance
How would you like to graduate from high school certified to be a nurse’s assistant? Now
with two new programs here at AHS, this degree can be earned by completing Allied Health Science
I and Allied Health Science II.
Allied Health Science I is programmed for juniors. By learning about health care settings,
body systems, and diseases, these students become aware of the medical field. Monique Hammond,
a junior in Allied Health Science I, commented on the class: “I am glad to have the opportunity to be
able to train while in high school. Hopefully, when I graduate, I will be prepared to enter the medical
field as a nurse’s assistant.”
After completing this course, seniors may take Allied Health Science II. Because the
material in this specialized course is so intense, the class runs two semesters. During the first
semester, the students learn skills to use in the hospital, such as taking blood pressure. During the
second semester, the students participate in clinical work at numerous medical offices. At the end
of the course, the students must pass the State Board Exam to be certified as a nurse’s assistant.
HOSA, Health Occupation Students of America, is a club that extends from these classes.
The club meets about once a month and has become involved in community service. In addition to
hosting competitions for HOSA clubs, the program offers scholarships to students wishing to
further their education. With fall registration coming up, consider the opportunities Allied Health
Science offers.
Monique Hammond and Melissa Fair are taking advantage of the Allied Health
Science program as they work together in class.