Volume 78 No. 2
Grimsley High School
801 Westover Terrace
Greensboro, NC 27408
Tuesday, October 30, 2001
Grimsiey’s hard work earns “Distinction”
By Sara Nelson
Reporter
Remember how each student
worked all of last year to prepare
for a single multiple choice test ad
ministered in June that would
count 25% of his yearly grade?
He diligently did his homework
every night, studied for all of his
tests and attended those “extra
special” EOC review sessions af
ter school.
He might have fretted for hours
about EOCs, or not have given
any thought to them at all. Regard
less, everyone’s hard work last
year has paid off. For the third
year in a row, Grimsley has been
named among the ten most im
proved high schools in North
Carolina, and this year, for the first
time, Grimsley has been named a
School of Distinction. Because of
this recognition, all teachers will
receive a $1500 bonus.
All of this is part of the state’s
ABC program ,enacted three years
ago, to ensure that all students are
learning what they are supposed
to in each grade level.
In order to qualify for recogni
tion as a School of Distinction, a
school must have 80% of its stu
dents perform at level three or four
on EOCs. Levels three and four in
dicate that students are working at
or above proficiency standards set
by the state in each subject.
Another criteria for the School
of Excellence recognition is that a
school must achieve either ex
pected or exemplary growth. These
growth standards are also set by
the state, and they compare a
student’s 8"' grade EOG scores with
his or herlO"’ grade competency
test scores to see that he or she
has shown growth and gained ap
propriate knowledge in the first
two years of high school.
In order to achieve appropriate
growth and achievement levels on
last year’s EOCs, teachers adhered
tightly to the Standard Course of
Study set by the state in each sub
ject area. They also provided spe
cial EOC tutoring sessions after
school and practice EOC’s were
given at least once in each subject
area. “ In the first month of the
school year, we give a pre-EOC test.
In Febmary, we administer the same
test. We compare the February and
September scores and look for
growth. We can determine which
students have accomplished the
various goals. Any students who
have not progressed as expected
get after-school tutoring on the
goals and objectives they have yet
to achieve.”, said Ms. Enright, an
ELPSA teacher.
This method of preparation ob
viously worked. Grimsley has met
the state’s growth goals for the
third year in a row. “It [the recog
nition] definitely should make ev
eryone proud,” said Ms. Rohan, a
math teacher. “The combination of
excellence with growth means kids
work hard and learn what they are
supposed to.”
Despite this recognition, teach
ers and students have their work
cut out for them this year. In order
to keep being recognized as a top
performer, Grimsley must continue
to show growth. Since the achieve
ment levels are so high already, this
could be difficult. Mr. Conaway,
who teaches ELPSA, believes that
the bast way to keep growing is to
“continue doing what we are do
ing.”
Recognitions such as these help
to bring prestige to Grimsley and
to show students and teachers that
hard work really does pay off.
I
ii
—
Weeks photo
Mr. Dalton helps Candice Leatherberry, a senior, work through a problem in his 3rd period Algebra 3
class. The math department was key in helping raise EOC scores.
Heightened security takes toll on nation
By Margaret Hair
Reporter
National guard officers stand
by, lines stretch on for hours, pas
sengers are being frisked as tliey
pass through the metal detectors,
and police abound. This has been
the routine at New York’s
Laguardia Airport since the recent
terrorist attacks.
The airline industry has been
heavily impacted by a demand for
increased security due to the
events of September 11"'. At
Laguardia as well as all other air
ports around the nation, measures
have been taken to increase the
safety of passengers and employ
ees.
Laura Granfortuna, a junior, re
cently traveled to New York
Weeks photo
At Piedmont Triad International airport, unticketed passengers are
no longer allowed to pass through the metal detectors. Changes like
these are due to the recent terrorism.
through Laguardia, and said, “The
only change in security was that
there was a woman on the other
side of the metal detector that
frisked you after going through.
Also, the person operating the
baggage x-ray machine took more
time checking the bags.”
Similar measures have been
taken at Greensboro’s own Pied
mont Triad International airport.
Passengers at PTI arrive at the air
port to find restricted parking, the
lack of curbside check-in, long lines
and more security officers. It is also
requested that travelers get there
in plenty of time to accommodate
the new policies.
Two months ago, it was possible
to arrive at the airport a little less
than an hour before a flight, and
still get to the plane on time. Those
days are no more. Now, it is neces
sary for passengers to arrive a sig
nificant amount of time before their
scheduled departure. Stephanie
Justice, a junior who has been af
fected by this new policy, said,
“When I bought my ticket to go to
New York, they told me that I have
to be there 3 hours ahead of time
instead of my usual hour and a half”
Aside from increased security
in airports, government agencies,
and officials at entertainment and
sporting events have established
their own beefed up security poli
cies. These measures range from
more police at football games to
augmented border security put
into place by the Immigration and
Naturalization Service (INS). Se
nior Matt Dennis experienced the
effects of heightened security re
cently, saying, “I went to the Wake
Forest/NC State game, and there
were long lines to get in because
everyone’s bags had to be
checked. But it really wasn’t
much of an inconvience, since it
made me feel safer about going in.”
On the more national end of the
heightened security scale, several
government agencies have taken
measures to increase the safety of
the American people. For example,
the Enviromental Protection
Agency is consulting with indus
trial facilites concerning security,
and several federal law enforce
ment groups are in contact with
various industries in which secu
rity is important.
Security concerns also come
back to Grimsley, with some wor
ried about the safety of students.
Arden Jones, a junior, points out
that the decision about this year’s
band trip was delayed because of
security matters. She said, “Due
to the horrible incident on Septem
ber 11"’ many people are worried
about their loved ones traveling,
despite the attempt at increasing
security in airports.”
Heightened security measures
and new policies have impacted the
daily routines of many throughout
the nation. As officials everywhere
scramble to make us feel safer, the
American people are taking a step
back and trying to be understand
ing for the sake of security.
“When I bought my
ticket, they told me I
would have to be there
about 3 hours ahead of
time, instead of my
usual hour and a half.”
-Stephanie Justice,
junior
War and peace
How far is too far
when terrorism
strikes?
Page 5,6
Mexican holiday
The Day of the Dead
has a rich tradition.
Page 13
Jordan returns
The king of basket
ball makes his much
anticipated return.
^ge 15
News 1
Editorial 4
Features 7
Sports 15