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News
2
Opinion
3-7
Features
8-14
Sports
15-16
Volume 83 No. 6
Grimsley High School
801 Westover Terrace
Greensboro, NC27408
January 31, 2008
Northern High welcomes two Grimsley teachers
as well as students from Northwest and Northeast
■BY LYNN RQZELMAN
Advisor
Wen Guilford County
schools began second semester
on Jan. 28, approximately 465
students, their teachers, addi
tional staff, and administrators
entered brand new surround
ings at Northern High School,
located at 7101 Spencer Dixon
Road. Previously enrolled at
Northwest High and Northeast
High, students looked forward
to studying in a wireless envi
ronment, while teachers
awaited working in the expan
sive office area where private
space is available for planning
and collaborating with their
colleagues comfortably.
Each teacher received a
laptop instead of the normal
desktop computer. Document
readers and smart boards are
also available to teachers.
Two teachers who joined the
Northern faculty are David
Willoughby and Karen Cobb,
who both taught at Grimsley
previously before transferring
to the new school.
"I had been at Grimsley for
21 years, and I loved the school.
However, I also felt that I
needed a change if I was going
to stay in teaching another 20
years. I always respected t hose
teachers who put in 30 or 40
years at GHS, but I felt I needed
to shake things up a bit. Also, I
loved the idea of opening a new
school," said Willoughby.
After teaching his classes first
semester in a portable classroom
in between Northwest High and
Northwest Middle, he looked
forward to a shorter drive once
his classes started meeting at the
new high school
Cobb, a registered nurse and
educator, had her own reasons
for transferring to Northern.
"I made my decision to move
because it is only seven minutes
from my house. Having two
kids in schools that are also five
minutes from my house will
make participating in their ac
tivities so much easier. Fortu
nately, It will also make partici
pating and being involved in
45 !
Northern High features a modern atrium that allows a place where students can sociahze
during breaks. By October of 2007, the building was already undergoing final touches.
school activities much easier,"
said Cobb.
Willoughby presently
teaches English 9 Honors and
CP as well as Guided Studies,
otherwise known as Strategic
Reading. Since Northern only
houses freshmen and sopho
mores this year, Willoughby
had to stop hold teaching se
nior English. Holding titles as
assistant coach for cross coun
try and track years ago at
Grimsley, he resumed such re
sponsibilities as head coach for
the Northern Cross country
team this fall and will be the
assistant coach for the track
team this spring.
Having taught juniors and
seniors at Grimsley, Cobb had
to make some adjustments in
her style of instruction to work
effectively with freshmen and
sophomores. She teaches Bio
medical Technology and
Health Team Relations.
"First semester, I taught
three classes on the Northwest
campus and two on the north
east campus, all in portable
classrooms. The nice thing
about the mobile units was
they had their own bathrooms,
but one tornado warning was
enough to make me realize I
wanted to be in a building!"
said Cobb.
Besides teaching in a mod
ern setting, Willoughby also
looks forward to working on a
more accommodating,
adaptable schedule.
"On Thursdays, students
will arrive 45 minutes later to
school at 9:15 am so that teach
ers have substantial time to col
laborate without having to do
so after school or during
lunch," said Willoughby.
While students at Grimsley
have a seven-period day only
if they decide to take a zero pe
riod, students at Northern will
follow an alternative, seven-
period day.
"We will have a Monday,
Wednesday, Friday schedule of
seven classes, with Tuesday
having only first, third, fifth,
and seventh periods, and
Thursday having second
fourth, sixth, and seventh peri
ods. This plan provides 90 min
utes for completing labs,
projects, or other assignments
that may take a little longer
than 50 minutes," said Cobb.
Yet another perk for stu
dents and teachers is the ten-
minute break built into the
school day on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Both Willougby and Cobb
agree Grimsley hosts a more di
verse group of students, and
Northern cannot boast a long
history of tradition. Even so,
ever34hing the Northern family
does is making history.
Both Grimsley and Northern
have student bodies who per
form alike academically, but
many of his new students come
from more rural backgrounds.
"I often see more cowboy
boots than I did at Grimsley!"
said Willoughby.
Northern is fortunate to
have strong community sup
port already in place and a fac
ulty comprised of many expe
rienced teachers who expressed
an interest in making a change.
Some of these teachers are new
to Guilford County or have re
turned to Guilford County af
ter moving away, and others are
transferring from different
local schools.
"It was my understanding
that Principal Joe Yeager also
hired a few newly certified
teachers because he was not to
take too many from any one
school," said Cobb.
While the anticipation of
moving to a new educational
setting proved exciting for both
Willoughby and Cobb, they
both had mixed emotions about
leaving Grimsley.
"I did not leave Grimsley be
cause I was unhappy there. I
left because I wanted a new
challenge. I miss the tradition
of GHS and the reputation it
holds in the community. When
I interviewed for this position
three years ago, I told Mr.
Yeager that I loved GHS's tra
ditions, but I was ready to be
gin new traditions somewhere
else, to be on the ground floor
of something new. I miss my
former students and my col
leagues desperately. As much
as I hated my little room, I miss
the beauty of fhe Grimsley cam
pus," said Willoughby.
Cobb explained she had res
ervations about leaving
Grimsley as well, but she was
"excited to start this new chap
ter. I miss everyone terribly,
which has been one fo the hard
est things, not having a real
'home' and 'neighbors' yet, but
they will come soon. I do miss
the big Grimsley-Page stuff."
In just a matter of time, the
students, teachers, parents,
and, administrators will build
their own traditions.
opinion
Choosing one’s religion
should be a personal
choice not to be judged,
page 4
features
Chris Brown’s dance
moves wow the crowd,
Bow Wow raps it up.
page 14
sports
Underwater hockey
swims its way into
newfound popularity.
page 16
Northern High Quick Facts:
Student Enrollment: 465 (grades 9 through 10)
Core Student Capacity: 1,600
Mascot: Northern Nighthawks
Football Stadium Seating: 2,500 home side;
1,500 vistors' side
Enviromental Feahmes: Rainwater harvesting. Wetland
"Living Machine" to filter waste water, Eco-Educational
courtyards, solar water heating
Sports Fields: Football stadium, soccer/lacrosse field, six
tennis coiuis, baseball field, softball field, practice field