I.
I I mm I I
Year in Review
Legendary election,
economics, sports, and
arts top list of 2008
memories.
pages 8-9
Volume 84 No. 4
Grimsley High School
801 Westover Terrace
Greensboro, NC 27408
December 19, 2008
;the
I
cc
America’s
culture,
once a
rich, melt
ing pot of
different
people, now faces the
risk of being lost in the
globalized “numbers”
world of the Information
Age, and NCLB has
only exacerbated this
problem.
Nick Hales
Reporter
55
page 4
President-elect
Barack Obama hits
the ground running
as he prepares for
his term as U.S.
President. page 2
inion
Music listeners
feel frustration from
lack of music on
morning radio and
music television.
pages
Features
Families can enjoy
holiday traditions
while they learn about
their origin at the
same time.
page 11
Sports
Readers can test
their knowledge of
sports trivia by
completing a tough
crossword puzzle.
page 15
News 2-3
Opinion 4-7
Spread 8-9
Features 10-13
Sports 14-16
Celebrating American Education Week
IBY MILA SMITH
Reporter
American Education Week
(AEW), sponsored by the Na
tional Education Association,
celebrates its 87th annual event
as it spotlights the importance
of providing every child in
America with a quality public
education from kindergarten
through college. NEA encour
ages everyone to do his or
her part in making public
schools great.
In honor of AEW, media
specialist Kate Cummings
plarmed a week filled with mo
tivational speakers to educate
the student body on various ca
reer choices. Guests addressed
issues ranging from what col
leges are looking for in poten
tial students to what businesses
require regarding professional
behavior. In addition, some
guests shared inspiring stories
about their paths to success.
Learning of the idea for a
mini lecture series through a
former teacher at Northwest,
Cummings determined her
goal was "to provide students
with some ideas of what oppor
tunities exist after Grimsley."
"The most popular period
that teachers scheduled to
attend was first period on
Monday, Nov. 17, with music
producer Fatin Horton,"
said Cummings.
One particular speaker
whom Cummings personally
4
Dr. Mark HymEin speaks to students and teachers about his background and dental career,
and he also emphasizes the importance of perseverance. Hyman was one of many guest
speakers who participated in celebration of American Education Week. Kanode photo:
enjoyed hearing was Dr. Shay
Soker, a researcher/physician
at Wake Forest Bowman Gray
School of Medicine. Soker
spends his time examining and
researching ways to "enhance
the vascularization and inner
vation of bio-engineered tis
sues using growth factors and
cells," according to his website
www.wfirm.org.
Soker's lecture topic
proved quite relevant since
CNN reported a case involv
ing similar work to his. Soker
spoke about creating new
bladders out of human tissue,
and on Wednesday, Nov. 19,
a Colombian woman victim
ized by tuberculosis received
both a new lower trachea
and bronchial tube, which
were produced from her own
stem cells.
"It was very timely that Dr.
Soker spoke on this topic since
on the same day, news broke
on a story about a windpipe
transplant," said Cummings.
Senior Larry Burnett en
joyed listening to speakers from
GTCC's Health Care program.
"What impressed me about
the speakers was that they
told us information that will
help us save money to go to
school. I will remember the
many options that GTCC has to
offer when the time comes,"
said Burnett.
Sophomore Tony Thompson
also found the program very
informative and interesting.
"GTCC accepts anyone who
wants to attend. Your grade
point average has nothing to do
with enrolling. All that mat
ters is that you put forth a suf
ficient effort in all that you
dQ,"said Thompson.
Yet another guest speaker
was Dr. Mark Hyman, a dentist
in Greensboro whose son
graduated from the school last
year and whose daughter will
graduate this spring. He spoke
about how important it is to
treat both your employees and
patients well and to show them
that you care.
Hyman also talked about his
experiences at Grimsley and
UNC-Chapel Hill. Most impor
tantly, he emphasized the im
portance of perseverance in or
der to meet one's goals.
"I thought hearing Dr.
Hyman speak would be a re
warding and interesting presen
tation, and it turned out to be
just that," said long-term subsh-
tute Ron Valente.
Ringrose sets expectations high
for drama department production
IBYGRACEEGAN
Photographer/Staff Writer
Students welcomed Matt
Ringrose, a Grimsley graduate
himself, as the new drama
teacher since Richard Zaruba re
tired last spring after 30 years of
service. Upon first returning,
Ringrose was surprised by all of
the changes that incurred since
he received his diploma in 2003.
"The school has changed a lot
physically since I attended
Grimsley. The enclosed walk
ways and elevators are all new,
as well as all the cement and
brick-work in the grove," said
Ringrose. "There have been a
number of other changes, but
the overall academic atmo
sphere has not changed too
much. It still seems to be a leader
among high schools, which was
the case when I was here."
One of his most challenging
task will be following in
Zaruba's footsteps.
"It was very intimidating at
first, seeing as how I was taking
over such a prestigious position.
Richard Zaruba is one of the
reasons why I became a teacher,
so while it is an absolute honor
to take up where he left off,
it is also a little overwhelming,"
said Ringrose.
His most difficult test will be
his production of the annual
school musical. It remains a
popular event each year, so ex
pectations are high.
"We really want to focus on
quality performances. I think
that if we put on a quality show
with devoted and dedicated stu
dents, the show cannot fail,"
said Ringrose.
He has selected "You're a
Good Man, Charlie Brown" for
this year's production. Audi
tions will take place on Decem
ber 1-2 for singing roles and later
that week for acting parts.
While some students
were skeptical of his choice,
Ringrose assured themit will
be entertaining.
"This year we wanted to go
with something a little smaller
in scale that could be done ex
tremely well. In most high
school programs, it is typically
custom to put on a huge show
with lots of spectacle, such
as elaborate costumes and
sets to cover up for stereotypi
cal high school acting. At
Grimsley, we have the talent
and do not need to cover any
thing up. We really want to
focus on the quality of the per
formance this year to demon
strate just how talented and
capable our students are. That
is not to say we will not design
the best costumes and sets we
can. We simply do not want
that to be the focus of the show,"
said Ringrose.
He claimed that the musical's
success will be approached a
little differently from past years.
"The success of a show
can be determined in so
many ways: how many people
came, how much money was
made, etc. The true test of
a successful show is whether
or not people continue talking
about it after it is over. It
really says something if more
people come to see it after
opening night becausepeople
are talking about it. That is our
goal. If you do something
people truly think is good,
they are more likely to come
and see future shows,"
said Ringrose.