College Applications Cause Stress for High School Students

Feature
By Ashton Wimbury
Husky Herald Reporter

Senior year:the time to begin college applications.  They certainly can be either stressful or exciting, but they make high school students one step closer to college.

    The thought of a fresh start in a new environment is pretty nice to think about.  When doing applications, students get to research more about the colleges they have interest in, and find their perfect fit.  

    “I am excited since I  applied to Grand Valley State University, and received acceptance,” Erica McClelland (‘16) said.

    Getting accepted into a college is somewhat of an eye opener, since students realize that in less than a year, they might be at that school.

    Seniors must also consider things like what school best fits the possible career path they would like to take.  Students want to find the college that has a good program that relates to what they would like to do.

    “It is cool to be able to start a new chapter in my life,” Hailey Anglebrandt (‘16) said.

College is a new beginning, preparing for it can be stressful yet, it’s amazing to see students begin their way to success.

    Students spend hours on the computer putting in information to college websites, writing essays, and brainstorming what they want to share with colleges.  Students tell their achievements such as clubs, sports, activities, and community service.  

    “College applications are a time where we can show colleges what we worked hard for,” Kathryn Shaw (‘16) said.   

For four years, many seniors have worked incredibly hard for this time.  It is amazing to see those students finally being able to tell people what accomplishments they’ve made.

    Students also receive help with applications from parents, teachers, counselors, and Ms. Sumpter.  Without them, applications might not be as simple.  They work hard to ensure success for the seniors, spending their own time to make sure students know how to do the application process.    

    Doing college applications is a long process, having to get a transcript, choose what colleges you want to apply to, and filling out every application that includes multiple essays.  Although it takes some time, it is well worth it.  Eventually, seniors will be stepping onto a new campus as a freshman.    

Port Huron Northern Band gets all Ones

News
By James King
Husky Herald Reporter

  “Port Huron Northern band with a rating of ...uno,” said the announcer.  After five months of hard work and practice, the Port Huron Northern Band’s effort has finally payed off .

  It all started the first day of band camp where almost 200 freshmen, sophomores, juniors  and seniors came together to start learning drills for the 2015 halftime show directed by Erick Senkmajer.

  This year the band decided to attempt something they have never tried before; some kids were skeptical “because it was a different kind of show and I didn't know how it would turn out in the end” said James Eppley (‘18).  Instead of just a halftime show, the band would be performing a play revolving around the story of Maria (played by Madeline Godwin, Meghan Wilton, and Elise Edie alternatively) and Diego (played by James King).

  The show consists of three songs: Estancia, Diego’s Goodbye, and El Tango de Roxanne.  The first song, Estancia, shows Diego’s first victorious bull fight.

  Diego enters the arena, which is created through a formation made by the rest of the band, He waves his cape in the wind and with saber in hand, he fights and defeats the tuba section, which is posing as “the bull.”

  The second song, Diego's Goodbye shows Diego and Maria’s reuniting after the bullfight. Despite various partner dances throughout the rest of the band depicting their love, Diego says goodbye to Maria before his next bullfight.

  The final song of the show, El Tango De Roxanne, shows Diego’s  final bullfight against the biggest, baddest bull in all of Barcelona. He goes into the fight with arrogance and he underestimates this new contestant, which is depicted through drumline formations

   As he starts to stab at the bull, it fights back, knocking him down. In a daze, he gets up and starts fighting back harder than he has fought before.

   Diego gives his all,until the bull strikes him down. While he lays on the ground defenseless, the bull goes in for the final kill, but Maria fulfills her dream of being a bullfighter and kills the bull.

  She helps  Diego up, and they have a final dance, concluding the show.

  “I think the audience really enjoyed watching us put a story into the field” Olivia Bolt (‘18), a band member, said.

  The show was performed in under fifteen minutes in front of three judges for a score of one, two, three, or four, with one being the highest. After their performance was done at the Marching Band festival,, the band members waited anxiously for the other bands to finish to hear their score.

  “We are going to get a one” said Logan Radatz (‘17). Radatz was correct in his assumption, and Port Huron Northern Bands received the score of a one at the 2015 Marching Band festival.

New Jimmy Johns Bread Leaves Customers Disgusted

Opinion
By Sophie Reinhard
Husky Herald Reporter

 Three weeks ago Jimmy Johns changed their bread in all the stores across the U.S. From the fluffy, thick, white bread that we have all come to know and love, to an unbearable thin, wheat crust. This was an outrage.

  As a Jimmy Johns lover, it was hard to cope. Jimmy Johns was always my go-to fast food between sporting events or when I was just in a rush. Being known for making “Subs so fast you'll freak” and for their always fresh produce, I was in Heaven.

  With the new bread it didn't exactly leave you with feeling that you want more. One could even go to the extent of saying that the new bread left a nasty taste in your mouth.

  Of course, there are alternatives to the new bread. You can always get a unwich with all your favorite toppings on that.

  An unwich is the same thing as a regular Jimmy Johns sandwich with the exception of the bread. In its place is a lettuce rapping made for those do not need to unwanted bread calories. But it's just not the same.

  Interviewing Garrett Corry, who graduated last year, and is a current Jimmy Johns employee, he states that he does not approve of the new bread either.

 “We are still getting used to it because making it requires a different technique that we have not mastered yet.” said Corry.

  He has high hopes that when they finally get the technique down the new bread will at least become bearable again.

  Kayla Rademacher (“16) has also reported that she, “Isn't going to be going to Jimmy Johns anymore because it's nasty”

 Carmen Rankin (“16) said, “Why fix something that isn't broken?”

  Both of these students agreed that they might have to go to Subway from now on due to the less than satisfactory bread at Jimmy Johns. Although it is not quite the same, it is still a healthy alternative to other fast food establishments.

  Hopefully the near future will bring an end to the Jimmy Johns mutiny and bring back the bread we have all come to know and love.

  

PHN Drama Club has Done it Again

Feature
By Karson Schenk
Husky Herald Reporter

  PHN Drama Club has done it again, finishing off their straight show spectacular “Heaven Can Wait” and “Death by Dessert” last weekend.

  This year’s production was special because it was the first time two shows had been combined into one special night for the audience. Jam-packed with witty jokes and delicious intermission sweets, this year’s show was one to remember.

   After preparing for the past several months, starting in the end of september, their hard work has finally paid off. “I don’t know how the drama people do it, some practices go until around 11 or 12pm” Brooke Lavelle (‘18) said.

   Renee Barr, the producer and director of the two shows is excited about student involvement and program “I am thrilled with student involvement, it’s been fantastic.” Barr said.  

 “There were many challenges we faced in timing, and logistics. We had to make it right.” Barr said. With two casts and two tech crews to train, there was a lot of work that went into making this a reality.

  First was “Heaven Can Wait” based in the 1930’s, a story about a 22 year old boxer who is mistakenly taken to heaven before premature death only to find that he was destined to live 60 more years. In needing a new body to return to the living world, he would later find himself amidst a murder that would change his life forever.

 During intermission, the audience had the option to briefly meet with the cast and crew and enjoy a variety of desserts with hot coffee and water. A wonderful addition to bring the audience into the action while building anticipation for the next show to come.

  Lastly, “Death by Dessert” is a quirky, humorous show based around a murder in which the audience is given a chance to guess “Who dunnit”  themselves. People with correct responses were entered into a drawing to win free tickets to the 2015 Spring Musical.

 “This year’s play was tons of fun” Haley Eisenhower (‘18) said, a light board coordinator. With two shows, the audience was on the edge of their seats the whole ride.

Scholarship Opportunities for High School Students

Feature
By Paige Rodgers
Husky Herald Reporter

  College is expensive; the average cost in Michigan for a student to go to college is $7,063 per year for in-state tuition and $16,131 for out-of-state tuition.

  Students are heavily encouraged to apply for scholarships that will lower the price of tuition. Scholarships help lessen the need for students to take out student loans that will hang over their heads for years to come. “Scholarships give you money to help pay for college,” Brady Esterline (‘16).  CeCe Sumter. Port Huron Northern’s college adviser, said, “Scholarships are grants of money that you don’t have to pay back. And they can be a lot of fun and it’s exciting to win one, it’s the coolest thing ever.”

  Port Huron Northern’s college adviser, CeCe Sumter,  is readily available for students if they need assistance or guidance when it come to scholarships and college in general. “Come see me! Me or your counsellor, but nine times out of ten, your counsellor will tell you to come see me,” Sumpter said.

  Scholarships are the grants or payments made to support a student’s education, awarded on the basis of academic, athletic, or other achievements. Students can apply to as many scholarships as they please, and scholarship amounts range anywhere from $50 to “full rides” that cover the cost of college completely.

  “Scholarships are beneficial because then I don’t have to spend all of my hard earned cash,” Madelyne Hubbard (‘16) said.

  There are plenty of websites available that offer scholarships regularly. “Unigo.com and university sitesare my two favorite sites for scholarships. I look at them all the time.” Sumter said.   

  Unigo.com is known for it’s creative and fun scholarships that are easy for students to apply to. For example, they offered the “zombie apocalypse” scholarship and the “if you were a ice cream flavor, what would you be and why?” scholarship, which provide essay topics relating to both fun subjects.

  A common myth about scholarships is that applications are all due by a certain date, but that is false. “Every month there are new scholarships. All year round. There is no scholarships season.” Sumter said.

  Scholarships are a very important part of the college application process. Students often spend hours searching for scholarships and applying for them in hopes that the expenses for such a pricy lifetime event would be partially covered.

The Ongoing Debate on School Uniforms

Opinion
By Lia Roberts
Husky Herald Reporter

  Having school uniforms has always been a controversial subject. Only twelve percent of schools, according to TODAY, are requiring students to have uniforms.

  We should  have school uniforms because it eliminates bullying, saves you more time in the morning, and schools do not have to worry about dress code.

  Bullying is never a good thing and we all know how we feel when we get bullied. Also we tend to judge people by their looks.

   Uniforms would defeat the purpose of judging others by their looks because everyone would look the same. Also bullying would be less an issue because how can you bully someone who is wearing the same thing as  you are?

  Mornings would be so much easier with uniforms. It would allow more time in the morning and there would not be no need to have to rush to find an outfit.

   Now students would have more time to do things they like in the morning. Also it allows them to have more time to shower, eat, and brush their teeth.

  Not only would it make easier on students but it would also make it easier on staff. It saves staff the worry of having to monitor what students wear.

  Students are always violating the dress code and trying to get away with it. So why not get uniforms and save the hassle of trying to find everyone that is doing wrong?

   “I don’t like school uniforms. The way we dress is a way of  expressing ourselves. Take that away and we all become the same. Uniforms suppress creativity and self expression,” Zachariah Muir (‘17) said.

  I disagree with Muir because there are many different ways to express themselves. There are sports, school activities, clubs, and other school things they can express their creativity and personality through.

  Also students should express themselves through actions not through the way they dress. Why should we teach students that the only way they would be liked is by the way they dress?

  In conclusion, school uniforms should be required at all schools. It eliminates bullying, saves you more time in the morning, and schools do not have to worry about dress code.

Skyward Causes Major Problems For Students and Teachers

Opinion
By Sara Jex
Husky Herald Reporter

  During the summer of 2015, Port Huron School District switched from the familiar Zangle Student Connect online gradebook to the brand-new Skyward: Student Access program. This change caused an uproar among discontent students and teachers alike, who had trouble making good use of the new format.

   In theory, the two programs work the same way. “The concept is the same, students can look up their grades,” said Mr. Wing, the Port Huron Northern librarian.

   Nonetheless, students and teachers are still frustrated with the switching of online gradebooks. “When teachers put in assignments without grading them, it gets marked as a ‘0’, so you never know what your actual grade is,” Mary Ratajczak-Smith (‘18) said.

  However, some differences between the two gradebooks make it easier to access grades than ever before, such as the Skyward app. “Students now can look at their standing within seconds, if they have a smart device,” Mr. Wing said.

  Despite this, the dissatisfaction with Skyward has reached the point that students have started petitions and voluntarily wrote essays and letters to the school district, asserting their distaste. One student who is well-known for her fight against the new program is Ariana Britz (‘17).

  “You can’t see your accumulative GPA, ranking of class, or credits,” Britz said. On Student Connect, all of these devices to make students aware of their standing in the school were available.

  In response to Britz’s concerns, Mr. Mossett, the Port Huron Northern principle, said, “The transcripts are not ready yet; they should be ready by the end of the semester.” Though Mr. Mossett is “withholding judgement,” on the new program, he agrees with Mr. Wing that the new app available to the students is an “improvement over anything before.”

  When asked why the school district chose Skyward over the old system, Mr. Wing said, “Student Connect phased out due to age -- it was twelve to thirteen years old, and so it no longer offered tech support.” Port Huron Northern High school was one of the final schools in the Port Huron School district to use Skyward, so by making the change, the whole district was unified.

  Change is difficult for large amounts of people, as it takes time to adjust to new methods of doing essentially the same thing. Over the next few years, teachers and students may be able to discover tools they can use on Skyward that will change their opinion on the program-change, but for now, Port Huron Northern faculty and students alike are still adjusting.