Wildcats in the Swing of Spring and Doing Big Things!

Would we say that we are in the swing of spring? More like fluctuating temperatures, pollen, "Is Noah showing up in his ark to take us to school today?" April showers do bring May flowers, but more accurately, they bring mid-April sinus infections.

It's all good. May is only a couple of weeks away. I can smell the Memorial Day cookout from here...or at least I could if it were not for the sinus infection.

Let's dig into what's making its way into headlines and conversations lately.

• Congratulations are in order for every administrator, educator, staff member, and student at Eastern Guilford HS. This week, we hosted a visit to welcome AdvancED, a team of professional educators who evaluate schools for accreditation purposes. Through interviews with a variety of Wildcat representatives, classroom observations, and a collection of artifacts, it has been determined that EGHS is an accredited institution of learning through June 30, 2020. This is concrete evidence that EGHS is comprised of talented individuals all working toward a common goal! Tell EVERYONE!!

• The Occupational Course of Study (OCS) students won 2nd place in the GCS Employability Duel this past Wednesday. Congratulations to these students, Ms. Wilkins, and our fantastic team of teachers who contribute so much to this program of super kids.

• One of our very own assistant principals, Mrs. Jamisa Williams, is showing exemplary leadership through a service learning project focused on literacy. The focal point of this project is to expand literacy in the community and model its importance to our future Wildcats at our feeder elementary schools. Ms. Jobe's Early Childhood Education classes are visiting McLeansville Elementary and Sedalia Elementary to read books to students. In conjunction with modeling literacy skills, a QR code has been developed for students to take home to their families. This QR code links to parent resources and interactive storybooks. Feel free to scan the code, which is posted by the article. This is such a rewarding experience to everyone who is a stakeholder in this wonderful service learning activity.    

• Have you received a compliment this week? Maybe someone passed you something you needed to hear, or maybe you picked out something for yourself. Throughout this quarter, expect to see some fun and interesting happenings around our school, as several students and teachers are conspiring to spread random acts of kindness throughout the building through exams. Each week will be a little different and every week will be exciting. Someone might pay for your lunch soon. You might find some treats in unexpected places. Someone may deliver you a message that you have been waiting for someone to say. If you get a compliment, choose a motivation for yourself, or participate or receive something in the movement, please take a picture and post it on Instagram with the hashtag #eghsrak . Who DOESN'T want to feel a little happier? :) Join the movement and I promise you will be changed, just as these two students on the right.

• The EGHS Travel Club, along with Ms. Canoy and Ms. Laws, enjoyed spring break in France and Italy. This was reported to be a fantastic experience. Please ask these students about this amazing opportunity: Lexi Bridges, Jermaine Martin, Tanner Cagle, Eve Trammell, Webay Jimenez, Matthew Ferris, Dorian Johnson, and Selena Zobro

• Our students have contributed over 17,000 service learning hours since August of this school year! This number is continuing to grow as spring service learning activities are recorded. We surpassed our goal for this school year, and we will be naming those seniors who will graduate with a service learning diploma very soon.

• Quayson Williams joins the SoCon as he signs to become a cadet for the prestigious Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. Quayson has earned a full scholarship to The Citadel as a member of the Citadel Bulldogs Men's Basketball team. What an accomplishment!!

• Jarius Morehead, who has been signed to play football for NC State in the fall, is very excited for the future, and he plans to share about the hard work and dedication it took to get him to his dream. You can see a video interview from EGHS sportswriter Tre McLean in our last edition. This week, we will be sharing a video about Jarius and what it takes to be successful on the field and in the classroom.

• If you are still debating on whether or not to go to prom next Saturday, let's make the decision easy: GO! :) We need to sell 50 more tickets, so stop by the prom ticket table during lunch to purchase your ticket for 40.00. You will NOT be disappointed

• The American Red Cross spring blood drive co-sponsored by Ms. Offhaus and the EGHS Student Council and Ms, Melvin's Nursing Fundamentals II students was integral in providing 47 units of blood to our community!

• Ask a senior how his or her senior project is coming along! It's starting to get a bit more intense as the paper, board, and speech are coming into fruition. Please encourage these students as they prepare for the final mile of a 13 year marathon!

• Congratulations to Mrs. Jamila Jones-Watts on the birth of her beautiful daughter. Ms. Jones-Watts had her on April 10. Everyone is just fine! :)

• Our Wildcat spring athletics are staying fiercely competitive! Please encourage our student athletes!

• The newest series created by The Wild Times of EGHS journalism students includes an in-depth focus on music. Be prepared to hear some throwbacks from the wayback, as well as receive introduction to some music sure to be in regular rotation. Many EGHS students are featured in this series, so scroll down to check it out!

• Please let Ms. Crider or lead editor Katia Landeros-Ruiz know of any newsworthy information in the Wildcat habitat as we run headlong towards the finish. Stay tuned for more releases and projects from our publication. Thank you so much for your readership. Please share our link far and wide on social media, email, etc. You have the appreciation of 16 student journalists and 1 very grateful newspaper adviser.

From the Adviser : Pushing the Wildcat Wake Up Call to #EGHSRAK

Pushing The Wildcat Wake Up Call to #EGHSRAK

     I might be the only teacher in the world who thinks this way, but I like to think my career allows me to have three other "New Year's Days".

     One of these occurs around the first week in August when I can't hold the calendar back anymore, the sunburn doesn't sting quite as much, and I smell new crayons in the stationery aisle at Target. This is THE year...year number...eleven? Maybe twelve now? Anyway, this is THE year where I am going to be what I call the PERFECT TEACHER.  I'll have matching, funky, and fun bulletin boards, super clean desks, a teacher's desk that would pass white-glove inspection, and I will have engaging lessons EVERY SINGLE DAY that would make even the most challenging student putty in my hands. Seriously. My classroom could be on Pinterest because it's just SO.PRETTY. Who can't learn in here? Then, around mid-September, I have learned 90 names in 25 days, with 10 parents to call, and about 19839203 papers to grade. There's also 14 more days until payday and a checking account that is getting close to single digits. Sigh. There's always next semester.

     The second one is around January. Exams are finished. Semester 1 is in the books. I've got new kids, new ideas, and a new energy. Kids are excited to see new people. For this "first day of school" they don't have that "summer sunscreen haze" on them and it takes less time for them to figure out life. Then #SNOWWWWMG occurs and we are out for two weeks. As a result, everyone's names escape me and we need to read pages 1-39849892 before March. Buckle up, kids.

    However, there's that third wind that comes around April. We're safely out of snowy weather territory, you hear the ping of the baseball bats from the field, and you realize for the first time since October, you left your jacket in your classroom and it's not that serious. The environment around you is a lovely clean rain, then a thunderstorm rain, then OMG..for the LOVE...STOP RAINING!! This is followed by "It's hot", but now "It's cold", followed by doing a double take on a student and saying "Honey, I know yesterday it was 85, but today it's 45, and I'm not entirely sure that's in dress code", and a thousand other in-between, one foot in and one foot out kind of situations. To me, this is the time of year where I roll my sleeves up, close the door at the tardy bell, open the door at the dismissal bell, and the word that comes to mind is "push". Push the kids to stay strong through the year. Push myself to stand before kids in April with the vision of the teacher I aimed to be in August. Push myself out of bed at the alarm and push myself into bed when the "go to bed" and "wake up" times get too close together. Push through the novel. Push through the pacing guide. Push through this lesson. Push to 3:55.

     Sometimes, in all of the pushing, we often push away what matters most...each other.

     Voices in the classroom get a little sharper than intended. Communication gets a little more punctuated. Patience for everyone gets a little closer to nonexistent. Then, it's Friday night/Saturday morning and while all day you would have loved a nap, as fate would have it, the one time you can finally hear your own voice inside your head, THAT voice is now the one that you wish you could silence with a stern, but "you know I still think you're awesome just stop talking when I'm talking" look.

     That was my wake up call.

     So I asked my students if they felt the same way. I asked if there was something about that March/April that brought the moody out in everyone, if the rain made everyone a little more in their feelings that day, or if I was the only one. It appears as though it we are a bunch of moody,
"somewhere else we'd rather be" individuals making it bell to bell.  We like each other. For the most part, we like what we're doing. However, we've just pushed away that energy and replaced it with "dig in...seven weeks...exams....doooo iitttttt." 

      It turns out that we can have our cake and eat it, too. We can push and dig and roll our sleeves up and make magic happen AND do it with a smile. This is where The Wildcat Wake Up Call was born.

      For the next seven weeks, many students and staff members will be participating in fun, themed weeks that engage each other, push each other through to the end, and encourage everyone around us that no one wakes up determined to fail. We fail because some obstacle gets in the way and it's hard to work around. Remove the obstacles and reinstate the success. Please join us in this wake up call that we have hashtagged #eghsrak. RAK = Random Acts of Kindness, which we can all use! Here's a taste of what's to come!

• Unlike the film Mean Girls, You CAN Sit With Us! One week will focus on inclusion in the cafeteria. Anyone wearing a You CAN Sit With Us sticker is considered "safe", willing to let go of the "assigned" seats, and open to making a new friend that week.
• Motivate Me begins this coming week. There will be a daily short video (between 1-2 minutes) from a different senior. This will be sent to teachers via email before school to show during 1st period attendance. Each one of the five seniors explains how focus, determination, and hard work matter in growing from a freshman to a senior. There will be EGHS trivia questions posted around the building and motivational tickets to hand out to anyone who needs a pep talk.
• Chalk Talk includes positive messages throughout the student parking lot, the bus lot as students walk in, and D-lot. Who wouldn't want to walk on a bit of sunshine into the building?
• We can't share all of our secrets. :) 

     The reality is that everyone has a battle, whether it's big or small. However, what trips us up is that we will call someone's battle small when it is a full out war to the other person. Let's push through for our H15TORY making SEN1OR5, our DEL16HTFUL juniors, our EL17E sophomores, and our freshmen who think that they are INVINC18LE. Mostly, because regardless of the class, the subject, or what side of the desk we are on, we're Wildcats. :)

     

Dance Recital and Chorus Caroling

I am happy to say that I finally am posting this article. Due to issues with the pictures loading I didn't get to post this at an earlier date, but here it is now. Enjoy!

On December 12, 2014 during school Mr. Leybourne’s 2nd, 4th and 5th periods all went around the school to show their holiday spirit. They sang classic carols such as Frosty the Snowman, Let it Snow, and even The 12 Days of Christmas. Everyone was not just excited to have a break during class, but also for the holidays!

Pictures from Caroling:

On December 11, 2014 and December 12, 2014, Ms. Greene's Honors Proficient/Advanced, Intermediate, and Beginning Dance Classes put on amazing performances! The night started out with a tribute to the Senior Dance students. After an emotion dedication, the dance classes put on Modern and Jazz pieces. One of my favorites was 'Animal', this piece was performed by Honors Proficient/Advanced Dance. This piece took  Maroon 5's hit song Animal and transformed it into a beautiful work of art. Another piece I liked was performed by the Beginning Dance class, it was entitled 'Emanation'. 'Emanation' was an interesting piece that was full of vibrant dance moves. Another piece I enjoyed was performed by Intermediate Dance, it was called 'Dance Machine'. 'Dance Machine'  was a fun upbeat number that featured exciting dance moves.

After the Modern and Jazz pieces, the Honors Proficient/Advanced class put on performances choreographed by Seniors. The Senior choreographers were Hannah Whitesell, Mickaela Smith, Tabitha Shaw, and Krista Wright. One of the Senior pieces was named 'I'm Moving On', this piece was choreographed by Hannah Whitesell. This piece was very emotional and very moving. Another Senior piece was named '56 Years', this piece was choreographed by Krista Wright. This piece was stunning, it was very exciting and was fun to watch! Another Senior piece was 'When You Can't Sleep at Night', this piece was choreographed by Tabitha Shaw. This piece was an interesting piece that featured props, I wish more included props because I enjoyed this one a lot. 

During the Senior pieces the dancers took a break to let Crystal Saunders, winner of the 2014 EGHS Talent Show, perform a cover of Safe and Sound by Tonight Alive! The song was performed with Tadeo Salinas on the guitar and Sandy Blocker on the drums.

Once the Senior pieces were done musicians Evoke Amouzou, Sandy Blocker, Atiba Rorie, and Will Ridenour came out on the drums to play for us and began West African. First went Beginning Dance with ‘Sunu’. Their dance was full of excitement and plenty of fun! Next went Intermediate Dance with ‘Danza’. Their dance was exhilarating and a pleasure to watch! Lastly Honors Proficient/Advanced Dance put on their West African dance entitled ‘Lamban’. After this piece was over we had a special mini performance with Ms. Greene leading. After West African ended the dancers pulled audience members on stage to join in the fun. The dance performance was extraordinary; I recommend you go to the next one at the end of next semester.

Senior Dedication:

Modern Pieces:

Senior Pieces:

West African:

Teacher Features and Keeping You "In the Know"

December is in full swing, and I don't know about you, but my bellringer Powerpoint has the following countdown going: 11 days until holiday break, 17 days until senior presentations, and 20 days until exams! What I love about our school is that regardless of how busy we all can be, we pull together to ensure that our students have everything that they need, and we do it with a smile!

On Monday, December 1st, the Friendly Center Barnes and Noble hosted a book sale that contributed to the purchase of books for Eastern's media center. Forty-three of Ms. Knight's senior honors English IV and AP English IV students made purchases both in the store and online to contribute to our fundraiser. Mr. Leybourne's chorus shared lovely holiday melodies to entertain the shoppers. Several of our own faculty members helped to gift wrap purchases. We appreciate our media specialist, Ms. Heather Williams, as she coordinated this event in our community.



From left to right: Ms. Knight, Ms. Bellamy, and Ms. Brown represent the English and EC departments as they cheerfully wrap purchases.

The Wildcat wrestling team will host their wrestling tournament here at EGHS on Saturday, December 6th. Come out to support your Wildcats as they take on a variety of squads throughout the area. The tournament runs from 8am to 5pm and refreshments will be sold.

Our Wildcat basketball teams will host their holiday classic tournament at EGHS December 27-30. We will be playing teams from all over the world (literally!), so come on out to see some excitement and to cheer on our teams. Refreshments will be sold at this event as well. Click here to see the brackets and times of tip-offs.

We are excited to share that several of our EGHS students, along with Ms. Miller, were featured in a television spotlight on Time Warner Cable Channel 14 News. This news segment shared our involvement in the annual Shoppers' Day at Four Seasons Town Centre. This day, sponsored by the Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities, provides the opportunity for volunteers and store proprietors to understand hardships that people with disabilities can have while out in a busy area, and this experience helps these people overcome them. EGHS student Justin Pannell states, "Last year, I conquered my fear of escalators!"  Joe Hinshaw says that experience is "awesome and neat". "They can do anything that anybody can do, they just need a little bit of help and prompting,” Ms. Miller said. “They can do anything if you just teach them." If you would like to watch the news segment and read the accompanying story, you can do so by clicking the link here.

Ms. Reid's Fashion Merchandising classes went on a field trip to Tanger Outlets this week. The purpose of this trip was for students to complete a scavenger hunt where the students find clothing and accessory items to correspond with the units covered in class. Pictures are forthcoming!

Several of Ms. Greene's dancers participated in the GCS Day of Dance at the Greensboro Cultural Arts Center on Friday, December 5th. The following a list of dancers who participated in this event:

• Callie Barefoot
• Alexus Brown
• Alicia Caban
• Kayla Coles
• N’Desnezsia Lancaster
• Ashanti Mays
• Brooke McNeil
• Taijah Moore
• Mabel (Allie) Morana
• Kateria Purcell
• Taylor Riggs
• Tanner Shoffner
• Sha’Sha Tarpley
• Taylor Ward
• Emily White
• Jordyn Williams
• Selena Zobro
• Sydney Courts
• Maya Davis
• Emily Hinton
• Ayndaja McGuire
• Tabitha Shaw
• Mickaela Smith
• Hannah Whitesell
• Krista Wright

Also, our EGHS dance department will perform on Thursday and Friday, December 11 and 12, at 7pm in the auditorium! Please come out and support our dancers!

Our EGHS music department is working hard to provide holiday entertainment to the public. Mr. Leybourne's chorus and guitar students will perform their concert on Tuesday, December 16th at 7pm. Mr. Bryant's drama students will perform "Christmas Town" on Wednesday, December 17 at 7pm, and the band students will provide their holiday entertainment concert on Thursday, December 18 at 7pm. All performances will take place in the EGHS auditorium. Bring your family and friends, enjoy our EGHS student musicians, and get into the holiday spirit!

As we near the end of the semester, please continue to encourage this semester's English IV students as they prepare the final preparations for their seniors projects. Ask how the final draft of the paper is coming along, or the photographs for their project boards. They are getting excited and antsy, but we are confident that they will do a great job!

Special belated shoutout to Ms. Mozeley, who was married on November 15th. Congratulations! :)

If any senior has filled out an application for the service learning diploma or exemplary award, the next Service Learning Club meeting will be after school on Thursday, December 18 in the media center. This meeting is mandatory, as important information will be relayed at this meeting. Please see Ms. Worlds if you have any questions.

Stay tuned to our holiday edition to be released prior to the break! :)








 



Hobbies at EGHS

Hobbies at Eastern Guilford

by Jesus Ruiz

 

There is a wide range of hobbies at Eastern Guilford high school from sports to movies to going to the mall with friends. Most people at Eastern do their hobby because it is fun and also because it relieves the stress  of the students from being at school all day.

The hobbies specifically are soccer to just hanging with friends as said by my good friend Brandon Ramirez. A lot of people like sports just because its fun and most people spend 61+$ a year on it. When I asked my good friend Arlette Carvaja  what her favorite hobby was, she said to do adventurous things . Also, when I asked why she liked her hobby she said life's too short to be boring. 8/10 people prefer to play a sport rather then go to the movies or to the mall. Those are just some of the hobbies at Eastern Guilford high school.

DJ De'Aundre's Bringin' the Fashion to You!

DJ De'Aundré's Top 5 (but with FASHION!)

DJ De'Aundré has taken a slightly different approach instead of bringing you hot songs to hit the air waves, I'm bringing you the top stores to buy the hottest clothes.

I asked students which of the following store they stop for their shoes and clothes.

Shoe stores:
I asked multiple students what store they buy their cool sneaks.

For Journey's, seven students said that they buy mostly Polos and Toms and also Jansport backpacks

For Footlocker, eight students said they shop their for their Jordans and KD's

For Footaction, two students said they shop their for their Adidas and you guessed it Jordans

For Shoe Dept., four students said they shop there for presents for their loved ones.

For clothes:
I asked students what are their favorite store to buy the latest style of clothes.

For JC Penny eight students say they shop here for awesome looking jeans from Levi to Arizona and shirts and I have seen these shirts they are fabulous and make the wearer look amazing.

For Dillards seven students said they shop here for formal wear mostly such as prom dresses being the most popular choice.

For Belk five students said they shop here for the same reason as JC Penny.

For H&M three students said they shop here because they have the coolest style for cheap prices.

I also interviewed three amazing girls who gave me an insight on what they like when it comes to fashion.



Sierra (left) Hannah (middle) Ra'Nijah (right)

     First up is Sierra. I asked Sierra what were her favorite brand of shoes? Sierra said "Uggs and Toms" By the way they make Uggs for guys as well in Journey's. I also asked her what celeb she think is the most fashionable and why? She said "Beyonce. Because she is gorgeous and inspiring." The final question I asked her was what was her favorite clothing store? She said "Forever 21. Because they have the latest style."

    Second, I interviewed Ra'Nijah. I asked Ra'Nijah the same question I asked Sierra. I asked Ra'Nijah what were her favorite brand of shoes? She said "Vans and Toms" I love vans I have like three pairs. I also asked her what celeb she think is the most fashionable? She said "Katy Perry. Because she is her own person." I agree with her completely because she doesn't always try to go with new styles she always buy outfits that fit her personality. I also asked her what was her clothing store? She said "Target. Because you can buy a lot of stuff and be fashionable and still have money left over."

Last, but most certainly not least, is Hannah. I asked Hannah what were her favorite brand of shoes? She said "Toms". I also asked her what celebrity she thought was the most fashionable? She said " Shaley Woodly (from Divergent). Because she is inspirational." I also asked her what was her favorite clothing store? She said "Rainbow. Because it's a cheaper version of Rue 21."

EGHS and Their Pets

EGHS and Their Pets!

 

 

             I love animals, especially monkeys. I've always wanted a pet monkey, and I love monkeys because when I was younger my mom used to call me a monkey because I used to climb trees and on top of things. Because I have a heart for animals, I went around the school and found people who had animals and ask them questions.

 

 

      

 

          I did a survey on three students about their pets

 

 

 

 Mrs. Jobe

 

What's your favorite animal?                                 Cats

Why is that your favorite animal?                          Loving and sweet

Would you consider that animal family?                Yes, all of our pets are friendly

 

 

 

Name: Laross Nickerson

 

What's your favorite animal?                                  Dogs

Why is that your favorite animal?                           Because they're entertaining

Would you consider that animal family?                 Because they're just like humans

         

 

 

 

Name: Taylor Smith

 

What's your favorite animal?                                Cats

Why is that your favorite animal?                         Because they are loving and playful

Would you consider that animal family?               Yes

 

 

 

 

I did a survey on what animal people liked most.

 

What are the most animal people like?

 

dogs-lllllll

cats-lllll

horses-llll

pigs-lll

tigers-lll

chickens-ll

monkeys-llll

It turns out that people like dogs the most!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 



What Video Games Do You Play?

Even Cats LOVE Video Games

What kind of video games do you like to play? Do you like exciting war games full of blood? What about a game where you get to start a career and fall in love? No matter the game, teens all have one thing in common…  They love video games! Video games are one pass time everyone enjoys. Whether you’re playing the latest Pokémon game, Modern Warfare III, or Minecraft; video games are loved by everyone!




At our high school I surveyed what student’s favorite types of video game were. The results were as followed: fifteen said Action, six said Sci-Fi/Fantasy, two Reality, eight said Adventure, eleven said Horror, and seven said Fighting/Competition. Clearly our school favors action games like Halo and Grand Theft Auto. On the other hand they dislike games like Harvest Moon and The Sims.

I also did another survey asking would you rather play video games by yourself or with friends/family. Five people said they would play by themselves and twenty one said with their friends. Finally I surveyed asking if you would rather play a classic or new video game. Thirteen people said that they would rather play a classic game rather than a new one, and fifteen said they’d rather play a new one. Our school likes to play games that our fresh off the shelf with friends.

Friends Play Games at Lunch

I interviewed three people about what they like about video games. I asked De’Sean Lott what kind of video games he liked, his response,” I like games with a lot of action, the bloodier the better.” I also asked him whether he liked a game with a short and sweet storyline or a long drawn out one, his response, “I would rather play a game that has a long storyline because it adds character development.” The last question I asked was wondering what his favorite game was, his answer, “Super Mario 64, because it’s a classic and I love the story.” De’Sean clearly likes a game with a lot of action!

I also interviewed Josh Acosta. I asked what kind of games he liked, his answer, “I like any games, just as long as it isn’t a racing game.” I asked him whether he liked a game with a short storyline or a long drawn out one, his response, “I prefer a game that has a long storyline because the game becomes boring if it is very short.” Finally I asked Josh what is favorite game is, his response, “Skyrim, because it is so much fun and full of action!” Give Josh a game and he’ll love it, just as long as it isn’t racing.

Quoia Nichols

My final interviewee was Quoia Nichols. I asked her what her favorite type of games was, she responded, “Fighting, because it is fun to beat up people.” I also asked her if she liked to play games with a long or short storyline, her answer, “It depends on the game, if it is a game where the focus is playing with others you don’t need a long storyline.” I also asked Quoia if what her favorite game was, her response, “Tekken, because it fun to fight other people.” Quoia loves to play any game that has fighting.



Our school has a thing for video games. If there is action or adventure, they will love it. I think our school loves to get together and play games together because video games are something you can do with all your friends, and no one will complain.



Some Popular Game Consoles