Junior Year
Natives discuss tourism, attractions in Asheville
6/2/16
At just over 45 square miles, Asheville geographically takes up less than a tenth of a percent of the state of North Carolina. The numbers may seem small, but Asheville’s reputation has recently drawn a lot of attention: Asheville was named the Top Small City in North Carolina by “Cities Journal” in January.
CarolBeth McBride, an English teacher at TC Roberson, is an Asheville native and has lived in the area for her entire life. Her father, Charles Koontz, has also lived his whole life in Western North Carolina, along with the entire Koontz family.
“When I was growing up, my dad always took us on hikes. We had traditions doing things like going up to Mt. Pisgah on the Fourth of July. It was always about these mountains. He grew up in the mountains too, so I feel like staying here is a legacy for me,” McBride said.
McBride agrees that it’s no secret that Asheville has grown into a frequently visited tourist destination over the past few decades. The city’s location, landscape, historic interests , and atmosphere are have progressed in popularity to where Asheville is now unique to Western North Carolina. As a result, the city attracts visitors year-round.
According to American History teacher Robert Browning, the pull of Asheville’s mountain environment is nothing new. He explained that the city has served as a haven for visitors since the railroad was constructed in the 1880s.
“The railroad completely changed what the Asheville economy would be based on. People wanted to go to the mountains in the South, and from that point on, really and truly, tourism is what has generated our city,” Browning said.
Browning also pointed out that Western North Carolina was seen as a location for people with illnesses to come and recover in the early 20th Century because of the “clean mountain air.” The area’s healing qualities, paired with the creation of a more convenient transportation system, sparked a trend of increased visitors.
“Apparently, one of my great-grandparents suffered from Tuberculosis and moved to Montford because folks back then glorified the area’s clean air. The idea was that Asheville was the place to be because the environment was healthy,” Browning said.
Almost 100 years later, tourism is still an integral part of Asheville’s economy. A 2015 survey by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority proved that tourism in the past decade was higher than ever before, and the city’s economy relies on it: Asheville currently has 25,000, or 1 in 7 jobs, supported by visitor spending. The unemployment rate in Buncombe County would possibly be as high as 15.9 percent without tourism attractions and destinations. And in just the past year, seven new hotels have been scheduled for construction, three of which are already complete.
Junior Maddy Krueger and her sister sophomore Abby Krueger are familiar with popular tourist destinations in Asheville such as Dupont forest and the Parkway. Their family hosted exchange students from Denmark this year, and showed their visitors many popular outdoor places.
“We took our exchange students up the parkway, and we also went on a hike in Dupont Forest. The parkway and the waterfalls in Dupont are a big part of our tourism and are both really pretty parts of Asheville. Plus, the day was beautiful and we just wanted to show them the mountains,” Krueger said.
The Kruegers’ Danish students visited places which Asheville’s official website calls “iconic.” The website, ExploreAsheville.com, also has more information on frequently visited iconic outdoor spots and activities for those new to the city, and for natives who want to get outside. Their most popular are the North Carolina Arboretum, Navitat Canopy Adventures, Sliding Rock, French Broad rafting and kayaking, along with many state parks, national forests, and surrounding peaks.
Obviously, Asheville’s geographical location is a prominent factor which contributes to tourism. Each forest, park, and peak wouldn’t exist without the area’s Temperate Deciduous ecosystem, a climate which results in each season being separate and distinct. The forests of the Blue Ridge mountains are also some of the most coveted for visitors. According to National Geographic, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most popular park in the entire nation in the past year: a record-breaking 307.2 million tourists visited the Smokies in 2015.
The area’s outdoor attractions are not only scenic, but historical as well. In 1926, a bill was signed by President Calvin Coolidge that provided for the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park, the first parks for which land had to be purchased for. Fourteen years and 150,000 acres later, President Theodore Roosevelt officially dedicated the Smokies to the enjoyment of “all the people of the country and the rest of the world”.
Asheville’s historic background doesn’t end with the national parks and the railroad. The city’s older locations such as the Biltmore Estate and grounds, the Omni Grove Park Inn, and the Thomas Wolfe House are a few of the most prominent historical places Asheville has to offer.
Browning feels that Asheville is unique to Western North Carolina and agrees that there is “no place like home.”
“Asheville is diverse city and an outdoor mecca for hiking, fly fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, you name it. In the southeast, There aren’t many places that are better,” he said.
At just over 45 square miles, Asheville geographically takes up less than a tenth of a percent of the state of North Carolina. The numbers may seem small, but Asheville’s reputation has recently drawn a lot of attention: Asheville was named the Top Small City in North Carolina by “Cities Journal” in January.
CarolBeth McBride, an English teacher at TC Roberson, is an Asheville native and has lived in the area for her entire life. Her father, Charles Koontz, has also lived his whole life in Western North Carolina, along with the entire Koontz family.
“When I was growing up, my dad always took us on hikes. We had traditions doing things like going up to Mt. Pisgah on the Fourth of July. It was always about these mountains. He grew up in the mountains too, so I feel like staying here is a legacy for me,” McBride said.
McBride agrees that it’s no secret that Asheville has grown into a frequently visited tourist destination over the past few decades. The city’s location, landscape, historic interests , and atmosphere are have progressed in popularity to where Asheville is now unique to Western North Carolina. As a result, the city attracts visitors year-round.
According to American History teacher Robert Browning, the pull of Asheville’s mountain environment is nothing new. He explained that the city has served as a haven for visitors since the railroad was constructed in the 1880s.
“The railroad completely changed what the Asheville economy would be based on. People wanted to go to the mountains in the South, and from that point on, really and truly, tourism is what has generated our city,” Browning said.
Browning also pointed out that Western North Carolina was seen as a location for people with illnesses to come and recover in the early 20th Century because of the “clean mountain air.” The area’s healing qualities, paired with the creation of a more convenient transportation system, sparked a trend of increased visitors.
“Apparently, one of my great-grandparents suffered from Tuberculosis and moved to Montford because folks back then glorified the area’s clean air. The idea was that Asheville was the place to be because the environment was healthy,” Browning said.
Almost 100 years later, tourism is still an integral part of Asheville’s economy. A 2015 survey by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority proved that tourism in the past decade was higher than ever before, and the city’s economy relies on it: Asheville currently has 25,000, or 1 in 7 jobs, supported by visitor spending. The unemployment rate in Buncombe County would possibly be as high as 15.9 percent without tourism attractions and destinations. And in just the past year, seven new hotels have been scheduled for construction, three of which are already complete.
Junior Maddy Krueger and her sister sophomore Abby Krueger are familiar with popular tourist destinations in Asheville such as Dupont forest and the Parkway. Their family hosted exchange students from Denmark this year, and showed their visitors many popular outdoor places.
“We took our exchange students up the parkway, and we also went on a hike in Dupont Forest. The parkway and the waterfalls in Dupont are a big part of our tourism and are both really pretty parts of Asheville. Plus, the day was beautiful and we just wanted to show them the mountains,” Krueger said.
The Kruegers’ Danish students visited places which Asheville’s official website calls “iconic.” The website, ExploreAsheville.com, also has more information on frequently visited iconic outdoor spots and activities for those new to the city, and for natives who want to get outside. Their most popular are the North Carolina Arboretum, Navitat Canopy Adventures, Sliding Rock, French Broad rafting and kayaking, along with many state parks, national forests, and surrounding peaks.
Obviously, Asheville’s geographical location is a prominent factor which contributes to tourism. Each forest, park, and peak wouldn’t exist without the area’s Temperate Deciduous ecosystem, a climate which results in each season being separate and distinct. The forests of the Blue Ridge mountains are also some of the most coveted for visitors. According to National Geographic, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the most popular park in the entire nation in the past year: a record-breaking 307.2 million tourists visited the Smokies in 2015.
The area’s outdoor attractions are not only scenic, but historical as well. In 1926, a bill was signed by President Calvin Coolidge that provided for the establishment of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Shenandoah National Park, the first parks for which land had to be purchased for. Fourteen years and 150,000 acres later, President Theodore Roosevelt officially dedicated the Smokies to the enjoyment of “all the people of the country and the rest of the world”.
Asheville’s historic background doesn’t end with the national parks and the railroad. The city’s older locations such as the Biltmore Estate and grounds, the Omni Grove Park Inn, and the Thomas Wolfe House are a few of the most prominent historical places Asheville has to offer.
Browning feels that Asheville is unique to Western North Carolina and agrees that there is “no place like home.”
“Asheville is diverse city and an outdoor mecca for hiking, fly fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing, you name it. In the southeast, There aren’t many places that are better,” he said.
Mission Possible Internships
6/2/16
Anyone hoping to spend time this summer with sophomore Payton Murray may be out of luck. Murray was one of the five Roberson students who were recently chosen to be student interns at Mission Hospital for the Mission Possible program.
Murray, who plans to enter health care in the future as a neonatal nurse, is looking forward to spending time at Mission.
"I’m excited to experience what it would be like to work at a hospital and to see all the different wings. I think it’s going to be fun and educational, considering what I want to do in the future,” Murray said.
Mission received over 150 applications this year from students hoping to become involved with Mission Possible. Out of the 150, around 30 applicants were students from Roberson. Out of those 30, only six students from TC were picked to be interns this year. They were notified of their acceptance at the end of April.
Juniors Leila Yow, Sarah Sheldon, and Dallas Clemmens, along with sophomores Ethan Ide, Lukas Wherli, and Payton Murray were the fortunate students who will be working at the hospital for the 2016 summer.
Rising juniors and seniors from all schools in BuncombeCounty and Asheville City can apply for Mission Possible annually. As paid interns, the students explore Health Care professions by learning through participatory activities during a two and a half week session in July. At the end of their session, each student will be required to put together a presentation of their experiences upon graduation from the program.
Junior Peyton Johnson worked as an intern for the Mission Possible program last summer and considers it to be one of the best things she did over break.
“Some days were activity days where we would get to see the different parts of the hospital and learn from different doctors. Other days, we did team building exercises where we worked to get closer as a team. My favorite day was when the nurses brought out real lungs and hooked them up to breathing machines for us to be able to see how they functioned,” Johnson said.
For those who grow nauseous around dislocated organs or are more interested in community service, Mission also has volunteer opportunities available almost all summer. Students ages 14-18 can be involved at Mission on a more contributive level. Unlike an internship, volunteering gives students the chance to help out hospital staff and patients in all different departments.
Sophomore Sarah Lewis is among those spending time at Mission over break. Lewis signed up with the hospital’s junior volunteer program, and will volunteer for 7 weeks, 2 days a week, over the summer.
“[As volunteers,] we will mainly be helping out wherever needed. Occasionally, staff will visit us and share with us what they do on a daily basis, and we might be doing things like hanging out with kids with cancer. Mission even has a knitting club, and this year I think we will help knit hats for the homeless,” Lewis said.
Volunteer service and paid internships can both be equally beneficial kinds of career development activities for students. And as Mission Hospital grows as a center for high schoolers to learn about health care in Asheville, the programs Mission has made available to students are also growing into solutions to exploring the realm of career possibilities.
Junior and future intern Leila Yow is planning to use her summer as a time to get ahead through Mission Possible.
“I did this because I want to have a job in the medical field, and because I think Mission possible will be really beneficial to my future; it helps people know exactly what health care jobs are out there and gives kids exposure to what it would be like to work in that kind of environment. They don’t expect us to know anything, and I don’t exactly know what to expect, but I do know It will be exciting,” Yow said.
Anyone hoping to spend time this summer with sophomore Payton Murray may be out of luck. Murray was one of the five Roberson students who were recently chosen to be student interns at Mission Hospital for the Mission Possible program.
Murray, who plans to enter health care in the future as a neonatal nurse, is looking forward to spending time at Mission.
"I’m excited to experience what it would be like to work at a hospital and to see all the different wings. I think it’s going to be fun and educational, considering what I want to do in the future,” Murray said.
Mission received over 150 applications this year from students hoping to become involved with Mission Possible. Out of the 150, around 30 applicants were students from Roberson. Out of those 30, only six students from TC were picked to be interns this year. They were notified of their acceptance at the end of April.
Juniors Leila Yow, Sarah Sheldon, and Dallas Clemmens, along with sophomores Ethan Ide, Lukas Wherli, and Payton Murray were the fortunate students who will be working at the hospital for the 2016 summer.
Rising juniors and seniors from all schools in BuncombeCounty and Asheville City can apply for Mission Possible annually. As paid interns, the students explore Health Care professions by learning through participatory activities during a two and a half week session in July. At the end of their session, each student will be required to put together a presentation of their experiences upon graduation from the program.
Junior Peyton Johnson worked as an intern for the Mission Possible program last summer and considers it to be one of the best things she did over break.
“Some days were activity days where we would get to see the different parts of the hospital and learn from different doctors. Other days, we did team building exercises where we worked to get closer as a team. My favorite day was when the nurses brought out real lungs and hooked them up to breathing machines for us to be able to see how they functioned,” Johnson said.
For those who grow nauseous around dislocated organs or are more interested in community service, Mission also has volunteer opportunities available almost all summer. Students ages 14-18 can be involved at Mission on a more contributive level. Unlike an internship, volunteering gives students the chance to help out hospital staff and patients in all different departments.
Sophomore Sarah Lewis is among those spending time at Mission over break. Lewis signed up with the hospital’s junior volunteer program, and will volunteer for 7 weeks, 2 days a week, over the summer.
“[As volunteers,] we will mainly be helping out wherever needed. Occasionally, staff will visit us and share with us what they do on a daily basis, and we might be doing things like hanging out with kids with cancer. Mission even has a knitting club, and this year I think we will help knit hats for the homeless,” Lewis said.
Volunteer service and paid internships can both be equally beneficial kinds of career development activities for students. And as Mission Hospital grows as a center for high schoolers to learn about health care in Asheville, the programs Mission has made available to students are also growing into solutions to exploring the realm of career possibilities.
Junior and future intern Leila Yow is planning to use her summer as a time to get ahead through Mission Possible.
“I did this because I want to have a job in the medical field, and because I think Mission possible will be really beneficial to my future; it helps people know exactly what health care jobs are out there and gives kids exposure to what it would be like to work in that kind of environment. They don’t expect us to know anything, and I don’t exactly know what to expect, but I do know It will be exciting,” Yow said.
Dixon, Wilchers, retire, leaving legacies for peers
6/2/16
Three faculty members will be officially retiring as the 2015-2016 school year comes to a close. Math teacher Pamela Dixon, soccer coach and history teacher Robert Wilcher, and science teacher Andrea Wilcher will all get to sleep in a little longer next fall, if they want.
Dixon, who has been teaching math for 30 years wishes to be remembered by students as an individual who made a difference.
“I hope I leave behind a sense that I always tried to do my best for my students, whether it was teaching them some math, or helping them through a hard time,” Dixon said.
Rob Wilcher, who has also been teaching for 30 years, and 21 years at Roberson, agrees. He hopes his students learned a little and enjoyed class, and that his players have memories of soccer that will last a lifetime.
As for Andrea Wilcher, teaching science at TC Roberson was her 5th teaching job since 1986, and Roberson was also one of the most memorable schools she has worked with.
“I have made so many lifelong friends here at TCR. Many students have been so special to me as well,” she said.
Although these three teachers are a small fraction of the total staff at Roberson, the number of teachers who are retiring in 2016 county-wide is slightly larger than past years. The increased number of retirees this year could possibly raise concern towards a teacher shortage in upcoming years, a common problem for schools all across the country.
The “teacher deficit” is a situation that has recently caused some concern in school systems across the country. The number of teachers graduating from college and entering the teaching profession has been substantially less than the number of educators choosing to retire. According to National Public Radio, North Carolina teacher enrollment in teacher training programs in North Carolina has decreased by 20 percent in the last three years. States such as California, New York, and Texas have also experienced decreases as steep as 53 percent.
However, recent labor statistics may show a different outlook. The 2012 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey estimated a 17 percent national increase in teacher employment from 2010 to 2020, citing higher enrollment and decline in student-teacher ratios.
Either way, according to Principal Amy Rhoney, Roberson is a school that likely will not see any real chance of positions not being filled.
“Because of our school’s reputation, folks desire to be a part of Roberson and we have not had problems filling positions while I have been here. In fact, some positions are already filled for next year, and our goal is to have them set in time for summer,” Rhoney said
Rhoney acknowledges the devotion, dedication, and time put in by each of the three teachers leaving TC, and she said she wanted to thank Dixon and the Wilchers for their service on behalf of the school.
“We are going to miss them greatly. Between our three retirees this year, we have about 90 years of experience walking out the door. That’s a lot of good experience that we will miss. We hate to see them go, but we are very happy for them at the same time,” she said.
Three faculty members will be officially retiring as the 2015-2016 school year comes to a close. Math teacher Pamela Dixon, soccer coach and history teacher Robert Wilcher, and science teacher Andrea Wilcher will all get to sleep in a little longer next fall, if they want.
Dixon, who has been teaching math for 30 years wishes to be remembered by students as an individual who made a difference.
“I hope I leave behind a sense that I always tried to do my best for my students, whether it was teaching them some math, or helping them through a hard time,” Dixon said.
Rob Wilcher, who has also been teaching for 30 years, and 21 years at Roberson, agrees. He hopes his students learned a little and enjoyed class, and that his players have memories of soccer that will last a lifetime.
As for Andrea Wilcher, teaching science at TC Roberson was her 5th teaching job since 1986, and Roberson was also one of the most memorable schools she has worked with.
“I have made so many lifelong friends here at TCR. Many students have been so special to me as well,” she said.
Although these three teachers are a small fraction of the total staff at Roberson, the number of teachers who are retiring in 2016 county-wide is slightly larger than past years. The increased number of retirees this year could possibly raise concern towards a teacher shortage in upcoming years, a common problem for schools all across the country.
The “teacher deficit” is a situation that has recently caused some concern in school systems across the country. The number of teachers graduating from college and entering the teaching profession has been substantially less than the number of educators choosing to retire. According to National Public Radio, North Carolina teacher enrollment in teacher training programs in North Carolina has decreased by 20 percent in the last three years. States such as California, New York, and Texas have also experienced decreases as steep as 53 percent.
However, recent labor statistics may show a different outlook. The 2012 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey estimated a 17 percent national increase in teacher employment from 2010 to 2020, citing higher enrollment and decline in student-teacher ratios.
Either way, according to Principal Amy Rhoney, Roberson is a school that likely will not see any real chance of positions not being filled.
“Because of our school’s reputation, folks desire to be a part of Roberson and we have not had problems filling positions while I have been here. In fact, some positions are already filled for next year, and our goal is to have them set in time for summer,” Rhoney said
Rhoney acknowledges the devotion, dedication, and time put in by each of the three teachers leaving TC, and she said she wanted to thank Dixon and the Wilchers for their service on behalf of the school.
“We are going to miss them greatly. Between our three retirees this year, we have about 90 years of experience walking out the door. That’s a lot of good experience that we will miss. We hate to see them go, but we are very happy for them at the same time,” she said.
Roberson student community involvement
4/4/16
With the 2016 school year nearing its final quarter, Roberson seniors are receiving news from colleges and arranging the next four years of their education. Many students are planning on attending in-state universities. As of March, four Roberson seniors have committed to UNC Asheville and are among those who plan to have their college experience a little closer to home.
UNC Asheville was recently ranked the top college for students want to change the world by Business insider. The university was named a standout school in community engagement, student leadership, and sustainability efforts.
Senior Victoria Robb is planning to attend UNCA next fall and is currently involved in TC’s National Honors Society. Robb contributes to the community by volunteering her time at science and art summer camps.
“When I applied to UNCA, I had heard that they were pretty active in volunteering. I think that involving myself in the community and it would be really good, especially freshman year of college,” Robb said.
Like UNCA, TC Roberson is home to many groups who actively volunteer to improve Asheville through community service. National Honor Society is a student led organization is based on scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Students involved are required to complete at least 30 hours of community service and volunteer work.
Foods teacher Jill Sizemore took over NHS for the 2015 school year as co- supervisor with Civics and Economics teacher Bill Lowe. This is the first year both Sizemore and Lowe have been in charge of NHS.
“This year there have been a few bumps on the road from having new advisors, but still, students in the whole are doing really great things. Their involvement really helps our school have a positive light in the community,” Sizemore said.
Senior Samantha Scott is one of the eight members of National Honor Society’s executive board. The senior officers are responsible for carrying out meetings and discussing upcoming volunteer opportunities for members.
“I decided to take a leadership position because when I was helping out with service the summer before my junior year, I realized how much of a difference helping others was making. I just wanted to become more involved and try to get other students at the school excited about volunteering,” Scott said.
The board’s current focus is getting their biggest event of the year, the Wesley Farnam 5k organized. Named for a former TC NHS officer, the race has been an annual event for 9 years and is set for June. The 5k will raise money for Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that Farnam suffered from. All NHS members will be participating
Senior Jenny Boase is one of the board members who are working together to expand the 5k’s participation and size for 2016.
“We are working on getting the course out of TC, so we’re talking to the homeowners association of Biltmore Park and seeing if we can get it to be something bigger this year. We have talked to people at Footrx for timing, and we have the dates finalized too. Basically we’re just looking for more participation and trying to get the course more spread out too,” Boase said.
Charlotte Wirtz is one of the many juniors involved in Roberson’s NHS program. However, the majority of the volunteer work Wirtz does is not for the purpose of writing hours on a list. Charlotte is a Wyldlife leader for Valley Spring's girls. Wyldlife is part of Younglife, a non-denominational Christian ministry. As a leader, Charlotte helps lead clubs and bible studies and devotionals for middle schoolers in Buncombe County.
“Every other Saturday we put on club, where we have a ton of games and fun things for Wyldlife kids to do. We really just want kids to have fun, and I have probably more fun than they do by far,” Wirtz said.
Not only does community service help others, it can also be beneficial to the individual mental and physical well being. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, volunteering one’s time can increase happiness: their research from 2010 shows that the majority of their population experienced a positive feeling generated from volunteering for others, also referred to as “helper’s high, “ similar to Charlotte’s experiences with Wyldlife.
Community service can also contribute to social benefits, like increased trust in others and add to the individual’s sense of purpose. Findings also indicated that volunteers who devoted a “considerable” amount of time to volunteer activities (about 100 hours per year) were likely to exhibit positive health outcomes, such as decreased depression, and even longer life.
According to Board Member Boase, citizen involvement is the key to a well working community.
“It’s important to volunteer in your community so it works well together, so everyone is cared for and so nobody gets to fall behind. If everyone pitches in a little bit to help someone else with something they can’t do then, then it’s going to work out well for everybody,” Boase said.
With the 2016 school year nearing its final quarter, Roberson seniors are receiving news from colleges and arranging the next four years of their education. Many students are planning on attending in-state universities. As of March, four Roberson seniors have committed to UNC Asheville and are among those who plan to have their college experience a little closer to home.
UNC Asheville was recently ranked the top college for students want to change the world by Business insider. The university was named a standout school in community engagement, student leadership, and sustainability efforts.
Senior Victoria Robb is planning to attend UNCA next fall and is currently involved in TC’s National Honors Society. Robb contributes to the community by volunteering her time at science and art summer camps.
“When I applied to UNCA, I had heard that they were pretty active in volunteering. I think that involving myself in the community and it would be really good, especially freshman year of college,” Robb said.
Like UNCA, TC Roberson is home to many groups who actively volunteer to improve Asheville through community service. National Honor Society is a student led organization is based on scholarship, leadership, service, and character. Students involved are required to complete at least 30 hours of community service and volunteer work.
Foods teacher Jill Sizemore took over NHS for the 2015 school year as co- supervisor with Civics and Economics teacher Bill Lowe. This is the first year both Sizemore and Lowe have been in charge of NHS.
“This year there have been a few bumps on the road from having new advisors, but still, students in the whole are doing really great things. Their involvement really helps our school have a positive light in the community,” Sizemore said.
Senior Samantha Scott is one of the eight members of National Honor Society’s executive board. The senior officers are responsible for carrying out meetings and discussing upcoming volunteer opportunities for members.
“I decided to take a leadership position because when I was helping out with service the summer before my junior year, I realized how much of a difference helping others was making. I just wanted to become more involved and try to get other students at the school excited about volunteering,” Scott said.
The board’s current focus is getting their biggest event of the year, the Wesley Farnam 5k organized. Named for a former TC NHS officer, the race has been an annual event for 9 years and is set for June. The 5k will raise money for Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that Farnam suffered from. All NHS members will be participating
Senior Jenny Boase is one of the board members who are working together to expand the 5k’s participation and size for 2016.
“We are working on getting the course out of TC, so we’re talking to the homeowners association of Biltmore Park and seeing if we can get it to be something bigger this year. We have talked to people at Footrx for timing, and we have the dates finalized too. Basically we’re just looking for more participation and trying to get the course more spread out too,” Boase said.
Charlotte Wirtz is one of the many juniors involved in Roberson’s NHS program. However, the majority of the volunteer work Wirtz does is not for the purpose of writing hours on a list. Charlotte is a Wyldlife leader for Valley Spring's girls. Wyldlife is part of Younglife, a non-denominational Christian ministry. As a leader, Charlotte helps lead clubs and bible studies and devotionals for middle schoolers in Buncombe County.
“Every other Saturday we put on club, where we have a ton of games and fun things for Wyldlife kids to do. We really just want kids to have fun, and I have probably more fun than they do by far,” Wirtz said.
Not only does community service help others, it can also be beneficial to the individual mental and physical well being. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, volunteering one’s time can increase happiness: their research from 2010 shows that the majority of their population experienced a positive feeling generated from volunteering for others, also referred to as “helper’s high, “ similar to Charlotte’s experiences with Wyldlife.
Community service can also contribute to social benefits, like increased trust in others and add to the individual’s sense of purpose. Findings also indicated that volunteers who devoted a “considerable” amount of time to volunteer activities (about 100 hours per year) were likely to exhibit positive health outcomes, such as decreased depression, and even longer life.
According to Board Member Boase, citizen involvement is the key to a well working community.
“It’s important to volunteer in your community so it works well together, so everyone is cared for and so nobody gets to fall behind. If everyone pitches in a little bit to help someone else with something they can’t do then, then it’s going to work out well for everybody,” Boase said.
Multiple changes come for larger track team
4/10/16
Distance track coach Dave Culp has always had multiple mottos to motivate his athletes. Standing on the TC track before a Wednesday spring practice, he recited one of his favorite sayings by memory.
“I always like to have big dreams. For example, it’s better to aim for the stars and miss than to aim for the gutter and hit it,” Culp said.
Culp had been involved in track for over 15 years as girls’ distance coach before retiring after the fall cross country season. But for the 2016 spring season, Culp decided to return as an assistant track coach for both boys’ and girls’ distance runners.
This is the first season Culp has coached a boys’ team. And with nearly 30 distance girls and about 20 boys, Culp is in charge of a combined 50 athletes this spring season.
“In the past, I have just focused on the girls and that has been a little easier. This year, I have found that boys do need to be coached differently; but logistically, the designs of their workouts are similar. So doing both boys and girls distance has been a little bit of an adjustment for me, but I’m getting used to it,” Culp said.
As of second semester, head girls’ track coach Andy Morgan moved from Roberson and is currently head track coach and head football coach at Mcdowell High School. Andrew Devine also stepped down from TC’s track program this season after seven years of being boy’s head coach; however, he has contributed to the program this season by helping with meets.
Like Culp, Racheal Petre and Artis Gilmore took new track positions for the 2016 season as girls’ and boys’ head coaches, respectively. Petre has been involved in TC track as jumping coach for three years, and Gilmore has specialized in sprinters and shorter distance for both boys and girls. Taking over as head coaches this spring were welcomed changes for both of them.
“Coach Gilmore and I both are pumped to be head coaches this year. We’ve been part of this track program, so it’s not anything new to us. They’ve been our family here. I was really lucky that I got to learn under coach Morgan. He’s phenomenal, so you can’t really ask for a better mentor or head coach to learn from,” Petre said.
Along with the shift in coaches, a very large number of athletes came out for the spring track and field season compared to numbers of previous years. Runners and field athletes combined total of 85 girls and 60 boys to be around 145 students, which is considerably large for a track and field team.
Having such a large team is a challenge logistically, but Petre and Gilmore are handling the large number of athletes this season considerably well.
“If anyone knows me, they’ll laugh and tell you that Mrs. Petre is super OCD and beyond organized, and I think that definitely helps out. We like to call it organized chaos out on the field, but really, we break athletes down to their subgroups, and we’ve got everything covered,” Petre says.
Distance runner Elise Wright is a sophomore who has moved to TC from Veritas as of second semester. Wright is one of the many new competitors this season and has already proved herself to be a top distance athlete.
“I feel like track here at TC is a small army. All of the people out there, when the sprinters and the throwers and the distance runners are trying to use the track. It’s really chaotic, but it’s still fun. We also have a lot of good athletes, and the coaches are really great. It looks very promising,” Wright says.
Nicole Broeffle is also an athlete who is new to Roberson’s track program this season. Broeffle decided to join track this spring as a senior and competes in mid-distance events.
“Now that I’m a senior, I decided I wanted to have fun with TC while I’m here and stay around as much as possible. I’m enjoying track a lot so far, and I’ve already improved quite a bit. It’s a lot different from what I expected, but I’m super glad I joined,” she said.
Because of the large number of athletes this season, multiple assistant coaches have become more involved with TC’s track program this year to aid Petre, Gilmore, and Culp, and to provide athletes with additional leadership. Scott Mead has joined and is helping with throwers and assistant Amberly Dalton is now in charge of hurdlers.
Regardless of the differences in the staff and size of Roberson’s team this year, the athletes in the program are just as competitive as previous years. According to coaches Culp and Petre, multiple relay teams and individuals have a good chance of qualifying for state and breaking school records.
“We have a strong tradition here at TC and that’s not going to change, and neither are our expectations just because of the changes head coaches. I have high hopes for our team this year,” Petre said.
Distance track coach Dave Culp has always had multiple mottos to motivate his athletes. Standing on the TC track before a Wednesday spring practice, he recited one of his favorite sayings by memory.
“I always like to have big dreams. For example, it’s better to aim for the stars and miss than to aim for the gutter and hit it,” Culp said.
Culp had been involved in track for over 15 years as girls’ distance coach before retiring after the fall cross country season. But for the 2016 spring season, Culp decided to return as an assistant track coach for both boys’ and girls’ distance runners.
This is the first season Culp has coached a boys’ team. And with nearly 30 distance girls and about 20 boys, Culp is in charge of a combined 50 athletes this spring season.
“In the past, I have just focused on the girls and that has been a little easier. This year, I have found that boys do need to be coached differently; but logistically, the designs of their workouts are similar. So doing both boys and girls distance has been a little bit of an adjustment for me, but I’m getting used to it,” Culp said.
As of second semester, head girls’ track coach Andy Morgan moved from Roberson and is currently head track coach and head football coach at Mcdowell High School. Andrew Devine also stepped down from TC’s track program this season after seven years of being boy’s head coach; however, he has contributed to the program this season by helping with meets.
Like Culp, Racheal Petre and Artis Gilmore took new track positions for the 2016 season as girls’ and boys’ head coaches, respectively. Petre has been involved in TC track as jumping coach for three years, and Gilmore has specialized in sprinters and shorter distance for both boys and girls. Taking over as head coaches this spring were welcomed changes for both of them.
“Coach Gilmore and I both are pumped to be head coaches this year. We’ve been part of this track program, so it’s not anything new to us. They’ve been our family here. I was really lucky that I got to learn under coach Morgan. He’s phenomenal, so you can’t really ask for a better mentor or head coach to learn from,” Petre said.
Along with the shift in coaches, a very large number of athletes came out for the spring track and field season compared to numbers of previous years. Runners and field athletes combined total of 85 girls and 60 boys to be around 145 students, which is considerably large for a track and field team.
Having such a large team is a challenge logistically, but Petre and Gilmore are handling the large number of athletes this season considerably well.
“If anyone knows me, they’ll laugh and tell you that Mrs. Petre is super OCD and beyond organized, and I think that definitely helps out. We like to call it organized chaos out on the field, but really, we break athletes down to their subgroups, and we’ve got everything covered,” Petre says.
Distance runner Elise Wright is a sophomore who has moved to TC from Veritas as of second semester. Wright is one of the many new competitors this season and has already proved herself to be a top distance athlete.
“I feel like track here at TC is a small army. All of the people out there, when the sprinters and the throwers and the distance runners are trying to use the track. It’s really chaotic, but it’s still fun. We also have a lot of good athletes, and the coaches are really great. It looks very promising,” Wright says.
Nicole Broeffle is also an athlete who is new to Roberson’s track program this season. Broeffle decided to join track this spring as a senior and competes in mid-distance events.
“Now that I’m a senior, I decided I wanted to have fun with TC while I’m here and stay around as much as possible. I’m enjoying track a lot so far, and I’ve already improved quite a bit. It’s a lot different from what I expected, but I’m super glad I joined,” she said.
Because of the large number of athletes this season, multiple assistant coaches have become more involved with TC’s track program this year to aid Petre, Gilmore, and Culp, and to provide athletes with additional leadership. Scott Mead has joined and is helping with throwers and assistant Amberly Dalton is now in charge of hurdlers.
Regardless of the differences in the staff and size of Roberson’s team this year, the athletes in the program are just as competitive as previous years. According to coaches Culp and Petre, multiple relay teams and individuals have a good chance of qualifying for state and breaking school records.
“We have a strong tradition here at TC and that’s not going to change, and neither are our expectations just because of the changes head coaches. I have high hopes for our team this year,” Petre said.
Past fashion trends resurface among modern teens
2/26/16
Even though style and clothing trends have progressed through the years, various trends from past decades are making a comeback for 2016.
Students walking through the halls on any given day would find trends from the 90s, 80s, 70s, and even the 60s, proving that vintage fashions have resurfaced and are making their way back into modern style.
Junior Tedi Rollins is one of many students who choose to express herself by wearing vintage clothing
“I like to to wear things that not everyone else is wearing. Not exactly to try and be different, just because it’s fun to be unique,” Rollins said.
According to TC Roberson apparel teacher Mary Smith, despite the fact that the 2000s are a combination of fashion trends past and new, each decade seems to have its own distinct style and characteristics.
”The nineties are definitely my favorite. I grew up watching Full House and Friends, and so I always steal inspiration from those shows,” Rollins said.
English teacher Tristan Plemmons, who attended high school in the late 80s and early 90s, mentions what trends were popular during when she was a teenager.
“When I was in high school, style was in its transcending period. Big hair and perms were popular, also stone washed jeans. Gold was the hot jewelry, and fossil watches in wild colors. Swatches were big. You were cool if you had a Swatch,” Plemmons said.
L.L. Bean boots, commonly known as duck boots, were also a popular trend in the 80s that have recently come back into style. Founded by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company’s rubber shoes have been manufactured in Maine since 1911 and were first used as hunting boots. The popularity of duck boots has not wavered, even over a hundred years: L.L. Bean sold approximately 450,000 pairs of boots this past winter.
Junior Vittoria Duque owns Bean boots and wears them often for their practicality.
“At first I bought them because everyone else had them and I had wanted a pair, but they are actually super useful and go with just about anything,” Duque said.
Sophomore Beth Scott favors retro styles of the past over modern looks.
“I think culture in the past was just so much more interesting, so people like to go back to that. One thing that I think is pretty cool is that people are starting to bring back trends from parts of the 70s, like circle sunglasses,” she said.
Like circle sunglasses, Converse “Chuck Taylors” are a trend from the 70s that have made a comeback into modern fashion. Initially launched in 1908 by an American rubber company, the high top canvas sneakers were originally modified for the 1936 Olympics and were prevalent in American fashion for being versatile for all ages and genders. Converse became the first mass produced basketball shoes in the country. As a result, the company manufactured their converse in many variations of colors and patterns, but they never changed the shoe’s iconic style. According to Chuck’s connection.com, sixty percent of all Americans have owned at least one pair of converse.
Like Rollins and Scott, Junior Sierra Ackerman embraces vintage styles, including converse, and explains her appreciation for the 1960s.
“I do love the era of the 60s. I like the peace movement, and I love the music from that time period. Because of that, the 60s and embracing their culture have really become a big part of my life. I love the colors, the tie die. I really dig it,” Ackerman said.
Regardless of what era throwback trends are from, looks from all decades are prevalent at TC Roberson and are a common part of today’s fashion. Apparel teacher Mary Smith recognizes this and went to high school during the 70s. She also participated in the changing style trends of the decade. As a result, she shares an open-minded philosophy about modern style.
“I do think it’s important that people are allowed to express their personality through what they wear. And one thing I like about TC is that there are so many different people here, everyone seems to be pretty open and accepting as to letting kids express themselves based on what they look like, which is nice,” Smith said.
Even though style and clothing trends have progressed through the years, various trends from past decades are making a comeback for 2016.
Students walking through the halls on any given day would find trends from the 90s, 80s, 70s, and even the 60s, proving that vintage fashions have resurfaced and are making their way back into modern style.
Junior Tedi Rollins is one of many students who choose to express herself by wearing vintage clothing
“I like to to wear things that not everyone else is wearing. Not exactly to try and be different, just because it’s fun to be unique,” Rollins said.
According to TC Roberson apparel teacher Mary Smith, despite the fact that the 2000s are a combination of fashion trends past and new, each decade seems to have its own distinct style and characteristics.
”The nineties are definitely my favorite. I grew up watching Full House and Friends, and so I always steal inspiration from those shows,” Rollins said.
English teacher Tristan Plemmons, who attended high school in the late 80s and early 90s, mentions what trends were popular during when she was a teenager.
“When I was in high school, style was in its transcending period. Big hair and perms were popular, also stone washed jeans. Gold was the hot jewelry, and fossil watches in wild colors. Swatches were big. You were cool if you had a Swatch,” Plemmons said.
L.L. Bean boots, commonly known as duck boots, were also a popular trend in the 80s that have recently come back into style. Founded by Leon Leonwood Bean, the company’s rubber shoes have been manufactured in Maine since 1911 and were first used as hunting boots. The popularity of duck boots has not wavered, even over a hundred years: L.L. Bean sold approximately 450,000 pairs of boots this past winter.
Junior Vittoria Duque owns Bean boots and wears them often for their practicality.
“At first I bought them because everyone else had them and I had wanted a pair, but they are actually super useful and go with just about anything,” Duque said.
Sophomore Beth Scott favors retro styles of the past over modern looks.
“I think culture in the past was just so much more interesting, so people like to go back to that. One thing that I think is pretty cool is that people are starting to bring back trends from parts of the 70s, like circle sunglasses,” she said.
Like circle sunglasses, Converse “Chuck Taylors” are a trend from the 70s that have made a comeback into modern fashion. Initially launched in 1908 by an American rubber company, the high top canvas sneakers were originally modified for the 1936 Olympics and were prevalent in American fashion for being versatile for all ages and genders. Converse became the first mass produced basketball shoes in the country. As a result, the company manufactured their converse in many variations of colors and patterns, but they never changed the shoe’s iconic style. According to Chuck’s connection.com, sixty percent of all Americans have owned at least one pair of converse.
Like Rollins and Scott, Junior Sierra Ackerman embraces vintage styles, including converse, and explains her appreciation for the 1960s.
“I do love the era of the 60s. I like the peace movement, and I love the music from that time period. Because of that, the 60s and embracing their culture have really become a big part of my life. I love the colors, the tie die. I really dig it,” Ackerman said.
Regardless of what era throwback trends are from, looks from all decades are prevalent at TC Roberson and are a common part of today’s fashion. Apparel teacher Mary Smith recognizes this and went to high school during the 70s. She also participated in the changing style trends of the decade. As a result, she shares an open-minded philosophy about modern style.
“I do think it’s important that people are allowed to express their personality through what they wear. And one thing I like about TC is that there are so many different people here, everyone seems to be pretty open and accepting as to letting kids express themselves based on what they look like, which is nice,” Smith said.
Sophomore Year
GF Story, Flipboard, provides ways to stay informed
10/24/13
In a survey taken in 2007 by PewResearch, 93 percent of American high school students could identify Arnold Schwarzenegger as a former movie star, but only 68 percent of them could identify the vice president of the country.
In a non-scientific survey, numerous TC students were asked if they could summarize current events and news to test their depth and knowledge of the topics. Most of the students failed to even know the topic at hand.
History teacher Brian Feid feels that smartphones are part of the reason why students are disconnected from news and current events.
“As citizens, we have a responsibility to be aware of what is going on in the world so that we can react. It does bother me a little bit that we use our phones to play games and we’ve lost sight of everything that’s happening,” Feid said.
Sophomore Claire Garcia doesn’t exactly try to stay informed.
“Sometimes I try to follow the news. But most of the time when I do, it’s sad and scary and I just don’t want to hear about it,” Garcia said.
However, freshman Emma Thesing feels that it is important to follow current events.
“I try to stay informed so that I have common knowledge and so that I don’t sound like an idiot when people start talking about news,” Thesing said.
One way some students are staying up to date is by using an app called Flipboard. Flipboard is a social networking app that works as a personal magazine allowing users to “flip” through feeds from websites who have partnered with the company. Marcos Wescamp is credited with the creation of Flipboard, and has served as head of design since March 2010.
Users can choose categories they would like to flip through, including technology, travel, sports, science, etc. These categories include recent articles that cover information pertaining to the chosen topic. Students could use this app to stay informed on current events.
In addition to Flipboard, The Skimm is also a way for students and busy adults to stay informed. The Skimm is a daily newsletter-based start-up founded by Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin. The Skimm works as an online newsletter that anyone can follow and read.
This newsletter first developed with a target audience of educated, busy women because it takes current news and events, breaks it down into shorter, more informative chunks. This way, readers are not having to spend the time searching through long articles to have a conversation on the topic.
English teacher Joi Keen feels that there are multiple reasons why it is necessary for students to know current events.
“The AP language exam involves an argument question that asks students to write about a national or local event, why it was controversial and how they might solve it,” Keen said. “Students don’t seem to be aware of what’s happening in the world, which is why it’s important for us to do current events.
In a survey taken in 2007 by PewResearch, 93 percent of American high school students could identify Arnold Schwarzenegger as a former movie star, but only 68 percent of them could identify the vice president of the country.
In a non-scientific survey, numerous TC students were asked if they could summarize current events and news to test their depth and knowledge of the topics. Most of the students failed to even know the topic at hand.
History teacher Brian Feid feels that smartphones are part of the reason why students are disconnected from news and current events.
“As citizens, we have a responsibility to be aware of what is going on in the world so that we can react. It does bother me a little bit that we use our phones to play games and we’ve lost sight of everything that’s happening,” Feid said.
Sophomore Claire Garcia doesn’t exactly try to stay informed.
“Sometimes I try to follow the news. But most of the time when I do, it’s sad and scary and I just don’t want to hear about it,” Garcia said.
However, freshman Emma Thesing feels that it is important to follow current events.
“I try to stay informed so that I have common knowledge and so that I don’t sound like an idiot when people start talking about news,” Thesing said.
One way some students are staying up to date is by using an app called Flipboard. Flipboard is a social networking app that works as a personal magazine allowing users to “flip” through feeds from websites who have partnered with the company. Marcos Wescamp is credited with the creation of Flipboard, and has served as head of design since March 2010.
Users can choose categories they would like to flip through, including technology, travel, sports, science, etc. These categories include recent articles that cover information pertaining to the chosen topic. Students could use this app to stay informed on current events.
In addition to Flipboard, The Skimm is also a way for students and busy adults to stay informed. The Skimm is a daily newsletter-based start-up founded by Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin. The Skimm works as an online newsletter that anyone can follow and read.
This newsletter first developed with a target audience of educated, busy women because it takes current news and events, breaks it down into shorter, more informative chunks. This way, readers are not having to spend the time searching through long articles to have a conversation on the topic.
English teacher Joi Keen feels that there are multiple reasons why it is necessary for students to know current events.
“The AP language exam involves an argument question that asks students to write about a national or local event, why it was controversial and how they might solve it,” Keen said. “Students don’t seem to be aware of what’s happening in the world, which is why it’s important for us to do current events.
New gym seats now in place
9/24/15
*Special thanks to Haley Barnes and RamFam for the picture.
In the main gym, workers applied new coats of paint and refurnished the stands. Additionally, the old wooden seats were replaced with dark blue plastic seats just this week. Nearly thirty sets of old seats were sold as a piece of history and as a fundraiser for the basketball program.
Sophomore volleyball player Cameron Jansen thinks these paint and seating improvements on the gym will bring more spectators to games.
“I feel like people will be excited and talking about the new gym changes. Hopefully, the new seats and improvements will bring more people to come watch our games,” she said.
T.C. Roberson’s track has been the location for numerous workouts and races throughout the years, and as with any highly used surface, it has had to be repaired from time to time.
Over the years, problem areas are occasionally patched to improve the surface of the track ensuring that it is safe for athletes to compete and practice on. In fact, this past summer, workers added patches to the track for this purpose.
“I’m happy that they had the idea to use some funds to patch up the track. But I also think that in order for it to be completely effective, the whole surface would have to be replaced. The patches aren’t really working,” Senior Lauren Hartman said.
Track repairs were of several renovations that were done to Roberson’s athletic facilities.
Roberson’s athletic facilities are also in line to receive many other future changes. All Buncombe County high schools receive $10,000 to fund athletic projects each year, and according to principal Amy Rhoney, the school chooses to save that funding for future renovations.
“We typically save our money for up to three years so that we can accomplish a large scale project or combine our funds with money from our Rams club to pay for something big,” Rhoney said.
In addition to the annual allotment, all middle and high schools in Buncombe County are receiving additional county funding to bring each of the facilities up to the same standards. These renovations span over a 10-year period for all schools, including Roberson.
At Roberson, the tennis courts will be resurfaced in the spring of 2015. The gym walls will receive new padding and the softball field will be equipped with lighting for the first time ever. During 2017-2018, the turf on the football field will be replaced and the track will be completely resurfaced.
Rhoney is appreciative of additional funding and the county and feels that the money is very beneficial to the school.
“By the county paying for these projects, it allows us to use our other athletic money on our other needs. Our Rams Club does an amazing job of helping provide funding for new equipment and uniforms, and projects such as the baseball field and softball renovations,” she said.
*Special thanks to Haley Barnes and RamFam for the picture.
In the main gym, workers applied new coats of paint and refurnished the stands. Additionally, the old wooden seats were replaced with dark blue plastic seats just this week. Nearly thirty sets of old seats were sold as a piece of history and as a fundraiser for the basketball program.
Sophomore volleyball player Cameron Jansen thinks these paint and seating improvements on the gym will bring more spectators to games.
“I feel like people will be excited and talking about the new gym changes. Hopefully, the new seats and improvements will bring more people to come watch our games,” she said.
T.C. Roberson’s track has been the location for numerous workouts and races throughout the years, and as with any highly used surface, it has had to be repaired from time to time.
Over the years, problem areas are occasionally patched to improve the surface of the track ensuring that it is safe for athletes to compete and practice on. In fact, this past summer, workers added patches to the track for this purpose.
“I’m happy that they had the idea to use some funds to patch up the track. But I also think that in order for it to be completely effective, the whole surface would have to be replaced. The patches aren’t really working,” Senior Lauren Hartman said.
Track repairs were of several renovations that were done to Roberson’s athletic facilities.
Roberson’s athletic facilities are also in line to receive many other future changes. All Buncombe County high schools receive $10,000 to fund athletic projects each year, and according to principal Amy Rhoney, the school chooses to save that funding for future renovations.
“We typically save our money for up to three years so that we can accomplish a large scale project or combine our funds with money from our Rams club to pay for something big,” Rhoney said.
In addition to the annual allotment, all middle and high schools in Buncombe County are receiving additional county funding to bring each of the facilities up to the same standards. These renovations span over a 10-year period for all schools, including Roberson.
At Roberson, the tennis courts will be resurfaced in the spring of 2015. The gym walls will receive new padding and the softball field will be equipped with lighting for the first time ever. During 2017-2018, the turf on the football field will be replaced and the track will be completely resurfaced.
Rhoney is appreciative of additional funding and the county and feels that the money is very beneficial to the school.
“By the county paying for these projects, it allows us to use our other athletic money on our other needs. Our Rams Club does an amazing job of helping provide funding for new equipment and uniforms, and projects such as the baseball field and softball renovations,” she said.
10 point grading scale comes too late
10/25/14
You’ve been working hard all semester in your classes, particularly hard in that AP class you’ve been struggling in. You get your grade, and it’s the dreaded digit, the 92.4–just a tenth of a point off of an A. So the grade you earned in the class you were fighting to get an A in was barely classified as a B. What if this could be no more?
Currently, the grading scale our district uses is the 7-point scale. This means that an A is 100-93, a B is a 92-85, a C is an 84-77, a D is a 76-70, and an F is anything below a 70.
As of Thursday, October 2, the North Carolina Board of Education approved the 10-point grading scale for high schools in our state. This will go into effect at the start of the 2015-2016 school year. However, this scale will only evaluate the freshmen entering high school next year.
While this is advantageous for that class, it is unfair to all other sophomores, juniors, and seniors will still be graded on the 7-point scale. If all classes were graded the same on the 10-point scale, it would be beneficial to the upperclassmen and the teachers who wouldn’t have to worry about trying to differentiate between their students and grade scales.
The seven-point grading scale should be changed now to the 10-point grading scale because it is misleading to college admissions and The 10-point grading scale could also motivate students to achieve at higher levels. By lowering the letter grade threshold by a few points, it is likely that students who were not as driven beforehand would strive to better their grades because the higher letter grade would be more easily attainable.
The 10-point scale could encourage students to choose more demanding courses as well. Students would feel compelled to take harder classes because they know they would have a more obtainable lower target for success.
Our school would benefit in all sorts of ways if it had more students motivated to achieve at higher levels due to the modified grading scale.
The school would have an increase in graduation rate because a higher number of students would pass rather than fail their classes. Athletic ineligibility would also become less of a problem if students were more motivated on account of the 10-point scale. In addition, a higher percentage of students would achieve the A and A-B Honor rolls owing to their endeavor spurred on by the incentive of a more reachable goal.
As a year-round honors and AP student-athlete, there have been many instances where I have been in the dreaded 92.4 scenario.
I am constantly under pressure and juggling my time. Knowing that the high B’s I have acquired could be A’s lessens stress and anxiety but certainly not my motivation and effort. Personally, I believe that the 10-point grading scale would help me, all other students, and the school achieve a higher degree of success.
You’ve been working hard all semester in your classes, particularly hard in that AP class you’ve been struggling in. You get your grade, and it’s the dreaded digit, the 92.4–just a tenth of a point off of an A. So the grade you earned in the class you were fighting to get an A in was barely classified as a B. What if this could be no more?
Currently, the grading scale our district uses is the 7-point scale. This means that an A is 100-93, a B is a 92-85, a C is an 84-77, a D is a 76-70, and an F is anything below a 70.
As of Thursday, October 2, the North Carolina Board of Education approved the 10-point grading scale for high schools in our state. This will go into effect at the start of the 2015-2016 school year. However, this scale will only evaluate the freshmen entering high school next year.
While this is advantageous for that class, it is unfair to all other sophomores, juniors, and seniors will still be graded on the 7-point scale. If all classes were graded the same on the 10-point scale, it would be beneficial to the upperclassmen and the teachers who wouldn’t have to worry about trying to differentiate between their students and grade scales.
The seven-point grading scale should be changed now to the 10-point grading scale because it is misleading to college admissions and The 10-point grading scale could also motivate students to achieve at higher levels. By lowering the letter grade threshold by a few points, it is likely that students who were not as driven beforehand would strive to better their grades because the higher letter grade would be more easily attainable.
The 10-point scale could encourage students to choose more demanding courses as well. Students would feel compelled to take harder classes because they know they would have a more obtainable lower target for success.
Our school would benefit in all sorts of ways if it had more students motivated to achieve at higher levels due to the modified grading scale.
The school would have an increase in graduation rate because a higher number of students would pass rather than fail their classes. Athletic ineligibility would also become less of a problem if students were more motivated on account of the 10-point scale. In addition, a higher percentage of students would achieve the A and A-B Honor rolls owing to their endeavor spurred on by the incentive of a more reachable goal.
As a year-round honors and AP student-athlete, there have been many instances where I have been in the dreaded 92.4 scenario.
I am constantly under pressure and juggling my time. Knowing that the high B’s I have acquired could be A’s lessens stress and anxiety but certainly not my motivation and effort. Personally, I believe that the 10-point grading scale would help me, all other students, and the school achieve a higher degree of success.
Flu, common cold affect attendance on campus
3/9/15
Cough drops, tissues, and Netflix.
All of these things are “necessities” when battling the cold or the flu. And recently at Roberson, the numbers of teachers and students with these sicknesses have been growing.
If the percent of students out because of sickness goes above 10 percent, state law mandates that the health department must be notified. Before school ended this December for break, the highest number of absences peaked at 7.4 percent of all students. However, trends indicate that the spread of illness might be lessening. As of Jan. 5, only 4.7 percent of students (about 75 people) were out of school due to illness.
Lynn Smarjesse, Roberson’s school nurse, has to constantly evaluate symptoms when students see her during the day.
“The hard part about the flu is that right away, the virus is like everything. It’s really hard to know whether they have the flu or not,” Smarjesse said.
Sophomore Sarah Hunter is a student who came down with this year’s flu virus and was forced to miss school as a result.
“You don’t really get out of bed when you have the flu, so you kind of just feel miserable. You get off schedule totally because you’re sleeping when you’re supposed to be eating or be at school. You can’t really do anything because you’re aching all over. The flu just kind of knocks you out,” Hunter said.
Over the past five years, the flu vaccine has seen a general reduction of effectiveness. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2009-2011 the flu vaccine averaged 58 percent effective. This year, the CDC states that the flu vaccine has dropped over 33 percent.
In the United States, 48 percent of flu strands collected this year were genetically similar to the Influenza A strand chosen to be the vaccine component for this flu season. However, 52 percent were genetically different from the virus used in the vaccine.
According to the CDC, the flu strand that doctors choose to be in the vaccine each flu season is more or less a guess because no one can know for sure which variation of the flu virus will be most common for the following season which means less vaccine effectiveness. The CDC even declared influenza to be an epidemic for the United States at the end of December.
Despite rising numbers of cases, The flu isn’t the only virus going around. English teacher Tristan Plemmons feels that sickness-related absences negatively affect her job as a teacher.
“Being sick, I think, is really really hard on a teacher. It’s a lot easier for me to be here than have to plan for a sub and then try to get caught back up when I come back. Just one day out is a tremendous headache,” Plemmons said.
Sophomore Skye Johnson is also one of many students who have stayed home this year due to sickness.
“I’d say that the thing I hate the most about being sick and missing school is having to do all the make-up work and then feeling like I’m behind,” Johnson said.
Senior Erica Renner shares her experience from battling winter illness.
“I’m about 50 percent more effective on a day when I’m not sick versus a day I am. It’s better just to stay home and make everything up once you feel better,” Renner said.
Cough drops, tissues, and Netflix.
All of these things are “necessities” when battling the cold or the flu. And recently at Roberson, the numbers of teachers and students with these sicknesses have been growing.
If the percent of students out because of sickness goes above 10 percent, state law mandates that the health department must be notified. Before school ended this December for break, the highest number of absences peaked at 7.4 percent of all students. However, trends indicate that the spread of illness might be lessening. As of Jan. 5, only 4.7 percent of students (about 75 people) were out of school due to illness.
Lynn Smarjesse, Roberson’s school nurse, has to constantly evaluate symptoms when students see her during the day.
“The hard part about the flu is that right away, the virus is like everything. It’s really hard to know whether they have the flu or not,” Smarjesse said.
Sophomore Sarah Hunter is a student who came down with this year’s flu virus and was forced to miss school as a result.
“You don’t really get out of bed when you have the flu, so you kind of just feel miserable. You get off schedule totally because you’re sleeping when you’re supposed to be eating or be at school. You can’t really do anything because you’re aching all over. The flu just kind of knocks you out,” Hunter said.
Over the past five years, the flu vaccine has seen a general reduction of effectiveness. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2009-2011 the flu vaccine averaged 58 percent effective. This year, the CDC states that the flu vaccine has dropped over 33 percent.
In the United States, 48 percent of flu strands collected this year were genetically similar to the Influenza A strand chosen to be the vaccine component for this flu season. However, 52 percent were genetically different from the virus used in the vaccine.
According to the CDC, the flu strand that doctors choose to be in the vaccine each flu season is more or less a guess because no one can know for sure which variation of the flu virus will be most common for the following season which means less vaccine effectiveness. The CDC even declared influenza to be an epidemic for the United States at the end of December.
Despite rising numbers of cases, The flu isn’t the only virus going around. English teacher Tristan Plemmons feels that sickness-related absences negatively affect her job as a teacher.
“Being sick, I think, is really really hard on a teacher. It’s a lot easier for me to be here than have to plan for a sub and then try to get caught back up when I come back. Just one day out is a tremendous headache,” Plemmons said.
Sophomore Skye Johnson is also one of many students who have stayed home this year due to sickness.
“I’d say that the thing I hate the most about being sick and missing school is having to do all the make-up work and then feeling like I’m behind,” Johnson said.
Senior Erica Renner shares her experience from battling winter illness.
“I’m about 50 percent more effective on a day when I’m not sick versus a day I am. It’s better just to stay home and make everything up once you feel better,” Renner said.