HOMECOMING 2018 Behind the Scenes

The

Patriot Press

Friday, October 26, 2018/Page 1

Vol. 17 No. 1

HOMECOMING 2018

Behind the Scenes

by: Tommi Fuller

Homecoming. A night to let loose and have fun with your friends. A night full of good times and memories that will last forever. Homecoming is a special time in peoples lives. It is part of the high school experience that stands the tests of time. It is a magical night, but have you ever wondered how Homecoming comes together?

The Student Council are the people behind the curtain. They have been meeting every Thursday for PATS time since August 16th.

Student Council oversees planning the entire aspect of Homecoming from planning the days of Spirit Week and making ballots for Court to making a budget and calling the DJ.

The Decoration Committee oversees the choosing of the theme and ordering of the decorations and other necessities that are to be used at the dance. They are in charge of putting

together the decorations and setting them up in the cafeteria. Student Council members, even if they are not a part of this particular committee, come in to help decorate. They stay after school to make decorations, and they stay the night of the Homecoming game to begin decorating the cafeteria for the dance the next day. They also come in the morning of the dance to put the finishing touches on the decorations.

The Dance committee oversees the making of the tickets that are to be sold to students. They come up with the ideas of Spirit Week. They also hang up the posters and signs informing students about the Homecoming dance and the days of Spirit Week.

The Halftime Committee oversees the halftime portion of the Homecoming game. They are in charge of contacting the King and Queen from the previous year. They make the ballots that are to be distributed to the different classes. They make the

script that is read as the Court walks onto the field. They also announce the new Homecoming King and Queen.

All Student Council members are separated into theses three committees, but each of the committees help the other committees when needed.

President of Student Council, Mathew Soto, had this to say about what goes into Homecoming, "a lot of effort and cooperation and coordination amongst the student council members and the school staff."

Thank you to all the people that made Homecoming possible and thank you to all the students who decided to come take "A Stroll Through Candyland."

Picture are, top right: Homecoming King T.Y. Patman and Homecoming Queen Heather Samples. Below right: Mr. Senior Class Devin Helwig and Miss Senior Class Nikya Meadows.

October 26, 2018

Spirit Week 2018

by Ashleigh Kitchens Declaring their favorite

team, wearing hats of all different shapes and sizes, getting tacky, brightening up with neon, and showing patriot pride are all ways

students got creative during spirit week.

Students are showing pride for their favorite team on, unironically, Favorite Team day. Students and teachers wore

sweaters, jerseys, and t-shirts representing their favorite team.

story continues on page 3

Inside this Issue:

Page 2: News and editors Page 3: News Cont'd and crossword Page 4: Teachers Outlook, 9th Grade Life, and Student art-

work Page 5: Student Artwork Cont'd

Page 6: Sports Page 7: Sports Cont'd

Page 2/Friday, October 26, 2018

School Receives Much Needed

Sports Renovations

By: Desirae Garcia

Baseball season may not be until the spring, but outfielder/ pitcher, Ben Beasley and 3rdbaseman/pitcher, Eli Mattox, express excitement for the upcoming season.

Last year's baseball and softball team were left in the dark without lights for after-dark games. Recently new LED lights were installed for both fields. The baseball team also received a new fence.

Juniors, Ben and Eli, say "This was long awaited, come support the baseball team, we finally have lights."

Renovations were made to the track as well. All sports teams received new scoreboards. Improvements to the concession stands and both visitor and home field houses along with bleacher repairs.

Renovations began on May 1, 2018 and are scheduled to be completed by April 2019. These renovations are made possible through ABM energy solutions who designed a program to help the school save more than 9.4 million in energy and operating costs over a 20-year period. These costs include the all high school renovations across all Oglethorpe County school systems.

ABM allows the school to make these upgrades without affecting capital budget.

Patriot Press

News

A classroom in the 9th grade hallway has been renovated into a STEM lab, which can be used for science, technology, engineering, or math purposes.

But wait, there's more. The more macro changes are that the ceiling tiles throughout the building are changed out. All the lights are replaced with LED lighting. Window tinting was added to the large window in the main hallway which allows less sunlight to come through. Weather-proofed all exterior doors to keep hot and cold air out. Changes being made now are the roofing on main hallways are being pressure washed and treated.

Above: The new ceiling tiles can be seen above.

Above: Eli Mattox and Ben Beasley

Renovations to OCHS

By: Sandra Laguna

The maintenance staff has

been working hard to keep

The overdue renovations the school good as new.

have finally come! Some are New and improved HVAC

micro-changes but are still units have been installed

very effective to our school. in every classroom. Hand

This protects our school and dryers are added to the

improves our safety.

boy's and girl's restroom.

Above: Softball team plays on newly renovated field

Above: Drama club members rehearse for upcoming event.

Drama club Competes in Regional One Act Competition

By Oliver McCormick

Practicing under pressure and being in the spotlight doesn't bother the Drama Club. In fact, they thrive in it. The club has been working hard to compete in the 2018 Regional One Act Competition on October 27th.

This year the club will perform The Baseball Show by Cynthia Mercati for the judges. The Baseball Show is a comedic play about the game of baseball and a team of oddball players who just can't seem to win. However, with the help of new coach Annie Beekman, the team realizes the importance of dreams and that

"baseball feeling". But will the team hold up against the city league champs?

The performance will be scored by several factors, such as: individual characterization, movement, overall effect, and rhythm. Based on the scores, the highest being superior, there is a chance the club will move on to the state level competition.

Several members of the Drama Club are new to the club and the competition this year. The president of the club, Evie McGovern, has welcomed them all. The new members are eager to compete later this month.

New member Tommi Fuller has expressed excitement for the competition and stated that it "sounds fun".

Fortunately for the club, the new drama class has helped boost interest in theatre throughout the school. A majority of the club's newer members came from the class itself. Zoe Woods and Madison McGaughey, freshmen classmates turned club members, both agreed that they wish we had the class to practice, but they are "really proud of how well we have worked together". Be sure to say "break a leg" to any members you see before the competition.

The Patriot Press

Hunter Gabriel, Editor-in-Chief Zoe McCarty, Features Editor Nikya Meadows, Sports Editor

749 Athens Rd. Lexington, GA 30648

(706) 743-8124

Published quarterly in October, December, April, and May. All opinions expressed are those of the individual writer and not necessarily those of the administration or the Patriot Press.

Members of The Patriot Press Staff include: Seniors: Sadie Dake, Tommi Fuller, Sandra Laguna, Monroe McIntyre, Kya Meadows, Maggie Negrete-Jones, Heather Samples, Asia Smith Juniors: Hunter Gabriel, Desirae Garcia, Ty'Kira Long, Hailey Pugh, Tariah Berry-Morse, Oliver McCormick Sophomore: Zoe McCarty, Garrett Miller Freshmen: Ashleigh Kitchens

Horses eat this Can be carved Keeps away crows Changes color in Fall Fall Holiday Fall fashion accessory Fall holiday feast Popular food item Fall color Weather during Fall Another name for Fall

Spirit week

Thanksgiving side dish Type of Fall ride Popular American Fall sport Spooky month Turkey month Fall attraction full of corn Tasty pumpkin-flavored treat

continued from page 1

Cacti, sombreros, cowboy hats, and beanies alike, students got creative with their headgear on hat day. "We need more hat days!" says Garrett Miller.

Students got quite wacky on tacky day. Missmatched clothing brought its way to school with every color of the rainbow and any crazy style you can think of.

Blinding colors on neon day showed its way around the school on neon day. Though, originally this day was supposed to be pajama day "but due to the selection process we had to switch that for neon day." says

Mathew Soto, the student council president.

Patriot day shows school pride with our mascot as the theme for the day. Students are showing pride for OCHS with jerseys, band shirts and other accessories.

Students have opinions on spirit week such as "I enjoy spirit week because it's fun to see the students participating and dressing up in all the fun outfits and it's fun to see their creativity at work." from Hailey Pugh. Not all students enjoyed spirit week as much as others because Zoe McCarty says, "We need better spirit week days. We need more

Pictured left: Alyssa Langford and Jayda Jones

Pictured right: Desirae Garcia and Morgan Shaver

Friday, October 26, 2018/Page 3

New System-Wide Teacher of the Year: Mrs. Erin Bunch

By Desirae Garcia & Hunter Gabriel

Oglethorpe County High School recently named a new teacher of the year, Mrs. Erin Bunch. Not only was she voted upon by her teacher peers to receive teacher of the year for OCHS, but she also won teacher of the year across all OC school system.

Mrs. Bunch attended OC school system and has been teaching in the healthcare pathway for four years. She also leads the HOSA program for healthcare students. Within the healthcare pathway, the third-year class serves as a state CNA class. Since Mrs. Bunch already received her RN license, she is able to prepare students for the CNA test. Then as student if the test is passed will receive their CNA license.

When asked why she chose the healthcare profession then eventually teach, Ms. Bunch explained that she loves "taking care of the community" and that

Ms. Bunch still has her RN license, and can work as an RN, but chose to teach healthcare. Her love for helping others combined with a want to teach, allows her to enjoy the two at the same time.

As a teacher Mrs. Bunch wants students to remain "engaged" while in her classroom. She believes this is an effective teaching strategy. Mrs. Bunch had Mr. Schmidt as a teacher in high school and said that organized teachers like him helped her learn the best. As well as other teachers that were "personable," like Coach Derricotte.

Mrs. Bunch says winning of teacher of the year was "surprising," but she was very "honored" to be voted upon by faculty peers. Overall, Mrs. Bunch says her main goal with students is to empower them to succeed in whatever profession they choose.

Pictured above: Mrs. Johnson and Ms. Levine with Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Bunch

Pictured above: Mrs. Carlson and Mrs. Simmons

Page 4/Friday, October 26, 2018

Teachers 9th Grade Life

Outlook on

Freshmen

by Garrett Miller

Everybody loves our favorite type of high school student, the freshmen. Now, we get a look at what teachers think about the freshmen directly, such as our art teacher, Ms. Pierce calls them "sweet and kind," however, she hinted at low work ethic. That mindset also falls under quite a few teachers, such as the freshmen world history teacher, Mr. Jones states that they need improvement on their work ethic. However, contradictory statements made by other teachers go against

this. Mrs. Kitchens, the 9th grade literature teacher, states that they are "chatty, but motivated." This also falls under the physicality if the freshmen, as stated by Coach Stoudenmire mentions that the students are, "Physically talented and have a very good work ethic and have a lot of potential." And everyone's favorite gym teacher Coach Peavler states, "They are handling the transition between middle and high school really well and are off to a good start."

By: Zo? McCarty

Freshmen year, first year of high school. New friends, classes with upper classmen, lunch with upper classmen, stressing on grades, it's a lot to take in. But what does the class of 2022 really think of high school. Many of the students seem to truly enjoy high school so far into the year. No one knows what a freshmen's thoughts on high school are, except for other freshmen, so I went looking for the answer by asking OCHS's freshmen their thoughts on high school. One of the many students asked was Corey Walker, he says, "High School is cool and fun! My favorite class is Algebra 1, and my most challenging is health."

Clarke sure seems to be enjoying high school. Taesia Nowells was another student who said, "High school is way better than middle school. My Favorite class is World History, although my most challenging is Algebra 1." Clarke and Taesia have different interests, but they both have the same overall opinion of high school. Meghan Hegwood's favorite class is Band, but her most challenging is World History.

The students' thoughts on our high school houses also varied. Some students enjoy them, for example, Erykah Drake states, "Fun, I guess.", and Kamryn King's "They're

fun." And previously mentioned Taesia Nowells said, "My house is Reveur, and we have a lot of great times in there!" Some students don't exactly enjoy them, for example, Meghan Hegwood. She says that they are not comprehensive. Then other students have a different opinion. According to Valerie Romero, "I think the houses are a bit weird, but I don't mind them." And an anonymous student states that they do not have an exact opinion about the house.

Overall, freshmen students have the average opinion of high school is that it is enjoyable, and the houses are okay. The class of 2022 seems to like high school and will continue to like it.

Student Artwork

This issue's Showcase features multiple talented seniors. Maggie Negrete, LouLou Walker, and Zaria Smith demonstrate several

components of art in different media.

Showcase

Above Left : Zaria Smith, Rose Painting

Above Middle: LouLou Walker, Water Color Resist

Above Right: LouLou Walker, Water Color

Left: LouLou Walker, Eye

Right: Zaria Smith, Pencil drawing

Friday, October 26, 2018/Page 5

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Above Left: Maggie Negrete, Rose Painting

Above Right: Maggie Negrete, Watercolour Design

Left: Maggie Negrete, Desert painting

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Below Left : Maggie Negrete, Abstract Art

Below Right: Maggie Negrete, Eye

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