Local high school students rev up Relay for Life fundraisers
May 22, 2012
Relay — ‘a way to live’
Iman Baghai Issaquah High School
The death of a loved one to cancer is why most people partake in the annual Relay for Life fundraising event. But Michael Cecil, a junior at Issaquah High School, has a unique and inspiring story with regards to how and why he is a “relayer.” Cecil’s mother has been diagnosed with five rare kinds of cancer throughout his life and has survived each diagnosis.
His mother’s diagnosis inspired Michael to get into Relay as a way for him and his siblings to “do something about (their) mom’s cancer.” He didn’t view it as a way of giving back, but rather as a way of “fighting back” the terrible disease that has haunted his family.
High school: The best of times, the worst of times
May 22, 2012
Olivia Spokoiny Skyline High School
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” Charles Dickens wrote in his 1859 novel “A Tale of Two Cities.” More than a century later, this famous quote is truer than ever, but in a much different context than he originally intended. In just 12 words, it says everything you would ever need to know about the typical high school experience.
There are, without a doubt, many perks of high school. We experience events that only happen once in a lifetime, like prom and high school graduation. As students, we enjoy a blossoming social life, while transitioning from childhood to adulthood.
But sometimes, the process is hard, because people can be mean. That is where the “worst” comes in. The 2004 Lindsay Lohan film, “Mean Girls,” comes to life in high schools everywhere these days. The kind of viciousness you think you only see in movies is sometimes, unfortunately, closer to reality than fiction.
However, it is not always just the girls that attack each other. Boys dish out a fair share of nastiness, too (and that certainly isn’t to say everyone participates in the inevitable high school drama). A few years ago, high school students in the Issaquah School District buzzed over the development of “May Madness.”
How to survive in Bizarro World
May 22, 2012
By Jacob Brunette Issaquah High School
As prom draws ever closer, the terrible drama surrounding dresses, groups and other ridiculous nonsense will slowly invade the lives of all those involved. It is a common occurrence for people to wander off in an attempt to avoid this soul-sucking pre-dance affair, but be warned! All too often, wayward promgoers will make a single wrong step and find themselves in… Bizarro World! Should you find yourself in this terrible backwards nega-verse, where men act like women, women act like men and British people have good teeth, follow the steps in this survival guide and you may make it through your ordeal alive.
The Hot List
May 22, 2012
Album: Best Coast, ‘The Only Place’
By Veronica Austin Liberty High School
California-based Best Coast released its new album, “The Only Place,” just in time for summer. The band’s 1960s-esque brand of surf pop is the perfect soundtrack to any summer activity. Catchiest tracks include the title track (and single) “The Only Place” as well as the near-ballad “Do You Love Me Like You Used To.”
DVD: ‘The Woman in Black’
Daniel Radcliffe’s first film since the end of the wildly successful “Harry Potter” movie franchise, “The Woman in Black,” is a wonderfully creepy thriller that will (cliché as it may be) keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. Radcliffe plays a young lawyer who ventures to a small village, and finds himself wrapped up entirely in the mystery of the Woman in Black, of whom the village remains in constant fear. The film piles on the suspense, and is a must-see for anyone who likes a good scare.
Movie: ‘Dark Shadows’
Master of gothic moviemaking Tim Burton has yet again teamed up with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, this time to make “Dark Shadows,” a movie about a 200-year-old vampire, Barnabas Collins (played by Depp), based on the 1960’s horror soap opera of the same name. “Dark Shadows” looks to have all the trademarks of the trio’s previous collaborations, and will undoubtedly be entertaining.
Teen Talk
May 22, 2012
How do you see people being victimized at school?
“I see a lot of social victimization happening, in terms of exclusion and cliques and such.”
Nalani Saito, junior
May 16 Student Crossword Puzzle Answers
May 22, 2012
Elementary Answers — May 16
Student writers shine at Sunny Hills Elementary’s Young Authors Night
May 15, 2012
Jenaya Ray, 7, flips through her book ‘The Unicorns’ Magical Powers,’ which she also illustrated. By Lillian Tucker
The outside campus of Sunny Hills Elementary School was crawling with smiling, chatty students, hopped up on ice cream, pizza and the pleasure of being at school with friends and not having to hurry to class.
Issaquah Schools Foundation sets record at annual luncheon
May 15, 2012
More than 1,000 people turned out, donated $650,000
With a sold-out event at the Issaquah Community Center, the Issaquah Schools Foundation set a record of $650,000 in donations at this year’s Nourish Every Mind Luncheon on May 10.
More than 1,000 people were at the event, the 14th annual luncheon foundation officials have held. This year is the 25th anniversary of the foundation.
Because of interest in the foundation’s largest fundraiser, next year’s attendees might see two events instead of one, according to Robin Callahan, executive director of the foundation. That could be a breakfast type event and a luncheon, she said.
Issaquah High School musicians win state honors
May 15, 2012
Several students from Issaquah High School ended the month of April on a good note, literally.
They competed at the Washington State Solo and Ensemble Contest April 27-28 and walked away with several wins.
During the contest, the campus at Central Washington University was teeming with hundreds of musicians. They were there to compete in a variety of categories, including small strings ensemble, vocal and solo bassoon.
Among the first-place finishers were Ali Campbell and Annika Dybevik, who took first in the women’s small ensemble category for their duet. First place for tuba went to Clayton Dungey while Andy Abel finished third.
Student can submit artwork, essays for 1962 World’s Fair celebration
May 15, 2012
Budding Washington student artists and visionaries have the opportunity to showcase their talents at an exhibit to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair.
Seattle Center and the League of Education Voters are asking Washington’s K-12 students to think about what the classroom of the future will look like. In 50 years, what technology will be used? What are students learning? What will the classroom/learning environment be like?
The deadline to submit a short intent form to participate in Seattle Center’s Classroom of the Future Exhibition has been extended to May 21. The letter of intent is just a short form letting Seattle Center know a project will be submitted. The deadline to turn in the project is June 1. Submissions can be in a variety of forms, including essays, poetry, videos, slideshows or 3D models.
Students can submit their work individually or as part of a team. Selected artists will be showcased at an exhibition in August at the Seattle Center.
Professionals in the fields of education, technology, architecture, art and design will curate the submissions to present common themes apparent in the participants’ visions of future learning environments.
Go to www.educationvoters.org/seattlecenter for information about the letter of intent and exhibition rules.
