Leadership turnover needs tailored approach
April 23, 2013
Every year, high school seniors graduate, and every year, people need to step up to fill the shoes that these seniors leave behind.
Iman Baghai
Issaquah High School
In many high school programs, students spend their entire high school careers pouring their hearts and souls into their activities and often rising as student leaders. But, more often than not, their zeniths at these positions are short-lived, as these leaders move onto college and beyond. Once they leave, others come in and these transitions can be graceful or ugly.
New leaders, same goal
April 23, 2013
I founded Engineering Club last March with a different vision for science and engineering clubs at school. The Skyline Engineering Club would teach engineering concepts that underlie the physical experimentation present in other clubs.
These concepts, not detailed in school, would then be incorporated into regular projects. Yet, the club did not begin this way; it was rooted in lecture-based discussion. Despite suggestions for improvement from general members through a Google survey, it was leadership initiative that resulted in more interactive projects.
Nitin Shyamkumar
Skyline High School
How does JSA manage changing leadership through elections?
April 23, 2013
It’s that time of year again. Ah, spring: the season in which seniors decide where to spend the next four years of their lives, while juniors and underclassmen scramble, asking questions like, “What classes should I take next year?” or “What colleges should I apply to?”
This can only mean one thing for the myriad high school clubs stimulating the social scene at Skyline High School — election season. One club that has blossomed considerably over the years is the Junior State of America, or JSA for short. Though its large growth at Skyline is impressive, it makes elections difficult due to the cutthroat level of competition that shows up conspicuously at this time. Though no talk of elections has been explicitly brought up by the executive cabinet, various contenders have already risen to the plate and advertised their qualifications for leading the chapter next year.
Salma Mahmoud
Skyline High School
Searching for the silver lining in college rejection
April 23, 2013
As a high school senior, hardly a day goes by without someone — my dentist, my coworkers, my friends or my teachers — asking me where I’ll be attending college in the fall. While most of my peers have started visiting campuses and choosing dorms, I’m forced to admit that, frankly, I just don’t know yet.
Had you asked that same question about a year ago, I could have told you boldly and confidently, “The University of Oxford.” I spent most of high school working toward this singular goal; I took and retook SATs, tailored my schedule to meet the required Advanced Placement classes and scrambled my way through finals weeks to achieve what I thought were ideal scores, more than adequate to get me into the school of my dreams.
Veronica Austin
Liberty High School
I was wrong.
Options for high school seniors
April 23, 2013
Here are some alternatives to college, with informational links:
- Attend a vocational school and learn a profession without the expense of a four-year college. www.affordableservices.org/college/vocational.aspx
- Further your career by earning certification in a wide range of vocations for a low cost. http://prdweb.asq.org/certification/control/index
- Defend your country as a member of one of the branches of the United States military. www.military.com
Jacob Brunette
Issaquah High School
Who keeps a school running behind the scenes?
March 26, 2013
Walking through the front doors of Issaquah High School, it is evident that the school is a well-oiled machine.
Flamboyant posters advertise numerous clubs and Associated Student Body events. Students mingle in the commons and walk past on their way to math help. The grounds are very safe, clean and well-groomed.
Sophie Mittelstaedt
Issaquah High School
The question: Who runs this machine that is Issaquah High School? If you hang around the school for some time, you will most likely spot one of these people, like custodian Steve Holeman.
Who keeps a school running behind the scenes?
March 26, 2013
More than 2,000 students roam the halls of Skyline High School every day.
That is more than 2,000 plastic water bottles waiting to be dropped, and more than 2,000 pieces of gum waiting to miss the trash can. Despite these possibilities, the school’s custodial team makes sure that every day runs as smoothly as the last.
“Our goal and biggest focus is creating a safe learning environment for students with no distractions,” said Mr. Buchanan, Skyline’s head custodian. “We make sure everything is running behind the scenes so that the kids can keep doing what they do best.
Sampurna Basu
Skyline High School
Teen Talk
March 26, 2013
What is the best April Fool’s prank you were ever Involved in?
Eastside Catholic High School
“The best I’ve got is my elementary physical education teacher who tried to tell us one April Fool’s that the Mariners had put Ichiro in for pitcher in the game the night before. Of course, nobody believed her, but it was a good try anyway and an original idea.”
Addison Klinke, sophomore
How To
March 26, 2013
Pull off a successful prank
April Fool’s Day is almost here, and everyone knows what that means: the one day of the year where being a jerk is totally acceptable, as long as you are a funny jerk. With that in mind, here is how to successfully be a funny jerk:
Jacob Brunette
Issaquah High School
- Pick a good target. Family members or close friends are a good idea because they are less likely to mistake your prank as mean behavior. This will allow you to be as mean as needed for maximum comedic effect.
Hot List
March 26, 2013
Movie: ‘Argo’
Argo
After watching “Argo” take home the Best Picture award at the Oscars in February, I immediately added the “based on a true story” flick about the 1979 Iran hostage crisis to my list of must-sees. “Argo” did not disappoint. With a stellar performance by Ben Affleck as a CIA exfiltration specialist who undergoes an undercover rescue mission in Iran (Alan Arkin also deserves praise for his hilarious portrayal of fictional film producer Lester Siegel), “Argo” kept me at the edge of my seat while delivering laughs along the way.
