Fairmont High School Issue 16 February 8, 2008
Junior Student of Excellence
Michael Bass
By Natasha Hayes
This year’s Junior Student of Excellence is Michael Bass. He is the son of Mary Ellen and Richard Bass. He said, “I feel very good about being chosen. It feels good to know that I am at the top of my class. I plan on trying again next year because it is an honor to be selected.”
Michael is a starter on all varsity sports teams and is involved in many clubs and activities both at school and at church.
Campus Beautification
By Hannah Jacobs
This year things are changing around the campus. We got a new scoreboard, new letters in front of the school that say “Fairmont High School” and lots more. We asked some students and teachers what they think about the school changes. Heather Lewis thinks it shows school spirit. Aaron McLean said “it looks good for the school and environment.” Coach Ryan McGirt said it looks okay but he thinks they should pave the back of the school and plant more grass. Mr. Miller thinks it is a nice idea and would like to see more trees planted. Mrs. Grantham is in charge of the campus beautification and she would like for students to bring truck loads of clean straw. Also she would like to see more interest from the students and faculty. Tuesday night she attended a Rotary Club meeting and they gave her $1,000 to help the school with this project. She would like to thank them for their help not only with this project but with the Interact Club as well.
Senior Student of Excellence
Clay Graham
By Brittany Paige Hunt
Clay Graham is the 2008 Senior Student of Excellence. He is the son of Phil and Laura Graham. His many qualifications and activities have been covered in earlier issues and can be seen online at the FHS website under “Our School.” Clay plans to attend NC State University but he still is undecided about his major.
Beta Club Convention
Rachel Williams
On February 1st Mrs. Bass and nine students attended the State Beta Club Convention. There, the students attended assemblies where Beta members from all over the state campaigned for a spot as a state officer. On Saturday morning the officers were elected, there was a talent contest as well as academic contests. During the assembly academic awards were given and Traci Parnell won 2nd place in English. “I am happy that I can represent Fairmont by winning this award,” Traci said. This award also qualified her to go to the National Convention, which will be held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on June 18th through the 21st.
Buddy Pictures
By Michelle Willoughby
It has been three years since the last time our students have been given the opportunity to take buddy pictures. Buddy pictures will be taken after school on February 26th in the Theater. Sign up for pictures will begin on Monday in Mrs. Floyd’s room. When signing up, you must list all buddies that are going to be in the picture. There should be no more than eight people in one picture.
Appointments will be given in the order of sign up. The cost will be $5.00 for every person in the picture; you must have the money in hand before your picture will be taken. Everyone in the group will receive a 4x6 copy of the picture. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to capture the year with your best friends.
Leaping into the Leap Year
By Sam Hollingsworth
Some of you readers may or may not know that 2008 is a Leap Year. This means that instead of the usual 365 days that make our year, there are 366 and this month will have an extra day, a leap day, February 29. We have this system to keep our year on the same track as the solar year which isn't just 365 days, more like 365¼.
The Egyptians where the first to realize this small difference and later the Romans in Julius Caesar's time created the leap year and added a day to February every four years. Now, if a year can be divided by four and come out an even number it's a leap year. There is however an exception when it comes to the turn of the century. In the year 1700 there was not a leap day because the turns of the century must be divisible by 400 evenly. The reason is that the solar year is about 11 minutes and 14 seconds under 365 1/4 years. After 128 years we have an extra day unless we omit some of the centuries! Pope Gregory XIII fixed the system and moved the calendar ahead 11 days in 1582. People went to sleep March 11 and woke up 11 days later on March 21! All of these rules make up what is now our calendar, the Gregorian Calendar. Some interesting facts about the Leap Year and Leap Day are that there is a 1 out of 1500 chance a person can be born on a Leap Day. Even with these odds there are 187,000 people in the US and over 4 million people in the world born on Leap Days. Some famous people born on this day are Ja Rule, Chucky Brown, and Fabien Bownes.
Coming Events
Spring Pictures Feb 26
Buddy Pictures Feb 26
Cap & Gown Pictures Feb 27
NTHS Induction Feb 28
Ring Payments due March 5
Ring Ceremony March 11
Lunch Menu Feb. 11-15
By Kyra Stephens
Monday: Potato Bar with roll, corn on the cob, chicken filet sandwich, pizza wedge & fries, banana pudding/ wafers, diced pears, fresh fruit, chef salad, milk.
Tuesday: Stew beef with roll, rice& gravy, green beans, fish sandwich or PB& J, pizza wedge & fries, fruit turnover, mixed fruit cup, fresh fruit, chef salad, milk.
Wednesday: Oven fried chicken, creamed potatoes/gravy, green beans, grilled ham& cheese, pizza wedge & fries, apple crisp, grape/strawberry, fresh fruit, milk.
Thursday: Rotini with roll, stewed squash, tossed salad, turkey sub, pizza wedge & fries, chocolate & vanilla pudding, peaches & topping, fresh fruit, chef salad, milk.
Friday: Baked ham with roll, potato salad, baked beans, hot dog or corn dog, pizza wedge & fries, royal brownies, pineapple tidbits, fresh fruit, chef salad, milk.
Super Bowl Reactions
By Leanna Hunt
On Sunday February 3, the annual Super Bowl was played. The score of the game was 17 to 14 with the Giants being the surprise victors! Some student reactions were: “I think that both teams played well, there were a lot of mistakes on both teams but overall it was a good game.” Another response to the game was, “I’m glad that the Giants won!” The majority of the students at the school were shocked that the Giants actually won. Most people were expecting the Patriots to win because of their 3 previous wins. Some were just hoping for a perfect 20-0 season.
New NASA Instructor
By Kensey Bartley
Replacing Mr. Nick McNeill as our YDS is Mrs. Karen “Dee” Oxendine. She graduated from Pembroke State University which is now UNC-P. She has been employed with the Public Schools of Robeson County for nine years and the last five have been with Indian Education.
Mrs. Dee resides in Pembroke with her husband Keith and their three children. Her oldest daughter, Emily, is a sophomore at UNCP. Her son, Justin, is a junior at Purnell Swett High and her youngest daughter, MaKenzie, is in the 4th grade at Pembroke Elementary School. Mrs. Dee is really excited to be a part of the FHS family.
Senior Test
By Kasey Leggett
From January 28th through the 30th the seniors underwent a survey and a test that threw many of them for a loop. The survey consisted of a series of questions about the everyday lives of seniors; “They asked us about everything. It was the most diverse survey I’ve ever taken, “said Rachel Williams. Students said there were at least a hundred survey questions and three test sections. The first section was English followed by Math and Science. The test will not count for or against the seniors that took it but a special treat has been promised to the participants.
Sports Round-up
Another Tornado win
By Adrienne Hill
The J.V. boys took another win on January 31; they defeated Red Springs 45 to 38. The starting line-up was Derion H, Brandon M, Desmond P, Brandon F, and Ryne R. The leading scorers were Derion, Ryne, and Brandon. Coach R. McGirt thinks that the boys need to keep practicing hard. When asked who the top players were, he responded that there weren’t any top players; they are all equal.
On February 5, the boys defeated West Bladen 53 to 37. The team played well, but Coach McGirt thinks that they need to work harder on defense since the last three games. The leading scorers were Derion H, Ryne R, and Brandon M. The team is taking nothing less than 100% to the next game.
J.V Girls’
By Shaneka Grissett
The game on January 31 against Red Springs was a very good game. The score was 36 to 13. The leading scorers were Natasha Jones and Matrice Blue.
Tuesday night they played West Bladen. The final score of the game was 73 to 41. Coach McGirt said, “they played good defense and hustled greatly.” The leading scorers for this game were Natasha Jones, Breana Williams, Victoria Hunt, Jamie Goodyear and Jaquisha Taylor.
Varsity Boys’
By Brandy Calhoun
On January 31, Red Springs beat Fairmont 54 to 52. Michael Bass was the leading scorer with 14 points and Quincy Miller was the second leading score with 9 points. Coach Mitch thinks that the team played only three quarters instead of four. The team missed a lot of shots around the basket and didn’t play defense with intensity.
On Tuesday night Fairmont lost against West Bladen 60 to 85. Donte Smith was the leading scorer with 15 points. The next game will be Friday night against Red Springs.
Varsity Girls’
By Sharonica Winningham
The team played Red springs last Thursday at Fairmont, the score was 53-40. The top scorers were Shaniah Powell 12, Sharonica Winningham 10, and Stephanie Powell 12. Coach McMillian said, “They played hard. We had starters that didn’t get a chance to take a break. They could have had this game if it wasn’t for our players getting hurt and having to come out the game.” The best defensive players were Sharonica and Shinita Walters. The top rebounders were Sharonica, Shaniah, and Stephanie.
On Tuesday, Fairmont played West Bladen with the score of 47-42. The top scorers were Sharonica, 10, Shaniah, 22, Stephanie, 15, and Brandy Calhoun 9. Coach McMillian said “They played lazy 1st, 2nd , and 3rd quarter. I guess they realized they had to win this game.” The best defensive player was Sharonica as she played with three fouls all night. The top rebounders were Shaniah, Sharonica, and Stephanie.
Basketball Senior Night
February 15
vs South Robeson