Phoenix Central School District—Student Newspaper May 2018

May Calendar

May 4—Prom Day!

May 10—Oswego County

Olympiad

May 14—No School

(Superintendent’s Day)

May 18—35-week cutoff!

May 18—JCB Talent Show

May 25 & May 28—

No School

Memorial Day break

Congratulations to the newest National

Honor Society members!

JCB’s National Honor Society has added 21 new

inductees !!

The beginning of April marked the time to induct

new members to the National Honor Society

at JCB High School. Students had to get

recommendations, earn top scores,

and complete several parts of an application

process before they were accepted.

Ms. Manion (former English teacher extraordinaire)

was the keynote speaker at the Induction

ceremony.

Congratulations, newest members. We know you

will serve proudly!

Congratulations to Olivia

Ripley for being nominated as

a potential NMSQT/PSAT

National Merit Scholar. She

scored in the top 1% of the

Country on the October exam.

Congratulations!

THANK YOU!!!

Faculty who contributed to this newspaper: Mrs. Barry, Ms. Grethel, Mr. Hurlbut, Ms. Neiss,

and Mrs. Spereno

Students who contributed to this newspaper: Sara Brunell, Danielle Backes, Gianna

DeRoberts, Alyssa Goudy, Hailey Goudy, Sam Guthrie, Emilie Hilliard, Shania Meaker

May 8 – AP Physics (12:00 p.m.)

May 11 – AP U.S. History (8:00 a.m.)

May 14 – AP Biology (8:00 a.m.)

May 18 – AP European History (12:00 p.m.)

May 23 – Field Test for US History (8:00 a.m.)

May 23 - Field Test for Geometry (9:30 a.m.)

June 5 – Regents Exam: Global History & Geography (8:00 a.m.)

June 12 – Regents Exam: English Language Arts (8:00 a.m.)

June 12 – Final Exam: Global Studies 9 (8:00 a.m.)

June 12 – Regents Exam: Algebra 1 (12:00 p.m.)

June 12 – Final Exam: Economics (12:00 p.m.)

June 13 - Regents Exam: US History (8:00 a.m.)

June 13 - Regents Exam: Living Environment (12:00 p.m.)

June 14 - Regents Exam: Earth Science (8:00 a.m.)

June 14 - Regents Exam: Algebra 2 (12:00 p.m.)

June 15 – Final Exam: Health (8:00 a.m.)

June 18 – Final Exam: Spanish 2 (8:00 a.m.)

June 18 – Final Exam: French 2 (8:00 a.m.)

June 18 – Final Exam: Spanish 3 (12:00 p.m.)

June 18 – Final Exam: French 3 (12:00 p.m.)

June 19 – Regents Exam: Geometry (8:00 a.m.)

June 19 – Regents Exam: Physics (12:00 p.m.)

June 20 – Regents Exam: Chemistry (8:00 a.m.)

Spring 2018 JCB EXAM SCHEDULE

Information Technology Updates

Submitted by Mrs. Barry

Saving Your Work

Please start saving all your work in your Google Drive File

Stream (G:). This will allow you to access your files from

thin client computers and Chromebooks. Your existing files should also be

moved to the (G:) drive. Stop by the SMART lab and see Mrs. Barry if you

need help.

Corrupt Profile Message

If you get a message like “profile may possibly be corrupt” when you log

on a computer, please report this to your teacher right

away so it can be fixed. Ignoring this

message can lead to lost files that cannot be recovered.

Virtual Private Network Apps

Using a VPN app on your phone (or even having it turned

on) while connected to the school WIFI is a violation of the

user agreement and will cause your WIFI connection to be

blocked. If this happens to you, please see Mrs. Barry.

As many may already know, our school

has developed a new Section 3 sport

known as unified basketball. This team

is composed of our usual student

athletes, along with our students with

disabilities. Their games are now in full

swing and they are in need of some fan

support. The games are only a little over

a n h o u r l o n g a n d

are very entertaining to watch.

To raise support, other sports teams will

be designated a game to attend. It will

not conf l i ct wi th thei r game

s c h e d u l e , a n d i t w i l l b e

mandatory as a team to attend; coaches

will provide additional information.

Each sports team will be given the

opportunity to select the theme of the

game it will attend; it is up to team

members to spread the word

a n d g e t o t h e r s i n v o l v e d .

If you have any questions, please see the

Unified basketball

By: Gianna DeRoberts

AD, any of our sports advocating group

members, or a Unified Basketball team

member.

These games are great for the community

as well as our students with disabilities.

Please come out to a game—let’s show

them our support!

Home Games

May 3rd

, 8th

, and 18th

May 10th marks the annual Oswego County

Olympiad Invitational (OCOI), hosted for the fourth

year in a row by our very own Phoenix High School.

For the last four years, schools from across the

county (Fulton, Oswego, Phoenix, Mexico,

Hannibal, Sandy Creek, and Central Square, to

name a few) have gathered on our Orange Track in

celebration of sportsmanship, community, and

above all, friendship.

The event traditionally begins with a boisterous

welcome for each visiting school. Participants and

their guests are welcomed enthusiastically by

volunteers from the National Honor Society and a

select group of our miraculous Firebird Drumline.

Once all of the schools have “set up camp” and are

ready, each school and their participants engage in

a parade and are

welcomed by the crowd.

These last few years

we’ve been fortunate

enough to have clear

skies and warm tem-

peratures for the

Olympiad-- hopefully

we will again this year

(in the event of rain,

the rescheduled date is

May 17th)!

After the Master of Ceremonies gives an

introductory speech, the day officially begins! The

events range from relay races, to sprints, and field

events such as the Long Jump. Participants for the

event are categorized and compete within two age

groups: ages 5-12 and ages 13-21. No matter the

outcome of the races / events, the miraculous aspect

about the OCOI is that every participant is a

winner! Ribbons are awarded to all. When not

engaging in the events, competitors may engage in

various lawn games and other amusing

activities.

From firsthand experience, the OCOI has always

been one of my favorite events to not only witness,

but to volunteer for. Yes, it is always a plus to be

outside on a gorgeous day, and if there’s extra ice

cream leftover, I try to make a beeline for the

concessions, but this

event means more to

me, and to our

community. The OCOI

is a day dressed in

bright colors and

sunshine; the smiles

radiate from not only

the competitors, but

their family members,

friends, and teachers.

It is a community

bonding with the soul purpose of

bringing joy to others. It is one of the reasons why

I take the utmost pride in not only being a member

of National Honor Society, but a member of the

Phoenix School District.

Firebirds, if you are unable to attend the OCOI

due to academic obligations, rejoice in the fact that

though you are not there, physically, you are there

in spirit. Take pride, that you have a school that

cares so deeply for the joy of others.

A gigantic thank you to the National Honor

Society Advisor, Ms. Neiss, for graciously putting

on the event each year! Thank you as well to our

kind custodial staff for helping with event

preparations, the educators who support this

event, our Athletic Directors for their worthwhile

contributions, our community members who

volunteer, and Principal Bailer and Assistant

Principal Fitch!

NHS

Congrats, All-county

orchestra members:

Skyler Patnode and

Violet Ameele!!

A Night of Jazz

By: Hailey Goudy

On March 15, 2018,

two schools and a

professional group

came together at G.

Ray Bodley High

School for an evening

full of jazz. Phoenix

and Fulton students

spent the day in several different workshops with

players from the Central New York Jazz Orchestra.

Students were taught skills such as style and

improvisation by the professionals. They were broken

into sections, so they could learn more about their own

instruments.

After several hours of preparation, it was time for the

concert. GRB started off the concert with Hayburner,

Samantha (featuring Joe Carello, Alto Sax), and Tweet

Fatigue. Next, Phoenix played Peg, At Last (featuring

Olivia Ripley, Vocals), Emily (featuring Bret Zvacek,

Trombone), and a combined piece with Fulton, Groovin

Hard.

Finally, the Central

New York Jazz

Orchestra stole the

stage with eleven other

pieces. Great levels of

talent were displayed

that night; it was definitely a “you had to be there”

experience!

Music

Music News continued...

Over February break, Ms. Grethel and 5 other chaperones brought

members of the concert band and jazz ensemble to Disney World in

Orlando, Florida!

48 students (and many of their family members who met the band in

Florida) attended the trip, which involved workshops that educated

students on creating movie trailers and two

performances in Disney Springs!

Awesome memories were made by all!

Art

From March 7th-9th, eight of your fellow classmates took a trip to Rochester and competed in the

DECA State Competition. There they were tested on their business skills and adaptability to

different challenges in the business world.

In a competition containing over 2,000 participants, seven of our students placed Top Ten in their

category’s test score, role-play, or both. This was a great feat considering how many people they

were competing against! Gianna DeRoberts, Natalie Hart, Emilie Hilliard, Wendy Li, Ashley

Margrey, Catherine Musumeci, and Cade Reed represented our school with their great success.

Bailey Otter had a great showing as well.

JCB Art Show

Who sets up for the Art Show? Students and Art Teachers

What are the dates? The Reception is Friday May 11th from 3:30 to 7pm

When can people visit? During the Friday event is the best time to visit so that you

can meet the artists.

Who gives out awards? Teachers, principals, the superintendent, and other staff

members. Students have also been known to make their own “informal” awards and

distribute them during the show.

DECA

By: Emilie Hilliard

Art News continued

I chose to interview Mr. Barrett. He is

the Photography, 2D design, and Studio

Art teacher. He grew up in Oklahoma

and Louisiana. He went to Bethany

College in Kansas for his Bachelor

Degree and majored in Art Education.

While Mr. Barrett attended Bethany

College, he met his wife and she is from

New York. Mr. Barrett moved to New

York, attended SUNY Oswego, and

r e c e i v e d h i s

Master’s degree in Education.

Mr. Barrett did not dream of growing up

to be an art teacher. He had the dream of

being a Fighter Jet pilot. When Mr. Bar-

rett has free time he uses that time to

draw, read, cook and spend time with his

wife and kids.

Mr. Barrett taught in the Oswego School

District for 1 year, at EJD in the Phoenix

School District for 6 years, and now he is

here at the high school. He is located

across the hall from Mrs. McLaughlin, in

room 131.

The biggest obstacle/challenge Mr.

Barrett faces this year (and past years) are

the musicals! Each year, Mr. Logee tells

him what time period the musical/play is

from and Mr. Barrett, as the main designer

for the sets, with help from his colleagues in

the art department, creates the set.

The advice that Mr. Barrett would offer to

students is “try your hardest even it is

hard.” If anyone needs someone to vent to,

go down to Mr. Barrett and he will listen

and help you sort things out and assist you

to the right people. If you are one of his

students and have a problem in his class, I

would suggest talking to him about it. I do

not know anyone who has a bigger heart

than Mr. Barrett.

I would suggest that underclassmen who

need an art credit take a few classes that

Mr. Barrett teaches! He has a good

teaching style for every kid and he will work

with you when you need it. He will never

deny help to a student, whether it is

related to classwork or life.

Interview with Mr. Barrett

By: Shania Meaker

Movie review: Thor Ragnarok

By: Sam Guthrie

Thor Ragnarok is an interesting entry into

the seemingly disillusioned franchise upon

which it is named. Unlike any of it's previous

entries, Ragnarok takes some surprising new

risks; such as choosing to discard the drab

and dreary disposition of it's predecessors in

favor of a more humorous tone. One that

lands often enough to be considered a good

decision.

The biggest thing Ragnarok manages to

change positively for the franchise could be

that it actually give life to it's characters

with personal motivation beyond what their

once archetyped role suggests. Thor himself

has a sort of breakthrough in character over

the course of the movie that seems long over-

due for this kind of established hero.

Unfortunately, the villain of the movie is that

and nothing more, the usual one-dimensional

bad guy who's bad simply because they’re

supposed to be.

While I am glad they decided to take this

movie into a different direction, there are

some glaring problems that serve as a sort of

counterbalance to the carefree innovation the

entry presents. Almost the entire first third

of the movie is spent tying up loose subplot

threads, introducing new ones just as quickly,

albeit partially in the fashion of a well-received

but honestly shoehorned in cameo. The CGI

looks iffy in some places, and could completely

fail a perceptive viewer’s expectations. Most

annoying would have to be Hulk's new voice. In

a surprising move by a movie with such an

expansive budget, Hulk speaks in nothing more

than a poorly autotuned version of Mark

Ruffalo's voice (Bruce Banner).

Overall this movie brings a lot to the table,

some of it good and some of it bad. Many

hardened fans will love this entry, and some

will hate it with a passion, but at the end of the

day, one cannot deny the new experience it

provides the audience for better or for worse.

RATING 6/10

To a Flower By: Sara Brunell

You would not ignore

A flower of many stems

Because it stands out

The Impact

The words they impact

They mold her to what they want

Not a compliment

It Grew into Greed

It starts out as nothing

Like a small, dormant seed

Then it grows into a monster

A terrifying breed

It’s called by many names:

Desire, want, avarice, greed

And it will alter your life

Greed is very scary, indeed.

If greed is an ocean

You’re just some seaweed

If greed is a jail

You will never be freed

If greed is your god

Then it won’t hear your plead

Let want control you

And it will succeed.

Shoot the basketball,

Get the rebound,

Off left,

Shoot 10 more times on the

right,

Swish,

Swoosh,

Money,

Swing at the baseball,

Miss,

Swing again,

10 more times,

WHAM,

BANG,

SMACK,

Three in a row,

Kick the soccer ball at the goal,

Right at the goalie,

10 more times,

Score,

Upper 90,

Be sensible,

Failure is acceptable,

Learn from the misses,

Failure is good or bad,

After failure,

We will be glad