The Chief Online October 2012

By Jessica Ping

On the first day of school this year, Mr. Bohm talked at our assembly about giving Pontiac a name or “Putting Pontiac on the Map.” I think this speech was very important for the student body to hear. In my opinion, it got us thinking that it is possible for people our age to do something important and make a difference. All it takes is getting involved and putting your best foot forward at all times. In my recent interview with Mr. Bohm, I asked him what “Putting Pontiac on the Map” meant to him. In response, he said, “As a school, we need to work with the parents, community service organizations, city, county, and state in order to make Pontiac well known.” Schools with the highest education programs in America have a close relationship with their whole community, which gives the extra “oomf” they need to be successful. One easy way to help in our goal is to turn to the back of your handbook and read the “Expectations for Success” which gives us advice like, “Be Respectful, Be Prepared, Be Involved, and Be On Time.” By just doing these four simple things as a student body, we can start our task head on. These skills are crucial to our present and our futures! We already have many academic and extracurricular

successes throughout the school, but it‟s important to remember that our success comes from previous classes. “Now it is our turn to continue the tradition and make sure PTHS is better when we leave than when we arrived,” says Mr. Bohm. This is very true. This is our generation. Do we want to be remembered as the ones who brought Pontiac down and left it up to the next generation to clean up our mess? Of course not! This is our one chance at a great four years of high school, so let‟s all do something great this year!

Inside this Issue:

Inside this issue:

Mr. Bohm, PTHS Principal

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Homecoming 2

Music Dept. Update

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Upperclass Acts 4

Student Teachers 5

Eco Watch 6

Movie Review Dr. Yates Library Ask Trippy

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CD Review Fire Hydrants

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Pontio Magazine

Sales

Click HERE

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P O N T I A C T O W N S H I P H I G H S C H O O L

Putting PTHS on the Map

FFA Update By Jordan Johns To kick off the month of September, Pontiac FFA had plans to be at the Thresherman‟s Reunion. Although we assisted the gang at Rusty‟s Drive In and walked in the parade, the rain did not permit our annual petting zoo. On September 19, seven greenhands and our officer team went to the Interstate Center in Normal to attend Section 9‟s Leadership Training School. The greenhands learned about the process of getting grain from the field to the table along with the careers that make the steps happen. State FFA Officer Tyson Schulte taught greenhands leadership games and ice breakers. While the greenhands were getting excited about being FFA members, our Pontiac Officer Team worked on their Projected Outline of Activities for the year (POA). The POA serves as an outline of activities the chapter plans to do this year, with an emphasis on the ideas of student development, chapter development, and community development. Pontiac FFA‟s September meeting was held on the evening of LTS in downtown Pontiac. For our activity, students participated in a four-block scavenger hunt. The students had to find the answers to questions including “What was the name of the former auto company that was once located where the library is?” and “What restaurant is known for pies?” Special guests Section 9 President Sam Detwile and State Treasurer Tyson Schulte joined the scavengers. The Land-Use Team competed at the ISU Farm on September 25 and placed third. Our next chapter meeting is October 17.

FFA members during the business portion of the September Chapter meeting in downtown Pontiac.

Click HERE for the PTHS FFA Website

An Interview with Homecoming King Ben Weber

By Brett Dunlap

Recently, I had the lucky opportunity to interview PTHS football star and 2012 Homecoming King Benjamin Weber and see what he thought of Homecoming Week. BD – “How does it feel to be the 2012 PTHS Homecoming King?” BW – “I feel so honored, but more than anything I feel so shocked that I was voted to be the king. I‟m very fortunate to have so many friends.” BD – “Besides being named King, what was your favorite part about Homecoming Week?” BW – “Getting groovy at the dance, of course!” BD – “Did you enjoy this year‟s theme for the dance?” BW – “Yeah, it was the best dance I‟ve been to in my whole high school career.” BD – “What was your favorite Homecoming student activity?” BW – “Being a commentator for the Powder Puff game was really fun, so I‟d say that day.” BD – “What did you think about the football game?” BW – “Although it was a rough game, I still had a lot of fun playing with all the guys.” BD – “Anything else you‟d like to say to the people of PTHS?” BW – “Just thanks to everyone for making it such an awesome last Homecoming.”

Click HERE to view the

“Spread the Word to End the Word” Video featuring PTHS students!

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Music Department Update

By Austin Bristow The month of September was a busy one for the Marching Indians. On September 8

th the band

traveled to Washington, IL, to compete in The 26th

Annual Marching Panther Invitational Field Competition. The Indians performed their show “American Rhapsody,” and came home that night with the 2

nd place trophy in Class AAA and Best

Auxiliary in Class AAA. The next weekend PTHS hosted seventeen visiting bands for the 9

th Annual

Indian Showdown. The Washington Community High School Marching Panthers were awarded the Grand Champion trophy after performing their fantastic show “Magical Mystery Tour – The Music of the Beatles.” On Tuesday the 25

th the Marching Band

and Concert Choir took a field trip for their annual “Tour of Schools.” The Music Department traveled around the Livingston County area to elementary schools, and performed for teachers and student to gain interest in the fine arts. The Chorus Department continues to practice and prepare for the upcoming Fall Choir Concert, scheduled for Sunday October 21. The concert will feature the Concert Choir, Men‟s Choir, the two female choirs, Madrigal Singers, and PTHS‟s newest singing group, the barbershop quartet, We‟ll Take It From Here.

Click HERE or the Music Department‟s website

Student Survey:

My Favorite Halloween Costume…

Kelly Fraher: a Sumo Wrestler

Daniel Cortez: a cheerleader

Megan Davies: a killer whale

Jack Hoving: Spongebob Squarepants

Jordan Grieff: a Hershey‟s Kiss

Abby Follmer: Katniss Everdeen

Casey Prewitt: Cookie Monster

Chloe Mayback: a lightbulb

Micheil Shelby: Superman

Lacey Kaminski: a ghost

Ross Bressner: a STUD

Diana Salinas: a cowgirl

Garrett Lyons: a ketchup bottle

Kalee DeLong: Freddie Krueger‟s wife

Neil Lambert: a chick magnet

Maddie Grundler: myself

Above: PTHS student work with grade schoolers at the 2012 Ag Expo

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Madison Jacobs NICKNAMES: Maddie, Madds ROLE MODELS: My parents ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Band, softball, CAPTAINS, HOSA FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Band trip to Florida

Upperclass Acts

3 MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Friends, family, music PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Attend ISU and major in Nursing FAVORITE MOVIE: Life As We Know It MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Landslide” by the Dixie Chicks FAVORITE TEACHER/COURSE: Mrs. Murphy/Health FAVORITE BOOK/AUTHOR: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Receiving the CNA award at the end of the year.

PET PEEVE: When people breathe loud. WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: Chicken strips… HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? I would buy a house in Bora Bora and save the rest. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? Phone, water, and magazines. LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Enjoy high school. It goes way too fast!”

Alex Friedman

NICKNAME: “Friedo” ROLE MODEL: My Dad ACTIVITIES @ PTHS: Student Council, CAPTAINS, football, wrestling, baseball FONDEST MEMORY OF HIGH SCHOOL SO FAR: Creating good relationships with many people and having success after much hard work. MAJOR AREAS OF INTEREST: Athletics, grades, and how to invest in a teleporter PLANS AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: Attend a university and wrestle. FAVORITE MOVIE(S): The Avengers and all associated movies. MOST INSPIRATIONAL SONG: “Anthem for the Underdog” by 12 Stones

FAVORITE TEACHER/COURSE: Mr. Nollen/Anatomy, AP Biology FAVORITE BOOK/AUTHOR: The Art of War by Sun Tzu MOST POSITIVE MOMENT: Having success in wrestling and going to State. PET PEEVES: Not hitting “clear” once done with the microwave. WHAT MY FRIENDS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT ME: I was a very focused and hard worker. HOW WOULD YOU SPEND $1,000,000? Put $800,000 in savings, donate $100,000 to charity, and spend $100,000 over time. IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON A DESERT ISLAND, WHAT 3 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU? A knife, a rope, and a backpack

LAST WORDS OF ADVICE: “Whatever you do, do it to the best of your abilities.”

Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve

Student Teachers Fall 2012: English Department

Ms. Siefert By Cassidy Murphy If you are in Mrs. Jones‟s English class you most likely know her student teacher, Ms. Siefert, who comes from ISU. When asked why she chose to teach English, she said she enjoys learning new things and teaching them to other people. Some of her hobbies other than teaching are reading, traveling, and watching movies. Her favorite part of the experience so far is that PTHS students are willing to learn. She says the atmosphere of our school reminds her a lot of her high school. So, if you pass by and see Ms. Siefert, make sure to give her a warm welcome!

Mr. Hastings

By Jessica Ping Mr. Hastings is the new student teacher this semester for Mr. Soares. A high school graduate from Lena-Winslow High School in Lena, Illinois, he has always been interested in teaching. He says that while growing up he was always in a position of authority, including positions as a camp counselor and a swimming instructor. Mr. Hastings is currently finishing up his English Education degree at Illinois State University. He also will have a minor in History and therefore will be certified to teach it as well. Some future goals of his are to become an English high school teacher somewhere in Illinois and to eventually further his education. Let‟s welcome Mr. Hastings to our school and wish him luck as he soon starts searching for a job of his own!

Students in Action: Sociology students complete community service projects at the Walldog Museum and Pontiac Oakland Museum.

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Our Superintendent: Mr. Kilgore

By Charles Spencer Last year, Mr. Kilgore was in his seventh year of governing the student body of our high school. This year, he is the head of all financial and major decisions of our district as superintendent. While the position is more focused on school financing and budgeting, the entire purpose of the money he manages is to benefit the entire school population: faculty and students. “My obligation is focused on serving the students by providing them with the best resources possible both financial and material to sustain a healthy learning environment.” In light of the state‟s current financial situation, the greatest challenge for Mr. Kilgore and his department is finding intuitive ways to save money. A product of this strive to cut back on expenses is the new heating and cooling system that was installed over last summer. The system is said to be more energy efficient and will prove itself as a worthwhile investment in the next few years. More major projects are to come in the next few years under the intuitive leadership of our new superintendant: Mr. Kilgore.

Saw You at the Pole By Jessica Ping It‟s that time of year again! No, not fall, but see you at the pole! Every year on September 26

th a group of

students come to the flag pole and pray about whatever they need to get off their shoulders. It all began at a school in Texas with a handful of students just like us, and now it has spread across the country and is celebrated every year by many students. This year we sang songs together and helped each other with our problems. It was a great experience and a fun time!

Eco Watch

By Baylee Ritter PTHS has been getting a lot of press and airtime over a certain P2D2 project, but watch out Pill Bottle Phil, there is a new kid in town. Operation Endangered Species and its amazingly snappy mascot have entered our illustrious halls. But we aren‟t the only school putting the snap back on the map; other schools are catching the wave of the future with this brand new and innovative project. This environmental endeavor has put the future of a regionally endangered and locally extinct species of turtle into the ever-capable hands of students. Now you might think to yourself, why trust a bunch of kids with the future existence of a species?? Well, why not us? Now there is a rumor around the hallways about these turtles that I would like to address. The rumor is that turtles have magical powers that as soon as you stare deeply into their eyes you abruptly and immediately fall head over heels with them. I am here to say now that this rumor is utterly TRUE! They might not be the prettiest things to look at but they still make you want to help them. There is another rumor I hear floating around PTHS that most think probably got started by Mr. Ritter himself. We now know that Mr. Soares and Mr. Ritter can‟t keep a secret very well. They worked very hard this summer to accomplish a feat most wouldn‟t attempt to try. They applied for a grant that they wrote together for $100,000 to help aid in the reestablishment of these turtles. With the writing skills of Mr. Soares and the expertise of Mr. Ritter, they did it! They got $100,000 dollars from State Farm for a species that most don‟t know about. I am proud to announce that students from our high school will be partnering with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and students from approximately twelve schools throughout Illinois. This network will raise turtles in classrooms and then release them in May back to their historic watershed in Southern Illinois. Great job to all of the students who have been working on this already! Click HERE for the Turtle Cam!

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Roadtrip Nation Visits PTHS

Thanks to a quick thinking Mr. Woith who spotted the Roadtrip

Nation RV in Walmart‟s parking lot, the crew stopped by PTHS to meet

students and encourage them to make good choices. Check out the

Roadtrip Nation website HERE.

Photo courtesy of Disney Pictures

Click HERE to see the official movie website

Movie Review:

The Odd Life of Timothy Green By Vince Murphy Director Peter Hedges brings to life an interesting story of a couple (played by Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton) who just found out some disappointing news: their dream of becoming parents will not come true. Because this news comes at a time when the town‟s main factory is failing, it seems to the couple that everything is working against them. That‟s when they decide to write down their long-held hopes and dreams for the child they won‟t have. They put this paper in a box and bury it in their garden. Of course, this would not be a Disney movie without something miraculous happening. This occurs when the buried box becomes a young boy, their new son, Timothy Green. Timothy is everything they dreamed of in a child and the couple tries to quickly learn to be good parents. Timothy not only teaches the couple life lessons, he also teaches many of people in the Green family and the small town of Stanleyville important lessons. (Spoiler alert)While the parents think Timothy is their miracle, he holds the secret that his time is limited, and the real miracle is yet to come. Overall, this was a decent movie and if you are looking for a witty and inspirational movie then The Odd Life of Timothy Green is the movie for you.

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The New Dr. Ronald J. Yates Library

By Chloe Boden As many of you probably noticed, our library has been completely renovated. Many of you probably have questions regarding why the library was changed and who Dr. Yates was. I too had those questions, so I caught up with Mrs. Mueller who works in our library alongside Mrs. Bristow to ask her some questions about the changes. Who was Dr. Ronald J. Yates? Dr. Yates was superintendent at Pontiac Township High School from 1983 until he retired in 2002. He was also an associate professor of education administration at Illinois State University. Dr. Yates served the school and the Pontiac community in many ways. He was a member of the PTHS District #90 Education Foundation, Illinois Association of School Administrators, served on the Board of Directors for OSF Hospital, was a member of Pontiac Rotary, Chairman of the Board for Pontiac Chamber of Commerce, and assisted with United Way. What changes were made to the library and why? The library received a complete makeover with new carpet, new paint, a remodeled circulation desk, a new layout created by Brittany Hilleary, new lounge furniture and study tables, and artwork by Luke Bartosik. The changes came about because money was donated to the school district to update the library from the Dr. Ronald J. Yates Foundation, a memorial fund. The PTHS Education Foundation voted to match the funds donated by the Yates Foundation. In addition, the PTHS maintenance department and the PTHS Student Council donated money to complete the project. The PTHS Board of Education also voted to contribute funds. Many community members donated as well. What was the reasoning behind the new library? Our school mission statement talks about our commitment to developing students as "adaptive learners, global thinkers, and responsible citizens through collaboration across our school community." Our main goal in redesigning the library was to create a space that promotes those objectives. The new library provides students with space to connect and collaborate with each other and with people and ideas from around the world. As PTHS moves into the final phases of the one-to-one netbook program, it was decided that the library computer lab was no longer needed. This provided much needed space to create a flexible work environment for students and teachers. The tables and chairs can be rearranged for individual learning, small group learning, or can be used for class instruction. The space is also a great gathering place for school and community meetings. What all went into the renovations of the new library? The renovations were very extensive. In order to replace the carpet, asbestos tiles had to be removed from the floor. Everything in the library had to be removed in order to replace these tiles and install the new carpet. In addition, the library was repainted, the furniture was replaced, and the shelving was rearranged. The maintenance staff spent many hours over the summer working on the renovations. What do you think of the new changes? The changes are great! Not only does the room look fantastic, it is a much more functional, comfortable work space for students and teachers. Many students come to the library during their study halls. In fact, we are at capacity almost every hour.

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Ask Trippy Dear Trippy, I have a problem and I don‟t know what to do about it. I‟m being bullied by this group of people and I‟m afraid to tell anyone. I don‟t want people to think I‟m weak or think that I‟m a snitch. My family is starting to notice that there is something wrong with me. What should I do? Sincerely, Scared and Alone Dear Scared and Alone, I would like to start off by saying that I‟m sorry that you are being bullied. The best option is to tell someone. If they truly care for you, they will not look down on you or think that you are weak. If anything, they will be outraged and want to help. Telling someone about others bullying you is not snitching. If it is so bad that it is affecting your health then you definitely need to tell someone. You don‟t need to feel embarrassed or scared about going to someone. It takes a great burden away from you after you talk about it. You aren‟t alone anymore. There is someone else to be in your corner with you and help you out. Sincerely yours, Trippy

Student Showcase: “Maxims”

If you can‟t out run your problems, roll down a hill.

– Aubrie Taylor

Cookies from unknown sources have no business in your mouth. – Nick Smith

Don‟t put your clothes on backwards. You‟ll look stupid.

– Lauren Mehrkens

Be kind or be quiet. – Rachel Lauritsen

Having your phone out can make teachers pout. – Rachel Lauritsen

Make sure your words are sweet because you might have to eat them later. – Brianna Miller

Rub some dirt on it and get back in the game. – Kennedy Vilt

Don‟t reopen a bad can of worms. – Sarah Albertson

If you go the extra mile it could take awhile.

– Alyssa Nestor

Sports: What Madden Curse?

By Adam Shelton MEGATRON! Over the last year, Megatron has become a household name for sports fans everywhere. Calvin Johnson is the pure athleticism of a sports god. His rare combination of size, hands, speed, strength, leaping ability, body control and hand-eye coordination will make him a yearly contender for MVP. In college, Johnson attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and played for the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech. After being named with All-American honors for the second consecutive year, Johnson declared for the 2007 NFL Draft. Coming out of his junior season, Calvin Johnson was hyped to be one of the best college wide receivers of all time. Although Calvin was regarded as most athletic and highly talented player in the draft, he was chosen second overall behind Oakland Raiders bust, JaMarcus Russell. Without a doubt, Megatron has been through ups and downs while playing for Detroit. In his second season, Johnson and the Lions finished the first ever 0-16 season in NFL history. Two years later, in 2010, Johnson led the turnaround of the team as he set the franchise record for most receiving touchdowns in a single season with 16. A year later, Johnson led the entire NFL in receiving yards. He is a 2X Pro Bowler and was named the cover athlete of Madden 13. Four weeks into the 2012 NFL season, Megatron is leading the NFL in receiving yards and is on his way to a third consecutive Pro Bowl. It is safe to say that Calvin Johnson is the only thing Detroit has going good for them, besides Big Sean of G.O.O.D. music.

Look for the print version of

The Chief in The Pontiac Daily Leader

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Music Review: Feed the Fire with Brandon Parmely of Remission

By Brett Dunlap I could think of no better album to review this month than the newly released Feed the Fire by Remission. The Pontiac-based band, comprised of former PTHS students Dalton McKinley, Brandon Parmely, Nick Scott, Jesse Sporrer, and Brandon Hodge, enter the musical spotlight with a bang. Feed the Fire is a heavy rock album of eight songs. I definitely suggest that everyone finds a way to get this album. I consider the best songs to be “Feed the Fire”, “Funhouse”, “Summer Playlist”, and my personal favorite is “Say Anything”. The currently unsigned band definitely put their name on the map with this great piece of music. I had a chance to get an interview with Brandon Parmely who writes the songs, sings backing vocals, and plays the guitar with the band. BD – “What‟s your favorite track on the album and why? BP – “Hmm...I‟d probably say Track 2, “Funhouse”. I wrote it based on my experience in high school and how fake people can be. The idea was to make the hook for the song to be extremely catchy so that it was just like peer pressure drawing you in.” BD – “What‟s been the most memorable experience for you and the band so far?” BP – “Probably going to the studio. It‟s a lot of hard work and takes plenty of patience, but the end result turned out a lot different than what we expected (in a good way).”. BD – “Who do you consider to be your biggest musical inspiration?” BP – “As far as a band goes, I‟m inspired by the rock band Rush because they are three of the most incredible musicians I‟ve ever heard, and for a guitar idol it would be Randy Rhoads because even though he had an untimely death at 25, he still accomplished more than most musicians do in their whole career span.” BD – “Are you and the band in the process of making another album?” BP – “Yeah, we actually have been working on second album material since about February I believe, and we have about 8 or 9 songs already in the works plus more.” BD – “What‟s the next step for you and the band?” BP – “Well I personally hope to be signed to a label before the second album is released and if not that early then continue with the second album and release it within the next two years and HOPEFULLY be on the road by next year at the latest.”

The Chief Staff

Chloe Boden, Editor-in-

Chief

Taylor Araujo Dena Boatman Austin Bristow

Jack Hoving Jordan Johns

Cassidy Murphy Vincent Murphy

Jessica Ping Baylee Ritter

Adam Shelton Charles Spencer Jordan Triplett

Mr. Soares, Faculty Sponsor

GO INDIANS!

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Sociology Collaborates with Pontiac Fire Department

By Trevor Runyon

The Sociology classes teamed with the Pontiac Fire Department September 22nd and 28th to repaint the tops of Pontiac‟s fire hydrants. PTHS Sociology classes, taught by Megan Bozarth, are required to perform community service both as part of her curriculum and to make our community a better place to live. The firefighters themselves are the people who usually go out and paint the hydrants, but they don‟t always have time to do them, so that is where the volunteers come in to help serve “Pontiac‟s Bravest.” Students don‟t always get out in our community to see what really goes on or how it functions in everyday life, so doing this project was really helpful to not only us, but to the Pontiac Fire Department as well. “After learning that the kids in the Sociology class needed community service hours, I immediately thought of a project that we, the Pontiac Fire Dept., have trouble getting accomplished from year to year, painting fire hydrants,” stated Interim Chief Scott Runyon. Starting out at 8 am on Saturday morning, a group of students went out in small groups and began painting hydrants specific colors depending on the water pressure. The fire hydrants are flow tested to show the amount of water available from each hydrant for fire fighting. Once the flow test is completed, the tops of the hydrants are painted a color to match. For example, a Blue top quickly tells us that that particular hydrant flows over 1,500 gallons of water per minute, a green top tells us that the hydrant flows 1,000 to 1,500 gallons per minute, and so on up to five different colors. The paint is a valuable tool for the firefighters to quickly see and pick a hydrant when time is crucial, which is a huge benefit for the department. The students were able within the two days to complete 288 fire hydrants with 169 on the first Saturday by 12 students, and 119 hydrants on the second Saturday with only 7 students. “I am so proud of my students! They willingly took on this project and did an incredible job painting those hydrants. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Pontiac Fire Department. These kids are fulfilling our school‟s

mission statement „Enter to Learn. Depart to Serve‟ to become responsible citizens. Our community service project has become a fun assessment, and I hope my students will continue to serve their community after high school,” stated Mrs. Bozarth. Chief Runyon also stated that he could not believe what we achieved. Volunteers included Trevor Runyon, Melisa Trout, Alex Friedman, Dallas Burns, Josh Anderson, Kalee DeLong, Gracen Giordano, Abby Follmer, Angie Barrett, Alex Ruiz, Nikki Mills, Jessie Finkenbinder, Brayden Cain, Athena Anderson, and Sarah Stalter. We appreciate the students‟ time and energy for completing what they have and for giving up Saturday morning(s) to help out their community. A big thank you goes out to the firefighters who gave up their Saturdays to drive the students around town. We could not have done this adventure without them!

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