Centennial Students Save Lives
By Tara Mobassari – Editor-in-Chief
On Wednesday May 3rd the Centennial Interact club had its annual blood drive. The blood drive was held in the Aldridge auditorium throughout the school day. Students signed up to donate prior to the blood drive. There were about 147 students who tried to donate blood and 107 who actually donated blood! Each person who donates their blood can actually help to save three lives.
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Photos by Jewel Goodly
In total Centennial students saved about 321 lives! Jill Taylor, a senior, while giving blood said “I’m very nervous to donate blood. But I just keep telling myself it’s a good cause.” it was Jill’s first time donating blood and she says that she will continue to do it in the future. Congratulations Centennial students for the astonishing number of lives you saved! Centennial students are making a difference day by day!
Cardboard Boats Require a Study in Physics
Cardboard Boat Race Day is celebrated each year at the Centennial pool. Physics students design a boat using only cardboard and tape. Each team then tries to successfully row their boat across the pool. The day is the talk of the school and an educational time is had by all.
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Photos by Madison Weldon and Chelsea Cross
David Briscoe Signs to William Penn University
Senior David Briscoe celebrated with family, coaches and teammates as he signed to the track team at William Penn University. He will be a freshman in the fall.
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Photos by Chelsea Cross
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Wowed the Crowds
By: Tara Mobasseri and Drew Warner
This year Centennial High school put on their annual spring musical. According to CHS choir teacher, Mrs. Wyatt, “Centennial has been putting on musicals for well over 40 years.” This year the thespian troupe, Mrs. Aldridge and Mrs. Wyatt decided on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as the spring musical. This musical is one that Centennial actually did a few years ago. “I think this production was very different from the last time Centennial did it,” said Michelle Caneva, who played a lead role as the narrator. “Our cast was much larger than I think they had previously, and I don’t think any cast had the heart and determination that we did!”
Joseph consisted of about 143 students, which is about 10% of Centennials population. Those 143 students range from actual cast members, to backstage crew, lighting and sound crew, and students involved in set construction. The show also consisted of about 40 middle/elementary school students who played a smaller but still very important role in the show. One special younger one is Ryan Gossett. He is an 8th grader at Jefferson Middle school and is very involved in musical theatre in the community. Ryan had a very large role in the show. He helped tie everything in show together, from playing a mini Joseph, to an ensemble member, and many more.
This rendition of Joseph incorporated many pop culture references, which Gossett took a large part in doing. From Elvis to Willy Wonka, you were sure to spot something you knew. The audience had a change to try to guess all of the ones they saw and then enter their name into a drawing. This was something not usually done in musicals.
Unlike many of the past musicals this musical had only one speaking line. Everything else was singing and dancing. This dynamic and crowd pleasing show was a hit with the cast and audience. The cast was overjoyed with a standing ovation at every show. The show also helped to raise approximately 2,500 dollars for the Clif Rocks foundation.
With three out of the four leads of the show as underclassmen we asked what can Centennial and the community expect next year from the Centennial drama department. “Expect them to be just as good or better. We have an incredible amount of talent. The more kids take choir or drama the better the shows will be,” Wyatt commented.
Mr. Charger!
By: Andrew A. Lee
Ever since the dawn of civilization was conceived, there has been one burdensome question that has plagued humanity for centuries now, and has even perplexed some of the world’s greatest minds ranging from Plato to Einstein: “Who is the most talented, beautiful, and fashionable male individual currently going to Centennial High School today?” That game-changing answer will be revealed at the Aldridge Auditorium on Saturday, April 28th, 2012, at 7:00 PM, when you witness the once-in-a-lifetime event Mr. Charger!
In case the reader does not know what the “Mr. Charger” event consists of, according to Rebecca Ferrer, a junior who helped organize the event, “Mr. Charger” is “kind of like a male beauty pageant. Contestants compete in categories such as formal wear, casual wear, talent, and questions. The guys all dance as well. Mr. Charger is the Centennial Dance Team’s main fundraiser each year. We perform at the event for the last time as a team for the season. Everyone should come to Mr. Charger because it is always tons of fun. A lot of the contestants perform humorous talents. Although the competition is judged by judges, most of the guys do better with the support of their friends and family. Everyone should come to Mr. Charger!”
This year’s Mr. Charger contestants consist of talented young men such as Seniors David Kessler, Trent Reeve, Drew Warner, Daniel Lee, Colt Skelton, Jeff Lazuka, Michael Martin, and Korey Frictel and Juniors Rami Ahmed and Cam White. When asked why he decided to compete in the event, Daniel Lee wryly responded “I’m just doing it to add more fun to my senior year.”
If these classy gentlemen are not enough reason to attend this year’s Mr. Charger, then at least go to support the Centennial Dance Team. “Mr. Charger is the Centennial Dance Team’s main fundraiser.” Says Rebecca Ferrer. “Funds raised help to support the team in attending camp, competitions, and costumes.”
So come to Mr. Charger, Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at 7:00 PM, at the Aldridge Auditorium, at Centennial High School!
Horoscopes
Capricorn:
December 22- January 19
Chris Olsen
School is ending and summer is approaching. It will ne very hard for you to focus in the final weeks of school, but push through because you are in for a very fun summer. You will meet many new people and have many new experiences, so open up to new things!
Aquarius:
January 20- February 18
Andy Drackley
You’re thinking you need a little money to blow this summer. Don’t worry you’ll score that perfect summer job. You’ll be bringing in the money and you’ll even meet tons of new people that you can go to that movie with that you can now afford.
Pisces:
February 19- March 20
Kassandra Rodriguez
You’ve had a rough school year, but don’t worry your summer will get better. You will have a very relaxing summer and meet someone that potentially could be a significant other to you. Go with the flow this summer and you will be sure to have a good time.
Aries:
March 21- April 19
Brittani & Brianna Musgrove
Lately you’ve just been feeling bored of life. Everything seems to be a routine for you. Change things up and buy yourself a few new outfits. People will notice and you’ll be feeling like a fresh new person. Life will start to seem exciting again!
Taurus:
April 20- May 20
Annie Regan
Be ready for tragedy to stike in your life. You are strong enough to overcome what is about to happen, but how you react to it is up to you. Let this situation make you stronger, take what good out of it that you can.
Gemini:
May21- June 20
Audrey Rodawig
You’ve been feeling tied up in a relationship lately. You’ll continue to feel restricted until you stand up for yourself. Tell them you need some time with some of your other friends. After some time away from eachother you’ll be dying to be with them again and you’ll be excited about your relationship again.
Cancer:
June 21- July 22
Bailey Kroppman
Don’t get stressed out as finals approach. You have worked hard all year and it is going to pay off. Look forward to the fun things coming up in your life and stay positive. Your luck is looking good in the future.
Leo:
July 23- August 22
Sara Regan
You’ll be required to make a huge decision soon. You’ll be stressed out for a few weeks. Just relax. Take it slow and try and think everything through. It will be some of the hardest few weeks you’ve had this year but in the end you’ll feel confident about the choice that you made.
Virgo:
August 23-September22
Corey Bilger
Love isn’t usually your thing, but in the coming months that will change. Someone will cross your path that is going to make you very happy. Cherish this time while it lasts, and treat them well so it lasts long.
Libra:
September23-October22
Artiam Kuchin
You’ve been feeling all alone lately. Take it into your own hands and put yourself out there. Try to meet someone new or try hanging out with a new group of friends. You’ll be feeling great again in no time.
Scorpio:
October 23-November21
Ryan Hunt
Coming down to the last few weeks of school you feel stressed to the max. Take a deep breath and relax. Make sure you set aside some time for your friends. They’ll help keep you sane and you’ll be relaxed enough to push through till the end.
Sagittarius:
November 22- December21
Fletcher Evans
You’re getting caught up in the social world like facebook and twitter and losing sight of what is really important in life. Stop looking up new tweets every 5 minutes and take time to hang out with friends and family. You’ll realize that none of the social drama is worth it and you’ll be so much happier with life.
Are You Getting Enough Rest?
By Hannah Ritchey – Editor in Chief
I know very few teenagers who wake up each morning feeling rested, unless it was an accident. But isn’t that the whole reason humans need sleep?
High school students always seem to snag the label reckless; whether it’s the music they listen to or the food they’re putting into their bodies, but what if the worst thing they’re doing is going to bed past 10:30? It seems a little ridiculous and don’t get me wrong, there are exceptions. However, sleep is a topic often overlooked because no one regards it as dangerous or life threatening. But the amount of sleep you get in one night directly affects almost everything you will do the next day. Senior, David Kessler says “I tell people the amount of sleep I get and they think I’m joking, but getting that much sleep is part of my regular routine. I’m cranky otherwise.”
Going to bed too late might cause you to sleep in fifteen minutes later when in reality those extra fifteen aren’t going to help you out as much as getting out of bed to grab a quick breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and an easy mistake to make early in the day. Once school starts drowsiness in class may start to become a problem and in some cases this can lead to bad grades. Humans in general are also more likely to make poor diet choices if they have not gotten the proper amount of sleep. The list goes on, but it’s easy to see how a day can go from fab to drab because you watched YouTube videos for an hour and a half longer than planned.
A lot of high schoolers are under the pressure of staying on the right track for college. Admissions to universities has become highly competitive and it isn’t just about grades anymore. “The more you can do, and the more you can do well, the better off you will be” seems to be a general thought when trying to prepare an application for admission into college. This can include a wide range of things, and whether it’s different sports, clubs, jobs, or volunteer work, one of each is usually not enough. So then the question becomes “How many sports?” “How many clubs?” With all of this to juggle, it is no wonder some high school students might find a little difficulty squeezing in an adequate amount of sleep each night. Not to say it isn’t possible but don’t forget about the many students also wanting to spend time with their friends.
So what is the best solution? What it all boils down to is time-management. While it isn’t always possible to get the recommended amount of 8 1/2- 9 1/2 hours each night, any little improvement is a start. Getting to little sleep is often the fact of putting off school work. While extra-curricular activities are important, grades still hold a higher level of importance. Time management isn’t just a skill that will help high schoolers get more sleep, it is a vital skill that will help you throughout your entire life. So why not start early? While it can take a while to get the ball rolling, having a set schedule and knowing how long you have to do things will make life a lot easier.
Eight to nine hours of sleep may seem like a lot for some people but baby steps can put you on the right track. Try new things like creating a normal bed time. While this may remind you of middle school, constancy in the amount of sleep you get can help energy levels throughout the day and start good habits for a lifetime.
Spring Films Offer Something For Everyone
By: Will James and Omar Sharif – Staff Writers
Now that spring has officially begun more movies are starting to be released. Movies like 21 Jump Street have already gotten great reviews. 21 Jump Street is an action-comedy based on two guys’ undercover scheme. The film stars Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum, who are spectacular throughout the entire movie. They pretend to be undercover cops who try to go in and bust a drug ring. They end up trying to change everything they had done wrong during their high school years.
“The comedy, 21 Jump Street may have been the funniest movie of the year thus far”, surprisingly said by student Eddie Rodzen, who is known to judge and critique most comedy films as lacking humor.
This movie has many things going on at one time. It shows how frantic of a life a teenager in high school could experience while also revealing the type of work undercover cops have to do. 21 Jump Street keeps even those out of high school feeling like they are right back in it. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill are the perfect crazy duo to prove it. The movie is rated R for profanity, violence and crude humor. I scored 21 Jump Street a stunning 8 out of 10.
Titanic, a movie that was actually just rereleased to commerate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ship, is another movie definitely worth watching. This movie is among the some of the greatest movies ever made and it is now being rereleased in 3D. Even though lots of people have seen this movie in their own homes, many people are thrilled to see this movie in theaters. When asked about her thoughts on the rereleasing of Titanic, Senior Katie Lindsey had this to say “I absolutely love this movie! Watching this movie in 3D is going to be so exciting, I can not wait to see it.” Also with the rereleasing of Titanic the movie has now surpassed the two million dollar mark in lifetime ticket sales.
Another movie that people are really excited for is The Avengers. This movie idea began to surface after the success of Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, and Thor. Even though people were really excited for these movies, there is even more excitement for The Avengers. This movie will have all of the Marvel Superheroes and because of this people like Usman Chaudhry, senior at Centennial, believe that “This movie will be the best one yet. It features all of the heroes that we like plus more.”
If you have been thinking about what movies to see soon 21 Jump Street, Titanic, and The Avengers are all really good movies. These three movies all fall into different categories. 21 Jump Street is an action-comedy while The Avengers is more of just action but if you are not into action movies and you prefer more romantic films then the Titanic is just right for you. These are just a few movies that people really want to see and there are many spring movies worth watching.
Game of Thrones: The Game Returns
By Lexi Zahrn – Staff Writer
On April 1, 2012 the world of television welcomed back a fantasy masterpiece. HBO’s series “Game of Thrones,” from producers D.B. Weiss and David Benioff, and adapted from George R. R. Martin’s acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire swept the nation under fire last Spring. With ten heart-wrenching, hour-long installments “Game of Thrones’” first season established a cult following of the same sort of fanatics that loved the film adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter. Like the other literature to film adaptations “Game of Thrones” already had a fan base before the first season premiere. George R. R. Martin’s series currently spans five novels, and he is not finished yet. Readers are ecstatic to see his world come to life on screen.
HBO’s plan seems to be to turn each A Song of Ice and Fire novel into a television season. This worked extremely well with first season which captured Martin’s first novel in the series A Game of Thrones to a ‘t.’ The second season is supposed to encompass Martin’s second novel in the series A Clash of Kings.
The second season promises a repertoire of strong female characters to accompany the abundance of ‘tough as nails’ men. When asked in an interview how George R. R. Martin was able to write female characters so well, he replied, “Well, I always saw women as people too.” The man spares no details when writing for the conniving Queen Circe Lannister played by Lena Heady, or fan-favorite Daenerys Targaryen played by young British actress Emilia Clarke. The first season left both of these women in positions of immense power, and it will be interesting to see what they do with it. Viewers will find that there are no damsels in distress in Westeros— Martin’s fantasy world where the series takes place.
Other fans are looking forward to seeing more of Tyrion Lannister played by Peter Dinklage who won both and Emmy and a Golden Globe for his Best Supporting Actor role. Tyrion is the vertically challenged brother of Queen Circe. His quick mind and sharp tongue make him an easy favorite within the show’s fandom. Senior Tyler Knoblett says, “I expect that there will be a lot of character development for Tyrion.” He has read the books religiously and therefore has an advantage over the plot lines of the HBO series, but he is still an avid watcher.
Senior Will Katsinas enjoys that HBO, “puts a whole new spin on incest.” There is definitely a profusion of ‘interesting’ issues that take place in Westeros, but these topics of mild discomfort do not dissuade viewers from tuning in every Sunday night to watch the show. Bonds are formed between the five prominent families of Westeros and the fanbase. Like Harry Potter’s Gryfindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, “Game of Thrones” has House Stark, Lannister, Targaryen, Greyjoy, Tully, and Tyrell. These houses battle for the throne with words, and in this season: swords and daggers. Knoblett theorizes that, “the forces will come to a climax. A conflict will have to be resolved, and basically there will be a [gigantic] battle.”
The series is truly fantastic, it provides engaging characters and a perfect distraction until the pain of the ending of the Potter franchise goes away, or the new Hobbit movie comes out. It might even spark a new obsession. Tune into HBO on Sunday nights at nine o’clock to see an epic battle for the crown in “Game of Thrones.”
Book Review: Impulse
By Megan Wolter – Opinions Eidtor
Impulse by Ellen Hopkins
What does it take for someone to want to and follow through with committing suicide? Being bullied in school, sexually abused as a child, striving for perfection and falling short? In Ellen Hopkins’s book, Impulse, the sometimes taboo topic of teenagers committing suicide is talked about. The novel follows the stories of Conner, Vanessa and Tony: three teens that tried to kill themselves, failed and ended up at Aspen Springs, a place where they are supposed to work through all of their problems. The question now is: will they succeed in getting better or will they just fall back into their old ways?
When I finished this book, I wasn’t really sure how I felt about it. It was a book that left the reader satisfied that the characters had gotten to the place they were supposed to, but sad because they didn’t want that ending. Overall, I would recommend this book for anyone that is interested, but it wasn’t one of Ellen Hopkins’s best books. It gives insights into the life of someone that strives to be perfect, but will never get there; a cutter with a family history of mental illness; and one that had their childhood stolen from them and is now struggling with their sexual identity. So while not everyone can relate to these, it can remind us of how lucky we are and how we need to be thankful for that. Ellen Hopkins’s writing style is also different from most because she writes in poetic verse, which many will like because it makes the book move faster and uses simple words and dialogue to convey a bigger meaning.
Also by this author:
Crank
Burned
Identical
Glass
Tricks
Fallout
Perfect
Coming Soon: Tilt
