Alex Hauser

I wanted to be a lawyer. As a rebellious seven year old, a career where I could argue with everyone and not get in trouble was a dream come true. When I got reprimanded for talking back to my parents, my apology always consisted of Im sorry, but Im just practicing being a lawyer. But that dream quickly vanished the day that I learned of that dreaded BAR exam. And I quickly decided that career wasnt for me. Luckily, I soon found out that I loved to write when my daily writing prompts in third grade seemed to go on for pages, when all the other kids could only muster a measly half page. I wanted to be the next J.K. Rowling after reading my first Harry Potter book. So I started writing. I took on the role of the tortured writer, always carrying around my Lisa Frank notebook and choosing to sit underneath the jungle gym to write during recess. I would write and write, positive that I had the next best-seller in the making for a couple pages. Then I would think of another plot. So I would scrap the old one and start over. But never finishing was frustrating, and my third grade self decided to take a break to meditate. In fourth grade, I tried my luck at script writing. I wrote a play for my teacher, who was on maternity leave at the time. Our substitute let us take some time during each day to rehearse, and then when she returned, we performed it at her welcome back party. But by the time middle school rolled around, I decided I was more mature and disciplined and decided to try my luck at novels again. I was having the same issue. I just couldnt stick to one plot line for that long. The point is, my attention span isnt something to be proud of. Im passionate, but I get distracted easily and change my mind. And thats where I found the beauty in journalism. I can pour my heart and soul into each article I write or design I create. And before I tire of it, its finished and I can start with something new. When my eighth grade teacher first handed me the application, I didnt think it was something I would like. Writing newspaper articles seemed boring. I wanted to tell stories. But over the years, I learned that I can tell the most important stories. I can tell about the student with down-syndrome who graduated with a regular diploma. Or how the buses arent just a transportation system, theyre the reason some students can graduate and succeed. These stories surpass the ones of the Boy Who Lives and the Wallflower. They tell the struggles and the joys of real people. I learned that everyone has a story; you just had to dig deep enough and find the right angle. Journalism was made for the hyperactive, indecisive people like me. Ive stopped springing from hobby to hobby trying to discover myself. Ive found it. I found my niche.

Conventions Ive Attended

NSPA

SIPA

Washington D.C Columbia, SC Minneapolis 2010 San Antonio 2012

Tuscaloosa, AL 2009 2010 2011 2012

ASPA

Writing
The Northridge Reporter
March 8, 2012
Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief Allison Gabriel, senior, never quits. She said she tries to do everything a hundred and ten percent, whether it is basketball or studying for classes. Allisons mom, Susan Gabriel, said that passing the graduation

Senior strives towards excellence despite limitations

Passing the exit exams
exam was just another goal to accomplish, and they had God behind her. That was just my goal for her, to graduate. I knew God was going to let her. For her to get where she is, she works hard, Susan said. Allison passed her last portion of the exit exams, the history portion, during the first semester of her senior year. I felt absolutely amazing, and when I passed it, I thought I was smarter than anyone, which I am, because Im a senior, she said, laughing. Her mother said she likes to study. She likes to write. She wrote facts over and over again. Thats how she passed the history part. Allisons sister, Beth, said that she was really excited when Allison passed the history portion. I know shes a hard worker and all of her hard work paid off, Beth said. She has a really good memory. She remembers everything. I knew she could [pass] it. I ask God to help us win all the games. Thats why we had a great season, she said. Allison has been playing basketball since she was six and played on the schools girls basketaball team. Ive been playing for a long time, but Im ten times better than when I first started playing, she said. It helps me make new friends, and I like having something to focus on. Susan said Allison practices all the time when she is at home. She has always liked playing. In sixth grade she got a basketball clipboard and was researching basketball plays, Susan said. Allison is an encourager to her teammates and they encourage her in return. I try to keep the team motivated when they feel down because they do the same for me, she said. We all love each other like sisters, were a Northridge family. Susan said she had the team behind her, and their support helped her score three goals during the season. The whole team cheers her on. When she scored, they jumped up and high fived her. They encourage her during practice, too, she said. Shes a good cheerleader. She has confidence in everyone. They can do anything. She gets discouraged because she cant run as fast as anyone, but its just because shes 4 10. During a game at Hillcrest, the coach called her to go into the game, but she had to take off a bracelet she had on after a Christian conference. I didnt want to take it off because I wanted to tell my friends about the next conference. It was a reminder, Allison said. My mom yanked it off my arm. She knew I was going to score. And

Beat

Basketball

I did. Beth said she loved watching Allison play during the season. Shes really enthused about playing. Its her senior year and shes excited to play. You can just see that shes having fun, she said. I get so nervous [when I watch her play]. Whenever she gets the ball I get an adrenaline rush. I want her to score so badly.

Friendships

Photo by: Beth Allaway Allison Gabriel, senior, guides her team to victory against Hillcrest on Jan. 20. The team went on to beat Hillcrest 7150.

Allison said she knew she would pass it because she had God on her side. My mom told everyone to pray that I would pass the exit exams, and God answered our prayers, she said. I really wanted to graduate, so it was important that I passed. God helped me with that. Beth said Allison prays for everything, big or small. I pray because I feel like Im talking to God about what is going on in my life. I know He cares. He always helps me with my struggles and gets me out of darkness, Allison said. Allison even prays for her basketball team, who went 25 and 6 this season.

Relationship with God

Allison said she has a really strong relationship with her sister, and they dont fight, they just pick on each other. We dont fight nearly as much as other sisters do. We get along really well, Beth said. Allison and Beth encourage each other in everything they do. I just feel that Im glad to know that somebodys always there to support me. I like knowing shes always there for me. Shes my biggest fan, Beth said. Susan said that Allison has a heart like Jesus and is friends with everybody. Shes very friendly. She loves being around people and knows everybodys name, Susan said. Beth said that Allison is a big role model because she is very forgiving and loves everybody. Allison is that type of person that knows everyone, whether they know her or not. I tell everyone that you could go punch her in the face, and she will still love you. She never holds a grudge, even when she should, Beth said. Allison said that she was meant to be friends with everybody. God told me to be friends with people, so I am, she said. Susan said that her philosophy is not to set limits, to try it and fail, instead of not trying at all. When it comes back to it, we just used what was given to us. We would focus on what she needed to work with, she said.

Alexs story meant a lot to me because it really expressed Allison well. It showed her positives instead of her disability.
http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com/

Feature
March 8, 2012 Volume 9 Issue 6

Junior
Passing the Grad Exams Allison Gabriel, senior, never quits. [She tries] to do everything a hundred and ten percent, whether it is basketball or studying for classes. Allisons mom, Susan Gabriel, said that passing the graduation exam was just another goal to accomplish, and they had God behind her. That was just my goal for her, to graduate. I knew God was going to let her. For her to get where she is, she works hard, Susan said. Allison passed her last portion of the exit exams, the history portion, during the first semester of her senior year. I felt absolutely amazing, and when I passed it, I thought I was smarter than anyone, which I am, because Im a senior, she said, laughing. Her mother said she likes to study. She likes to write. She wrote facts over and over again. Thats how she passed the history part.

-Beth Gabriel

Allisons sister, Beth, said that she was really excited when Allison passed the history portion. I know shes a hard worker and all of her hard work paid off, Beth said. She has a really good memory. She remembers everything. I knew she could [pass] it. Relationship with God Allison said she knew she would pass it because she had God on her side. My mom told everyone to pray that I would pass the exit exams, and God answered our prayers, she said. I really wanted to graduate, so it was important that I passed. God helped me with that. Beth said Allison prays for everything, big or small. I pray because I feel like Im talking to God about what is going on in my life. I know He cares. He always helps me with my struggles and gets me out of darkness, Allison said. Allison even prays for her basketball team, who went 25 and 6 this season.

I ask God to help us win all the games. Thats why we had a great season, she said. Basketball Allison has been playing basketball since she was six, and is currently on the schools team. Ive been playing for a long time, but Im ten times better than when I first started playing, she said. It helps me make new friends, and I like having something to focus on. Susan said Allison practices all the time when she is at home. She has always liked playing. In sixth grade she got a basketball clipboard and was researching basketball plays, Susan said. She would look up plays and draw them and go out and practice them on her basketball goal. She would be her own coach and make herself even better, Beth said. Allison is an encourager to her teammates and they encourage her in return. I try to keep the team motivated when

Feature

Writing
I write to be influential
Allison Gabriel made As and Bs in Advanced classes. She passed all her graduation exams. She played on the basketball team and was the tennis manager. And now shes in college managing that basketball team and studying to be an office secretary. She also has down-syndrome. Her parents never gave her the opportunity to use it as an excuse. Allison thinks she used to have down-syndrome but grew-out of it when she was little. She has grown-up thinking she was normal. And thats how she succeeded. And I thought her story deserved to be heard. It took me two weeks just to get her interview. Our local paper was doing a story on her basketball achievements, and they kept scheduling interviews and then not showing up. When I finally got the chance, her mom had reservations. It turns out our local paper put in the lede the one thing her parents asked them not to. They put that she has down-syndrome. Allison wasnt able to read her story. And it broke her heart. I assured her mom that I would write a story Allison and her family could be proud of. In our critique, our judge counted us off because I didnt mention it. He thought people shouldnt have to assume and the information should have been provided. But the hugs and thanks I got from the family made it worth it. This story was the defining moment in my choice to pursue a career in journalism. I want to change lives with my words.

they feel down because they do the same for me, she said. We all love each other like sisters, were a Northridge family. Susan said that she has the team behind her, and their support helped her score her three goals. The whole team cheers her on. When she scored, they jumped up and high fived her. They encourage her during practice, too, she said. Shes a good cheerleader. She has confidence in everyone. They can do anything. She gets discouraged because she cant run as fast as anyone, but its just because shes 4 10. During a game at Hillcrest, the coach called her to go into the game, but she had to take off a bracelet she had on after a Christian conference. I didnt want to take it off because I wanted to tell my friends about the next conference. It was a reminder, Allison said. My mom yanked it off my arm. She knew I was going to score. And I did. Beth said she loved watching Allison

play during the season. Shes really enthused about playing. Its her senior year and shes excited to play. You can just see that shes having fun, she said. I get so nervous [when I watch her play]. Whenever she gets the ball I get an adrenaline rush. I want her to score so badly. Relationships Allison said she has a really strong relationship with her sister, and they dont fight, they just pick on each other. We dont fight nearly as much as other sisters do. We get along really well, Beth said. Allison and Beth encourage each other in everything they do. I try to always be there for her. I cheer her on in soccer and gymnastics. I get so nervous for her, Allison said. I just feel that Im glad to know that somebodys always there to support me. I like knowing shes always there for me. Shes my biggest fan, Beth said.

Susan said that Allison has a heart like Jesus and is friends with everybody. Shes very friendly. She loves being around people and knows everybodys name, Susan said. Beth said that Allison is a big role model because she is very forgiving and loves everybody. Allison is that type of person that knows everyone, whether they know her or not. I tell everyone that you could go punch her in the face, and she will still love you. She never holds a grudge, even when she should, Beth said. Allison said that she was meant to be friends with everybody. God told me to be friends with people, so I am, she said. Susan said that her philosophy is not to set limits, to try it and fail, instead of not trying at all. When it comes back to it, we just used what was given to us. We would focus on what she needed to work with, she said.

Writing
With the school towering over them and students twice as big sharing the hassle, high school can be intimidating for many freshman. Twelve students didnt have to face their fears alone. They had their twin. Sawyer and Savannah Wilson, freshmen, are fraternal twins, and were glad to have their twin with them the first day. It was easier [for me] because I had Sawyer, I wasnt afraid to walk in, Savannah said. Being in the same building is one thing, but the same room could be too much. Alex and Davis Jordon, freshmen, would rather not have their twin in their classes. I see him at home all the time, so school is like a break for me, Davis said. There are, in fact, some advantages in having a sibling in your classes. Natalie Patton, freshmen, said she loves having classes with Samantha Patton, freshman, because it is easier to keep up with homework. We help each other with our classes, Samantha said. Sawyer likes having classes with Savannah because he gets to get notes from her that he missed in class. Sawyer never writes anything down, always expecting me to have it, Savannah said. Lauren and Hannah Johnson, freshmen, are not partial to having classes with each other. Its fun having classes together, Hannah said. But we always sit in alphabetical order and that usually doesnt turn out so well. According to keepkidshealthy.com, only about 3.6% of the U.S population are twins. People are amazed when they find out a person has a double walking around. Its just funny, peoples reactions, Natalie said. People who see us together for the first time freak out, Samantha said. Scott Johnson, math teacher, is often confused, along with many others, in identifying twins with their correct names. Mr. Johnson calls us Natantha and Samatalie, Natalie said, I guess just so hell never get our names wrong. Twin is a common name for identical twins, to ensure they arent called the wrong name. Im called twin everyday, Samantha said, I hate it. Fraternal twins get different reactions when their twin status is revealed. They dont believe me, I have to ask someone they trust to convince them, because we arent the least bit identical, Hannah said. Theyre like, Oh wow, I didnt know that because usually twins look alike, and you know, were fraternal, Sawyer said. Lauren said being a twin is just like having a sibling, that there isnt really

Feature

Freshman class has six sets of twins

a difference. Everyone expects you to be the same, but we arent, were totally different, Lauren said. Jamel Smith, freshman, takes his status as a twin in stride. I like being a twin because there arent a lot of them, so its cool, Jamel said. It gives me individuality, Savannah said. Freshman Jori smith, Jamels twin sister, said she likes being a twin because she likes having someone who always understands her. The world may never know, the famous question to the unsolvable tootsie roll pop motto goes. Do twins have telepathy powers? Sometimes, Ill be listening to a song and as the same time Sawyer will too, and we wont even know until we walk out of our rooms singing the lyrics, Savannah said. Its weird. Jamel and Jori had a similar experience. I can be thinking something, and shell say it out loud; it happens all the time, Jamel said. Lauren relates her twin status to an other sibling. Being a twin is just like having a sibling, Lauren said, but you have to share a room. Its not as different as some people think. Sawyer said.

Our news editor was working on a profile about a set of twins in our school. At the same time, our feature editor was struggling on finding an idea for her page. She wanted to use his twin story, but there was nothing else to fill the page. It got me thinking about all the twins in my grade, and I realized there were six sets. Usually the in-depth features are held for the upperclassmen and more experienced writers, so it was a big deal that I was allowed to write this as a freshman. Shortly after I was finished, the need for another people spread came up, and so I was asked to alter my story and create a spread for the yearbook.

Where I started

Feature

Writing

Freshman

Writing
After seven and a half hours of school, several more hours of homework and having to wake up at the break of dawn to get to school by 8:00 a.m, students suffer from a lack of sleep. But students who ride buses, lose another hour, the bus often picks them up as early as 7:00 a.m. KeAmbria Washington, senior, said she is picked up around 6:52 a.m. and gets to school around 7:07 a.m. We have to stay on the bus until 7:15, she said. We are always the first bus, and its very empty in the lunchroom when were [allowed in], she said. Jimmy Boone, the Director of Transportation, said there is not a law on the time buses can drop off students. We do have local policies, he said. As a rule we try not to drop off high school students before 7:15 a.m. Since all students begin breakfast at 7:30 a.m. students only have up to 15 minutes to wait before they can go to breakfast. Senior DeAnthony Mays, who rides bus 27, said his bus is overcrowded. You have a hard time trying to find a seat when there are so many people, he said. And then you have that Buses key to some students success
December 14, 2012 Volume 10 Issue 4

Buses key to some

News

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al 35406

Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief

fter seven and a half hours of school, several more hours of homework and having to wake up at the break of dawn to get to school by 8:00 a. m, students suffer from a lack of sleep. But students who ride buses, lose another hour, the bus often picks them up as early as 7:00 a.m. KeAmbria Washington, senior, said she is picked up around 6:52 a.m. and gets to school around 7:07 a.m. We have to stay on the bus until 7:15, she said. We are always the first bus, and its very empty in the lunchroom when were [allowed in], she said. Jimmy Boone, the Director of Transportation, said there is not a law on the time buses can drop off students. We do have local policies, he said. As a rule we try not to drop off high school students before 7:15 a.m. Since all students begin breakfast at 7:30 a.m., students only have up to 15 minutes to wait before they can go to breakfast. Senior DeAnthony Mays, who rides bus 27, said his bus is overcrowded. You have a hard time trying to find a seat when there are so many people, he said. And then you have that person that is saving a seat for someone or just wants to sit by themselves. Mays said many people that ride his bus could drive and that is part of the overcrowding problem. If you are a licensed driver and have a car, please drive to school, it will open up seats for the people who dont have that option, he said. The bus routes are created using a computer program called Edulog. During the summer a complete listing of the students are placed on a map, and the transportation department assigns each student a bus. We try to make a distance of no more than four blocks to a stop for high school students. We examine how the students get to the stops for safety issues. For example, no crossing of four lane roads [or] railroad tracks, Boone said. The process of creating bus routes is very difficult because not every student rides a bus, but each one eligible is assigned. This year we hope to begin a process of including a request to ride a bus as a part of spring registration. If we can only identify students who want transportation, it will help us do a better job of creating routes, he said.

The transportation system transports over 5,000 students with 93 buses, 73 of them running double routes. Charles Anthony, assistant principal, said, for the size, the bus system is very effective. The drivers do a tremendous job in transporting students to and from school on a daily basis. They communicate problems er anc aD they are experiencing on the bus jall Kan to me, and we work together to by: Art try to correct the problem, he said. Mr. Boone often sends emails and will sometimes stop by the school to see if there are any problems with the buses and find out from us what they can do to better serve our needs here at Northridge. Anthony said the only time the buses arrive late is when there are a number of drivers out on a given day, and the transportation department always informs the school when they are going to be late. Some days, there are just not enough substitute drivers to cover all of the routes where drivers are absent, he said. Boone said they are currently recruiting substitute drivers. On occasion we have to bring in other buses to assist with routes because of a shortage of drivers. We regret having to do this but strive to complete the routes, he said. Synteria Pearson, senior, said her bus driver really cares about the students on his bus. He talks to you when you get on and off the bus, and he knows all of his students by name. Hell also wait a couple of minutes for you when youre late, she said. Boone said the transportation department is a vital component to education. If students cannot get to school, they cannot get an education. Without the bus, many students would not be able to get to school, he said. A year ago I received a phone call from a young lady who had been in a lot trouble in high school, and nearly Is your bus overcrowded? dropped out. After working on the problems with the bus, she started attending school every day. She called Yes:38 No:14 me to tell me she had just graduated from the University of Alabama, and told me she would not have been Does you bus arrive before 7:15? there without the school bus, he said.

bus go
round and round
No:36 Compiled by: Kelly Burnham

the wheels on the

person that is saving a seat for someone or just wants to sit by themselves. Mays said many people that ride his bus could drive and is part of the overcrowding problem. If you are a licensed driver and have a car, please drive to school, it will open up seats for the people who dont have that option, he said. The bus routes are created using a computer program called Edulog. During the summer a complete listing of the students are placed on a map, and the transportation department assigns each student a bus. We try to make a distance of no more than four blocks to a stop for high school students. We examine how the students get to the stops for safety issues. For example, no crossing of four lane roads [or] railroad tracks, Boone said.

Designed

Yes:12

tensive writing assignments, such as essays, would not be suitable for such devices. Elizabeth Tiley, guidance counselor, said The board is considering implementation she is not aware of the tablet idea but thinks it has many positive and negative effects. of tablets in place of textbooks next year. It might be beneficial for students in Chris Jenks, Coordinator of Instructional Technology, said the board is currently this fast pace modern world and better prepare them for evaluating various whats coming up in options to transition college, she said. toward more digital Tiley said stulearning opportunities. I like to have something tangible in dents could downAt the direction my hands, something I can shove load many programs and software for of Superintendent Dr. learning purposes Paul McKendrick, we papers into. but many students are investigating on will most likely how to implement a Katherine McCray, sophomore play games such as one-to-one initiative solitaire instead of [which would give] working in class. one device [to each] student, Jenks said. Every student would most likely reHe said that the devices the board implements do not necessarily need to be tablets. ceive a tablet, but we could run into the The critical part to remember is that the same problem as this year, Tiley said. Many textbooks wont be returned at focus should not be on the device but on the end of the year, and we would run short the students needs, Jenks said. He said tablets will be most promising of devices, she said. Mary Margaret Murdock, sophomore, for consuming reading content, notes and enhancing an educational environment. In- was one of seven students selected from Rabisa Khan Copy Editor

Tablets become option to replace textbooks next year

the tenth grade to be part of a meeting with the board members. [The board] talked about replacing textbooks with tablets, but I just dont think thats a good idea at all. Murdock said she thinks it is stupid because the school is not even meeting AYP, and people are more worried about getting tablets. Katherine McCray, sophomore, said she also prefers textbooks. I like to have something tangible in my hands, something I can shove papers into, McCray said. McCray said she is also worried about the financial aspect of this venture. If we cant even afford textbooks for every student, how are we supposed to fund eBooks for every student? McCray said. Jenks said the school board has positioned the school system on sound financial footing. If the board decides this plan is the correct direction, local funds will be available to make it a reality, he said. Additionally, McCray said she believes there are too many complications and variables that would obstruct the success of

This

Page

Plugged in:Tyesha Pinnock, sophomore, uses her iPad during class. I use it to research topics in class and to help with school work or homework, she said.
tablets in the classroom. Tablets could be lost or stolen, and they require charging, McCray said. People could easily get away with doing nothing. If done properly with focus on professional teacher development, network and infrastructure preparation and curriculum, Jenks said, a device deployment like this could be transformative.

Photo by: Alex Hauser

Kitty Craze
Page 3

Senior

Traffic lady returns Page 6

Swimming page 7

News

Writing
sends emails and will sometimes stop by the school to see if there are any problems with the buses and find out from us what they can do to better serve our needs here at Northridge. Anthony said the only time the buses arrive late is when there are a number of drivers out on a given day, and the transportation department always informs the school when they are going to be late. Some days, there are just not enough substitute drivers to cover all of the routes where drivers are absent, he said. Boone said they are currently recruiting substitute drivers. On occasion we have to bring in other buses to assist with routes because of a shortage of drivers. We regret having to do this but strive to complete the routes, he said. Synteria Pearson, senior, said her bus driver really cares about the students on his bus. He talks to you when you get on and off the bus, and he knows all of his students by name. Hell also wait a couple of minutes for you when youre late, she said. Boone said the transportation department is a vital component to education. If students cannot get to school, they cannot get an education. Without the bus, many students would not be able to get to school, he said. A year ago I received a phone call from a young lady who had been in a lot trouble in high school, and nearly dropped out. After working on the problems with the bus, she started attending school every day. She called me to tell me she had just graduated from the University of Alabama, and told me she would not have been there without the school bus, Boone said.

The process of creating bus routes is very difficult because not every student rides a bus, but each one eligible is assigned. This year we hope to begin a process of including a request to ride a bus as a part of spring registration. If we can only identify students who want transportation, it will help us do a better job of creating routes, he said. The transportation system transports over 5,000 students with 93 buses, 73 of them running double routes. Charles Anthony, assistant principal, said, for the size, the bus system is very effective. The drivers do a tremendous job in transporting students to and from school on a daily basis. They communicate problems they are experiencing on the bus to me, and we work together to try to correct the problem, he said. Mr. Boone often

students success

No one every reports on the bus. It was nice for people to know how important the buses are to some students.

-Synteria Pearson
I strive for diversity

Our school demographics define our school. We have the wealthiest part of Tuscaloosa combined with the poorest. We are 30% white and 70% black. But we tend to focus more on the 30%. I realized that we needed to report on the entire school, so I sought a story that would have a more diverse demographic. I searched through our old papers trying to find a story, until I realized that we have never had a story about the bus system, even though so many of our students ride a bus. I went and talked to the administrator who mans the buses, and he gave me several angles to pursue. I then talked to the transportation director and students to get my story.

Writing
During the first week in October, board members scoured the hallway, sat in on classes and talked to students and faculty. Isaac Espy, principal, said the purpose of the visit was to evaluate the schools instructional program and to help the school do a better job of instruction based on specific recommendations resulting from the audit. I contacted the superintendent last summer and requested that this audit take place in the fall. It is a very healthy practice, and our faculty and the central office are working together to improve the way we have school, he said. Paul McKendrick, superintendent, said the visit was not to evaluate people, but processes within the school and that someone from the outside would have more of a critical eye. You look at a process of how [you] solve the problems, what are the ways that the school addresses organizational issues and then you try as much as possible to see where the instructional program is, he said. The idea is that you arent going into an audit like that and saying were going into Mrs. Jones class because we heard shes a wonderful teacher. But at the same time, you dont say youre going into Mr. Jones class because we heard hes a horrible teacher. Nor do you go back to the principal saying theyre a horrible teacher or perfect teacher because this is what we saw. Espy said teachers knew there would be walkthroughs. [The school board] has no bearing other than the general snapshot of elements of instruction that were observed at that particular time, he said. In a walkthrough, the learning environment is assessed along with the format for instructional practices, strategies, teacher activities, grouping, student engagement and the level of student work required. McKendrick said the board came into the audit without a prearranged idea of what the school was going to look like. They looked at data gathered through the observations, the records review and the conversations they had. [We] try to give a portrait of what the school looks like, e said. If its something that [were] happy with or we think is good then we say yes, this is what the school is and this is what the school looks like and these are the kinds of things that we want in the school, [but] if the portrait shows you some blemishes that you really dont want, then at that point, that becomes an issue. The board interviewed several students about their view on the school, including Natalie Patton, senior. Patton said they asked her whether she thought the school was safe, and how the school could be improved. I was glad that they were asking the questions, but I dont think I gave them the answers they were looking for. I think they got mad when I spoke my mind about it, she said. I said things like get new textbooks and better security cameras. Scott Johnson, math teacher, said the faculty was told that the purpose of the audit was to assist us in better understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, but the results were disconcerting. Pre-audit, I think we were all on board, although no one really likes to be under a magnifying glass. [But] post-audit, much more was made of the schools shortcomings than its strengths, he said. Johnson said the people who had the largest hand in the audit believe not enough is being done for students who struggle the most. In their view, the successful students would probably be successful in spite of the teachers and curriculum. They tend to work hard regardless, he said. [The evaluators said] our primary concern and direction should be with the students who are at risk of dropping out or graduation with their cohorts. While many of us disagree with this point-of-view and believe instead there needs to be a balance of both. Johnson said that, while most of the au-

News

Board visits to assist in better learning atmosphere

ditors behaviors were unobtrusive and professional, there were some that I witnessed that were invasive, disruptive and very unprofessional. Let teachers evaluate teachers. Some of these experts wouldnt last two days in a classroom. Take the evaluator who pointed out that six students were chewing gum. So? Is that against some board policy? Dont think so, he said. Beth Allaway, science teacher, said the examiners should have looked for real teaching and not so much on paper work like lesson plans and objectives on the board. [They should have] stayed in the classrooms longer. That way they couldget an idea of how the class flows. There were judgments made on our critiques that were incorrect because they hadnt stayed long enough to know. Many of the people who were observing had no knowledge or experience in the subjects they were observing, she said. Mckendrick said he thought the audit did what it was meant to do. I think it gave and will give Dr. Espy what he needs to make some changes. One of the incentives and reasons why we went in is because the school did not make AYP, he said. McKendrick said, although the AYP and No Child Left Behind has some flaws, the results that came from the test scores was a good indicator to which students were doing well, and which ones were doing poorly, and that everyone supported [it]. McKendrick said that remembering factors that students should be dealing is a key for educators. There are a lot of children that come [to school] that we have to resolve some kind of issues that are impacting their instruction, he said. And thats a part of teaching and being an educator because those are issues we have to solve right when they walk in their doors.

News

Writing
I am careful with sensitive subjects

Our board of education made many changes over the years that the student body and teachers have not supported. At the beginning of my senior year, the board came and audited our school. Many rumors were spread, and I sat down with the superintendent to find our what was true and what was not. After my story was published, students and teachers became more informed on what the board thought. I got praise from both the city board and my school.

November 30 , 2012 Volume 10 Issue 3

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al 35406

Board visits to assist in better learning atmosphere

Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief During the first week in October, board members scoured the hallway, sat in on classes and talked to students and faculty. Isaac Espy, principal, said the purpose of the visit was to evaluate the schools instructional program and to help the school do a better job of instruction based on specific recommendations resulting from the audit. I contacted the superintendent last summer and requested that this audit take place in the fall. It is a very healthy practice, and our faculty and the central office are working together to improve the way we have school, he said. Paul McKendrick, superintendent, said the visit was not to evaluate people, but processes within the school and that someone from the outside would have more of a critical eye. You look at a process of how [you] solve the problems, [and] the ways that the school addresses organizational issues, he said. Afterwards, McKendrick said, they look at what instructional program needs to be altered. The idea is that you arent going into an audit saying were going into Mrs. Jones class because we heard shes a wonderful teacher. But at the same time, you dont say youre going into Mr. Jones class because we heard hes a horrible teacher, he said. Nor do you go back to the principal saying theyre a horrible teacher or perfect teacher because this is what we saw, McKendrick said. Espy said teachers knew there would be walkthroughs. [The school board] has no bearing other than the general snapshot of elements of instruction that were observed at that particular time, he said. In a walkthrough, the learning environment is assessed along with the format for instructional practices, strategies, teacher activities, grouping, student engagement and the level of student work required. McKendrick said the board came into the audit without a prearranged idea of what the school was going to look like. They looked at data gathered through the observations, the records review and the conversations they had. [We] try to give a portrait of what the school looks like, he said. If its something that [were] happy with or we think is good, then we say yes, this is what the school is, and this is what the school looks like, and these are the kinds of things that we want in the school, [but] if the portrait shows you some blemishes that you really dont want, then at that point, that becomes an issue. The board interviewed several students about their view on the school, including Natalie Patton, senior. Patton said they asked her whether she thought the school was safe,

I also designed

Page

this

and how the school could be improved. I was glad that they were asking the questions, but I dont think I gave them the answers they were looking for. I think they got mad when I spoke my mind about it, she said. I said things like get new textbooks and better security cameras. Scott Johnson, math teacher, said the faculty was told that the purpose of the audit was to assist us in better understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, but the results were disconcerting. Pre-audit, I think we were all on board, although The Classroom of no one really likes to be under a magnifying glass. [But] post-audit, much more was made of the schools shortcomings than its strengths, he said. During the audit, Dr. Paul McKendrick observed Johnson said the people who had the largest hand in the audit believe not enough is being done several classes, and said he wished he could have visited more. for students who struggle the most. Because you see some wonderful people that In their view, the successful students would probably be successful in spite of the teachers and are teaching, and you see children engaged, and curriculum. They tend to work hard regardless, he you see children enjoying the classes theyre in, said. [The evaluators said] our primary concern he said. and direction should be with the students who are at risk of dropping out or graduation with their cohorts. While many of us disagree with this pointof-view and believe instead there needs to be a balance of both. I was in [Shane Ashcrafts] class, and I was Johnson said that, while most of the auditors betalking to a 9th grade English class. They haviors were unobtrusive and professional, there were discussing To Kill a Mockingbird. were some that I witnessed that were invasive, disI dont think there was a student in there ruptive and very unprofessional. Let teachers evaluate teachers. Some of these that did not comment. And they hit on some experts wouldnt last two days in a classroom. really tough questions. They had finished Take the evaluator who pointed out that six students reading the book, and they were discussing were chewing gum. So? Is that against some board policy? Dont think so, he said. overall themes, and he had a set number Beth Allaway, science teacher, said the examinof themes throughout that they were ers should have looked for real teaching and not discussing. so much for paper work like lesson plans and objectives on the board. [They should have] stayed in the classrooms longer. That way they could get an idea of how the See the story on Ashcraft on pg. 8 class flows. There were judgments made on our Behind has some flaws, the results that came from the test critiques that were incorrect because they hadnt stayed long enough to know. Many of the people who were scores was a good indicator to which students were doing observing had no knowledge or experience in the subjects well, and which ones were doing poorly, and that everyone supported [it]. they were observing, she said. McKendrick said that remembering factors that students McKendrick said he thought the audit did what it was should be dealing is a key for educators. meant to do. There are a lot of children that come [to school] that I think it gave and will give Dr. Espy what he needs to make some changes. One of the incentives and reasons we have to resolve some kind of issues that are impacting why we went in is because the school did not make AYP, their instruction, he said. And thats a part of teaching and being an educator because those are issues we have to he said. McKendrick said, although the AYP and No Child Left solve right when they walk in their doors.

the Scenes

Behind

Look

Shane Ashcraft

Teachers receive monetary awards for test scores

AP Exams
AP Biology AP Chemistry Calculus AB Calculus BC Physics B

Students who passed

Stephens Lowery
Marilyn Scott Trina Patsy

Raiha Bajwa Managing Editor

22 13

Johnson
Statistics

8 21 15 27

Busby

29 2 9

English Language English Literature

Mary Ruffin

Evans

Ria

Moore

English Language

he AP grant that grants students a hundred dollars per passing score in any math, science or English class, also gives the teachers in those subjects a hundred dollars per student. Based on previous years passing rates, benchmarks are set for the teachers and if they surpass them one thousand dollar bonus is added. Patsy Lowry, math teacher, had 29 of her 31 AP Calculus students pass the exam, giving her a $3000 bonus, and a total of $5900.

Lowry said she cried when she got the scores because of how hard everyone worked. I cried not just because of how many people passed, but passed with the highest score they could make, she said. Everyone went in and did the best they could, no one drew pictures. Lowry said in her forty years of teaching that was about the best shes ever gotten. She said she plans on using the money on a visit to England to see her daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren. Im really excited, she said. I dont know if I could afford to go without it

[the AP money]. Lowry said she is concerned about her current AP Calculus class on the new schedule. This year Im having to do it in half the time, she said. Its been very challenging for me and the students, but well see how it goes. Trina Busby, English teacher, said she was happy about receiving the money, but does not fully support the idea. Its a grey ethical issue for me; I would do my job the same way regardless, she said. Yes its a nice incentive, but at the same time its not why I want my students to pass.

Fame
Page 4-5

Ashcraft page 8

Senior

Page 3 Of Mice and Men

Writing
The Northridge Reporter
September 23, 2011

Review

Entertainment
Ive seen, I think that the Planet of the Apes franchise as a whole has one of the better concepts. It takes place in a future where we humans have become animalistic and are no longer the most dominant of all of Gods creations, and simians have assumed our former role. To me that is one of the most creative concepts for a film. But it takes more than a great concept to make a spectacular film. It has to be well-acted, well directed and produced, well written, and have excellent special effects. The original 1968 Planet of the Apes and this summers installment in the franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, have this going for them, but the 2001 Tim Burton remake (that you may have seen when you were a kid) pretty much doesnt. If you dont believe me, let me compare these three motion pictures. The originals make-up was quite convincing (even by todays standards.) The cast did a superb job of acting, although Charlton Heston kind of overacted from time to time, but it was still convincing. The characters were developed. The writing was great, seeing as it came from a beloved novella by Pierre Boulle. The story was quite thought provoking and philosophical, and the plot twist at the end was thrilling. To sum it up, its about as near perfect as a film can get. The ill-famed remake by Burton (that somehow grossed $180,011,740, despite its problems) doesnt exactly deserve all of the infamy it received, but its beyond doubt not as good as the original or Rise. Some of the simian characters were actually pretty well acted, and I kind of liked the stylish special effects, but I

New Planet of the Apes movie proves to be surprisingly good

James Roberts Beat Editor
This summer brought us the latest installment of the Planet of the Apes franchise Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Of all the science fiction films

didnt think that the special effects exactly worked with the story and were sort of goofy. Those few positive factors didnt make up for the shortcomings in logic: The animalistic humans can talk, the superior simians act more like simians than in the original, and so on. The Burton remake also had cardboard cut out human characters, bad writing, a weak climax, and a sloppy twist ending that made no sense. If it werent for the stylish special effects, it would probably be down there with Battle: Los Angeles, a summer 2011 film built on special effects that did poorly in theaters. The recently made reboot of the Planet of the Apes franchise, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, made up for the damage of Burtons remake. I will admit that at first, I thought it was going to be horrible, and that I wasnt too happy that the simians were now CGI (Computer Generated Images,) as opposed to the convincing make-up of the earlier films, but I was happily surprised with it. It wasnt as thought-provoking as the original and the pacing was a little faster than I wouldve liked, but the writing was better than expected, the characters were developed and well-acted, the CGI simians looked somewhat realistic, and the climax was splendid. Overall, it was excellently made entertainment and pretty much the second best film in the entire franchise. Rise is rumored to be the first film of an entirely new Planet of the Apes film series. Will the new films be good? Lets wait and see.

Knowing I would need this review done the day after the concert, I wrote it around 1 a.m. during the three hours it took to drive home that night. It was edited and placed the next day. I received 2nd place review for this at the Alabama Scholastic Press Association.

Art by Jane Yu

Matt Nathanson, Maroon 5 and Train perform and seize fans heart
They mostly sang songs from their newer album Save Me San Francisco, but also brought back some of the classics including Calling All Angels and Shes on Fire. During Shes on Fire Pat Monahan let several girls come up on stage with him to dance and sing. He called them the Trainettes and most of them got T-shirts saying the name. One younger girl, a cancer survivor, got to stand up on one of the speakers and show off her dance moves, and sing with him. It truly was an experience well-made for the girl, and it tugged on all of our hearts. Monahan interacted with the audience tremendously, autographing beach balls and throwing them out to the crowd; he even meandered through the stands whilst singing Marry Me. The typically overplayed song Hey, Soul Sister was brought back. Hearing it live brought back the memories of first hearing the catchy rhythm, completely erasing my usual annoyance of it. Train came back for an encore singing their main hit Drops of Jupiter. The familiar piano was compelling, Monahans voice to die for. Not to mention his ability to do acrobatics while singing. It put the recording to shame, although seemingly impossible. They ended the concert singing This Aint Goodbye and announced that they were going to release a new album next year, and will be back to Atlanta, a concert I will not easily miss. Ive been to several concerts, and this was by far my favorite, certainly one of the few I would go back and see again. It was fabulously performed and left me wanting more.

Matt Nathanson, Maroon 5 and Train perform and seize fans heart
Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief
It was that kind of show that keeps getting better as it goes on. Three great performers Matt Nathanson, Maroon 5 and Train appeared on a Thursday night in September in Atlanta. It was a show that was worth the four hour drive and the wait through Atlantas rush hour. It was so good, I belted all the songs the whole four hours it took to get back. Matt Nathanson was the opening act. And, like most opening acts, he isnt nearly as well known. He sings Come On Get Higher for all of the Top 40 listeners. Although hes newer to fame, he had great stage presence and entranced the audience. Definitely on my list of artists to listen to. His last song Faster was catchy and was in my head until Maroon 5 started playing. Adam Levine, lead singer of Maroon 5, started off with his new hit Moves Like Jagger. I was hoping for Christina to show up to sing it with him, but it was phenomenal nonetheless. It was an unexpected start and got the audience pumped up for more. He sang his classic hits such as Misery, This Love, If I Never See You Again, Stutter and Sunday Morning. Maroon 5s performing style focuses more on the music. Besides the pretty lights, there were few special effects, in contrast to Train, effectively bringing all of the atten-

dance and sing. He called them the Trainettes and most of them got T-shirts saying the name. One younger girl, a cancer survivor, got to stand up on one of the speakers and show off her dance moves, and sing with him. It truly was an experience well-made for the girl, and it tugged on all of our hearts. Monahan interacted with the audience tremendously, autographing beach balls and throwing them out to the crowd, and even meandered through the stands whilst singing Marry Me. The typically overplayed song Hey, Soul Sister was brought back. Hearing it live brought back the memories of first hearing the catchy rhythm, completely erasing my usual annoyance of it. Train came back for an encore singing their main hit Drops of Jupiter. The faPhoto by Robb D. Cohen miliar piano was compelling, Monahans Pat Monahan, lead singer of Train, sings one of the crowds favorites at the September 1 voice is to die for. Not to mention Monahans ability to do acrobatics while singconcert in Atlanta. ing. It put the recording to shame, although tion to the lyrics and rhythm of the songs. A train whistle announced Trains en- seemingly impossible. They ended with She Will Be Loved. trance. The curtain rose, and they started They ended the concert singing This Levine stopped in the middle of the song off with Parachute and If Its Love, the Aint Goodbye and announced that they to provide comic relief, asking his guitarist latter being one of my favorites. were going to release a new album next if he had boogers in his nose, saying it was They mostly sang songs from their newer year, and will be back to Atlanta, a concert bothering him and he felt self-conscious. album Save Me San Francisco, but also I will not easily miss. Ive been to several He ended the song by setting up a two-part brought back some of the classics including concerts, and this was one of my favorite, harmony in the audience. Calling All Angels and Shes on Fire. certainly one of the few I would go back and After Maroon 5s performance, I was During Shes On Fire Pat Monahan let see again. It was fabulously performed and doubtful it could get better. I was wrong. several girls come up on stage with him to left me wanting more.

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It was that kind of show that keeps getting better as it goes on. Three great performers Matt Nathanson, Maroon 5 and Train appeared on a Thursday night in September in Atlanta. It was a show that was worth the four hour drive and the wait through Atlantas rush hour. It was so good, I belted all the songs the whole four hours it took to get back. Matt Nathanson was the opening act. And, like most opening acts, he isnt nearly as well known. He sings Come On Get Higher for all of the Top 40 listeners. Although hes newer to fame, he had great stage presence and entranced the audience. He is definitely added to my list of artists to listen to. His last song Faster was catchy and was in my head until Maroon 5 started playing.

Junior

P. MIKE UPTON, DMD, MS

Adam Levine, lead singer of Maroon 5, started off with his new hit Moves Like Jagger. I was hoping for Christina to show up to sing with him, but it was phenomenal nonetheless. It was an unexpected start and got the audience pumped up for more. He sang his classic hits such as Misery, This Love, If I Never See You Again, Stutter and Sunday Morning. Maroon 5s performing style focuses more on the music. Besides the pretty lights, there were few special effects, in contrast to Train, effectively bringing all of the attention to the lyrics and rhythm of the songs. They ended with She Will Be Loved. Levine stopped in the middle of the song to provide comic relief, asking his guitarist if he had boogers in his nose, saying it was bothering him and he felt self-conscious. He ended the song by setting up a two-part harmony in the audience. After Maroon 5s performance, I was doubtful it could get better. I was wrong. A train whistle announced Trains entrance. The curtain rose, and they started off with Parachute and If Its Love, the latter being one of my favorites.
kj@kjcooks.com kjcooks.com TOP PERFORMANCE CLUSTER

10

Sports

Their team name, Life is Grand, Eh? proudly defined [their] Canadian heritage as they suited up for the big race. Andrew Lattner, junior, and his mom, Patricia Tessner participated in the Pedal, Paddle, Pedal race on Sept. 18 at Lake Lurleen State Park. It was a race done by the Druid City Bike Club that included a 23 mile long bike race, 2.2 miles of paddling and a 23 mile mountain bike loop, Lattner said. I did the paddling portion in a kayak. Lattners training for the race consisted of one practice lap a week before the race, although hes been kayaking for four years. We just did it for fun. We knew that some of the people doing this would be serious athletes, and we probably couldnt beat them anyway. It was lots of fun doing it as a mother-son team, he said. Lattner first kayaked at a YMCA camp on Paradise Lake in St. Jacobs, Canada, and continued participating in the sport because he thought it was really fun because [he] could go at [his] own pace. I just enjoy the feeling of freedom I get while kayaking, its just me and the boat, theres nothing to distract you. Its just your own thoughts. Its calming, Lattner said. Lattner said he was pleased with his performance and his personal time. I [think I] kayaked rather quickly; I had a pretty good time, and I was able to make up two minutes of our time, he said. But Im not a professional, not even close, because I know there are people a lot better than me. I dont know if theres professional kayaking, but if there were, I couldnt do that. Lattner said being able to see his competition gave him motivation. It gives me the goal to beat [my competition], but when Im alone, or Im on a river that has a lot of bends, I cant see [my competition]. Its hard to find motivation when you dont have a goal, he said. Lattner and Tessner were the only two-person team, Tessner competing in both the cycling and mountain bike loop. Shes a really good athlete, Lattner said. [Im proud of her] because I know I cant do it, and the fact that shes more than twice my age, thats a big accomplishment. Knowing she could check off doing both a road and mountain bike ride in one day from her lifetime list was one thing that helped

Writing Junior helps mom in bike race

her finish the race. Andrew was there supporting me, no matter how long it took, Tessner said. And the fact that the mountain bike trail goes around a lake so you have no choice but to finish; other than swimming across the lake with a bike. Tessners favorite part of the race was tagging off between the events. We spent the extra few seconds to give each other a hug and wish each other luck, she said. Lattner and Tessner, although having a disadvantage of only having two people, loved doing the race as a mother-son team. Andrew is so laid back. I could enjoy all of the race, without any pressure to win. We cheered each other on just because we support each others effort, Tessner said. Lattner said he worked hard, not wanting to disappoint his mom. I didnt want to let her down, she was biking so far and long, and I wanted to help her achieve her goals, he said. His mom said she almost wishes he had gone a little slower so [she could have had a little more rest between the road and mountain bike rides. If he decides to become a free agent for next years race, Im sure there will be teams interested in recruiting him, Tessner said.
the northridge reporter october 22, 2010

sports
-The girls volleyball team ended their season with a 26-4 record. -The team won the Stillman Challenge, the Brookwood Brawl, and the Area Tournament. -Ashlyn Sunseri was named MVP at the Brookwood Brawl and the Area Tournament. -Carly Cignetti, Kenyatta Moffett, and Lizzi McElwain were on the All-Tournament Team at the Area Tournament. McElwain and Cignetti were also on the All-Tournament Team at the Brookwood Brawl.

wins brookwood hillcrest bessemer fayatte bibb county bryant county high sipsey valley central

Volleyball season, in brief Junior helps mom in bike race

losses holy spirit brookwood

11

alex hauser feature editor

compiled by ellie cauthen

Volleyball team continues to win

craig first infographics editor The girls volleyball team won the area tournament for the first time since 2005 during fourth period on Oct. 12. Hosted and sponsored by Northridge, the team played Bessemer City and Hillcrest. The first round of games in the tournament were played against Bessemer City. Before the [first] game, I was in my normal routine trying to set up and get my girls ready for the game. I didnt allow time for myself to get nervous, but I was excited, Coach Sherri Shuttlesworth said. The whistle blew and the game started at 2:02 p.m. and within the next ten minutes the score was 16 to 5, Northridge. Then, five minutes later the score was 24 to 9, only one point away from Northridge winning. And, in the blink of an eye 30 seconds later the first game was won, Northridge 25 and Bessemer City 10. Normally, Im not into sports, but during the first game it got pretty intense. I really enjoyed it, and I cant wait to see the next one, Lane Russell, spectator, said. In the first few minutes of the second

game, Northridge started the game leading with a score of 7 to 0, but then a series of blunders led Bessemer City to gain 5 points. For the rest of the game, the scoring fluttered back and forth between the teams with scores such as: 15 to 9, then 16 to 11 and 18 to 15. With less ease than the first game, Northridge still managed to come out on top with a final score of 25 to 17. As for the third game, the score was neck and neck. Then, for the first time in the championship, Bessemer City got a lead on Northridge by three points. After that, it was fairly close. But again, Northridge beat Bessemer City, but the score was even closer than before with Northridge scoring 25 points and Bessemer scoring 20 points. Later after the school bell rang and students went home, Northridge went on to beat Hillcrest three games out of three and won the tournament. During the Hillcrest game our team really came together and played as one. We beat Hillcrest in three games straight and won the whole area tournament. [This was] one of our biggest goals from the beginning of this season, Natalie Cignetti, freshman, said.

Ingle Demolition and Salvage

My sophomore year, we didnt have a very reliable sports editor. Every story that ended up on the page was a last-minute football or basketball season update, and we knew we needed something better. So I searched for someone who did an extracurricular sport and found a student that participated in a road bike, kayak and mountain bike race with his mom that weekend and wrote a story.

Their team name, Life is Grand, Eh? proudly defined [their Canadian heritage as they suited up for the big race. Andrew Lattner, junior, and his mom, Patricia Tessner participated in the Pedal, Paddle, Pedal race on Sept. 18 at Lake Lurleen State Park. It was a race done by the Druid City Bike Club that included a 23 mile long bike race, 2.2 miles of paddling and a 23 mile mountain bike loop, Lattner said. I did the paddling portion in a kayak. Lattners training for the race consisted of one practice lap a week before the race, although hes been kayaking for four years. We just did it for fun. We knew that some of the people doing this would be serious athletes, and we probably couldnt beat them anyway. It was lots of fun doing it as a mother-son team, he said. Lattner first kayaked at a YMCA camp on Paradise Lake in St. Jacobs, Canada, and continued participating in the sport because he thought it was really fun because [he] could go at [his] own pace. I just enjoy the feeling of freedom I get while kayaking, its just me and the boat, theres nothing to distract you. Its just your own thoughts. Its calming, Lattner said. Lattner said he was pleased with his performance and his personal time. I [think I] kayaked rather quickly; I had a pretty good time, and I was able to make up two minutes of our time, he said. [But] Im not a professional, not even close, because I know there are people a lot better than me. I dont know if theres professional kayaking, but if there were, I couldnt do that. Lattner said being able to see his competition gave him motivation. It gives me the goal to beat [my competition], but when Im alone, or Im on a river that has a lot of bends, I cant see [my competition]. Its hard to find motivation when you dont have a goal, he said. Lattner and Tessner were the only twoperson team, Tessner competing in both the cycling and mountain bike loop. Shes a really good athlete, Lattner said. [Im proud of her] because I know I cant do it, and the fact that shes more than twice my age, thats a big accomplishment. Knowing she could check off doing both a road and mountain bike ride in

one day from her lifetime list was one thing that helped her finish the race. Andrew was there supporting me, no matter how long it took, Tessner said. And the fact that the mountain bike trail goes around a lake so you have no choice but to finish; other than swimming across the lake with a bike. Tessners favorite part of the race was tagging off between the events. We spent the extra few seconds to give each other a hug and wish each other luck, she said. Lattner and Tessner, although having a disadvantage of only having two people, loved doing the race as a mother-son team. Andrew is so laid back. I could enjoy all of the race, without any pressure to win. We cheered each other on just because we support each others effort, Tessner said. Lattner said he worked hard, not wanting to disappoint his mom. I didnt want to let her down, she was biking so far and long, and I wanted to help her achieve her goals, he said. His mom said she almost wishes he had gone a little slower so [she] could have had a little more rest between the road and mountain bike rides. If he decides to become a free agent for next years race, Im sure there will be teams interested in recruiting him, Tessner said.

photo by becci hauser Lattner splashes through the shallows at Lake Lurleen State Park. He participated in a race with his mom on Sept. 18.

GUITAR LESSONS
with Jon
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Phone: 205-602-8278 Fax: 205-285-9375 Email: denningle@charter.net

Phone: 205-799-3843

Email: legion1776@hotmail.com
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752-4343
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P. MIKE UPTON, DMD, MS

Sophomore

Design

Feature

11

Sophomore

My first feature page

This was my first spread I designed. Not only did I write the story on the left, I compiled the information for the timeline at the bottom, digitally color the illustrations in Photoshop and created the bar graph using Illustrator. I was only a sophomore at the time. This spread won first place newspaper design at the Alabama Scholastic Press Association spring convention.

12

Feature
This was my first time designing graphics in Photoshop. I created several photo manipulations for my previous designs, but I never made anything from scratch. For this page, I created the notebook, the binder, the sheet of paper, the sticky note, the scraps of taped paper and even the background. I also created the graphs using illustrator.

Design

Broadening my expertise

Sophomore

Design
Summer snow helps out
Page 8

Front Page

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website: http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Jaguars beat wildcats Page 7

This page was

September 2011 Volume 9 Issue 1

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al 35406

New schedule creates hassle for AP Students

Do you like the new schedule?
Alex Hauser Editor-in-chief
A new schedule was put in effect this year after the board of education received information on the effectiveness of the former 4 x 4 block schedule. The Director of Secondary Programs, Robert Coates said that the board requested an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Block Schedule due to the number of student dropouts, the high school graduation rates and the ability of our schools to make AYP under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. A committee was then formed in 2009-2010 to discuss and recommend a more effective schedule. [After the board received the research data they] issued a directive to change the 4 X 4 Block Schedule, Coates said. The Alternating A/B 4 X 4 Block Schedule was the consensus of the high school principals, including TCT. Several other options were considered. The 5 x 5 and a 7 or 8 period day were the two top alternatives. The challenges [of the 7 or 8 period day] of scheduling Career and Technical courses at TCT would have been adversely affected by 55 or 50-minute classes. [Its] not enough transition time for students taking only one Career Technical course, Coates said. The alternating A/B 4 X 4 Block Schedule offers flexibilities to add in extra minutes for an advisory or power period. Although the alternating schedule was considered the best, students are frustrated they cant take all the classes they need to. I had my junior and senior year all planned out, but the schedule disrupted it, Sarah Cassel, junior, said. I have to take more AP classes senior year, I was hoping on having it all balanced out. Coates said that the A+ College Ready Program Grant for AP Classes did not affect the decision on the schedule choice and that courses required as year-long would have been included regardless of what schedule format was selected. Cassel said that the schedule affected AP students a great deal. Cassel said she could not fit all of the classes she wanted to take into her schedule because nothing fit. Im kind of mad at the schedule because I was planning on taking a lighter AP load and get the harder classes done, and I was planning on taking more AP classes as a whole, but Ive maxed out my senior year just for the requirements, she said. [The new schedule has] messed up me taking AP and non-AP classes together. It just doesnt work.

featured
High School

New Schedule
The Core Curriculum is taught for the entire school year (Half credits earned at end of Semester 1). Maintains the 4 x 4 Block Schedule resulting in 8 credits per academic year. Provides opportunity for year-long courses in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) in alignment with the A+ Initiative. Provides opportunity for year-long courses in mathematics and other areas of concern. There is no time required by counselors and school staff at mid-year for planning and implementing a new schedule for the spring. There is more flexibility within school calendar . Students will be attending Core classes during the administration of the AHSGE/EOC Exams, PLAN and ACT assessments. Teachers retain the same amount of planning time.
Information compiled by Alex Hauser

Rationale

in the Best of the

Press 17
after we won

Number of Students

Yes

No

Continued on page 6 See schedule

first place
Minnesota

Compiled by Jahmeka Baxter Designed by Alex Hauser

Large class sizes makes teaching difficult Average class sizes

Trent Clanton News editor
The student body count has increased slightly over the years, since the split of the three Tuscaloosa City high schools. Over time it has grown until now it is 447 students more than it was intended to be. Jackie Hudgins, guidance counselor, said the actual student body count has increased only slightly this year. We have roughly 25 more stu-

Best-of Show

Number of students

dents than we did last year, Hudgins said. The total number of students is up to 1247. However, that total number is very large, compared to the other city schools population. Each high school in the Tuscaloosa City School system was built to house 800 students. Now Northridge has the majority, with Bryants population at 881 students, and Centrals down to only 735. Hudgins said one reason the attendance is so high is because of

Junior

Class size has increased. Trina Busbys AP Language class (pictured) has 27 students.

Photo by Nick Motz

the schools prestige. We have grown due to student transfers from both the public and private schools. Northridge has a phenomenal academic and athletic reputation and many students have chosen our school to increase their opportunities, Hudgins said. Mallie Humber, history teacher, has 38 students in one of her classes. One of my AP U.S. History classes started out at 38 students, and now its back down to 30. But my other one started at 44 students and is now at 38, Humber said. One of the most difficult things with a large AP class, Humber said, is grading. Its hard to grade a large AP class because little of the work is multiple choice. Its mostly writing and short answer, which takes a lot longer to grade, Humber said. She said with larger classes, she isnt able to assign as many activities and essays as she would like.

Its harder to do group activities, and I feel the quality of instruction isnt quite where I want it to be. Also, [as with any large class], with so many bodies its hard to transition between activities without excessive talking, Humber said. She said she was glad that she had good classes, though. Even if my classes are large, theyre a very well behaved group of students. It will be difficult, but theyll be prepared for the AP Exam when the year is over, Humber said. Beth Gabriel, junior, said her classes are crowded. The hallways are a lot more crowded and so is the lunchroom. My classes have a lot more people than last year, Gabriel said. I personally like smaller classes because you have more individual attention from your teacher.

at the NSPA

fall convention in Minneapolis,

Average Average largest smallest class size class size

Compiled by Jahmeka Baxter Designed by Alex Hauser

Continued on page 6 See Class size

This was the first front page I designed. It was a lot different from designing feature pages, because you are allowed to break some rules for feature pages. I used grids instead of columns, which was a new concept to our staff. I also made sure not to use useless color, something that our front page designer did a lot the year before. The pink comes from the eraser on the graph, and the blue from the graph was taken out of the picture. We try not to use jumps. This was the only page that had to be jumped because of two huge stories that were deemed front-page worthy.

14

Front Page

Design

This was the April issue of our paper my junior year. April 27 was the one year anniversary of the devastating tornado that swept through Tuscaloosa and our centerspread topic was about where we were now in recovery. We aimed on having a light story on the front page. Skipping school for lunch was a fun story, and I loved designing the page around it. I blackened the student and highlighted the M on the bag because it told the story of why the student was sneaking into the school in the middle of the day. I designed the grunge headline to show the rebellious nature of the student and the colors show the humor in the problem. At first, someone found me a picture of a Manga character on MCT Campus, but right before we sent the page off, I switched it out with a photo story of the talent show with the winner featured on the front. That student loved being on the front, and would come in our class everyday for 2 weeks to pick up more copies for his family. I was so glad I spent the time to design it just to see that smile on that guys face.
Beth Gabriel
Page 7

This page
front page

BCN Problems Page 6

http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com
April 12, 2012 Volume 9 Issue 7 Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al 35406

received
2nd place
Leaving school for lunch forbidden; students ski p anyway
Trent Clanton News Editor hen the bell rings to dismiss for lunch, most students head to the lunchroom. But some head to the parking lot, leave campus and buy their lunch at a fast food restaurant. The only problem is: leaving campus, even for lunch, is against the rules. Isaac Espy, principal, said it is board policy that students cant leave campus without checking out. The punishment for skipping lunch is in-school suspension with a parent conference. The only students permitted to leave campus during lunch are the ones in programs like Co-Op or SGA, and students with a class at TCT that period, Espy said. An anonymous senior said that he skips lunch frequently and has been caught before. I typically go to McDonalds, Taco Casa or Taco Bell. I always make it back to school in time for my classes, though. I get my own lunch because I dont like the taste or portion size of the cafeteria food, and its nice to get away from the school for a little while, he said. James Donahoe, senior, said he used to go offcampus for lunch until he got caught. I think some students just dont want to go to school lunch and so are willing to pay a little extra to eat something like Taco Casa, he said. Donahoe said he didnt think he did anything wrong when he went off-campus for lunch because of the fact that he got back to school before his lunch period even ended. However, the policy is for more than just trying

in the
Gold Circle

Jahmeka Baxter Infographics Editor

Junior

Photos by Beth Allaway

anga Book Club met on March 27 in the library to discuss their favorite Mangas and what they like best about the genre. Neilann Thomas, librarian and sponsor of the club, said that those who attended the meeting showcased their Manga themed artwork. Popular Mangas that were released in the past will be ordered to place in the library, Thomas said. The club members chose two Manga books to read: Fullmetal Alchemist and Blue Exorcist.

Fullmetal Alchemist is written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. The series is about two brothers who want to restore their bodies after a disastrous failed attempt to bring their mother back to life through alchemy. In the manga series, Blue Exorcist written and illustrated by Kazue Kato, humans live in the world of Assiah as demons reside in Gehenna. The two dimensions are not meant to interfere with each other, but demons still possess creatures in Assiah in spite of this. The humans who can fight these demons are known as exorcists. Both Mangas are written by

women, and they have some religious references. Manga Book Club members Kanjalla Dancer, sophomore, and Joshua Thomas, junior, are fans of the Manga series and have their own personal favorites. I think that [Blue Exorcist] is a very interesting series, and I love the Anime, Dancer said. [Fullmetal Alchemist] is a popular series and one that I enjoy watching, Thomas said. The Manga Book Club will meet on April 11 during advisory to begin reading one of the selected manga. (See the first story on the Manga Book Club on the web at www. northridgereporter.wordpress. com)

(see talent show at www.northridgereporter )

hosted by

Awards

to keep students in school. Mike Morgan, zoology teacher, said the rules are in place to protect students. I think the biggest reason students cant skip lunch is obviously the safety factor. Having teens out driving unsupervised presents the possibility of them getting in a wreck and getting hurt, not coming back to school or even getting into some other kind of trouble, he said. Morgan said he believed the punishment for going off-campus without permission should be changed slightly. The first couple of times, ISI is fine, but I think after multiple offenses the student should have their parking pass taken away for a week or two, he said. Laine Elliott, junior, said she didnt think it was fair that students attending classes at TCT 3rd period were able to skip lunch and others arent. I think we should all be able to leave for lunch and have longer lunch shifts. If theyre worried about liabilities, Ill sign a piece of paper or get my parents to sign one that says I can leave, Elliott said. On the other hand, the anonymous senior said he somewhat agrees with not letting everyone leave for lunch. I think the rule is appropriate; hundreds of cars leaving the school in the middle of the day is impractical. As for TCT students, they should have the privilege to go off-campus for lunch because the school already entrusts them to drive to another location, he said. (See editorial on page 2)

Photo illustration by Alex Hauser

CSPA

Two books chosen New book club interests Manga readers

Jaguar Star
Meet the new

Design
September 24, 2012 Volume 10 Issue 1

Front Page

15

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al. 35406

New schedule implemented, gets mixed reviews

Photo by: Alex Hauser

Change
Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief

23 %

Rate of
in high school. [And] thus far, the schedule has been well received, he said. Espy said the new school year will be re-energized with a faster paced schedule, although Kearston Wells, senior, said the classes are pressed for time. I like that the classes are shorter, and you dont lose focus. But its too short because the teachers are stressed and struggle trying to get everything done in that time period, she said. Wells said another downfall is the inconsistency in class times. Its really unfair because first [period] is super short with announcements and fire drills and second [period] is really long if you keep your bonus period. So the only class you really get the most time in is second, she said. So teachers are like Oh I have more time I can teach you and do fun activities, but the other classes are so pressed for time, they cant get as much done and have to cut out all the fun stuff and get straight to work. Nancy Reed, history teacher, said she prefers the seven period schedule. I like the consistency that it provides, and I believe it

Do you like the seven period schedule?

Yes
No

69
81

Which schedule do you like the most?

A/ B
7P erio
20%

Block
57%
150 students polled Designed by: Alex Hauser Information compiled by: Jakailah Cooper

Infographic

Story

For the second consecutive year, the schools schedule has changed. After the disapproval of the A/B block schedule, the school decided to implement a seven period schedule. The initial reason for changing the schedule had to do, in very general terms, with overall student performance. We felt as if the block presented barriers to student learning that could be corrected with year-long classes, Isaac Espy, principal, said. Espy said the block schedule had two main disadvantagesconsistency and the length of class. Many students found it difficult to concentrate for an hour and forty minutes, he said. The pace, at times, tended to be slow. Espy said another benefit to the seven period schedule was having class all year because it eliminates semester and year-long gaps in crucial areas of study. The seven period day is a normal school schedule. George Washington had a seven period day when he was

AP passing rate beats area schools, AP students earn cash

Renu Pandit Feature Editor Sixty-two percent of the 231 students that took AP exams passed. Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, said that Northridge surpassed other schools in West Alabama like Bryant, Central, Hillcrest and Tuscaloosa County High school, whose passing rates were 21%, 2%, 46% and 47% respectively. I am extremely proud of the great work of our students taking AP courses, and the teachers who worked with these students, Espy said. I was honestly stunned at the results. Espy said the passing rate two years ago was 67%, but that only 173 students took AP exams. We had a 26% increase of students passing tests, Espy said. We pushed far more students out of their comfort zone and into a major challenge. The AP Grant that was initiated last year promises a $100 reward to students who pass an AP English, math or science exam.

Cash in your scores

serves most students the best. It also helps alleviate discipline issues in the classroom from my experience, Reed said. For someone like me who loves to lecture [the seven period schedule] just works best for me. Scott Johnson, math teacher, said he think[s] [he] likes the seven period day. I think its better for the kids to have math and reading [all year]; theres not as many gaps, Johnson said. Im hoping [scores] will go up. Amanda Burns, senior, said she likes the seven period schedule, although there are some flaws. Ive only had seven periods my whole life, and when I came to Northridge they were on the block, and I hated it, she said. [With the new schedule] I dont like the bonus, and I dont like how we lose a credit because we dont have eight periods like we used to. Burns said she likes the shorter classes, and it will just take time to adjust. Teachers have to adjust to the time change, but I think it will work out. Only time will tell, she said. Continued on page 6 See Schedule

Infographic

Espy said the money will be rewarded to Hudgins said she feels students who do the appropriate students at an assembly the well on the AP exams are properly recoglast week of September. nized. Jane Yu, senior, took and passed the Especially those who are named AP AP Composition, Statistics, Calculus scholars, Hudgins said. I would love for BC, Physics and Chemistry exams in the us to do more, but funding receptions is spring. nearly impossible. The AP Grant has helped make AP Zoe Bakker, senior, took and passed the classes more appealing for students be- AP Calculus, Chemistry and Composition cause of the incentive the money reward exams in the spring. gives, Yu said. The money reward didnt have a huge However, Yu said she would have want- affect on me, but it was a nice bonus, ed to pass her exams even if there was no Bakker said. I would have wanted to pass Julia Hocutt monetary reward. even without it. AP courses are helpful when it comes However, Bakker said she believed the Staff Writer to getting ready for colleges. Ive already money reward is what caused a rise in ReplayIt is an interactive, community figured out what I like to do because of students joining AP classes, many of which wide picture sharing website. Students can them, Yu said. Also, I think its a once in didnt even pass. a life time opportunity to explore as many When you have a class of 35 people, and upload personal pictures from their phones, computers and other devices to the Replaysubjects as you want without the huge cost at least five dont even want to be there, it It time capsule, so the school yearbook of tuition. makes it hard to learn, Bakker said. Jacqueline Hudgins, guidance counselor, Upon hearing that the schools passing staff members have more picture options to said its too early to tell if the money had rate was 62%, Bakker said the school needs put in the schools yearbook. With the program, student body mema serious effect on increase in AP students to put more focus on people who do well. and AP passing rates. The school system puts so much focus bers who arent apart of the yearbook comWe ho mad always have students who on people who fail the graduation exams. mittee now have the opportunity to help e w f work hard because they made Rather than changing our o made th out their staff and participate themselves. ts h f en who I really like how the whole school ud have a determined nts schedule to help a n w can get connected and involved, yearwork ethic, and few people with de book editor Katherine Duckworth, juthey understand their graduation nior, said. the value of AP in exams, we should do ReplayIt is a great way for students to preparing for college, whats best for the whole share their pictures with other classmates. Hudgins said. However, school, Bakker said. Being a member of the yearbook staff, who wouldnt want $100 for Designed by: Alex Hauser I would love students to upload their fun passing a test? Information compiled by: Jakailah Cooper pictures, Hallie Young, junior, said.

Site helps students contribute to yearbook

Pictures

ves

rees

ou

St

St ud e

Senior

AYP Page 6

Hillcrest game Page 7

Stu

ts

This was my first design of my senior year. I wrote the main story, took the picture at the top (see page 29), created the infographics at the top and bottom, and took all the pictures to fill the inside boxes on the bottom. I also spent time teaching the new students and mentoring the old.

rs

Zoology Page 8

16

Front Page

Design

I did something different for this page, I only used one story. When I wrote this story at first, it was a lot shorter. My advisor told me not to worry about length because I had a lot of good information and nothing could be cut out. This page design was difficult because I had to figure out how to break up all the text. I used subheads for the story, and I asked our artist to draw me a white board. Even with the white board, there was still too much text. I used Photoshop to extract the eraser and expo marker to make the page look more appealing.

October 29, 2012 Volume 10 Issue 2

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Mock
Breakdown of grades

Election

Results

24 for more

See page

9th Obama Romney

10th =10%

11th

12th

Breakdown of ages

14 15 16 17 18
Breakdown of ethnicity
Romney Obama

information about the

Mock Election

Obama
white black

Romney
other 1 person=10%

Romney

Barack Obama
639 students polled information compiled by: Alex Hauser Designed by: Alex Hauser Photos by: MCT Campus

And the winner is...

31%

69%

year school, or for academic reasons didnt meet the criteria to get into a four year school, Hudgins said. And its also for Whether its taking standardized tests the advanced academic, honors or AP student that or visiting just wanted schools, college to start in a preparation can I definitely think its wise smaller setstart as early as ting thats a freshmen year. to apply for college earlot less exJackie Hudpensive. ly... dont make applying gins, senior The local counselor, said for college stressful. Its communi students have ty college, to find the an exciting time. Shelton right fit for ofthemselves Hannah Johnson, senior State, fers a sumwhen it comes mer scholto preparing a r s h i p for college. called S2. Some people The scholtake a year off arship alor a gap year, go to a two year school or a four year uni- lows students not eligible for Pell grants to take 12 hours of academic study free of versity. charge the summer between graduation and Finding the right fit for you is what we want to help you with, the start of their freshman year in college. Paying for College she said. Students can receive money through fiGap Years Hudgins said gap years have nancial aid, standardized tests scores and been a rising trend and help students scholarships. Financial aid is available to every stutake time to figure out what to do and to dent, but has levels that only certain studecompress from high school. Special Education teacher Beth Hol- dents qualify for. Low-income students can limans daughter Maury took a gap year receive Pell grants, and any student is elito save up for a study abroad program gible for student loans and work study. Fill out FAFSA (Free Application for before starting college. Maury was a junior in high school Federal Student Aid). It doesnt cost you when she started making college visits. anything to do. You never know what cirShe was very unsure of what she wanted cumstances could change. Something hapto do and where she wanted to go. She pens, and someone could suffer a job loss, thought she might want to go into culi- Hudgins said. [Also,] work study is a great nary arts, she said. I knew she would way to get your foot in the door. Many organizations award scholarships eventually go to college, so I encouraged her to take a break and just work based on interest, test scores or essays. for a while [During her senior year], Some colleges accept your college applishe pretty much decided she wanted to cation as the scholarship application, but take a year off, work and save all of her some places, like the University of Alabama, require students to fill that out sepamoney and use it to go on a big trip. Holliman said taking a gap year has tre- rately. A scholarship is that investment of a mendous benefits. It gives [students] a year to take college or organization in you. And so, a break from academics, experience if they thought everybody was qualified, they would give everybody money. They having a job, and, in my daughters case, a chance of a lifetime are looking for an investment to trip. She earned enough money to represent their travel to Europe [and visit] eight differ- organization, 1. Search out ent countries. She was over there for 35 Hudgins said. admissions days and paid for every bit of it her- They want requirements self, [and] even had money left over more than just 2. Send in applications to decorate her dorm room at UA, the very, very Send in transcripts 3. smart student. she said. want Hudgins said students need to find a They Mrs. Hudgins 6 steps balance between having fun and remain- someone that will be ining focused. [Students] really need to focus on pre- volved in their paring for what they are going to do the campuses. The Common App next level, she said. The Common Application is a resource Community Colleges Community colleges are resources for available to students planning to apply to anyone in the community and helpful for several schools. Weve had students in the past that have all students, according to Hudgins. Its for the student that maybe dropped applied to 10 different schools, and norout of high school and got their GED. Its mally that would mean filling out 10 differfor the student that received special edu- ent forms and writing 10 different essays. cation services, and they exit high school Now with the Common App, they just have with a different type of certificate. Its for to do it once, she said. When turning in any application, Hudthe standard diploma student who, maybe for financial reasons, couldnt afford a four gins said to remember deadlines. Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief

As school year goes by, students start preparing for college

College Prep

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al 35406

The deadlines are expected to be met. If they say the deadline is Dec. 1, they dont want your stuff on Dec. 2, she said. For any college, theres a process; first, the application must be sent, then the transcript, and sometimes, a separate scholarship application. Once you do those three things for the university, youre pretty much done until you make a housing department and enrollment deposit, and they will talk to you more specifically about that later, Hudgins said. Early deadlines for the University of Alabama are Dec. 1, and applying early can take away tension from senior year. It helps to know that this is an option, or this is not an option, so students can go ahead to Plan B. Procrastinating brings on stress, Hudgins said.

When picking colleges, she said campus visits are one of the most important things to do. You can feel very comfortable in a place or feel very out of your element. A college campus visit is where you can determine that, Hudgins said. LaJessica Duncan, senior, visited UAB (University of Alabama in Birmingham) because she was interested in the medical program. Its not too far, but not too close either. Some of my family members go there. But I wanted to make sure its like people say it is, and that I like it and can imagine myself living there. Hannah Johnson, senior, visited Covenant College in Georgia. She said the campus visit was what made her sure about her college choice, and that its a necessary trip any senior should take. Its important to find a college you can imagine yourself living in. Covenant College was that for me. I liked that it was small and a Presbyterian college. To me, when you visit a college that you really like, you find little things that stand out to you, Johnson said. I wanted a school that had a pretty campus. Covenant looked like Hogwarts. And thats definitely a plus. Johnson said it was important to fill out the application when you have time to think about each answer. Just elaboand test scores rating on a 4. Fill out certain volunscholarship teer event you applications 5. Wait for answers attended could 6. Make a decision impress the admissions oflege fice. Dont be to apply for col modest. This is your time to brag about your years in school, she said. She said shes glad she started applying early because now she can enjoy her senior year. It takes so much stress away, knowing what my options are. And I loved Covenant so much, Ill probably go there, Johnson said. I definitely think its wise to apply for college early. You never know what could happen, and how busy you will get later. Dont make applying for college stressful. Its an exciting time.

College Visits

In-school conditioning Page 7

Exemption policy Page 6

Senior

Color Run Page 8

Design

Newsmagazine Cover
December 16, 2011 Volume 9 Issue 4

17

Beat

hers reflected of my upon

talgiaSee the back

http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com/
http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com

therine Vail said I always remember my ers one year when brothers and sister waking me up at the crack of dawn to open presents that would still be there in three more hours. I wanted to sleep, Wilhite said. With all the traditional Christmas memories, also come the memories unique to our families. Every year my husband cooks some different, unique, strange kind of meat. He has cooked goose, duck and cornish hen. Its always something different, and we have people over for it, Mills said. Teresa Meissner, BTA teachhoto by Nick Motz er, said that when her children and grandchildren come over, and Ashlyn Sunseri she likes to have a non-tradidoor. tional Christmas meal. p on Christmas to Since we are all tired of er, who was living Christmas meals, we have a rolina and was not Christmas meal to get over arrive until the next Christmas meals. I usually try g in her living room. to make something Italian, like remembers the tra- pasta, she said. mories as well. She said that her favorite mber] sitting on the thing about Christmas is the stairs, looking into stockings. oom and trying to My favorite part [about ee Santa, and then Christmas] is that I love makg to bed when my ing the Christmas stockings. e to and waking up I start shopping early because of dawn to see my I love to get different, unique ail said. things to put in them. One year, aid she also gets I even had a stocking for my Christmas to open grand pup, Meissner said.

Portfolio
to see how our
utilizes both
traditional

newspaper

front page

cover

and a

newsmagazine

Pg. 4-5
Junior

Honorable Mention
Gold Circle Awards

CSPAs

at

This is one of my favorite magazine pages I designed. I created the background, napkin, and coffee cup from scratch in Photoshop. I then created a coffee stain brush in Photoshop and used it to make the letters to spell caffeine. Our paper is limited to black and white, so I try to add as much dimension to my pages to distract from the lack of color.

18

at

ite limitations

I did. Beth said she loved watching Allison play during the season. Shes really enthused about playing. Its her senior year and shes excited to play. You can just see that shes having fun, she said. I get so nervous [when I watch her play]. Whenever she gets the ball I get an adrenaline rush. I want her to score so badly.

Newsmagazine Cover

Design
March 8, 2012 Volume 9 Issue 6

http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com/

Allison said she has a really strong relationship with her sister, and they dont fight, they just pick on each other. We dont fight nearly as much as other sisters do. We get along really well, Beth said. Allison and Beth encourage each other in everything they do. I just feel that Im glad to know that somebodys always there to support me. I like knowing shes always there for me. Shes my biggest fan, Beth said. Susan said that Allison has a heart like Jesus and is friends with everybody. Shes very friendly. She loves being around people and knows everybodys name, Susan said. Beth said that Allison is a big role model because she is very forgiving and loves everybody. Allison is that type of person that knows everyone, whether they know her or not. I tell everyone that you could go punch her in the face, and she will still love you. She never holds a grudge, even when she should, Beth said. Allison said that she was meant to be friends with everybody. God told me to be friends with people, so I am, she said. Susan said that her philosophy is not to set limits, to try it and fail, instead of not trying at all. When it comes back to it, we just used what was given to us. We would focus on what she needed to work with, she said.

Friendships

Junior
During this month, our feature page missed the deadline, and I was forced to design this without any knowledge of what the page looked like. I had the idea to have the names of the politicians balancing on top of each other as if one of them could fall at any moment. Then on top the bigger battle of the two parties battling it out. Little did I know, the feature editors page looked very similar to this.

Design

Newsmagazine Cover
November 30, 2012 Volume 10 Issue 3

19

8
northridgereporter.wordpress.com

I like how we can

es praise

f the junior varsity ear at the school. nior, played on the nd had Ashcraft as h teacher. nt as hard on us as m, he said. s an affinity for esps which has led to ns including a suma and participation 1, a four mile race obstacles and gal-

iking in Montana climbing and boul-

ns to compete in the s year. ore tranquil, he said ulkner, Orwell and

AP class need.

herine Tucker said s too difficult, and, weeks, switched to course. illmans teaching a hes willing to stop f the pieces were nt think Mr. Ashe a teacher. nglish course a stuaid that he or she the same literary

Senior
I designed this my senior year. The centerspread was about alumni who went on to become famous musicians, football players, or comedic superstars. The feature editor did hand drawings, and spotlights were thematic in her design. I created this and loved the dark contrast it gave.

20

Yearbook Page

Design

I stopped playing basketball a few weeks into my freshman year, meaning I had to find a class to have my last period. Yearbook was the only class I was allowed to join because of the lateness in the year. I had journalism the period before, and so I just continued into the next period, instead of doing yearbook as well. I did independent study learning InDesign and Photoshop. Soon enough though, I started editing the other freshmens stories. The freshman editor was struggling, so I sat next to her and helped her with coming up with ideas. She had to leave for two weeks for a funeral across the country, and I had to take over. There was a blank spread, and the yearbook editor decided to do it on the six pairs of twins we had. I already wrote the story, so I just modified and shortened it for the yearbook. I set up and took every picture for this spread, as well as design the page from scratch. This was my very first published design in my journalism career. It received 2nd place People Page at the Alabama Scholastic Press Association.

Freshman

Design

place in his house was in his downstairs hallway. His family placed a mattress over their heads. When it went over us, it made a terrible

road. When it went over us, all my senses took over my body. I tensed up so much that I just blocked it all out, Dill said. When it was all

evil growl. We just sat and watched it go right by us, Floyd said. It was awful to know that I was looking at something that destroyed the town.

Infographics

21

Affected areas of the tornado

gne

design by: alex hauser

Sophomore
in case there is another disaster. 1. Have a list of phone numbers to call after a disaster. Include an out of state number. 2. Have a box put up in a closet that has flash lights, a first aid kit, and old bottles of medication you take. 3. Take the warnings seriously. 4. Prepare for the worst. 5. Inform your relatives to have a plan to rescue you.

After Although our April grandmother we family decided in Ohio Tornado, called Fullers to do a spread on it and safe, r to confirm that her father was is together how said that she will always ve. affected she students in our warnings the seriously, and she After finding an exit out of their take school. I designed else to do vastated neighborhood,page theas encourages well as theeveryone map ller family began to wheel their the same. infographic. I showed The day after the storm the tcases to Forest Lake Baptist the path picture of theof tornado Jesus still sat in the urch. The fear didnt stop there through our town. I included bathroom floor. rumors and news said that there recognizable features Currently, the Fuller family is uld soon be another tornado with her mother-in-law. lowing the same path.and The keystaying areas hit. I gave Fuller design came up with an rm for another tornado it came a minimalistic emergency d went. The family decided to to give the reader plan easethat she thinks everyone should have in place to her dads house. and be able to read the information without much hindrance.

22

Infographics

In our committee everyone was with the four block, Allaway said. But the big problem with the four block is that the board wanted students to be in math and English classes all year instead of just a semester. Isaac Espy, principal, said there were flaws in the previous four block schedule. There has been a level of dissatisfaction with the block schedule for years, he said. Some of the common complaints include lengthy classes, and a seven month gap in math instruction.

not be too stressful. I imagine that there will be some rough patches that we will have to work through, she said. I dont think that anything can be worse than the schedule this year. The grades are horrible compared to what they have been. Elizabeth Tiley, guidance counselor, said she does not think the changes will be that bad. Everyone will have to learn to adjust,

courses should solve the problem. Credit recovery resources will make repeating entire classes almost obsolete, he said. Allaway said there should be some pros to the new schedule. The people who like the seven period schedule like it because kids dont pay attention for that long anyway, she said. Taylor Goodall, junior, said he likes the schedule for that reason. I think that its

The incoming freshman class will only need 24 credits and will need to have taken Algebra II as a math to graduate. Graduation exams will become obsolete and all juniors will take the ACT. The state of Alabama is going to have end of course examinations, Espy said. The ACT test will help school officials monitor student achievement, as well as provide students with a free opportunity to take this important assessment.

Design
Cinnamon Challenge page 8

Class times affect HOSA Alex Hauser

Tennis page 11

Editor-in-Chief
May 10, 2012 Volume 9 Issue 8

http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com
Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al 35406

Information supplied by: Lesley Bruinton

Designed by: Alex Hauser Information compiled by: Jah'meka Baxter

Junior
Jane Yu Entertainment Editor

AP foreign languages hindered by all-year classes

The foreign language department will be affected even more by the new seven period schedule. Unless students take foreign language classes in middle school, they will not be able to reach an AP foreign language. Julie Kim, senior, said she feels bad for those who cannot take AP foreign language. In Spanish I, II, III and IV, you just do vocabulary, but in AP Spanish you put all

The A/B block schedule affected foreign language honor societies because fewer students were able to finish the required courses by the end of their first semester. Barbara Beemer, French teacher, said French Honor Society had only a handful of students this year compared to almost twenty students in previous years.

knowledge together, comprehend Spanish thoroughly and get to be really immersed into Hispanic culture, Kim said. Isaac Espy, principal, said the new schedule will affect foreign language classes and limit the number of double-ups. The school system will plan to increase opportunities to earn foreign language credits for middle school students, Espy said.

block schedule, students taking classes at Tuscaloosa Center for Technology (TCT) are rushed when traveling back and forth, so they can have as much time in their classes as possible. The shortened class time that will be Class times affect HOSA in effect next year will hurt HOSA students because they wont have enough time for class and clinicals. Sally Latham, HOSA teacher, said that she prefers the traditional 4x4 block schedule because it offers the best opportunity for the health science class. [The 4x4 block schedule] allows maximum time for hands-on learning which is AP foreign languages hindered by all-year classes what health science is all about, Latham said. [But] I always want to remain flexible enough to have as many students taking health science classes as possible. If that means changing to a seven period schedule then we will certainly make the most of what we have to work with. Juniors taking Foundations of Health Science will take the class in a two period, one semester course, meaning they will have to find two half-credit classes for the other semester. If they arent able to find classes, they will be unable to take HOSA. The senior level course will be a two period block class all year. There will be two classes: first and second, and third and fourth, using the bonus advisory period for extra time. This will give students enough time to complete their clinicals as well as other in-classroom activities. Elise Tucker, junior, is currently taking the junior level Foundations of Health Science so she can participate in HOSA next year. Ive been waiting to take HOSA since freshman year, she said. With the new schedule, Im not sure how its going to work out. My schedule is really full, and its going to be difficult scheduling around HOSA.
Raiha Bajwa Opinion Editor The Tuscaloosa City School Board announced a new schedule for the 2012-2013 school year consisting of seven periods, as well as a thirty-six minute skinny block. Beth Allaway, biology teacher, was on the committee to discuss a schedule for the next school year. In our committee everyone was with the four block, Allaway said. But the big problem with the four block is that the board wanted students to be in math and English classes all year instead of just a semester. Isaac Espy, principal, said there were flaws in the previous four block schedule. There has been a level of dissatisfaction with the block schedule for years, he said. Some of the common complaints include lengthy classes, and a seven month gap in math instruction. Espy said the seven period day is a traditional schedule, and one that is used in most high schools. It is not innovative, exploratory or a novel idea, he said. It is a common schedule among many if not most high schools in Alabama, and I am optimistic that it will be progressive and a positive component of our instructional program. Allaway said she hopes the change will not be too stressful. I imagine that there will be some rough patches that we will have to work through, she said. I dont think that anything can be worse than the schedule this year. The grades are horrible compared to what they have been. Elizabeth Tiley, guidance counselor, said she does not think the changes will be that bad. Everyone will have to learn to adjust, she said. Students will have to learn to adjust their schedule to their workload, just like teachers will have to change teaching styles. The new schedule will make it harder for students to retake classes they have failed. Failures will be harder to deal with, Tiley said. You wont be able to make up classes the way you used to be able to. But Espy said available credit recovery courses should solve the problem. Credit recovery resources will make repeating entire classes almost obsolete, he said. Allaway said there should be some pros to the new schedule. The people who like the seven period schedule like it because kids dont pay attention for that long anyway, she said. Taylor Goodall, junior, said he likes the schedule for that reason. I think that its Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief

school changes again Even with schedule the extended four period

Seven period schedule provides shorter classes for shorter attention spans

better because my attention span is definitely not an hour and thirty minutes long, Goodall said. Goodall said even though hell have to sign up for more classes, he does not expect it to be too stressful. Its not like Im going to be taking seven academic courses, he said. There should be at least three classes that are electives that I dont have to stress about. The incoming freshman class will only need 24 credits and will need to have taken Algebra II as a math to graduate. Graduation exams will become obsolete and all juniors will take the ACT. The state of Alabama is going to have end of course examinations, Espy said. The ACT test will help school officials monitor student achievement, as well as provide students with a free opportunity to take this important assessment.

Information supplied by: Lesley Bruinton

Designed by: Alex Hauser Information compiled by: Jah'meka Baxter

Jane Yu Entertainment Editor

The A/B block schedule affected foreign language honor societies because fewer students were able to finish the required courses by the end of their first semester. Barbara Beemer, French teacher, said French Honor Society had only a handful of students this year compared to almost twenty students in previous years.

The foreign language department will be affected even more by the new seven period schedule. Unless students take foreign language classes in middle school, they will not be able to reach an AP foreign language. Julie Kim, senior, said she feels bad for those who cannot take AP foreign language. In Spanish I, II, III and IV, you just do vocabulary, but in AP Spanish you put all

knowledge together, comprehend Spanish thoroughly and get to be really immersed into Hispanic culture, Kim said. Isaac Espy, principal, said the new schedule will affect foreign language classes and limit the number of double-ups. The school system will plan to increase opportunities to earn foreign language credits for middle school students, Espy said.

Even with the extended four period block schedule, students taking classes at Tuscaloosa Center for Technology (TCT) are rushed when traveling back and forth, so they can have as much time in their classes as possible. The shortened class time that will be in effect next year will hurt HOSA students because they wont have enough time for class and clinicals. Sally Latham, HOSA teacher, said that she prefers the traditional 4x4 block schedule because it offers the best opportunity for the health science class. [The 4x4 block schedule] allows maximum time for hands-on learning which is what health science is all about, Latham said. [But] I always want to remain flexible enough to have as many students taking health science classes as possible. If that means changing to a seven period schedule then we will certainly make the most of what we have to work with. Juniors taking Foundations of Health Science will take the class in a two period, one semester course, meaning they will have to find two half-credit classes for the other semester. If they arent able to find classes, they will be unable to take HOSA. The senior level course will be a two period block class all year. There will be two classes: first and second, and third and fourth, using the bonus advisory period for extra time. This will give students enough time to complete their clinicals as well as other in-classroom activities. Elise Tucker, junior, is currently taking the junior level Foundations of Health Science so she can participate in HOSA next year. Ive been waiting to take HOSA since freshman year, she said. With the new schedule, Im not sure how its going to work out. My schedule is really full, and its going to be difficult scheduling around HOSA.

The last paper of my junior year, the front page featured three different stories on the effects of the new schedule that would be implemented the next year. Instead of trying to have three different graphics, I decided to turn my page into a package and tie them together. I created the paperclip graph in Photoshop so I could link the paperclips. The line graph was created in illustrator and the graph paper I made in Photoshop. I used a sharpie to write on the legal pad and post-it notes and drew the drawings on a piece of copy paper. I arranged a blanked lined sheet of paper, the legal pad and the book on a desk and took a picture of the desk from a birds eye point-of-view. I took separate pictures of the post-it notes , drawings and pencil to transpose into my infographic. I combined all my elements to create this infographic.

Design
Black history month page 6

March 8, 2012 Volume 9 Issue 6

Infographics

23

http://northridge

National Debt $15,410,000,000,000

Allison Gabriel Page 8

Gover

Jane Yu Entertainmen

http://northridgereporter.wordpress.com
March 8, 2012 Volume 9 Issue 6

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al 35406

National Debt $15,410,000,000,000

Population Unemployed

Government spending, laziness blamed for debt

Jane Yu Entertainment Editor The United States has over $15 trillion of national debt according to usdebtclock.org. The United States started to accumulate national debt for the Revolutionary War. The debt for the war was $75 million, but it was paid off quickly. The amount of debt has increased a great deal since then. Jared Lotfi, junior, said he condemns the government for causing this tremendous debt. Poor government spending causes the debt, Lotfi said. As our debt increases, our credit rating goes down. He said bailouts and wars are the two big obvious reasons that we have prodigious amount of debt. Scott Johnson, math teacher, said tremendous amounts of debt started when we started to borrow money for entitlement social programs. Government should not spend money on social programs, Johnson said. [We need] self- reliance. He related debt problems with lazy people who are reluctant to work. We have 40 million on food stamps, and one fifth of the nation is unemployed, Johnson said. He said the laziness passes to the current students generation. This generation will be the first generation to be worse off than the generation before, Johnson said. He said former generations were taught better work ethic, whereas students these days play too much and are exposed too much to social media. Johnson said a link exists between increasing college tuition and the United States tax-system. Tuition doubles because so many get free rides, not academically or athletically, but socioeconomically, Johnson said. He said those exemptions decrease the money colleges take in, thus tuition increases. How many people are getting privilege

Debt Per Citizen

313,101,23123,054,654

$49,215
What could be bought with the National Debt?

3,824,812,630 Super Bowl tickets

58,000,000
34,545,482,137
Lady Gaga tickets
Infographic designed and compiled by: Alex Hauser Information from usdebtclock.org and abcnews.com

average houses

by faking their socioeconomic status? However, the federal government has borJohnson said. Our tax system is messed rowed money from that Trust Fund to pay up. for other programs, and now there is not Johnson said tax is the most direct and enough money left in it to continue paying effective way for government to get mon- what has been promised. ey. However, he said only 50% of people She said that is why we have to borrow pay federal income tax, not including those huge sums of money from China to meet who are socioeconomically exempt, so less the government our obligations to fund its money is available to the government, and program. people who are taxed are overtaxed. She said she strongly believes that the We are definitely overtaxed, and gov- federal government has to cut spending ernment should stop spending, Johnson and eliminate waste and corruption. said. As painful as it may be, the governHe said he supports the idea of shrinking ment may have to raise taxes, Beemer the government. said. Cutting spending is not easy because Small businessmen have to spend so the public expects a lot from the governmuch to keep their businesses, Johnson ment. said. We have to reduce regulations on She said her outlook for our future is grim business corporations. if the federal government continues to borHe also said row more money, and tax is not the way the debt continues to Poor government spending to fix the debt but be out of control. causes the debt. As our debt spending is. Our credit will be increases, our credit rating One out of four downgraded, again, works for the govand that will cause goes down. ernment, Johnson the government to said. We have too owe more in interest many departments on all of those loans, for government, Beemer said. That and we spend too increases the debt much money supplying for military. [That further. is a] bureaucracy. She said the public will have to be burBarbara Beemer, French teacher, too, dened with heavy taxes, and the federal said she thinks the national debt is caused government could go bankrupt. by the federal government spending more If we want a preview of that possibilmoney that the government receives in ity, we can watch what is happening in taxes. Greece, Beemer said. The federal government has had to Andrew Lattner, senior, said he does not borrow money to cover its expenses, she think there is that much of a debt problem. said. Something rarely known is that debt is She said, If a family spends more mon- actually necessary for the government to ey than it has earned, the family has to function properly, Lattner said. The govborrow money to live and to pay the bills. ernment and the world economy are based If that practice continues, the family goes on the sale of treasury bonds, which are bankrupt. forms of debt. She said one huge expense for the fedHe also said he thinks the Alabama State eral government is paying Social Security debt could have much more of an impact to retirees. on students than the national debt. The workers have been putting monIt will take dozens of years to get close ey into the Social Security Trust Fund to Greece which had excessive debt and throughout their career, Beemer said. major government cuts, Lattner said.

Population Unemployed

Debt Per Citizen

313,101,23123,054,654

-Jared Lotfi, junior

$49,215
What could be bought with the National Debt?

Parents can now view grades online with I-Now; program still has bugs
Trent Clanton News Editor Information Now (also called I-Now), a grading program used across Alabama, underwent updates in February to include a new feature with which parents can view their childrens grades online. Jackie Hudgins, guidance counselor, said as long as they come to get their I-Now password, there is no reason why parents shouldnt know how their child is doing in school. Some students dont like to take progress reports and reports cards home, and now we can ensure that parents will know what kind of grades their students are making, she said. The I-Now program, created by the STI company, was required to be placed in all public schools across the state by the Alabama State Department of Education before the end of the 2011-2012 school year and cost $5.3 million dollars. Though it offers useful features, like online access for parents, various teachers have had issues with the new grading program. Pat Newman, Student Database Manager at the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education, said there were a lot of enrollment problems at the beginning of the year. We have also had many reports of teachers not being able to use the grading function of the program. There are sometimes bugs in the system, too, but STI usually fixes them, she said. Though I-Now has its issues, Newman said there are advantages to the program, such as the fact that it is web-based and operates as one database that is accessible state-wide. Richard Nowell, ceramics teacher, said the I-Now software doesnt work as well as it could. I think that they didnt test it well enough before it was mandated to be in all schools, he said. Quincy Collins, English teacher, said he doesnt have any trouble with everyday use of I-Now, but runs into problems sometimes with specific step-bystep tasks. If I have issues with it, Ill usually ask another teacher if they know how to fix it, or I can Google it to see if I can find an answer, he said. Collins said he liked the idea of I-Now, but not its implementation. The original intent was for teachers to have access to their grades from anywhere, but it seems like it was just thrown on the teachers without any preparation, Collins said. Some students have fluctuating or incorrect grades because of the program, like Sarah Cassel, junior. It has made some of my grade averages higher and lower than they should be, and slows down the grading process because some teachers have to do grades by hand, Cassel said. Newman said the State Department of Education will likely continue to use I-Now. As long as the state requires its use, we dont really have a choice. Theyve put a lot into this program, and I think STI will be able to make it better in the future, she said.

Teachers, do you like I-Now?

30 25 20

15 10 5
Yes No

3,824,812,630 Super Bowl tickets

Graphic by: Alex Hauser

Infographic designed by: Alex Hauser Information compiled by: Jahmeka Baxter

58,000,000
34,545,482,137
Lady Gaga tickets
Junior
Trent Clanton News Editor Information Now (also called I-Now), a grading program used across Ala-

The front page story assigned was about the national debt. I tried to find a way to get a graphic with a student, but I kept running into the same problem: no one knew how much the debt actually was. Our students didnt know much at all. I decided to make a comparison of the national debt to things students could understand, such as Superbowl tickets.

average houses
Infographic designed and compiled by: Alex Hauser Information from usdebtclock.org and abcnews.com

The United St national debt ac The United S national debt f The debt for the it was paid off q The amount o deal since then. Jared Lotfi, ju government for debt. Poor govern debt, Lotfi sai our credit rating He said bailou obvious reason amount of debt. Scott Johnso mendous amoun started to borro social programs Government on social progr need] self- relia He related de ple who are relu We have 40 and one fifth of Johnson said. He said the la students genera This generat tion to be worse fore, Johnson s He said form better work eth days play too m much to social m Johnson said creasing colleg States tax-syste Tuition dou free rides, not a but socioeconom He said thos money colleges creases. How many p

Number of Teachers

Parents can now view gr

The I-Now program, created by the STI company, was required to be placed in all public schools across the state by the Alabama State Department of Edu-

r i f T i

24

Infographics

October 29, 2012 Volume 10 Issue 2

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Design

Mock
Breakdown of grades

Election

Results

9th Obama Romney

10th =10%

11th

12th

Breakdown of ages

14 15 16 17 18
Breakdown of ethnicity
Romney Obama

Obama
white black

Romney
other 1 person=10%

Romney

Barack Obama
639 students polled information compiled by: Alex Hauser Designed by: Alex Hauser Photos by: MCT Campus

And the winner is...

31%

69%

year school, or for academic reasons didnt The deadlines are expected to be met. If northridgereporter.wordpress.com meet the criteria to get into a four year they say the Road deadline is Dec. 1, they dont Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Tuscaloosa, Al 35406 College school, Hudgins said. And its also for want your stuff on Dec. 2, she said. Prep academic, honors or AP stuFor any college, theres a process; first, Whether its taking standardized tests the advanced As school year goes by, students start preparing for college dent that thedidnt application must be sent, then the tranor visiting year school, or for academic reasons The deadlines are expected to be met. If Alex Hauser meet the criteria to get into a four year they say the deadline is Dec. 1, they dont Editor-in-Chief just script, and school, wanted Hudgins said. And its also for want your sometimes, stuff on Dec. 2, she said. a separate scholarschools, college For any college, theres a process; first, Whether its taking standardized tests the advanced academic, honors or AP student that the application must be sent, then the tranor visiting to start in a ship application. preparation can just wanted script, and sometimes, a separate scholarschools, college I definitely think its wise start in a ship application. preparation can smaller set- to Once you do those three things for the start as early as I definitely think its wise smaller setOnce you do those three things for the start as early as ting thats a university, youre pretty much done until freshmen year. to apply for college ear ting thats a university, pretty much done until freshmen year. lot less ex- you make youre a housing department and enJackie Hud to apply for college ear - dont make pensive. rollment deposit, and they will talk to you ly... applying gins, senior lot less ex you make a housing department and enJackie HudThe local more specifically about that later, Hudcounselor, said for college stressful. Its communi - gins said. students have Breakdown of grades pensive. rollment deposit, they ty college, Early deadlines for theand University of Al- will talk to you ly... dont make applying to find the gins, senior an exciting time. S h e l t o n abama are Dec. 1, and applying early can right fit for State, of- specifically take away tension from senior year. themselves The local about that later, Hudcounselor, said Hannah Johnson, senior more fers a sumIt helps to know that this is an option, when it comes for college stressful. mer scholsaid. - or this is not an option, so students can go to preparing Its communi - gins students have a r s h i p ahead to Plan B. Procrastinating brings on for college. called S . stress, Hudgins said. Some people ty college, The Early deadlines for the University of Alto find the schol- College Visits a year off an exciting time. take arship alWhen picking colleges, she said campus or a gap year, hstudents elt oeligible n for abama are Dec. 1,important and things applying early can lows not Pell grants visits are one of the most right fit for go to a two year school or a four year uni- S to take 12 hours of academic study free of to do. versity. of charge the summer between graduation and You can feel very comfortable in a place take away tension from senior year. Finding the right fit for you State, themselves or feel very out of your element. A college is what we want to help you with, the start of their freshman year in college. Hannah Johnson, senior Paying for campus visit is where you canthat determine she said. fers aCollege sumIt helps to know this is an option, when it comes Breakdown of ages Students can receive money through fi- that, Hudgins said. Gap Years LaJessica Duncan, senior, visited UAB nancial aid, standardized tests scores and Hudgins said gap years have mer schol- or this (University is notofan option, so students can go 14 to preparing Alabama in Birmingham) been a rising trend and help students scholarships. Financial aid is available to every stu- because she was interested in the medical take time to figure out what to do and to a r s h i p ahead to Plan B. Procrastinating brings on for college. dent, but has levels that only certain stu- program. decompress from high school. Its not too far, but not too close either. students can Special Education teacher Beth Hol- dents qualify for. Low-income 2 15 S stress, Hudgins said. .any student of my family members go there. But receive Pell grants, and is eli- Some Some people limans daughter Maury took a gap year called I wanted to make sure its like people say it to save up for a study abroad program gible for student loans and work study. that I like it and can imagine myself Fill outschol FAFSA (Free for is, and The - Application College Visits before starting college. take a year off 16 Maury was a junior in high school Federal Student Aid). It doesnt cost you living there. Hannah Johnson, senior, visited Cove- she said campus anything to do. You never cirwhen she started making college visits. arship When picking colleges, al - know what or a gap year, She was very unsure of what she wanted cumstances could change. Something hap- nant College in Georgia. She said the cam17 pus visit was what made her sure about her important things pens, and someone could suffer a job loss, to do and where she wanted to go. She of the most not eligible for Pell grants visits are one go to a two year school or a four year uni- lows students thought she might want to go into culi- Hudgins said. [Also,] work study is a great college choice, and that its a necessary trip any senior should take. nary arts, she said. I knew she would way to get your foot in the door. to do. to take 12 hours of academic study free of versity. Its important to find a college you can Many organizations award scholarships eventually go to college, so I encour18 aged her to take a break and just work based on interest, test scores or essays. imagine yourself living in. Covenant Colcan feel very in a place charge the summer between graduation and was that for me. I liked comfortable that it was Some colleges accept your collegeYou appli- lege Finding the right fit forBreakdown you of ethnicity for a while [During her senior year], she pretty much decided she wanted to cation as the scholarship application, but small and a Presbyterian college. To me, you visit a college that you really somecollege. places, like the University Ala- when oroffeel very out of your element. A college their year a year freshman off, work and save all of her in is what we want to help you with, the start of take bama, require students to fill that out sepa- like, you find little things that stand out to money and use it to go on a big trip. you, Johnson said. wanted a school that Holliman said taking a gap year has tre- rately. Paying formendous College campus visit is Iwhere you can determine she said. A scholarship is that investment of a had a pretty campus. Covenant looked like benefits. Hogwarts. And thats definitely a plus. or organization And so, Hudgins Itreceive gives [students] a year to take college Students can money through fi- in you. that, said. Gap Years Johnson said it was important to fill out a break from academics, experience if they thought everybody was qualified, having a job, and, in my daugh- they would give everybody money. They the application when you have time to nancial aid, standardized tests scores and LaJessica Duncan, senior, visited UAB Hudgins said gap years have think about each ters case, a chance of a lifetime are looking for an investment to answer. trip. She earned enough money to represent their (University of Alabama Just elabo-in Birmingham) been a rising trend and help students scholarships. travel to Europe [and visit] eight differ- organization, and test scores 1. Search out rating on a ent countries. She was over there for 35 Hudgins said. out Fill 4. admissions certain volunwant stuFinancial aid is to every becausescholarship she was interested in the medical days and paidavailable for every bit of it her - They take time to figure out what to do and to requirements teer event you applications self, [and] even had money left over more than just 2. Send in 5. Wait for answers attended could the very, very stuapplications to levels decorate her dorm room at UA, certain dent, but has that only program. decompress from high school. 3. Send in transcripts 6. Make a decision impress the smart student. she said. admissions ofThey want Hudgins said students need to find a for. Low-income students can Its not too far, but not too close either. Special Education teacher Beth Hol- dents qualify Mrs. Hudgins 6 steps to apply for college fice. Dont be balance between having fun and remain- someone that modest. This will be ining focused. grants, and any student is eli- Some of my family is members go there. But limans daughter Maury took a gap year receive Pell your time to [Students] really need to focus on pre - volved in their brag about your paring for what they are going to do the campuses. and work study. I wanted to make years in school,sure she said. its like people say it The Common App to save up for a study abroad program gible for student next level, loans she said. She said shes glad she started applying The Common Application is a resource Community Colleges Romney Obama because now she can her can senior imagine myself planning is, to apply to early Fill out Community FAFSA (Free Application for and that I like it enjoy and colleges are resources for available to students before starting college. year. white black other 1 person=10% anyone in the community and helpful for several schools. It takes so much stress away, knowing had students in the past that have there. all students, according to Hudgins. Federal Aid). It doesntWeve cost you living Maury was a junior in high school And the winner is...Student Its for the student that maybe dropped applied to 10 different schools, and nor- what my options are. And I loved Covmally that would mean filling out 10 differ- enant so much, Ill probably go there, out of high school and got their GED. Its You never know what cirHannah Johnson, senior, visited Covewhen she started making collegeBarack visits. anything Obamatofordo. the student that received special edu- ent forms and writing 10 different essays. Johnson said. I definitely think its wise services, and they exit high school Now with the Common App, they just have to apply for college early. You never know could change. - nant College in and Georgia. She said the camRomney cumstances She was very unsure of what she wanted 69% cation what could happen, how busy you will she said. with a different type of certificate.Something Its for to do it once, hap turning in any application, Hud- get later. Dont make applying for college the standard diploma student who, maybe 31% could suffer aWhen job loss, pus visit was what made her sure about her stressful. Its an exciting time. said to remember deadlines. for financial reasons, couldnt afford a four gins to do and where she wanted to go. She pens, and someone Hudgins said. [Also,] work study is a great college choice, and that its a necessary trip thought she might want to go into culi- conditioning In-school Exemption policy Page 7 way to get your foot any senior should take. nary arts, she said. I knew she would Pagein 6 the door. Color Run to find a college you can Many organizations award scholarships Its important eventually go to college, so I encourPage 8 aged her to take a break and just work based on interest, test scores or essays. imagine yourself living in. Covenant Colfor a while [During her senior year], Some colleges accept your college appli- lege was that for me. I liked that it was she pretty much decided she wanted to cation as the scholarship application, but small and a Presbyterian college. To me, take a year off, work and save all of her some places, like the University of Ala- when you visit a college that you really bama, require students to fill that out sepa- like, you find little things that stand out to money and use it to go on a big trip. you, Johnson said. I wanted a school that Holliman said taking a gap year has tre- rately. A scholarship is that investment of a had a pretty campus. Covenant looked like mendous benefits. It gives [students] a year to take college or organization in you. And so, Hogwarts. And thats definitely a plus. Johnson said it was important to fill out a break from academics, experience if they thought everybody was qualified, having a job, and, in my daugh- they would give everybody money. They the application when you have time to think about each ters case, a chance of a lifetime are looking for an investment to answer. trip. She earned enough money to represent their Just elabotravel to Europe [and visit] eight differ- organization, and test scores out Search 1. rating on a ent countries. She was over there for 35 Hudgins said. 4. Fill out admissions They want certain volundays and paid for every bit of it herscholarship requirements teer event you applications self, [and] even had money left over more than just 2. Send in s 5. Wait for answer attended could applications to decorate her dorm room at UA, the very, very 3. Send in transcripts 6. Make a decision smart student. impress the she said. want admissions ofHudgins said students need to find a They ge le M someone that fice. Dont be ol c rs. Hudgins 6 steps to apply for balance between having fun and remainwill be inmodest. This ing focused. is your time to [Students] really need to focus on pre- volved in their brag about your paring for what they are going to do the campuses. The Common App years in school, she said. next level, she said. The Common Application is a resource She said shes glad she started applying Community Colleges Community colleges are resources for available to students planning to apply to early because now she can enjoy her senior year. anyone in the community and helpful for several schools. Weve had students in the past that have It takes so much stress away, knowing all students, according to Hudgins. Its for the student that maybe dropped applied to 10 different schools, and nor- what my options are. And I loved Covout of high school and got their GED. Its mally that would mean filling out 10 differ- enant so much, Ill probably go there, for the student that received special edu- ent forms and writing 10 different essays. Johnson said. I definitely think its wise cation services, and they exit high school Now with the Common App, they just have to apply for college early. You never know what could happen, and how busy you will with a different type of certificate. Its for to do it once, she said. When turning in any application, Hud- get later. Dont make applying for college the standard diploma student who, maybe stressful. Its an exciting time. for financial reasons, couldnt afford a four gins said to remember deadlines. Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief
October 29, 2012 Volume 10 Issue 2

As school year goes by, students start preparing for college

College Prep

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al 35406

Mock

Election

Results

9th Obama

10th

11th

12th

Romney

=10%

Romney Obama

639 students polled information compiled by: Alex Hauser Designed by: Alex Hauser Photos by: MCT Campus

In-school conditioning Senior Page 7

My senior year, we wanted to cover the election, but it was difficult getting interviews because there were so few people who were eligible to vote. I had the idea to have a school-wide mock election and post the results in our paper. I went and talked to SGA and they agreed to help me with the election. We set a date and they agreed to make posters, create announcements and supply students to help run the election. Two days before the election, I had not seen any posters, nor had any announcements been made. I made my own announcement and made all the ballots. I went up to talk to SGA and they decided they were too busy to help me. That night, I created my system for holding this election by myself. I delivered a set of ballots to each teacher with specific instructions on how and which period to let their students vote. After that period, I went to each teacher to pick up their ballots, and I spent free time in all my classes counting the ballots. Luckily I had help counting the ballots from my staff policy members. I created the infographic based on different Exemption Page 6 demographics, which was interesting because we are one of the Color Run few areas in Alabama where the majority is democrat.
Page 8

Alex Hauser
Journalist
Writer Designer Photographer Editor

I am a

Photography

Enviromental Photo

25

I was also voted by the senior class most likely to become a writer!

Photo by - Alex Hauser

During my senior year, I had my journalism teacher for 3 periods, one of them being yearbook. I usually worked on newspaper, but I would also assist the others when they needed help. It was mostly design purposes, but occasionally they needed someone to get a picture, and I would volunteer. This picture was tough to shoot. I had to come 2 hours before the game to help them paint up during tailgating. We brought several props to try out, and planned to take the picture after the first quarter. After trying several different poses, we decided we needed the student section in the background. It took a while to get enough of the students to participate or move out of the way, and we had to do it right before the half was over, so we had enough crowd in the background. We gave students bags of confetti, and placed them around the two senior favorites so it would look more filled. I opted out using the manual mode, and switched to sports mode, knowing I would need to get several shots, and we only had enough confetti for one shot. Afterwards, I added a lens blur to the background to make them stand out. Unfortunately, the guy was adamant to looking at the field, and the girl said she had to look in the camera. But they were extremely happy with the photo, and thats what matters.

26

Enviromental Photo

Photography

THAT

I turned THIS into

Senior

Photography

Sports Photo

27

Thomas Arnold, senior, jumps up to hit the ball at sectionals against Thompson High School on April 18

Junior

28

Sports Photo

Photography

Kennedy Buettner, sophomore, hits a serve at sectionals against Hillcrest High School on April 18
The Northridge Reporter
May 10, 2012

Junior

Sports
younger. My dad always had Vinnie involved in a football team when he was little. My dad always encouraged him to do the best he could, Sunseri said. She said it will be different this season because their dad is the defensive coordinator at Tennessee, and Vinnie still plays for the U of A, so it will be awkward when they [the U of A] have to play Tennessee. I think Vinnie misses our dad coaching him because he was always his support system when it came to playing football, and now our dad will be on the other side of the field, Sunseri said. She said that since Vinnie has started playing for the Crimson Tide, his football skills have improved a lot. The things that I have seen him improve on since last year is that he can read any offense, and he can also read the quarterback extremely well, Sunseri said

Boys Tennis Sectionals was hosted at our school. I spent my journalism periods out on the courts shooting photos for newspaper and yearbook. I was not allowed on the courts to shoot and, as pictured on the left, the courts are surrounded by a chain linked fence, as well as a dark wind shield. To shoot I got down on my stomach behind the fence so I was below the windshield and set my lens as close to the fence as I could without scratching it. I used a large aperture so the fence would just blur and I could get the pictures I needed.

Former student achieves success in Alabama Football

Aasiyah Sullivan Staff Reporter Vinnie Sunseri, 2011 alumni, has become a prime candidate to play safety for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide this upcoming football season. Sunseri said working to take Mark Barrons spot as safety is challenging, and he still has to work hard. Barron was injured l a s t season a n d w i l l not return to play. A lot of t h e other players on the team are working towards having Barrons spot. It isnt certain that I will get it, but I still can prove myself worthy to the coaches, Sunseri said. He said that being motivated while practicing and playing is key if anyone plays a sport like football. The thing that motivates me is the desire to be the greatest ever. Being average scares me, and I cant be satisfied with being average, Sunseri said. Ashlyn Sunseri, senior, said she can see why getting this position and why playing football has became so important to her brother. Playing football is important to Vinnie because football has become his life, and he has been surrounded by football since he was little, so he loves the sport, Sunseri said. She said her father coached at the University of Alabama for three seasons and has involved Vinnie in football since he was

Ace

11

Tennis team performs well

The girls tennis team won second place out of 16 teams in the Austin High School Tournament on March 30-31. Becci Hauser, head girls tennis coach, said she was very proud of the team. The team did very well for their number of players, she said. Hauser said there were less experienced girls filling in for injured players. She said she was impressed with the girls who played doubles together that had never played before. Maani Kamal, senior, had a hip injury that occurred while doing a back swing in December during practice. It really hurt. I just pulled back, and the cartilage in my leg tore, she said. Kamal said she hated not playing tennis for so long. Even though she was out most of the season and couldnt play, Kamal attended every home game. I was very proud of my team; theyre doing a very good job, she said. According to Hauser, Kamal was able to return on April 16 to play in sectionals. The tennis team won first place. As a result of their placement, the girls went to play the State competition in Mobile on April 26. They earned 5th place out of 16 teams.

Tyesha Pinnock Staff Writer

Photo by: Alex Hauser

Thomas Arnold, senior, jumps up to hit the ball at sectionals against Thompson High School on April 18.

We arent defined by what we dont. We are defined by what we do. And what we do is... LIVE FREE!

Photo by: Alex Hauser

Kennedy Buettner, sophomore, hits a serve at sectionals against Hillcrest High School on April 18.

Celebrate a safe and drug-free lifestyle!

Open your heart Open your home

Be safe. Be smart. Make good decisions.

PRIDE of Tuscaloosa

To learn how you can become a foster or adoptive family Call 1-866-4AL-KIDS or visit www.dhr.alabama.gov

Photography

Environmental Photo

29

Senior
When I was planning my pages, I couldnt get this image out of my head. I wanted a student standing in a busy hallway with students running around him to show that our new schedule clutters both the hallways and the classrooms. At first I was just going to shoot the blurred hallway and place a cut-out on it, but I decided that was just an easy way out. I got a student who wasnt in an important class and we waited outside in the hallway before lunch let out. I set my camera up on a tripod to keep it steady. I used a very low shutter speed and a long exposure to show motion. The student had to stand completely still so he wouldnt blur.

September 24, 2012 Volume 10 Issue 1

northridgereporter.wordpress.com

Northridge High School 2901 Northridge Road Tuscaloosa, Al. 35406

New schedule implemented, gets mixed reviews

Photo by: Alex Hauser

Change
Alex Hauser Editor-in-Chief

23

Rate of
in high school. [And] thus far, the schedule has been well received, he said. Espy said the new school year will be re-energized with a faster paced schedule, although Kearston Wells, senior, said the classes are pressed for time. I like that the classes are shorter, and you dont lose focus. But its too short because the teachers are stressed and struggle trying to get everything done in that time period, she said. Wells said another downfall is the inconsistency in class times. Its really unfair because first [period] is super short with announcements and fire drills and second [period] is really long if you keep your bonus period. So the only class you really get the most time in is second, she said. So teachers are like Oh I have more time I can teach you and do fun activities, but the other classes are so pressed for time, they cant get as much done and have to cut out all the fun stuff and get straight to work. Nancy Reed, history teacher, said she prefers the seven period schedule. I like the consistency that it provides, and I believe it

Do you like the seven period schedule?

Yes
No

69
81

Which schedule do you like the most?

B A/
%

7P erio
20%

Block
57%
150 students polled Designed by: Alex Hauser Information compiled by: Jakailah Cooper

For the second consecutive year, the schools schedule has changed. After the disapproval of the A/B block schedule, the school decided to implement a seven period schedule. The initial reason for changing the schedule had to do, in very general terms, with overall student performance. We felt as if the block presented barriers to student learning that could be corrected with year-long classes, Isaac Espy, principal, said. Espy said the block schedule had two main disadvantagesconsistency and the length of class. Many students found it difficult to concentrate for an hour and forty minutes, he said. The pace, at times, tended to be slow. Espy said another benefit to the seven period schedule was having class all year because it eliminates semester and year-long gaps in crucial areas of study. The seven period day is a normal school schedule. George Washington had a seven period day when he was

AP passing rate beats area schools, AP students earn cash

Renu Pandit Feature Editor Sixty-two percent of the 231 students that took AP exams passed. Dr. Isaac Espy, principal, said that Northridge surpassed other schools in West Alabama like Bryant, Central, Hillcrest and Tuscaloosa County High school, whose passing rates were 21%, 2%, 46% and 47% respectively. I am extremely proud of the great work of our students taking AP courses, and the teachers who worked with these students, Espy said. I was honestly stunned at the results. Espy said the passing rate two years ago was 67%, but that only 173 students took AP exams. We had a 26% increase of students passing tests, Espy said. We pushed far more students out of their comfort zone and into a major challenge. The AP Grant that was initiated last year promises a $100 reward to students who pass an AP English, math or science exam.

Cash in your scores

serves most students the best. It also helps alleviate discipline issues in the classroom from my experience, Reed said. For someone like me who loves to lecture [the seven period schedule] just works best for me. Scott Johnson, math teacher, said he think[s] [he] likes the seven period day. I think its better for the kids to have math and reading [all year]; theres not as many gaps, Johnson said. Im hoping [scores] will go up. Amanda Burns, senior, said she likes the seven period schedule, although there are some flaws. Ive only had seven periods my whole life, and when I came to Northridge they were on the block, and I hated it, she said. [With the new schedule] I dont like the bonus, and I dont like how we lose a credit because we dont have eight periods like we used to. Burns said she likes the shorter classes, and it will just take time to adjust. Teachers have to adjust to the time change, but I think it will work out. Only time will tell, she said. Continued on page 6 See Schedule

Espy said the money will be rewarded to Hudgins said she feels students who do the appropriate students at an assembly the well on the AP exams are properly recoglast week of September. nized. Jane Yu, senior, took and passed the Especially those who are named AP AP Composition, Statistics, Calculus scholars, Hudgins said. I would love for BC, Physics and Chemistry exams in the us to do more, but funding receptions is spring. nearly impossible. The AP Grant has helped make AP Zoe Bakker, senior, took and passed the classes more appealing for students be- AP Calculus, Chemistry and Composition cause of the incentive the money reward exams in the spring. gives, Yu said. The money reward didnt have a huge However, Yu said she would have want- affect on me, but it was a nice bonus, ed to pass her exams even if there was no Bakker said. I would have wanted to pass Julia Hocutt monetary reward. even without it. AP courses are helpful when it comes However, Bakker said she believed the Staff Writer to getting ready for colleges. Ive already money reward is what caused a rise in ReplayIt is an interactive, community figured out what I like to do because of students joining AP classes, many of which wide picture sharing website. Students can them, Yu said. Also, I think its a once in didnt even pass. a life time opportunity to explore as many When you have a class of 35 people, and upload personal pictures from their phones, subjects as you want without the huge cost at least five dont even want to be there, it computers and other devices to the ReplayIt time capsule, so the school yearbook of tuition. makes it hard to learn, Bakker said. staff members have more picture options to Jacqueline Hudgins, guidance counselor, Upon hearing that the schools passing said its too early to tell if the money had rate was 62%, Bakker said the school needs put in the schools yearbook. With the program, student body mema serious effect on increase in AP students to put more focus on people who do well. and AP passing rates. The school system puts so much focus bers who arent apart of the yearbook comWe ho mad always have students who on people who fail the graduation exams. mittee now have the opportunity to help e w f work hard because they made Rather than changing our o made th out their staff and participate themselves. ts h f en who I really like how the whole school ud have a determined nts schedule to help a n w can get connected and involved, yearwork ethic, and few people with de book editor Katherine Duckworth, juthey understand their graduation nior, said. the value of AP in exams, we should do ReplayIt is a great way for students to preparing for college, whats best for the whole share their pictures with other classmates. Hudgins said. However, school, Bakker said. Being a member of the yearbook staff, who wouldnt want $100 for Designed by: Alex Hauser I would love students to upload their fun passing a test? Information compiled by: Jakailah Cooper pictures, Hallie Young, junior, said.

Site helps students contribute to yearbook

ves

rees

rs ou

St

Stu de

AYP Page 6

Hillcrest game Page 7

Stu

ts

Zoology Page 8

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Sports Photo
School fails AYP, state moves to end of year tests

Photography
The Northridge Reporter September 24, 2012

Sports
Katie Poore Staff Writer

Volleyball team beats Hillcrest

The girls varsity volleyball team won their second game of the season, defeating Hillcrest High School within the first three matches on Sept. 6. The volleyball team won their matches with scores of 25-7, 2522 and 25-15. Kiana Johnson had two kills, three digs, one ace, 15 assists and two blocks. Amanda Guarisco had five kills, four aces and one block. Anna Lee Petitt ended the game with three kills, three aces and Photo by: Alex Hauser one block. First Down: Hillcrest defenders try to stop the Northridge offense, Phillip Cunningham, (80), Cyonati Lewis, (88), Keyon Handley, (75), The varsity team now has three and Daryl Pham. (70), from widening their lead. Northridge won 23-15 on Sept. 7. The team played strong, Lewis said. wins and zero losses for the season. They will play at the HewittTrussville Tournament on Sept. 22. bringing the score to 9-8, Patriots. ing them to victory. I think we did great in the second Morgan DeWitt A game-changing touchdown Mike Smith, head football half to pull through the game. Staff Writer Volleyball games at NHS with a two-point conversion was coach, said the game was imporJames Cox, senior and wide Coming off of a 40-30 win scored with 5:32 left in the fourth tant because it was a regional receiver, said, Every mistake we Hillcrest Sept. 27 5:00 against Bob Jones on Aug. 31, the quarter, bringing the score to 16-9 and in-town rival, and they were made was made only by us. It was Oak Mountain Oct. 2 5:00 the last team to beat us at home in us holding us back during the first football team beat the Hillcrest Jags. Brookwood Oct. 4 5:00 The celebration was short-lived the 2012 season. half. This game was a real team Patriots 23-15 on Sept. 7. Holy Spirit Oct. 9 5:00 Our defense played well but effort. It was a tough win. The game started with the Pa- when the Patriots came back and The student section celebrated Area Tounament Oct. 18-20 triots getting a safety in the first scored another touchdown to tie our offense was not on top, the win by storming the field. The quarter and a touchdown in the the game, only to have their ex- Smith said. tra point blocked, bringing the Bo Scarborough, junior, gained senior class was exceptionally second. Football scores The score at halftime was 9-0, score to 16-15 with the Jags in the 160 yards on 24 carries and ended excited to beat Hillcrest this year the game with a 30 yard touch- after a 14-35 loss last year. Bob Jones 40-30 Patriots. The team came back in lead. In one climactic moment, the down run, bringing the score to Taylor Goodall, senior, said, the third quarter, scoring a safety Hillcrest 23-15 We overcame all of our obstacles followed by a touchdown, but Jags scored a final touchdown at 23-15. 28-13 We didnt execute during the and got our momentum back. The Minor the intensity heightened when the the end of the fourth quarter to Patriots blocked the extra point, bring the score to 23-15 and send- first half, Scarborough said, but crowd played a huge part.

I took most of the football pictures my senior year for The Northridge Reporter as well as Blueprints Yearbook. I took this photo on my knees so I could frame the center with the two opponents. This same night, I also had to shoot the senior favorite picture (page s 25-26)

Football team beats Hillcrest at NHS

Starbo commits to UA
Georgia, Clemson, and Auburn were a few colleges where Scarbrough could have made his next move. I felt like it (Alabama) would be the In the eyes of football player Bo Scarbrough, the only thing better than being a best place for me, Scarbrough said. Scarbrough said he has always wanted junior and already committed to playing college football is having committed to the to play football but not necessarily at Alacollege of the number one football team in bama. I used to dream about playing at Oklathe nation. Two weeks before he committed, homa University, he said, but you know, 6-foot-2, 218 pound, running back on the dreams change. Head football coach Mike Smith, said he football team, Bo Scarbrough, had already decided he wanted to play football at the first knew Scarbroughs talent when he saw him play in middle school. University of Alabama. When you see his speed and watch him While standing on the football field imbounce around like a pinmediately following the ball because he is so much win over Hillcrest, Scarbigger than everything else brough verbally committed out there, you realize he is to playing at Alabama. a special player, he said It takes a lot of pressure Scarbrough said comoff of me, Scarbrough mitting to play for Alabama said, I have nothing to will not affect who he is or worry about because Ive how he plays during his jualready made my decinior or senior year. sion. Photo by: Beth Allaway Im still the same person Although he decided on Alabama, he said it was Run: Bo Scarborough, junior, and player I have always not the only college on his runs the ball during the game been, he said, and thats not going to change. mind. against Bob Jones. Abby Allen Sports Editor

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Gordo Chevron
We sell Hunt Brothers Pizza
Phone: (205)-364-220

Senior
Hillcrest defenders try to stop the Northridge offense, Phillip Cunningham, 80, Cyonati Lewis, 88, Keyon Handley, 75, and Daryl Pham, 70, from widening their lead. Northridge won 23-15 on Sept. 7. The team played strong, Lewis said.

Photography

Yearbook

31

Senior
The day of senior night for the football team, cheerleaders and band the yearbook realized that they did not have anyone who could shoot pictures at the game. I knew I would be attending the game anyway, so I volunteered to take the photos. I shot the one at the top so that the players would lead to the center, and also showed the pink some of the players were sporting for a parent that was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The bottom picture not only shows the team honoring the seniors, but it shows the current captain handing her position down to next years captain.

32

Yearbook

Photography

The Jaguars line up against the Hueytown Tigers and prepare to run a play. That was a really good game, the team played well, Deondre Rogers, 11, said.

Multimedia/ Open

Feature

33

created this header

this template
I revamped our website this year. I added a new template, features, and created the header to match it. Because we did not have any money to put towards the site, I had limited resources and had to work with the templates. I had to match the colors to create the header in Photoshop and add in our flag. I used HTML to embed our print issues via Issu and connected our Facebook and Twitter Although it is still in its infancy, I worked along side a sophomore and got her excited about being our webmaster so it can grow in the upcoming years.

to match

Senior

34

Feature

Multimedia/ Open

During the summer after my junior year, I spent two weeks at the Multicultural Journalism Workshop at the University of Alabama. We visited Gulf Shores to find stories to write. Our focus was the oil spill for our paper, but I took a different approach to add more versatility by reporting on the souvenir store known by any tourist who visits the area.

Junior

The giant shark entrance is what separates Souvenir City from the other dozens of souvenir shops in Gulf Shores. Located near The Hangout, the shark has become an icon to any beach-goer. Susan Herrington grew up near Gulf Shores, and said the shark was a landmark for her. It meant that we had finally made it to the beach, she said. I either bought a surfers cross or a shell necklace. Souvenir City has been around since 1956 and the owner, Paul Johnson, had the idea of a shark at the entrance. His brotherin-law, Mark Royster, said Johnson found inspiration at a golf course in Tennessee.

Iconic shark attracts new generation of tourists

He shops for ideas. Its how he works. Everything inspires him and he loves to build, Royster said. At first, a smaller shark was positioned above the entrance, Herrington said she recalled it being pink. [The shark] is how I recognize the store. If not for the shark, it would just be another souvenir store, she said. But in 1987, the building burned down. After the fire, [Johnson] thought of the giant shark entrance. It used to play the Jaws theme song, but was taken away after it was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan, Royster said. In 2004 Hurricane Ivan hit the gulf and washed away several businesses. Souvenir City was flooded with four feet of water and the shark was wrecked. It took us two weeks until we could get in the building and start cleaning, he said, We just brought in a front-end loader and a Bobcat. We took out four loads of stuff. We have six warehouses in Foley and brought in the machinery and pushed everything out. Royster said the shark had to be repaired and repainted, and Souvenir City opened back up Feb. 26, right before Spring Break. [The shark is an icon to me] just knowing I am almost to my favorite place in the world, Herrington said.

Multimedia/ Open

Experiences

35

I attended the NSPA Fall convention in Washington D.C. my freshman year. It was just me and the editor that went. We got close and she trained me early so I could become editor one day. I attended the SIPA convention in Columbia, South Carolina my freshman and junior year.

Every year we hold a wedding after the first paper is delivered. We commit ourselves to the paper and promise to work our hardest.

I spend a lot of time working on contests. Winning awards seem to be the thing that motivates my staff the most, so I make sure to enter as much as I can.

The first Friday of each month we have Quill and Scroll meetings and McDonalds. Its a great way for both yearbook and newspaper students to get together. Newspaper is where I found many of my friends, so I really enjoy these meetings. We can have fun without the stress of deadline on our shoulders. I was president my junior and senior year.

During my junior year I had to induct the new members into Quill and Scroll during the Honors Day ceremony. I was the only junior who was president of an honors club. The teacher in charge of the ceremony complimented me on my speech and told me it was very professional.

36

Experiences

Multimedia/ Open
During my first year as Editor-in-Chief, we won 1st Place Best-of-Show for an 8-page tabloid at the NSPA convention in Minneapolis, MN Also at the convention, I received an honorable mention for review writing at the write-off

For the second time, I won an honorable mention in review writing. This time at the NSPA convention in San Antonio.

During my senior year, we received 5th place Best-of-Show for an 8-page paper, though NSPA decided we were considered a broadsheet this time.

I won 12 awards my junior year at the ASPA spring convention.

During the San Antonio convention, I grew really close to new staff members. Here, we were anxiously our on-site categories to be announced.

Multimedia/ Open
I run spotlight for many of The Actors Charitable Theatres productions. Around 2 a.m. the day before the first showing of 9 to 5, the director decided that there needed to be several graphics displayed on the backdrop. He could not do it on such short notice, so I volunteered. All of these were made the day of the first performance. The Board was so impressed with my work, I am now being paid to design their programs, ads, and anything else they need.

Feature

37

Senior

These were used in the opening number during the title song, 9 to 5. They directed the cast and helped them with blocking as well as assist the audience to better understand the choreography. This is the Historic Bama Theatre where 9 to 5 was performed.

38

Feature

Multimedia/ Open

This was displayed on the backdrop after Violets major song, One of the Boys where she is imagining herself as CEO. It shows up when there is a black out and just a single spot on Violet.

Doralees dream sequence consisted of a western scene, where Doralee ropes down her creepy boss, Franklin Hart. In the wanted poster, it states that he is wanted for being a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot which is a repeated, stand-out phrase in the musical.

During Judys dream sequence, she was imagining herself as a mob gangster. The term Judys Joint is a play on words because these dreams were conjured while they were high on maryjo-wanna. This was on display during Judys song, Dance O Death.

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I started my schools chapter of j the first semester of my senior year. We were the first in Alabama, and I contacted the Alabama Scholastic Press Associations director to see if we could work together to start other chapters across the state. She was very enthusiastic and asked me to write a column for the ASPA newsletter. Unfortunately, the University of Alabama has a building called Houser Hall, so my last time is misspelled quite frequently.

Column

39

JEAs student program has many benefits

Im moving on. After four years of devoting myself to The Northridge Reporter, the time has come for me to give up the seniority and comfort of the high school kiddie pool and immerse myself in the larger pond that is college. Its a scary thought. Im not sure what will happen to the paper after I leave. Will it continue to thrive? Or will the lack of student interest bring the paper to an end. After all, theres only one freshman on my staff this year. And only four of us returned from a class of 21. I dont know where Im going to college, whether or not I want to double major or what Ill be eating for lunch tomorrow. But I do know that I have to make the initiative now to help the journalism program thrive here at Northridge for years to come. I get it. Why join a class where writing assignments will multiply and theres always something due? For me, its passion. And a little bit of crazy. The point is, on the outside, a journalism class just seems like a whole lot of stress. And Ive made it my job to show my school the opportunity it is on the inside. So when I came across JEAs new student program, j, I knew that was my answer. j has so many benefits, not only for people currently in a journalism program at their school, but for anyone with an interest in pursuing a journalism career. Members get exclusive access to hangout with professionals, scholarships and special distinctions to colleges. To me, it seemed like a great way for someone to get a foot in the door. Thats when I decided I would open up j to everyone in our school, not just those in journalism. Now, its just getting started. Weve only had one get-together, and it was only an interest meeting. There was a great turnout, not only from those currently in journalism, but from others that might be interested. And I have big things planned for the future. Our next few meetings my staff and I will be teaching the basics of journalism such as ethics, AP style and the ins and outs of InDesign and Photoshop. Then the fun begins. Each meeting after will consist of contests and challenges to get the members excited about writing, photography and design. Write-offs, photo scavenger hunts and who-can-design-the-most-appealing-pagewith-only-the-elements-given competitions will make the learning fun and rewarding (plus the candy prizes will bring out competition in even the shyest of members). This is it. This is my contribution to The Northridge Reporter. This is my effort to keep people excited about writing. But it cant end there. I want all of ASPA to join this amazing experience. I want them to share the benefits of scholastic journalism to others in their school and to show everyone else how amazing the students of Alabama are. This is our chance. So lets take it. Visit JeaJ.org to get started.

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Feature

Multimedia/ Open
Vol. 25, Issue 2 Fall 12/Winter 13

ASPA News

By Alex Houser whole lot of stress. And Im moving on. Ive made it my job to After four years of show my school the devoting myself to The opportunity it is on the Northridge Reporter, the inside. time has come for me So when I came across to give up the seniority JEAs new student proand comfort of the high gram, j, I knew that school kiddie pool and was my answer. Alex Houser immerse myself in the j has so many benefits, larger pond that is college. not only for people curIts a scary thought. rently in a journalism program at Im not sure what will happen their school, but for anyone with to the paper after I leave. Will it an interest in pursuing a journalcontinue to thrive? Or will the lack ism career. Members get exclusive of student interest bring the paper access to hangout with profesto an end. sionals, scholarships and special After all, theres only one freshdistinctions to colleges. man on my staff this year. And To me, it seemed like a great only four of us returned from a way for someone to get a foot in class of 21. the door. I dont know where Im going to Thats when I decided I would college, whether I want to double open up j to everyone in our major or what Ill be eating for school, not just those in journalism. lunch tomorrow. But I do know Now, its just getting started. that I have to make the initiative Weve only had one get now to help the journalism protogether, and it was an interest gram thrive here at Northridge for meeting. There was a great turnout, years to come. not only from those currently in I get it. Why join a class where journalism, but from others that writing assignments will multiply might be interested. and theres always something due? And I have big things planned For me, its passion. And a little for the future. bit of crazy. Our next few meetings my staff The point is, on the outside, a and I will be teaching the basics of journalism class just seems like a journalism such as ethics, AP style

JEAs student program has many benefits

and the ins and outs of InDesign and Photoshop. Then the fun begins. Each meeting after will consist of contests and challenges to get the members excited about writing, photography and design. Write-offs, photo scavenger hunts and who-can-design-themost-appealing-page-with-onlythe-elements-given competitions will make the learning fun and rewarding (plus the candy prizes will bring out competition in even the shyest of members). This is it. This is my contribution to The Northridge Reporter. This is my effort to keep people excited about writing. But it cant end there. I want all members of ASPA to join this amazing experience. I want them to share the benefits of scholastic journalism with others in their school and to show everyone else how amazing the students of Alabama are. This is our chance. So lets take it. Visit JeaJ.org to get started. Houser is the Editor of The Northridge Reporter at Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa.

TEAcHERS OF SENiORS: pLEASE NOTE THAT THE NATiONAL JOuRNALiST OF THE yEAR (JOy) REquiREmENTS HAVE cHANGED. ASpA bASES OuR GuiDELiNES ON THE JOy GuiDELEiNES, SO pLEASE cHEcK cAREFuLLy NExT yEAR, AS THEy WiLL cHANGE SLiGHTLy.

Senior

Scope
Freshman 2 Sophomore 4 Junior 11 Senior 12

This is me speaking in front of my staff. I enjoy teaching others everything I learn, so I can inspire others.

Here is my

session
Association

I taught at
Press

the Alabama

Scholastic

Alex Hauser
Profile
18 years old Planning to major in visual journalism, and minor in the general spectrum at the University of Alabama next fall Am currently residing as Editor-inChief of The Northridge Reporter at Northridge High School where I create the layouts and graphics of 3 pages, as well as oversee all the other pages, and help with the design of their graphics

Contact Information
1600 Mallard Circle Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 ALHauser23@gmail.com 205-292-1195

Have 4 years of design experience Have attended numerous scholastic journalism workshops, where I have worked with professionals in improving my design skills Spent my free time in journalism teaching myself Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator my freshman year. I was able to apply those skills helping page editors design pages my second

semester of freshman year. I then became feature editor my sophomore year. I have taught at two different conventions. At the ASPA Long Weekend summer workshop, I taught a class on how to be an editor in the newsroom. During the 2012 ASPA fall convention, I lead a session on scholastic design.

Experience
August 2009-May 2010 August 2010-May 2011
Staff Writer Feature Editor

Individual Awards
State
DESIGN 1st place newspaper spread 2nd place graphic Honorable mention graphic 1st place newsmagazine cover package 1st place newspaper front page Honorable mention newspaper front page 1st place feature 3rd place feature WRITING 2nd place review writing 2nd place news story 3rd place review 3rd place feature writing

August 2011-Present

2009 - Present
Adobe InDesign Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Microsoft Office iWork Google docs Wordpress

Education
Northridge High School

Editor-in-Chief Quill and Scroll President During the fall of my senior year, I started a J chapter at my school.

Alabama Scholastic Press Association

Regional 2nd place newsmagazine cover National

DESIGN

Southern Interscholastic Press Association Columbia Scholastic Press Association National Scholastic Press Association

Computer Skills

*
WRITING

2nd place page one design Honorable mention newsmagazine design Honorable mention page one design portfolio 3rd place overall design Honorable mention review writing (2011 and 2012

While Editor-in-Chief, our newspaper has also received 1st and 5th place Bestof-Show at the National Scholastic Press Association, the highest our paper has received in history. In my two years, we have also made All-Alabama, All-Southern and All-American.