A year of school flies by fast

Eight months of schooling can cause change inside its buildings and outside its four walls. While the 2010-2011 school year is coming to a close, looking back on it the changes are more obvious now then they were at the time.

“It’s weird how much can change in only one school year,” said freshman Brianna Jackson.

The first day of school was Aug. 9th, as new freshmen bustled in, the new seniors took their place. Schedules were handed out and throughout the day friendships were forged between people who had only just met each other.

Students came back into school, sporting the newest fashion trends such as off-the-shoulder shirts for girls and the v-necks for guys.

But while school was coming back into focus, Operation Iraqi Freedom was reaching it’s end. President Obama declared it over on Aug. 19. Soldiers would finally be coming home after seven years of war.

Picture day fast approached students and teachers; the picture taken on that day would live on for generations in a yearbook. While the girls primped and prepped, the boys smoothed and tucked for just one good picture to be taken on Aug. 26.

More important than a school picture; sports such as football, golf, and volleyball roared to life in the first month of school. The first pep rally was held on Aug. 27, where the seniors beat everyone out with their “battle cry” and the freshmen got their first taunting.

Girls broke out their pea coats and UGG boots, which were plentiful around campus, and the guys brought out their leather jackets and tennis shoes as the cooler weather settled over the city.

The first week-long break emerged on the scene with much anticipation on the week of Oct. 18-22. Students took the time to relax their brains from the new knowledge being poured into it and teachers got to relax their nerves with no students to watch over.

On Oct. 29, the school participated in the blood drive, hoping to beat out Bolton for more blood giving. That day was full of fainting, mass blood loss, and sleepy students from the pints of blood given from those who participated.

The day that many avid baseball fans wait all year for finally came. On Nov. 1 the World Series game was played and the New York Giants took the title for the first time since 1954.

“I was so nervous for that PLAN test when I heard it was like the ACT,” said sophomore Cassidy Cook.

The PLAN Test may have freaked the sophomores out but on Nov. 2 they overcame the test. Though it was not nearly as hard or long as the ACT, it helped sophomores know what they needed to work on to be prepared for the next year.

On Nov. 13 the annual dance Snowflake commenced, and while relationships began there, friends were also found. This was the last all-school dance for seniors and it hit a melancholy key.

Nov. 22 the annual Miss BHS pageant came into play, where Grace Burgess passed on her crown that she had won only as a sophomore to senior Reykisha Stewart. The night was full of girls decked out in their best dresses and the baseball team dressed as sharp as a tack.

The three days of Nov. 24-26 came as a welcome of family and bonding when Thanksgiving Break set in.

After gaining 10 lbs., students and teachers returned to tackle mid-year exams. While the freshmen got their first taste of high school exams, most seniors hoped it would be their last. The exams were held on the 16 and 17 of Dec., in which the 17 was shortened after completing all the exams.

Then came Winter Break. The temperature was colder, the days seemed to fly by, and sleeping in became a constant. As the passing of a New Year came and went, school reared its ugly head. Only this time it didn’t anticipate the weather would rear its head too.

Another fashion trend popped up after the holidays, a trend that helped more than the buyer. TOMS spiked in popularity as a shoe that not only helped those less fortunate get shoes, but also held comfort and thick, warm material for the cold months. They popped up over campus in every color from bright blue to sparkly black.

School resumed Tuesday Jan. 4 with no delay, but that very next Monday snow hit the world and left Shelby County all out of school. While many were thankful, some were trying to re-plan lessons. It really didn’t help when school was canceled the next day either, a rare treat in the Memphis-area.

The day of return, on Jan. 12, report cards were sent out for parents to see how their kids first semester went. While some kids had to be pulled from classes, others jumped with glee at making it by.

Students and teachers got another day off that next Monday on Martin Luther  King Jr. Day. To make this week shorter the weather had a trick up its sleeve, on Friday Jan. 21 another blanket of white covered our town bringing shouts of joy from small children and worry for school administrators in Shelby County. All hope was not lost because they announced a few months later that the snow days did not have to be made up.

On the week of Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, Winterfest commanded the school. Nerd day was a popular hit, as well as red-and-blue day. People’s school spirit began to shine through and as the pep rally came it was a sad one. The seniors realized this would be their last one, and their time at high school was closing off.

February was a quiet month compared to the months ahead for school, even though basketball was riled up and taking the court.

A day a football fan lived and breathed for came about on the calendar. Football fans gathered from all around on Feb. 7 to see the New Orleans Saints take the Super Bowl XLIV championship.

Then a crash back to reality sent many reeling in disbelief. On March 10, Japan was struck with an 9.0 magnitude earthquake which caused a tsunami to hit the island country. The tsunami at it’s highest point was 124 ft tall and traveled nearly 6 miles into the country. The National Police confirmed 14,238 deaths, 5,314 injured, and 12,228 people missing as well as 125,000 destroyed or damaged buildings.

Spring Break lifted everyone’s spirits in the month of March. Students took on the break with excitement, taking family trips, visiting colleges, and sleeping the day away. Teachers took their time and relaxed, as they had finished their grades the week before.

The blood drive came back to Bartlett on March 30 and more fainting, blood loss, and sleepy students ensued. Those that did not get the chance to be involved last time took glee in finally being 16 and able.

The dance everyone had anticipated came to school at last, Prom. Where the seniors felt the anxiety of their final farewell and the two people were selected for the coveted title of Prom King and Queen. Domenic Martini and Janyl Iganda were selected to have these honored titles.

“It just went by too fast!” said senior Xavier Lawrence.

Even with a year of ups and downs, it is easy to look back and see the unshakable memories and the new friendships forged.

Do This, But Don’t Do That! (Prom Edition)

Prom season has finally come, a night to share with friends and capture memories. No one wants this night to go down in the history book of worst nights ever, so there are a few do’s and don’ts that may help to create that perfect night.

The Don’ts:
The don’ts are the most important part of making sure prom goes correctly. Why? Because these are the things you avoid in order to make the best prom.

1.Don’t indulge in drama!
-The main key is to avoid all drama. Prom is about having fun and creating a memory. All issues and disagreements should be resolved before prom, or just don’t speak at all.

2.Don’t attend prom with someone “just because”!
-Make sure your date is someone whose company you’ll really enjoy. Go with some one you’re sure you can have a great time with. Weigh the options of who will keep you smiling all night, even if it’s a group of friends instead of that date you always wanted.

3. Don’t be afraid to try something new!
-Go unique, do something crazy, step outside of the box. It’s better to go against your standards, wearing something you wouldn’t normally wear, than to see that same dress on the girl sweating in it, making it look horrible on you and her both. But also make sure your dress complies with dress code. Do not show off any body parts that should not or do not need to be shown off!

4.Don’t get messy!
-Fellas, especially, realize that your tux is your friend. Don’t do anything that you know will ruin it like maybe wasting that soda that you had before prom on it to create that big stain that will not come out. If you know that maybe you won’t leave that night with or even begin that night with a clean tux, don’t go all white. Black would be so much better; at least no one will be able to see the damage done to clearly. Ladies, keep class in your dress. Don’t party so hard that sweat marks fulfill your armpits because that is not cute. Dance to a certain limit, besides, your job is to look amazing that night, so do it!

5. Don’t do anything you will regret!
-It’s very easy to think you won’t do anything to harm your body or maybe even your life prom night, but the temptation and pressure will lead you to doing something you may forever regret. Don’t let your friends influence your decisions that night. Example: Don’t drink at all. If everyone else is doing it then find the quickest way home.

The Do’s:
Having fun is an extreme and important do. Enjoy every moment of your prom. Use a checklist to make sure you are prepared for prom and to keep you organized.

1. Prepare for emergencies!
-It is very often that things may pop up on this special night. The minors to only worry about are things such as dress malfunctions or a case of the nerves, maybe even a problem with transportation or directions. Your dress may come apart or maybe even rip in a area or two, but don’t automatically think that it’s the end of the world and your night is ruined. But do be sure to look out for those emergencies that can be even worse than expected like a death or a car crash.

2. Plan activities before prom!
-Ideas like eating, when and where, and what to do after prom should be planned way before. Be sure to schedule times so that nothing will conflict and be out of order.

3. Set a budget and stick to it!
-Going over your money limit can be really easy, so stay strict about it. If it doesn’t need to be spent, don’t spend it at all.

4.Make the right choices!
-As said in one of the don’ts, friends should not influence the choices you make on prom night. Make sure every decision you make is the right decision and you feel good about it afterward.

5. Do plan to have a great night!
-Even if things aren’t going as you plan them, still smile and enjoy the night.

Prom is a night to remember, a night to enjoy, and a night to love. So make the best of it.

Point/Counterpoint: Is prom overrated or worth the trouble?

Prom equals the bomb.com

by Jessica Ferrell

Many people scoff at the idea of going to prom. Some think it is too expensive, overrated, and just down right pointless.

But if dances are not a big deal, why did Cinderella go to all that trouble?

There is little difference between her ball and a high school prom. Girls still try on dresses until one fits like magic. They still dance with their Prince Charming until the 12 o’clock curfew. And for the unfortunate few, they still lose their shoes.

Prom is huge.

Sure, prom will be expensive. After shoes, boutonnieres, corsages, pictures, tickets, tuxedos, dresses, hair, and limousines, people can look at spending up to $600.

But no matter what the cost for the individual is, prom is the opportunity to come closer to friends and make memories.

And after 10 plus years of schooling, it is a relief to know that the school wants to do something nice for its students.

Prom is a luxury that many students take for granted. Many of the faculty members put a lot of time and effort into planning this night, as well as students.

Chaperones disregard their Saturday evening plans in order to watch a bunch of teenagers get jiggy with it. That’s love, people.

Plus, months ahead of the big night, students on the Prom Committee stay after school in order to start planning all of the decorations, music, and food.

Prom is a chance for those who do not party every weekend to have fun. Many believe that prom is the highlight of the school year.

Yes, prom only lasts four hours, but the memories (and the pictures) last forever.

Illustration by Margaret Cross

Prom wastes time, money, effort

by Laura Sledge

“What dress will I wear?” “How will I do my hair?” “What if some other girl shows up in same exact dress as me?” “What kind of jewelry should I wear?” “Who is riding in my limo?” “But, eww, I don’t like her!”

All of these questions and thoughts tire those of us who do not care all that much, and frankly, after some time, annoy us. The hype currently circulating due to the ever-anticipated prom has already exhausted itself, and the big day is still a week away.

Girls, and even some guys, never seem to tire of the incessant planning, stressing and idealizing over prom, which will last all of four hours and then be over for a year, or for seniors, forever.

So why all the drama?

For many people, a dance is a big event. Sure, they are fun and attending one can make for an exciting evening, but are they really worth all the trouble girls go through to make the one night “perfect?” Not really.

If girls could be more like the guys, prom would commence much more smoothly. Boys generally remain laid-back and passive throughout the prom-planning process, and if girls would lighten up just a little, the whole ordeal would go more smoothly, with much less stress.

Girls continually worry whether they will show up in a dress that matches some other girl’s, and who really cares? Will one’s choice of attire have the ability to throw off a whole night of potential fun? For some, the answer is yes.

The point is, prom can be an exciting, exhilarating, enchanting, enthralling affair, if only girls would let it be. The Prom Committee goes to too much trouble to make the night special for girls to let it be ruined by trivial things like matching dresses, jewelry, bad photos, undesirable limo arrangements, and other girls.

Basically, too many girls fret over the details of the evening too much, and end up spending anywhere from $100 to $800 or more on what will amount to 6 to 8 hours of dressing up. All that effort to create a flawless appearance will simply melt after a few hours of vigorous dancing anyway.

So girls, have fun choosing dresses, dining facilities, and dates, but don’t stress too much. If one spends the entirety of her time worrying over small things, the night will end up being no fun at all. Prom is a time for boys and girls to dress up and go out, let loose and have fun, to get a break from the never-ending piles of homework and other duties.

So try to do just that. Let yourselves have some fun and “just dance!”

Why can’t we just dance?

I remember the good ol’ days from middle school when we had dances about five or six times a year. A disco ball would shine its shimmering lights on the walls, a DJ would play his funky music, and students could buy a plethora of junk food, sometimes even pizza. Why can’t we go back to those times when the two or three-time a semester dance could let us get footloose after a month or two of hard work?

Bartlett only has two total dances every year: the semi-formal Snowflake in November and the formal junior-senior prom in April, which underclassmen may only attend as guests of a junior or senior. Allowing the underclassmen to attend only one of two dances the entire year is a grave injustice. To be fair to them, Bartlett should hold a few more informal dances so that the freshmen and sophomores can enjoy themselves just as much as the upperclassmen. Hosting more dances for the underclassmen can also help encourage class unity and boost school spirit?

Bartlett clubs can also find a reason to host informal dances: money. For example, at Elmore Park Middle School the cheerleaders, the basketball team, and the band sponsored the main dances. All the profits from the $5 ticket sales and the concession sales would go toward activities—such as tournament travel and end-of-season banquets—that those groups would be unable to pay for otherwise. Clubs here at Bartlett can do the same thing. For example, the Spanish, French, and German Clubs could use the money to cover entrance fees for Foreign Language Fair. Also, Infinity Club could pay for water and snacks for the participants in the Special Olympics in the spring. These and other clubs could benefit from the sponsoring of informal dances.

Students can attend these events on the nights when they have absolutely nothing to do. Plus, some students do not have the money for a trip to the movies or a spree at the mall. The minimal cost of attending dances make the event ideal for lower income students and students who do not find that midnight shows and shopping sprees are their cup of tea.

Everyone can benefit from having informal dances at Bartlett. They can help keep students out of trouble by giving them a safe environment to enjoy. Also, these events provide an atmosphere promoting social interaction and goodwill among fellow students. And let’s not forget the joy we derive from dancing til we drop and then going home to a warm, soft bed!

So please, Bartlett, in the words of Lady GaGa, let us “just dance” and “spin that record.”