One Down, Three To Go

Anica Graney

     It’s a brand spanking new quarter, folks! Two months have come and gone since the beginning of the year, and within that time we saw the temperature drop fifty degrees, all of the homecoming festivities happen, and all of the fall sports come to a close. To any of the freshmen reading this, you’ve got about fifteen more of these to go; good luck! As for everyone else, we know the drill as for what is coming up: holiday breaks, scraping frost off of windows, snow days, icy roads, and exams. All inevitabilities that we will have to face within the next few months.
     Second quarter is the last half of the first semester and can make or break grades because, let’s be honest, first quarter is mostly review and beginner lessons that ease everyone into what the class is about. This is not the case for second quarter. Now is when everyone must buckle down and hold onto their grade for dear life and hope that the exam won’t be too bad. Second quarter is also known for breaks off of school. We’ve got ten days of vacation just this quarter which includes Thanksgiving and winter break, so at least everyone will have that to look forward to along with the possible snow days. Keep getting after it, Hillmen; only three more quarters to go!

The Forgotten Holiday

Quinn Collins

     Once the Jack-O’-Lanterns have been thrown out and the Halloween candy has been polished off, too many people have no problem jumping straight into the Christmas season without a second thought. Unfortunately, this leaves America’s most honest and heartfelt holiday in an awkward position. Too many people treat Thanksgiving like an annoying speed bump on their way to winter merriment. I am taking a stand by saying Thanksgiving is far too important to be treated like a second-class holiday!
     So many holidays have become overly commercialized. It seems like Arbor Day is the only holiday that doesn’t involve buying a very specific set of items every year to celebrate. While the turkey industry certainly booms at the end of November, there are very few extra gifts, decorations, or knick-knacks that go along with the holiday. The pressure of buying gifts people will like without breaking the bank is completely eliminated. Shopping for Thanksgiving is just simpler than any other holiday.
     Thanksgiving is also far more genuine than any other holiday. Christmas claims to be all about the gift of giving and the happy holiday spirit, but deep down inside we all know it’s about getting presents. Thanksgiving has fewer expectations and rituals, which leaves much more time for families to spend real time together. My fondest Thanksgiving memories aren’t tied to material possessions, but to my family and the people around me. That’s what holidays should be about!
     I love candy and presents as much as the next guy, but Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart. It’s not just an excuse to over-eat and watch football; it’s an excuse to do those things with the people we love most. So… before you start decking the halls, make sure you have a little turkey first.

Endless Summer Coming to an End

Madison Albert-Nelson

Platteville's 2018 Homecoming Court

     One of the most exciting weeks of the year has come to an end aseveryone on the risers, waiting for the Homecoming King and Queen to be announced. Last year’s Homecoming Queen Kimia Safari Shad crowned Rachel Burkhard to be PHS’ 2018 Homecoming Queen while 2017 Homecoming King Tikiri Bandara enthroned John Cramer  Homecoming 2018 was a fun week filled with so many memories that will last a lifetime.

 quickly as it has approached. This year’s Homecoming theme was Endless Summer. Following the festive week of dress up days, our little extension of summer finished up with the Homecoming Dance on October 6th, and a win over the Dodgeville football team on October 5th (41-0).
     The dress up days were all related to Endless Summer in some form. There was Beach Day, 4th of July, Slumber Party, Outdoors, and finally, Hillmen Spirit. Every day, the school was dressed for the occasion where each grade tried to win the title of showing the most school spirit.
      The Sophomores were in the lead for points until Thursday, when everyone took the time to watch each grades skit and lip sync. After the videos were judged, the Juniors had the slightest edge over everyone else.
     Friday was the final day of the Homecoming activities. The afternoon was filled with fun activities such as relays, Watch Ya’ Mouth, inspirational talks from coaches, and much more. Following the games it was a three-way tie between the Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores, with the freshmen trailing behind. It came down to the last game: Face the Cookie. Michaeleen Frommelt, the Face the Cookie champion for the Juniors, talked about his winning experience. “I know I have a big mouth, in all senses of the phrase, and I can be awfully expressive with my face.” It was an intense battle, but he came through, popping the oreo into the air and landing in his mouth.” Frommelt went on to describe that it wasn’t just him that made the winning effort. “But overall, yeah, it was pretty clutch catching that Oreo, but I’d like to think that it was a team effort of everyone in my grade. Although everyone will think back to that catch, I will know, thanks to everyone, that we did it.”
     The Homecoming Parade followed the pep rally, where all fall activities were showcased and the Homecoming Court was shown to the public for the first time. All the Platteville schools gathered to watch as the younger kids waved and cheered for the participants in the parade.
     Later that night, the big game didn’t go exactly as planned. The first quarter was almost done when there were cracks of thunder and lightning. The players ran to the locker room, band members hurried underneath the stadium, and spectators rushed to seek shelter under the big concrete structure. The waiting game started: when will the game start again? After almost an hour of waiting and the band members continuously playing, the game was ready to go on. With the last three quarters played, the Hillmen crushed the Dodgers forty-one to zero.
     Saturday was the big day. The hours prior to the dance starting, students were rushing around, trying to get their last minute touches done for their attire planned. The cross country team and the volleyball team had to hurry home quickly to get ready on time.
     At nine p.m. sharp, the homecoming coronation started. The court waited in front of everyone on the risers, waiting for the Homecoming King and Queen to be announced. Last year’s Homecoming Queen Kimia Safari Shad crowned Rachel Burkhard to be PHS’ 2018 Homecoming Queen while 2017 Homecoming King Tikiri Bandara enthroned John Cramer Homecoming 2018 was a fun week filled with so many memories that will last a lifetime.

Back to School

 Anica Graney

     Welcome back to school, everyone! The next nine months will no doubt be filled with amazing memories, stressless days, and restful nights… or not. I know school isn’t something that most students look forward to, but it is required by law so nobody has a choice. I really want to avoid all of the clichés that the back to school article no doubt demands, but it is a tradition that I give my advice to all of the classes in high school. Freshmen: The upperclassmen don’t actually hate you. It’s just something that we do to tease all of you and make you feel more included as a part of the school. That being said, please stay to the right side of the hallway, don’t walk in large groups, and above all else, don’t walk slow, otherwise I will take back the first sentence. My other piece of advice to you is to try everything. Go out for any club, sport, activity, or class that even slightly interests you. If you love it, great! You get to do it all four years! If you don’t then you don’t have to do it again next year. At least now you know and can say you tried it, right? Sophomores: Yeah, you’ve got one year under your belt, but don’t think I still don’t consider you freshmen. This year is just freshman year part II, and like The Godfather II, the sequel is better than the original. You get a sliver of upperclassmen privilege, know your way around the building, and get equally ticked off when freshmen slowly walk on the left side of the hallway in a large group. The classes are going to get a bit harder, so definitely learn some good study skills, or go the way I did and completely wing everything and hope that it all works out okay. A bit more of a stressful approach, but still effective contrary to what your teachers might lead you to believe. Juniors: Good luck. I’m trying not to over exaggerate, but this year can be pretty nasty. Just try your best and whatever your best is will have to do. Focus on the little joys in life, like the amount of homework you will receive everyday, or the countdown to when you are state mandated to take the ACT and the work keys, or the coffee addiction you will no doubt acquire. If none of these things sound that appealing, you’ll at least have prom to look forward to! Seniors: As much as I enjoyed growing up with all of you, I think it is safe to say that most of us are going to be glad to finally get out of this place. I know four years seems a bit much, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s really only the same length of time as a marathon of all of The Godfather movies. In all seriousness, though, we kind of have to admit that the last four years have had some benefit to us. All I ask is for in the future, when we all discover the joys of aging, taxes, and slow metabolisms, that we can look back on these years and at least think, “Never again.”

P.S. I’m not apologizing for all of The Godfather references. You made the choice to read this article and I made the choice to include The Godfather. I hope neither of us are sorry.

Fun Facts About Homecoming

   Hypatia Fitzsimons

     Homecoming is a week of fun dress up days, game activities, and a football game. In honor of homecoming this week, here are some interesting fun facts about the first homecoming, the origin of the King and Queen, and the history of the corsage.The University of Illinois has claimed the title of the first homecoming. In 1910, two seniors wanted their team to win against the University of Chicago; for the past seven years, every time University of Illinois played Chicago, they lost, and the seniors thought if the school’s spirit could be brought up, then the team would be able to win. So, they invited all the fans and students and ended up having twelve thousand people at the game. The team won 3-0 prompting many other schools to start the homecoming tradition. Today, homecoming king and queen are important but the first homecoming didn’t even have them. Originally, a homecoming king and queen were picked to be on a float for the parade. In the 1930’s, the homecoming dance started to become more popular, leading to people voting for a king and queen. This started the tradition of having the king and queen crowned at the dance. Although the corsage was not originally for homecoming, it has become a tradition. People also wear them for other formal events, but the history of the corsage is interesting. Corsages have been around since ancient Greece and worn at weddings. The bride would wear the corsage to keep the evil spirits away from her and her husband. In the 16th century, it was worn whenever a woman would leave her house to help prevent diseases. Over time, the corsage was only worn for special occasions. Until the 1920s, the corsage was clipped onto the dress. But when the style of dresses changed, the corsage started to be worn on the wrist. These are some interesting traditions and beginnings that have led to today’s homecoming.

Madison Shooting Sparks Controversy

by Claire McMannes

     On March 6th a Madison police officer, Matt Kenny, shot 19-year-old Tony Robinson, and since then the controversy of the story is still hot to the touch.

     The story starts with a call from a source saying that a young male was yelling and jumping in front of cars. Another call came in saying Robinson was getting physical and tried to strangle someone. Shots were fired only seconds later. Four minutes later Kenny showed up and forced his way into the apartment. The shooting reportedly took place in the stairway of Robinson’s apartment when the officer fell off balance and shot the unarmed man out of self-defense. Robinson died in the hospital. He had three bullet wounds: one to the head, another to the torso, and one in the upper body.

     Protests broke out in Madison over the controversial shooting, much of which stems from the “Black Lives Matter” movement. Several protesters chanted “Black Lives Matter” while others seemed to be protesting police brutality against unarmed civilians at the Dane County Public Safety Building.

     Madison police chief Mike Koval stated during a conference, “He was unarmed. That’s going to make this all the more complicated for investigators, for the public, to accept.”

     For many, this is the exact mindset they have. With the many recent deaths of unarmed African Americans, people are starting to believe that there is a major problem with the police force. Although it is claimed that Robinson had prior criminal activity, one of which was an armed robbery that took place in April. He pleaded guilty in December and was put on probation. But despite his history, people still rally around his cause with over hundreds of peaceful protesters outside of where the alleged shooting took place.

     Cases much like Robinson are starting to catch the news scene more and more as they pile up with controversy and protests. One of the most famous ones was the Ferguson, Missouri shooting where an officer killed an unarmed Michael Brown.

     At least a thousand people attended Robinson’s funeral at Madison East High School Saturday. The number of people exceeded space so much that many had to watch the procession on screen. Many came over two hours early to get a spot to pay their respects to the young man and his grieving family. People were asked to leave their protesting signs outside to show respect for him.

     The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Justice was to give its reports in late March following an investigation.

First and Last Year: Assistant Principal Resigns

by Beth Gardiner

     Platteville High School students have been pushed to “Strive for Excellence” and to build on the excellent traditions our school offers. This way of life would not be possible without outstanding administration and staff encouraging, leading, and guiding the student body each step of the way. This year has brought many changes to PHS due to changes in administration, and the community recently found out more changes are on the way. Mr. Eric Newton, PHS assistant principal and athletic director, has turned in his resignation and will be leaving after this school year.

    Mr. Newton has made such a positive impact on PHS during his short time here. Losing one of the best will be hard, but the school is very excited for all that Mr. Newton’s future has in store for him.

    The student body got to know Mr. Newton a bit this school year. Not everyone may know that Mr. Newton played football in Germany for four years where he met his wife. Mr. Newton will be returning to Germany after this year to be with his wife and already has plans to work in an international school as the athletic director.

    The fabulous office ladies have four words to say about Mr. Newton’s resignation, “Resignation is not accepted.” The administration staff has loved working with Mr. Newton this year and is sad to see him go. Mrs. Helbing shares, “Mr. Newton is very organized and pays close attention to detail. He is great with the kids, very personable, and just very well all around.”

     Mr. Newton says of his time at PHS, “I’ve loved working with the staff and student body. It has been a great experience, and I wish it was longer. I have enjoyed my time here and wish you all the best.”

    PHS has been incredibly fortunate to get to work with Mr. Newton and is thankful for one more semester under his leadership. The staff and student body wishes him and his family all the best, too, as he heads back to Germany.

 

Fan-Da-Monium At Wizard World Comic Con

by Claire McMannes

    Thousands of comic enthusiasts, TV show obsessed fans, cosplayers, and collectors united for a weekend of panels and fan-da-monium at Wizard World's first Comic Con in Madison Wisconsin’s Alliant Energy Center on the 5th-8th of February. Stars such as Ian Somerhalder (Damon, Vampire Diaries , Christian Serratos (Rosita, The walking Dead), Brett Dalton (Grant, Agents of Shield), Michael Rooker (Yondu, Guardians of the Galaxy), William Shatner (Captain Kirk himself) and more.

    Not only were there panels of some of our favorite TV show and movie characters, but there were even comic book artists ranging from Marvel’s Spiderman, DC's New 52, and Image Comics’ The Walking Dead -- you actually receive a copy of their first issue upon walking inside.

    An entire third of the Wizards event layout was dedicated to autographs on prints or comics from the talented artist of the comics. you could even get a quick picture with them. Another part of the layout had all of the TV and movie celebrities just waiting to take a picture with you and/or autograph for a hefty price of $25-$50. But hey, you get a pretty cool photo right and get to interact with your favorite character!

    Another part of the event was dedicated to comic book lovers and amine obsessed fans. From the classic Teen Titans of 1964, before it became a terrible television show for your average four year old, to Duel Masters anime. Boxes and boxes of the classics to the updated versions could be found throughout the jumble of aisles while the vendors, not only sold, but bought and traded over the phone.

    The popular four-sided Funko Pop Figure wall was also present at the event along with collectible toys that got parents reminiscing about their childhood. But don’t be fooled, Comicon is not just for comics; it is also for collectors. Toys from the classic Frankenstein and Dracula movie could also be found, along with merch for SuperWhoLock fandom.

     But this event is not just held to see comic book artists, vendors, and your favorite TV show heroes. It gives you a chance to be one, or the opposite. Cosplayers (people who dress up like fictional characters) including; Captain America, Arrow, Deathstroke, Castiel, Dean Winchester, Harley Quinn, Batman, The Doctor, Joker, Flash, Deadpool, and Mr. Freeze could be found ready to act out their parts as convincingly as possible. Some were even willing to share their experiences with The Voice. .

    When asked why he cosplays ‘Arrow’, as one individual  liked to be called, he answers, “It’s really fun to be someone else for a day instead of your ‘regular self.’ I would do it more often, but it probably wouldn’t look very good if some dude walked into Walmart with a cape and mask on.”

    Another cosplayer, ‘Captain America,’ chips in, “It’s also really cool to see little kids look up to you the way they do. To them we really are the heroes they see, and it’s really exciting for them to see us and talk to us. Plus, it’s cool to have so many people walk up to you and want to take a picture with you because they think your cosplay is that good.”

    Along with cosplayers, metal based celebrities were also there. The original Batmobile from the 1960s series starring Adam West and Burt Ward was also there. You could even sit it the car and get pictures in it for only $25. Another car was the Delorean from the Back to the Future movies, you could also get a picture with it.

    The Wizard World Comic Con is an impressive, fun, and entertaining event for all ages so check out the next closest one in at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Chicago on March 7-8th!

This Is How We Referendum

by Melanie Schaefer

     Many questions have come up concerning the proposals for the school district's referendum. The biggest one is, “What is $17.2 million going toward?”

     The key projects of this referendum include renovations to the science, technology, engineering, and math departments. The science classrooms will be favored for $2.5 million. For example, Mr. Heer’s room will gain windows, a lab section, and double doors, just to name a few renovations.  All of which are not currently part of his classroom. Storage space would also be increased for all of the science classrooms. Mr. Heer, Mr. Molle, and Ms. Kroncke recently went to Sun Prairie High School to see what has been done in science classrooms there.

     All four schools will have $4.6 million dollars distributed between them for projects concern safety, maintenance, and code compliance. Safer, more secure entrances will also be installed.     Chris Schaefer, a support staff substitute in the Platteville School District, occasionally works in the offices. She says, “These security modifications are a necessity to guarantee the safety of the students and teachers.”

     Due to first and fourth grade moving to Westview, the gymnasium will be expanded and a two-story addition will be added for $9.7 million. Meanwhile, the size of the kindergarten rooms will be expanded at Neal Wilkins for $300,000.

     The vote for this referendum will be approved or denied on April 7th. This is the same date that the school board election will be held.

Thinking Spring: Fashion Tips For 2015

by Pauline Justal

     Spring is here. Even if you can’t see it or feel it, it is here. This year’s spring trends vary from dreamy, ’70s-style Bohemia to no-nonsense, military-inspired styles. Every year pastels are a spring favorite and this year is not an exception. As the Chilean poet-diplomat and politician who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1971 Pablo Neruda said “You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming.”

     But this spring is special. Don’t you think it isnt fair that fashion is stereotypically for girls? This season is going to be different, though! Spring trends 2015 for MEN are here with a little advice from Ivan Acierno (‘16), “Light colors are always the way to go.” But to Hayley Strong (‘15) spring is just an in-between season to buy winter clothes on sale until it’s too warm and then you  move on to summer clothes.

     As one of the easiest patterns to pull off, stripes continue to hold their place in the modern gent’s wardrobe year after year. While the traditional Breton T-shirt is a typical spring/summer classic that hasn’t and will never fall out of fashion. This pattern has been re-imagined for the coming months.

     As said before, designers have been inspired by the ’70s this season . Many people will instantly think of the ’70s as one of the least stylish decades in recent memory. Perhaps it’s time for the skinny jean and slim-fit buttoned-up shirt to make room for something looser.

     But what do you think? Would you wear clothes that were popular in the ’70s? Or do you think flares, exaggerated collared shirts, and florals should remain in the past?

AP Literature Class Remakes Hamlet

by Melanie Schaefer  

     Everyone knows the normal route of an English class: read a book, take a test, move on. But instead, the Advanced Placement Literature and Composition class focuses more on projects along with writing an occasional paper. Hamlet was read individually with small assignments throughout the reading. Hamlet is a typical Shakespearean tragedy that takes place in olden day Denmark. Hamlet’s father had recently been killed and his ghost demands that Hamlet seeks avengance. Hamlet’s mother married his Uncle which set the story up for its’ fair share of dramatic scenes.

     Students were able to sign up individually for one of the five acts of the play upon completing the reading. Once the groups were formed, one person from each group drew a time period out of a hat. Modern day, the 1920s, 1950s, and the 1980s were all included.

     Now with this information, groups have to rewrite Hamlet in a way appropriate to their time periods and perform it. Spoiler alert: there were multiple “hey man”s in the 1950s group’s project. They then had to put together costumes and props to film their Hamlet act. Two weeks seems like plenty of time until the students started working. The project was assigned on March 2nd and was due on March 13th. But they buckled down and you can even watch some of the finished projects on YouTube.

To Dream of An Education: Schools For Haiti

by Beth Gardiner 

     Schools for Haiti is an organization supporting almost one thousand students in four schools, four principals, over thirty teachers, two cooks, several aids and helpers, security guards, and directors in Haiti. These numbers are only increasing as Schools for Haiti is making a bigger difference in the lives of Haitian people.

     Schools for Haiti has been working in the Mirabalais area of Haiti since 2004. It was started by a Cassville man named Len Demert who dedicated his life to the orphans and the people of Haiti. After seeing the conditions they were living in during his trip to Haiti, Demert decided it would be his mission to provide education to better the lives of the children there. Many children in Haiti cannot afford the tuition for school or only attend when they can pay for tuition. Schools for Haiti has had a mission of providing free education to the poorest children. Since Demert’s passing, his family has continued on his legacy of helping orphans receive education. These kids now have a better hope for the future.

     Last summer Schools for Haiti raised over $20,000 to provide school books for Haiti. This summer they have the same goal of raising $20,000. The goal this year isn’t just books, but includes playgrounds, bikes, a kitchen/cafeteria, dormitory doors, and library books. Schools for Haiti can’t do this on their own, and everyone has the opportunity to help!

     How can you help? Great question! With spring coming that will mean new shoes for your sports, the latest sandals, and a lot of old shoes just sitting in your closet. Don’t let them say there any longer! Schools for Haiti is collecting any type of gently worn footwear. Shoes will be collected during April, May, and June. The shoes will then be given to any organization that gives Schools for Haiti money for the shoes. The goal is to collect 400 bags of 25 pairs of schools. That’s 10,000 pairs of shoes! They need your help! Be listening for ways to donate shoes at PHS, and please contact Beth Gardiner if you have any questions.

Who Knew Scholarships Could Be Fun?

by Allie Serres

     College is a huge step in the lives of many people, and funding that huge step is often times a major set back. Not to worry, Platteville High School has a great scholarship program that has been a huge help to many students. However, at times this money earned still isn’t enough, and students need to look elsewhere for a source of funding. Lucky for them, there are many scholarships online that people of all different shapes, sizes, and talent levels can qualify for. It just takes a little digging to unearth the world of wacky scholarships, but once you’re there, the process of applying for some of these scholarships might be more fun than you think. Or maybe they’re just plain unexpected.

     Duck Tape products have been a recent trend. If you have some duct taping skills, then you might consider entering the “Stuck at Prom” scholarship contest. All you have to do is make an entire prom dress (accessories included) out of Duck brand duct tape and submit it for judging in between March 16-June 1. Judges will pick finalists for one of ten grand prizes, which includes a $10,000 scholarship, and $5,000 for your school. This scholarship isn’t just for girls, either. Guys can enter their prom attire, too, and in both cases you’ll be required to wear your duct tape masterpiece to prom and submit photos.

     For those who are tall, there is a scholarship for you. Girls 5’10” or taller and guys 6’2” or taller, have the opportunity to win a $1000 scholarship from the Tall Clubs International Scholarship association by simply writing a short essay about why they feel being tall is important.

     If height isn’t your strong suit but peanut butter and jelly sandwich making is, consider applying for the Jiff Most Creative PB&J making contest. All you have to do is make a PB&J as creatively as possible and send a picture of it in to the Jiff website. The winner is awarded $25,000, as well as a peanut butter gift basket filled with $50 worth of peanut butter.

     Duct tape, height, and sandwich making may not be your thing, but that’s okay because there are many more scholarships both conventional and quirky that you can find online.  For more interesting and fun scholarships go to a scholarship search engine or even Google search ‘unique scholarships.’ The solution to your college funding dilemmas might be a click away.

The Future at Our Fingertips

by Max Frommelt

      Our society is advancing at an incredible rate. One of the things that we seem to never notice is how far we have come. Cell phones have gone from the flip phones of yesterday to the smartphones that have more processing power than the International Space Station. Some of the technological evolution has gone so far that it has become impossible to stop. Some things, on the other hands, never change.

     One of these devices is the keyboard. We have always used this device to type in a traditional way, pushing real, solid, tangible buttons. This has begun to change.

     The laser keyboard brings light to a field of innovation some may not have thought possible. That’s right, it is a mobile, bluetooth keyboard that projects a keyboard onto any flat surface, allowing you to type virtually anywhere. While we’ve gotten used to flat keyboards on tablets and smartphones, the laser keyboard allows the freedom of a full size keyboard that’s really not even there. Turning on keyboard clicks makes it easier to tell when you’re hitting the keys.

     AGS, the company that created the keyboard, began operating in 1971 and is stationed in Suichi Ogawa, Japan. AGS is a core contributor for the banking and business industry in Japan. While they are strong for banking, they have created a section for pure innovation and creation.

     Now, while AGS has not a major advancement with the keyboard, it holds countless of possibilities. The keyboard can be connected to a mobile device or tablet. You now have a full keyboard that has the same dimensions as a small juicebox. This creates a pure mobile keyboard that you can bring with you everywhere. The gadget costs ballpark $40 to $50.

     All of our technology is trying to do this new things or something that it never has before, this device has recreated an old invention, and it works.

PHS Marvels at Comics

by Max Frommelt

Before PHS went on a well-deserved break, Marvel Comics artist Jerry DeCaire visited PHS. He offered a spectacle that could only be described as by Anna Greenhalgh (‘16) as, “I am not really into comics, but I thought his work was incredible.” The freelance comic artist who is recognized for his depictions of Thor and X-Men, among many others, is on a speaking tour that he began in 2013 to teach students nationwide about the way art, science, and math merge in his trade. Along with an impressive demo on his comic book magic, DeCaire had a number of things he wanted the student body to take away from his presentation. 

The Saginaw, Michigan native realized his passion for drawing when he was only seven years old. He saw a picture of a German shepherd and thought it was the most amazing thing he had ever seen. It was then that his instinctive vision took hold; wanted to draw that picture. DeCaire adds, “Our brain tells us where to go.”

The funny part was that upon showing his grandmother what he had drawn, she noticed how well it was drawn. And accused him of lying. While his pride was a little hurt, the young DeCaire moved on with his head held high.

The artist now resides in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and has reached amazing heights with his art, biology, and education degree he obtained from Central Michigan University. When asked about his experiences, DeCaire shares that his favorite series to draw was The Avengers, but his “absolute favorite [was the] Silver Surfer series.”

Even after his years of drawing, the work still has a charm. DeCaire admits that there off days when it becomes tiring to put pencil to paper. In case you were wondering, he does find that some of his pieces have evolved with his talent. “I like the Wolverine that I draw now compared to what I did for the real series.”

Eager to share what he’s learned in his experience, DeCaire advises the student body at PHS that everyone has an “arsenal of talents” but are too afraid to let them shine for fear of failing. He smiles at that point and says that you need to act like a hero sometimes. Even if there is only a one percent chance you’ll make it, it is worth a shot because, “Even a shot in the dark has a chance to be great.”

20 Seasons Strong: Coach Statz Steps Down from Football

by Melanie Schaefer

After fourteen seasons, Mr. Scott Statz is stepping down from his position as the head football coach at Platteville High School. His career includes a 95-52 record, eleven play-off appearances, three conference championships, and one trip to the WIAA State Championship game. The Hillmen finished as state runners-up in division four in 2013. Mr. Statz has also been named Southwest Wisconsin Conference coach of the year twice: in the years 2004 and 2006.

One rumor as to why he is resigning deals with the controversy in other athletic programs at PHS recently. However, this is not true. “This has nothing to do with the recent situation with the volleyball program,” says Mr. Statz. “This is something I’ve been thinking about for a couple of years.” Mr. Statz has been the head football coach at Platteville and Lodi for twenty years combined, and an English teacher for twenty-one of those years. Without the responsibility of both teaching and coaching on his shoulders, he’ll have some time to devote to other engagements. He adds, “There are some other things I would like to do.”

Currently, no replacements have been found to fill the head coach position. But, the returning team continues to be optimistic about next year. Mitch Knockel (‘16) said, “As a team we can’t flinch and will not let this affect our upcoming season.” Coach Statz will be missed on the field.

PHS Teachers: They're Flipping Students Off

by Anna Greenhalgh

It sounds bad, but it’s not actually what you think; flipped classroom is back at PHS. Physics teacher Mr. Heer just began incorporating the flipped classroom videos in his curriculum.

If you haven’t yet been introduced to flipped classroom videos in your high school career, let me briefly explain. Flipped classroom videos are, as the name states, videos of the teacher or of the material being taught. Usually, the videos are watched outside of school and students take notes on them. The next day, the material in the video is discussed as a class. Mrs. Hefty brought flipped classroom to PHS a few years ago and taught utilizing the videos for a while with her Geometry sections.

Mr. Heer explains his reasons for using the idea in his curriculum, “It’s not just a way to teach for me. It’s also a type of experiment.” The experiment is mainly “to see whether or not the videos help students and their grades.” Mr. Heer goes on on to describe his plan. He has gathered data from his past six years of teaching and plans to compare it to this year’s numbers after the first semester exam. The studies he has seen say that videos are the most beneficial to his students and the learning process.

When asked about the effect on students through the videos, Mr. Heer replies that there are both positives and negatives.  “Some of the pros are that the students can pause, rewind, and replay the video if they’re lost or if they missed something. And the videos will still be there when you’re in college, if you choose to refer back to them for review.”  

Another perk in the flipped system is that the notes to go with each section’s video are posted online along with it. They are printable, so if you’ve missed a day, you aren’t necessarily missing out on the instruction. You simply log on to the school website, go to the link, and voila! Mr. Heer pops up to teach you about work and power.

“On the other hand,” reasons Mr. Heer, “the videos aren’t as interactive as an in-class lectures.” The questions that pop in your head can’t be answered before you forget them. It’s also much less cost-effective, if you will, from a teacher’s perspective.  For every 15 minutes students see on the videos, it takes more than an hour of recording, editing and cutting down, and forgiving a few minor mistakes, even after all this.

Activity Profile: Robotics

by Kyle McWilliams

Do you think about science, technology, engineering, or mathematics for more than three hours a day? Students involved in FIRST Robotics eat, live, and breathe these subjects--collectively known as “STEM”--for even more than that. 

FIRST, (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen. This program is in effect to inspire and motivate high school and middle school students in STEM. In 1992, FIRST held its first competition in Manchester, New Hampshire with only 28 teams competing. Since that time, the program has grown exponentially; this year, there were over 5,000 teams competing at over 100 regionals all over the world.

The main goal of the FIRST Robotics competition each year is to construct a 120 lb robot in six weeks from a universal "Kit of Parts" and other materials with the help of some mentors. Teams involved in the competition design and build this unique robot to perform the tasks given by the FIRST Game Design Committee. There are no instructions on how to complete the given tasks, but there are defined rules to keep the environment and robots safe. Building the robot is not a team’s only job, however; members of the team choose to also work on 3-D animations of their robot. 

While most students in FIRST would attest to the fact that it’s a fun activity, entertainment value is not the only incentive: there are 28 awards given out at regional competitions and the championship event. These awards include the Woodie Flowers Award for effective communication in the art and science of engineering and technology by a mentor, the Industrial Safety Award that recognizes a team that shows excellent safety from the shop to competition; and the Gracious Professionalism Award for outstanding sportsmanship.

Platteville’s team, FRC Team 171--also known as the Cheese Curd Herd--is the oldest team in Wisconsin, having competed for 20 years. Each year the team has 20-30 high school students. During the 20 years, they have won more than three regionals and have been named regional finalists three times as well. Team 171 has also won many awards,  including the Chairman’s Award (1997), the Gracious Professionalism Award (2012), and the General Motors Industrial Design Award (2006).

This year, Team 171 competed at two regionals, the Central Illinois Regional and the Wisconsin Regional. The Cheese Curd Herd was seeded 7th out of 40 teams, with a record of 13-7-0 at the Central Illinois Regional held at Pekin, Illinois. As finalists, they lost to the first seed alliance. At the Wisconsin Regional in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, they were ranked 42nd out of 60 teams, with a record of 4-6-0. 

FRC Team 171 would like to thank all the mentors and sponsors, including John Deere, Benvenuto’s, Timmerman Talents, Duane Foust, University Of Platteville-Wisconsin, and University of Platteville-Wisconsin Engineering Physics. “These mentors and sponsors have made FIRST an enjoyable program,” says First Robotics member Derek Greenhalgh (‘15).

Activity Profile: Forensics Students Shine

by Kyle McWilliams

One of the fantastic clubs to join starting in winter at Platteville High School is Forensics. Forensics is flexible because the teachers who run it understand that students are busy.The teachers meet with students before, during, or after school. 
Before you even consider going to competition you must choose among different categories. There are three distributions that these categories fall into: acting, intepretation, and speaking. Radio speaking, for example, would fall under the speaking, which is coached by Ms. Fredericks. Solo and group play acting are just two of the acting categories coached by Ms. Schober. And finally, prose is an interpretive category where students cut passages from literature works for performance. Ms. Kammerud coaches these categories. 
“I definitely wanted to do something in a group,” says Jake Klein (‘15). “I really like the different categories and the fact that no two performances are the same.” 
Students practice their pieces from late November until the local contest in February. This year the local contest took place February 4th. The team did not end up having more than the 25 entries that are allowed, and thus, everyone will be performing at the sub-district level at Lancaster High School on February 23rd. If students receive scores good enough to qualify for district, they’ll work toward that performance in mid-March. It all culminates at the state contest on April 7th this year where qualifiers from district will have a shot at medals.
Scoring is an interesting concept in Forensics. Each category has a different rubric, and scores are assigned out of a possible 25. This is the second year that head coach Ms. Schober will be taking the team to compete at the Lodi Forensics Invitational on February 21st. There they will compete for medals and trophies after four rounds of competition.
McKenzie Scanlan (‘15), a veteran performer of Forensics says, “Forensics has been a really fun and unique way to practice and enhance my public speaking skills and has given me different opportunities to perform.”

Extracurricular Overload: One Staffer Gives Her Take

by Claire McMannes

Basketball, forensics, French Club, choir, and FFA. All of these extracurricular activities have given you something to do besides staring blankly at your homework, hoping it does itself. 

Yes, student activities are encouraged and look good on a college application, but what happens when they start to conflict with one another? After school activities can range from three hours or more, depending on what you are in, leaving some students stressed and not having enough time to complete their assignments due the following day.

Platteville high school student Erin Bowden (‘16) tells how exactly school and its activities affect students' stress levels.

Bowden says, "School affected the sport I played because I wasn't able to attend all of practices, leaving me behind. One practice, we learned some plays, and I wasn't there to learn them. We couldn't use those plays in the next game because I didn't know them."  School activities, while usually flexible when it comes to education, can leave students feeling somewhat stressed and cause conflict with the rest of the team if you are learning plays like Bowden was in basketball.

With extracurriculars and school work competing for students’ attention, it’s no wonder they’ve started to feel like they’re over-stretching. Recently Bowden brought to light a conflict between the April 17th state forensics date and a conference softball game. (Note that April 17th is later the same week music students will return from their Nashville trip.) This is the typical schedule for a highly involved student at PHS who finds sports taking over the scene. Bowden expresses her frustration, “I didn't offer not going to forensics or seeing if there was an alternative performance time because the [non-athletics] extracurricular activities always move aside. I think it is about time for that to change.”

The administration dealt with another double-booked event last month with a boys’ swim meet being scheduled on the same night that an orchestra concert was planned months in advance. Communication solved the issue with the athletes/musicians being able to catch their events at an earlier time before heading over to the concert.

Come to school early in the morning and you’ll see a lot of the same students working diligently to meet with forensics coaches, meeting for Key Club or Mock Trial, and rehearsing with extracurricular music groups like Blue Notes and Jazz Band. With all that’s going on in the non-athletic activity world, is it possible that students are being pressed for time even more in the mornings?

What’s an involved student to do besides make compromises? Madelyn White (‘15) says, “When I was in musical, balancing swimming with it could get kind of frustrating because it was a lot of running around. But since I had a ‘small-part’ in the play it worked out okay. If there’s ever a time where you really want to do something like musical and a sport just choose a smaller part or try to compromise and talk to your coach or director about it. They try to help you out as much as they can.”

If you ever feel over stressed and over worked just remember the key is to take out the things you can go without. By doing so you will become far less stressed and maybe even find something that peaks your interest more or just have more time to work on your assignments and focus solely on school.