Football Season Ends in Second Round of Playoffs

by Will Philipps

An unfortunate end came to the 2014 Hillmen football season this fall. The final game against Lodi was a heartbreaker to many fans who braved the cold to see their favorite high school football team battle in the second round of the WIAA Division 4 Playoffs. The Hillmen started their season off with a bang, with their first game resulting in a win against Darlington with a score of 39 - 19. But the victory was short lived, as next week the team suffered a hard loss to Holmen 27-0. The loss to Black River Falls really seemed to change the Hillmen’s attitude and focus around, enabling a 4 game win streak for the Hillmen against Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, River Valley and Dodgeville. The goal of beating Lancaster remains the same. Unfortunately, the season came to an end  When Lodi knocked out Platteville in the second round of the WIAA Division 4 Playoffs. Despite the early end to the season, the goal for state stays alive for next season.

The Work Behind Tarzan

by Eramis Momchilovich

Disney’s Tarzan has been a heartwarming part of many a high schooler’s childhood, but how many have seen the musical adaptation? Well, Platteville High School students are going to get their chance at the school performance on December 3rd thanks to all the dedicated, hardworking staff and students involved.

Assistant director Ms. Schober has been helping with musical for fifteen years and was a component in choosing this year’s show. She says that a major factor that contributed to choosing Tarzan was it is a children’s show with a contemporary feel. Some other Platteville Schools staff members that are heavily involved in the production are director Mrs. Armstrong, technical director Mr. Beaulieu, and set designers Mr. Swailes and Mr. Urness, a former PHS physics teacher. 

After the initial decision, much more brainstorming has to take place. Visualization of how the stage will be built and decorated, as well as costume details, makeup, and hair all needs to be considered. According to Ms. Schober, a lot of “hard work, sweat, and long hours” are needed to translate the ideas into reality. Many teachers and students end up spending over 10 hours at the school four days a week to work on choreography, lights and sound, memorizing lines and lyrics, and critiquing their acting. So much time spent away from home and family is a sacrifice cast, crew, and pit members have to make. 

The fact that “it (the musical) involves two things I love, drama and music” is what keeps Ms. Schober coming back each year to the hectic life of musical. “And, sharing that love with students is what it’s all about,” she adds. In the end, many participants will say that being involved with the musical is an experience of a lifetime.

Musicians Shine at Honors Concert

Front Row: (L-R) Nick Demaree, Tianna Gile; Back Row: McKenzie Scanlan, Emma Bryla, Danielle Dillon

by Beth Gardiner

Every year the best musicians in Wisconsin participate in the WSMA High School State Honors Music Project. Platteville High School was represented this year by Emma Bryla (‘16) and Nick Demaree (‘17) in the mixed choir, Tianna Gile (‘16) and McKenzie Scanlan (‘15) in the treble choir, and Danielle Dillon (‘16) in the orchestra.

“The audition process is very rigorous,” shares Bryla. For a vocal audition, one is required to prepare a classical solo and show skills in sight reading and aural recognition. Orchestra and band auditions are similar in nature.  

The auditions were in February, and the musicians found out if they were accepted in the spring. The students chosen then participated in an intensive four day camp in June leading up to a performance during the Wisconsin State Music Conference in late October. Tianna Gile said, “I had a great experience this year with Honors. It was unbelieveable to sing with so many other amazing women who share the same passion for singing and music! I learned so much through this incredible experience.”

The WSMA High School State Honors Music Project is nationally recognized as one of the best opportunities for young people. Scanlan reflects that this year she learned so much about being a performer. She says, “My conductor taught us that there is much more to performing than just singing the correct notes and rhythms. It’s so important to add your own meaning to the pieces.

So, who can audition for Honors? Students in ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade are eligible at Platteville High School. All of this year’s star-musicians highly suggest auditioning. “If you don’t audition, your chance of getting into the choir is zero percent. Your chances go up immensely when you audition,” states Scanlan.

Girls' Swimming Comes to a Spectacular Finish

by Allie Serres

The ending of the girls swim season was bittersweet. Although the swimmers were sad to have it come to an end, they were very happy with the accomplishments they made throughout the season. 

“The seasons went really well for us. I am really proud of everyone for how hard they have worked,“says Makayla Wodarz (‘15). “Elissa broke the 100 Breaststroke record  with a time of 1:13.22, and Melissa broke the 100 Butterfly record with a time of 1:01.04, so that was really cool to see.”

Some points of the season came as a pleasant surprise for the swimmers. “We had limited numbers, and with injuries popping up throughout the season, we weren’t really sure how the season was going to pan out. But, we ended up being able to accomplish 6th at conference, and that was a really awesome, unexpected feat,” says Melanie Schaefer (‘15).

After Conference, the team then went on to sectionals with only six swimmers and ended up placing 11th. The sectional team consisted of Elissa Bahr (‘15), Melanie Schaefer (‘15) and Melissa Wood (‘16) from Platteville, and Lauren Smith (‘17), Megan Graney (‘16) and Haley Gotto (‘17)  from Lancaster.

Qualifying from the Sectional Meet to the State meet were Schaefer and Wood. Schaefer qualified in the 200 Freestyle and ended up placing 12th with a time of 2:00.76. Wood qualified in two events, the 100 Butterfly and 200 Individual Medley. She finished off her season by placing 15th in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 1:01.99 and 15th in the 200 Individual Medley with a time of 2:20.27.

The time, effort, and dedication that these ladies put in, paid off in the end. And, with the help of Coach Peters and the everyone involved in ladies’ swimming at PHS,  the swim team looks to have a bright future.

The Fastest Street Legal Car Is...Electric?!

by Max Frommelt

Just over the past week, two world records have been broken for a new car. The first record this new vehicle now holds is for hitting 0-60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds which, many people agree, is similar to a rocket ship launch. The second? It is 100% electric. 

Yes, this is the new future.And yes, this is the Tesla D. Tesla revealed that their new “D” standard is a “dual motor” and “driverless.” 

Here is where people become hesitant. People do not like the idea of their car doing everything since you, as the driver, do not want to have zero input. The “driverless” portion is simply an autonomous assist. Turning on the blinker, the car will scan the area and then move for you if the spot is available. It will also watch both the vehicles in front of you and the road signs. If the car in front of you brakes, the Tesla will, too. If the speed changes or picks up, the Tesla will adjust its speed, as well. 

The dual motor on the Tesla gives it both power and more mileage, all in one. The car is able to change its power output between the two motors to create the correct amount of output to max out miles with minimal power. This is the exact opposite of other dual motors due to the fact that they are active all the time. Say you are going up a hill. A traditional dual motor will apply the same amount of gas to the front and back motors, thus dropping gas mileage. The “D” understands the vehicle shifting, thanks to that new sensory data from the autonomous sensors, and takes power from the front and inputs it to the back. This creation of power switching brings the new mile range, for this electric beast, to a total of 300 miles.

This is where people are upset again at electric cars. “300 miles is not enough for me! My gas car can get more befor it needs to refuel!” The solution to this is Tesla’s forte. There response is “Ok, how about free ‘gas’ at any of our super chargers!” That gets people in a very happy mood. All of Tesla’s quality cars are given free electricity at any of their superchargers for the life of the car. That’s right, the life of the car! That means you can pass this car down to your children and they still can get electricity for free.

The Tesla “D” comes at a heavy cost, though. $120,000 for the maxed out, top of the line model. Do not fret! While this is expensive, this is without the government subsidiaries. Another thing to consider is that you are not paying for gas anymore. This is still a questionable buy for some people. Even with all the Tesla can offer, people are not sure whether they should buy it. The final grand slam for the Tesla cars are their vehicle safety rating is a 5.4 star safety rating. Yes, 5.4 stars out of 5 stars! So with a safety standard above the rest, a gas price you cannot beat, a record holder for the fastest street legal car in the world, and a slice of the future ahead of its time, it is safe to say that the Tesla “D” is well worth the investment.

Malala Yousafzai Becomes Youngest Person to Win Nobel Peace Prize

by Eramis Momchilovich

“I speak not for myself but for those without voice... those who have fought for their rights... their right to live in peace, their right to be treated with dignity, their right to equality of opportunity, their right to be educated.” These words of wisdom were spoken by one of the 2014 winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai. Also recognized with the distinction this year is Kailash Satyarthi. 

Malala is a seventeen-year-old Pakistani girl who has been fighting for young women’s rights to education since before she became a teenager. She is the youngest person ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize and her heroic struggle has motivated a worldwide enlightenment on the condition of women’s rights.

This young woman has been through many hardships including threats from the Taliban on her own life as well as her family. And, on October 9, 2012, Malala was shot in the head by a gunman who boarded her school bus. The bullet traveled under the skin of her face and down through her shoulder, but she recovered through multiple surgeries. This incident propelled Malala into the international spotlight and a year later on her sixteenth birthday she gave her first speech at the United Nations. She also released her autobiography, I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban in October of 2013. Within the same year she was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament and nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

She started her activism years ago as a school girl writing an anonymous diary and giving a voice to all the fears and struggles of a typical female student in areas under Taliban control, and now is a prominent world renown author and speaker. She has captivated the world’s ear and is using it to get children around the globe to take a stand and encourage organizations and nations to do the same.  

Election Recap: The Businesswoman Who Braved the Fight

The Challenger

by Will Philipps

 

Democrat Mary Burke was not a household name in Wisconsin unlike her opponent Governor Walker. The Democratic candidate in the 2014 Wisconsin governor’s race beat state representative Brett Hulsey to run against Walker in the general election.

Burke is a 55-year-old resident of Madison who was relatively unknown to many at the beginning of her campaign. She grew up in the Milwaukee suburb of Hartland to a family with deep roots in Wisconsin. Burke herself is a fourth-generation Wisconsinite. When she was 17, her father Richard Burke started Trek Bicycle Corporation, which she later became an executive for. Currently the Waterloo-based company is headed by Burke’s brother. 

As a teen Mary Burke was interested in volunteering since she helped teach tennis to Milwaukee-area kids in inner-city playgrounds. Her passion for helping others has continued into her adulthood: Burke donated money to the charter school Madison Prep and to an agency that helps the homeless in Dane County. She also has a noted interest in the Boys & Girls Club, helping the organization grow. 

Mary Burke also has no shortage of educational points of interest. She got a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in business administration with emphasis in finance and a master’s of business administration from Harvard Business School. 

After graduating in 1985, Burke got a job with McKinsey & Company consulting firm, which took her away to Washington D.C. and New York. Later she would come back to Wisconsin to be the Director of European Operations at Trek Bicycle, her family business. But, in 2005, Burke began her appearance in politics by being appointed by Governor Jim Doyle to the position of Wisconsin Commerce Department Secretary. She left the job in 2007. After a two year break, Burke came back to Trek as the head of strategic planning. In the meantime, she pursued other projects that lead to her spending a large sum of her own money to campaign and win a race for the Madison School Board.

All politics aside, Mary Burke is a true Wisconsinite, and leading up to November she put up a fight for the coveted title of governor. And, there’s something to be said for name recognition when it’s been on the ballot of such an intense election.

Saafia Masoom contributed to this article.

Update: Ebola Outbreak Ends in U.S.

by Kyle McWilliams

The last couple months the world has seen the not-so-new Ebola virus spread across the world. Ebola was first seen in an outbreak in the Middle East in 1976. There was another major outbreak in 1995 and 2007, primarily in Africa. In all of the previous cases the virus has not spread as much as it has this year. This year not only some of Africa was infected, but America and Spain have been infected. This year alone over 9,000 people globally have been infected and around 4,000 have died. That is around a 70% fatality rate for those who contract Ebola.
If you think you have the Ebola Virus think again, the usual fall influenza has almost the same beginning symptoms. You can contract the Ebola Virus by coming in to direct physical contact with an infected patient, sharing drinks or food with an already infected patient, physical contact with other mammals that have the virus, and kissing. One of the only possible ways you can become infected with Ebola is by sharing food or drinks and kissing if the person already has the symptoms of Ebola. A person can not get the Ebola Virus from sitting next to someone or even coughing or sneezing.
On Oct. 20th the CDC confirmed that there is a man in New York City infected with the Ebola Virus. The CDC traced where the man went to find and quarantine those areas from the general public. Even though some news sources say that the man could have infected many people while doing his normal daily routines by running through the city, going on the subway, and going to many businesses, the only way he could have infected the public was from sweating while he was running. The people sitting next to him on the subway could not have been infected with the Ebola Virus unless he sweated on them.
As of November 11th, the last known case of Ebola in the U.S. was cured, and the patient has been released.

Election Recap: Who is the Man Behind the Governor's Desk?

The Incumbent

by Claire McMannes

Governor Scott Walker is facing re-elections this November after a term of dramatic action. While he’s known for many things, the most obvious may be when he was recalled, and better yet, when he survived recall. For those of you who don’t know a recall is when a politician is removed from house before their term is up, you can be removed when you are at least a year into your term. 

Before Scott Walker became the 45th governor of Wisconsin, he was just like everyone else. He went to school, had job, and had a passion: politics. Born in Colorado Springs on November 2, 1967, he and his family soon moved to Wisconsin where he joined in several different clubs relating to politics. Walker attended Badger Boys State and Boys Nation and was involved in Eagle Scouts.  Walker’s first role model was Ronald Reagan who he met as an Eagle Scout. 

After high school, he attended Marquette University in 1986; although that was short lived, as he did not graduate but went to work for the Red Cross. He went into politics at age 25, running against several others for a seat on the Wisconsin State Assembly, which he won. He then married Tonette Tarantino and had two children, Matt and Alex. 

Meanwhile Walker’s political career sky-rocketed; held the Wisconsin State Assembly seat for four consecutive terms. But he was no longer a part of the assembly after he became the executive of Milwaukee County.

Walker won the governor election on his 43rd birthday, beating Tom Barrett. He won the people over with his ideas on reducing taxes and spending until the recall effort started in 2011, this lead to the recall election June 2012. He did, however, survive the recall by 53% of the votes. Walker has shown resilience and dedication to his career in politics.  

Fall Play's Final Act

by Anna Greenhalgh

 

This year’s Fall Play, “If Only,” written by M.W. Lonetree and directed by Mike Willis, reached the Sectionals portion of competition this season. The members involved included Ivan Acierno (‘16), Frenchy Bisi (‘16), Danielle Dillon (‘16), Eleanor Clement (‘17), Rachel Schaefer (‘17), Rachel Ababio (‘18), Brook Gassman (‘18), Michael Prestegard (‘18), Cloe Seickman (‘18), and Lucy Tian (‘18); they all were proud to be enlisted in the cast and crew. They began rehearsing two weeks after the commencement of the school year.

All that hard work seems to have paid off. There are three levels to perform at: Districts, Sectionals, and State. This year, our performers made it to Sectionals, with one of the three judges wishing to send them on to State. Two judges need to be on board for the group be to sent on.

If you recall from when the group performed for the school, “If Only” is about a young girl, Sydney, age 17, who is comatose due to an accident caused by texting and driving. The play shows the concern and pain Sydney’s family is experiencing while Sydney, somehow up and walking outside of her body, tries to convince them that’s she’s really there. I’ll save the rest - no spoilers!

After reaching Sectionals, the play was recognized by and is now in the process of being published by Brooklyn Publishers. The author changed the names of the current characters to those who played the actual parts - something to be extremely proud of since this was the first time it has ever been performed.

Congratulations! It was so well earned!

Volleyball Stars Take a Trip to State

by Claire McMannes

 

Bump, set, spike! The Platteville Hillmen girls’ volleyball season has come to a close with 40 wins and only 6 losses. Through all the sweat, hard work, dedication, and long practices, the girls’ hard work paid off. Yvette Updike is the coach and also Briette Updike (‘15) and, Brelynn Updike’s (‘17) mom. On Friday, November 7th in Green Bay, our very own Lady Hillmen went to the WIAA Division 2 State Tournament for the first time in almost twenty years. The girls played a hard three games. Losing the matches by only 25-19, 25-23, and 25-19 in the semifinals at the Resch Center. The student section was almost completely filled. Ashley Budden (‘15) says, “It was really great to see everyone come out so far to support the team. Also, seeing everyone participate in the spirit games was always really cool.”

The trip to state was bittersweet, as the the seniors and team captains, Budden and Updike’s very last Hillmen volleyball season has ended. But more is possibly to come in college for the two very talented athletes.

In all the Platteville volleyball girls made the Hillmen proud with their amazing season. Noah Tashner (‘15), and brother of varsity player Claire Tashner , says “It was really cool to see everyone come out for the game; our student section was huge compared to the opponents. It was really exciting to see the girls work so hard and give it their all. Go Hillmen!”

Punk's Not Dead, It Just Went Pop

by Anna Skubal

Remember the 80’s? Mullets, shoulder pads, acid washed jeans, Chernobyl? Unless you’re one of our sage, elderly teachers, you probably don’t remember that part. Maybe you know more of the pop music: Madonna, Prince, Duran Duran, Michael Jackson? How about the more hardcore-punk side: The Misfits, Dead Kennedy, T.S.O.L., MDC? Well, punk’s making a comeback, and it’s coming back strong.

In the early 00’s the band Blink-182 started to join other pop sensations on the charts with a style known as pop-punk. Other bands such as Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco soon followed them and drew many people into the other genres and bands that are part of the underground alternative music scene.

Four Australian boys in particular loved the pop-punk genre. Loved it enough, in fact, to start posting cover videos on YouTube from bands such as A Day To Remember, All Time Low, and Blink-182 under the name of 5 Seconds of Summer. The videos soon got noticed by major record labels and producers. This caused the boys to move from Sydney to London where they got some serious attention from another popular group based there… One Direction.  

They've been touring alongside teen heartthrobs One Direction since February 2013, but as Alternative Press said, “The massive major-label infrastructure pushing this band is highlighting the fact that they’re pop-punk—not trying to change them into a boy band.” 

Could 5SOS’s fanbase look more into the genre’s origin with the progression to We Are The In Crowd to Escape The Fate and possibly all the way back to The Misfits or Blink-182? There’s a very good chance, and it’s likely we’ll see more of this style trickle on to the mainstream radio.

How I Met Your Vampire

by Matt Schaefer

The story of Dracula is certainly not a new one, and since Bram Stoker penned his original novel, it has been the subject of countless adaptations. On October 10th, the latest adaptation Dracula: Untold was released to movie theaters, doing fairly well at the box office but failing to leave fang-like impressions on the critics.

Released by Universal Pictures, who intended it to be a reboot of their 30s and 40s monster franchises, Dracula: Untold spins an origin tale of the infamous vampire, attempting to couple the fictional Stoker tale with the real life inspiration Vlad the Impaler, though it shouldn’t be credited with being historically accurate. When Vlad’s kingdom is being attacked by an army of Turkish soldiers, he seeks the assistance of a cave dwelling vampire for the strength to vanquish his enemies, but needs to decide whether or not he wants to be a bloodsucker for eternity.

The story of the film is surprisingly solid and well thought out. Luke Evans does a great job as Vlad, being one of the only adaptations of Dracula to make the viewer sympathize with the internal struggle Dracula goes through. The action sequences are well paced and always entrancing, often accompanied with astounding visuals and larger than life set pieces. The gothic castles and spooky woods put you in the mood for a good ol’ fashioned monster movie.

There are flaws, though. The action is intense but in a PG-13 sort of way. This leads to a lot of sloppy cuts and nauseating shaky cam to hide the bloody impalings. The first third of the film is painfully slow, being burdened with too much frontloaded exposition. Also, the dialogue is far too heavy. It’s all loaded with cliched philosophy, and it seems like every trivial conversation transforms into a battle of wits.

In the end, Dracula: Untold is pretty good but nothing spectacular. If you’re a gore hound looking for some brutal violence or if you’re looking for an intense horror movie, you’ve come to the wrong place. But, I can guarantee that Dracula: Untold is a fun little monster movie that can be enjoyed for what it is. Plus, it makes the vampire movie something worth going to see again. That’s right: no sparkling.

They've Got a HUNCH: PHS's New Extracurricular

by Adam Roberts

 

For some PHS students, being on a research team for NASA has come a lot sooner than they may have thought.

Just this year, Platteville High School has been added to the short list of schools participating in the HUNCH program. HUNCH (High schools Uniting with NASA to Create Hardware) is a program that was created in 2003 to give high school students real-world hands-on experience while developing cost-effective hardware for NASA. Students participating in the HUNCH program design and test hardware that will aid astronauts in zero gravity.  “Our primary goal is to make life better for astronauts,” says Mr. Matt Heer, advisor for the HUNCH team.  

Platteville High School’s HUNCH team is comprised of 15 students hard at work to create hardware for the program.  The team began tackling their herculean task earlier this year by creating a proposal, which involves creating a device that will stabilize a GoPro camera in zero gravity.  With the proposal being submitted and approved, Dean Loeffelholz (‘15), Mike Donovan (‘15), Max Frommelt (‘15) and Katelynn Quario (‘15) will have the opportunity to test the prototype this April in Houston, Texas.

After testing in April, a symposium will be held with astronauts and engineers to review the top 8 schools’ experiments.  A maximum of three schools will be selected to test their prototypes at the International Space Station.  

While the HUNCH program is already in full swing, the team can still use support and encouragement as they continue to work on this project. Says Mr. Heer, “There are kids at Platteville working really hard to put something thing on the Space Station.”  So PHS, be aware of the efforts of the HUNCH team, and get involved!

You can follow Platteville’s HUNCH team on Twitter (@PvilleHUNCH) or on their website https://sites.google.com/site/pvillehunch2014/

Want to watch the full interview? Check it out here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDIsF58FeD8

Rachel Holder Held Up the House

by Max Frommelt

Through the WGLR radio station, PHS got to see one of the newest country artists on November 14th. Rachel Holder, along with her guitarist, paid a visit to the school, and  while she demoed some of her new songs, she explained the purpose of her tour. 

The twenty-two-year-old singer is running for Miss Tennessee, and her trip to Wisconsin was a perfect chance to promote the Don’t Text & Drive program, which she hopes will be a hit in Tennessee, too. 

Tiana Gile (‘16) says of Holder’s performance and message to aspiring artists, “She was inspiring!” It takes a positive outlook on life in order to succeed in the music business. Even someone like the Chattanooga native  struggles with internal confidence. “I’m trying to find myself everyday of my life,” Holder admits. One of the best things that you can do is “have a great support system” as you go through life. 

Holder even shares about her younger years, “I got picked on a lot.” But, she maintains that this his should not deter you from making decisions. “If you feel like you're at a crossroads, make a decision and go with your gut.” While life is not always simple and kind, Holder says it’s imperative not to let things get to you.  Because, when it comes down to it, “Success is the best revenge.”

While the past two presenters, Holder and the up-and-coming Nashville sensation Tyler Barham, have been country artists, our future guests could bring anything. Mr. Engh explains,“The radio station is a reason for the musicians.” 

These presentations are not for the purpose of skipping class, according to PHS’s administration. They allow students to see what they can do with their future as they plan for college or whatever comes beyond high school.“Life has a lot of possibilities, not just what you see here in Platteville.” 

While some of the student body may not be interested in music, PHS will be having a special presenter come the week before winter break: Jerry DeClaire. While the name may not mean much now, wait ‘til you hear that he is a Marvel comic writer. He has written hundreds of comics for Marvel, including all of the X-Men series, Hawkeye, Ironman, Silver Surfer and Thor. He will be showing us the art of drawing comics and just how much science is involved. So, music is not the only tune that will be hitting our High School!

Ideas for Favorite Treats With a Fall Twist

by Allie Serres

As seasons change, so do our taste buds. Well, not really, but we start to crave those tasty fall foods like pumpkin pie and apple crisp, and although those are most people’s fall food favorites, there are so many more yummy things that you can indulge in.

    Everyone loves desserts, and chocolate chip cookies are delicious and quick to make. But, why not spice things up a bit and add a fall twist? Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are fast and fun while they add a little bit of autumn to your snack time.

    Something yummy that is a less common food is pumpkin pancakes. With pumpkin pancakes, there are so many different ways to branch off. For starters, you could just eat them plain and pile on the syrup, but you could also add chocolate chips and turn them into pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes. However, that’s not all you can do with pumpkin pancakes. Try making some really thin pumpkin pancakes, coating the tops with cream cheese frosting, and then rolling them up. Now, you no longer have pumpkin pancakes; they’re pumpkin rolls. If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can add chocolate chips to your pumpkin rolls, as well.

    Alright, enough about pumpkin. Another fall favorite is apples. There is apple pie, apple bread, caramel apples, and so much more. But, nothing beats biting into a nice, crisp apple that is fresh from the tree. And, of course, if you aren't into just plain apples, there is the absolutely delicious and nutritious spiced apple sauce.

    With every season, there are new opportunities to try new foods, and every culture is different and has different seasonal recipes of its on. Branch out, try something new, and at the very least, make one of these fabulous fall foods for a friend.

PHS English Department Offers New Elective: Media Literacy

by Melanie Schaefer

    Along with a new school year comes new teachers, new students, and even a few new classes. If you’re interested in writing, you might find yourself drawn to the electives that the English department has to offer. Creative Writing and Writing for Publication are offered as early as freshman year while Speech & Drama is open to juniors and seniors. But, what many students don’t know is that this year a new English elective was offered: Media Literacy, which is a one semester elective taught by Mrs. Kies. To teach this class she surrendered her Creative Writing class to Mr. Statz, leaving Mrs. Keleher to teach Tech English.

   Media Literacy was introduced to the course list because there isn’t another class like it at PHS. The curriculum focuses on interpreting the media and how it affects us psychologically, emotionally, and even physically. Media is a huge driving force in our daily lives, though sometimes we don’t even realize it. There’s a name brand for everything imaginable. Take your clothing for instance. I can bet that the brand you’re wearing has been on TV or in magazines a time or two. Your favorite song? You probably heard it on the radio. Media is anywhere and everywhere.

  So far this year, students started filming their own documentary film about life at Platteville High School. They have also just finished filming Public Service Announcements (PSA’s) for the Msg 2 Teens competition that Fox 47 is currently holding.

   If you think that watching and reviewing movies is interesting, or if you enjoy filming your own movies, Media Literacy should definitely be a consideration when you’re picking out classes for the next school year.

Ready or Not, Here It Comes! One Senior Takes on College Applications

by Beth Gardiner

    “What are your plans after high school?” Every high school student has heard this question countless times. When responding, some are able to give a confident answer because they are pretty sure where their journey will take them after graduation. Others have no clue what the future holds. Then, there are students in the middle that have a general idea of what their post-high school plans will include but aren’t sure how it will all unfold. Senior year is the time for students to start taking advantage of opportunities and making choices for life after PHS.

    One of the biggest lessons I have learned in high school is that it is just fine to not have your whole life planned out. I have found freedom in this and instead, have learned that life is just about taking steps that grow and stretch me. Just like many other students, I have begun the process of applying for college.

    Leading up to senior year is a great time to stretch yourself and learn more about the things you enjoy doing. This is very helpful in deciding what your next step after graduation will be. If college is for you, junior year is the perfect time to start taking college visits and getting an idea of where you would like to go after high school. ACT testing becomes a part of junior year in preparing for applying to colleges. It is fine to be working on these things at the beginning of senior year, too. Every senior has a conference with Mrs. Foote where he or she discusses how the school helps in applying for colleges. It is a great time to ask questions and to figure out how you are doing academically.

    So, where is the senior journey at for me? I just started my applications to two colleges! It is a little surreal. High school has flown by, and I can’t believe how real college is becoming. I took one college visit in the summer and am excited to tour one more in October. I’m enjoying every minute with my friends at school as I keep working on those long application processes.

Voyage to France: PHS Students' Journey Over the Pond

by Pauline Justal

     In the summer of 2014, an opportunity was offered to some students taking French at PHS, such as Matt Schaefer (‘15) who said about his experience, “It was awesome.” The trip to France was a chance for students to learn about French language, culture, and history up front and in person. In addition they got to see their friends from Spring. These students are from Lycée/High School Baudelaire  and came to visit Wisconsin in May. This time the French students hosted the PHS students during their French trip for six days to give everyone the full experience of living for a few days in a true French environment. Even if they did not all have the same experience since every family is different, they all enjoyed learning ways of life in France. They visited pleasant places such as the Monet garden, many churches and cathedrals, the beaches of D day and when they got to Paris they visited almost everything talked about in Mrs. Peters’s class.They climbed up the Eiffel Tower, had a boat ride on the Seine and did an awesome bike ride. They were lucky to have incredibly good weather in Paris compared to the weather Parisiens are used to. It allowed everyone to have a great trip.

Week of September 19 to September 26

1. "Sprint to the Finish"-- PHS Cross Country girls kick it into gear at their dual meet with River Valley
2.  "Wow, These Seats Are So Nice!"--The student body enjoys the newly renovated auditorium at their first function in the venue. 
3. "Cool Stuff"--Special guest country sensation Tyler Barham's merchandise is sold after his performance.
4. "Catching Some Rays and Shakespeare"--AP English students smile for the camera on their visit to see Much Ado About Nothing at the American Players Theater. 
5. "Hard At Work"--Fall Play cast rehearses away.
6. "Feel Your Lunch Yet?"-- Members of the Marines stop in during lunch sections to let students test their strength at the pull-up bar.