Winding down the school year
By Dorothy Rees
School is drawing to an end for Fairbanks High School and, for seniors, it marks the start of their lives as adults.
Many seniors have spent the beginning of the year filling out college applications. Around March, the scholarship applications come in droves and we seniors are stuck inside weighing the worth of a thousand-dollar scholarship to the effort of writing three paragraphs about ourselves. Those not attending school after graduation spend their time looking for jobs and training for the future.
The end of April is a rough time for all of us; impending exams, and choices in our lives are always present, all while waging a losing battle against our senioritis.
Senior year is the time where all of us look forward to graduation and, ultimately, the end of school, yet none of us are quite prepared to see what awaits us afterward.
While some of the most stressful times are during senior year, these are also some of the funnest times in high school.
One positive factor about being a senior is we finish school about a week and a half earlier than everyone else. There might even be a senior prank, but I wouldn’t know anything about that, especially if asked by a teacher!
At the end of the year, we will also have a picnic at school, and possibly even a water slide down the hill. Eventually, my class will sign the rock that sits next to the soccer field, where it will remain until next year, when it’ll be washed for the seniors of 2018.
And most importantly, on our last day of being a high school student, we will all be dressed in red and white and walk up to a stage where we will be handed a slip of paper that declares us a high school graduate. We will then all move the tassels on our hats from the right to the left and be announced as the graduating class of 2017.
Congratulations to my fellow seniors. Enjoy the last 20-something days of high school, and I will see you all on May 27th for graduation.
Senior of the Month
April’s senior of the month is Erin Yoder. Erin is the daughter of Alfred and Alma Yoder of Rosedale.
She is an active member of the Mock Trial team, Science Club, Drama Club, National Honor Society, FCCLA, and the Concert and Pep bands. She attends Shiloh Mennonite Church where she is involved in the youth group and worship team.
Next year, she will be attending Rosedale Bible College and then continuing her education at The Ohio State University. Erin will be pursuing a degree in pediatric nursing with a minor in Spanish.
As advice to underclassmen, she said it’s “good to care,” but to make sure not “stress too much.”
“That test you failed really won’t matter in a month or so!” she said.
Prom planning underway
By Shannon Conroy
This year, the Fairbanks junior class is planning an under-the-sea themed prom.
The dance will be held in the high school on April 29. The junior class officers are split into four groups to plan the decorations in the gym, hallway, and outside of the school, as well as planning the food being prepared for the dance.
They are planning an elegant evening by avoiding decorations that could resemble childish imagery.
Each section of the school will resemble a part of a beach or ocean scene. The outside will be a beach area, with the school resembling a deep ocean.
The tables and other decorations will be based on dark purples and blues. There will be beach and ocean-themed snacks.
Varsity softball spring break trip
By Erin Ward
On March 24, the Fairbanks varsity softball team played four games over the course of a four-day trip in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
They played against Hinsdale South from Illinois, Springfield Shawnee of Westerville North, and Tippecanoe from Ohio. Although they lost all four games, the players enjoyed the trip.
“My favorite part of the trip was probably getting to play different positions that Coach Sines needed me to play that I haven’t played before,” said sophomore Madi Montenaro.
Martha Kauffman, a junior, said her favorite part was the cabin because it had a movie theater and hot tubs. Other favorites included the Hatfield and McCoy show and the overall experience of spending time and bonding with teammates.
For the past couple of years, the softball team went to Myrtle Beach. However, switching locations this year did not bother the team, and they look forward to future trips.
Students begin AIR testing
By Lydia Carter
Recently, students at Fairbanks High School have been involved in state AIR testing.
From April 4 to 24, Fairbanks freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and a few seniors will be tested on their knowledge of several subject areas, including English 9 and 10, algebra 1, geometry, biology, United States history, and government.
Counselor Lisa Studenmund said she feels confident in the school’s testing abilities.
“We have had less computer issues and we are all more familiar with the online system this year, which has enabled testing to run more smoothly than last year,” she said.
One of the biggest changes in this year’s testing is freshmen are able to test using computers provided by the school as part of the 1-to-1 initiative. This change has enabled freshmen and sophomores to test simultaneously, meaning there are less testing days than there were last year.
Another change is students are being offered the opportunity to retake the tests in July in order to raise their scores. Review sessions will begin in July, with testing starting on July 17.
The AIR tests are important to students across Ohio because they offer a pathway to graduation. Students who score a combination of 18 points on the seven tests will complete one of the pathways to graduation.
There are several other pathways to graduation, including the ACT that was administered to juniors in March, and other options being considered by the state in order help students unable to complete the current pathways to graduation.
Only time will tell as the state considers the fate of high school students approaching graduation in the next few years.
FFA news
By Becca Scholl
In March, the Fairbanks FFA did a lot of planning for its banquet and the members were active in their CDE’s.
The banquet was held on April 8 and the petting zoo was held on April 13.
The 2017-2018 officers were announced, with Becca Scholl as president, Travis Dellinger as Vice President, Austin Becker as treasurer, Mason Montenaro as secretary, Trevin Rausch as advisor, Audrey Scheiderer as reporter, and Jordon Yates as sentinel.
Congratulations to all of the new officers!
Interact club movie night
By Kate White
On April 7, the Fairbanks Interact Club showed a movie in the middle school gym for the Fairbanks High School students.
After polling the students, it was decided the club would show Disney’s “Moana.” The entry price to the movie was a donation of three canned goods.
Concessions were sold and consisted of baked goods, drinks, and popcorn, and other donations were accepted.
There were about 30 people in attendance and all the proceeds were donated to the Hope Center in Marysville.
The club’s advisor, Mr. Jeff Powell, said he hopes movie nights will become a monthly activity in the near future.
NHS happenings
By Carlee Rowland
As the school year draws to a close, NHS held its first official meeting with all the newly inducted members.
With new members scrambling to fill their required three hours of community service before the school year is over, there are numerous NHS sponsored events taking place. The largest event is the blood drive on April 25.
“As a senior, it’s bitter-sweet as the end of the school year is fast approaching,” said President Katie Pastirzyk. “I’m sad to say goodbye to not only our school, but also this organization that has been such a large part in many of our high school careers. I’m excited to see where next year’s officers take our organization and continue to make our school proud.”