The Blog.

Keeping the Status quo – The Minute (Feb. 24)

Logan — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:34:04 +0000

In today’s technological world, instant gratification has become a way of life. This is best demonstrated in the public need for immediate and constant communication. A regular flow of contact with each other has become nothing less than a public necessity and, as a result, a multitude of devices and tools have arisen. The frontrunners in this pack of communication developments include the popular web sites Twitter, Plurk, and ever-popular Facebook.

Facebook, often seen as the internet’s largest communications network, boasts of over 90 million users worldwide and offers what was once a unique feature: the ability for a user to post small blurbs about life, referred to as “statuses,” on his or her profile page. Hayley Bowman (12) finds this feature extremely important, noting that it was this trait which convinced her to change from the previously popular MySpace to the more contemporary Facebook.

“When I first saw the status [feature] on Facebook, I wasn’t quite sure if I liked it. But after thinking about it, I decided that having a place to put down quick thoughts and feelings was a really good way of helping me stay connected with my friends, and vice-versa,” Bowman said. “Ultimately, it’s because of the status options that I switched from MySpace to Facebook.”

The popularity of status messages has grown so extreme that entire web sites have begun to spring up, many based solely around the concept of the status. Of these sites, the most popular is Twitter, a web site which enables a user to post small blurbs online, which are seen only by people on the user’s list. The only requirement for these posts, referred to as “tweets” by Twitter users, is that they must be under 140 characters, to keep in order with the status theme of the site. This is very similar to the method of posting employed by Plurk, which requires users to choose a verb and then format their posts in the third-person tense. This type of site, given entirely to the concept of the status, is actually preferred by many over the wildly popular Facebook.

“Twitter is cleaner, simpler, and easier to use,” Jimmy Bennett (10) said. “I don’t have to deal with the hassle of applications, instant messaging or the rest of the Facebook clutter. If I want to say something about what’s going on in my life, I can. That’s what I use it for, so there’s no point in having any of the extra stuff.”

Not all feel as if splashing one’s innermost thoughts across the internet is a good idea, however. To many, the threat of internet predators far exceeds the need to express oneself in a quick online blurb about life. Alyssa Mathieu (12) has managed to find a happy medium between the two extremes.

“Sometimes I’ll put actual information about my life in a status, but the majority of the time I just use song lyrics or a quote to let people know what type of mood I’m in,” Mathieu said. “I try not to use personal feelings in my statuses, only because I know that there are a lot of people who will be seeing whatever I say, and I don’t think everyone on Facebook has a right to know what’s going on in my life at the moment.”

While many agree with Mathieu, a vast majority of Americans are growing more and more addicted to the status phenomenon. With the introduction of mobile updating — the ability to post status updates from a cell phone via text message — it is simpler than ever to keep up-to-date on these sites. This allows people to relieve stress by pouring out quick, heartfelt sentiments while on the go, but also removes any chance for thought before one posts a semi-permanent status online. It is as Mathieu put it:

“You have to treat [status updates] like a volatile friend. They are fun, exciting, and they help relieve stress, but you have to manage them carefully. If you misuse them, they can hurt, and no amount of damage control can fix what some poorly chosen words can do.”

What’s the Scoop? – Hi Times (Feb. 6)

Logan — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:51:09 +0000

Bring in old cameras, cell phones and mp3 players for the recycling drive.

Scholastic winners: Be at the Century Center in South Bend by 1:30 PM this Sunday.

Come see “Cinderella Revised” this Wednesday during resource in the CLR, put on by the 3rd-year ASL class. Pick up a pass in room 112.

Get a pass from Student Services for the DFS meeting in the CLR on Feb. 18.

Submit your work during the month of February to Ms. Livrone (room 105) for Visions in Ink. Writing and visual art are accepted.

The story of an artist – The Minute (Jan. 23)

Logan — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:28:56 +0000

While many high-schoolers find themselves drinking, partying, or breaking curfew on Friday and Saturday nights, senior Linsey Dumm chooses to spend her weekend evenings in a slightly less destructive way. As a self-described “art-addict,” she replaces the drug and alcohol addictions of the stereotypical American teenager with a healthier, more beneficial addiction—an addiction to visual art.

Though her contemporary work gives no hint to this, Linsey admits that her early years dabbling in art were nothing she is proud of. Embarrassed, she admits that when she first began to show an acute interest in art, and drawing, in particular, she “was nothing to be proud of, and most of [her] pieces looked more like amoebas than the people they were meant to portray.” This should not be surprising, of course, from a three-year-old.

Even though she continued to work throughout her early life, Linsey believes that what truly helped spur her artistic talent was her entrance into high school. Though a self-proclaimed “rebel” who is less than fond of “textbook art”—art which follows solid textbook rules, often found in beginning art classes—Linsey was able to establish a strong base for her work in high school, and used it to gain a foothold, with which she climbed to metaphorically higher elevations of artistic prowess.

This “textbook art,” however helpful to beginners, is to blame for a severe loss of creativity in art. In most beginning-level high school art classes, students are taught to follow basic rules and match criteria in their work. This, while much simpler for both students and teachers, quashes the creativity and free expression that art is meant to embody.

“I don’t dislike beginning art classes in particular,” Linsey said, “but they just don’t allow for much inspiration or imagination.”

Linsey finds her inspiration in both natural and man-made wonders, but notes that her best work comes not during moments of meditation or deep contemplation, but rather, insomnia.

“Some nights I can’t fall asleep, so I’ll lie awake in bed, then force myself to get up and paint. I end up with really bizarre, weird stuff, but it’s good,” Linsey said. “That’s how I got my idea for my Joker piece, which is probably the best work I’ve ever done.” The Joker piece she refers to is truly stunning, and features a strikingly lifelike portrayal of the Joker from the well-known Batman series.

Linsey once entertained ideas about going into animation, but has since changed her mind, and is now looking into the field of biologic science. She will certainly continue to work with art in her spare time, though her career itself will not be geared toward such endeavors.

“I’d just like to have money to buy food,” she says in reference to her career choice. “I mean, lots of artists don’t sell well until after they’re dead, and by then it’s a little too late.”

A masterpiece in words – The Minute (Jan. 23)

Logan — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:22:33 +0000

The hard work and energy poured into each copy of The Minute is inconceivable. The members on the yearbook staff, too, are known for the care and precision they use when piecing together the yearly issue. Though these two results of all the aforementioned hard work and worry are by far the most widely-known of student publications, there is another piece of work produced once a year, each May. Concord’s Visions in Ink is a single-volume compilation of anywhere from twenty to fifty student-submitted pieces of writing and art, all which are printed in a neatly-bound book, then submitted to students willing to pay for it and those students who submitted pieces.

Madeline Valle (12) is no stranger to Visions in Ink. Her work has been featured in nearly every issue of the artistic magazine, beginning her sophomore year and continuing through her entire high school career. Though Valle has had both her artwork and her writing chosen by the staff in charge of assembling Visions in Ink, she maintains that writing is what she believes to be her greatest strength.

“I enjoy volunteering to work on Visions in Ink because I think that seeing a person’s work gives you, in a way, a glimpse into their soul,” Valle said, commenting on the publication’s unique array of submissions and artists. “Artwork and writing aren’t bound by social circles or cliques, and they are methods both of beauty and free expression.”

Laura Livrone, the school’s creative writing and English teacher, heads the Visions in Ink committee. Though she sponsors and supervises the production of the issue, Livrone usually sees herself as simply a background figure, noting that the organization and structure of the writing magazine is left entirely to the student staff.

This staff, comprised mainly of volunteers, is headed by the three students currently in the creative writing II class, Braxton Troyer (11), Anastasia Pesosky (12) and Sarah Hamel (12). In the early stages of production, these students will dedicate one day each week to the art magazine. Nearing the final weeks, however, they will begin to dedicate more time to the magazine, depending on both the number of submissions and the number of volunteers willing to help.

Though the three students have not yet begun the grueling process of recruiting volunteer workers, sorting through piece after piece, and designing the layout for 2009’s Visions in Ink, Pesosky is optimistic about what lies ahead.

“It’s going to be a long run, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it in the end. Last year’s staff was really dedicated,” she says, referring to the 2008 student staff of Visions in Ink, led by now-seniors Chase Troxell and Caytee Clark. “I’m hoping to be able to build on some of their ideas, as well as mix in a lot of our own personal taste and flair. There are a lot of great writers and artists out there, so I’m excited to start looking through the submissions.”

A major concern of the staff is just how many pieces they will be reviewing over the three-month span of production. In years past, the staff has received as many as fifty pieces for review, all of which must be carefully considered in their own right. More often, however, the staff finds itself struggling to find enough pieces to fill the pages of the artistic magazine. If last year is any indication, however, this year’s staff will not find themselves faced with this dilemma.

“Last year, we wanted to take [Visions in Ink] up a notch, so we chose to advertise very early and get lots of publicity,” Troxell said. “Unfortunately, the increase in pieces was very minimal.”

Despite these sentiments, last year’s Visions in Ink brought in a record number of submissions, ending with a final count of 54 pieces, artwork and writing combined. The staff of 2009 hopes to match this total, and as of this moment, such a goal seems quite feasible. Only time will tell, however, if the 2009 student body is as artistically inclined as in years past.

NHS takes responsibility – Hi Times (Jan. 20)

Logan — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:21:28 +0000

On average, a regular high school student spends at the very least 1260 hours in class every year. Unfortunately for some students, the seven-hour school day is not enough. These students require extra time spent studying and learning in order to keep up with the rest of their classmates.

Susan Utley (FACS dept.), the sponsor for the CHS chapter of the National Honor Society, hopes to start a peer tutoring program with the help of Andrea Bustamante (ESL teacher) to benefit the students in need of extra help. The group, when assembled, will meet every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:20 A.M. to 7:45 A.M. in the school library with the intent of teaching any student who comes for help.

“The group is for helping everyone feel like they’re a part of something bigger,” Utley said.

The peer tutoring group is open to anyone who needs help and extends an invitation to any potential volunteers with good grades and a strong sense of responsibility.

What’s the Scoop? – Hi Times (Jan. 20)

Logan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:16:18 +0000

Remember to bring in your old cell phones, cameras and mp3 players for recycling.

Don’t forget to bring unexpired canned goods to the Central game at Northridge tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Voting for this year’s basketball Homecoming court will be during resource on Wednesday, Jan. 21.

Sophomores: Don’t forget your scheduling meeting this Wednesday during Resource.

What’s the Scoop? – Hi Times (Jan. 9)

Logan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:08:32 +0000

Juniors: be sure to sign up for your senior scheduling meeting with your counselor ASAP!

Remember to bring in your old or used cell phones for recycling to help student council.

Nominate the Homecoming court on January 15 at the main entrance from 7:20 A.M. to 7:50 A.M..

Don’t forget the Student Council Homecoming meeting on January 16 at 7:30 A.M..

CHS to offer new courses next year – Hi Times (Dec. 5)

Logan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:05:14 +0000

Six more courses to be offered at Concord were approved on Dec. 1 at one of the monthly school board meetings. Courses include an honors version of computer applications, which offers additional preparation for students preparing for college and computer-related positions in business, and specializes in the Microsoft Office program; an advanced honors version of Nutrition and Foods I and II, both of which will offer more in-depth information on food cooking, cleaning and preparation; honors housing and interior design foundations, which will require four projects in addition to the regular coursework; honors earth/space science, which is geared toward students planning to continue their scientific careers past secondary education; and geography and history of the world, which explores the use of geographical skills, historical concepts and the origin and spread of religion.

These classes will be available at the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year and students can sign up for them in Student Services.

Key Club gives aid – Hi Times (Nov. 21)

Logan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:06:28 +0000

The 24^th of this month, the Concord Key Club will be doing their part to better the Michiana community by ringing bells for the Salvation Army. This is an annual volunteer project, but this year the bell-ringing means more than ever. The year of 2008 has been a difficult one, and in the face of the foundering economy, more and more families are turning to charities and church organizations for help.

The Salvation Army is one such organization. By ringing bells, the members of Key Club will be raising money to help families and individuals in need. Kim Chris, the Faculty Advisor to the Concord Key Club, was sure to note that anyone who wants to ring bells is welcome, and that it is recommended to “sign up with two or more people,” as ringing bells alone will not be much fun.

Chris, the Support Services teacher, shares the position of Faculty Advisor with Carolyn Schaffer, the school’s career information specialist. The two organize Key Club events, and work alongside the club’s president, vice-president, and treasurer, seniors Kaitlyn Horner, Kim Swain, and Taylor Beck.

“Key Club is a great organization, and we really try to get into the community and help out where we are needed,” said Beck. “I feel like we are making a difference in our community, and that’s what really counts.”

The Concord Key Club requires its members to participate in two volunteer projects per trimester, and members are required to pay a one-time fee of $13 to gain entry. The club often donates its services to charities such as the Faith Mission, the Battered Women’s Shelter, and Toys for Tots.

Hear them ring – The Minute (Dec. 12)

Logan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:00:37 +0000

As the newest list of charities pours in, seniors Kaitlyn Horner, Kim Swain and Taylor Beck get together for a quick discussion over which particular charities caught their interest, and which ones fell flat. Many privileged enough to make the “winners” list will soon receive phone calls informing them that this year, they will be the recipients of an extra flow of charity money, but most will be sent apologetic letters explaining that this year, there simply wasn’t enough funding to support them.

Such are the duties of the Concord Key Club’s president, Horner, its vice-president, Swain and its treasurer, Beck. In addition to breaking the unfortunate news to those charities that fall short of the cut, the girls all have to choose and coordinate each volunteer event, as well as organize and sign the Key Club members up for volunteer hours at as many events possible.

The club teacher sponsors, Kim Chris (support services teacher) and Carolyn Schaffer (career information services), play no small part in the success of the Concord Key Club. Schaffer, the school’s career information specialist, handles the day-to-day affairs of the club, which include keeping connections with the nationally recognized Key Club as well as the volunteer clubs from different high schools, most notably Jimtown and Elkhart Central. She and Chris provide advice and direction for the officers of the Key Club. They also form the major link between the Concord Key Club and its sponsor, the Elkhart Kiwanis group.

Kiwanis is an international volunteer organization whose efforts span worldwide, and involve more than 600,000 men, women and children from all over the globe. Kiwanis International is credited with being the sponsor of the National Key Club, and is responsible for the founding and early funding of the National Key Club. Its branches now sponsor area Key Clubs, and offer scholarships and extra incentive to those teenage members who are most voluntarily active in their communities and society. These scholarships are heavily pushed by Schaffer and are becoming “more and more important for college applications,” in light of the unstable economy. Based on volunteer work and community involvement, these scholarships are all too often overlooked by seniors in the rush to graduation, and the reservoir of money offered often goes untapped.

Unicef, Relay for Life and the Salvation Army are three charities which the Key Club staff often chooses to receive special funding and donations. No charity story is more unique, however, than that of the unnamed Concord families benefiting from the Key Club’s generosity and willingness to help. Caught in the economic crunch, these families have fallen on hard times and will find it especially hard to keep afloat during the holiday season. Their great need has made them ideal choices to benefit from the Key Club’s charity drives. These days, so filled with an emphasis on material goods and aesthetic pleasures rather than the true holiday goodwill which now seems to be so scarce, will only add further weight to the burdens these families continue to bear. The Concord Key Club, rather than choosing many of the more traditional charities, instead elected to donate aid to struggling families in the form of canned food and monetary aid, taken from the various fundraisers and charity events held throughout the year.

The holiday season, in general, offers more service opportunities to eager Key Club members. Horner listed a few of the volunteer opportunities this season, including the “annual Christmas party, food drives…and bell-ringing.” She was proud to note that the needy families were receiving a great part of the financial aid, though she was both unable and unwilling to divulge information on these families.

The holiday season is a difficult one for everyone, but as time winds down, more and more people begin to question the commercialized aspects of the holiday. The Key Club, both national and Concord, will attempt to crack this shallow, gaudy holiday shell and follow the advice of Swain and “bring back the real meaning of the holiday season, and remember that this season should be about giving back to the community, not taking from it even further.”