September 2012 15 Tips for Freshman Success by Sadhana Pittala More Friends! 6
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Issue 1- September 2012 15 Tips for Freshman Success By Sadhana Pittala more friends! 6. Quick tip for getting to class on time...walk on the Dear Freshmen, right side of the hallway. Always walk on the right Passing the Baton... page 2 Welcome to the start of some of the best side, and DO NOT stop in the middle to talk to your The News You missed?... page 3 (and worst) moments of your life. At this point, you friends. Never stop in the middle of the hallway or on have tumbled down the social hierarchy and have the stairs to chat. That is just plain annoying. Sports... page 4 once again become fresh meat. Of course this drastic 7. Don't procrastinate! Instagram... page 5 change is not easy, so in order to help you with your 8. Push yourself! Don't be afraid to be an overachiever Entertainment... page 6 transition, here are 15 tips on how to get through high (to a point)! Froyo...page 7 school, introducing....the freshman-15. 9.Don’t skip class. Everything from now on leads to Horoscopes... page 8 1. High school is the time to explore your interests your graduation; not going to class is a big mistake. and find out what you are truly passionate about. 10. Use your planner! That small book is a life saver! Memorial makes this especially easy with all the clubs 11. Color-code your notebooks and binders/folders! It and sports that are offered. Joining clubs and extracur- helps keep things organized. riculars is also a way to make new friends with the 12. Re-organize your school stuff regularly! same interests as you! Consider stepping out of your 13. Think before posting things on Facebook or any comfort zone and exploring new things, activities, and site where lots of people can see what you post. Many groups. Who knows? You just might end up liking people have lost important things, from college admis- them! sions to dream jobs, all because of what they put up 2. Freshman year is a breeze; the key to getting good on the Internet. grades is simple. Just turn in your homework on time. 14. Memorial can be a confusing building, but just It honestly doesn't get easier than that! remember that any room number ending with a num- 3. The key to doing your homework on time is manag- ber 50 or above is upstairs. Anything ending with a ing a busy schedule. The faster you get things done, number lower than 50 is downstairs. the more free time you have afterwards. Study now, 15. Last but not least, have fun! High school is by far play later! That way you won't have to constantly some of the best four years of your life. Enjoy every worry about having time to finish your work. moment! 4. Ask for help! Teachers, counselors, and tutors are There you have it! The freshman 15: your basic ways more than willing to listen to what you have to say to get through high school in one piece. Have a great and answer any questions! year! 5. Volunteer! It’s actually proven that volunteering Sincerely, can improve your health greatly, and volunteering can Your Upperclassmen help you get involved, meet new people and make Link Crew Welcoming the Frosh! BUY A T-SHIRT NOW! Carlos Hernandez and friends man the high five welcome line, Ms. Voss gets Sword & Shield T-shirts are on sale-- only $10. the crowd pumped, (below)Mr. Fron- tier and Mr. Herman make sure the This year’s design was designed by Mr. Newland day is documented. this year for the Sword & Shield. See any editor or Mrs. Ford if you are interested in supporting the school paper. only $10.00 & you could sport this stylish T Sword & Shield Staff Editors-in-chief Jessi Ford & Will Xiang Arts & Entertainment Editor Besma Aly Copy Editor success of our Boys Christina Ma Mr. Schlitz Takes Swimming program. Health Editor This is no surprise, Hannah Anderson since he swam for News Editor Over as Athletic Memorial, then Jane Zang returned to coach Opinions Editor Director as Mr. the Boys here for 25 Monika Ford years. His sons, Pat Photography Editor Ritchie Becomes and Danny, didn’t Arcadia Katzenberger share the same zeal Sports Editor for swimming. They Thejas Wesley Dean of Students Student Life Editor By Thejas Wesley played football, hockey, and baseball Sadhana Pittala Student Contributors I remember entering Memorial as a new stu- at Memorial. Hannah Anderson dent two years ago, unsure of just about everything, But there are, Dakota Borenstein unsure of what to expect from a new school. But most of course, difficul- Jack Feria of all, I was unsure of how to get to the Boys Cross ties that have come Jessi Ford Country locker room, which is conveniently hidden in with the job over the Monika Ford the basement of our school. I remember, though, how years. Mr. Ritchie Jeremy Gartland Mr. Ritchie, Memorial’s longtime Athletic Director, says his came with Jeremy Gottlieb personally walked me to practice my first day so that I the tough decisions Sylvan Gu he has made and the Jackie Jensen would remember how to get there. Lauren D Mazur Mr. Ritchie has accepted a new appointment as tougher reactions they have stirred. Budget allocation, discipline, and demanding parents place a big burden Owen Monsma Dean of Students, where he hopes to offer to Memori- Sadhana Pittala al’s entire student body that same individual care and on his shoulders. And because Memorial often stands Libby Scholz attention that I – as well as countless others – have in the limelight, bad situations become worse. But he Ryan Wall experienced. The position is new, and will gain defini- says, “You can’t make it personal.” Thejas Wesley tion as the year progresses, but Mr. Ritchie envisions “You don’t hear from people who are happy Jane Zhang himself working with students to maintain academic with you, you hear from those who aren’t,” he ex- Layout & Editing Asst. and extracurricular achievement. He is especially ex- plained. And those vocal opponents can often become Monika Ford cited for his new job because he can regularly interact unnecessarily mean, as he found out last year as other Nathan Wang with students outside of sports, in addition to those programs questioned Memorial Athletics and its disci- with whom he has been working for years. In fact, plinary measures for some athletes. Advisor some of his favorite students aren’t athletes, and his Through it all, though, Mr. Ritchie is proud Teri Parris Ford new job will open doors for him to meet many new to say he is happy with the decisions he has made faces. as Athletic Director. He had set out to maintain Mr. But while Mr. Ritchie looks forward to these Kolpin’s athletic program as the “Cadillac of High A Note From the Editor changes, there is no doubt that sports have defined his School Athletics” in Wisconsin, and is pleased with By Jessie Ford life for decades. His passion for sports began while his results. Welcome, freshmen and return- he walked these halls as a Spartan himself. He took Mr. Ritchie has also developed our inclusion of in- ing students! For some of us, a class called Advanced Physical Education, learning ternational students into sports. He has helped these school starting is a rude awaken- the science and methods behind the basketball, vol- students to work around hurdles – such as work or ing from the lazy summer stupor leyball, and ping-pong we play in gym. Mr. Spencer familial obligations – preventing their participation of staying up late and sleeping actually took the same class, too. Mr. Gary Kolpin, the in Spartan athletics. He hopes this push for increased in, and practically driving all of former Memorial Athletic Director and Boys Swim- participation will characterize the future of Memo- our parents insane with our spon- ming coach, taught the class. While talking about Mr. rial Athletics. Mr. Ritchie would love to see more taneity and lack of consequence. Kolpin, Mr. Ritchie added, “He’s the reason I do what athletes, more multi-sport athletes, and most of all, a Unfortunately, soon summer will I do.” tightly knit support system between students, where be a distant dream squandered by Once Mr. Ritchie became a PE teacher, he we celebrate gymnastics or track and field like we do homework assignments and final loved that the students had a good time when they football or basketball. exams, but for now, those sum- were in his class. And as a PE teacher, he was lucky Mr. Ritchie hands the Athletic department over mer memories keep most of us enough to have been able to teach and have fun with to Mr. Schlitz: a Math teacher, a head Boys Tennis sane in our first week. However, every student in school (Jefferson at the time), some- coach, and an assistant coach for Boys Basketball. Mr. not everyone was able to soak up thing not many teachers experience. But now as Dean Schlitz started his new position after returning from their last moments of summer, as of Students, Mr. Ritchie hopes to experience it again. his honeymoon in late August. But as Athletic Direc- many students had to give up their When I asked him to share moments—the tor, he cannot teach nor coach, and the district is now last month to participate in a fall best, the worst, and the most difficult—from his searching to fill those vacancies.