Ambassador Program Undergoes Changes Program Strengthens Application Process in Order to Seek out First-Rate Representatives
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The Stampede is now online. Visit us at centralstampede.com! central Volume 20STAMPEDE Issue 6 Portage Central High School Portage, Mich. April 25, 2014 Ambassador program undergoes changes Program strengthens application process in order to seek out first-rate representatives BY CAITLIN MATTHEWS [email protected] Staff Writer Transitioning from middle school to high school isn’t easy, which is why the Student Ambassador program was established two years ago. This program hopes to aid new freshmen to over- come common high school struggles and answer questions about upcoming activities, athletic events and academic issues. The program is at the end of its second year, and has undergone many changes since it was first created. This year, the application procedure for Student Ambassadors has changed to improve the selection process. To ensure that the new freshmen are being helped by our school’s best representatives, sophomore and junior applicants must now at- tend an interview with the Student Ambassador officers. Students must also write an essay, fill out an application and acquire two teacher recommendations. Student Ambassador Secretary Ian Epkey believes that adding the interview to the application process will be beneficial. “I think it’s a good thing because we can get a more in-depth analysis of how each person will do as an ambassador,” Epkey said. According to Epkey, the officers hope to find out more about their personality and their school reputation, as well as predict their connection with the upcoming freshmen. In order to improve the future Ambassador program, officers hope to meet with the upcoming freshmen before the end of the school year. This will try to improve connections with the new freshmen. The officers have set a goal this year to make sure all of the -am bassadors have better relationships with their freshmen as the year progresses. There are twenty-three returning ambassadors, including the five officers. Fifty-six sophomores and juniors applied to be a student ambas- sador, but not all of them will be accepted. Sophomore Danny Saba applied to be a student ambassador, MADISON JAQUA/STAMPEDE hoping to help the new freshmen through their first year of high school. He is eager to answer questions and lead them in the right direction. MAKING DECISIONS: Juniors Hunter Simino and Ian Epkey go over dozens of applications with Advisor Kent White before selecting next “Since the freshmen have this whole new experience of high year’s ambassadors. The Student Ambassador program is preparing to enter its third year next September. school, they need a little bit more of, I guess, guidance with all the activities going on and what we do there, and just things that people grams foward along with itself. part of next year’s program on April 15. Forty-four students made wouldn’t know if they didn’t go to this school,” Saba said. “We are working with our club leaders so our ambassadors are it out of the 56 that applied. When the program was first started The progam is looking beyond itself, seeking to improve school working with our freshmen and saying ‘you need to get involved,’” three years ago during the spring, there were only eight ambassa- involvement with the upcoming freshmen. The ambassadors are Advisor Kent White said. dors who were dedicated to helping new students transferring into trying to use the program as a pivot in order to launch other pro- The Student Ambassador officers announced who became a Portage Central during the school year. What’s Inside... page page Transformation of the page Mustang Relay for Life logo preview 7 9 Movies getting worse 1 1 2 news April 25, 2014 Students proceed without caution inBrief Prevalence of accidents heightens in school parking lot Half day scheduled to allow for BY RACHEL BATES teacher development [email protected] Focus Editor Next Friday, May 2, there will be a half day of Earlier this year, senior Melanie Ulsh was rear- school. Students will go to their 5th through 7th ended by another student exiting the school park- hours in the morning. Each class will have extra ing lot onto Centre Avenue; fortunately, her car time added on to it. The half day is intended to wasn’t seriously damaged. She agrees that stu- allow teachers professional development time in dents need to pay better attention when entering the afternoon. and exiting the parking lot. “Stay off your phones in the parking lot and watch where you’re going,” Ulsh said. “Students Changes affect final exam week, need to be more careful and pay attention to the pushing farther into summer road.” According to the Traffic Crash Reporting Sys- tem, the number of crashes in the Kalamazoo area Exams will start on Wednesday, June 4, and totaled at 7,547 in 2012. While not all of these run through Monday, June 9. Students will take crashes involve teens, new drivers make mistakes, two exams a day with their first exam starting at and these mistakes can be extremely hazardous to 7:45 a.m. and their second exam starting at 9:55 a.m. After completing both exams, students will themselves and other drivers. RACHEL BATES/STAMPEDE School resource officer Andrea Elhert said she be dismissed for the day at 11:55 a.m. On Mon- had to deal with multiple car accidents in the stu- day, June 9, students will take their seventh hour CARELESS DRIVING: These staged accidents show how car crashes can happen in the school dent parking lot this school year. exam from 7:45 to 9:45 and then be dismissed “This year we have had 23 private property ac- parking lot. after that. After the seventh hour exam, there will cidents,” Elhert said. “Pulling into parking spaces be makeup exams. and rear-ending other vehicles are a majority of Private property accidents don’t involve a and not the passengers in the car and turn off your the accidents accounted for.” written police report, but they do require drivers mobile devices,” LaRoy said. “Don’t drive until to communicate and exchange information. you’re mature enough to do that.” Students get recognition for With an accident on a public road, there is al- Junior Mackenzie Cannon has been involved hard work at award ceremony ways an at-fault driver, meaning at least one driv- in an accident in the student parking lot and has er involved will receive a traffic citation. witnessed a few there also. On Tuesday, underclassmen students will be Student drivers become easily distracted and “Accidents are frequent because teenagers recognized for academic and community achieve- may not be following driving laws, making them drive carelessly and quickly, so the whole parking ments. The underclassmen awards are on April more susceptible to be in a crash, according to El- lot filled with them makes accidents prevalent,” 29 in the auditorium. Freshmen awards are at hert. Cannon said. 8:45 a.m., sophomore awards at 9:45 a.m. and ju- Working at the Welcome Center, Adam LaRoy 22 of the 23 accidents that occurred in the stu- niors at 10:45 a.m. Students will be awarded on tries to help students when an accident happens dent parking lot this year involved student driv- academic achievement with the gold, silver and as best as he can. ers. bronze medals. Also, students with great aca- “First thing I do is send them to Officer Elhert If you’re in an accident in the student parking demic improvement will be recognized. Students and she makes a report,” LaRoy said. “They’re re- lot, the best thing to do is let the front office or Of- will also be awarded for community service with ported a couple times a month.” ficer Elhert know. They know the proper protocol, more than 50 hours, and anticipating IB diploma If asked, LaRoy also helps out by looking and will make sure information is exchanged and candidates will be acknowledged. through footage from the school cameras, to pin- a report is written if necessary. point accidents in the parking lot. “Remember, driving is a privilege not a right,” RACHEL BATES/STAMPEDE “Slow down, pay attention to other drivers LaRoy said. Not too late to sign up for upcoming Grad Bash End-of-year schedule changes due to snow days All seniors graduating this year are welcome to attend the 2014 Grad Bash: a fun and final Moorsbridge Elementary School will end their the high school students being required to come BY MADISON JAQUA party for the senior class. The location is a mys- [email protected] year on Friday, June 6 with a half day. to full days of school before taking those exams. tery and the cost is $75 to attend, which can be Moorsbridge and West Middle will have full Bielang however clarified this misconception. News Editor paid on the day or ahead of time. This overnight days on Friday and then another half day on “Think of it as inserting the make up days just event is only for seniors graduating this year. Af- For as long as junior Vance Siebers can re- Monday, June 9. These two schools are required prior to the exam days and then resuming the ter the graduation ceremony, students attending member, he’s never been in school for his birth- to have this schedule,” Bielang said. this final goodbye are to meet in the Commons. day, June 9. But after the amount of the snow days extra time be- Many students find the ex- From there they will be bussed to a secret location the district had this winter, this year might be the cause of an tra day on Monday excessive, where they will enjoy their graduation night in a exception.