St. Patrick's Day Edition
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GEHS St. Patrick’s Day Edition March 2015 Volume XIV, Issue VIII cloudier. If the goal of PARCC dent, Dr. Keith Kline, has publicly Testing Overload tests are to, “measure whether expressed his disdain for super- students are on track to be suc- fluous testing) and students cer- Inside this issue: No doubt everyone has been cessful in college and their ca- tainly do not like all the tests, thrown for a loop by the odd reers,” (as stated on their web- why are we taking them? scheduling of the past few Traditions 3 site) then do third graders really weeks, however, not everyone need to be taking them? A lot In 2002 Congress passed some- understands why the block can change in the years between thing called the “No Child Left Fun Facts 4 schedule was put in place. Yes, third grade and high school grad- Behind Act,” this act did many the changes were made to ac- uation, and odds are a test taken things to affect education in commodate time for the new in third grade will be a poor America, and one of those things Famous People 7 PARCC tests but why exactly are judge of how a child’s teenage was to require that schools test we even taking these tests? Are students annually to monitor and adult years will go. Awesome Redheads? 8 they really necessary? their progress. That explains the Even for high school students, reason for some of the tests, but High school has always taking the PARCC assessment not all. The reason we students seemed to consist of one stand- Spring is in the Air 9 seems like overkill. Between the have to take so many tests even- ardized test after another, and ACT, PSAT, SAT, OGT, AP Exams, tually comes down to local gov- the PARCC test is just the latest pop quizzes, regular tests, and ernment decisions, decisions Sports 10 in a long line of assessments. The semester exams, high school is made at a state and district level. purpose of these tests is pretty turning into one massive test obvious once one knows what taking spree. Adding another Whatever the reasoning Spring Fashion 14 PARCC stands for: Partnership for standardized test to the midst behind the excessive testing, it’s Assessment of Readiness for Col- seems to be borderline insane, time that elected officials finally lege and Careers. The tests are even if the intentions are good. remember what school used to designed to gage a student’s be about. It’s time we return to readiness for their future educa- The PARCC tests have barely the days when school wasn’t tion and careers. They are sup- just finished and already some about taking tests, and instead St. Patty’s Day posed to help teachers and students are forced to turn their start using school for what it was Parade route— schools see the areas where their attention to the next big round of created for: actually learn- students are struggling in order page 4 testing: the OGT. The OGT tests ing. -Danielle Watkins to better help them. At first this year are the week of March glance this seems like a good 16th-20th, and actually deter- idea but it doesn’t take much mines if a student can graduate SPRING BREAK Happy thought to bring up the question: high school. In the end, it seems Isn’t this a bit extreme? Should that the value of your entire high St. Patrick’s Day REMINDER students really have to take this school career can be determined many tests? by your scores on a series of West Clermont’s official Spring tests. At the surface the PARCC tests Break is: seem relatively innocent, it is Now, it’s also obvious that important that high school stu- teachers don’t like testing any April 6th—April 10th dents understand how prepared more than the rest of us. Too they are for college and know Luck of the Irish much testing takes away from School opens again on April what they need to work on in valuable class time for teaching. 13th. order to get on track for a suc- Kiss the So if teachers do not like the cessful career. Beneath the sur- tests, administrators do not like The Easter Bunny comes on April Blarneystone face, however, things are much the tests (our own Superinten- 5th. 4 Leaf Clover Page 2 The Luck of the Irish The Torch Why Green? In a Pinch There are two types of people in the world; Have you ever wondered why we pinch those who do not wear green on St. the ones who are Irish and others who wish they Patrick’s Day? Well, St. Patrick’s Day fanatics believed that leprechauns were were. magical fairy creatures who would pinch anyone they could see. The revelers St. Patrick’s Day has been celebrated in Ire- thought if you wore green, you would become invisible to the leprechauns! If you land since before the 1600’s as a Roman Catho- did not wear green, people would pinch you themselves as a warning. This has lic holiday. However the holiday soon came to become an American tradition that we all enjoy (or dislike, if you do not own any- America in the 1700’s when Irish Immigrants be- gan to celebrate in the streets. Before the thing green to wear). So, watch out for those leprechauns this year and make sure 1700’s the original color of the holiday was blue you wear your green! -Savannah Shepard but was soon changed to green. Green was found to be a more appropriate color because of Irelands tri-colored flag, lush green landscape Why Are Leprechauns Lucky? (“Emerald isle” is the country's nickname), the color of spring, and of course, the shamrock. Leprechauns are small little men that are about 2 feet tall and are lucky be- cause they guard their treasures, like gold, and protect it then. Because they St. Patrick’s Day is now celebrated by all protect their gold the gold keeps them lucky because they have it with them. Americans worldwide. Adults can be seen at celebrations wearing crazy green hats, green Leprechauns do not like it when people touch their gold, they will do anything to feather scarves and four-leaf clover glasses. The protect it. The Leprechauns are also lucky because they also make rainbows and celebrations are so crazy and fun; it truly makes they keep their gold at the end of rainbow -Cheyenne Irwin all of us wish we were Irish! -Kayla Overbee Traditions on Saint Patrick’s Day Chicago - Sometime in the 19th century, as St. Patrick's Day parades were flourishing, wearing the color green became a show of commitment to Ireland. According to greenchciagoriver.com, in 1962 the show of solidarity took a spectacular turn in Chicago when the city decided to dye a portion of the Chicago River green. The tradition started when parade organizer, Steve Bailey, noticed how a dye used to trace possible sources of river pollution had stained a colleague's overalls a brilliant green. Bailey thought, why not use the dye to turn the whole river green on St. Patrick's Day? So began the tradition. Boston - St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Boston bring over 600,000 visitors to the city, which has a large Irish-American community. The city has one of the largest parades, and events are held in the large number of Irish pubs in the city. The Irish Cultural Centre holds a celebration, and many events feature Irish food, such as corned beef. New York - New York City is the location of the oldest civilian parade, which boasts over 150,000 participants. This includes veterans along with firefighters, policemen, and cultural clubs. It is led by New York's 69th infantry regiment. Another city in New York state, Pearl River, has the second largest parade in the state with crowds of over 100,000. In Buffalo, there are two St. Patrick's Day pa- rades. Scranton - This Pennsylvania city's parade is one of the oldest and largest. Since 1862, this parade has been one of the most popular, with current celebrations attracting around 150,000 people/tourists. New Orleans - This coastal city was the largest point of immigration for the Irish. St. Patrick's Day celebrations are typically held at the community or neighborhood level. Ireland - This celebration is more religious in nature, as it is considered a religious feast day. While it was made an official holiday in 1903, the first Saint Patrick's Festival was held in 1996. Auckland - Auckland, New Zealand is the first to host the St. Patrick’s Day parties each year. The celebrations throughout the city in- clude a parade, a fleadh (which is dancing and music fests), and the lighting of the tallest building in the city Sky Tower, a kelly green. This is the location of a St. Patrick’s Cathedral -Thu A. Nguyen and Shawnee Kuper Volume XIV, Issue VIII The Luck of the Irish Page 3 Good Luck Charms According to the classic Noah Webster's dictionary, luck can good luck to their finders, especially if found accidentally. In ad- be defined as "a purposeless, unpredictable, and uncontrollable dition, each leaf is believed to represent something: the first is for force that shapes events favorably or unfavorably for an individ- faith, the second is for hope, the third is for love, and the fourth is ual, group or cause.” People say that certain items are lucky such for luck.