The Excalibur Times

Volume 1, Issue 1 October 2011

Video Game Character Animates Stage Inside this issue: by Erin Dunbar Pulling a name from a Fireflight 2 hat is the unusual way to pick your band name but Christian rock group Hawk Comedian Tim 3 Nelson did just that. Hawk Nelson was originally the Hawkins character for lead singer 4 Jason Dunn’s video game. First time voters The band started off right out of high school in Ontario, Canada. The band College majors 5 members were all originally in different bands, but they came together to create Excalibur students 6 their own group. Their ca- make movie reers began with perform- Editors Erin Dunbar, Hawk Nelson’s Daniel Biro and April Madden ing at local gigs such as: School Safety 7 Battle of the Bands, youth and acquired somewhat. group functions and any 7songs. Some people are born natu- local place. They then went “You don’t have to nec- rally talented but you have to Hollywood, California, essarily limit yourself, Staff 8 all those people who are where they portrayed the there’s no limits to what talented but they have no band ‘The Who’ on the God can do,” Daniel Biro, Hawk Nelson’s bass player passion or desire and no show American Dreams. hard work ethics and they Hawk Nelson also ap- said. never go anywhere, “ Biro peared in the movie Yours, The group Hawk Nelson said. October 2, 2011 and was Mine, and Ours as the fun is made up of four artists: The Music with Mission party band. In 2003, Hawk sold out. Jason Dunn who does vo- tour was an incredible ex- Nelson signed with Tooth cals, Jonathon Steingard on perience of high energy and Nail records. They "I loved how everyone guitar, Daniel Biro on bass bands with a passion for went through whatever there was open to respond- and Justin Benner on Christ. The tour was chalk door God opened for them, ing to what God had to say drums. filled with remarkable never limiting the possibili- to them. The whole night groups such as: Hawk Nel- ties which became the pur- With five albums and was not about the bands, son, Fireflight, Hyland, Ki- nearly ten years of being a but it was about the kids in pose of Hawk Nelson. ros, Mikeschair, Samestate, group, Hawk Nelson is an third world countries and Their future plans are incredibly fun band to see and more. what we can do to help," more touring with groups with live. They have a pas- The tour was involved with such as: Mercy Me, Disciple, Anna Woods said. sion for God and songs to Compassion International, Family Force Five, Lacrae, show it. which is a unique opportu- Manafest, and the Revolve “Hard work, passion and nity to reach children in Tour. They also have a other countries. The tour Christmas EP coming out all those things they can fuel came to Madison at Bob on November 1st with what you want to do and talent can always be learned Jones High school on Page 2 The Excalibur Times

ScienceTeacher leaves lab and rocks the stage by April Madden A former high periences in their lives. “I think ‘What school science teacher, “We just draw I’ve Overcome’ is my now a famous lead from our lives, from current favorite. Yeah, singer, performed at things we have gone I think it’s a song that Bob Jones High School through, and what God means a lot to me and in Madison, AL, on that I feel like it’s a nd has helped us with, and October 2 for Music the things that we see really powerful song With A Mission Tour. our fans struggling and I’ve heard a lot From the band with, or our friends and from people talking Fireflight, lead singer family, just personal about how it meant a Dawn Michele, along experience,” Dawn lot to them and I think I can feel that when we with other band mem- says. play it so it makes it bers, Justin Cox lead Dawn’s current guitarist and vocal sup- meaningful” Dawn re- life verse is 2 Corin- plies. port, Glenn Drennen thians 1:3-4 which Singer Dawn Michele guitarist, Wendy Dren- “If only you from Fireflight talks about God com- non bassist, and new forting us in our trou- could see me yesterday, drummer Adam bles, and us using that who I used to be before McMillion performed comfort to comfort oth- the change, you’d see a songs such as For broken heart, you’d see “Now is the day for us ers. In an interview Those Who Wait, What Dawn shared what the battle scars, it’s to make a change and I’ve Overcome, and funny how words can’t to do something Fireflight’s message is Unbreakable. explain, how good it different and to to the world: believe and to step out feels to finally break Dawn taught a “Now is the day and just keep moving variety of high school the chains, I’m not forward, even when for us to make a change what I have done I’m sciences such as: envi- and to do something you don’t feel like ronmental, biology, and what I’ve overcome.” – you’re going different and to believe 9th grade science at Ta- What I’ve Overcome anywhere, keep and to step out and just vares High School in When Music moving forward. keep moving forward, Florida for a year and a even when you don’t With A Mission Tour half before Fireflight feel like you’re going concert was over, got signed as a band. anywhere, keep mov- members of the audi- Fireflight, with three ing forward. Another ence were enthusiastic. albums out, just re- step is another step “It was amazing! It was cently finished their away from the things awesome!” Sarah newest album recorded you need to just leave Frakes said. with Jasen Rauch, from behind.” the band Red, and will be released sometime Dawn’s favorite next year. For the song the group Fire- group, writing their flight performs changes songs comes from ex- as their tours progress. Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3

Tim Hawkins tickles the funny bone by Olivia Wilkes On Sunday night, Hawkins was an All- edy,” Williams said. th August 28 , a lot of American baseball Hawkins does com- people had a good player during his edy differently than laugh as they attended (previous life) early most comedians. He the concert of come- years, but he traded the performs only clean dian Tim Hawkins, field for the stage and comedy that is (fit) ap- who performed at The started a career as a full propraite for the whole Rock Church in Hunts- time comedian in family. ville. 2002. Since 2006 he “Clean comedy is The concert was has released 3 CD’s and 4 DVD’s. He now easy. Funny comedy is sold out. Doors opened hard,” Hawkins said. at 6:00 p.m., while the lives in St. Louis with actual concert didn’t four kids and a wife So, is Hawkins’ start until 7 o’clock. who is winning a battle comedy really that Hawkins then kept the with breast cancer. good? Well, his “Full audience laughing for Excalibur 11th Range of Motion” con- two hours. grader Cailean Wil- cert DVD is winner of liams attended the con- the 2007 Crown Award Hawkins is a co- for Best Comedy and median, musician, and cert at The Rock with Clean his family. his comedy series songwriter. He is best “Bananas” won a Re- comedy is known for parodies of “The concert was gional Emmy, and Tim easy. Funny popular songs. His ma- extremely relaxing,” says, “I’m not brag- terial comes from his Williams says, “It’s ging, but one time I comedy is own experiences of nice to break down and told a joke in front of a hard,” marriage, children, and be able to really laugh dead bird and it flew ~Tim homeschooling. Haw- without the fear of any- away.” kins got his start in one else hearing you, Hawkins comedy by doing it part because they’re all Hawkins was born time. laughing too!” to be a comedian. He’s funny on stage and off “I got started when Hawkins performed and it’s almost impos- my friends at the res- many of his famous sible to get a straight taurant I was working songs and routines in- answer out of him. at dared me to perform cluding “Fire Ants”, When asked if comedy at a local comedy club. “Chick-fil-A”, and runs in his family, he I performed for five “Homeschool Blues”, said, “Everyone runs in minutes and survived, as well as a couple of my family. We’re very which I wasn’t expect- new ones. athletic”. ing,” he says. “I best like his A University of goofy faces and his oc- Missouri graduate, casional slapstick com- Page 4 The Excalibur Times

First time voters preparing for Election 2012 by Wesley Scott

“Bad politicians are sent to Washing- ton by good people who don’t vote.” ~William E. Simon

Getting ready to make American history, many 18 year old soon-to-be first-time voters are heading to the courthouses this year to register to vote for their political representatives. According to Morgan Co. figures, as of the 2010 mid-term election, there were only 371 first- time voters out of 65,861 all other eligible voters. And that there were only 170 of those out of the actual voting margin of 39,205 actually going to the polls on election day. So far this year, 65 “first - timers” have registered. “Some people are very exited, but others not so much,” said Adonis Bailey: Chairwoman of the Morgan County Board of Registrars. Bailey said that some people register in High School to get extra points on grades for subjects such as History, etc., and that more of them show up for presidential elections because it’s their first time ever to vote for president of the United States. Bailey points out that some younger registered voters don’t vote until it hits them in the pock- etbook, and that there are more older voters than younger voters going to the polls. Kevin, a stu- dent in Financial Peace class at Excalibur and a registered voter, enjoys the privilege of voting. “I like being a voter, I am looking forward to the upcoming election, and I’m enthusiastic,” Kevin said. Depending on whether some 18 year old registered voters are interested in the world around them, or concerned with their own functions, given also the percentage of older voters that actu- ally vote, it is apparent that this issue is shared by both groups of individuals. Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 5

SeniorYear: making choices by April Madden Careers Graduates most, of the guys who have and ask questions. went on to a four year Learn how to do a re- Are Pursuing college. The most popular sume, how to act in a job Who do you want to career choice for girls has interview, and take apti- be when you grow up? been nursing,” Mrs. Bond tude tests.” Grace Kear- Do you want to be a tech- said. Graduates from ley said. nician or maybe a nurse? the Excalibur Class of Mrs. Bond rec- Here are some of the 2010 have many areas of ommends to students that common and unusual ca- interest. There were 24 whatever they decide to reers and majors gradu- graduates last May and become, whether that is a ates are pursuing today at most had an idea of their nurse or a film maker, to college. area of study. One stu- try to get as much experi- There are many ca- dent plans to pursue ence in that field before reers and majors gradu- Youth Ministry, another pursuing that career. ates can choose from, ROTC, and one student Volunteering in a career such as a Doctor or an plans to attend Veterinar- area is one way to gain Engineer and even to be- ian School. Computer experience and to see if come a Musician or Art- Science and Technology that career path is the ist. The most popular ma- Management are two ma- right one for you before jors in today’s society jors for two young men you spend years in col- according to who are recent graduates. lege working toward that www.cnn.com are: Biol- Business and Economics goal. ogy, Business Admini- are the related areas of stration and Management, interest for two other re- Communications, Com- cent grads. The Sciences puter Science, Criminal appeal to several recent Justice, Elementary Edu- Excalibur graduates, who cation, Marketing, Nurs- are majoring in Biology, ing, Psychology, Political Biomedical Engineering, The Princeton Review's Top 10 Majors in 2011 Science, and Engineers. Emergency Medicine and There are creative majors Nursing. Two talented 1. Business Administration to choose from that are Excalibur graduates are and Management/Commerce majoring in Music at their not as popular such as: 2. Psychology Photographers, Artists, colleges, to further their musical gifts. 3. Nursing and Graphic Designers, 4. Biology/Biological Sciences Culinary Artists, and Grace Kearley, a 5. Education Translators. graduate from the Class 6. English Language and Literature Excalibur students are of 2010 is currently at UNA pursuing a type of 7. Economics no different from their 8. Communications Studies/Speech public and private school Business degree. Her ad- Communication and Rhetoric counterparts. vice to Seniors is to do research. 9. Political Science and Government “We have had several 10. Computer and Information Sciences become engineers— “Learn about your Aeronautical, Chemical, future career. Take ad- Mechanical. Maybe, even vantage of resources you Page 6 The Excalibur Times

Home made movie lights up Bridge Street at Monaco By Cailean Williams

A small team of homeschooler movie-makers called WE Filmer Productions made their big premiere at the Monaco Pictures at Bridgestreet on August 31st with Alfred Salisbury, their greatest film since Purple Tears. Garrett Eledui, an Excalibur senior, directed the small budget film, yet despite the “limitations,” the small crew of five accomplished a thirty-five minute film, acclaimed by some of the nearly two hundred fifty viewers at the private viewing as “surprisingly professional,” “impressive,” “creative,” and “upper-end.” Even the brilliant movie score, composed by Kris Kepley, an Excalibur graduate, “seemed to pull you into the action.” Filmed within North Alabama, the movie features Garrett Eledui himself as the private investigator Alfred Salisbury with his assistant Mr. Parker, performed by Jackson Love. The two are bent on a case involving missing jewelry, but the seemingly insignificant crime is really part of a much larger plot, involving two greedy business- men, played by Excalibur’s own Dane Rich and Tanner Christian. The film also features such Excalibur students as Calais Eledui, Caleb Stewart, and Michael Adcock, plus nearly ten other extras, including a comedic cameo ap- pearance by the producer Wesley Eledui. Wesley Eledui recalls that the process of making their thirty-five minute movie took over half a year. He says, “Pre-production (script, storyboards, logistics, planning) took about four months. Production (filming) took about two months. Post-production (editing and music writing) took about one and a half months [for a] total [of] seven and a half months.” Time seemed to favor the crew of WE Filmer. When asked for the inspiration for the film, Wesley replied that it was basically a boring, rainy day idea, based off Sherlock Holmes, and that the first Alfred Salisbury film lasted for only a few minutes. However, the story progressed, and since their mom had the freedom to decide their curricu- lum, filming became part of schoolwork. The fact that the crew and cast were homeschoolers seemed to help them promote the movie as well. “Promotion,” Wesley Eledui says, “is not hard with the homeschool community. Initially, it was simple e-mail. That, in turn, resulted in a lot of word-of-mouth pro- motion.” The homeschool community even affected the cast, bring- ing in people from Life Christian Academy, Covenant Christian Academy, and Providence Classical School, such as their choreogra- pher Adam McCoy and several other extras. Perhaps, the educa- tional background of the group is what brought WE Filmer Produc- tions together for this. Alfred Salisbury will be released on DVD on a date yet to be deter- mined. However, a digital download of the film is available on we- filmer.com for four dollars. Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 7

School Safety a concern for families By Hannah Sweeney are regular involving children at school, When dropping chil- locker teachers need more training in dren off at school, parents checks done being proactive to prevent a hope they are safe. at most crisis. Also, student training School bullying and schools. could be helpful for positive violence has increased Some teach- peer reinforcement," said over the years. Since ers are fight- Kellie Wilson, a teacher at 2001, there have been ing for a more than 80 school Kringle Elementary in Salem, right to bring Oregon. crimes in the United Teachers have stepped safety equipment such as; states. up into getting more in- a gun or pepper spray to "Keeping kids safe is volved with children's provide extra safety for " Better a thousand times our top priority, " said lives. Teachers have also themselves and for their careful than once dead." Amy Lay, daycare taken extra precautions students. ~Proverb teacher at Calvary As- about children's home life sembly of God in Deca- "Because of the grow- . and what is brought in ing number of incidences tur. and out of school. there Holocaust Essay Contest opportunity their accounts, recognize The Jewish Federation of intolerance and reinforce Huntsville and North tolerance and respect of Alabama announces its others who are different fifth annual Holocaust from us. essay contest. This year’s topic is: In a few years The essay contest is open survivors and witnesses to all high school students of the Holocaust will all of all public, private, or be gone. As time passes home schools in Hunts- many of their stories will ville, Madison City, fade into history. Why Madison County, and should we keep the survi- Decatur City Schools. vors’ memories and ex- Essays are to be 500 – periences alive? 750 words. The deadline is February 24, 2012. Essays should be sub- Using video accounts mitted online to jfnacon- from survivors found on [email protected] or by the United States Holo- mail to JFHNA P.O. Box caust Memorial Museum 12491, Huntsville, AL at www.ushmm.org and 35815 Attn: Holocaust other sources, put into Essay Contest your own words why all people should remember The Excalibur Times

Editor: Erin Dunbar Copy Editor: Hannah Sweeney Feature Editor: Cailean Williams Photo Editor: April Madden Arts and Entertainment: Sydney Rhyne Science and Technology Editor: Wesley Scott Senior Features Editor: Emily Lindstrom Christian Rock group Hawk Nelson performing during the Music with a Mis- Faith and Values Editor: Olivia sion tour in Madison in October. Wilkes

Student produced newspaper The ExcaliburTimes Hello Excalibur, this is April Madden, Photo Wesley Scott, Science the first of edition of Editor and Technology Editor. the Excalibur Times. The journalism class Sydney Rhyne, Arts/ For story suggestions will be posting a paper Entertainment Editor and Letters to the Edi- every other month. The tor, please contact our class consists of 8 stu- Hannah Sweeney, teacher Mrs. Angie dents who will be Copy Editor Hood at her email working to bring you address: interesting stories. We Cailean Williams, Fea- [email protected] hope you enjoy our pa- ture Editor per. We would love Thank you, and feedback. Emily Lindstrom, Sen- enjoy. ior Feature Editor Erin Dunbar, Editor. Our class includes: Erin Dunbar, Editor Olivia Wilkes, Faith and Value Editor