Class of 2016 Edition

Class of 2016 Edition The last four years in review page 9 • Where will they go next? pages 10-11 • Senior Spotlights and fun facts page 12 VolVol LXXVIII,LXXXI, Issue Issue 5 1 Chapel Chapel Hill Hill High High School’s School’s Newspaper Newspaper October June 2016 2012 Major building overhaul Forcella announces planned for high school coming retirement SAM NIELSEN Tom Forcella announced his retirement from his position as superintendent of Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) May 25. He will officially leave the post on August 1. Forcella said he decided to end his 42 years working in education to spend more time with his family. In a statement sent out in an email by the district, Forcella commended the school district staff. “I want to thank the entire staff for the spirit of cooperation PHOTO COURTESY OF CHAPEL HILL-CARR- you have afforded me over the BORO CITY SCHOOLS last five years,” Forcella said. TomForcellahasheldthepositionof During five years as the su- Superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carr- perintendent of the district, For- boro City Schools for five years and cella has worked toward racial has been in education for 42 years. equity in education and the imple- thing that the small size of school mentation of changes in teacher districts in Northeastern states al- compensation. Both missions in- lowed him to do. PHOTO COURTESY OF TODD LOFRESE volved the development of Proj- “I was a superintendent AssistantSuperintendentToddLoFresesharedabuildingfootprintthatshowsapossibleconceptualfloorplanforthenew ect ADVANCE, which is intended in Maine and Connecticut for facility.Theplan,whichwasdevelopedbytheEducationalSpecificationsTeam,willbringtheschooltocurrentconstruction to base pay-raises for teachers standards. 17 years prior to my arrival in around performance rather than CHCCS. Because school districts Staff members are brainstorming major renovations to the Chapel Hill High experience. in the northeast are much smaller, School campus, including knocking down the current A and D-Buildings. Forcella sees Project AD- it afforded me the opportunity to VANCE as a vital step in reduc- work more closely with teachers FORREST PRATSON AND ELI ROSE and mold issues and major traffic that we, of course, will need to ing the district’s achievement gap. and principals,” Forcella said. “I Chapel Hill High School will concerns. account for.” “The implementation of wish I could have found a way to be replaced with a new building A tentative design flips the In the current design, the Project ADVANCE is critical spend more time interacting with that is estimated to be completed current Chapel Hill campus. The gyms and Hanes Theatre will re- to the district’s desire to lower staff and students.” by 2021. A-building will be replaced with main where they are. Both build- the achievement gap,” Forcella Forcella hopes to continue The new school is being de- sports fields and the main aca- ings will also receive major reno- said. “The research is clear that having some involvement in edu- signed by Moseley Architects, the demic building will replace the vations. if schools understand data, are cation by either consulting or group of architects who designed D-building and language trailers. Despite the building being trained in equity topics and are teaching at the university level. Carrboro High School, Northside “Our plans are to build the redesigned, it will not operate at able to implement best instruc- He retains interest in “systemic Elementary School and several new building first and then de- a higher capacity for students. tional practices, achievement gaps organizational change in schools,” other schools in North Carolina. construct the A-Building,” Assis- However, the renovation is sup- will close. Project ADVANCE is he said, with a focus on promot- The new project is intended tant Superintendent Todd LoFrese posed to be coupled with an ad- designed to do just that.” ing instructional excellence. to solve key issues with Chapel said. “This will minimize the need dition to Carrboro High School He regrets that he was not Hill High School, including se- for temporary classrooms. There able to work more closely with curity concerns, chronic moisture would be ongoing construction See REDESIGN, PAGE 4 district staff and students, some- [email protected] Prom venue Senior Nina Ehara Chapel Hill alumnus Pro-HB2 Salisbury Seniors Brandewie change prompts crowdfunds for her makes it big as school board passes and DeSelm to ticket confusion hometown in Japan Elvis tribute artist concerning policy compete at next level page 4 page 5 page 15 page 16 page 18 IN THIS ISSUE: Students pause during exams to enjoy canine company History club DAN KLEISSLER Amidst the widespread stress plans project and sadness that accompany exam season, Chapel Hill High School BErryrigdoN Student Government attempted to A Chapel Hill High School bring back some happiness to the club based on social studies is student body. planning a project to celebrate the Through paws4people, a history of the school. nonprofit organization that, Rho Kappa National Social since 1999, has been dedicated Studies Honors Society is a to educating people about the nationwide organization that has abilities and roles of service dogs hundreds of branches in high in society, Student Government schools across the country. arranged for puppies to visit the Chapel Hill High School is school every few weeks. one of the newest additions to Paws4people trains assistance the Rho Kappa network, which dogs for children with various is dedicated to excellence and disabilities and for veterans achievement in social studies suffering from post-traumatic courses. stress disorder (PTSD). To be admitted into the “We saw that ECHHS and honors society, students must be CHS had the puppies come to juniors or seniors, have taken their schools. We thought it was at least four semesters of social a great cause, so we reached studies courses and have a grade out to them to see if they’d be point average of at least 3.0. willing to come to CHHS,” senior The Rho Kappa chapter at representative Paige Jones said. PHOTO CREDIT: DAN KLEISSLER Chapel Hill recently announced Treasurer Reagan Roeber felt Student GovernmentmembersandjuniorsNat Romaine,KrisChellaniandAdamLenoxandsenior Reagan Roeberpetdogs that it is working on a project that the puppies would help to oncampus,alongwithseniorJuliaPerkinsandsophomoreAnneCrabill. to commemorate the history of Chapel Hill High School. bolster student body involvement or buying materials to support Other students disagreed with paws4people’s assistance dogs after several Student Government The club is run by paws4people. Esterley. in training with the help of co-presidents Ryan Kleissler and events were cancelled this year. Student opinions of the Junior Sarah Litzinger felt volunteers from the UNC Center “After the difficulties that we Nina Ehara, with help from social requirements varied. that Student Government asked for Excellence in Community studies teacher and sponsor Holly faced with administration and not Senior Katharine Esterley for too much as they required a Mental Health. Westerman said being able to put on events for the Loranger. supported the requirements completed pass in order to attend that the process of socializing is Kleissler believes that a student body, we thought it was needed to play with the puppies. puppy events. good for both the dogs and the a good alternative,” Roeber said. school that has been around for As the president of Tiger Roar, “I thought it was a good students. as many years as Chapel Hill However, not all students the club that rallies school spirit, idea, but the requirements were “Participants express feelings deserves to be praised. were permitted to attend the Esterley believes that such a little too much to see puppies,” of happiness, calmness and “[We want to] look into events and play with the puppies. rewards motivated students to Litzinger said. a sense of pride when helping the past of CHHS and the role Student Government viewed the participate more in the school Student Government socialize puppies,” she said. it’s played in the community,” puppy play days as rewards for community. representatives responded to the Westerman has witnessed the Kleissler said. “The club gives school involvement. “I think that, as the year ends, mixed opinions by removing the program grow to include more you national recognition for When the puppies visited, kids don’t attend as many events. restrictions on attendance for the and more high school students. desire and skill in social studies.” qualified students who had I think Student Government third event. “Students are welcome The club is creating the filled out an event card called a had a great idea, as more kids Sunny Westerman, as the to hold fundraising events or project, which will go on display “puppies pass,” were allowed to will involve themselves at Program Coordinator for UNC supply drives to help support the next year, to commemorate play with, pet and feed the dogs. school because everybody loves PAWS, works in part at the Puppy program,” Westerman said. this year’s 100th anniversary Students could complete their puppies,” Esterley said. Development center to socialize passes by attending school events [email protected] of Chapel Hill High School. The project will celebrate the history of the school and the Art class brings second Easter in protest of HB2 achievements of alumni. NICK ELSTON said. The main focus of the project In early May, what appeared Each egg contained a fact and is to create a presentation that to be a second Easter turned out its source on a slip of paper.

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