THE ALCONAIREOne Norman J. Field Way Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 Volume 48—Issue 04, FebruaryF 2013 falconaire.monmouthregional.net Epidemic Hits Monmouth Hard By Michael Whalen ‘14 fl u-like symptoms, more An additional set-back Staff Writer to stay healthy, “So for than likely just a virus. The absent students must face the fl u or any other virus, actual fl u affected a few is the impending doom of head-cold, anything like Flu season swept probably.” the work they must make that, my advice would be across New Jersey this No one wants to get up. After Sandy, teach- wash your hands fre- year with Monmouth Re- sick, especially with the ers have to make up two quently, don’t share food/ gional being one of many fl u which can last from weeks of work missed so drinks, keep your hands schools affected. three days to two weeks. the work load as it stands out of your face, eat well, Contrary to popular be- According to About.com, it is suffocating. Junior get a good amount of sleep lief, it wasn’t the fl u which also mentions that symp- Taylor Mitchell, who was instead of using computers solely affected Monmouth toms of the fl u include absent for three days, said and phones at night, and Regional. Nurse Moore exhaustion, coughing, “It was a hassle, but not exercise.” explains, “A couple weeks fatigue, and a fever. One of too bad.” Common guidelines ago we had approximately the few students affected To avoid being pulled like these should be one hundred students by the fl u, senior Bobby down with the affected followed any day, but en- out ill. I’d say probably O’Brien, explains bluntly, student body, Nurse Moore forced especially in times 50% of them called with “It was terrible.” provides some tips on how like this. What Are You Walking in to? Grading Nightmare Students’ issues with the current grading system The Struggles of Junior Year By Allie Ens ‘14 B, which makes A’s seem other aspects that should Contributor By Jocelyn Anderson ‘14 impossible. They might as go into it or else it’s not Staff Writer well just give everyone a C very accurate.” This puts The average MRHS stu- and call it a day.” up for debate whether schoolwork/homework that people don’t realize nce junior year hits, dent is used to checking But how does the the entire way of grad- O increases, too, especially in what it is doing to them. you think “Hey we’re on Genesis at the end of Monmouth Regional ing should be revamped, advanced classes. Juniors Senior Craig Uplinger almost done, senior year is a semester, eagerly look- grading system fall in line not just the scaling. Is it say the pressure is intense says his junior year was so close”. But what under- ing up their fi nal grades, with other Monmouth expired and outdated? Is and there is little time for the most stressful year of classmen don’t understand and feeling disheartened county schools? Red Bank it time for a complete and everything; it is hard to high school because all of is how much stress you’re when they see a shiny Regional considers an A total overhaul? There are keep it all balanced. the college related pres- under once that year starts. 91.4 standing in a slot. in the 90’s, a B in the 80’s, several opinions. Meghan Walsh, a writer sure he faced. He also Everything that your future For most schools, a 91.4 etc. and failing is only pos- Some students feel for Generation Next, sug- says that the workload depends on is what you is a plausible grade, but sible if you score below a neutral to the cause and gests that being pushed by was intense. If teach- are doing junior year. The with a grading system 60 (credit to Zach Brad- think there’s just no room parents, school counselors, ers gave us a “decent” SATs, ACTs, HSPAs, term like Monmouth, it might ley). This puts the students for change anymore. “We teachers, and society at amount of work, we papers and pre-college not be enough. at a higher risk for success don’t have a choice to ei- large can make students would be able to get it applications planning are Everyone is familiar and fi lls them with, overall, ther like it or not,” Tommy panic, even if they mean done before 1 am. Mod- new and happen while still with the fact that in order less worry because of Broyles, a senior, ex- well. Junior classes are eration in work will help maintaining grades. The to get an A in a class you the fl exible grade ranges. plained. “It’s been around held to such high standards lower the stress level. must have at least a 92, in Ocean Township, Nep- way too long for that.” order to get a B you must tune, and other Monmouth So, love it or hate it, the have at least an 84, in County schools have this grading system of MRHS STUDENTS IN THe HALL: order to get a C you must exact same style., remains to be a widely have at least a 78, and in Senior Tyler Piantanida disputed topic among What is stressing you order to get a D you must personally believes that the students. Just because have at least a 70. Any- MRHS way of determining something has been around JUNIORS the most this year? thing underneath that is grades is where the real for a long time doesn’t an automatic failure. “It’s problem lies. “Test per- necessarily mean it’s ap- not really fair,” junior centage, quiz percentage, plicable in this day and Nicole Riley pointed out. and homework percentage age and revision should be Kate Zilly - “My mom” “You have to score un- should determine fi nal considered. reasonably high just for a grades but there are also Keyshawn Lawson- “School work because it is 10 times harder” Chloe Yelle- “AP classes” Jillian Johnson- “SATs” GRADING SYSTEMS OF THE SURROUNDING HIGHSCHOOLS INSIDE PAGE 2, NEWS PAGE 3, SCHOOL PAGE 4, FEATURES PAGE 5, OPINIONS PAGE 6, NEWS CHECK US OUT FEATURES -AP CLASS “NEW -ALL SHORE BAND MIDDLE EASTERN ONLINE AT: - AFRICAN WORLD NEWS POLICY” - WEIRD NEWS -HOMETOWN HERO CONFLICT FALCONAIRE. - CHELSEA ROCHA -HEROES AND COOL -COMIC: MONMOUTHREGIONAL. - HALLWAY HOTTIES KIDS “THOUGHTS DURING WEIRD NEWS NET - DR. THOENS -EDITORIAL “WILL YOU SCHOOL” GO TO PROM WITH ME?” Page 2 The Falconaire News February 2013 School Girl shot By Jennifer Arthur ‘14 Contributor Wacky For Women’s Rights Weather! Taliban takes responsibility involved in the education A Publication of Mon- of girls around her area mouth Regional High What Can You and also the east. She con- School employment of women Do to Help Save n October of 2012, A stantly had been invited EOIN WENGER & I was the closing down of the Environ- Taliban gunman singled to interviews and spoke LAUREN MOONEY many primary schools, ment? Co Editors in Chief out and proceeded to shoot to many important news in places such as Kabul, Malala Yousafzai, a young casters. DAWN COLLETT not only for girls but for Pakistani girl on her way Fazlulla, a leader of Advisor boys too, because almost By Nicole Cappuccino ‘13 home from School. It was the Taliban, announced all the teachers there were Staff Writer WRITERS said it was in retaliation on his FM radio station MATT YEE women. Opinions Editor for her work in promot- that he was lifting the Women were also as anyone noticed the weird weather that has been going ing girls’ education and ban on women's educa- H ERIK RASMUSSEN not permitted to attend on this year? Sixty degrees in January seems nice, but it is children’s rights in the tion, and girls would be Sports Editor co-educational schools; actually affecting Earth and the future of the planet. Senior, northwestern Swat Valley, allowed to attend school. Staff Writers: Nicole Cappuc- in practice, this prevented Gabby Musselman, says that in the winter she likes to ski near the Afghan border. Yousafzai fought for what cino, Christine Maber, Ashley the vast majority of young and since this winter has been so warm, the snow is very The Taliban is an Islam- she believed in and it was Grizzle, Michael Whalen, Jocelyn women and girls in Af- slushy and it is extremely hard to ski. Anderson ic fundamentalist political a success, but the Taliban ghanistan from receiving It is affecting many people in many ways. Climate movement in Afghanistan. still has some unfi nished Contributors: Missy Bontz, Allie even a primary educa- change is another way of saying that earth’s climate is Ens, Jen Arthur, Billie Mwangi, Under the Taliban regime, business with her, want- tion. It was diffi cult for changing rapidly and that releases of heat trapping gases Cassidy Murphy, Michael Mora- Sharia law was interpreted ing to take her down for the young girls too keep from human activities are contributing signifi cantly to those no, Kim Bass, Natalie Johnson, to ban a wide variety of trying to change the way Alec Fruchter learning after not having changes. Scientists are fi nding that temperatures throughout activities for woman in woman are looked at in the ability to learn. Mr. the world are rising on land, in the air, at the sea surface, Afghanistan: employment, her culture. Evans (History) explains and under ice.