THE In This Issue... An eclectic addition to Individual holiday spirit. Into the intensity that is Leon’s faculty. page 5 Coach Rice LEON page 2 page 9 HIGH LIFEMay, 2004 Leon High School 550 E. Tennessee St. Tallahassee, FL 32308 (850) 488-1971 Vol. LXXXVII No.4 Celebrating 86 years as the voice of Leon. December 2005 Issue The half day is back to stay By Eden Joyner ricane season, the Leon County School system had school’s schedule. High Life News Editor extended all short exam days to full school days last Students are thrilled with the return of the nor- year. This year, exam week has returned to its regu- mal exam schedule. As the weather starts to cool down, students start lar schedule; two exams per day, and then the early “I think the fact that we’re returning to the half- to get anxious. Semester exams are just around the release schedule. day schedule is the best thing I’ve heard all year,” corner. Luckily, this year’s exams are going to be Rocky Hanna, Leon High School’s principal, junior Amy Smith said. “I’m completely relieved. less stressful. The beloved half-day exam schedule said that the half-day exam schedule will remain per- Staying at school all day was painful and tiring after is back. manent. Hanna claims that the only way that it will our exams, so the change this year will be welcomed Due to a long and disastrous 2003-2004 hur- change is if another disaster interferes with the by all, I presume.” Cowdrey’s Holiday traditions overseas at Leon By Caroline Whitney adventure High Life News Writer For most people, the holiday break By Kany Aziz consists of Christmas trees and stock- High Life News Writer ings. However, some students, like those who celebrate Hanukkah, Eid Al- Leon history professor Pete Adha and Kwanzaa, return home for a Cowdrey has done many extraordinary different kind of celebration. things in his life. He often shares these “The date for Hanukkah changes real life accounts with his students. every year, but the traditions we cel- Last month, Cowdrey visited Jerusa- ebrate stay the same,” said Jeff lem, the city that is famous for its con- Naftzinger, a Jewish Leon sophomore. flicts and its religious background. “We have a Menorah and open a Cowdrey and his wife went on a trip present each of the eight nights, the to Jerusalem with his brother because regular stuff. My mom used to work in they were all extremely interested in mak- our temple gift shop, so we have some .. ing a pilgrimage. They left Nov. 9. top-of-the-line menorahs.” “I’ve always wanted so see Another Jewish sophomore at Leon, Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem,” Sasha Ciupalo, celebrates Hanukkah a Cowdrey said. little bit differently. Cowdrey and the rest of the tour “My family and I all sit around in a party, a Catholic organization that he circle on the floor, playing dradle in tux- signed up with, followed a route that al- edos,” Ciupalo said. “Sometimes we lowed him to see many of the Christian have latkes. The mother always makes religious sites. the latkes.” “For Christians who were there to see Some students here at Leon celebrate the place, there were really powerful im- a holiday known as Eid Al-Adha, the ages,” Cowdrey said. “There’s a lot you Muslim holiday. can’t see in one day, and even 10 days “We spend the day in prayer and in is really not enough. But what we saw, the company of our friends and family,” we will never forget.” Avan Aziz, a Leon sophmore said. “It “It offers that opportunity to see the Photo by Jenny Lieb really brings the Muslim community to- birthplace of Christianity…just to walk Leon’s Pat Manderfield fakes out a Chiles opponent at a recent gether.” Continued on page 4 varsity soccer game. See story page 9. December Editorials Page 2 Generosity doesn’t need rewards people, always looking for an STUFF we don’t know what could do. have things so that we can get opportunity to help those less to do with ourselves. We give a few of our thou- things in return. It’s a vicious fortunate than themselves. But Why is it, then, that the way sands of dollars towards the cycle of materialism and lack are we really? to get us to donate goods, cause (as long as there’s a of compassion for the people In reality, most of us donate time, love, whatever, often re- prize) while Cubans give in true need. supplies in order to fill club quires some sort of selfish wholeheartedly, expecting Cynics argue that it criteria or to gain some type benefit? nothing in return. Speaking shouldn’t matter what our rea- of reward. Pierian threatens I went to Cuba a couple strictly for numbers, Americans sons are behind generosity, as By Julia Clarke probation if members neglect summers ago, and my shel- are more generous. But genu- long as we are giving. If it High Life Editorial Editor their service hours. SGA tered eyes saw poverty for the ine generosity lies in the hearts takes extra credit points to get promised free breakfast to the first time. Ironically, these of Cubans. students to be charitable, so Recently, the Can the Prin- third period class that pro- children who had nothing gave Holiday shopping in the be it, right? Wrong. We cipal drive, sponsored by duces the most cans. Teach- more than anyone else I know. United States traditionally should bring in our cans, our Leon’s Student Government ers offer extra credit points for They certainly couldn’t top translates to demand and sup- supplies, our time, for the sake Association (SGA), sent over bringing in canned goods. We 7,000 cans because they are ply, literally. Kids beg, and of helping others. We should 7,000 cans to Second Har- actually need an incentive to not financially able, but they parents buy. The news re- do it because we are compas- vest, an organization that aids give. gave all they could. They ports of fights breaking out in sionate, not because we almost needy people on Thanksgiv- America is the land of served me dinner on the best front of Wal-Mart, of a per- have an A in the class and ing. plenty. We have plenty of dishes they had; they gave me fectly kind mother yanking a those ten extra points will Earlier this year, students money, plenty of restaurants, pictures that they drew; they useless toy out of the hands of make the difference. donated money and goods to plenty of stores, plenty of ma- took me to their parks and another parent, and of shock- This time, let’s give for no victims of Hurricane Katrina terialistic teenagers, plenty of beaches; they painted my nails. ing increases in sales from the reason. Instead of buying a and helped support children in people who are simply fed too In America, that isn’t con- previous year. gift for someone who doesn’t Iraq. much. We should be gener- sidered generous, but it was For what? We are giving need it, buy one for someone On the surface, it looks like ous. We have so much the absolute best that they more things to people who who does. And don’t do it for students at Leon are generous extra credit. Letters to the Editor Recently, my wife and I placed prayers of I heard that this school from the janitors. Why can’t you’ll never see the same joined my brother Tom for a rememberence to the entire year, the school system built in students just take 10 more bathroom again. 10-day Christian pilgrimage to Leon community within it. hurricane days so we would seconds to dispose of Could everybody please Israel. For those of us making not have to make them up later. unsanitary leftovers? Most of just take some extra time to We were three of about the pilgrimage, this was a time Now that hurricane us learned proper bathroom clean up like they would at 40 people from all over the of profound new beginnings. In season is over, and we clearly hygiene before kindergarten. home? And don’t forget to United States who wer able to that spirit, it is the hope and did not use these days, when There’s no reason to treat our wipe the seat. visit the Holy Land as a group prayer that I bring back from are we getting our hurricane bathrooms like Porta-Potties. Coral Burnaman of Catholic pilgrims and to see Bethlehem and Jerusalem that days back? There is probably We are in school from and explore many of the places everyone here and our families a connection between school August to May. It’s not like where Jesus lived and taught: be especially blessed with the starting ten minutes earlier Bethlehem, Nazareth, Cana, peace and the joy of this deeply this year and the built-in days. Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee, spiritual season. Now that we do not The Jordon River, Jericho, and May we be thankful for have to worry about the Jerusalem. all that we have; may we hurricane days, school should In the company of our continue to be always open to start and end like it originally Franciscan guide and our the needs of those around us, did last year (7:45 a.m.-2:55 Muslim bus driver, we and may the glad tidings and p.m.).