The Southside On The Times Inside December News VolumeVolume XII, Issue 2 South Forsyth High School December 2010 pgs. 1-2 The Seemingly Impossible Perfect Score Allie Faggetter Perfect: a word meaning accurate, him for their programs and campus. The list When Cody fi nally decides which exact, or correct in every detail. Most students consists of M.I.T, Harvard, Princeton, Cal college he will attend, he wishes to have a won’t even dare to hope for perfection when Tech, Stanford, Michigan, UGA, Georgia career in the fi eld of math and engineering. it comes to the SATs because that is just Tech, Auburn, Clemson, Rice, Washington Cody is not exactly sure what specifi c job unthinkable. For most, there is only the talk University, and Drexell. He has already he wants, but as long as it has something of improvement and getting their scores a been accepted to two schools: Clemson to do with math and engineering he is all little higher for the school of their choice; and Auburn. Cody’s fi rst choice is M.I.T, set, he says. He would like to see himself almost there but not good enough. But at M.I.T at the start of next school year for senior Cody Baetz, there is no more but if something better comes along, he room for improvement; he has received won’t be reluctant to change his mind. the revered perfect SAT score. Cody’s advice to those who want to do Features The SAT is a test that assesses their best on the SAT is to do multiple pgs. 4-6 a student’s ability to take a test and practice tests and study vocabulary. prepares him/her for tests in college. Obviously these strategies worked for Most students take the test more him; maybe they will work for others than once to achieve a score they are too. comfortable with, depending on the For some, it is hard to imagine college of their choice. Preparation is seeing three consecutive 800s on the key, and most say that reading the 800+ screen when checking SAT scores. Cody page SAT Prep book helps somewhat said his jaw dropped in amazement, and with scores. he couldn’t believe it at fi rst. A 2400 So how did Cody Baetz prepare? but he is also hoping that one of his chosen means the student has mastered the skills Cody has taken the SAT three times, the schools will be willing to give him a full they need for college and has prepared last resulting in a perfect 2400. To prepare ride; he will ultimately accept the school themselves fully for taking future logical for the fi rst time, he explains, he took seven that offers him the best scholarship. tests. Cody Baetz is the epitome of this kind Center Stage practice tests, full length. Between the fi rst For someone who is seen to be a of student, one equipped with readiness for pgs. 10-11 and second, he took two more. And the genius, he is a humble person; not one to go college and understanding of advanced third---after chuckling before his answer- around bragging about his future and how material. One who has worked all his/her --he said he did nothing other than study he is above everyone else. He knows that life to be the best he/she can be. Students SAT vocabulary, with some of this credit just because he received a perfect score, do not earn perfect scores frequently and going to AP Literature teacher’s, Mrs. that doesn’t mean he is automatically Cody will be remembered in the history of Holcomb, vocabulary quizzes. When asked going to M.I.T on a full ride scholarship. this school for others to admire for a very what it felt like to conquer something that He still has to work hard for his goals and long time. Students at SFHS cannot help but most high schoolers fear, he simply stated, study to earn the grades. “A lot of people take off their masks of jealousy and express “I mean it feels good. I’m glad I’m done.” get perfect scores. My foot is just in the how proud they are for his accomplishment. Cody has a very impressive list of thirteen door.” He explains that because of his Congratulations Cody Baetz for achieving different colleges to which he is applying. outstanding achievement on the SAT, the the ultimate goal in a high schooler’s life! Not surprisingly, some are of the Ivy League door is slightly more open, but he still isn’t You deserve it. variety, but some are schools that interest all the way in. Editorials pgs. 12-15 Southside Dance Company Goes to Competition Tricia Surber and Marin Wijma On December 18th, seven of the to South Forsyth. score will score the competitors based on girls from the Southside Dance Company The winner of the competition technique, visual effects, staging degree will be traveling of diffi culty, uniformity, to Grayson choreography and the High School to overall impression of compete in a the performance. The hip-hop and jazz judges’ totals will then dance company be averaged together competition. This for the team’s overall will be the fi rst score. If South were to dance competition place fi rst, second or that the Southside third, they will return Sports Dance Company home with a trophy pgs. 16-18 has ever for whichever division participated in. they placed in. Also, Aria Davis, Sinaya special plaques will Harding, Jemila be awarded for best Swaby, Allie team choreography, Faggetter, Roni best team costume, and Webber, Gabrielle highest score. Parker, and If interested in Tori Hendricks, viewing the show, the along with their admission fee is fi ve sponsor, Mrs. Shuman, will travel to will be determined by a panel of judges dollars and the Southside Dance Company Loganville, Georgia, to compete against who score the competitors. As standard, would appreciate the support. Good luck to many other Georgia high schools in an the competitors will be scored on the all of the girls competing. attempt to bring the 1st place trophy back basis of 10 possible points. The judges The News Emily Kitchin Represents Education Nation Summit Adriana Booker Isabella Sudduth South Forsyth student, Emily students, met with the Superintendent Brad According to statistics published schools and offers free resources avail- Kitchin, was selected to be an advisor for Bryant on October 25th of this year. Since on the Education Nation website, in Amer- able to students and teachers. A unique the Superintendent of the Department they are only meeting three times per year, ica sixty-eight percent of eighth graders feature of this website includes a “How of Education. Being an advisor for the the next meeting will be held on January are incapable of reading at grade level, one Do You Learn?” interactive tool to help Superintendent of the Department of and the last one will be in March. These third of students drop out of high school, individuals discover their mix of learn- Education means that high school students students will attend a six hour meeting and a remaining third are not adequately ing styles. are given the privilege to give input on discussing their views on the issues of prepared for college. Out of thirty devel- Another result of the summit current issues that are under consideration. math, EOCTs, graduation tests and how oped nations, the U.S. ranks twenty-fourth was the launching of the TEACH cam- Kitchin took the to improve the in math, seventeenth in science, and tenth in paign sponsored by the federal govern- initiative to take graduation rate. literacy. These ment. This a stand for the Each student, statistics are c a m p a i g n ’s student body and i n c l u d i n g the reason for purpose is to sees this as an Emily, had the the Education offer resources opportunity to opportunity to Nation Sum- and guidelines speak on their speak about their mit. on how to en- behalf. Emily opinions on these T h e ter the teach- didn’t get in issues. For the E d u c a t i o n ing profession. easily; she entered subject of math, Nation Sum- A website has a lion’s den by the majority mit was held been created applying for this of the students on September that offers this position. agreed that school 27-28, 2010 information D u e districts should to discuss the and a collec- to Emily’s determination and drive for return to the old current state of tion of tools to success, she was nominated to be chosen math curriculum. Also, the students are our educational system and how it could be help launch careers in education. The for this incredible opportunity. The debating whether or not to keep graduation improved. A collection of experts on edu- hope is that prospective teachers will be potential members were required to fi ll out tests rather than increasing the percentage cation, including educators, students, and more aware of exactly what is required an application of basic information and of the EOCT scores. These are some of the business persons met to discuss solutions in the profession and will have the tools answer an essay question asking how they ideas that these fi fty students are discussing to America’s education dilemma. Several at their disposal to ensure they are fully believe they can improve the graduation to improve the graduation rate in the state topics were addressed, including workforce prepared to take on this responsibility.