Vol. 52 No. 06 The www.bcomber.org 25100 Fairmount Boulevardeachcomber Beachwood, Ohio June 2011 School District BreaksB Ground on $35.6M Renovation By Arielle Cohen Copy Editor put into place and assembled before any switch is made. The groundbreaking ceremony for Junior Masha Soprunova observed the high school renovation was held “It’s going to be interesting since there on Thursday, May 26th. A crowd of will be reconstruction. We will all be students, staff and parents attended. like freshmen trying to find our way.” The BHS band played, and commu- Ilana Blumin commented, “I’m nity leaders gave gave speeches with excited but worried about the noise.” key words such as “pride,” “excel- Hardis said that although students lence” and “community.” and teachers will have to deal with Students and staff mingled dur- a “constant low line of engines,” the ing the speeches, eating snacks and noise will hopefully not be overly dis- ice cream from Ben and Jerry’s. The turbing, and construction will cease event ended with the formal ground- during OGT week and AP testing. breaking. Attendees were invited to According to Hardis, new rooms come take a photo with the shovel af- will be spacious and more conducive ter the ceremonial picture was taken. to collaborative work. For the most BHS students and staff are very ex- Superintendent Dr. Richard Markwardt, School Board President Beth Rosenbaum, School Board part, floors will be tiled. cited about the prospect of a renovated Member David Ostro, Mayor Merle Gordon, Principal Robert Hardis, Board Member Dr. Brian Will teachers miss their old rooms? building. Student Activities Director Weiss, District Treasurer Michele Mills, Assistant Principal Paul Chase and Board Vice President English teacher Peter Harvan says no; Mitchel Luxenburg break ground. Photo by Marisa Simon. Craig Alexander said, “I look forward although he’ll miss the students he to the fall of 2013 when I can walk ing, “the new music suite will al- some challenges, though he is confi- taught in the room, the room itself is into a virtually new building.” low our music program to flourish.” dent we will be able to deal with any far from ideal. When asked about his biggest Hardis explained, “I think the biggest issues that arise. He is most worried Hopefully, construction will go hopes for the new building, Social wow factor will be the atrium. It will about teenagers climbing the construc- smoothly, leaving Beachwood with a Studies teacher John Perse responded be a place you can circle around and tion fence and getting hurt as a result. building that matches the caliber of “Air conditioning.” it opens to the cafeteria.” However, there should not be many the school itself; a building that por- Principal Robert Hardis said, “The However, Hardis admits that the problems with heating and cooling; trays those key words of “pride,” “ex- new library will be awesome”, add- constuction next year will present a new mechanical room will be fully cellence” and “community.” Marketing Students go to DECA International Competition By Haley Marblestone Staff Writer produced commercials for Arby’s and Things Remembered. This year they From April 30th through May 3rd, have marketed for Contemporary Cos- five of Marketing teacher Jean Getz’s metic Surgery and Chic-Fil-A. students went to Orlando, Florida, to Dr. Brian Michelow of Contempo- compete in the DECA International rary Cosmetic Surgery said, “Mrs. Getz Competition. The big congratulations and her class helped us understand the goes to Peter Kampf from Chagrin teen thought process when it comes to Falls, Kayla Breeden from West Geau- skin care and what was important to ga and BHS students Solly Poprish, them in product and services.” The Asha Clark, and Lily Lash who each company was so happy with the re- received Awards of Excellence at the Kayla Breeden, Solly Poprish, Peter Kampf, Lily Lash and Asha Clark enjoyed their time at Dis- sults that they paid the class double the competition. ney World. Photo Courtesy of Jean Getz. amount they were supposed to. “There are 16,000 juniors and se- marketing situations depending on the Poprish exclaimed, “Marketing re- The class also created a campaign niors from around the world that are level and the category in which they ally helped me meet a ton of new peo- and advertisements for Chick-Fil-A competing and there is just an air of are competing. Many schools have ple and it was so cool to go to school through promoting the school dodge excitement throughout the entire com- a separate club or class for DECA, with kids from West Geauga and Cha- ball tournament. The winners of the petition. It is very contagious and it is but Getz’s students only prepare for a grin Falls. We learned how to work to- won 54 free Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. something they will remember for the week. gether.” “Throughout the year we have rest of their lives,” said Getz. The students did not make it past DECA is not the only aspect in become more than just a class, we DECA is an international high the first round, but they enjoyed their which marketing students excel. Many are a family, said Lash. “Our creativ- school competition in which students time in the sun at Disney World and companies come to the marketing ity, knowledge, and skills put together apply their business and marketing lounging with other DECA competi- class for help on targeted marketing to- have created a very successful group skills. Students are given different tors by the pool. wards teenagers. In the past, they have of students.” Inside the Beachcomber Anime Club College Decisions Summer Music Tours Retiring Teachers High Gas Prices Explore the behind-the- Where will BHS seniors be A guide to bands coming to Three teachers reflect on How are BHS students scenes of the club. headed next fall? Cleveland. their years at BHS. coping? Pg. 5 Pg. 6 Pg. 9 Pg. 3 Pg. 2 june2011.indd 1 5/31/11 4:18:41 PM News Gas Prices Impact Students, Staff, School District Budgets By Max Bleich Tech Editor switched cars in an attempt to save money at the pump. One dollar, two dollars, three dol- Receptionist Nancy Stanisa lives lars four… even further from BHS and only Although gas prices have be- gets 26 miles per gallon—which is gun to come back down in the last remarkable considering her 104 mile month, they are still high enough to commute to BHS every morning and affect BHS students and staff. her return home every night. None- New York Times reporter Jad theless, gas prices have not changed Mouawad attributes high gas prices her lifestyle. to fear of supply disruptions due to Science teacher Jamie Lader, who the situation in the Middle East. The lives in Solon, feels that gas prices crude oil price peaked at $125 per do make a difference. Lader com- barrel in late April, and at publication plains that the prices are far too high. is down to $109. At gas stations in His family operates on a budget, Beachwood, prices went well above Gas prices, still high, have begun to drop. Photo by Nicole Rubenstein. and everything he does during the $4.00 per gallon, although they are week is ultimately influenced by the now around $3.85. While many BHS students’ wal- the district spent $3.14 when gas was lets have not been directly affected, well over $3.50. gas prices. “Whenever I want to do Some students are not affected too something else during the week, like severely. Senior Ari Ashpis doesn’t it can be seen that their parents and Although being a freshman pre- other community members have vents him from driving by himself, fun things with the kids, it has to be really sweat the price change, since limited because of the prices.” Lader his parents pay for him. Ashpis drives been. freshman Danny Sheridan has strong Last year, the district spent opinions regarding the rise and fall feels that the reason for the rising gas to and from school every day, goes prices, if anything, is greed. “The to his girlfriend’s house and drives $117,328 on fuel for the buses, of gas prices. The rise of gas prices, and this year, according to Trea- according to Sheridan, has a positive whole problem in the Middle East, around Beachwood. that’s a bunch of [baloney].” Senior Or Bairey-Sehayek doesn’t surer Michele Mills, the district is effect on him, as he says that he has likely to spend at least $131,373. investments in the fuel industry. Although prices dropped pretty drive--he walks everywhere--to significantly in the last few weeks, work, to school (if he misses the bus, The average amount that the district Living further from BHS cer- spends on fuel for the last six years tainly doesn’t help out. Deaf / Hard they still fluctuate, but that’s nothing which occurs more often than not) to new. Until we find another reliable friends’ houses, to get food, etc. So, is $117,662. of Hearing teacher Sarah Thrasher The school district keeps their drives about 35 miles to get to BHS, energy source, we will continue to as far as the rise in gas prices go, he’s pay the price to have the privilege of pretty much indifferent. fuel cost low by comparing prices which takes her about 50 minutes, from three gas vendors. In March, if she’s lucky. Thrasher has recently driving. Beachwood School District Braces for Budget Cuts By Scott Remer Staff Writer These numbers are speculative “lofty ideal.” Yet she is also skepti- cult financial climate.